The doors of the luxurious conference hall slowly closed, sealing the tense and serious atmosphere inside.
Mieko, wearing ten-centimeter stilettos, walked down the corridor carpeted in deep red with a 'clack-clack' sound. She pulled impatiently at the upper edge of her low-cut evening gown; having sat upright for over an hour, she felt her chest was being stifled.
"Another piece of groundless news!" She rolled her eyes, her voice echoing clearly in the empty corridor.
"They want us to provide funding and send an Elite search team? Is that kind of legendary Pokemon really so easy to find?"
She glanced sideways at Yasuyo beside her, her tone mocking. "Remember that Mew they mentioned last time? We didn't even see a single hair."
"And what is it this time? Some 'Lightning Divine Beast'?"
"The files make it sound miraculous, but it's just a few photos so blurry you can't even see an outline, and some energy fluctuation records that are hard to verify."
Yasuyo walked with an elegant pace, the hem of her dress swaying gently as she moved.
She was also holding a file in her arms and said softly upon hearing this, "You can't really say that."
"The data chain provided in the files is actually quite complete. This time, it might really be..."
She paused, lowering her voice slightly. "Several top Doctors within the League have jointly submitted a feasibility report. If we can actually capture it, or even just obtain some tissue samples, the resulting benefits... would be enough to take both our families' strength to the next level."
Mieko clicked her tongue, reached out to take her crocodile-skin handbag from an attendant, pulled out a slender lady's cigarette, lit it, and took a deep drag.
Smoke drifted slowly from her red lips.
"Of course your family is attentive." She squinted at Yasuyo, her tone tinged with a bit of bitterness.
"Your family has an Elite now, and your influence at the Indigo Plateau is growing heavier by the day."
"Plus that precious genius daughter of yours... Tsk tsk, I heard she's been gaining access to advanced course permissions lately? Her future is limitless."
She flicked her ash, her expression languid. "As for us? We just have a few Gym Leaders, and they all act independently. That old man at home... Hmph, he's about to kick the bucket, and the recent squabbles over the inheritance have been a disaster. Those useless sons born to the concubines are arguing outside his ward every single day."
Mieko took another puff of her cigarette and narrowed her eyes. "To put it bluntly, my coming here this time is just a formality. The family wanted me to show my face to indicate we're still 'participating' in this project. In reality? I have no intention of getting involved."
She suddenly laughed, her smile filled with naked desire. "I'm mainly here to enjoy this luxury cruise—I heard the jacuzzi in the penthouse suite has fully automatic sensors, and the mattresses are smart temperature-controlled memory foam imported from Kalos..."
She leaned closer to Yasuyo, her perfume mixing with the scent of smoke. "Besides, on such a large ship with so many Trainers, who knows... I might just encounter some young and wonderful surprises?"
Yasuyo gave her an annoyed glare and used her fan to gently push away Mieko's face. "You... is your desire really that big? Are you really that... deprived?"
She said the last few words very softly, her fair cheeks flushing slightly.
"Big!" Mieko said decisively, though her voice was low and carried a certain thirsty rasp.
"I've been diligently and honestly serving by that old man's side for several years! Every day I had to face that face like withered tree bark, and that limp..."
She stopped, took a deep breath, and calmed her emotions. "I've finally endured until he's almost gone; this is the first time I've truly been let out to enjoy myself."
She stubbed out her cigarette in a wall-mounted ashtray in the corridor and clapped her hands. "Alright! I'm going to get some late-night snacks. The top-floor exclusive restaurant should still have ice cream foie gras flown in from Sinnoh and Galar charcoal-grilled ribs at this hour. Are you coming?"
Yasuyo shook her head, clutching the document box in her arms. "I have to go back and check my daughter's course reports. That child... I don't know what's spurred her lately, but she applied to unlock seven advanced battle theory courses, four practical simulation modules, and two advanced breeding subjects all within a week."
Her brow furrowed slightly, her tone carrying concern. "I need to keep in constant communication with her to check her course progress and psychological data. Otherwise, I'm afraid the pressure might be too much, and her physical or mental health might suffer."
Hearing this, a look of genuine envy appeared in Mieko's eyes. "To have such a hard-working genius daughter... Yasuyo, you're truly blessed. Her future is indeed limitless."
Yasuyo smiled, her gaze tender. "If you're so envious, why don't you have one too? Hasn't your family always wanted a stronger heir?"
Mieko was stunned for a moment, then she burst out laughing as if she had heard a joke.
She swayed her ample hips, hugged tight by her evening gown, and turned toward the top-tier exclusive restaurant. As she walked, she looked back and blew a kiss. "Me? I'm like an 'old hunter hunting a lion'!"
Yasuyo was confused. "What does that mean?"
Mieko had already reached the corner of the corridor. She gave a flirtatious wave, her voice floating back: "The lion is about to die, so I can only wait for someone else to fire the shot~"
Yasuyo stood in place, her beautiful brows furrowed as she whispered to herself, "Someone else to fire the shot...?"
She thought for a few seconds, unable to make sense of it.
But based on her understanding of Mieko, the subtext of that sentence was definitely nothing good!
It was likely... Yasuyo's cheeks burned, and she quickly shook her head to cast those filthy thoughts aside.
She entered her top-tier suite, which occupied half a cabin, locked the door, carefully placed the document box on the desk, and immediately connected to a video call with her daughter... Meanwhile, at the top-floor exclusive restaurant.
The design here was the height of luxury.
Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, each crystal finely cut to refract a soft glow. The walls were dark peach wood inlaid with gold trim, and the carpet was so thick it nearly swallowed one's ankles.
It was already eleven o'clock at night, and there were very few guests in the restaurant.
Only three or four tables were occupied on the curved sofas by the window, all engaged in low-voiced conversation.
Mieko walked in on her high heels, and a waiter immediately greeted her, respectfully leading her to a prime spot overlooking the sea.
She took the gold-leaf menu and flipped through it casually.
Sinnoh ice cream foie gras, Galar charcoal-grilled Gigantamax Farfetch'd ribs, Alolan Tropius fruit salad, Paldean secret spicy sauce baked lobster... the names of the dishes were all very tempting.
But Mieko lacked interest.
Her mind was still full of the dry data from the meeting and the annoying family infighting.
And... that emptiness and hunger deep within her body that had been suppressed for years and was becoming increasingly difficult to ignore lately.
She closed the menu, intending to just order a few dishes to go through the motions, when her gaze unintentionally swept across the entrance on the other side of the restaurant.
Then, her movements froze.
Her pupils dilated slightly.
Is that... the black-haired boy I saw in the Battle Hall this afternoon?
What is he doing here?
Mieko quickly sized up Roy—he was wearing simple travel clothes of an ordinary style and material that didn't look high-end; his entire outfit probably cost less than 100,000 alliance coins.
But this was the top-floor exclusive restaurant.
Only guests staying in the top-tier suites were eligible to come in and dine at this hour.
"An aristocratic Trainer...?" Mieko licked her lips, her eyes lighting up as she realized. "Is he the type who likes the 'ascetic' style?"
She thought of Yasuyo's daughter—that genius girl who worked so hard to unlock all her courses.
"Is this the trend for the new generation of family heirs now? Playing the pig to eat the tiger? Hiding their identity to train hard?"
The more she thought about it, the more likely it seemed.
Otherwise, how could you explain an ordinarily dressed youth staying in a top-tier suite and owning such an excellently trained Butterfree?
The fire inside Mieko's heart flared up instantly.
She watched as Roy, led by a waiter, sat down at a table not far from her.
The boy's face showed a hint of fatigue, but his eyes remained clear and sharp. After sitting down, he first asked for a glass of water, then quickly browsed the menu and ordered a good four or five main dishes—charcoal-grilled ribs, baked lobster, creamy mushroom pasta, seafood fried rice, and a huge fruit salad.
He had a large appetite.
It looked like he was replenishing himself after excessive physical exertion.
Mieko's gaze involuntarily drifted downward, landing on Roy's legs encased in training pants.
The lines were firm.
His back was straight.
His shoulders were broad.
She had noticed during the battle this afternoon; in the moments when his clothes clung to him during his movements, she could see the faint outlines of muscle.
Young.
Vibrant.
Full of stamina.
Mieko felt her breathing quicken slightly... Roy was indeed hungry.
And very hungry at that.
The reason was simple: after returning to the suite from the Battle Hall, Misty had some kind of whim; after her shower, she had wrapped herself in only a bath towel and sprawled on his bed, chatting incessantly.
As she talked, her body pressed closer.
The towel slipped.
And then came a hearty battle.
Although Misty was always shy about such things, once it started, her energy was like that of a tireless little female leopard.
They had carried on for nearly two hours.
Afterward, Misty started talking about the various privileges of the ship's top-tier suites. The one she was most excited about was this twenty-four-hour exclusive restaurant.
Hearing her talk about it made Roy feel famished as well.
After all, between the successive battles and the intense exercise just now, his physical consumption was indeed high.
So he took a shower, changed his clothes, let Misty rest, and came to the restaurant alone to find food... After ordering, Roy leaned back on the sofa, closing his eyes to rest.
When Mieko saw Roy, her heart skipped a beat, and she licked her lips. Suddenly, the food on the menu seemed tasteless.
Right now, she wanted to eat something much more delicious.
So she put down the menu and, with an elegant yet flirtatious stride, walked toward Roy...