Hearing her husband's words, Aunt Stacy bit her lip hard, unable to speak for a long time.
Since leaving Team Rocket, this was the first time the couple faced such a difficult choice.
Leave? They couldn't bear to leave Axel, after all, he was the child they had raised since he was little.
Stay? They were afraid Axel would be implicated.
In the end, Aunt Stacy glanced at the photo on the windowsill of Axel and the little girl, then sighed helplessly, "I'll go cook first, you tidy up the house."
"If only the two of us were stronger, then we wouldn't have to struggle like this."
"After being researchers our whole lives, in the end, we're almost caught up by Axel."
Hearing his wife's words, Uncle Sonny also sighed helplessly and picked up a broom to start sweeping.
Getting stronger... how could it be that easy?
Resources, talent, opportunity, none could be lacking.
Even Axel, if he couldn't find a second Trial Secret Realm, it would be impossible to obtain another Gardevoir that strong, right?
Just then, the doorbell suddenly rang.
Uncle Sonny narrowed his eyes and placed the broom aside.
He summoned a Slowpoke and slowly walked toward the door.
"Slowpoke, if I see an enemy outside later, I'll wave at you."
"Then you immediately use Psychic Headbutt to smash through the door and attack the enemy outside."
"Got it?"
Slowpoke blinked in confusion, thought for a long while, then nodded.
Uncle Sonny curled his mouth and repeated what he just said once more.
Slowpoke-type Pokémon were great in every way, wide move pool, many evolution forms, even the tail could be used in cooking.
Only flaw: too dumb, just a bit smarter than Psyduck.
After confirming that Slowpoke really understood, Uncle Sonny finally turned and looked through the peephole.
The next moment, he froze.
'What is that big head at the door?'
Coming to arrest two researchers like them, was it necessary to bring such a huge shiny Dragonair?
"Slowpoke, attack."
"Wife, run!"
The moment Uncle Sonny spoke, Slowpoke's clear eyes instantly lit up with a strong red glow.
Psychic energy and superpowers mixed together, and Slowpoke's head became tougher than steel.
BOOM!
With a loud bang, Slowpoke easily smashed through the iron security door and rammed head-first into Dragonair's forehead.
"Huh?"
At the doorway, Dragonair looked dumbfoundedly at the Slowpoke ramming its forehead, then turned to look at Axel.
'Weren't we supposed to go home?'
'Is this how Aurient's Pokémon welcome their own people?'
Luckily the opponent was weak... it didn't hurt at all.
"Slowpoke, what are you doing?", The little girl had black lines all over her head, hugged the exhausted Slowpoke in her arms, and rubbed it hard a few times.
"Slooow...", Slowpoke looked at the little girl in confusion.
Its silly eyes instantly lit up with intelligence, stood on its hind legs, and pointed to its owner hiding in the kitchen.
If a Shellder were nearby, Axel even suspected this guy could evolve into Slowking ahead of schedule.
"Slow~"
"Oh, I get it now!", Before Slowpoke could finish its cry, Axel stepped forward and covered its mouth, afraid it would embarrass Uncle Sonny in front of him.
"It must be because Uncle Sonny just taught you the skill theory, and you accidentally put it into practice, right?"
"Don't worry, Dragonair won't blame you."
Slowpoke: "???"
'Judge, I want to appeal, this neighbor is black-hearted.'
"No need to be so nervous, we're all friends after all. Even if you accidentally hurt us, it's okay."
Slowpoke's mouth was firmly covered by Axel. No matter how it struggled, it couldn't speak, and tears of helplessness welled up at the corners of its eyes.
"Look at this good child, even crying from guilt. Tonight, I'll definitely cook you a good meal."
Slowpoke's eyes lit up.
'Got it. I totally get it!'
'This whole thing was my own doing. No one better steal the credit!'
———
One hour later, the table was filled with a sumptuous meal.
Uncle Sonny rummaged through the storage room for a long time and found a treasured bottle of fine liquor, intending to drink until the time was right to tell Axel about their current situation.
After seeing Dragonair, he felt that even if Axel moved away with them, he wouldn't be dragged into trouble.
After all, Dragonair had the power to summon storms and flew at high speed. Combined with Gardevoir's Teleport, there should be few who could actually endanger Axel.
Even if Team Rocket did come knocking, Axel would still be capable of taking his girl and getting away.
So he decided to be honest with Axel and let him decide whether to move with their family.
Just then, the doorbell rang again.
Uncle Sonny paused, "The door's already been wrecked by Slowpoke. How is someone still pressing the doorbell? Since when were our neighbors so polite?"
"Just come in already. There's no door, what's the point of pressing the bell?"
"Okay!"
A humble voice replied, and Lance, carrying large and small bags, stopped at the entrance. He shyly took off his shoes and bowed deeply to the little girl's parents.
"Researcher Sonny, Researcher Stacy, long time no see. I've missed you dearly."
The moment they saw that figure, both Sonny and his wife instinctively stood up.
The Pokéballs in their hands were gripped tightly, shielding Axel and Evabehind them.
Green hair, black cap, and that familiar voice...
They would never forget, this was one of the three Team Rocket executives, Lance.
"Lord Lance, you actually came in person."
"The child is innocent. We're willing to go with you."
It was obvious, their voices were trembling.
Axel narrowed his eyes, his gaze toward Lance becoming hostile.
To scare his uncle and aunt like this, there was no way Lance hadn't done something bad.
"Kneel when you talk."
Bang!
Lance's heart skipped a beat and he knelt without hesitation.
"Master, please let me explain!"
"I'm not listening."
Lance: "..."
'Damn it, what's going on?'
He had never done anything over the line to Researcher Sonny and Researcher Stacy. This time, he even bought their favorite seafood.
He'd originally hoped to get promoted and favored by the gods, step into glory in one fell swoop.
So why did he end up kneeling like this?
'Big brother, big sister, why are you acting so scared of me?'
'You're making it look like I abused you or something.'
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