Chapter 340: The Long-Overdue Romantic Showdown Finally Arrives

The video continued playing.

While Latios was still silent, Latias had already flown over and nuzzled her head against his chin.

"Big Brother, just say yes! Everyone really is nice!"

Latios looked at his little sister.

Then he looked at Selene.

"...I’ll stay nearby and observe."

"If you can’t keep her safe, I’ll take her away immediately."

Selene raised her chin.

"Under my guidance, your little sister is definitely going to become the brightest idol in the entire Pokémon world!"

"I don’t particularly want her to become an idol..."

"Then can you really bear to bury her talent?!"

Selene instantly put on a heartbroken expression.

"Mr. Latios, do you have any idea how many Pokémon have been so overprotected by their families that they can’t even get a warm Berry to eat?!"

"Berries are cold to begin with."

Selene fell silent for two seconds.

Then she turned toward Aurelia.

"Big Sis."

"I’ve finally encountered the strongest negotiation opponent of my entire career."

Aurelia waved a hand.

"What you just said wasn’t convincing in the first place."

"Big Sis! You’re my biological sister!"

"That’s exactly why I didn’t expose the fact that you were making it up on the spot."

[VIP Chat Group]

[Iris]: So fake Aurelia was Latios, and fake Selene was Latias?! And Latias only transformed into Selene because she thought Selene was pretty? That’s such a simple reason! I thought there was going to be some massive conspiracy behind all this!

[Bianca]: If anything, this proves Selene’s looks have transcended species-specific standards of beauty. Even Legendary Pokémon want to copy her appearance.

[Flint]: Zoroark getting emotionally destroyed on the spot by Latios saying, "You’re not even human," absolutely killed me.

[Volkner]: Zoroark: I may not be human, but you really are a cuckoo.

[Raihan]: Hahahaha! That Latios... I can’t believe I’m seeing that kind of expression on a Pokémon. How do I put it? He looks exactly like Steven when he finds out his daughter is about to empty out his stone collection. He wants to resist, but resistance is pointless.

[Steven]: What am I supposed to do if Ruri wants them? Besides, I gave them to her willingly!

[Wallace]: You’re talking pretty tough. Want me to remind everyone how heartbroken you looked at the time?

[Steven]: Feeling heartbroken is one thing. But if little Ruri wants something, am I seriously supposed to refuse her?

[Mr. Stone]: Good. So when are you getting married?

[Steven]: Ahem... Dad, is there seriously nothing else for us to talk about?

[Mr. Stone]: Correct.

[Steven]: ...

The video continued playing.

With the situation temporarily settled, everyone followed Selene to the hotel she’d already arranged.

By the time the group returned to the hotel lobby—Selene and Latias had already become sisters despite having completely different parents.

Latias transformed into Selene again and gave a wink.

"Selene, Selene!"

"Does this mean I can start livestreaming right away?"

"I can sing too!"

"And I can use my feathers to make little colorful streamers!"

Selene sucked in a sharp breath.

Then she cupped Latias’s face in both hands.

"Perfect."

"If this face doesn’t become famous, it’s practically an injustice against Arceus itself."

"I’ve decided!"

"You’re going to be the next phenomenon-level idol!"

"Yay!"

Aurelia and Latios sighed at exactly the same time.

One girl and one dragon exchanged a glance.

"You have a troublesome little sister too."

Latios spoke through telepathy.

"Mm."

Aurelia nodded.

"I’m used to it."

"My, my."

Lorelei accurately tossed her empty cup into a trash can three meters away.

"That’s why it’s better to be honest when it comes to feelings."

"Just look at you two."

"You clearly care about your little sisters, yet you insist on acting all aloof."

Latios and Aurelia simultaneously turned their heads away.

"...I don’t."

Selene immediately sidled up beside Lorelei.

"Aunt Lorelei, you sound really experienced."

"Did something like this happen to you before?"

"Me?"

Lorelei pushed up her glasses, the corner of her mouth curving upward.

"My past was far more exciting than this."

"Really?! Tell me, tell me!"

"Selene."

Aurelia pulled her sister back.

"Don’t pry into an elder’s private affairs."

"How is that private?!"

"This is the passing down of life experience!"

"Right, Aunt Lorelei?"

Lorelei laughed softly.

She was just about to say more when—

Ding.

The elevator doors in the hotel lobby suddenly opened.

Asher walked out.

He was wearing a white bathrobe with a towel draped around his neck.

His entire body gave off an unmistakably post-coital air of lazy satisfaction.

Selene’s eyes lit up.

She immediately rushed over.

"Dad!"

"Weren’t you supposed to come in a couple of days?!"

"Why are you already here today?"

"Where’s Mom?"

"Your mom and I only arrived today too."

Asher shrugged.

"We practiced the grand-finale performance this afternoon."

"Your mom got tired, so she’s catching up on sleep in the room."

Selene immediately put on an expression that said I understand.

"Dad, did you two—"

"Ahem."

"Don’t overthink it."

Asher coughed lightly.

Then, as if by reflex, he pulled a beautifully packaged bag of candy from inside his robe and handed it to Selene.

"Here."

"Eat."

A few steps away, Lorelei stood with her arms folded, watching the father-daughter interaction with obvious amusement.

"Lorelei."

Asher nodded toward her.

"Thanks for looking after these two girls for me."

"It was nothing."

Lorelei smiled.

"Your daughters are both pretty interesting."

"Their personalities couldn’t be more different, but they’re both very likable."

The two began chatting back and forth.

The atmosphere instantly became harmonious.

Behind them—

Selene and Aurelia even unconsciously quieted their breathing.

"Big Sis."

Selene lowered her voice.

"Do you think Dad and Aunt Lorelei might..."

"Don’t overthink it."

Aurelia interrupted her.

"They’re probably just close friends."

At that exact moment a cool voice sounded from behind the sisters.

"What’s ’probably just close friends’?"

Selene and Aurelia froze at the same time.

They turned around.

At some point, Sabrina had appeared behind them.

Her black hair hung loosely around her shoulders.

There wasn’t much expression on her face but her red eyes were staring directly toward Asher and Lorelei.

"M-Mom?!"

Selene’s voice jumped an octave.

"Weren’t you sleeping in the room?!"

"I woke up."

Sabrina didn’t move her gaze.

"I came out for some air."

Aurelia instinctively moved a little closer to Sabrina.

"Mom, don’t misunderstand."

"Dad and Aunt Lorelei are just talking..."

"I haven’t misunderstood anything."

Sabrina said calmly.

Then she walked toward Asher.

Lorelei noticed her as well.

The relaxed expression on her face shifted into something slightly more playful.

"Sabrina."

"Long time no see."

"Mm."

Sabrina stopped beside Asher.

Then, naturally and intimately, she wrapped one arm around his.

"Wifey, you’re awake?"

Asher turned toward her.

"Why didn’t you sleep a little longer?"

"I couldn’t sleep without you beside me."

As Sabrina spoke, she leaned even closer against Asher.

Yet she never once looked at Lorelei.

Lorelei pushed up her glasses.

The curve of her smile deepened.

"My. It’s been a while, but you’ve changed quite a lot."

"Have I?"

Sabrina’s tone remained flat.

"I suppose marriage changed me for the better."

"That much is true."

Lorelei nodded.

"You barely used to speak at all."

"You’re certainly much more talkative now."