Chapter 341: How Could an Honest Guy Like Me Ever Make a Move on a Girl?

The video continued playing.

As psychics, Aurelia and Selene could clearly sense that while their mother was talking to Lorelei, the psychic field surrounding her was steadily growing stronger.

The sisters exchanged a glance.

Then, in perfect understanding, both took several steps backward without saying a word.

Zoroark, however, was still completely oblivious to the situation.

It scratched the back of its head and muttered:

"Why does it suddenly feel colder in here?"

"Did someone turn the air conditioning up too high?"

The moment those words left its mouth Sabrina and Lorelei both glanced at it.

Zoroark audibly swallowed.

Then silently crouched down.

"Um..."

Selene could only raise a hand and try to smooth things over.

"Dad, Mom, are you hungry?"

"Why don’t we go get a late-night snack?"

Lorelei waved a hand.

"I won’t intrude on your family reunion."

"I’ll head back to my room and rest."

She was just about to turn away when Sabrina suddenly spoke.

"You’re already here."

"Come with us."

"It’ll also give me a chance to thank you for looking after Aurelia."

Lorelei looked at Sabrina.

Then she smiled.

"Sure."

"If Gym Leader Sabrina herself is inviting me, how could I possibly refuse?"

"Perfect."

Asher nodded.

"The more people, the livelier it’ll be."

"Steven should be arriving soon too."

"That guy said he prepared some special surprise. Who knows what kind of nonsense he’s planning this time."

[VIP Chat Group]

[Iris]: That conversation between Lorelei and Sabrina just now... I swear the air felt thicker even through the screen. Ah... Even Axew is afraid to breathe.

[Axew]: Axew... (Trembling.)

[Viola]: The way Sabrina wrapped her arm around his was so natural. She didn’t hesitate at all. Is this the composure of the main wife?

[Valerie]: Lorelei isn’t losing either. Her smile never disappeared for even a second. She’s clearly prepared to meet this head-on.

[Brawly]: This is basically a battlefield without gunfire! Even I can feel that invisible pressure! Women in love really are terrifying!

[Lt. Surge]: When Sabrina said, "I couldn’t sleep without you beside me," imagine if Lorelei had followed it up with, "What a coincidence. Asher and I were having a lovely conversation just now." Wouldn’t the whole place explode?

[Koga]: Amazing, you really know how to pour gasoline on a fire.

[Brock]: As expected of the Grandmaster! The atmosphere is this tense, yet he can still stand there looking completely calm! Absolutely incredible!

[Sidney]: Truly terrifying.

[Steven]: What’s so impressive about this? Brother Asher manages five sisters-in-law without his harem ever going up in flames. There are only two women here. He can maneuver around them effortlessly.

[Asher]: Bullshitting, are we? "Effortlessly maneuver around them"? Are you watching this with your brain turned off? That version of me doesn’t even have anything going on with Lorelei. Of course I’d be calm.

[Elesa]: Are you sure there’s really nothing going on? Then explain why Lorelei looks at you differently from everyone else.

[Asher]: What’s strange about that? I’m handsome and dependable. Who wouldn’t look at me a few extra times?

[Volkner]: ...

[Flint]: ...

[Shauntal]: So does Miss Lorelei actually have feelings for Asher or not? The more I watch, the more convinced I am that there’s something there.

[Lorelei]: I’m not interested in married men, thank you.

[Erika]: I agree. Judging by Mr. Asher and Miss Lorelei’s personalities, there probably isn’t actually anything between them. As for the way Miss Lorelei looks at him... Um... Maybe it’s unrequited love?

[May]: Mhm! Asher has been very devoted throughout all these episodes, so I don’t think Miss Lorelei has much of a chance either.

[Steven]: No chance in this episode? Then just wait for another episode. Besides, who’s to say Brother Asher would never make a move on Lorelei?

[Asher]: Of course I wouldn’t. How could an honest guy like me ever casually make a move on a girl?

[Raihan]:@Asher, bullshitting, are we?

[Kenny]:@Asher, bullshitting, are we?

[Wallace]:@Asher, bullshitting, are we?

[Sonia]: Hahahahahahaha! I can’t! My stomach hurts from laughing!

[Leon]: Hahaha! So we’re still using Asher’s own magic against Asher, huh?

The scene abruptly changed.

Entrance to the Sun-Moon Group’s Cosmic-Class Immersive Psychic Experience Park.

Today was the park’s official opening ceremony.

There were so many people that Officer Jenny had to be called in just to barely maintain order.

"Don’t push!"

"Stop pushing!"

"Everyone stay in line!"

Officer Jenny held up a megaphone, her voice already half-hoarse from shouting.

But the moment she finished—the sky suddenly darkened.

Everyone looked upward.

At some point, an enormous parade float pulled by two Skarmory had appeared overhead.

The entire float was silver-white, decorated with glowing crystals and layers of translucent fabric.

At the front hung a gigantic heart made from hundreds of small balloons.

Written across the center were the words:

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE SUN-MOON GROUP’S COSMIC PARK ON ITS GRAND OPENING—LOVINGLY SPONSORED BY DEVON CORPORATION

Steven stood at the very front of the float.

He wore a cape completely covered in sequins.

A life-sized Diancie standee was cradled in his arms.

Two exaggerated circles of golden eyeshadow surrounded his eyes.

And atop his head sat a jewel-encrusted crown.

With one hand gripping the railing and the other holding a megaphone, Steven’s voice blasted across the entirety of Cinnabar Island.

"EVERYONE!"

"TO CELEBRATE THE PARK’S GRAND OPENING, I’LL BE GIVING AWAY ONE HUNDRED HIGH-QUALITY EVOLUTION STONES FOR FREE TODAY!"

"FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED!"

The situation instantly spiraled out of control.

"MR. STEVEN! ME! GIVE ME ONE!"

"MR. STEVEN, LOOK OVER HERE! I BOUGHT THREE OF YOUR PHOTOBOOKS!"

"WHAT PHOTOBOOKS?! MR. STEVEN HAS PHOTOBOOKS?!"

The crowd surged toward the airborne float like a tidal wave.

One older police officer was shoved so hard that his hat went crooked.

All he could do was raise his megaphone and shout toward Steven:

"MR. STEVEN!"

"IF YOU KEEP THIS UP, I’M ARRESTING YOU FOR DISTURBING PUBLIC ORDER!"

"Come on, officer!"

"I’m giving out free stuff and somehow I’m the one in the wrong?!"

Just as the chaos reached its absolute peak—a young man was suddenly shoved hard from behind.

The iced drink he’d just bought flew straight out of his hand with a whoosh and struck one of the Skarmory directly in the head.

The drink burst open.

Its contents splattered all over Skarmory’s eyes.

Unable to see, it immediately lost its sense of direction and started flying wildly.

"HEY, HEY, HEY!"

"YOU TWO CAN’T JUST FLY IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS!"

"WAIT—WAIT—WAIT!"

The float twisted through the air like a pretzel.

The life-sized Diancie standee slipped straight out of Steven’s arms.

"DIANCIE!!!"

Steven immediately jumped off the float after it.

At the same time, he threw out a Poké Ball.

"METAGROSS!!!"

Red light flashed.

Metagross burst from the Poké Ball and caught the Diancie standee in midair.

Only then did it leisurely descend.

When Steven was exactly half a second away from smashing face-first into the ground—

Metagross used its psychic power to freeze him in midair.

Steven hovered ten centimeters above the ground.

He slowly raised his head.

"Metagross..."

"Did you really have to make that so dramatic?"

"Meta~" (The Diancie standee is more important. You said so yourself.)

...