Chapter 365: Do You Seriously Have to Keep Going Back to That Damn "Honest Guy" Bit?

The video continued playing.

Alola Region, Ula’ula Island.

A private jet bearing the Sun-Moon Group logo landed beside the island’s control tower.

After stepping off the plane, Professor Kukui adjusted the brim of his cap.

"Um... Selene."

"Next time, could you maybe apply for an official flight route?"

"I saw the expressions on the control-tower staff just now."

"I feel like they’re already drafting a formal complaint."

Selene waved a hand grandly.

"Don’t worry, Professor."

"I’ve already donated a brand-new control tower to Ula’ula Island."

"They won’t complain."

"You... donated an entire tower?"

Professor Kukui opened his mouth.

"...All right."

"The people of Alola thank you."

"You’re too polite, you’re too polite."

"The Sun-Moon Group’s Alola branch is currently being prepared, so I’ll be counting on your support when the time comes, Professor."

Professor Kukui walked ahead and hailed a taxi.

"Malie Library, please."

Outside Malie Library.

Professor Kukui walked up and pushed open the door.

"Anyone here?"

Inside the library, a little girl with fluffy hair and a purple dress was holding a book covered in ghost illustrations.

Hearing the voice, she looked up.

Her gaze landed on Aurelia first.

Then shifted to Selene.

And then she jumped straight to her feet.

"Whoa!"

"It’s the Ciallo Sisters!"

"They’re alive!"

"The real ones!"

Acerola rushed over to them.

She raised a V-sign beside her right eye and stretched her mouth into an exaggeratedly radiant smile.

"Ciallo~ (∠?ω＜ )⌒★"

Mimikyu shuffled over beside her.

It awkwardly squeezed one eye.

"...Ciallo... (∠?ω＜ )"

The sight was so strange that Selene immediately burst out laughing.

"Hahahahaha!"

"Mimikyu learned it too!"

"Big Sis, look!"

"It’s so stiff! Hahahaha!"

"Mii..."

Mimikyu silently lowered its paw and hid behind Acerola.

Acerola clasped her hands together, eyes shining like two stars.

"You have no idea!"

"I’m your memes’ number-one fan!"

"I’ve saved every single one since the original ’Ciallo Aurelia’!"

Aurelia silently turned her face away.

"...My sister made those memes."

"I know, I know!"

Acerola turned toward Selene.

"President Selene, that whole clapperboard series was genius!"

"I laughed for an entire day!"

"Oh, you’re too kind, too kind."

"Just basic skills."

Selene smoothly pulled a business card from her pocket.

"Oh, right, Miss Acerola!"

"I’m planning to expand the Sun-Moon Group’s Alola branch."

"Want to invest?"

"You’ll get free access to Cosmic Park when it’s finished."

Acerola accepted the card, then tilted her head.

"Cosmic Park?"

"Can I trade that for ghost stories instead?"

"I’m collecting ghost legends lately."

"The more the better."

"The scarier the better."

Selene blinked her heterochromatic eyes.

"That’s negotiable..."

"But it’ll cost extra."

"Deal, deal!"

Acerola immediately grabbed a pen and seriously signed her name.

Then she looked up.

"Right!"

"What are you looking for at the library?"

"I’m the librarian here."

"I’ve read every book in this place!"

Professor Kukui finally found an opportunity to speak.

"They’re looking for some ancient texts about Alolan legends."

"Ohhh!"

"Those!"

"I know exactly where they are!"

"Follow me!"

Acerola led the three of them through row after row of towering bookshelves.

Eventually, she stopped at the dust-covered shelves in the deepest corner.

Standing on tiptoe, Acerola pulled a thick book covered in silver patterns from the top shelf and dropped it onto a table.

A cloud of dust exploded outward like a miniature smoke bomb.

"Cough, cough, cough..."

Selene waved both hands through the dust.

"How long has nobody touched this thing?"

"Probably..."

"Since before I became librarian?"

Acerola opened the book.

"Mainly because it’s all written in ancient script."

"Not many people can actually read it."

Selene leaned closer.

She stared at the densely packed writing covering the otherwise blank portion of the page.

At first, her brow merely furrowed.

Then it tightened more and more.

"Big Sis."

"Hm?"

"Come look at this."

Selene pointed toward the handwriting.

"Why do I feel like I’ve seen this handwriting somewhere before?"

Aurelia walked over and lowered her gaze.

Her heterochromatic eyes contracted slightly.

"It really is a very distinctive style..."

"And it feels strangely familiar."

Acerola leaned over.

"What are you two talking about?"

"Is there something wrong with this page?"

"We think we recognize the handwriting."

Aurelia explained.

"But everything written here is from several thousand years ago."

Acerola tilted her head.

"You two weren’t even born then, right?"

"That’s why we think it’s strange."

[VIP Chat Group]

[Aaron]: ??? Wait. My brain’s struggling to keep up. This is ancient writing from thousands of years ago, and these two sisters are saying they recognize the handwriting?

[Lucian]: Either they traveled through time... or the person who wrote it traveled through time... or—Asher wrote this book.

[Leon]: I choose the third option.

[Wallace]: Third option.

[Ash]: Asher’s literally in the group chat. Can’t we just ask him?

[Raihan]: Hahahaha! Do we even need to ask? I’ll answer for him. Asher: "Well, it’s from the parallel world, so naturally I don’t know much about it."

[Steven]: Stop making wild guesses! How could Brother Asher possibly have done something like that?! He’s clearly just an ordinary magician!

[Lt. Surge]: What’s ordinary about him? The part where he casually summons Legendary Pokémon?

[Koga]: Can’t you tell? Steven’s obviously trolling.

[Volkner]: @Lt. Surge, hahaha! There’s an honest guy over here! Everyone come laugh at him!

[Asher]: What’s wrong with being honest? Do honest people deserve to be mocked? As an honest man myself, I despise this sort of behavior the most. ( ′ゝ ｀)

[Elesa]: @Asher, do you seriously have to keep going back to that damn "honest guy" bit?

[Dawn]: Hahaha! Sorry, hubby, but this is genuinely so funny.

[May]: Wait, Asher is actually an honest person? (〇△〇)

[Asher]: Of course. I’m the most honest person there is. ( ′ゝ ｀)

[Misty]: @May, don’t listen to him. Also, I would like to formally warn all the other girls here: You absolutely, absolutely need to stay far away from Asher. A terrible man like him should be left for me alone to endure.

[Flint]: Incredible. We’re doing the part where someone tries to monopolize him now too?!

[Skyla]: Misty, I can hear your abacus clicking all the way from Unova.

[Misty]: I’m only looking out for all of you.

[Diantha]: Thank you for your concern, Misty~ But I’ve already developed immunity~ So I’ll gladly accept hubby instead~

[Misty]: !!! DIANTHA!

[Cynthia]: Sigh... (Facepalm.)

The video continued playing.

Just as the sisters were staring at the handwriting in confusion—a white figure suddenly dove down from the top of the bookshelf.

It snatched the book cleanly in its mouth.

The moment it landed, all four paws kicked off the floor and it shot away.

...

TL: For those who don’t know, hearing someone’s abacus clicking is a saying that means you can see them scheming in real time.