Sir, You Wouldn't Want What Happened Today to Be Exposed, Would You?

Wang Fang, the middle-aged man, sat upright and said seriously, "We have already investigated this matter thoroughly. Those Mankey regarded the berry tree you picked from as their property, which was why they attacked you without warning and took your son away. However, our scenic area is willing to take full responsibility and offer appropriate compensation to you two honored guests for the fright you suffered."

Jiang Qian shot Wang Fang a cold glance. "No need for so many explanations. This was your responsibility to begin with. Poor management would have been bad enough, but you only allowed visitors to bring one Pokémon. Would my child have been put in such danger otherwise? Don't make it sound like you're bestowing charity on us."

Wang Fang gave an awkward laugh. "Mrs. Jiang, I absolutely didn't mean that. In any case, you and Mr. Xia will be lifelong VIP guests of Misty Mountain, welcome to visit and enjoy it for free at any time. Every year, we will also send each of you a berry gift pack worth ten thousand yuan. Are you two satisfied with this compensation?"

Lying in bed, Xia Chen considered it quietly. A berry gift pack every year sounded pretty good, didn't it?

If he lived another seventy or eighty years, that would be worth seven or eight hundred thousand yuan.

No, no. By then, what kind of status and standing would Xia Chen have? Would he even care about such petty favors?

Good grief. As expected of the genius behind this ridiculous event, only something that deserved to be hanged from a streetlamp could come up with this kind of installment-payment compensation.

The more Xia Chen thought about it, the more it felt wrong. Just as he was about to object, Jiang Qian spoke first.

"I'll give you one more chance to reconsider your wording."

Her gaze was sharp, her tone calm, yet it somehow carried an unquestionable authority.

This domineering CEO aura was completely different from her earlier motherly tenderness.

It seemed Jiang Qian's social standing was quite high in daily life. But why had he run into her on a bus? A rich person's weird hobby?

Xia Chen silently grumbled to himself.

"Ahem, well, we have another proposal. Five hundred thousand yuan in cash, plus two annual cards for Silph Co. You'll receive a fifteen percent discount on purchases at Silph Co. for one year. What do you think?"

"That's more like it," Jiang Qian replied flatly.

Wang Fang let out a quiet sigh of relief and wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. Then he forced a broad smile. "That's good, then. As for what happened today, I hope you two..."

Jiang Qian sneered. "We were discussing compensation just now. What does that have to do with hush money?"

Wang Fang: "..."

He desperately wanted to slam the door and leave, but after considering the severe consequences if this matter became public, he could only grit his teeth. "Another three hundred thousand!"

Jiang Qian raised her head like a proud Swanna. "Are you joking? If this incident were exposed and publicized, my younger brother could gain both fame and fortune. In your eyes, that's only worth three hundred thousand?"

Still lying in bed, Xia Chen quietly added, "You'll need to pay more."

Wang Fang felt his world spinning. He had spent his whole life hunting geese, only to have his eyes pecked out by one. After all his years of wrongdoing, had retribution finally come for him?

His voice was bleak, even carrying a hint of a sob. "Another five hundred thousand. It really can't be any more than that..."

Jiang Qian answered decisively, "Deal. That makes 1.3 million in total. I hope to see the transfer record tomorrow."

Wang Fang opened his mouth, but in the end, he could not bring himself to say, "I meant adding five hundred thousand, not eight hundred thousand."

After thinking for a moment, Xia Chen added, "Oh, right. What you said earlier still counts, doesn't it? I need to go back to that place tomorrow, the Pokémon Reserve."

Afraid that this ancestor might stir up more trouble, Wang Fang hesitated. "Well... it's rather dangerous there. You'd better not..."

Jiang Qian gave a soft laugh. "Mr. Wang, I assume you wouldn't want what happened in your scenic area today to be exposed, would you?"

Wang Fang: "..."

In the quiet hospital room, a phone rang. Jiang Qian glanced at the message, then turned and said, "The car's here. Let's go."

The car sped along the lakeside road by Cloud Marsh Lake. Taking in the luxurious interior of the extra-long sedan from some unknown brand, Xia Chen became even more certain that Jiang Qian was a wealthy woman.

Yet the wealthy woman no longer had the imposing manner from before. Instead, she sincerely thanked Xia Chen.

"Xia, thank you so much for today. If it weren't for you, I really wouldn't have known what to do."

Xia Chen waved a hand. "If you want to thank someone, thank Eevee. She heard your son crying and chased after him."

Jiang Qian nodded and solemnly thanked Eevee again.

Eevee reservedly wagged her tail. "Eevee~ (It was nothing~)"

Xia Chen asked curiously, "This might be a little presumptuous, but why did you bring a Torkoal with you?"

Though it was clear that this Torkoal was very strong, no matter how strong it was, it was still a Torkoal—a Pokémon well-known for being slow.

When something like today happened, it truly could do nothing.

Jiang Qian smiled bitterly. "Xiao Han... likes eating meat grilled on Torkoal's shell. And since Ethereal Mountain doesn't have any particularly powerful Pokémon, I let my guard down a little. In any case, I'll definitely learn from today's lesson."

Xia Chen tugged at the corner of his mouth. He had not expected such a bizarre reason.

"Oh, right. Xiao Han said you wanted to catch a Feebas. I can't give you a Prism Scale for now, but I can help you get a Feebas with pretty good potential."

Jiang Qian truly was a wealthy woman. A Feebas with good potential was worth at least a million, yet she was offering one just like that.

But Xia Chen did not have much interest in it. "I'll pass on that..."

Jiang Qian became anxious. "How can that be? The scenic area's compensation is the scenic area's compensation. You saved Xiao Han, so please don't refuse this small token of gratitude, no matter what!"

Xia Chen replied helplessly, "Please let me finish. What I mean is, I really like that Feebas from today. I'll catch it myself. You can give me five Fairy Gems instead. Those are more important to me."

Five Fairy Gems were roughly equal in value to the Feebas. Xia Chen did not want to end up owing her a favor instead.

And most importantly, once he had the Fairy Gems, along with half of the 1.3 million yuan, he would not have to worry about raising Eevee and Feebas for quite some time.

Only then did Jiang Qian relax. Smiling, she said, "My company does business with the Kalos region, so that won't be a problem at all. If you're willing, you can buy from me from now on. I'll sell them to you at cost."

"Also, you can borrow one of my Pokémon when you go to Ethereal Mountain tomorrow. There aren't any particularly powerful wild Pokémon there, but you still need to be careful."

Watching Jiang Qian fuss over him with concern, Xia Chen smiled slightly. This woman's emotional intelligence was truly quite high.

Whether she was sincere or merely putting on an act, he did not know. But her concern and care were real enough. On this trip, Eevee had helped him form a good connection.

He smiled and nodded along with Jiang Qian's words while absentmindedly rubbing Eevee's head.

Eevee quietly grumbled to herself, Why was this bizarre development drifting farther and farther from her previous life?

Tuesday's read-throughs are extremely, extremely important. Please read all the way to the last page!

An extra update today to show my sincerity!