Chapter 497

Although the plan for the Ultra World had been finalized, when it could actually be carried out depended on the opening of the Ultra Wormhole.

Days passed one by one. Under the suppression of some unknowable force, the Aether Paradise Explosion Incident gradually lost public attention. In just half a month, even the people of the Alola Region had slowly forgotten about it.

Xia Chen also settled into an outwardly peaceful daily life.

When he had nothing to do, he would ride Milotic out to sea to fish, take Zeraora shopping through bustling Hau'oli City, or bury himself in Alola's local libraries searching for ancient records that might be related to the Ultra Wormhole.

The closer the Ultra Wormhole's opening drew, the calmer and more peaceful he became.

Yet before the Ultra Wormhole reopened after half a month of waiting, Lillie and Gladion, the brother and sister pair, came to visit first.

"Sorry to bother you, Teacher. I've come to visit again."

Lillie smiled and tugged at the black-clad young man beside her. "This is my brother, Gladion, the one I told you about last time."

The young man, whose face seemed naturally aloof, revealed a faint smile. "Hello. I'm Gladion. Thank you for taking care of Lillie these past days."

Xia Chen waved a hand. "You're welcome. We get along well, bro."

"Bro?"

Gladion frowned slightly. That form of address was not particularly common in Alola.

Xia Chen gave an awkward laugh to cover it up. What had nearly slipped out was "brother-in-law," but afraid that Gladion, a notorious sister-con, would beat him to death, he hastily changed his wording.

It was not as though he really had any designs on Lillie. It was just that Gladion's "brother-in-law" nickname had rolled off his tongue far too naturally in his