What Do You Call Me? Dad

Lucario and Xu Mu locked eyes. Trainer and Pokémon stared each other down, and the air instantly crackled with tension.

Cynthia had no idea why. Seeing Lucario greet Xu Mu on his own, she assumed their first meeting was going well.

"Xu Mu, I'm off to compete!"

Cynthia beamed. Xu Mu had thought she'd pulled strings to get into the Little War God Cup. Now she would prove she had earned her place.

This young lady gets by on skill, too!

"Good luck."

Xu Mu gave Cynthia a sunny smile and watched her head toward the battlefield.

Lucario was strong—at the very least, he had to be at Pseudo-Elite Four Level. With him there, Cynthia should have no trouble in her matches.

I'll have Greninja finish my match quickly.

Xu Mu didn't want to beat up beginners, but what choice did he have? He was too strong!

Finding an opponent his own age who could match him was hard enough.

If he weren't keeping Cynthia company, he wouldn't have bothered coming to a slightly fancier beginner tournament to crush the competition.

"What kind of Pokémon is that? Could I trade you for it or buy it?"

With nothing else to do, Xu Mu had called Arceus out to play with him in the waiting area.

There were no legends of Arceus in this world, anyway. Who would guess that this harmless-looking little fellow was the legendary Creator God?

A girl approached Xu Mu. She wore a pink dress and an exquisite necklace, her whole outfit lavish and elegant.

Xu Mu shook his head. "He's not for sale."

Oh, she's cute. Pretty, too...

Xu Mu took in the elegant young woman, then hastily scolded himself. What are you thinking, you bastard? You have Cynthia. How can you still be checking out other girls?

Oh, well. Cynthia isn't here. One little look won't hurt.

Xu Mu looked up at the young woman who had appeared out of nowhere. He had taken a liking to her looks, and if she had wanted to make the first move, he might not have turned her down.

Then her next words killed his interest.

"Why wouldn't you sell him? I have plenty of money. Name your price. I feel a connection with this adorable little fellow. He should be honored to belong to me. Why can't you, as his trainer, take a hint?"

Xu Mu almost laughed. Is there something wrong with her head?

Where did this princess come from?

You want to buy him, so I have to sell? Who are you?

Do your family know you're this far gone?

"Who are you? Are you sick? Get treated quickly. There might still be hope."

With that, Xu Mu prepared to get away from the spoiled girl.

"What's that supposed to mean? Are you insulting me?"

To his surprise, she caught on. She hadn't understood his words, but she had guessed they weren't kind.

She stepped right up to Xu Mu and pointed at him.

"I'm Venerable Dongfeng's youngest daughter!" she shouted. "You'd better show me respect, or my father will kill you!"

Small world...

I just dealt with the father, and now here comes the daughter?

Xu Mu looked at Venerable Dongfeng's daughter with pity. She had no idea what had happened.

Your father?

Please, have him come and kill me!

You don't know it, but I defeated your father, and then my dad had him silenced!

Miss, leave while I'm still feeling merciful...

Xu Mu gave her a strange look, utterly at a loss for words.

"Chen Yang, this man's bullying me! I want his Pokémon, and he won't sell it!"

The girl panicked when she saw the way Xu Mu was looking at her.

She worried her beauty had driven him mad and that he was plotting something terrible.

She's calling for help?

Xu Mu was speechless when he saw her summon backup.

You're a little smarter than your father, at least. You know to call for help. But why look for it in a beginner tournament?

Pick anyone here. If even one of them can hurt me, you win!

"Who are you? What does your family do? Why are you bullying Xiaoyu?"

The boy called Chen Yang opened with three questions in a row.

Xu Mu froze for a moment, then fired right back. "What's it to you? Who are you? What do you want?"

People from my world keep their heads down. We don't start trouble, but we don't fear it, either.

If someone comes looking for a fight, I'm not taking it lying down.

Three questions deserve three questions back!

And Xu Mu wasn't done. He went on the offensive. "What are you staring at? Got a problem? Something to say?"

Another three-question barrage left Chen Yang dazed.

"I... I do have a problem."

In his confusion, he only managed to answer Xu Mu's last question.

Xu Mu smiled.

"Then keep it to yourself."

"All right. If that's all, get lost."

Chen Yang stood there blankly, nearly turning to leave.

"Wait. Why am I listening to you?"

After muttering the question to himself, Chen Yang hurriedly turned back and pointed at Xu Mu. "What's your name? You dare mess with me? Got a death wish?"

Xu Mu really didn't want to deal with this idiot.

With a brain like that, he's sticking up for someone else? Is he trying to get himself killed?

Then again, nobody with any sense would stick up for Venerable Dongfeng's daughter...

"Forget it. You're competing too, right? Let's settle this in the tournament."

Xu Mu couldn't be bothered to keep arguing. What satisfaction was there in beating a fool?

"This goes for both of you. If you face me in a match, the loser gets on their knees and calls the winner 'Dad.' How's that?"

Chen Yang was delighted. "Leave Xiaoyu out of it. The bet can be between the two of us!"

Xu Mu didn't care. He looked at the pair and sighed inwardly. What a waste of a pretty face. She's an idiot...

"Fine. That settles it. Just don't lose before you reach me. That would be embarrassing."

Xu Mu left them with that and paid them no more attention. He took a bottle of Moomoo Milk from his pocket and fed it to Arceus.

"I won't lose. I'm taking first place in this Little War God Cup!"

"Get ready to call me Dad!"

After that threat, Chen Yang hurried off with Venerable Dongfeng's daughter.

Watching him go, Xu Mu suddenly called out, "Call me what?"

Chen Yang was already imagining defeating Xu Mu in the arena and watching him kneel and call him Dad.

Caught off guard by the question, he answered without thinking. "Dad!"

Xu Mu was satisfied. That confirmed it: Chen Yang really was an idiot!

"Yes, son!"

"The matches haven't even started, and you're already admitting defeat?"

Xu Mu gave Chen Yang a faint smile. Chen Yang's face burned red, and he wished the ground would swallow him.