Wednesday, October 2.
The autumn morning was slightly chilly. Wearing a turtleneck sweater, Young Master Mao sat in the lobby of Eterna City's Pokémon Center, drinking coffee.
The lobby television was showing a replay of the Masters Challenge, with Elite Four Lucian facing the Sinnoh Valkyrie, Cynthia.
The wise, elegant Psychic-type Elite Four member commanded Bronzong to bombard Cynthia's Garchomp, unleashing Flash Cannon at point-blank range.
The arena exploded with a boom, drawing cries of surprise from everyone in the lobby.
Young Master Mao curled his lips. All that smoke, and not a scratch. Typical...
Sure enough, when the smoke cleared, Garchomp was completely unharmed. With a wicked smile, Garchomp brought a Brick Break straight down on Bronzong's head...
Boom! Lucian lost!
"Tsk, tsk... that's Garchomp's intimidation factor for you. Poor Elite Four Lucian got absolutely trounced~" Young Master Mao shook his head with unhurried composure.
"Ahem... it wasn't really that bad. I'd worked all night that day, so I wasn't in good shape..." An embarrassed voice rang out as an elegant working man with pale purple curls and a burgundy suit appeared.
"Oh~ It's you, Lucian, king of the working stiffs!" Young Master Mao said with a laugh.
"Uh..." Lucian's face darkened. Was that supposed to be a compliment or an insult?
Then Young Master Mao handed him an extra-strong espresso. "You're late. A whole day late~"
Lucian helplessly pinched between his brows and sat down beside Young Master Mao. "Don't even ask. Everything piled up at once.
"After I received Cynthia's message, I was going to set off for Flower Edge Town to join the encirclement operation.
"But before I could leave, word came that Team Galactic was targeting the Eterna Museum.
"So I had to explain things to Mr. Lance and stay here to guard the place."