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Chapter 172: A Hero's Welcome
🕑 Added 2025-08-31 14:31:59 +0000 UTCChapter 172: A Hero's Welcome
"Ah! It's Basalt! Honey, Basalt's back!"
When Basalt pushed open the door, his dad was lounging on the sofa watching a farming channel, but the sight of his son, whom he hadn't seen in ages, made him bolt upright.
"You brat, you finally decided to come home," his dad said, his voice thick with emotion. But his next words were filled with pride. "You did good, son." As a father, he supported Basalt's dreams and didn't want to be a burden. All his unspoken words were conveyed in his encouraging gaze.
Hearing his voice, his mom rushed down from upstairs. "Hmph! So you still know the way home? Why not stay out for another year or two?" she grumbled, though her eyes told a different story.
"Something came up, otherwise I would have been back right after the tournament," Basalt said with a sheepish grin.
Out in the world, he was the Regional Champion, a talent that university chancellors had to court. But at home, he was just their son. He couldn't talk back when he was being scolded. And he loved every second of it.
To change the subject, he quickly said, "Mom, Dad, I brought back presents. I guarantee you'll like them."
"Presents?" His mom's eyes immediately lit up. What woman could refuse a gift? Even his dad stretched his neck, his face full of anticipation.
"This is for you, Dad. The latest model luxury sedan," Basalt said, pulling a sleek car key from his pocket and placing it in his father's hand. "Your old pickup truck is fine for hauling things, but it's not great for going out. Weren't you just admiring Uncle's new car?"
"This..." His parents were dumbfounded. His dad quickly tried to hand the key back. "Basalt, are you crazy? You should be using your prize money to raise your Pokémon! What are you buying a car for? I'm an old man; I was just talking. Can you... can you still return it?"
"Mom, Dad, this car was only half a million. Your son can afford it," Basalt said with a grin. He pulled out his Pokédex and showed them his bank account balance.
"Why are there so many zeros?" his mom asked, her eyes blurring as she lost the ability to count.
His dad, however, remained calm and began to count on his fingers. "Thousands... ten thousands... hundred thousands... millions... ten million? Ten million!"
"What? Ten million?!" his mom shrieked, but his dad quickly covered her mouth.
"Basalt," his dad said, his voice trembling, "where did this money come from?" He knew the prize for winning the regionals was, at most, a million. Ten million was impossible.
"Don't worry, Mom, Dad, it's all legitimate," Basalt said, scratching his cheek. "It's your fault for giving me such a handsome face. That, combined with my skills, has gotten me a lot of sponsorship deals. This is all from endorsements." It was a half-truth. He had made a few million from endorsements, but not this much. But he couldn't talk about the Weather Bureau.
"Ah, I see! I've read about that. The star players in the pro league make tens of millions a year from endorsements. With Basalt's looks, which he gets from me, of course the sponsors would love him," his dad said, punching his fist into his other hand in a moment of realization.
"Nonsense! He gets his looks from me. Everyone knows sons look like their mothers. It's science," his mom retorted.
As his parents bickered, Basalt just smiled. The matter of his wealth was settled, and his dad happily accepted the car key.
Next, Basalt pulled out a box containing a pale green liquid. "Mom, this is a skincare product made with Life Energy. Just a little bit every day will slow down aging and keep your skin beautiful."
"Beauty and anti-aging?" his mom's eyes lit up. No woman could resist the allure of skincare.
"It's not available on the market yet," Basalt whispered. "I had to pull a lot of strings to get it. So use it sparingly, and don't tell anyone."
"This must be very expensive, then," his mom said, raising an eyebrow.
"Very," Basalt nodded dramatically. In reality, it had been concocted by the female researcher from the Life Energy Bureau.
"Oh, and by the way," he added, dropping another bombshell, "Metro City gave me a house as a reward. It's in the Riverside Gardens development, right here in Seaside County. Whenever you two have time, you can go and get the deed transferred to your name."
Still reeling from the other gifts, his parents' ability to be surprised had been significantly upgraded. They didn't shout this time, but the twitching corners of their mouths betrayed their inner turmoil.
"And, you can have this," Basalt said, handing them the bank card with the ten million on it. "The pin is 123123. If you run out, just let me know."
"Basalt, you need money to raise your Pokémon. You should keep this," his dad said, trying to push the card back. "Now that you have money, you need to take good care of your Pokémon. Excadrill and Bronzor are good kids with a lot of potential. Don't neglect them."
"Don't worry, I would never," Basalt said with a grin. "With my fame and skill, do you really think I'll have trouble making money? Just take it. If I need it, I'll ask."
"Alright then," his mom said, snatching the card. "I'll just consider this a down payment for your future wife." Now that he had a house, a car, and savings, she no longer had to worry about him getting married.
Basalt just felt a little awkward. He was only eighteen. His mom was getting a little ahead of herself. "Besides," he thought, Master Martel's voice echoing in his head again, "I'm not dating until I reach the professional level."
The moment he got home, the visitors started pouring in: relatives, friends, and people he barely knew, including the deputy mayor in charge of education for the county. Over the next few days, he made up for lost time, throwing a big party for his relatives and taking his high school friends out for dinner and karaoke.
He was also granted a special exemption from attending school. The teachers at Seaside County High no longer had much to teach him. He had also outgrown the local scene; even most professional-level trainers no longer impressed him.
In the middle of his break, his class president, Leo, had asked him to team up for a local double battle tournament. Basalt's Bronzor had easily carried Leo's Pidgeot to a championship victory.
Then, on the tenth day, he got a call from Agent Zhou.
"Basalt, a new, large-scale Hidden Land has just manifested within the country. The local Pokémon ruler has already made a deal with the League and has become an ally. We've cleared out most of the major dangers. Now, the various major powers are sending their most talented young trainers in to get some experience and scout for undeveloped resources. Everything will be decided by strength. Are you interested in representing the Weather Bureau?"
Zhou's voice was excited. "It's a great opportunity to gain experience and battle against the top geniuses from all over the country."
"More battling?" Basalt frowned. He was getting a little tired of it. "Agent Zhou, where is this Hidden Land? If it's close, I guess I could go."
"You brat," Zhou laughed. "Do you know how many people would kill for this opportunity? And you're acting reluctant. The Hidden Land is in the Grassland Province, thousands of kilometers from you. I guess I shouldn't bother you..."
"Where did you say it was?" Basalt's voice was suddenly sharp, all traces of laziness gone.
"In Crimson City, in the Grassland Province. Why?"
"I'M IN!"
