Chapter 234: Big Boss Asher

[VIP Chat Group]

[Bruno]: Hahahahahaha! Looks like Lance’s role in the parallel world is basically Asher’s designated substitute!

[Lance]: ...

[Steven]: Makes sense. Brother Asher is the Chairman, after all. Isn’t a Chairman’s job basically to distribute work to the people under him?

[Wallace]: Makes sense, my ass. This is clearly workplace bullying—he’s dumping all his work on his subordinates.

[Raihan]: I finally understand Asher’s management philosophy. It can be summed up in eight words—"When there’s work, Lance handles it. When there isn’t, vacation."

[Steven]: That’s Brother Asher’s skill! He knows how to recognize talent and put it to good use! Mr. Lance is the most dependable pillar of the entire League! Brother Asher is simply putting that pillar where it can perform at its best!

[Wallace]: Steven really can spin anything. If Ghetsis had someone like Steven defending him, Team Plasma’s reputation probably never would’ve collapsed.

[Flint]: But you have to admit, Asher’s method really does work. If I could find some sucker willing to work overtime for me, I’d skip work every day too.

[Lucian]: Don’t you already have Volkner?

[Flint]: Volkner only helps me with paperwork. He doesn’t attend meetings for me. If only he could split himself into two, then he could do all my work too.

[Volkner]: Get lost.

The video continued playing.

Three months later.

The Dragon-Riding Princess officially finished filming.

Hoopa’s golden rings once again appeared simultaneously in the skies over every region, and people everywhere eagerly waited for the movie’s premiere.

Meanwhile—

World League Headquarters, Dome Conference Hall.

The normally solemn circular conference hall had been completely transformed.

A gigantic poster for The Dragon-Riding Princess was projected across the dome overhead.

Diancie rode atop Rayquaza’s back, while behind her, Groudon and Kyogre stood on opposite sides amid scenes of a blazing volcano and the deep sea.

The circular conference table had temporarily been removed.

In its place were rows of premium leather seats, each armrest holding a beautifully bound movie booklet and a bag of limited-edition themed snacks.

Lance stood at the entrance and stared at the completely transformed conference hall.

He remained silent for quite a while.

Lorelei walked up behind him with a cup of coffee in her hand.

"So? How’s it going?"

"Yesterday, I requested to hold an emergency Kanto regional security meeting here. Asher told me, ’The conference hall is under maintenance.’"

Lance’s voice was remarkably calm.

"And today, it’s a movie theater."

"Well, the maintenance is finished now, so obviously we can use it."

Asher appeared from who-knew-where with an iced coffee in his hand.

"Maintenance schedules are unpredictable. Sometimes they’re fast, sometimes they’re slow. Hard to say."

Lance took a deep breath.

Then he turned toward Lorelei.

"Let’s go inside."

Lorelei patted him on the shoulder.

"Look on the bright side. At least you don’t have to attend a meeting today."

The premiere audience quickly filled the hall.

Champions and Elite Four members from every region were seated in the first three rows.

Leon and Raihan sat beside each other, with Raihan holding the bag of limited-edition snacks and carefully studying the ingredient list on the back.

Steven sat directly in the center of the second row.

In his arms was a giant cheering sign with fluorescent letters reading—

DIANCIE PRINCESS IS NUMBER ONE!

Wallace sat beside him wearing a mask and silently shifted half a seat farther away.

"Wallace, why are you sitting so far away from me?"

Steven turned toward him.

"Maintaining a safe distance."

Wallace’s muffled voice came from behind the mask.

"After you chased me around trying to put makeup on me last time, I had nightmares for three straight days. And every single one of them had your face in it."

"Oh, come on. We were actors back then. Today we’re just audience members."

Steven put on a serious expression.

"Besides, I didn’t even bring any makeup brushes today. Look. Both hands empty. All I brought is my cheering sign."

Wallace lowered his mask by half an inch.

His eyes were filled with complete distrust.

Just then—

The lights in the hall dimmed.

A distant chime rang out through the surround-sound system.

The enormous projection screen slowly lit up.

The movie began.

Golden light emerged from the darkness.

The camera slowly descended from above a vast sea of clouds, passing through layer after layer before finally settling on a palace floating high in the sky.

Diancie sat upon a throne at the highest point of the palace.

Her eyes were closed, her small hands clasped together in front of her chest.

Several Carbink stood in neat rows at her feet, softly singing an ancient song together.

"The princess of the Diamond Domain, the final heir entrusted with protecting the Heart Diamond."

The narration was once again recorded by Diantha.

"Her people depend upon the light of the Heart Diamond to survive."

"And she is the sole guardian of that light."

The camera slowly pulled back.

Beneath the castle—

Darkness was closing in from every direction.

Wherever the mist passed, the lights within the crystal walls went out one after another.

The Carbink disappeared one by one as well.

Diancie opened her eyes.

Then she placed one hand against the Heart Diamond.

A blinding white halo erupted from the diamond, temporarily forcing back the approaching mist.

But once the light faded—

The mist only grew thicker.

It surged in from every direction at once, like countless starving tongues licking across the castle’s crystalline walls.

"It’s useless, Princess."

A tall, slender figure in black stepped out from the mist.

The man wore a deep-purple robe whose hem dragged across the ground.

Every step he took left a scorched, corroded mark across the crystal floor.

Diancie moved in front of the Heart Diamond, shielding it behind herself.

Her voice was clear and unwavering.

"Who are you?"

The purple-robed man slowly raised a hand and pulled back his hood.

An extremely deliberate beam of side lighting illuminated his face perfectly.

Black hair.

Golden eyes.

And the faintest trace of a lazy smile at the corner of his lips.

It was none other than—

Asher.

"You don’t need to know who I am."

Asher took two steps forward.

"All you need to know is that after today, the Diamond Domain will disappear from this world."

"And you—"

He pointed toward Diancie, the corner of his mouth curling into a wicked, arrogant smile.

"Will become the crown jewel of my collection."

[VIP Chat Group]

[Steven]: Wait, wait, wait, wait! Brother Asher?! Why is Brother Asher the villain?! Then what about Wallace and me?!

[Flint]: Isn’t it obvious? Asher showed up, so you two got demoted to supporting acts.

[Misty]: I’ll admit I’m biased, but hubby looks seriously handsome in that outfit! Even when he’s saying villain lines like that, he still looks so cool!

[Elesa]: Exactly! That smile is supposed to be threatening, but somehow it looks ridiculously charming! My heart actually skipped a beat watching it!

[Cynthia]: Ahem. You two, show a little restraint.

[Valerie]: The deep purple with the gold detailing looks incredibly sophisticated. Whoever designed that costume is an absolute genius.

[Raihan]: He definitely looks cool. Now I’m wondering how impressive Asher’s villain is actually going to be.

[Bruno]: No matter what, he can’t be worse than Steven and Wallace, right? Those two already have Groudon and Kyogre. Asher has to get a Legendary Pokémon of his own too, doesn’t he?

[Lance]: Mm. That makes sense.