Chapter 267: Is Tiana the Best-Behaved Child in the Asher Family?

The giant screen flickered, and a golden notification appeared.

[Correct Answer!]

[Congratulations to Tiana for receiving the reward—"Action Wristband"!]

[VIP Chat Group]

[Raihan]: Action Wristband? Why does that name sound so much like exercise equipment?

[Lucian]: Exercise equipment would be fine. I’m more worried it’s some kind of prank item.

[Aaron]: Based on what I know about Tiana, she’s probably already figuring out how to use that wristband to cause trouble.

[Tiana]: Uncle Aaron, I can’t just pretend I didn’t hear that~ Next time we meet, I’ll prepare a huge surprise for you. (￣ω￣)

[Aaron]: Wait, wait, wait! I was wrong! Niece Tiana, you’re the best-behaved child ever! The most well-behaved kid in the entire world! I didn’t say anything just now!

[Valerie]: Speaking of which, Hina’s birthday wish was actually, "I don’t want to go traveling. I just want to stay home and inherit the Day Care"? Hahaha, that’s strangely adorable.

[Diantha]: She doesn’t have much confidence when it comes to socializing, after all. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to stay at the Day Care and slowly learn from her father.

[Principal Samson Oak]: Why doesn’t Hina like going out during summer? Because she’d rather stay HIN-a-doors!

[Principal Samson Oak]: Hahahahahaha!

[Principal Samson Oak]: Why isn’t anyone laughing? I came up with that one specially for this livestream!

[Professor Kukui]: Principal, maybe you should save your jokes for the classroom.

[Wallace]: The Asher family’s career empire just keeps expanding. Give it a few more years and every senior position in the League will be occupied by one of Asher’s daughters. The rest of us are going to have to retire sooner or later.

[Steven]: When that happens, the Hoenn Iron Triangle can retire together and spend all our free time digging for stones.

[Asher]: I never agreed to go digging for stones with you.

[Steven]: Brother Asher, now you’re just being distant! Your daughters are about to take over the world. What else could you possibly be busy with?

[Asher]: I’m plenty busy. I’ve already got four wives and four daughters at home. You tell me whether I’m busy.

[Misty]: Hubby is surprisingly honest about it this time.

[Tiana]: Hehe~ Don’t worry, Dad. I’m the most obedient child in the family. I’ll definitely never make you worry about me~ (￣ω￣)

[Asher]: ...You brat. You’re not cooking up another ridiculous idea, are you?

[Tiana]: Don’t worry, don’t worry! I would never mess with Dad.

[Asher]: The more you say "don’t worry," the more worried I get.

[Violet]: A whole family constantly trying to outsmart each other. Wonderful entertainment.

[Daisy]: This is even better than the main show. Screen, you should broadcast more of our brother-in-law’s family life.

Meanwhile, in the real world—

Celestic Town, Professor Carolina’s Historical Research Institute.

Tiana lay on her stomach across the sofa beside the second-floor study window, both legs swinging lazily in the air.

The golden "Correct Answer" notification was still floating on the virtual screen in front of her.

A small silver-white wristband had appeared in her hand.

Its metallic surface gleamed faintly beneath the sunlight, with a row of tiny indicator lights along either side, currently blinking blue.

"Action Wristband..."

Tiana raised it in front of her eyes and poked one of the blinking lights with her other hand.

"The instructions say that once you select a target, you can make them perform any designated action within the allowed range..."

"And there’s no distance limit either."

"This thing is amazing!"

She paced around the study twice, tapping one finger against her chin.

The gold and violet in her mismatched eyes seemed to light up at the same time.

"So... who should I bind it to?"

Tiana raised one finger.

"Dad?"

"No, no, no."

"Dad would definitely notice immediately, and his revenge is way too scary."

Tiana stared at the wristband for three seconds.

Then a mischievous grin slowly spread across her face.

"Hehe~ Got it~"

Professor Carolina sat nearby in a rocking chair with a cup of tea in her hands.

"Tiana, what’s wrong?"

"Nothing, nothing!"

Tiana slipped the wristband onto her wrist.

The silver-white metal ring automatically tightened until it fit perfectly.

"Don’t worry, Great-Grandma. Tiana is the best-behaved girl ever!"

She jumped off the sofa and dashed into the empty room next door.

"Bind target—Mom!"

Tiana whispered the command toward the wristband.

Its indicator lights instantly changed from green to flashing gold.

"Program start! Motion capture in progress—"

The wristband gave a soft vibration.

A line of tiny text appeared above its display.

[Target successfully bound—Cynthia.]

[Countdown: 30 minutes. During this period, the target will execute all actions specified by the user.]

"Perfect!"

Tiana rubbed her little hands together.

"Hehe. Mom is always so serious..."

"Today, her daughter will help her loosen up a little~"

...

At the same time—

Asher’s Estate, Kanto.

Cynthia was sitting on the living-room sofa, reading an ancient text.

Garchomp lay beside her feet, dozing peacefully.

Suddenly—

Cynthia’s right hand shot into the air completely beyond her control.

Then it began waving wildly with an exaggerated enthusiasm that was completely at odds with her usual elegant demeanor.

Garchomp was jolted awake by the sudden movement.

It raised its head toward its Trainer and let out an extremely confused growl from deep in its throat.

Cynthia lowered her gaze to her right hand, which was still waving uncontrollably through the air.

Her brows furrowed slightly.

"...What’s going on?"

She tried to lower her hand.

Her arm completely ignored her.

Instead, it continued drawing circles through the air—

Each movement becoming increasingly exaggerated.

Then Cynthia stood up.

She began walking toward the front door.

Her pace remained unhurried.

Her posture remained elegant.

If one ignored the deeply puzzled expression on her face, everything looked completely normal.

Outside in the courtyard, Asher and Elesa were sitting on stone chairs enjoying afternoon tea.

Cynthia walked over.

Then—

She wrapped both arms around Asher’s waist from behind.

Her entire body pressed against his back.

She buried her face against the back of his neck—

And even rubbed her cheek against him with complete naturalness.

"Wifey, what’s wrong?"

Asher froze for a moment before asking.

Cynthia didn’t answer.

She merely tightened her embrace.

Like a predator confirming that its prey was securely caught.

Asher’s expression gradually became strange.

He turned around, placed both hands on Cynthia’s shoulders, and pushed her half an arm’s length away.

Then he carefully studied her face.

"...Cynthia?"

Elesa’s mouth had formed a perfect O.

"You..."

"What are you doing?"

Just then—

Misty and Diantha came down the stairs.

Misty was still yawning.

Diantha was still rubbing her eyes.

Both of them froze simultaneously the instant they saw Cynthia holding Asher’s face in her hands.

"Cynthia?"

Misty lowered the hand she had been rubbing her eyes with and blinked several times, as though checking whether she was still dreaming.

Diantha walked one full circle around the embracing pair.

The confusion in her eyes gradually transformed into a very different kind of excitement.

"Cynthia..."

"Don’t tell me you secretly read that copy of One Hundred Ways to Act Spoiled I gave you?"

"I didn’t."

Cynthia’s voice was still muffled against Asher’s chest.

"I put that book on the third shelf and never opened it."

"Then why did you suddenly become so enlightened?"

"I don’t know."

Cynthia sounded equally baffled.

"I suddenly just... can’t control myself."

"I think I know what’s going on."

Asher placed one hand firmly on Cynthia’s shoulder, temporarily holding her in place.

Then he called out—

"Hoopa!"

"Come out for a second!"