Pokémon, you're not allowed to expel me from human form!

When Karen saw Rocco smile, her smile widened, and she prepared to reveal more of Carmen's dark history.

At that moment, Carmen, whose eyes were still curved but shrouded in shadow, stood behind Karen, looking down at her while opening her eyes, which had now recovered.

"And another thing, I haven't told you the story of Carmen blowing up the kitchen while cooking, have I? Since we're on the topic, let me tell you!"

"Then tell me about it, I'd love to hear it too!"

"Okay, okay..."

At first, Karen responded, but when she realized that the voice was not from Rocco, her expression and movements clearly froze.

At that moment, Carmen's hand precisely grabbed Karen's ear, and with the superhuman strength passed down in her family, she dragged Karen in front of her!

She had originally planned to go to the Grass and Tree Dojo for a meal with Luo Ke after she came out.

But it seems she has some 'family matters' to deal with first!

...

At the Grass and Tree Dojo, Ningya cooked while humming a little tune from Eagle City.

She felt everything was going too smoothly.

Alice's working tonight and won't be home for dinner, and Karen's gone out too. That means when Rocco comes back for dinner, it'll be just the two of us!

"Hehe, looks like even the heavens are wishing me success~"

......

44. Carmen and Karen both felt they understood.

"Welcome back..."

Upon hearing the sound, Ningya immediately opened the back door of the Grass and Wood Dojo.

She was wearing an apron and had a sweet smile, just like a wife welcoming her husband home, which was very heartwarming.

If there's anything to criticize...

Those must be the two people accompanying Luo Ke.

"Sister Ningya, I made it in time for dinner!"

As soon as Ningya opened the door, Karen slipped right inside, sniffing the air with her delicate nose, and headed towards the dining room.

Carmen then walked up to Ningya and nodded to her with a smile.

"excuse me."

She left those words behind and then walked right past Ningya.

Luo Ke was the last to enter.

"Thanks a lot."

He could tell from Ningya's apron that she had just been cooking, so Luo Ke's words were particularly serious, which helped Ningya recover from the stiffness she felt when she saw Karen and Carmen.

"It's okay, I just got back early... I have time."

"You can't say that. It's a rare treat to come home to a delicious and warm meal."

"No, I think it's very ordinary."

Ning Ya said this, and she probably really thought so too, but Luo Ke's praise still made her smile.

Then the two of them chatted casually until they finally went into the restaurant.

Compared to deciding what to eat and then going to explore the restaurants, or staying at home and ordering takeout, the novelty of not knowing what was being prepared at home before returning made Luo Ke and all the elves on him immediately look towards the dining table.

At this moment, a copper pot was placed in the center of the dining table, and around it were plates of meat and vegetables that Ningya had prepared.

Besides that, there were some broken garlic sausages and mixed shallots, etc.

It wasn't particularly exquisite, but the fresh-looking slices of meat caught Luo Ke's eye.

"Hot pot meat, um... if you have good ingredients, hot pot meat is indeed a convenient and delicious choice."

"The side dishes are also very exquisite and unique—just looking at them makes them look delicious!"

As Luo Ke spoke, he walked toward the dining table, while Ning Ya went to the other side to get the dipping sauce and began distributing bowls and chopsticks.

Her actions, which resembled those of a mistress, drew Carmen's attention from Rocco to her.

She couldn't tell whether Luo Ke's current state was good or bad.

But she could see something else: Ning Ya... she was definitely different towards Luo Ke!

So it seems that the message my silly little sister sent me before was correct.

Thinking of this, Carmen looked Ningya up and down, and then nodded silently in her heart.

Even if she were a woman, she would have to admit that Ningya was good in every way.

If everything goes well, then Luo Ke might be very happy with her.

But Carmen thought of the power that Roco had absorbed into his body before, which made her purse her lips and frown slightly.

If the situation gets serious, Luo Ke might be disfigured and have health problems. Can Ning Ya accept all of that?

Even if she accepts, this matter will likely become a burden for both of them.

So it just didn't work... Since this whole thing started because of me, I have to take responsibility!

With this thought in mind, Carmen turned her gaze to Karen—since this silly little sister wants to matchmake her and Rocco, now is the time for you to make your mark!

Her gaze was so intense that Karen turned her head to look at her.

They were sisters, so even though they hadn't been together for some years, Karen could still see the deeper meaning in Carmen's eyes, as if she was trying to express something to her.

Carmen saw that Karen understood, so she looked at Ningya and then at Luo Ke under Karen's gaze.

Now Karen understands!

She recalled what happened on the field before—her sister wanted to match me with Luo Ke, which meant she wanted me to pay more attention to Sister Ning Ya and that she would help me, right?

Thinking of this, Karen smiled and nodded to Carmen.

So the two of them turned their gaze away, satisfied.

Ningya was unaware of the situation here.

Because at that moment, she was struggling with something.

That is, should she take out the wine she prepared?

She had thought tonight would be just the two of them, so she made some special preparations. But now that Karen and Carmen were also there, those preparations were a bit unnecessary.

However, after much thought, she finally took it out.

We're all adults, it's perfectly normal to have a drink with meals. It's rare to get a bottle of good wine, so drinking a little shouldn't be a problem, right?

Ningya took out the wine with this in mind.

Luo Ke merely glanced at the bottle of wine and offered no further comment.

He knows a lot about food, but not so much about alcohol.

Carmen is similar.

Seeing their reactions, Ningya was thinking of introducing the wine to them herself, but to her surprise, Karen's eyes lit up just like Roco's when he saw food.

"Oh—this Eaglewood wine is quite rare, and this vintage is excellent!"

Surprisingly, Karen is quite knowledgeable about wine.

After recognizing the type of wine, he went on to talk about a lot of related things, some of which Ningya didn't even know.

As she spoke, she took the bottle, opened it with remarkable professionalism, and poured wine for everyone with practiced ease.

Judging by her appearance, she looks like an old drunkard.

but...

boom!

'Hehehe...'

After just one bite, Karen blushed and collapsed onto the table, as if she had an alcohol allergy!

Her appearance terrified Luo Ke and the others.

They called for medical staff and took care of her until they confirmed that she had really passed out after just one drink, then they carried her back to the bedroom.

When they returned to the table, Rocco breathed a sigh of relief, while Carmen had very mixed feelings.

She never expected Ning Ya to have such methods!

So despicable!

The thought of her 'comrade-in-arms' being taken down by Ning Ya made Carmen realize that she needed to find a way to turn the situation around.

So when the three of them started eating again, Carmen immediately brought up the topic.

“Luo Ke, when you treated me before, didn’t you say that you had something you wanted to know about that violent energy? I can tell you, so just ask whatever you want to know.”

Hearing Carmen's words, Ningya also looked over curiously.

Luo Ke was somewhat surprised.

He had initially thought this was Carmen's private matter and intended to talk to her alone, but now that she had brought it up herself, Luo Ke changed his mind and followed her lead.

"it is good."

"I want to know how you were corrupted by this power, and... do you know the source of this power?"

Carmen sighed inwardly when faced with Rocco's question.

In her view, the fact that Luo Ke would ask these questions meant that the power he had absorbed into his body was indeed unmanageable, which was why he wanted to learn more about this power in order to find a solution.

Just like myself when I was first corrupted by this power...

Carmen guessed this, so she told him as much as she knew in detail.

"Let me first talk about the source of this power."

"Its origin is a vermilion orb, which, according to our Boss, belongs to Groudon, the god of the earth!"

Rocco simply nodded slightly in response to Carmen's words.

Ning Ya, who was listening in, stared wide-eyed in utter astonishment.

She didn't know anything about the Crimson Orb, but Groudon, the Earth God—wasn't that the one the League had summoned all the Elite Four members and Champions for, saying that he was sleeping in Mount Roton and was about to awaken?

How did Carmen get involved with it?

......

45. Groudon, Kyogre, and Rayquaza

It was Wakamichi who told Carmen about the vermilion jewel.

There are very few people in the world who recognize this person, and as for Zong... his former name was Zong Chuke!

This is the older brother that Zong Qinke mentioned, the one who made a fool of himself by giving way to him.

The main family was one of the witnesses to that period of history.

"The Boss said that at the end of the Age of Kingdoms, before the Alliance was established, there was a war that broke out between gods."

"The god of the earth climbed out of the volcano, and the god of the sea emerged from the deep sea. The two sides went to war over something."

"Because of their war, the god of the sky became angry and also got involved."

"The indigo and crimson orbs fell from the ocean god Kyogre and the earth god Groudon during this war."

"It is said that these two precious pearls contain the power and secrets of the gods."

He never intended to deliberately conceal this 'family history record' that Wakamune modified based on some of his own discoveries.

So he told Carmen and the others.

So Carmen told Rocco and Ningya.

Luo Ke simply nodded slightly, seemingly deep in thought.