"That's what I'm watching right now!" Ash retorted, not feeling at all that he was wasting time.
"That was a recording of Bruno, one of the Elite Four of Kanto, a trainer among trainers. We thought that maybe a master like Bruno had learned some kind of great secret technique for Pokémon, which is why we were watching it," Brock explained.
"Exactly! Great secret technique? So what is this great secret technique?"
Ash nodded confidently, then looked at Brock with a confused expression, completely not understanding what Brock meant by "great secret technique."
"You don't even know what it is, but you kept nodding. I really can't believe how absent-minded you are..." Misty said helplessly.
"Ahem, the so-called great secret technique is the most important secret for becoming stronger as a Pokémon trainer," Brock explained.
"That kind of thing doesn't exist at all."
At this time, Red came before the three of them, explaining to Ash, who was trying to find shortcuts.
"If such a great secret technique really existed, then there wouldn't be so many Pokémon trainers 'meaninglessly' sweating and working hard to become stronger."
"If there really had to be some great secret technique, it would be nothing more than the bond between trainer and Pokémon. That might be the best shortcut to improving one's strength."
After hearing Red's teaching, both Ash and Brock fell into a moment of contemplation, clearly reflecting on their foolish thoughts from earlier.
"If you really want to go find Bruno, I can actually take you there to have a look. I happen to want to find an excellent opponent for Scizor today as well."
After speaking, Red didn't forget to stroke one of the Poké Balls at his waist, telling the Scizor inside not to get so excited.
"Is that really okay, Red? The Elite Four are super superstars. They're not the kind of existence that ordinary people like us can reach."
As soon as he finished speaking, Brock suddenly thought of something and immediately corrected his previous words.
"Of course, except for you..."
"Just what kind of unapproachable guy do you think that muscle-head Bruno is..." Red said helplessly.
Elite Four trainers were seen as incredibly sacred figures in the eyes of most Pokémon trainers, but this was just a one-sided misunderstanding. Elite trainers were just ordinary trainers with relatively outstanding strength, not nearly as great as Ash and Brock imagined them to be.
Bruno's reason for going to Mount Silver was very simple. He just wanted to capture a powerful giant Onix, not to deliberately train in the deep mountains as the two imagined.
"Recently Bruno has appeared around Mount Silver. As for his purpose, I'll let him explain it to you when we meet him," Red said leisurely.
"Can we really meet Master Bruno? Big brother!"
Ash looked at Red with excitement, thinking Red was deceiving him, but the excitement revealed in his eyes still completely exposed Ash's inner thoughts.
"Of course you can; I'm just afraid your image of Master Bruno might be ruined afterward," Red teased, turning and using Teleport to take Ash's trio away from home, heading to Mount Silver near Pallet Town.
This trip to Mount Silver wasn't just to find an opponent for Scizor but also to let the massive Steelix return to its homeland.
During this time, Red took Ash's trio to a tea pavilion at the base of the Mount Silver mountain range. Red was a regular customer of this tea pavilion. After capturing the massive Steelix on the day before his departure, Red had specifically come to this tea pavilion to enjoy delicious dumplings and tea.
The four of them, who had come here to rest, coincidentally helped the tea shop grandmother deal with Team Rocket's trio who were disguised as 'wild hermits,' though Team Rocket was directly chased away by the grandmother with a broom, not really needing Red and the others' intervention.
"Speaking of which, we haven't encountered Team Rocket for a long time recently..." Ash complained, somehow missing the times when he defeated Team Rocket.
"Is Master Bruno here for training?" Ash wondered.
"Probably so. After all, Mount Silver's environment is very suitable for tempering one's mind!" Brock explained, sharing his understanding.
"You guys... sigh..."
Red helplessly shook his head. How could there be such a coincidence? It was simply to capture a giant Onix that caught his eye. Bruno had almost gone without food recently.
Afterward, Red and the others came to a wide road, or rather than a wide road, it was more like traces left by some giant creature crushing through.
"Come out, Steelix!"
With that, Red threw the Poké Ball from his waist, releasing the massive Steelix inside.
"ROAR!"
As soon as the massive Steelix appeared, it let out a roar, nostalgic for the scent from Mount Silver. After all, this had once been its homeland and the place where it had survived.
The massive Steelix disdainfully re-crushed the wide road in front of it, turning it into an even more spacious giant roadway.
As for why it bothered to do this, it was nothing more than inexplicable competitive spirit.
"You've been watching for quite a while now. It's time to come out, Bruno!"
With that, Red threw a small stone he had picked up toward the back, accurately hitting behind the giant rock.
"Worthy of being the young man recognized by Lance and Lorelei. Your strength is indeed extraordinary!"
The sound of the stone shattering came from behind, and a muscular giant man appeared, shirtless, wearing white shorts, with a black belt around his waist and bands on both his arms and legs. This was Bruno.
Both Ash and Brock, who turned to look at Bruno, froze simultaneously.
"What's wrong with you two?" Misty asked in confusion.
"Master Bruno!" Brock said in surprise.
"Strictly speaking, this is our first time meeting, Red!"
Bruno ignored the astonished gazes of Ash and Brock, actively approaching Red to shake hands in greeting.
"How's it going? Did you achieve your goal?" Red teased.
"Haha, not yet. Looking at your Steelix's size, it should be the former king of this Mount Silver area, right? I didn't expect you to have captured it so early."
Bruno said helplessly. If he really had to make a choice, Bruno would very much have liked to capture the massive Steelix in Mount Silver.
Unfortunately, due to Red's intervention, Bruno could only choose the next giant Onix that caught his eye.
Although unable to understand the meaning behind Red and Bruno's words, Ash, who was single-mindedly focused on becoming stronger, still sincerely requested that Bruno give him some guidance.
Bruno first looked at Red with confusion. Such an excellent Pokémon trainer was right beside them, so why go to the trouble of coming all the way to Mount Silver to find him? It was completely unnecessary.
"No help for it. They've mythologized your image too much, and I can't correct it for a while."
Red waved his hand, helplessly explaining to Bruno.
"Hmm?"
Bruno suddenly thought of an idea, one that could get him a full meal, though this thought might earn him some disdain from Ash's trio.
"I'll have them do some things for me. You don't mind, do you?"