"Thanks for your hard work, Pidgeot."
After landing back on the cliff, Ash returned Red's Pidgeot to its Poké Ball and offered a word of thanks.
Bill, Brock, and Misty quickly walked over as well.
The battle they had just witnessed had practically dislocated their jaws. Now, the way they looked at Ash was noticeably different.
"Ash… is it really you?"
"How did you even do that?"
Whether it was Pidgeot, Charizard, or that inexplicable method of capturing the Giant Dragonite—none of it was something an ordinary Trainer could pull off.
And yet all of it had happened around Ash, a rookie Trainer.
Unbelievable.
"Haha, don't worry about it. They were all borrowed from a friend."
Ash laughed it off vaguely, offering no further explanation.
Red's situation was better left for later. If he said too much now, he was worried he might end up dissected in some research lab one day.
That said—even their reactions were nothing compared to Ash himself.
After all, he'd been watching the entire battle from a VIP front-row seat inside his own body.
His shock level wasn't any lower than theirs.
"So Red's strength is actually this ridiculous?!"
Up until now, the strongest Trainers Ash knew of were the ones he'd seen battling on TV as a kid.
Those Trainers known as the Elite Four were already the peak of his understanding.
Red was basically on that level!
"Please show me some respect."
Red's voice suddenly echoed in Ash's mind, leaving him completely confused.
Hey, I just compared you to the Elite Four—how is that disrespectful?
What, should I go back to Pallet Town and burn incense for you?
Red: "…"
01100111·01100001·01101110!
Back in reality, Ash tossed the Poké Ball containing the Giant Dragonite to Bill.
"As agreed, I helped you capture it, so…"
"Yeah, I get it," Bill said eagerly, catching the ball.
"Once I help this Dragonite resolve its inner longing, I'll head back to the Johto region and begin researching that hypothesis."
The Poké Ball looked ordinary, but felt incredibly heavy in his hand.
Bill had stayed at the lighthouse all this time to understand the Dragonite's unfulfilled desire.
Now that the matter was settled, there was no reason to remain.
After all, his hometown wasn't in Kanto—it was Goldenrod City in Johto.
A true metropolis, and the place where all his professional research equipment was located.
Then Bill seemed to think of something. His tone softened as he gave Ash a meaningful look.
"Please thank that… friend of yours for me."
Ash scratched his head, wearing a perfectly innocent expression.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Heh."
Bill didn't push further, merely smiling it off.
Everyone had their secrets.
Though this boy's secrets were… unusually outrageous.
It was getting late. With everything settled, the four of them planned to return to the lighthouse and get some proper rest.
"Graaah! Graaah!!"
But one Pokémon beside them was still shadowboxing the air, brimming with fighting spirit.
"Charmander? Why are you so fired up?"
Ash asked in confusion.
"Probably because it saw Charizard and developed a sense of rivalry," Bill analyzed seriously.
"Fire-type Pokémon tend to be extremely competitive, especially toward members of the same evolutionary line."
With other types, if a Squirtle met a Wartortle, it might politely say hello.
'Nice head. Very round.'
But Fire-types?
They usually open with Flamethrower straight to the face, determined to overthrow their senior.
"Don't worry—one day you'll be even stronger than that Charizard!"
Ash smiled encouragingly and rubbed Charmander's smooth head.
The texture wasn't as nice as Squirtle's, but it was pleasantly warm.
"RAH!!"
Charmander shot out a burst of flames, planted its arms at its sides, and began flapping them up and down.
A takeoff motion.
"Seeing Charizard made you want to fly, huh?"
"Yes—that's the spirit! As long as your desire to fly is strong enough, you'll grow wings!"
Ash encouraged enthusiastically.
Bill nodded in agreement.
"There is a Pokémon in the Hoenn region that desperately wanted to fly when it was young—and later actually grew wings."
"I think it was called… Bagon."
"Oh right—Bagon."
Ash suddenly recalled something too.
"Hoenn, huh? That's the region where Rayquaza (as Caterpie - treat as a joke ) are everywhere, right?
You could throw a rock with your eyes closed and knock one out."
That was what a certain Bug Catcher's best friend once told him.
Bill: "?"
Was this geography taught by Professor Oak?
And why did it sound so… edible?
Early the next morning, the four parted ways at a crossroads near the lighthouse.
Ash, Brock, and Misty headed toward Vermilion City.
Bill, meanwhile, planned to go to Saffron City, then take the Magnet Train straight to Goldenrod City in Johto.
Just before leaving, Bill suddenly remembered something.
"Oh right, Ash—want me to upgrade your Pokédex to the latest HW model?
With 5G coverage across all of Kanto, seamless regional connectivity, real-time communication—"
Ash waved him off.
The TV said 5G was a scam.
Hard pass.
Three hours later, Ash and the others finally arrived at the Vermilion City Pokémon Center.
A poetic harbor city wrapped in autumn leaves and dim yellow skies, carrying a bittersweet, melancholic charm.
And yet—
Strangely enough, not a single fallen leaf or weed could be found anywhere.
Spotless. Immaculate.
"This city is really clean…"
The three couldn't help but marvel.
Naturally, the first thing to do in a new city was to challenge its Gym.
They'd heard Vermilion Gym specialized in Electric-type Pokémon, and that its Gym Leader was an obsessive Electric Mouse enthusiast.
According to local rumors, he was the best Electric Mouse breeder in all of Kanto.
Ash immediately refused to accept that.
He practically leapt to his feet, ready to challenge on the spot.
When it came to raising Electric-type Pokémon, he refused to lose to anyone.
Just look at his Pikachu—it was noticeably larger than normal Pikachu!
Unfortunately, this was still a rest period. His Pokémon were recovering with Nurse Joy, so he could only suppress his excitement for now.
"Bzzz—!"
At that moment, a public television nearby caught their attention.
As a port city, Vermilion wasn't actually famous for shipping—
It was famous for its news industry.
Ash's interest was immediately piqued.
Let me see what Kanto's strongest news media looks like!
The three turned toward the screen.
"According to reports, on the morning of the 15th—that is, the day after tomorrow—
Kanto's most luxurious cruise liner, the S.S. Anne, will set sail."
"All wealthy individuals are asked to board in an orderly fashion to experience the lifestyle of the elite.
Less fortunate citizens may observe respectfully from the shore."
The three frowned.
Why did that feel… oddly insulting?
It might be true, but was the news always this blunt?!
The screen suddenly switched.
A gray, foggy sea appeared—
With a lone lighthouse shining faintly in the distance.
The three: "!!!"
Isn't that Bill's rundown lighthouse?!
How did this make the news so fast?!
Where did they even get the footage?
"Breaking news! Yesterday, a mysterious incident occurred near the Seafoam Cape Lighthouse outside Vermilion City!"
"The legendary creature of the lighthouse—
A monster rumored for over ten years—
Has appeared once again!"
"So what exactly is the Lighthouse Monster?"
"As everyone knows, the Lighthouse Monster is the Lighthouse Monster.
But why did the Lighthouse Monster appear yesterday?"
"You may be surprised—but the reason is because the Lighthouse Monster appeared."
"This concludes our report on the Lighthouse Monster incident!
Please share your thoughts in the comments section below!"
The three: "?"
…This is Vermilion City's news industry?
——
(???)
(End of Chapter)
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