Chapter 39: Chapter 39: I Hit Harder
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Professor Samuel Oak and Giovanni's conversation was unknown to Ash, but Ash vaguely recalled another identity of his godfather, who seemed to be the boss of Team Rocket?!
However, even if he remembered, it didn't matter much, as the emotions built over the years were genuine. Moreover, it seemed that because of his Continental Hotel, his godfather had sufficient funds, and in recent years, except for some dirty underlings causing trouble, Team Rocket had already started to clean up its act.
What Ash didn't know was that the reason Team Rocket began to clean up was simple: they had collaborated too many times with the Kanto League, and the purpose of their cooperation was only one—to protect Ash.
Yes, it was to protect Ash. After all, Ash's information wasn't hard to find for some evil organizations from other regions. Therefore, for a while, evil organizations from other regions wanted to kidnap Ash, the medical genius. However, these organizations underestimated the Officer Jenny and Nurse Joy families. The true strength of these two monopolistic families was no joke. Moreover, with the help of the Rare Candies Ash had made early on, and the five layers of protection from Officer Jenny, Nurse Joy, Giovanni, Professor Samuel Oak, and the Kanto League, Ash could develop safely and securely.
As for why Ash gave away the Rare Candies early on, it was also simple: Ash was really too weak back then. Even though he was strong among his peers, he was still too weak compared to those with deep foundations. Therefore, using what he already knew how to make to prove his value and provide himself with a strong protective umbrella was nothing. After all, Ash didn't have any so-called system; everything relied on his previous knowledge and various stealthy developments to reach this perfect starting point. Just like the momentary brilliance of actors on stage, it was the result of decades of practice.
And just as Ash thought, even if he couldn't make new medicines in the future, it would be fine because the value of the Rare Candies was too terrifying. So terrifying that the League was willing to cooperate with their rival, Team Rocket, to protect Ash.
——Divider——
"Ah, the second day without Meowth, I miss him." Looking at the signpost of Vermilion City, Ash couldn't help but sigh, while Giselle roared, "Are you a money-obsessed idiot? How do you manage to lead us the wrong way every time!"
Ash said helplessly, "What can I do? Meowth usually uses the map to guide us. Ah, I suddenly miss Meowth…"
"Pika pika!" (Stop making excuses)
"Lucky!" (Dad Ash has been spoiled by Meowth)
Misty looked at the leaves on her body and said, "We should hurry and find a place to rest and change clothes…"
"Right, let's go to the Continental Hotel in Vermilion City."
Hearing that they were going to the Continental Hotel, Giselle also breathed a sigh of relief.
"Only at times like this can the usefulness of a money-obsessed person be seen."
Soon, after resting comfortably at the Continental Hotel, Ash and his group headed to the Pokémon Center. Although the Pokémon had rested well at the Continental Hotel, they still needed to check everyone's health to be sure.
However, when Ash and his group arrived at the Pokémon Center, they were met with a tragic scene. Many children kept bringing in injured Pokémon, and these Pokémon had clearly been electrocuted.
"Cheer up, Rattata!"
"Pidgey, hang in there!"
"Oddish, you have to hold on!"
Looking at the tragic scene, Ash fell silent for a moment and then walked up to the counter.
"Nurse Joy, please check on everyone for me."
"Sure."
"By the way, Nurse Joy, what happened to them?"
Nurse Joy glanced at the dire situation and said, "Sigh, it's Lt. Surge's Raichu from the Vermilion Gym. Raichu is too strong, so everyone got beaten pretty badly."
Ash looked around and then said helplessly, "No, I feel like Gym Leader Lt. Surge actually went easy on them."
Nurse Joy gave Ash a surprised look. Normally, Ash wouldn't say something like that, right?
However, Ash explained, "Nurse Joy, take a look first. I don't even know what they were thinking, sending out Pokémon that haven't been properly trained yet. Do they really think the Gym is their own home?! Do they really think Gym Leaders have nothing to do all day? I know for a fact that Lt. Surge, the Gym Leader of Vermilion City, is responsible for the city's security. Although his taste is a bit strange, like a punk, the real punks have all been taught a lesson by him or his subordinates. Now these guys come in with obviously newly caught Pidgey and Rattata, thinking the Gym Leader has no temper?!"
"Well said!" With a loud cheer, a burly man walked in. The others immediately kept their distance upon seeing him, but the man didn't even glance at these kids. Instead, he patted Ash's sturdy shoulder and said, "Well said, brother. Thanks for understanding our plight. Honestly, I can't help it when a bunch of rookies come to challenge me every day."
"Ah, you've had it tough, Gym Leader Lt. Surge. Personally, I suggest putting up a sign to remind them, so they don't keep bringing newly caught Pokémon to cause trouble..."
After Lt. Surge asked Nurse Joy to heal his Raichu, he casually chatted with Ash, mostly about the frustration of constantly being challenged by rookies. Ash and Lt. Surge chatted while drinking, and soon Brock and Misty joined the conversation. The resonance was too strong—Brock could handle a bunch of them without even using Onix, and Misty's sisters had specifically caught weaker Pokémon for training to avoid crushing their opponents, yet there were still those who couldn't win.
Giselle nodded in understanding.
"So Gym Leaders have it this tough..."
"Yeah, you have no idea. Raichu had to hold back its power to avoid beating them even worse. Who could imagine how exhausting that is for Raichu?"
"I know! If my Pikachu doesn't let loose with Thunderbolt, it feels..."
Lt. Surge glanced at Ash's Pikachu, his eye twitching slightly. As an Electric-type trainer, he immediately recognized the terror of Ash's Pikachu and couldn't help but say, "Hey Ash, you're not planning to have Pikachu take on the Gym, are you..."
"No, I'm not that crazy."
——Dividing Line——
"It's now the Vermilion Gym battle, and the challenger is Ash from Pallet Town!"
Lt. Surge looked at Ash in front of him and said, "The battle will be with one Pokémon, as my other Pokémon are tasked with protecting Vermilion City. So go, Raichu!"
With a flash of white light, Raichu, the evolved form of Pikachu, appeared, and Ash sent out his own Pokémon, Bulbasaur.
"Go, Raichu! Use Thunder Shock!"
"Rai!"
As arcs of electricity flickered on Raichu's face, a powerful Thunder Shock shot toward Bulbasaur.
"Dodge it and then use Razor Leaf."
"Bulba!"
Thanks to Ash's training, Bulbasaur swiftly dodged the Thunder Shock and then shot a flurry of leaves from the seed on its back.
"Dodge it, Raichu!"
"Now, use Leech Seed!"
"Oh no!"
It's worth noting that Leech Seed in reality is quite different from the games. In reality, once Leech Seed hits, it's quite nasty—not only does it restrict movement, but it also saps the target's energy.
As for Raichu, although it tried to dodge, it couldn't escape Bulbasaur's trained ability to block its path. While Bulbasaur fired Seed Machine Gun, it also used Vine Whip to grab Raichu, and finally, Leech Seed successfully latched onto Raichu.
"Rai…"
After having its energy drained, Raichu could only collapse weakly to the ground.
"Your Bulbasaur didn't even need your commands to know what to do. It's truly impressive." Although he lost, Lt. Surge conceded defeat wholeheartedly and handed Ash the Thunder Badge with a smile.
"Take it. You've earned it."
"Thanks. So, the third Gym Badge is mine." Ash smiled as he took the badge from Lt. Surge, then patted Bulbasaur's head and said, "You're really amazing, Bulbasaur."
"Bulba."
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