Chapter 44: Clingy Sticky Sludge, a Chance Encounter with an Old Acquaintance!

After being repeatedly scolded by Ash and Brock, Shandou finally realized his mistake.

Thinking back, for the sake of winning the P1 League championship, he abandoned his family for so many years, which was wrong; from now on he must make amends properly.

Leaving the venue, Brock was in a good mood, his steps light.

"Mr. Shandou has finally realized his mistake; Miss Aimei and her family must be very happy, right?"

"Actually, Mr. Shandou participating in the martial arts tournament is fine; he's just too obsessed, but it's also possible to compete while taking care of his family."

【Xiba: Hei Brock is right, participating in the competition is fine, but Shandou's approach was wrong; thanks to Black Satoshi and them scolding him just now, he woke up.】

【Yulongdu: Participating in many competitions is fine, but it's that you, for the sake of competing, hide in the mountains to train, completely ignoring your family, and just randomly ask passersby to help raise your Pokémon; not mentioning strength, I'm confident most trainers wouldn't entrust their Pokémon to someone like this, let alone Black Satoshi who treats Pokémon as family.】

【Ma Zhishi: Black Satoshi is still the one; I overestimated Team Rocket. Although they still snatch others' Pokémon like the White World, their strength is too weak... not exactly weak, it's just that Black Satoshi is too strong, getting beaten by Fierce Monkey, and afterwards that Meowth was even chased and beaten by Pikachu.】

Meowth keeps saying all day: I love eating mice!

As a result, every time he gets brutally beaten by Pikachu!】

【Meowth: What are you talking about? You don't see how strong Black Satoshi is; with one move 100,000 Volts he knocks out your Raichu instantly—how can you embarrassedly say ours?】

【Musashi: Exactly, still arrogantly calling Pikachu 'baby', ending up getting beaten into a baby.】

Poor Ma Zhishi was ganged up on by Team Rocket, and crucially couldn't rebuttal; truly heartbreaking.

Yulongdu and them also couldn't help Ma Zhishi speak, because what Team Rocket said was factual.

【Ding! The correct answer to this round's rewarded question is Ash.】

【Congratulations, Ash, you obtained the Electric Pearl.】

?

Electric Pearl?

That's a tool specially for Pikachu!

Ash took it out from his backpack.

Serena and them quietly watched; this reward was sent based on their own situation, so it's possible they'd be given a more precious item.

After putting on the Electric Pearl, the electric sacs on Pikachu's cheeks flickered with current; it could feel its inner power surging, and Ash beside it could also sense Pikachu's enhanced electric power.

"Pika pika!"

Pikachu raised both hands, indicating he's now strong, but temporarily needs to adapt; he needs to practice.

"Alright, Pikachu, don't worry, I'll make you a training plan like Black Satoshi does!"

Ash earnestly looked at Pikachu.

This time we must win the Miare Conference!

Black Light Screen—

Ash and company continued their journey, happened to pass through Black Cloud City, along the way they smelled the stench of sludge, they quickened their pace, arrived at the Pokémon Center, but there was a power outage.

From Miss Joy we learned it's a problem at the power plant.

To help solve the Pokémon Center issue, Ash and crew went to investigate the power plant, discovering that sludge clumps blocked the seawater intake, causing the power plant's thermal power generation to guarantee production—this is one of the main reasons Black Cloud City became shrouded in black smog.

Finally they drove away the sludge swarm, and Ash captured the Sticky Sludge!

"Professor Damu, I'm sorry!"

Ash looked at the Poké Ball containing the returned Sticky Sludge, and in his heart apologized to Professor Damu.

At that moment, in the lab, Professor Damu was wholeheartedly heating a pot of simple yet fragrant instant noodles with an alcohol lamp.

Suddenly, a buzzing sound of machinery operating broke the room's silence—it was a sign his Pokémon transporter was activating.

"Ash is sending back another Pokémon again; last time he sent back the lively and active Fierce Monkey, this time what powerful Pokémon will he send back?"

When the white light on the transporter gradually faded, a Poké Ball slowly appeared before Professor Damu, but the air filled with an indescribable foul odor.

Immediately after, with a "bang," the Poké Ball burst open, and an even stronger, pungent smell instantly filled the entire lab.

Professor Damu's originally expectant expression instantly froze; moments later, his face unconsciously twisted into a pained grimace, unable to withstand this sudden "biochemical assault."

"Ah!"

"Don't send back the Sticky Sludge!"

"This stench is unbearable, my instant noodles!"

The Sticky Sludge lunged at Professor Damu.

【Juzi: Poor instant noodles, how could Old Man Damu stomach eating instant noodles back then!】

【Ash: Professor Damu, when I initially sent back the Sticky Sludge, you weren't cooking instant noodles, right?】

【Professor Damu: No, but it's still really stinky!】

【Ash: Uh, I remember a few days ago when I called you on the phone, the Sticky Sludge was clinging tightly to you, Doctor, your relationship with the Sticky Sludge became more intimate; the Sticky Sludge seems like the most clingy Pokémon I've ever seen on you!】

【Professor Damu: Probably...】

【Brock: As expected of Professor Damu, you've always been my role model; I also want to be able to get along with Pokémon as easily as you do.】

Black World—

After settling the affairs of Black Cloud City.

Ash and company, on their way to Scarlet City, personally witnessed a traffic accident involving transport vehicles.

It was Pokémon Diglett blocking the transport vehicles' progress, so the dam construction couldn't proceed smoothly; the dam crew chief hated Diglett and summoned nearby trainers to drive them away.

Diglett's behavior didn't conform to the norm...

Ash keenly sensed Diglett's abnormal behavior; after communicating with them via Aura, he learned that Diglett destroying the road had its reasons.

Just as Ash was about to explain the situation to the foreman, he heard a familiar voice.

"Ash, how come you're also here??"

The car's roar suddenly stopped, a sharp, piercing screech of tires violently rubbing the road drew everyone's attention.

Looking back, it was his old acquaintance, Xiaomao.