Chapter 45

Xiaomao was still driving his car, but he didn't have several beautiful girls with him like Bai Shijie's Xiaomao did.

"Xiaomao, long time no see."

Ash looked at Xiaomao, whose expression was a bit dazed.

The two caught up peacefully for a while.

After understanding each other's situation, Xiaomao looked at Ash and, half-smiling, said, "You're still so intense."

"I heard you caught a Grimer, Grandpa received the Grimer, he's 'happy' and said he wants to have a good talk with you!"

"Ah?"

Ash gave an awkward laugh, shaking his head: "Talking heart-to-heart... we don't need that!"

He thought, Professor Oak is such a nice person, he wouldn't mind, and Grimer's temperament isn't bad; it should like Professor Oak.

Hmm, Professor Oak should also like Grimer!

Ah-choo! Ah-choo! Ah-choo!

Professor Oak at the Pallet Town research institute sneezed repeatedly, shivered, and looked at the Grimer beside him: "Grimer, hugging me, I suddenly feel a bit cold!"

"Gee gee~" Xiaoxia covered her mouth and laughed lightly; it's hard to imagine Professor Oak opening the Poké Ball and seeing Grimer's expression, given that the Poké Balls used to catch Grimer originally stank.

Brock couldn't help but laugh.

【Professor Oak: Tsk tsk, Black Satoshi is a bit nasty, just knows to bully me, this momentarily careless old man, lacking martial virtue.】

【Juzi: Old Professor Oak, were you really that happy back then?】

【Professor Oak: Really happy, I suggest you also try finding a Grimer.】

【Xiba: Black Satoshi and Xiaomao get along fairly well, very peaceful, unlike in Bai Shijie where they'd start arguing and mocking each other upon meeting.】

【Yulongdu: Black Xiaomao has been 'intensed' by Black Satoshi since childhood; speaking of it makes Black Xiaomao seem rather pitiful, Black Satoshi could be considered someone else's child to Xiaomao. Now Xiaomao's mindset has also matured somewhat, both sides are secretly making efforts, hoping to meet on the battlefield!】

Xiaomao didn't speak, looking at the Black Light Screen, feeling somewhat relieved.

Fortunately, in this world his Ash is dense and slow-witted, not as intense as Black Satoshi; however, even under Black Satoshi's intensity, his Bai Shijie self's badge collection progress still steadily surpassed Black Satoshi's, so his Bai Shijie self is also quite strong.

Black Light Screen——

After catching up, Ash and his group inspected the surroundings of the reservoir and confirmed that what the groundhog said was true.

They immediately found the foreman and explained the situation, saying that the groundhogs realized that if a reservoir were built here, it would directly cause mountain forest floods, ultimately leading to many Poké Ball dying or being displaced.

But the foreman didn't believe it, until Xiaomao brought out his grandfather Professor Oak's name as a guarantee, and only then did the foreman believe and cancel this reservoir project.

Ma Zhishi: Wave Guide Power is really useful, indirectly resolving a crisis.

Professor Oak: Actually, it's not really related to Wave Guide Power; it was Black Satoshi and them noticing the abnormal situation of the ground mice, understanding it clearly before telling the foreman to cancel this project.

Of course, Wave Guide Power gave Black Satoshi the ability to communicate with the ground mice, so he could resolve it so quickly; but I think Black Satoshi himself doesn't have Wave Guide Power, relying on his understanding of Pokémon, he could also know the purpose of the ground mouse group and help stop the reservoir construction.

Da Wu: Judging from Black Satoshi's performance, that's indeed the case.

Kibana: Black Satoshi's observation of Pokémon from the start has already surpassed most trainers; at his age, it's truly rare!

Brock: Even saying ninety-nine percent of trainers wouldn't be an exaggeration.

Wait, is it going to broadcast my challenge at the Vermilion Gym later? That would also be a black history!

Ash thought of his experience at the Vermilion Gym, feeling a chill in his heart, almost having met his end there.

Seeing Ash show resistance again, Serena and the others looked at the White Light Curtain, wondering if it would once again expose Ash's black history.

It won't be another disguise, will it?

Ash and his companions under the White Light Curtain finally arrived at the Vermilion Gym.

First they crossed a very narrow log bridge before reaching the Vermilion Gym, and after arriving at the Vermilion Gym they encountered a Pokémon like a fur ball.

While following the fur ball, Ash first bumped into a charging Thunder Ball, got electrocuted and scorched; then, while still following the fur ball, he hit a Light Wall, and on the way back he hit a second Light Wall—it can be said he was quite pitiful.

Next, as Ash lay at the window checking for an exit, he almost fell into the river; meanwhile the fur ball kept appearing, and when Ash chased after it he encountered a trap door and was attacked by the Gym trainee Aya's dart attack.

The viewers, seeing Ash's ordeal, couldn't help but feel tense; this Ash's life is too tough.

Xiba: Now I know why Ash doesn't train—his physique basically doesn't need training, it's super strong!

Yulongdu: Seeing Ash made me realize that Xiba's physique is basically useless; after hitting so many traps he's still fine, this physique can only be matched by Team Rocket.

Kenan: That's correct.

Xiba: Although I want to refute, in the face of Ash's physique shown in this video, I cannot refute!

Xiaoxia: No wonder Ash never trains; his physique basically doesn't need training.

Ash: Although my physique is a bit strong, getting hit is still painful; I was thinking, if I had Wave Guide Power back then, it would have been great to avoid trap damage.

Brock: Ash is right; the Vermilion Gym has set up so many traps, which is very unfriendly to challengers.

The viewers also felt that this Gym is truly very dangerous; the ninja house is understandable, but treating challengers like this is a bit inappropriate.

Looking at the White Light Curtain again, the Gym Leader Aju came out to accept Ash's challenge.

In the battle against Aju, Aju used Final Entry Moth against Ash's Pidgey; Ash's Pidgey was hypnotized by Final Entry Moth, and Aju used the status condition to drive back the Pidgey. In the next battle, Ash sent out Charmander, but the match was interrupted due to Team Rocket's intrusion.

Indeed, Xiaoxia's Psyduck stepped forward; although the Psyduck came out of the Poké Ball by accident, it truly displayed extraordinary psychic ability; Gym Leader Aju and trainee Aya both wanted to exchange their Pokémon for the Psyduck, and although Xiaoxia complained she disliked Psyduck, she still cherished it in her heart and refused to exchange it.

After driving off Team Rocket, Aju and Ash resumed the battle, this time in a one-on-one format to decide the winner.

Aju sent out Golbat, while Ash again sent out Charmander, and this battle ended with Ash's Charmander defeating Aju's Golbat using the Flame Vortex move, so Ash earned his sixth Badge.

Although this Gym looks high-end, it is actually the second Gym where Ash earned a Badge through his own strength.

Ma Zhishi: Hehe, the Badge is finally not given for free!