Chapter 88

Pallet Town, Professor Oak's Laboratory.

Professor Oak is studying the items made by Xiang Guangtai, including the ancient statues he bought.

Charmander, Bulbasaur, Squirtle.

"It's truly incredible. Although some artificial items can also bring incredible improvements to Pokémon, it's unexpected that handmade ones can also possess similar effects. From what era was this mysterious craft passed down?"

"Focus Sash, it's very clear that this is sewn from Pokémon materials and common tough fabric. Is the principle of its use the unique effect that the sash itself possesses, or is it that the sash helps the Pokémon stimulate some kind of power within its body after being bound to the Pokémon?"

"Other items are also very interesting."

"Double-Pickles, can make Pokémon enter a doubled state, while improving Attack, Special Attack, and some Defense. Is this a special food? Ordinary food eaten by Pokémon doesn't have this effect."

"Charcoal, this is a good choice for cultivating Fire-type Pokémon; Protective Pads, improve Steel-type energy and avoid contact damage, this is also good."

"King's Rock, Cleanse Tag... This King's Rock is different from the natural King's Rock seen in the natural world... Cleanse Tag is an item I've never heard of."

Driven by curiosity and the profession of a researcher, Professor Oak really wants to buy all these items back for research. Although his main research topic is "The Relationship Between Pokémon and Humans", maintaining vigorous curiosity is also the basic quality of a professor.

Buying these items is not just to study the "production materials" of these items. At the same time, Professor Oak is actually also very proficient in natural items, but there is nothing to discuss about some items like evolution stones, which have already been studied thoroughly.

"The style of these sculptures is also very concerning..."

Professor Oak pondered, and at this time, someone entered his laboratory.

"Oh oh, it's Blue. You finally came. Look at these magical items I just bought. They should be helpful to you, a Gym Leader, right?"

The person called by Professor Oak has a head of flamboyant brown straight hair, a pendant on his chest, a dark jacket on his upper body, and yellow work pants on his lower body.

"Magical items? It wouldn't be evolution stones or something, right? Calling me back from outside just for these?"

Blue looked at the statues on the workbench and the strange cloth strips and talismans with some doubt.

"Grandpa, what are you doing? These things combined give me an ominous feeling."

Blue was a bit speechless, and Professor Oak only realized what was wrong at this time, and suddenly laughed awkwardly:

"Sorry sorry, I really didn't notice that putting these things together would give people an uncomfortable feeling. Mainly because there is no connection between their effects."

"Let's not talk about this. You often go out, how is the situation at Viridian Gym?"

"It's alright." Blue spread his hands: "They are all people with no strength coming to challenge. It's impossible for me to lose to them. There's no need to command at all. My Pokémon can defeat them by fighting on their own."

"And if you want to challenge me, you must at least get seven badges. There are not many trainers who can do this."

"The level of trainers now is generally low."

Professor Oak laughed: "No matter what, you were once a Champion. Don't make it too difficult for those rookie trainers."

Blue scratched his head, and then looked at the items.

"So, what are these for?"

Professor Oak pointed to the three statues: "First, the sculptures of Charmander, Bulbasaur, and Squirtle."

"The Charmander statue can make the air hot. Bulbasaur can make plants grow better, and Squirtle will keep the surrounding humidity."

"Hmm? These look like ordinary stone statues." Blue was a bit puzzled, but Professor Oak didn't say anything and moved the Squirtle sculpture away. Soon Blue felt that the surrounding temperature had risen, and the air had become much drier.

"Is it true?" The doubt in Blue's eyes became heavier.

"That's right, this is the role of these stone carvings. However, these stone carvings that look like ancient items are actually imitations made by a modern craftsman. And I used the stone carvings to show you, just to make it easier for you to accept other items."

"First is this, Focus Sash." Professor Oak grabbed the orange-red cloth strip and stated its function.

Blue's expression became very strange: "What did you say? An item that can stand tall by relying on bonds? I have cultivated so many Pokémon. Although sometimes, the bond between Pokémon and humans is indeed very deep, and they can continue to fight at critical moments, that is the result of years of careful cultivation."

"This sash can do the same thing, how is this possible?"

"But the fact is just like this, I have tested it myself." Professor Oak's expression was serious: "This is an item made using Pokémon materials and incredible craftsmanship. I am currently studying its principle."

"And these..." Professor Oak recommended Xiang Guangtai's shop to Blue.

"What, these items..." Blue frowned, his eyes full of surprise.

"It is the items made by the craftsman who opened this shop. Currently, the things I bought are exactly the same as the descriptions on the website. This craftsman should possess unknown item production technology. To be honest, it is very rare to see people using special items in Pokémon battles in the past."

Professor Oak pondered: "Of course, major companies in various regions have developed items for this project. Items such as 'Scope Lens', 'Focus Lens', etc., as well as some unique Poké Balls, and performance-enhancing drugs, but that is assisted by technological means, and the price is not cheap."

"However, from the development of Poké Balls, one can foresee some things. In the era without modern Poké Balls, Poké Balls made of Apricorns were used. Similarly, among the crafts passed down from ancient times, there must be some unknown things."

"Now, these things have been brought out."

Blue carefully examined the Focus Sash in his hand, constantly pondering, and only after a long time did he say:

"Grandpa, I'll take this Focus Sash."

"Ah! It doesn't matter, I called you here for this, and I have another Focus Sash here." Professor Oak didn't know where he pulled out another Focus Sash.

"Interesting, Pokémon items... These things might also have important significance for cultivating Pokémon."

Blue opened the Pokémon device, looked at the items introduced in the shop, and the corners of his mouth curled up slightly.

Now the challengers in the Kanto region are going to suffer again. If this Focus Sash is really useful, when they finally defeat one of my Pokémon, but find that this Pokémon relied on the Focus Sash to persist, how desperate would that expression be?

The badge of the last gym is not so easy to get!

Right, if I get these items, maybe I can beat that guy Red!

"Blue, what are you laughing at?" Professor Oak was a bit puzzled.

Blue: "Nothing, I thought of something happy. Grandpa, thank you for calling me over! I can't wait to test whether this sash is useful."

"How about a battle now... Right, did you tell Red about this?" Professor Oak touched his chin: "No, not yet, after all, I can't contact him. Do you want to tell..."

"No, don't tell him yet!" Blue's eyes flashed: "And Leaf and Blue, don't tell them either!"

If there are good things, of course, I should enjoy them first!

However, just as Blue was about to say something else, the door of the laboratory was pushed open again.

An old woman in purple clothes with yellow hair walked in.

"Uh?!"

Blue froze all of a sudden. He looked at Professor Oak, then at the old woman who came in, and didn't know what to say for a while.

"Oh, it's Oak's grandson. What are you doing here instead of being at Viridian Gym? The trainers challenging you are complaining, saying that the Gym Leader of Viridian Gym is always not there!"

"Hey, you wouldn't be called here to test items, right?"

"Ah, Grandma Agatha... Yes, I am, I was indeed called back by Grandpa." Blue scratched his head awkwardly, then looked at Professor Oak with a strange smile: "Then, you guys talk first, I'll go out first!"

After speaking, Blue escaped from the laboratory!

And Agatha looked at Professor Oak.

"Oh, long time no see, Agatha. I didn't expect you to really accept my invitation."

Agatha was a bit cold: "You white-haired old man always hides in this kind of place. Calling me over is not for battle, which really makes me quite disappointed."

"Clearly doing some Pokémon research, but now you care about items..."

Professor Oak was a bit embarrassed: "Haha, because it's something I've never seen before, I paid a little attention, and this is also closely related to Pokémon research."

"Let's not talk about it, where are the things?" Agatha didn't want to pay attention to Professor Oak anymore, and turned to search for "important items".

And Professor Oak hurriedly pointed to the talismans on the table:

"It's that one. I thought that as an Elite Four, you should be able to help me..."

"Elite Four? I am no longer an Elite Four, I stopped doing it long ago." Agatha glanced at Oak: "The news of you white-haired old man is really not well-informed."

Professor Oak became more and more embarrassed.

"Oh, it's this..." Agatha picked up the two talismans and examined them simply: "What is it, it looks like just a very basic spirit talisman, Cleanse Tag and Spell Tag."

"However... this technique of using spirit power... hmm, very rare. No, I have never seen it..."

"Eh? Is my Gastly trembling?"

Agatha felt the movement in the Poké Ball, and some interest suddenly appeared in her eyes.

Perhaps it's actually quite good to be called over by Oak this time?

However, as the longer she observed, the heavier Agatha's face became.

"Hey, old man Oak, I have never seen the technique of these two talismans, and I have a bad guess. Although the spirit power knowledge used on this is very basic, it doesn't seem to be human spirit medium art."

"Although it's just my guess, the knowledge on this talisman might be related to the 'Spirit Realm'!"

"Then, the question is, who is the person who made these talismans!!!"

Professor Oak: "Oh, that's a strange craftsman. I'll also recommend his shop to you."

(End of chapter)