Chapter 1264

"Closed."

Baimu read the notice outside the Deep Gray Gym.

The situation was even stranger than imagined; not only was Xiao Gang absent, but his nine siblings and parents were gone as well.

The posted notice indicated they had gone out traveling.

Specific return time——

Indefinite!?

It's the second half of the year now, the peak season for Gym challenges!

Baimu finally understood why the Shi Ying League conducts regular reviews; after all these years, the Gyms in Kanto are still a shambolic mess.

No wonder their quantity is the highest among all regions.

"What now?"

The Polygon Phone asked for his thoughts.

Baimu said: "Let's go, to Evergreen City. Anyway, I've already seen the prototype of the Fossil Restoration Machine."

In the field of Pokemon fossil restoration, Kanto was the earliest to achieve a technical breakthrough; legend has it this is related to the ancient Pokemon discovered in Big Idiot Valley.

Without a doubt, it was precisely that group who induced Ash's Charmeleon to evolve into Charizard, making it even more disobedient.

However, fossil Pokemon in the Pokemon anime world are rather peculiar.

Even without modern scientific instruments, they would revive due to various influences.

For instance, in the Original Series, when Ash and his companions were traveling and adventuring in the Orange Islands, they once reached an island composed entirely of Kabuto fossils.

Those Kabuto were bathed in moonlight and actually revived on their own, causing the entire island to collapse with a rumble.

In the movie "Lucario and the Mystery of Mew," the fossil Pokemon living in the World Beginning Tree mostly came about this way as well.

In the blink of an eye.

Hydreigon flew over the Evergreen Forest.

In the manga special chapters, a child with special abilities is born in the Evergreen Forest every ten years.

They can heal Pokemon, read their thoughts, and even use the power of the Evergreen Forest to raise a Pokemon's level.

Among them, one of the manga protagonists, Xiao Huang, and the Elite Four member Adu are such people.

There are rumors that the manga's Sakaki is too, but judging from his subsequent performance, he was likely just born there and does not possess the same abilities.

Baimu thought of these things mainly because of Hydreigon's Dragon King title.

Many signs indicate that nature possesses a will humans cannot understand; it designates living beings as spokespeople, granting them inconceivable power.

If so, could there really be someone like "Xiao Huang" existing in the Evergreen Forest?

Adu is impossible anyway; the anime Adu is righteous through and through, and his birthplace is Cinnabar City, making him both a cousin and a childhood friend of Xiao Chun.

Orthodox pure-blood Dragon Tamer! That's as authentic as it gets!

A mere Evergreen Forest — don't even try to associate him with it!

The dense sea of trees gradually receded, and the bustling Evergreen City came into view.

Once upon a time, Sakaki hid here in the identity of a Gym Leader, secretly manipulating Team Rocket to plunder Pokemon everywhere and develop underground forces.

But with Mewtwo's birth, Sakaki stopped pretending; he showed his hand!

He is the Boss of Team Rocket!

Relying on Mewtwo's power, Sakaki stirred up wind and rain in Kanto, causing chaos for a time.

However, the philosopher Mewtwo in the anime was unwilling to spend his days being ordered around; he went berserk, broke free of his restraints, blasted Team Rocket's main base, causing the entire organization to languish for a long time.

Huh?

Speaking of which, Baimu's previous actions also left Team Rocket weakened for a long while.

Too bad Team Rocket gets tossed around constantly yet never falls.

Worthy of an evil organization that, as long as the Team Rocket Trio don't graduate, will forever stir up trouble in the shadows.

In short, Evergreen City now has no trace of Team Rocket; the Gym Leader is currently Grandma Juzi, and there seems to be no intention of replacing her in the short term……

Why put it that way?

Because in the Advanced Generation era, Grandma Juzi was already the Leader; nearly five years have passed since then, and she still hasn't stepped down.

"Hey! Wouldn't it be convenient for her to go find Professor Oak!"

Baimu's gossipy heart ignited once more.

Grandma Juzi and Professor Oak's "relationship" runs through the games and manga; only the anime barely mentions it, probably because the main audience is children, and children don't like watching twilight romances……

Anyway, he feels those two definitely have a story in the anime too.

Not staying in Evergreen City, Baimu drove Hydreigon past the city skies, heading further south to Pallet Town.

Although Pallet Town is the childhood memory of countless people, if not for Professor Oak residing here, it would indeed be a rural backwater town.

Kanto has many more cities, completely unheard of by game-only players, but teeming with population in the anime world.

For example, Binnu City on the Binnu Coast, further south of Pallet Town.

The creator of the Anime Pokedex, Seinosen the Fifth, lives in seclusion here; and what's hilarious is that many of the Pokedex entries regarding Legendary Pokemon were fabricated by him.

——"Based solely on legend and imagination, without any factual basis."

Yet such a person, like Professor Oak, belongs to the authorities of Pokemon Studies.

Only because he isn't that perfunctory when it comes to ordinary Pokemon.

"Arrived!"

The Polygon Phone spoke up to remind him.

Baimu looked out, and Pallet Town, symbolized by the pure white color of beginnings, came into view.

"Finally!"

He breathed in the countryside air, his heart filled with exceptional joy.

Although many Pokémon fans may not have started their journey from the first generation, the meaning represented by Pallet Town is understood by everyone.

It is the beginning of everything, the true starting point of the Pokémon series!

Professor Oak's laboratory is located on the hills, a three-story building adjacent to a massive wind power tower, with a large wilderness behind it, inhabited by various Pokémon.

The backyard of Professor Oak's house is a blessed land for many early fanfiction protagonists.

They always discover extraordinarily promising beings there and take them on their journeys.

Unfortunately, the Pokémon in the actual backyard mostly already have trainers—boys from nearby towns who received their starter Pokémon and Pokédex from Professor Oak.

And they send back the Pokémon they catch during their travels to Professor Oak's laboratory for him to care for.

His grandson, Gary, alone has caught over a hundred.

This grandson truly shows no consideration for his grandfather!

As Baimu sighed.

Below, due to the Three-Headed Dragon's unrestrained aura and fearless flight, many timid Pokémon were frightened into trembling.

Their trainers gazed up at the dark evil dragon flying away, astonished.

"Whose Pokémon is this? It feels so powerful!"

"It's flying toward Professor Oak's house!"

"Let's go take a look!"

"Okay!"

The boys discussed heatedly, all deciding to go over and join the excitement.

——

Professor Oak's Laboratory.

The Three-Headed Dragon slowly descended, its wings stirring up weeds and fallen leaves beside the path.

Baimu dismounted from the dragon, faintly hearing various noisy sounds coming from the backyard.

He pressed the doorbell.

Ding-dong~

"Coming!"

A young voice entered his ears.

Kenji?

When the gate opened, instead of the headband-wearing youth Baimu imagined, there appeared a large boy with a spiky brown hedgehog-like head.

"May I ask who you are—uh! Champion Baimu!"

Gary stared in shock.

Baimu smiled and said: "Hello, I suppose you must be Gary."

The person before him was none other than Ash's childhood friend, once a lover-rival companion, Gary.

Once, the two belonged to the kind of bickering lovers who teased each other, but by the journey arc, only pure friendship remained.

Hmm...

Actually, not quite pure.

He once doubted whether someone was worthy to be Ash's partner, which once drew widespread praise.

In short, Ash and Gary's relationship is quite complicated.

"You know me?"

Gary expressed extraordinary surprise.

Compared to him knowing Champion Baimu, it was inevitable that he, a temporary Pokémon researcher with no achievements yet, would feel somewhat overwhelmed to be known by the other party.

However...

It's probably due to his grandfather's influence.

Gary inwardly felt helpless; once he strongly objected to being called "Professor Oak's grandson," but gradually, he began to learn to accept it.

After all, people sometimes cannot choose their identity, and indeed he has benefited greatly from this identity.

And what he didn't expect was.

"Of course, Ash's rival and childhood friend—how could I not know?" Baimu's answer made Gary feel quite wonderful.

The reason he would one day be known turned out to be Ash!

Does this guy have such a wide network?

While Gary was lost in random thoughts, an old man with a square face wearing a white lab coat appeared.

"Who is the visitor? The Pokémon in the backyard are making a ruckus!"

Familiar tone plus familiar appearance.

As a loyal fan of the Pokémon series, Baimu felt a deeper emotion than when he previously saw Ash.

"Professor Oak! Long renowned! I have come especially to pay a visit!"

"You are... oh oh! Baimu! I've heard of you! From my cousin!"

Professor Oak's initial way of learning about Baimu was equally wonderful—coming from Professor Oak of the Alola Pokémon Academy, his cousin.

But he never expected to see the real person, and for the other party to personally visit.

"Welcome, welcome!"

Professor Oak warmly greeted Baimu to come inside, and arranged for Gary to pour tea, while seeing the huge Three-Headed Dragon behind, he suddenly realized and laughed:

"I was wondering why the Pokémon in the yard were causing a commotion—turns out it's your Three-Headed Dragon scaring them!"

"Sorry about that."

Baimu hurriedly apologized.

The three-headed evil dragon heard the importance in the Trainer's tone, shrank its neck, reined in its bearing, and tried to make its half-ton bulk seem like a Deino of just over ten kilograms.

Professor Oak was as kindly as he had imagined — or rather, most Professors who provide Pokémon to new Trainers are like that.

Baimu still cannot forget the content of Professor Yashi's reply when he emailed her to discuss a question —

"If you're willing, please come to my lab, receive your first Pokémon, and set off on your journey; you certainly won't be disappointed."

The other party had taken him, whose grammar was riddled with errors at the time, for an elementary school student.

"Champion, coming here in person — is there something you need my help with?"

Professor Oak laughed magnanimously, thinking Baimu had some matter requiring his assistance.

He had also collaborated with the Aurelian League several times.

The accompanying Xiao Mao pricked up his ears and listened intently.

Baimu shook his head and said, "Just paying a visit to the grand master of Pokémon studies; you are the most vivid memory of my childhood."

"That is truly an honor!"

Professor Oak spoke words of utmost modesty, mainly because Baimu's manner of speaking made him happy.

He usually works alone in the lab; in truth, few people ever visit, so his daily life is rather lonely. Fortunately, the children of Pallet Town often come to see him, and the many Pokémon in the backyard also dispel his solitude.

Previously Xiao Jian served as an assistant to help, but recently Xiao Jian hasn't come either.

Outside the door, one little head after another peered inside, shoving each other, wanting to let their companions enter the lab first.

But before they could negotiate a result.

A yellow-skinned rat flew over their heads first.

"Pika!"

Pikachu stood in the lab, ears twitching like antennae; Satoshi squeezed through the crowd and asked, "Pikachu! What on earth happened?"

Just now the two were eating at home when Pikachu suddenly bolted out.

"Pika Pika!"

Pikachu motioned for Satoshi to follow; when they burst into the reception room, Baimu happened to turn his head at the sound.

"Hm?"

"Eh?"

The two looked at each other, both feeling surprise.

Satoshi, both startled and delighted, said, "Baimu! Why are you here? Professor Oak! Xiao Mao!"

Baimu was also puzzled, "Aren't you supposed to be helping at Professor Sakuragi's lab?"

"Hahaha! Today Koharu and the others have a sports meet, so I have the day off!" Satoshi scratched his head.

Although in the anime he and a certain someone often act together, in reality that certain someone didn't drop out and is often active only on weekends.

Satoshi...

He really didn't continue school.

Satoshi, stuffed full of Pokémon knowledge, would probably find it hard to adapt to a normal academic school anyway.

Didn't you see in the movie "I Choose You!" where Satoshi, after "death," discovers the world has no Pokémon and that he is actually a student, and immediately goes crazy and jumps off a building (lol)?

Baimu picked up the soft, cute Pikachu and said to Professor Oak, "I'm acquainted with Satoshi; that should count as friends, right?"

He turned his head to look at Satoshi.

Satoshi laughed heartily, reached out and patted his shoulder, "Of course! We're good friends!"

Xiao Mao watched the two's familiar demeanor, his expression strange.

It wasn't jealousy or anything; the key point is Baimu's height is nearly 1.9 meters, and compared to Satoshi the difference is huge.

How could their relationship be that good?

Satoshi didn't understand either; instinct told him Baimu was friendly, so he couldn't be bothered to think more about it.

Professor Oak understood Baimu truly only wanted to pay a visit, so he in turn made a request, "I wonder if I could study your Legendary Pokémon?"

There is no Pokémon scholar who isn't curious about Legendary Pokémon.

They are like another form of life, utterly different from ordinary Pokémon and humans, and possess immense research value.

"—Of course, I happen to be carrying the Legendary Giants with me."

Baimu felt at his waist and took out two Poké Balls.

Regieleki and Regidrago he had always been carrying; it's just that they neither eat nor speak much, so they have almost no presence.

Professor Oak was very pleased, "Then thank you very much!"

"Giants! Is it the one that beat Pikachu?" Satoshi's eyes shone; he had wanted a rematch for a long time.

But before he could say anything, Baimu grabbed him, "Heard you have quite a few Pokémon left with Professor Oak? Introduce them to me?"

"Eh~ Sure~"

Satoshi was a bit disappointed, watching Professor Oak and Xiao Mao leave with smiles, "Xiao Mao! Aren't you coming too?"

"What are you saying, Satoshi? I'm a Pokémon scholar. Besides, it's only fitting that you host your own friend."

Xiao Mao raised an eyebrow and apologized to Baimu, "Sorry, excuse me."

Baimu waved his hand casually.