Chapter 418: You

"It's been many years, but finally, our Pallet Town has another batch of kids setting out on their journeys…"

Pallet Town has a very small population, and even across the entire Kanto region, it's completely unknown—so much so that the town's fame doesn't even come close to that of the Pokémon Lab building.

However, Professor Oak has always thought Pallet Town is a great place.

The children born here are naturally suited to become Trainers.

He has no doubt about this, because whether it's the already-departed Red or his own grandson, Green, who just said goodbye to the familiar researchers at the Pokémon Lab, in his eyes, both possess the qualities to become top-tier Trainers.

Thinking back, he himself was once a spirited, handsome, and dashing youth, meeting his lifelong companions on his journey, as well as his two close friends, Steel and Juke…

In the end, relying on his Bag Beast and Dragonair, he won the Kanto League championship decisively, thus beginning his short but still respectable Trainer life.

These wonderful memories have, without him noticing, passed many years already…

Professor Oak shook his head, stopping his thoughts in time before his mood could turn complicated.

Now he's merely an ordinary professor obsessed with researching Pokémon, hoping to show the world their charm.

The path of a Trainer should be left to these two youngsters, Red and Green!

Nowadays, champions from all regions are very young, and there are geniuses like Qing Yu who excel in battle—truly, it's already the era of the young!

Professor Oak sighed inwardly, unaware of the spiky-headed boy stepping out from behind the gate.

"Grandpa, where's Red?"

Green's call quickly brought Professor Oak back to reality.

"Oh, it's little Green."

Professor Oak scratched his head, gave a dry laugh, then pointed toward the direction Red had left.

"That kid said he wanted to leave before you, so he's already ridden off on his bike—chasing him now might still catch up?"

"…"

Green shook his head helplessly.

"Grandpa, when he left, did he say he was going to challenge the Vermilion Gym?"

"How do you know?!"

Professor Oak blinked—Red really had said something similar to him.

Seeing this, Green smiled, as if to say, "I knew it."

"They say the early bird catches the worm, but if the early bird flies in the wrong direction, maybe it's better to leave later…"

He just knew, given Red's personality, he'd never consider all that—he probably just heard the nearest gym was Vermilion and charged straight there.

But the problem is…

As the most difficult gym in the entire Kanto region, Vermilion Gym can only be challenged after obtaining at least six badges.

Gym Leader Sakaki is a Trainer whose strength rivals that of the Elite Four—there's no way Red at his current level could challenge him!

So Red's trip will absolutely be a waste.

And I can take advantage of Red staying in Vermilion City to surpass his progress, sneak through Vermilion Forest first, and head to Lavender Town to challenge the first gym!

Stupid Red, follow behind me and eat dust for the rest of your life!

"Grandpa, I'm leaving too!"

Having thought this through, Green immediately stopped hesitating, took out his folding bike from his backpack, and soon set off on his journey.

"Have a safe trip~"

After seeing off Red and Green one after another, Professor Oak gazed at Route 1 under the sunlight, quietly shaking his head.

"This year's champion will most likely come from between those two."

"Although Red now looks like just an ordinary newcomer, that's only because he hasn't had many chances to meet other Trainers yet…"

"Whether he can withstand evolving during the journey depends on whether Green has made the necessary preparations!"

Professor Oak shook his head, then quickly walked back into his own lab.