Chapter 86: Little Zhi

Preface: The aftermath of daily updates... I really don’t want to write...

Main Text:

At the entrance of Pallet Town

Professor Oak and Nanami were waiting for Yew and Shirai to arrive.

The weather wasn’t particularly warm, but Pallet Town was still lush and green. The small forest nearby continued to house a considerable number of Pokémon.

Pidgey, Caterpie, Rattata...

Though there weren’t any rare Pokémon, the sheer number of them living in a densely populated human area was already quite remarkable.

This was thanks to Professor Oak’s efforts. After all, his research focused on the relationship between Pokémon and humans. Pallet Town was his hometown, and served as the experimental ground for his theories.

Judging by the atmosphere in Pallet Town now, it was clear things were going well.

“Grandpa, isn’t the Indigo League opening in just a few months?” Nanami suddenly asked.

“Mm, about three months left. But will Chen Ou manage to collect all the badges in time? If anything else happens, he’ll be delayed again.”

Professor Oak spoke with deep concern. Considering how Chen Ou’s journey had gone so far, it was hard to predict what else he might encounter. His adventures were even more eventful than Red’s and the others’.

“If it really doesn’t work out, he can always take the Pokémon League’s certification exam,” Nanami said, equally worried. Still, things weren’t too dire; the League’s participation requirements were fairly relaxed.

Badge collecting was usually the path chosen by those with wealth, leisure, and the ambition to accomplish something in the field of Pokémon training.

Those who just wanted to participate in the Indigo League for fun typically sent their children to Pokémon research schools to earn a diploma, then enter the League. If they succeeded, great; if not, they could always apply to schools like Celadon University, or simply start working.

Families who could afford to send their children to such schools rarely lacked money.

There was also the route Nanami mentioned—the League’s certification exam. This path was designed for trainers with experience and skill but little time, or for those who hadn’t gathered enough badges but still wanted to compete in the Indigo League. In fact, most non-beginner trainers chose this route.

The number of people brave enough to travel was few, and those who could pass gym leader assessments were even fewer.

Of course, those who achieved good results at the Indigo League almost never came through these two methods.

Teaching at research schools used game-like machines. The certification exams relied heavily on luck.

Imagine if you were randomly assigned a Magikarp, while the examiner got an Onix?

...What a draw. I’ll pass.

“I don’t think Chen Ou will choose that path. If he’s really pressed for time, he’ll just abandon the journey and challenge gyms directly,” Professor Oak mused.

Nanami followed his line of thought and agreed. Chen Ou, as a fellow martial type, wouldn’t consider any method other than badge collecting. He couldn’t bear to lose face...

“Professor Oak! Sister Nanami!”

A childish voice called from behind them.

They turned, both smiling at the same time.

“Ash! What brings you here?” Professor Oak asked cheerfully.

The boy had messy hair and wore a blue vest.

Behind him stood a mature woman in a pink top and long skirt, smiling warmly and nodding to Professor Oak and Nanami in greeting.

It was Ash and his mother, Hanako.

“Mom and I are going to pick some berries in the forest. We’re making cake tonight!” Ash was excited, whether from berry picking and cake-making, or from seeing Professor Oak, who would give him his first Pokémon in a few months.

“It’s been a while, Professor Oak, Nanami!” Hanako came up, smiling and greeting Professor Oak.

“It’s been a while, Aunt Hanako. You’re as beautiful as ever!” Nanami greeted her warmly, clearly showing their close relationship.

Hanako smiled back, “Nanami, you’ve become even more beautiful!”

While the two women exchanged compliments, Ash asked curiously, “Professor, are you waiting for someone? Is Chen Ou back?”

Professor Oak shook his head. “Not at all. Chen Ou has only collected two badges. He won’t be back for a while yet.”

“When I’m older, I’ll collect badges faster than Chen Ou!” Ash clenched his fist in determination, encouraging himself.

“Is that so? You’d better work hard, then,” Professor Oak replied, encouraging Ash, though he couldn’t help but think to himself that Chen Ou’s journey was not something just anyone could handle. Who could casually spar with legendary Pokémon?

If Chen Ou were here, he would certainly tell Professor Oak that the kid before him was the one who had truly seen the world.

It was a joke, but the saying that legendary Pokémon who hadn’t met Ash would have to leave their group wasn’t far from the truth.

Some of Chen Ou’s experiences were bizarrely tied to Ash’s in inexplicable ways.

Yet Ash’s eternally unchanging age in the original story was also quite unreasonable. The parallel worlds were indeed full of wonders.

After chatting for a bit, Ash and Hanako went off to pick berries in the forest, while Professor Oak and Nanami continued waiting for Yew and Shirai.

Fortunately, they didn’t have to wait long.

The sound of a car engine broke the natural harmony of the town.

In the distance, a jeep approached at a leisurely pace, giving the impression of a sightseeing tour.

Professor Oak and Nanami both breathed a sigh of relief when they saw the vehicle.

The driver was Crystal, the new assistant Professor Oak had hired after Chen Ou left. She was also a Pokédex holder.

Her title was “The Catcher,” a girl from the Johto region.

Yew and Shirai had insisted Professor Oak not personally pick them up, saying that coming here to study was already enough of an imposition. Having him fetch them would be too much.

Unable to refuse, Professor Oak had sent Crystal to pick them up.

Neither too fast nor too slow, Crystal soon brought Professor Yew and Shirai before Professor Oak and Nanami.

Professor Yew got out with Shirai, whose eyes were full of curiosity and excitement. Yew extended his hand to Professor Oak and said, “Long time no see, Professor Oak!”