Chapter 125: Looking for a Place to Store It

May 25th, Alliance Year 200.

Am and Misty stepped out of the Vermilion City airport and headed straight for the Pokémon Center. This was the first time Am had utilized long-distance transportation during his travels. With his team largely assembled and none of his Pokémon currently hitting a growth plateau, what Am lacked most right now was focused training.

Upon arriving at the Pokémon Center, Am asked during registration, "Hello, I’m new to Vermilion City. Are there any large-scale daycares here? I’m looking for one that specializes in boarding."

Pokémon daycares generally provided two main services: boarding Pokémon and raising them for sale. Am was worried that a smaller facility might struggle to handle his particular Pokémon.

"Hello, Mr. Am. If you’re looking to board your Pokémon, I personally recommend the Cerise Laboratory. Professor Cerise just opened his research facility here in Vermilion City and accepts Pokémon for boarding. If the Professor finds your Pokémon suitable for his research, he even offers specialized collaboration agreements," the receptionist explained while handing back his registered Pokédex.

"A research lab? Thank you!" Am’s eyes lit up at the suggestion. What if Professor Cerise happened to be interested in studying Gengar and Clefable? His Gengar and Clefable were incredibly rare, after all.

"So? Are you heading to the Cerise Laboratory?" Misty, who had just finished checking into their room, overheard the conversation.

"Yes, I’m going to go check it out in a bit to see if I can transfer the boarding registration for Gengar and Clefable to Professor Cerise," Am said, feeling quite optimistic. Currently, his Gengar and Clefable were registered at the Giant Tree Laboratory, but Professor Giant Tree had forbidden them from returning, leaving Am with no choice but to keep them with him at all times.

"Are you coming along?" Am asked.

Misty thought for a moment and replied, "No, that’s fine. You go to the lab this afternoon, and I’ll head to the docks to see if I can rent a boat." Having only six Pokémon, Misty felt her tactical options were somewhat limited, and she planned to spend some time out on the water.

After sharing a complimentary lunch, the two went their separate ways. Despite the name "Vermilion" (often associated with withered leaves), the city was actually quite bustling.

In the Kanto region, Saffron City boasted the largest population and land area, followed by Vermilion City, which felt even more prosperous. While Cerulean City might seem more associated with the sea, Vermilion City was the largest port in Kanto, making its commerce exceptionally well-developed. Cerulean City’s "seaside" was actually situated along the Cerulean Strait, which flowed inland; one couldn't even see the vast ocean from within the city itself, requiring a trip to the Cerulean docks to reach the open water. In contrast, Vermilion City faced the open sea directly, and Vermilion Bay was the deepest part of the Kanto coastline, offering calm and sheltered waters.

Furthermore, shipping routes from Cerulean City were limited to the northern route toward Sinnoh or the long haul to the Unova region. Most of Kanto’s eastern coastline was mountainous, forcing travelers to route through the Vermilion Port for land transport. From Vermilion, one could head west to the Johto region, south to the Orange Archipelago, or southwest to the Hoenn region—it was a true hub of connectivity.

On his way to the Cerise Laboratory, Am witnessed the city's prosperity and passed by the official Vermilion Gym. The previous Gym Leader, Lt. Surge, had his official status revoked due to excessive complaints, and he had simply sold the gym to the current "Gym Leader Jin."

Leader Jin was also an Electric-type trainer who had secured the official status after Lt. Surge. Consequently, the gym hadn't "relocated" and remained at its original site. Jin was in his early thirties—someone Am didn't recognize, likely not a character from the original records. However, as the leader of one of the eight vital gyms, his strength was not to be underestimated. Not only was he at the Elite level, but he was also famous for owning a Zapdos. Although it was only a fledgling and not one of the "Legendary Birds" capable of shifting the weather, its theoretical base stat total was 1,200 points, accompanied by the standard Level 100 power associated with legendary Pokémon. When accounting for individual values and growth stats, even typical Elite Four-level Pokémon were no match for it.

Of course, a legendary Pokémon’s strength rarely had much to do with the trainer's skill. It wasn't so much a "capture" as it was a situation where the legendary Pokémon chose to follow the trainer for its own reasons. As Am passed the gym, he noticed a Zapdos emblem painted on the sign. Am was curious about legendary Pokémon; after all, by Leon’s standards, "having a legendary Pokémon follow you" was equivalent to "winning a championship"—both were criteria for being considered an "excellent trainer." Still, Am only mused on this briefly, knowing that even if he challenged the gym, he was unlikely to see the Zapdos.

After passing the gym, Am rode his Rhyhorn toward the outskirts of the city, arriving at the Cerise Laboratory. Unlike the Oak or Giant Tree laboratories, the main building had a classical, antique aesthetic, though it wasn't dilapidated or ancient. Because it featured a large area for Pokémon to roam freely, it was situated near the suburbs.

"Ah! It’s Am!"

As soon as he reached the gate, Am heard a familiar voice. Turning around, he saw Ash, Brock, Goh, and a girl he didn't recognize. The girl had fluffy, wine-red hair, and based on their attire, it seemed Ash and the others had just arrived. Unlike a traveling companion, she was dressed in casual, homey clothing.

"What a coincidence," Am said, preparing to recall his Rhyhorn.

Before he could, Ash rushed over, circling the Rhyhorn and inspecting it with touch and gaze, making the Rhyhorn roll its eyes in annoyance. "Is this a Rhyhorn? So cool... I’ve only seen others ride them. Can I give it a try?" Ash asked excitedly.

"Not here. We’re still in the city," Am replied, emphasizing his commitment to traffic regulations. He wouldn't need a permit out in the wild, but city rules were different.

"Fair enough, heh," Ash laughed sheepishly.

"By the way, what are you doing at Professor Cerise’s lab?" Ash asked, speaking as if he were well-acquainted with the Professor.

Am, who had just realized this might be the professor from the *Journeys* records, replied, "My Gengar and Clefable need a place to stay... Professor Oak and Professor Giant Tree’s facilities aren't quite suited for Ghost and Fairy types." Am felt that wasn't exactly a lie. They had simply made the kind of mistakes that Ghost and Fairy types often make—only, perhaps, a little more severely.