Pokémon, Ash is going to become a perfect man from now on.

Kikuko is absolutely telling the truth. In recent years, the league has launched various attacks against the Rockets, but the Rockets have only become stronger. Now, the endless stream of crimes is overwhelming.

However, due to Ash's sudden emergence, criminal activities wherever he went were severely impacted, and Giovanni even had to devote some of his energy to him, which naturally reduced the pressure on the Elite Four...

However, this is exactly the problem that Ash has been worried about!

The Elite Four, including Kikuko, are far too concerned about Team Rocket's status as an evil organization!

"Forget about that... Rika showed me your report from before. You and Da Mu's grandson weren't injured, were you?"

After exchanging pleasantries for a while, Kikuko brought up the Silver Company incident, her tone becoming very concerned.

"No." Xiao Zhi quickly shook his head. "We made a lot of preparations in advance, so it went relatively smoothly. It's just a pity that we couldn't keep the Master Ball."

"Damn it!" Kikuko suddenly slammed her hand on the table in anger. "These Team Rocket bastards actually dared to lay a hand on you two! Are they all tired of living?!"

"Ah, this..." Xiao Zhi was taken aback.

He thought Kikuko was scolding him for not doing his job well, but it turns out the old lady was just feeling sorry for him and Shigeru.

"Grandma Kikuko, this was actually a trap we set up first..."

"A bunch of bastards!!"

Xiao Zhi tried to explain to the old woman, but she pounded her cane on the ground with a loud thud, clearly not listening to him at all.

"That bastard Sakaki has been causing trouble in the League for years, and now he actually dared to send people to kidnap Rika and even set his sights on the two of you... Does he really think no one can deal with him?!"

Xiao Zhi: ...

He had heard before that although Kikuko was old, she had an extremely irritable temper and was easily angered.

Meeting her today, I can tell that besides her well-deserved fiery temper, she is also an extremely protective old lady.

Sabrina's father kidnapped Rika because Ash was keeping an eye on things in Goldenrod City, so he didn't have a chance to do anything.

The incidents involving the Columbarium and Silph were all initiated by Ash taking action against Team Rocket...

As a result, Granny Kikuko put all the blame on the other party, and even went so far as to accuse them of being their leader. Isn't that just protecting her own?

Speaking of which... Tomoe and Kikuko are both Professor Oak's children, one of whom grew up under his care, and the other is practically his grandson... Anyone would be convinced that Kikuko and Professor Oak are having an affair!

Just wait and see. If this old woman is allowed to act freely any longer, she might just go and confront Sakaki head-on…

"Old woman, I'm going to the Viridian Gym right now and poison this bastard to death!!"

Look at this!

Despite his inner grumbling, Ash had already become secretly on guard.

Kikuko's words were probably not just empty talk!

"Grandma, please calm down. Gary and I are both fine," Ash immediately put on a docile demeanor to reassure her. "This whole mess was caused by those Team Rocket henchmen being so careless, but they've already been arrested. You don't need to get so upset about it..."

"You don't need to be so sweet with me!" Kikuko waved her hand irritably. "You might think this is easy, but do you even know how long your father hesitated before agreeing to give you the identity of an investigator? Don't we worry about your repeated clashes with Team Rocket?!"

"Of course I know that..." Ash silently lowered his head.

Every action taken against Team Rocket carries enormous risks and causes countless people to worry about him. How could Ash not know this?

For example, back in Silford, if Ash hadn't had a flash of inspiration and persuaded Sabrina to leave, the entire building might have been razed to the ground!

"But this is something I have to do!" Ash raised his head again, his gaze now extremely determined!

"Traveling around, fighting crime, and gradually dismantling the evil organization Team Rocket—this is a responsibility I must take on!"

"What nonsense are you talking about?" Kikuko asked angrily. "We old folks are still here, how dare a kid like you risk your life?!"

"Grandma Kikuko, you've misunderstood me... It has nothing to do with age, it's a difference in status." Ash patiently persuaded, "The main force to deal with Team Rocket should be investigators and police officers like me, not you and the Elite Four, and certainly not Mr. Lance who is preparing to win the championship!"

That said, it's natural for a junior investigator like Ash to roam around causing trouble for Team Rocket, but if high-ranking members like the Elite Four were to do the same, wouldn't that be treating heroes like foot soldiers?

Greedy for minion waves when you should be counter-jungling, and stealing kills when you should be defending towers – it's no wonder you lose team fights!

"What did you say? We're not the main force?!" Ash meant well, but it only made Akiko explode even more.

"Do you know, when I was young, I was just like Giovanni... oh dear!"

Kikuko was so excited that she tried to get up, but the movement was too big, and she accidentally strained her back.

"Grandma Kikuko, please take it easy." Xiaozhi was startled and quickly stepped forward to support the trembling old woman. "Look at how you are, you should rest first."

"Tch...getting old is such a hassle, but don't worry, once I've rested, I'll go and get justice for you and Da Mu's grandson!"

"Yes, yes, we know you're good to us. You even specially made that cursed talisman for me before."

"That thing is really useful, right? Let me tell you, it's just that there's not enough resentment energy in Maiden's Gorge, otherwise I would have made an even bigger one for you!"

"That's right, besides your immense strength, your magical power is also boundless... the entire alliance knows that."

...

After much coaxing and persuasion, Xiaozhi finally managed to get Kiku to rest. With a sigh of relief, he dialed someone's private number with a serious expression.

Kikuko's matter is not over yet.

The old woman clearly didn't listen to advice. She's only stopping now because of her health. Who knows what she might do once she recovers?

Ash guessed that if she hadn't wanted to confirm with her own eyes that she and Gary were safe and sound, she would have gone straight to Viridian City!

"Hey, you actually called me on your own initiative. What trouble have you run into this time that requires your wise and mighty father to step in?" the man asked with amusement as the call connected.

"This is a very troublesome matter! If you have time, you'd better come to Yuhong Dojo right away!"

"What's the rush?" the man asked, puzzled.

"Grandma Kikuko is here. She found out about what happened with Silver and is now threatening to poison the entire Sakaki family!"

"Damn! That old lady really did something like that! You'd better keep her calm, I'm off to Guqiu right now!!"

On the other end of the phone, the person was so flustered that their voice was distorted.

Chapter 120 The Perfume Beauty, the Hidden Feelings

And you're telling me to keep her calm?

After hanging up the phone, Xiao Zhi couldn't help but grumble to himself.

With Kikuko's domineering and fierce personality, even Professor Oak can't handle her, so how can I possibly keep her in check?

Ash figured the only sure way to stop Akiko was to use cheat codes to cripple her weapons one by one…

But he can't actually do that!

All Xiao Zhi could do was go back to Kikuko's bedside and serve her hand and foot, trying to stall for as long as possible... and then find an opportunity to knock her unconscious.

It's not fair to blame Ash for disrespecting elders. Unlike young people like Lorelei, Ash can't reason with grandmothers like these. It's easier for him to solve problems by acting like a bratty kid.

...

"How is Kikuko-senpai doing?"

A moment later, seeing Ash leave the guest room, Rika immediately came up to him and asked.

Naz followed behind her, her expression showing concern even though she didn't speak.

"I hypnotized her, and she's already asleep," Xiao Zhi said with a helpless shrug.

Ash was helpless; Agatha was completely uncooperative. Not only did she refuse to rest, but she kept insisting that she was fine and urging Ash to continue his journey, saying things like he couldn't let an old woman delay their progress.

She even started berating Xiaozhi, asking him why he didn't pursue the two pretty girls he had, but instead kept hanging around this old woman...

Left with no other choice, Xiao Zhi could only give her a mental suggestion, telling her to take a nap first.

"Miss Rika, I'll have to trouble you to take care of Grandma Kikuko." Ash apologized to Rika, "I might not be able to wait for her to wake up, so I have to leave first."

"Of course, no problem. I certainly won't neglect you." Rika readily agreed, but then seemed a little reluctant, "But... Mr. Satoshi, are you leaving so soon?"

"I'm afraid the old lady will get angry if she sees me~" Xiaozhi scratched his head apologetically, "Anyway... Miss Rika, just consider it as my lack of responsibility that forced me to run away temporarily. You'd better hide for a while too, anyway, someone will handle this matter."

Kikuko will definitely still be angry when she wakes up, so Ash should definitely run away first~

As for the bad luck of the grumpy old lady, let a certain high-ranking member of the alliance handle it.

Anyway, dads are just for messing with...

"That's not true at all!" Rika immediately retorted with a straight face, "To this day, I have never met anyone more responsible than Mr. Xiaozhi! Don't worry, I will support your decision no matter what, and I will naturally handle the rest properly."

"I am extremely grateful!"

Honestly, at this moment, in Ash's eyes, Rika is simply an angel!

He stayed at the Jade Rainbow Dojo for a while longer, then, calculating that it was about time, he and Natsume formally said goodbye.

Rika escorted them all the way to the dojo, her arms folded over her chest the whole way, as if she was constantly worried about losing them.

"Mr. Ash, may I accept this?"

As parting was imminent, Rika seemed to have finally made up her mind and presented the gift she had been hiding in her palm to Ash.

It was a delicate little bottle, and because of the tension of the journey, there were even a few glistening sweat stains on the bottle...

"This is... my personal perfume..."

Lijia held the perfume in both hands, her head bowed, barely daring to breathe, as if afraid he would refuse.

This performance made Nazja, who was standing next to her, a little concerned.