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

She had overheard the sales clerks gossiping when she bought cosmetics at a department store before, saying that these kinds of things weren't gifts that ordinary friends would give each other...

So, what were his feelings when he gave himself that bottle of gold perfume?

"This... alright." Xiao Zhi was slightly taken aback, but still solemnly accepted it.

"It is my honor to receive this gift."

"I'm glad Mr. Ash accepted it." Rika finally felt relieved, and her smile blossomed like a flower, making it hard for Ash to look away.

In the other person's eyes, the little AI could clearly see its own reflection...

"It is my duty that prevents me from leaving Celadon City... but I would like to hear from Mr. Ash often in the future, or... please come and stay with me when you have time."

"I definitely will," Ash solemnly promised.

...

"Mr. Xiaozhi, I hope you have a safe journey."

At the entrance of the Rainbow Gym, Rika watched Ash's receding figure, feeling a mix of reluctance and special anticipation.

For example, the next report with a pleasant surprise, or him appearing before me again...

It's hard to imagine that someone you've only met twice could leave such a deep impression on you.

However, as a Grass-type expert, Rika was able to clearly describe her feelings.

That is actually a seed; once planted in the heart, it can take root and sprout.

Even if it rarely speaks or is not often by your side, as long as it receives occasional nourishment, it can grow stronger day by day...

boom!

The figure in the distance disappeared completely, and just as Rika was about to return to the dojo, a sudden gust of air blew her hair into disarray.

A majestic dragon beast hovered in mid-air, its crimson wings spread wide, casting a shadow over the earth…

"You... how did you get here?" Rika was taken aback when she saw the man who landed with the dragon beast.

She had just confessed her feelings to someone when that person's father showed up right afterward... This unexpected meeting with the parents inevitably made Lijia very reserved.

"Miss Lijia, where is my son?" the man asked anxiously.

“Mr. Satoshi has just left. He entrusted me to take care of Kikuko-senpai,” Rika said respectfully.

"Oh...this is just running away ahead of time, isn't it?" The man's lips twitched. "What a troublesome brat..."

“Mr. Satoshi has many important things to do; he can’t keep delaying here,” Rika gently defended someone.

"You...aren't you afraid he'll take advantage of you and bully you in the future if you speak up for him so vehemently?"

The man shook his head helplessly, then put on a serious expression: "Let's get down to business. I need to borrow your dojo for a while to discuss secret alliance matters with Kikuko!"

"This humble woman will show you the way!" Lijia dared not delay and immediately led the man into the dojo.

Coincidentally, Kikuko, who had been under hypnosis, had also gotten up and was planning to sneak out with her handheld device...

"Aunt Juzi, where are you rushing off to?" The man suddenly blocked her way. "I heard you hurt your back, but you're all better now?"

"How come... Tch, that brat sent you to save the day, didn't he?" Kikuko was so angry that she almost threw her cane down.

She was momentarily dazed, but immediately realized that she had been hypnotized by Ash. However, having dealt with Ghost-type Pokémon for many years, Agatha's mental strength was extraordinary, so she was naturally not without the ability to resist.

So she decided to pretend to be asleep and sneak away when Ash wasn't looking.

But to my surprise, that brat actually brought in a reinforcement!

The man before them was not as good as the four of them, but they were only a hair's breadth apart.

If the other party persisted in pestering her, Kikuko knew she would not be able to leave.

Moreover, the four of them owed him favors, so there was no way they would fight him!

"Aunt Kikuko, can you calm down now?"

Seeing the hesitation on Kikuko's face, the man finally revealed a confident smile.

My son may be a bit of a troublemaker, but he's also really reliable!

The interlude chapter, a major change in the capital, initialization.

"Alright kid, spit it out!"

In the secret meeting room of Yuhong Dojo, Kikuko was reluctantly forced back to her seat, muttering under her breath.

"I really miscalculated this time... I should have just gone to Tokiwa City and dealt with that bastard instead of coming to see this brat!"

"If that were the case, you'd be dead." The man said helplessly. "Don't you believe me? In the current Kanto League, anyone who faces Giovanni is doomed... Even if Lance breaks through to become a champion, he'll still be a pushover!"

"Are you kidding me?" Kikuko slammed her hand on the table in dissatisfaction. "No matter how strong that bastard Sakaki is, he's only slightly better than Watari... If this old woman were to risk her life, she could definitely give him a run for his money!"

"Sakaki has a man-made legendary Pokémon by his side. You can't even get close to him. If you're a hundred meters away, someone will twist your neck!" the man said with dead fish eyes.

"Are you serious?!" Kikuko stared wide-eyed in disbelief.

“Absolutely true!” The man nodded solemnly. “This is the information my son investigated. In his opinion, that artificial Pokémon possesses strength comparable to legendary Pokémon such as Ho-Oh and Lugia!”

"How could this be..." Kikuko seemed to have all her strength drained away, and she slumped into the chair...

No one would joke about something like this, especially since Xiaozhi, although sometimes a little mischievous, is also the most sensible child.

"But don't worry, my son said he has a way to deal with that Pokémon, at least to keep it from turning against both sides..."

"That kind of Pokémon... what can he possibly do?!" Akiko was so anxious she almost strained her back again.

Ash is now the hope of the entire league; it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say he's the only hope!

Faced with such terrifying Pokémon... what could he possibly do?!

"Aunt Juzi, please don't ask anymore..." The man lowered his head and sighed silently.

It would have been better if Kikuko hadn't brought it up; the more she did, the more he would blame himself for his incompetence!

Ash told him most of the information about Mewtwo, including the blood-fusion gene extraction—which was also the key to Ash's ability to defeat Mewtwo!

The man felt really guilty about this.

These adults are utterly useless. After being suffocated by the Rockets for so many years, they still have to shift all the blame onto a kid and watch him do such a dangerous thing...

On the other hand, he was also very proud of it!

Because Ash is his child, and he's doing something that no one else can do!

He's fighting against legends, and he's also pulling the Kanto Alliance out of its old quagmire step by step!

“Aunt Kikuko, I know you feel sorry for that child too… but he has made his choice!” The man firmly persuaded Kikuko, “He’s right… it should be his duty to fight Team Rocket!”

"You think he's right too?" Kikuko, who had been silent for a while, exploded again. "We're all still here, and we're just letting a kid go up against the Rockets... Where am I supposed to put my face?!"

"You were indeed at the forefront, but how much did you achieve?" the man retorted in a low voice. "Adu has already become a senior investigator, but what good has that done?!"

"Besides being an evil corporation, Team Rocket is also a complex business group with a huge network of connections within the Kanto League! Every time the League plans an operation, someone will tip them off. If you destroy one base, a second one will appear. If you capture ten members, a hundred more will pop up... and they won't be locked up for long before being released again! In the long run, no matter how hard we try, it will all be in vain!"

"So, let that kid do it..." the man finally advised earnestly. "Auntie Kiku, what you Elite Four, including me, need to do is not to personally fight Team Rocket like Ash did, but to dismantle their protective network at the top!"

"This kind of thing..." For a moment, Kikuko was speechless.

As a veteran figure, she was certainly aware of the problems the alliance had been facing.

Team Rocket amassed wealth through criminal and commercial means, and then used that wealth to pave the way, eventually weaving a massive gray network of interests covering Kanto, Johto, and the Seven Islands.

It is precisely because of this network that the Rockets' criminal activities are always covered up, and they are always able to obtain first-hand intelligence.

In contrast, the Four Heavenly Kings are busy fighting various crimes.

While they were busy traveling around, Giovanni was leisurely cultivating talent and improving his own strength, until he formed the current situation where he strongly suppressed the Kanto Alliance!

"You make it sound so easy, but so many years have passed. If we could have done that, the league wouldn't be in this state now," Kikuko sighed helplessly.

Everyone understands the principle, but if they can't put it into practice, then it's all for naught.

"It's very simple. Just think of us as returning to the early days of the Kanto Alliance, redivide all the forces and families into factions, and then defeat them one by one!" The man's tone gradually turned cold, and his expression also carried a hint of murderous intent!

"Conquer the weak first, then subdue the strong, and as for those that are neither strong nor weak, they will be under your control!"

"When...did you acquire such insight...?"

Kikuko stared blankly at the man, as if she were seeing him for the first time; in her eyes, he was just an 'okay' junior.

"Of course I don't have that kind of knowledge, but my son does!" The man suddenly adopted a smug, lewd expression, his previously tough, domineering aura instantly vanishing...

But Kikuko was even more shocked!

These words...were spoken by Ash?!

"If I hadn't been so shocked by his ideas, I wouldn't be here today," the man said smugly and proudly. "When he proposed the death penalty, I thought it was just a momentary lapse of judgment, but it turns out he's been planning something big. The reason he volunteered to take on the task of fighting Team Rocket must also be for this grand plan!"

If Ash is appointed as a League Investigator to fight crime, and given just a little authority, his efficiency might not be lower than that of the Elite Four!

After all, he needs to travel around, and in the process of collecting badges, Ash could easily plow through the entire level!

He also possessed superpowers.

Ash could easily read the memories of Team Rocket's grunts in the Kanto League prison and uncover a whole host of secret bases. He could then teleport there and destroy them one by one!

Once he takes the lead in the league's grassroots offensive against the Rockets, the Big Four can be freed from their heavy workload and focus on sorting out the league's complex internal conflicts.