Pokémon, Ash's art style is off!

Seeing that the atmosphere was getting a little awkward, Xiaoxia quickly stepped in to smooth things over and explained.

"It's a ranking method popular among young trainers in the Kanto region, roughly dividing their strength based on the number of badges they've earned."

"After all, the more badges a person has, the stronger they are to a certain extent. In fact, if trainers have a minor dispute, they will privately judge each other based on the number of badges they have."

"The higher your rank, the higher you can stand on the social hierarchy!"

Xiao Zhi stood up, took over the conversation, and looked like he knew this very well.

"At that time, a simple 'My skill level is higher than yours' will be enough to finish you off!"

"Xiao Zhi, you're not entirely right."

Xiao Gang interjected, saying that as the owner of the museum, he was clearly quite knowledgeable about this topic.

"Those with lower ranks are not necessarily at the bottom of the hierarchy of contempt. Sometimes, someone with a third-level Emblem Power can defeat someone with a fourth-level Emblem Power!"

"Wh...what?!"

Zhi is shocked!

Using the power of a third-dan to defeat a fourth-dan!?

"That's right, this actually involves the issue of the 'value of the badge'."

Xiao Gang explained.

"You see, although they are all gym badges, the difficulty of challenges in different gyms varies greatly, which leads to completely different ownership rates for each badge—that is, the proportion of trainers who own it."

"Therefore, even if it's the same badge, if you get the more difficult one, it means that your strength surpasses those who only got the easy badge."

"The rarer the holding, the higher its value."

He extended his index finger, his tone solemn.

"Of all the badges, the hardest to obtain and with the lowest ownership rate is undoubtedly the green badge of the Evergreen Gym!"

"As long as you have it, even if you are one rank lower than your opponent, you can still 'look down on them across ranks'!"

"Crossing the section?!"

“That’s right,” Xiao Gang nodded. “Moreover, if you find that the opponent’s badges include the universally recognized guaranteed badges from Cerulean Dojo, which are often referred to as counterfeit badges, then you can even look down on him from two ranks away!”

"Two sections?!"

Xiao Zhi was terrified.

Upon hearing this, Xiaoxia's expression froze, but she couldn't refute it.

The Cerulean Gym Badge is one of the easiest to obtain.

If you go there, you'll basically get it.

It could even be described as a perk for trainers.

Staryu quietly distanced itself from Misty and moved closer to Ash.

In this situation, only its older brother provides it with a sense of security.

Seeing the three of them discussing so enthusiastically, Wu Neng couldn't help but interject and ask a question.

"What if the ranks of both sides are still the same after conversion?"

"Isn't this kind of thing inherently very vague? What if one party doesn't recognize it?"

"You don't acknowledge it?"

Xiao Zhi glanced at Wu Neng with surprise, rolled up his sleeves, as if he had asked a very strange question.

"Uncle, you're from Northeast China."

Wu Neng: "..."

When in doubt, one should summon one's fists; indeed, after all these years, I've come full circle.

The Kanto region still tastes the same!

Ash held the badge and was happy for a while, then waved triumphantly.

"Alright! In that case, our next target is Cerulean City!"

"I think we could actually go somewhere else first..."

"How can that be! I already promised Miss Joey!"

Xiao Gang, who was standing to the side, couldn't help but feel a little envious as he watched Xiao Zhi and Xiao Xia talk to each other.

This joy of traveling purely for a dream and growing together with Pokémon is something that has become somewhat unattainable for him after he had to shoulder the family responsibility of taking care of his younger siblings as a gym leader.

Feeling that the atmosphere had become much more harmonious, Wu Neng rubbed his hands together and awkwardly tried to go up and talk to his son.

"Xiaogang, I..."

Xiao Gang immediately composed himself, crossed his arms, and turned his head away.

"Ah!"

He seemed completely unwilling to acknowledge or acknowledge the other person.

Pikachu, who was eating melon seeds, suddenly shuddered and felt a chill run down its spine.

I turned my head away instinctively.

At the entrance of the dojo, a pair of gleaming eyes were peering at him.

It rubbed its eyes.

But in that instant, eight more pairs of eyes appeared!

"!"

Pikachu quickly tugged at Ash's pant leg.

"What's wrong, Pikachu?"

"Pickup!"

Pikachu hurriedly pointed to the doorway.

Just as I was about to turn my head.

A pair of small hands lifted it up without warning!

"!"

The mouse's danger perception didn't work at all!

Just as he was about to instinctively retaliate, Ash grabbed him and held him down.

"Relax."

Trusting Ash, Pikachu stopped resisting.

"It's Pikachu!"

"Really!"

"Why is its head so pointy!"

"It's hard all over!"

Several voices rang out.

Nine tiny creatures quickly surrounded Pikachu, kneading it with their hands.

"Jiro, Saburo, Yoshiko, Goro, Rokuko, Shichiko, Hachiki, Kurō, Jūko, what brings you all here?"

Xiao Gang's tone was helpless, but his demeanor revealed the gentleness unique to an older brother.

Even if Xiao Gang didn't name them, just by looking at those nine pairs of identical squinty eyes, anyone could immediately guess their identities—they were definitely Xiao Gang's younger brother and sister-in-law!

It's already noon!

"It's time for my brother to get off work!"

"We've prepared the food!"

"We're just waiting for you to come back and start cooking!"

The nine people surrounded Pikachu, touching it here and there, answering questions in a disjointed manner, their attention completely drawn to Pikachu.

It has to be said that the Electric Mouse family is indeed among the top in the Pokémon world in terms of appearance, and they have a fatal attraction for children and women in any region.

"Pikachu!"

Pikachu felt uncomfortable being touched so much.

But faced with this group of harmless, overly enthusiastic little creatures, Pikachu was momentarily at a loss for how to react.

Resisting is wrong, and not resisting is also wrong.

They had no choice but to turn to Xiaozhi for help.

"Alright, don't cause trouble for others!"

Xiao Gang spoke up to stop him, his tone carrying the authority of an elder brother.

The children immediately wilted like eggplants after a frost, their heads drooping, looking at Xiaogang with teary eyes, then at Pikachu. Their pitiful appearance was heartbreaking for anyone to see.

Xiao Gang looked at his younger siblings, sighed helplessly, a hint of embarrassment flashing across his face, and turned to Xiao Zhi and Xiao Xia, his tone pleading.

"I'm so sorry, but if you don't mind, would you like to come to my house for lunch?"

He paused, then looked at Xiaozhi.

“Perfect timing. I have the cultivation manual of the Heavenly King Shiba. We can exchange experiences.”

Xiao Zhi's eyes lit up.

He looked Xiao Gang up and down, sizing him up.

"Good! Good! Good!"

Pikachu for Brock!

This was a great deal!

After all, Pikachu himself is reluctant to actually train it.