Pokémon, Ash's art style is off!

247. It seems like an old friend has come.

After saying goodbye to Lorelei, who had once again activated her invisibility to escape enthusiastic fans, the three headed towards the Pokémon Center.

"The Spiny Shell is amazing! It can actually do that!"

As Xiao Zhi walked backwards, facing the other two, he gestured with his hands and spoke twice as fast as usual.

"If you don't concentrate, it's completely invisible! Science! That's the power of science!"

"Pikachu!"

Pikachu responded, its paws clasped under its chin as it perched on Ash's shoulder, its little face full of seriousness.

To be fair, this wasn't the first time it had witnessed the moves of powerful Pokémon, but Cloyster's mimicry technique...

That's definitely beyond the mouse's comprehension.

After all, even a trainer like Ash, who is extremely sensitive to visual details, has to widen his eyes to notice the distortion of light in the air.

Needless to say, it's practically the same as being blind to the truth.

Pikachu couldn't help but rub its face with its paw.

The Pokémon of the Elite Four are truly terrifying!

Avoid arrogance and impatience; the current mouse... still needs to work harder!

"That's really amazing!"

"That's right! Don't you even know whose idol he is!"

Xiaoxia put her hands on her hips and raised her chin slightly.

Hearing the two talk about Lorelei's prowess, even Misty, who was almost expelled from her Water-type Trainer specialization, proudly raised her head.

"King Kona's understanding of the relationship between ice and water has reached a level of unparalleled mastery!"

"When I was at the Cerulean Gym, I watched her battle replays over and over again, no less than a hundred times!"

"The ability to integrate Ice and Water-type moves into a complete offensive and defensive system is unparalleled among current trainers!"

"Is it... truly divine...?"

Lillie repeated those four words in a low voice.

That's truly masterful.

Those visual distortion techniques must be really convenient to use.

She looked at her empty chest.

Come to think of it, I'm now able to have some contact with Pokémon.

Choosing an Ice-type Pokémon for your first Pokémon doesn't seem like a bad idea... does it?

After all, Xiao Zhi once said that people always have to challenge their weaknesses in life!

Hmm! Let's challenge our weakness!

.......

The three of them chatted amongst themselves along the way and soon arrived at the Pokémon Center.

As soon as the automatic door opened, a cool breeze from the air conditioner, carrying the clean scent of disinfectant, rushed out.

The hall wasn't too lively at the moment; only a few trainers were sitting on the benches against the wall, waiting.

"Xiaozhi?"

Xiao Gang's voice came from the counter.

He was standing in front of Miss Joey, striking up a conversation in a manner that was both attentive and not too offensive.

He was even holding a cup of hot tea that he had somehow gotten his hands on.

Upon seeing Xiaozhi and his two companions enter, he immediately put down his teacup and strode over.

"Your match is over so quickly? How did it go?"

Seeing Xiao Gang leave, Miss Joey behind the counter breathed a sigh of relief, as if she had been granted a pardon.

He gave Xiaozhi a look that said, "Finally, you've taken the person away," and then neatly arranged a stack of registration forms and put them into the drawer.

"Oh, Mr. Gang, you're alright! As for the match..." Ash patted his chest and declared loudly, "...Pikachu and I naturally won!"

"Pikachu! Pikachu!"

Pikachu proudly raised its little paw, with an expression that said, "That goes without saying."

"Oh, that's good, that's good..."

Xiao Gang nodded in relief. He was about to give Pikachu a few more instructions about recovering its stamina, but before he could get within five steps of Xiao Zhi, he suddenly stopped.

"Um?!"

His relaxed expression suddenly froze, and his nostrils twitched almost imperceptibly.

"Whoosh—whoosh—"

He took a step forward, and his nose twitched again as if it were being pulled by a string.

"This taste..."

Xiao Gang carefully examined the smells in the air.

The scent was faint yet persistently lingered around Ash.

"Whoosh—whoosh—"

Take one step, smell one aroma, and follow the scent.

Xiao Gang's expression gradually changed from doubt to astonishment, from astonishment to amazement, and finally sublimated into an almost devout ecstasy.

"Ah~ it's like the first melting snow on the ice field, or like fruit wine aged for many years in winter, clear and lingering, cold and beautiful but not piercing."

"So mature, so mellow..."

"Layer upon layer, the base notes also reveal a hint of sea salt's saltiness and icy coolness, like standing on the edge of a cliff facing the wind, feeling the sea mist on your face..."

"I...I've never smelled such a complex and sophisticated fragrance before!"

As he spoke, Xiao Gang's Adam's apple bobbed up and down, and his eyes revealed the demeanor of a top wine connoisseur.

I took a deep breath and went for a top-notch lung-filling experience.

Suddenly, Xiao Gang, who was in a daze, snapped to attention and stared blankly at Xiao Zhi.

"Wait, something's not right! Why is this scent coming from you, Ash?!"

"Who is it? Who did you come into contact with? Whose scent is this?!"

".......?!"

That strong?!

Lillie, who was initially quite shocked, was about to speak.

But seeing that not only Ash and Misty, but even Pikachu looked calm, he swallowed back his exclamation.

Could it be... that this is normal in the Kanto region, and I'm just ignorant?

"You must be talking about Elite Four member Lorelei. We ran into her on our way back."

Xiao Zhi offered an explanation.

Then he secretly hid the notebook in his arms, afraid that Xiao Gang might drool on it in his excitement.

After all, this is all knowledge; if the handwriting gets smudged, he won't be able to read it!

"Oh, so you ran into Knae..."

Xiao Gang nodded in agreement subconsciously, but before he could finish speaking, he froze on the spot as if a pause button had been pressed.

"Wait, who did you say???"

"King Kona..."

Ash tilted his head in surprise, thinking to himself, surely Teacher Gang wouldn't not recognize the Elite Four?

But he still gave a serious explanation.

"It's the one with the strongest ice-type attacks, one of the Four Heavenly Kings of Kanto, the one with a wealth of knowledge..."

"You mean, that redhead with glasses, 175cm tall, 107kg, with measurements of 108-70-90?!"

Xiao Gang straightened up and added some details.

"I really don't know that."

Xiao Zhi fell into deep thought, his gaze shifting slightly upwards as he frowned and recalled the events intently.

I was so busy chatting with Cloyster and looking at my notes that I didn't really get a good look at Elite Four member himself.

"But I think so."

After all, the detail of the red hair wearing glasses still matches.

"Goo!"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Gang clutched his chest, his face filled with heartache, as if he had been stabbed by the greatest betrayal in the world.

He staggered back half a step, grabbing the back of the chair with one hand, as if all his strength had been drained away.

"You three! You actually saw such a beauty behind my back?!"

"Behind my back?!"

"Mr. Xiaogang, no, it's not because you're unwell that you didn't come with us..."

Upon hearing this, Lillie replied weakly.

"Goo!"

Defeated in one move.

Xiao Gang suddenly lost all color.