Ash's Pokémon Travel Has Big Problems

Ash didn't try to force his way in; instead, he calmly took out the red and white Pokédex from his pocket.

He skillfully manipulated it a few times, then lifted it up.

[—This is a Pokédex for Ash, in the hope that he will become a Pokémon Trainer. Please note that if the Pokédex is lost or stolen, it will not be reissued. Please keep it safe. —Professor Oak, Pallet Town]

Professor Oak's familiar and steady voice was clearly played through the Pokédex's speaker, echoing across the open space shrouded in invisible pressure.

Then Brock stepped forward and added in a deep voice, "Brock from Nibi Dojo, I'm here to pay a visit."

Xiaoxia took a deep breath and said loudly, "Xiaoxia from Hualan Dojo, I'm here to pay a visit."

Their voices, along with Professor Oak's guarantee in the Pokédex, were clearly conveyed.

A brief moment of silence.

Only the faint whistling sound of the sea breeze passing over the lighthouse could be heard.

Sudden.

A loudspeaker high up on the lighthouse blared out.

A slightly tired but curious male voice came through, seemingly mixed with the faint background noise of some kind of instrument running:

"Professor Oak's Pokédex holder?"

"And two gym leaders... what a rare combination."

"No one has come here for a while."

"come in."

The moment the words fell.

The oppressive, almost suffocating hostility that permeated the air vanished as the tide receded, as if it had never existed.

Followed by.

The light in the open space ahead distorted slightly.

An elegant and slender figure appeared silently before the three of them, as if woven from nothingness.

It has a body like a pure white skirt, short green hair like a crown, arms like wearing elegant long gloves, and red pupils that are calm and deep, as if they can see through people's hearts.

It's a Gardevoir.

She is very beautiful and has a great presence.

And then the next moment.

A gentle yet clear male voice resonated simultaneously in the minds of the three, polite yet possessing an ethereal quality that seemed almost superhuman:

Gentlemen, please follow me.

[The doctor is waiting in the top-floor laboratory.]

Gardevoir nodded slightly and made a "please" gesture.

He didn't speak, but those telepathic words were imprinted on their consciousness more directly than any language.

"(???)" Xiaoxia opened her mouth slightly in surprise.

She looked at the Gardevoir before her, a creature of striking contrasts—an elegant and graceful appearance paired with the soulful voice of a mature man.

“……(?..?)” Xiao Gang’s eyes were almost filled with heartbreak.

I didn't expect it to be a male Gardevoir.

However, as a breeder, he was also filled with curiosity about this Pokémon that could skillfully use telepathy and seemed to possess extremely high intelligence.

Powerful Pokémon trainers almost always have Psychic or Ghost-type Pokémon.

Having these two Pokémon makes things much more convenient in many situations, the simplest being communication with them.

[...a cross-dressing master...] Xiao Zhi thought to himself, pulling down his hat brim, a hint of understanding and excitement flashing in his eyes.

"Telepathy... and so clear and stable, that's amazing." Ash murmured in admiration, then nodded to Gardevoir, "Thank you for your help."

Gardevoir nodded slightly again, then turned around.

The hem of her skirt brushed silently against the ground, drifting towards the heavy metal door of the lighthouse.

The three exchanged a glance and followed closely behind.

Pikachu perched on Ash's shoulder, curiously observing Gardevoir leading the way, its little head filled with big question marks.

[Pikachu...?]

(Male? Female?)

Pikachu has never seen a Pokémon like Gardevoir.

But Pikachu has seen many humans.

If Pikachu remembers correctly, humans with this appearance are all female.

However, Gardevoir's voice is the same as that of a human male.

This confused Pikachu.

I can only say that they are still too young and need to broaden their horizons.

"..." Gardevoir paused almost imperceptibly.

That gentle male voice resonated in the three people's hearts once more, carrying a very faint, seemingly helpless, tone:

[Gender identity is not a primary concern for Psychic-type Pokémon.]

[I am the doctor's assistant, responsible for guiding and protecting him.]

[This way, please.]

Actually, when he was still Kirlia, he wanted to evolve into Gallade... Given Professor Bill's status and position, getting a Hidden Stone would have been too easy for him.

Unfortunately, Gallade's ability is not what Professor Bill needs.

Ultimately, after considering all factors, Kirlia evolved into Gardevoir.

At times like this, Gardevoir always felt it was a sad issue.

Physical appearance is not an issue among Gardevoirs.

Under normal circumstances, the male-to-female ratio of Gardevoir is 1:1.

After all, a male Qilulian needs an Awakening Stone to evolve into Gallade.

Awakening Stones are not so common.

However, male Gardevoirs living with humans are more concerned about this.

Do you really think Gardevoir can't use the internet?

Just kidding, he's really good at it.

Then came the problem.

How do humans view male Gardevoir?

—Quack, it's a little boy!

—It's even more exciting if the wife is a man!

—The Queen of Doujinshi!

...Whenever Gardevoir thinks about those strange comments on the internet, she just wants to beat those filthy humans up through the internet cable!

It can only be said that gentlemen are like this no matter which world they live in.

Just as Gardevoir was distracted...

The metal door slid open silently in front of him, revealing a technologically advanced passageway inside.

Inside and outside the door, it seemed like two completely different worlds.

Dr. Zheng Hui's research institute is certainly not ordinary.

Chapter 49 Dr. Masahiro: Dr. Oak, the Drunkard?

The sight inside the Lighthouse Research Institute made the three of them hold their breath in unison.

It is quite different from the classic white exterior.

The interior features a futuristic silver-white color scheme.

The smooth alloy walls are seamlessly joined, gleaming with a cold luster.

Complex energy conduits, like blood vessels, are embedded in the ceiling and walls, flowing with a faint blue light.

It truly lives up to its reputation as a research institute for world-renowned PhDs.

It looks very high-end at first glance.

Most striking are the huge, ancient stone slabs that surround the walls of the entire rotunda.

They stand out starkly against the technological feel of their surroundings.

The stone is rough, with weathered edges, and is carved with blurry yet powerful patterns.

Roaring whales, entwined tentacles, blurry humanoid figures riding the waves, and many more indescribable deep-sea behemoths.

They stand silently, as if they were moved here directly from some forgotten ancient temple, exuding a desolate and mysterious aura.

These are all unearthed cultural relics, collected and studied by Dr. Zheng Hui.

Professor Pokémon's research scope is actually quite broad.

Although Professor Bill is famous for his Pokémon Teleportation System technology, he also has other research projects.

For example, recently he has been researching the true identities of the five sea kings under Kyogre.

“These are…” Xiao Gang’s eyes were instantly drawn to them.

As the heir to the Rock-type Gym, he has an instinctive desire to explore these ancient ruins.

"..." Xiao Zhi fell silent for a moment, unsure of what to say.

He actually saw Mewtwo on these stone slabs?

Hmm... what's going on?

Could it be???

"The Stone Slab of the Sea People." A voice came from the center of the hall.

There.

A young man in a white lab coat, his hair slightly disheveled, was standing in front of a complex control panel, his fingers flying across the screen.

He raised his head, revealing a face that looked tired but with unusually bright eyes.

It was Dr. Zheng Hui.

His gaze swept over the three of them, pausing slightly when he saw Ash.

"It records some ancient legends about the ocean and... warnings."

Dr. Zheng Hui's tone was calm, but what he said next made the air freeze instantly.

“You have come at just the right time.”

He turned around and pointed to a huge screen behind him that seemed to be made of pure light.

The screen is displaying a real-time monitoring map of the sea area surrounding Kureha City.

As can be seen, a huge, irregular energy signal is slowly moving in the deep sea area.

Wherever it passed, other marine life signals retreated.

"The Sea Emperor's messenger is coming." This was the result Zheng Hui had been waiting for for many years.

"The Sea Emperor's messenger?" Brock frowned, his face full of confusion. "What is that? Some kind of powerful Water-type Pokémon?"

He looked at the stone slabs, trying to find the answer within them.

Xiaoxia's face instantly turned pale.