Ash's Pokémon Travel Has Big Problems

However, he later chose to return home to inherit the family business—a very famous restaurant.

After ending his warm but somewhat reserved phone call with Hanako's mother, Ash took a deep breath and skillfully dialed Professor Oak's lab number.

The screen lights up.

The background is a research lab filled with books and instruments.

Professor Oak was eating instant noodles while researching information.

Upon seeing Ash, he immediately put down his chopsticks, his eyes lighting up: "Oh! It's Ash!"

"Have we arrived in Konoha City?"

"So, did Zheng Hui brag about his new discovery to you?"

It's clear that Professor Oak already knows about the giant Dragonite.

“Yes, Professor.” Ash’s expression turned serious. “We met them.”

"It's unimaginable."

"When I saw that giant Dragonite..."

"I finally felt the magic of the Pokémon world."

Just thinking about the size of a giant Dragonite.

Xiao Zhi felt that they should call on the Ultraman studio.

Holy crap, getting up close to that kind of behemoth... it's a truly unforgettable experience.

Professor Oak sat up straight instantly, his casual expression vanishing completely: "You've grown... Ash."

Professor Oak had always felt that Ash was a bit unreliable... it was a strange sense of frivolity.

But that feeling is gone now.

"...I don't know if you can understand how I feel, Professor..." Ash said, sounding a little troubled.

"It's right outside the Zheng Hui Lighthouse."

"A very large Dragonite, it... answered Professor Bill's call."

He succinctly described his experience last night, including the awe-inspiringly large figure, the peaceful and ancient way of communicating, and the riddle about being "neither alive nor dead."

Professor Oak listened intently, occasionally exclaiming in amazement and asking questions, while the instant noodles in his hands had long since gone cold.

"...All these years of hard work have finally paid off," Professor Oak said with a sigh.

"Zhenghui actually did it!"

"To directly engage in dialogue with that being!"

“And there’s ‘neither alive nor dead’… Xiaoxia will be so happy!” He suddenly looked at Xiaozhi, his eyes burning.

"Ash, you've witnessed history!"

"Did Zheng Hui send me the detailed data?"

"No, he's definitely still analyzing... I have to urge him on!" Professor Oak excitedly began to mutter to himself.

Seeing the professor engrossed in his research, Ash smiled helplessly and waited for the professor to calm down a bit.

He then brought up another matter: "Doctor, something's not right here in Vermilion City..."

Ash briefly described the scene he saw at the entrance of the Pokémon Center and Lt. Surge's exceptionally strict, even cruel, testing methods.

Upon hearing this, Professor Oak's excited expression subsided slightly, and he frowned: "That Lt. Surge guy... although his style has always been tough, this time he really went a bit too far."

"Is he under a lot of pressure lately? Or..." Professor Oak hesitated for a moment, then stopped and said, "Now that you're in Vermilion City, why don't you go and visit Professor Sakuragi?"

“He is my student and now in charge of the research institute in Vermilion City, so he has a better understanding of the local situation.” Professor Oak has many different students in various regions.

Many of their achievements have reached the level of a Pokémon professor.

"Professor Sakuragi..." Ash wrote down the name.

“That’s right.” Professor Oak nodded, his tone returning to its usual gentleness. “He is an excellent scholar and an upright person.”

"It's just that the Sakuragi Research Institute has only been open for a short time, so he must be very busy... He doesn't have time to take care of many things in detail."

"Just say I sent you, he'll welcome you."

"Perhaps... he can give you some advice on dealing with Mascherano."

The call with Professor Oak has ended.

Ash leaned back in his chair and let out a long breath.

Outside the window, the neon lights of Kuye City began to light up one after another, adorning this industrial port city with a dazzling array of light and shadow, but also unable to conceal the undercurrents surging beneath.

"Professor Sakuragi..." Ash muttered to himself.

Pikachu jumped onto the table and nudged Ash's hand with its little paw: "Pikachu?" (What's next?)

Ash snapped out of his daze, rubbed Pikachu's head, and a sharp smile curved his lips:

"What else can be done?"

"Now that we're here, we can't just slink away like this."

"Let's take a break. Tomorrow we'll visit Professor Sakuragi."

Chapter 58 Sakuragi Professor's Dog X

The next day at 9:00 AM.

Ash, Brock, and Misty arrived at the entrance of Sakuragi Lab in Vermilion City right on time.

Dr. Sakuragi's research institute is located in the city.

Professor Sakuragi had clearly been prepared for Ash and his friends' arrival.

The evidence is that they were not blocked by powerful Pokémon when they entered the research institute area.

...After all, as normal people, Pokémon professors know how important their research is, and the level of security is definitely quite high.

"This is it." Ash took a deep breath, checked the address in the Pokédex, and rang the doorbell.

The door was opened almost immediately.

A man in a white coat, with a neat hairstyle and a gentle smile, appeared before them.

He pushed up his glasses, his eyes filled with anticipation: "You must be Ash from Pallet Town, Brock from Pewter City, and Misty from Cerulean City, right?"

"I have been waiting for you for a long time. Welcome to my research institute. I am Sakuragi."

Dr. Sakuragi looked at the boys in front of him... they were all energetic and capable children.

It's just a pity that I've only been in Kuroba City for a short time.

We don't yet have enough resources to screen out capable new trainers.

Thinking about this, Dr. Sakuragi was actually a little conflicted.

However, this kind of problem can only be solved with time.

"Hello, Professor Sakuragi, sorry to bother you," Ash greeted politely.

"Hello, Professor Sakuragi, I'm Xiaoxia."

"Hello, Professor Sakuragi, I'm Xiaogang."

Xiaogang and Xiaoxia were both quite excited to be able to meet Dr. Zhenghui and Dr. Yingmu, who are both very famous in the research community.

"No need to be so polite, please come in." Dr. Sakuragi stepped aside to let the three of them into the research institute.

The interior of the research institute is spacious and bright.

Various sophisticated instruments and huge displays are in operation.

The air was filled with a faint smell of cleaning agents and electronic components.

Several young people dressed as research assistants were busy at work.

"Koharu, Sota, come here for a second," Professor Sakuragi called out.

Soon a quiet and well-behaved girl holding a woolly sheep doll and an even younger boy full of curiosity about everything around them ran over.

“This is my daughter Haru, and my son Sota,” Professor Sakuragi introduced, then said to the children, “These are Dad’s guests, Trainers Brock and Misty from Pallet Town and the nearby city.”

"Hello." Xiaochun bowed slightly, a little shy.

"You're amazing! Are you from Pallet Town? From Professor Oak's place!" Sōta exclaimed excitedly, his eyes wide with excitement, his attention focused entirely on Ash.

“Yeah, Sota, you know a lot,” Ash replied with a smile.

Xiaochun looked at the Pikachu on Xiaozhi's shoulder and said softly, "Your Pikachu is very cute."

"Pikachu!" Pikachu waved its little paws happily.

At this time.

Another voice came from the lab bench next to it.

With a deliberately cultivated air of maturity: "Hmph, a trainer from Pallet Town? I'd like to see for myself."

Everyone turned to look.

A boy wearing a black T-shirt was seen leaning against the lab table with his arms crossed.

A confident smile played on his lips as he glanced at Ash, his eyes seemingly comparing him to Ash.

Xiaochun added softly, "Dad, Xiaohao is here too."

A boy named Xiaohao stepped forward and, without waiting for Professor Sakuragi to introduce him, began to speak, his tone somewhat self-important:

"Are you the guests the doctor has been waiting for today?"

"I am Xiaohao."

"Little Hao from Kuye City".

"The goal is to capture all the Pokémon in the world."

"And the first Pokémon I'm going to catch is Mew!"

Goh seemed to have a strange competitive spirit towards Ash and his friends' arrival.

It's like someone who's worried about having their things stolen, so they come up to declare their sovereignty.

Perhaps he was worried about losing Professor Sakuragi's attention?

After all, being able to freely enter and exit Professor Pokémon's research lab is itself a sign of being valued.

Ordinary people don't get this kind of treatment.

"..." Xiaoxia frowned slightly, somewhat dissatisfied with Xiaohao's interrupting and boastful attitude.

Xiao Gang maintained a gentle smile, but his eyes held a hint of observation.

Okay, I didn't see anything.

I really don't see anything special about this kid.

Ash wasn't angered by Goh's slightly provocative self-introduction; he simply nodded calmly and said, "Oh, hello."

"I am Ash, from Pallet Town."

"The goal of capturing all Pokémon is very ambitious."

His tone was normal, as if he were simply stating a fact, without any envy or sarcasm.

As for this guy named Xiao Hao.

...Xiao Zhi was still wondering what the differences were between reality and anime?

Now it seems like he's a despicable person...talking to himself and being self-righteous.

This lukewarm response seemed to surprise Xiao Hao.

He had thought the other party would at least be surprised by his grand ambitions.

Xiao Hao paused, trying to regain control: "I heard you've seen Ho-Oh and a giant Dragonite?"

"You're really lucky."

"However, true strength is still demonstrated through battles and taming."