Ash's Pokémon Travel Has Big Problems

Xiao Zhi tried to reason with him.

Xiaoxia angrily retorted to Gastly's teasing.

Meanwhile, the thousand-year-old Gastly continued to fan the flames, enjoying the pleasure brought by this prank.

The illusory figures around them became clearer and more blurred as they "talked," creating an atmosphere that was both eerie and somewhat inexplicably... joyful?

This is probably an aesthetic issue with Ghost-type Pokémon.

After all, when Gastly is having fun, it's perfectly fine for it to gouge out its own eyes or cut itself into pieces.

But if Gastly gets carried away and gouges out or shreds someone's eyes... that would be a big problem.

However, this Gastly has lived for a thousand years and is still able to control itself, and fully understands the rules and concepts of the human world.

"Pikachu, Pikachu..." Pikachu sat on Ash's shoulder.

It watched as its trainer and companions argued loudly with an unseen entity.

Pikachu tilted its head, indicating mixed feelings.

Pikachu: What should I do if I encounter this type of opponent in the future?

In Pikachu's eyes, Ash and Misty are like performing a one-man show.

We've only been here a short time, and we've just finished our third gym.

Neither Ash nor Pikachu are particularly strong yet.

Although it hasn't learned to detect things, theoretically it can be detected using electromagnetic waves... but Pikachu hasn't learned that yet.

Xiao Zhi got more and more excited as he talked, arguing his point: "There's a limit to how much you can play pranks, right?"

"What if you conjure up illusions out of thin air to sow discord and cause misunderstandings, and then fewer and fewer people come to the temple fair in the future?"

Fear is fleeting, but laughter can endure.

"Besides trainers, many people who come here are couples or families with parents and children."

"Everyone comes here to have fun."

"If people are unhappy, then they won't come, and the number of visitors will decrease."

Fighting is definitely out of the question.

So Ash tried to persuade him.

Gastly's voice initially carried a casual, teasing tone: "Heh, kid, trying to reason with an old man?"

"This temple fair has been played this way for two thousand years. Did you set the rules?"

From Millennium Gastly's perspective, it has always done this, so it must be right.

But times are changing.

In the past, there was less entertainment, so this was the way to spread information.

With so much entertainment available now, this method of communication will be overshadowed by other methods.

Ash was speechless, then tried to analyze the Millennium Gastly.

He gestured with his hands, trying to make the unseen "old rascal" understand more intuitively, "It's like...like making a movie!"

"A movie?" A hint of curiosity crept into Gastly's voice.

The illusory figures around them swayed a little slower, seemingly attracted by this novel idea.

"That's right!" Xiao Zhi quickly explained, seeing that there was a chance. "Isn't the main group of people going to the movies couples on dates or families with children enjoying themselves?"

"This temple fair, just like a super long-running big IP movie series, attracts guests who want to have fun and create wonderful memories, right?"

After all, the desire for a better life is what most people need.

Xiaoxia temporarily forgot her shyness and nodded subconsciously, feeling that Xiaozhi's analogy was inexplicably apt.

“But think about it,” Xiao Zhi changed the subject, “what if a movie was full of heartbreaking stories about couples arguing and breaking up, married couples getting divorced, and families blaming each other…”

He pointed to the "beautiful girl" illusions around him that had just been stirring up trouble: "Like these that just appeared, they deliberately say things to sow discord and make people angry and quarrel."

"How did the audience feel after watching it?"

"I feel so frustrated! So uncomfortable! I'm so angry!"

"Who would want to buy a ticket and go through the trouble again next time?"

"If the reputation is ruined, the number of screenings will have to be reduced, and eventually there might not be any screenings left!"

Ash's voice was clear and sincere, making it particularly persuasive amidst the noisy background noise of the festival.

"But what about the other way around?" Xiao Zhi's tone became more positive. "What if the movie portrays couples becoming sweeter after overcoming small misunderstandings, and families becoming more united after overcoming difficulties, with an ending full of laughter and warmth..."

"Just like those blockbuster family movies!"

"Viewers felt warm inside after watching the movie and left the theater happy. They would recommend it to their friends and would definitely come to support the sequel when it is released next year!"

"The same principle applies to temple fairs!"

Ash opened his arms as if embracing the brightly lit celebration.

"We hope that everyone, especially couples and families, will have a great time here and create wonderful memories."

"That's why they think about it every year, 'Ah, summer is almost over, it's time to go to the temple fair at Maiden Gorge!'"

"That's the reason why it's always lively and popular!"

Ash remembers very clearly that the reason Gastly held the festival here was to ensure that the legend of Maiden Canyon would be passed down forever.

This is the obsession of this Gastly.

From other perspectives, saying anything is useless... Most Gastly-type Pokémon are shameless and heartless.

But if you look at it from this perspective, it will make Gastly think.

……

……

(I'm reminded of the promotional material for Langlang Mountain... Sigh... This is a good opportunity to persuade Gastly...)

Chapter 82 The Millennium Gastly chickened out.

"The thrill of fear and pranks may be fleeting, but the allure of laughter and warmth is what lasts a very long time!"

Xiao Zhi concluded by saying that the eyes were bright.

After he finished speaking, an eerie silence fell over the area.

Those provocative "beautiful girls" illusions vanished quietly, like faded ink paintings, as if they had never existed.

All that remained were the real clamor of the festival and the dazzling lanterns.

Several seconds later, the Gastly's voice rang out again.

It was no longer a playful jest or a teasing remark, but rather a thoughtful muttering:

"Movies...IP...Family-friendly..."

It seemed to be pondering Xiaozhi's "modern business operation analysis," digesting these rather novel concepts for it.

"Tsk...you little brat..."

"What you said... seems to make some sense?"

The voice of the Millennium Gastly carried a hint of reluctance, yet an undeniable truth.

"I've lived this long, and all I've done is find my own amusement..."

"I haven't thought about it from the perspective of 'customer return rate' and 'word-of-mouth marketing'..."

It paused, as if it had made a decision.

The surrounding air seemed to become a bit lighter and more cheerful.

"Okay, okay..."

"You've got a way with words, kid..."

"Shall I... make a slight adjustment to the 'performance script'?"

Millennium Gastly, with a hint of eager curiosity, seemed to have found a more interesting and long-term source of fun.

The only way to persuade it is to address its obsession.

After all, it doesn't care much about other things.

A thousand-year-old tortoise or a ten-thousand-year-old turtle... its 2000-year lifespan is not for nothing.

It just hadn't thought of it before.

Now that I've noticed this... thinking about it carefully, given the current level of civilization in the human world, it's definitely better to spread the legend of Maiden Gorge through movies and the like.

Xiaozhi and Xiaoxia exchanged a smile and both breathed a sigh of relief.

Pikachu happily called out, "Pikachu!" (Success!)

"Hey kid, who are you?" The Millennium Gastly finally appeared in front of the two and spoke directly.

Since Ash and Misty had both seen Meowth that could talk, they weren't surprised.

Uh... it doesn't look any different from a normal Gastly, both in size and color, it looks quite ordinary.

Its core is a black sphere with large white eyes, small black pupils, and a mouth with a pair of fangs.

"I'm Ash from Pallet Town."

"I am Xia from Hualan City."

After they each introduced themselves, the two finished.

Then Gastly realized something was wrong: "Wait... Pallet Town?"

"Who is Yukinari Ooki to you?" Gastly instinctively shivered.

It thought of something bad.

Ugh... Just thinking about it makes me feel phantom pain.

Ash pulled his Pokédex out of his pocket.

He revealed the encyclopedia itself and gently tapped the switch with his finger.

With a soft "beep," a steady and familiar voice came from the Pokédex—it was Professor Oak's pre-recorded voice message used to identify the Pokédex's ownership:

[This is a Pokédex for Ash, in the hope that he will become an excellent 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.]

Since it wasn't the first time it had been broadcast, Xiaozhi didn't feel there was anything to hide.

The moment this audio message finishes playing.

The once incredibly powerful Millennium Gastly seemed to have been suddenly muted.

An eerie silence.

After several seconds, its tone became somewhat awkward, even carrying a hint of guilt and... a trace of barely perceptible awe?

"...Ahem."

"It's Pallet Town... that handsome, famous, and erudite Professor Oak."

Its voice lowered, muttering softly.

It recalled some past events that it was reluctant to recall, when it was chased by a madman and "friendly sparring" with him.

quack!

—Don't make me remember!

"Oops..."

The Millennium Gastly instantly demonstrated what it means to change its expression.

"So you're someone Brother Daiki is protecting... You should have said so earlier..."

Why speak like two different people when we're family?

The Millennium Gastly instantly withdrew all its imposing aura, its tone becoming rapid: "Alright, alright, I understand!"

"I just wanted to enjoy the temple fair! It's no big deal!"