In the Kanto region's Celadon City, it boasts the largest shopping mall in the entire Kanto and possibly the world!
Surrounded by countless commercial stores, it truly is the central hub of the Kanto region.
Ash and his friends arrived in Celadon City, and it felt like country folks visiting the city for the first time, dazzled by the sights.
Everything is available here, and... extravagantly expensive!
"Wow! This hairband looks so nice... a thousand bucks?! What kind of hairband costs a thousand bucks! Is it made of gold?!"
"This pot looks nice... two thousand???"
Brock and Misty looked at the prices on their favorite things and fell into a state of existential crisis.
Even as Gym Leaders, they didn't have a lot of money. After all, they have a bunch of Pokémon to feed at home, especially Brock, who was practically penniless when he was a Gym Leader.
After leaving, his dad would regularly send him some money — in reality, that's just the Gym Leader's salary allowance.
But that money was enough for Brock, at least he doesn't have to support ten siblings and a whole bunch of Pokémon, as maintaining professional level Pokémon is quite expensive. The advanced level ones he has now are still manageable.
But no matter how much he saved, he couldn't spend money in such places!
Isn't this just throwing money down the drain?
The spending in Celadon City is terrifying; just a glance is enough to make an ordinary person explode.
Even Ash couldn't help but twitch his lips at the various luxury goods in Celadon City.
He was originally smug, thinking he had earned quite a bit from wild battles recently, and could spend freely in such a big city like Celadon City.
But upon arriving, damn it, his money could at most buy a low-quality carrying item.
Ash casually looked around the mall and then silently retreated.
Couldn't afford a thing!
After wandering, Ash and his friends went to the Pokémon Center first and mentioned to Professor Oak about having Gengar train Primeape.
Professor Oak showed a very bizarre expression upon hearing this (old man, subway, cellphone.jpg).
Initially, he doubted if he had misheard, asking Gengar to train Primeape? What kind of a weird idea was this?
Leaving aside Pokémon training Pokémon, having a Ghost Type train a Fighting Type, what kind of genius thought is this? Can these two types even be mixed?
"...I sensed with Aura Power that there's a Ghost Type energy within Primeape. Perhaps above Primeape, there's a higher level of evolution, which is related to that energy inside it. So, it needs Gengar's training. Anyway, just say that, Professor Oak. Bye."
After saying this, Ash directly hung up the phone, ignoring Professor Oak's shocked face as he approached the camera.
He could imagine Professor Oak having countless questions upon hearing of Primeape's further evolution, and the only excuse he could find now was the all-powerful Aura Power.
It's quite tiring; ever since he got the chat group, he knows things unknown to many in this world, but he can only make excuses and can't reveal the truth.
The existence of the chat group cannot be exposed, and this is his helpless choice for now!
However, after hanging up, Ash faced questions from Misty and Brock.
After all, the idea of Primeape having a further evolution was too unbelievable, and the fact that Aura Power could detect even this seemed almost magical!
To this, Ash insisted it was because of Aura Power. Apart from Aura Power, what other explanation could there be?
Besides, it's just speculation now; Primeape hasn't evolved, and the Ghost Type energy inside it isn't confirmed. There's no need to dwell on this too much.
What they need to do now is to challenge the Gym in Celadon City, the Celadon Gym.
...
Around 5 PM, Ash and his friends arrived at the Celadon Gym, greeted by a lovely girl who, after hearing their request, opened the Gym's entrance and said, "You're just in time. The Gym Leader is available today. It might not be the case tomorrow, so come on in."
Ash remained silent, thinking, does challenging a Gym now depend on whether the Gym Leader is free?
Are they getting paid for doing nothing? Don't they have to stay at their post every day?
The Celadon Gym was adorned with many flowers and leaves, giving it a colorful appearance. Ash had to admit, it was the most beautifully decorated Gym he'd challenged.
"Are you the challengers?"
A beautiful woman walked from the depths of the Gym with short, sleek black hair barely touching her shoulders.
She was wearing a graceful kimono, exuding the elegance of a Yamato Nadeshiko, offering a gentle and soft beauty.
Brock swiftly moved in front of Ash, his dark face slightly reddish, fluently saying, "I'm the challenger! Here to challenge your lovely heart~"
"Don't cause trouble here!!" Misty's lips twitched, and she angrily pulled Brock's ear, dragging him behind Ash amidst his cries of pain.
Ash glanced helplessly at Brock, feeling like Brock was drifting further from the mature and reliable big brother image he initially had.