Marill.
Magikarp.
Poliwag.
Tentacool.
...
Because Ash had spent the past week in Cerulean City participating in competitions, both of his clinics had been closed for nearly seven days.
As a result, the number of injured and sick Pokémon waiting for treatment had accumulated to an astonishing level.
At the Stone Bridge Clinic alone, Ash treated well over a hundred patients that morning.
Fortunately, his mastery of the Viridian Blessing had grown significantly stronger.
His healing abilities had advanced to an entirely new level.
Now, whenever he used Healing Grace, he could heal multiple Pokémon simultaneously.
Bathed in the vibrant emerald light overflowing with life energy, the hundred-plus injured and sick Pokémon gathered beneath Stone Bridge were all treated in roughly ten minutes.
At the same time, Ash felt the familiar surge of power within him.
[Viridian Blessing LV.59 → LV.60]
~
~
After finishing treatment at the Stone Bridge Clinic, Ash headed deeper into Dashiwan Valley within the wild grasslands.
There, he treated the sick and injured Pokémon that had come from both the grasslands and Viridian Forest.
The number of wild Pokémon living in the grasslands and Viridian Forest was no less than those inhabiting the river and nearby coastal waters outside Pallet Town.
After a week-long closure, more than a hundred patients had also gathered inside the valley.
"Healing Grace!"
A wave of green light spread outward.
Raticate.
Pidgey.
Spearow.
Rattata.
Sandshrew.
Oddish.
Bellsprout.
Nidoran♂.
Beedrill.
...
One after another, the Pokémon were healed.
Thankfully, Ash's Viridian Blessing had already reached an extremely high level.
Even while treating such a massive number of patients, he showed no signs of exhaustion.
In just over ten minutes, every sick and injured Pokémon in the valley had fully recovered.
At the same time—
His Viridian Blessing advanced once more.
[Viridian Blessing LV.60 → LV.61]
Less than half an hour.
Two level increases.
If the psychics of Saffron City's Psychic Association learned about that speed of growth, their jaws would probably hit the floor.
~
~
Just as Ash finished treating the Pokémon at both clinics, his phone suddenly rang.
"Hello, Professor Oak."
"Ash."
Professor Oak's familiar voice came through the receiver.
"The Poké Ball transfer machine and Rotom you requested from the League yesterday have already been approved."
"They've been delivered to my laboratory."
"Come pick them up when you have time."
Ash's eyes immediately lit up.
"Got it, Professor."
"I'll head over right away."
After hanging up, a smile spread across his face.
The Poké Ball transfer machine wasn't just one of the core components of his Skill Shop.
It was also the key to establishing the dedicated daycare facility for the shop.
With the transfer machine in place, the specialized daycare would officially become operational.
As for the Rotom—
That was equally important.
Without Rotom's assistance, operating the Skill Shop would have been an absolute nightmare.
Now that the daycare was being established, having a second Rotom was practically essential.
It would dramatically reduce Melanie's workload.
Her daily responsibilities would mostly be limited to feeding and caring for customers' Pokémon.
At the same time, it would help protect many of Ash's business secrets.
After ending the call, Ash climbed from the riverbank onto the nearby dirt road.
He retrieved his bicycle from the System Storage and pedaled straight toward Professor Oak's Laboratory.
Soon afterward, he returned with the newly approved equipment.
"Pikachu, Greninja, Valor, Lumina."
"Keep training hard."
"Pidgeot, I need you to take me to Pokémon Sanctuary."
"Bulbasaur, come with me. It'll be good experience."
Ash gave a few quick instructions to his Pokémon.
"Pika~ (^_^)"
"Gwah~ (-_-)"
"Mii~"
The four Pokémon acknowledged him before immediately returning to their training.
Meanwhile, Pidgeot and Bulbasaur came over.
"Let's go."
Ash picked up Bulbasaur and climbed onto Pidgeot's broad back.
After patting Pidgeot's shoulder, the majestic bird Pokémon spread its wings and shot into the sky.
Viridian Forest stretched between Viridian City and Pallet Town, though most people only interacted with the southeastern edge.
Melanie's Pokémon Sanctuary, however, lay much farther north—deep within the true heart of Viridian Forest, roughly halfway between Viridian City and the next major Kanto metropolis, Pewter City.
Traveling from Pallet Town to Viridian City by bicycle alone took Ash about thirty minutes.
The distance between Viridian City and Pewter City was more than ten times greater.
If he relied on cycling and hiking through the forest, the trip could easily consume an entire day.
But aboard Pidgeot?
The journey took only twenty-five minutes.
Before long, Ash arrived at the secluded valley hidden deep within Viridian Forest.
"Pidgeot~"
"Caw!"
Sensing a powerful Pokémon approaching, Fearow immediately became alert.
For a moment, it thought an enemy had arrived.
Then it heard Pidgeot's cry.
Only then did it realize it was Ash—and its big brother.
"Ash!"
"Bulbasaur!"
Melanie, who was collecting water from the stream, quickly ran over when she saw them descend into the valley.
Ash jumped from Pidgeot's back while carrying Bulbasaur.
"The dedicated Skill Shop daycare is officially ready to start operating."
"To make your work easier, I've brought everything you'll need."
He pointed toward the equipment beside him.
"A new phone."
"A laptop."
"A portable Poké Ball transfer machine."
"And a Rotom assistant approved by the League."
Melanie's eyes widened in surprise.
Everything had happened much faster than she expected.
"Let's set everything up and test it."
"Okay!"
Melanie immediately nodded.
She had no objections whatsoever to her boss's arrangements.
...
...
The laptop was already assembled and only needed basic setup.
The portable transfer machine was even simpler.
Once plugged in—or fully charged—it was ready for use.
All that was required was entering the transfer address code corresponding to Ash's own machine.
Then—
Crackle!
The two Rotom entered their respective transfer machines.
After placing a Poké Ball into the transfer slot, sparks of electricity flashed across the device.
A second later—
The Poké Ball disappeared.
And instantly appeared at the destination machine.
Success.
They then tested the return transfer.
Once again—
Success.
Everything worked flawlessly.
The final piece required for the Skill Shop's dedicated daycare had officially fallen into place.
--------------
T/N:
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