Chapter 51: Gardevoir Temporarily Leaves the Team
"Dr. Oak, I've already appeased the Tentacool colony. All that's left is to have someone dismantle the remaining parts of that building and restore the coral reef ecosystem in that area," Ash said to Dr. Oak.
"Alright, I've already reported this to the Alliance, and they said they've notified Elite Four Lance to handle this matter."
Dr. Oak also took advantage of Ash's battle with the giant Tentacruel to resolve the follow-up of this matter. Because this incident involved two Dr. level figures, even if someone in the Alliance wanted to downplay it, they couldn't.
"Is Elite Four Lance working overtime again?" Ash asked, trying to hold back a laugh.
Lance is a pure unfortunate soul; among the Kanto Elite Four, he's the only one working like a dog, either catching Team Rockets or busy "putting out fires" everywhere.
"Ah, he's the fastest in the Kanto Alliance, and this matter is quite urgent."
"By the way, Ash, that giant Tentacruel, could it..." Dr. Oak looked at Ash with a fawning smile, clearly his occupational disease was acting up again.
Ash helplessly handed a Poké Ball to Oak and reminded him, "Dr. Oak, she can be temporarily entrusted to you, but if you want to conduct any research, you must obtain her consent. This is an Overlord-level mutated Tentacruel, and her venom is very strong."
Ash was genuinely afraid that Dr. Oak might accidentally get himself into trouble.
"Don't worry, I'll be careful," Dr. Oak promised, patting his chest.
Ash glanced at Team Rockets, who were being watched by Charmander and the others, and asked Dr. Oak, "By the way, Dr. Oak, are you interested in a Meowth that can speak human language?"
Upon hearing this, Dr. Oak was first stunned, then, as if injected with a stimulant, he grabbed Ash's shoulder and asked, "A Meowth that can speak human language? Where is it?"
"Over there!" Ash pointed to the Team Rocket Trio.
Dr. Oak followed the direction Ash pointed, and with a "whoosh," he appeared in front of Meowth.
"Hmm..." Oak stared intently at Meowth, scrutinizing him from head to toe.
Meowth couldn't stand Dr. Oak's gaze anymore. He whispered, "I suddenly have a bad feeling, Meow!"
"Meowth, don't worry, this old man is Dr. Oak. He won't slice you up," James replied.
"Slice... slice up?"
Upon hearing these two words, Meowth felt his hair stand on end.
"He really can speak human language, but is this Meowth a bit too weak?"
Oak stroked his chin and muttered. With his discernment, he could tell at a glance that this Meowth had long-term malnutrition, poor fur color, and did not show the normal agility a Meowth should have. However, the Meowth coin on his head was quite shiny.
Having his strength flaws exposed, Meowth immediately bristled, "Hey, weird old man, where am I weak, Meow?"
"Dr. Oak, if you're interested, I'll leave this Meowth to you for a period of research," Ash said.
Oak didn't think much of it and replied, "Alright, it just so happens that a few new people have arrived at the institute. With this Meowth around, he should be able to serve as a good translator and help those new people adapt to the Pokémon in the backyard quickly."
Listening to the two of them planning his future, Meowth immediately spoke up, "Hey, don't just make decisions for others! I have human rights too, Meow! You guys are..."
Jessie, who had been silent, quickly covered Meowth's mouth and reminded him, "Meowth, what are you being silly about? This is a great opportunity!"
After James's reminder, she also remembered who Dr. Oak was: a famous Pokémon Dr. and a good friend of the mysterious Fairy type discoverer. So she concluded that Dr. Oak's research institute had extremely valuable Pokémon.
"Jessie is right," James also whispered a reminder.
"But I don't want to be sliced up, Meow!"
Meowth was still full of fear regarding research institutes.
Ash said somewhat speechlessly, "Sliced up? Sliced what? Didn't Dr. Oak say he wants you to be a translator for a while?"
"Really? Just a translator??" Meowth looked at Ash with disbelief.
"Yes, and those two will also come with you. You haven't finished the task you promised me. If you run away before the task is completed, I will definitely catch you and hand you over to Kanto's Flying Elite Four Lance.
I think he should be very interested in your team, which is directly under your boss," Ash said coldly.
"Ash, what do you mean? Although we are bad guys, we are very trustworthy, okay!" James said indignantly.
"Exactly! So, when can we go to the institute...?" Jessie asked amicably.
Ash also knew what Jessie and James were thinking; they were simply eyeing the Pokémon in the backyard of the research institute. But they didn't consider what Oak did before he became a Dr. If those two and Meowth went there and managed to take away even one Pokémon from the institute, it would mean the Champion Dragonite was negligent in his supervision.
Next, Ash took out the blueprints that the Team Rocket Trio needed to create. Then he told Dr. Oak his idea, and Dr. Oak also indicated that he would keep a close eye on the Team Rocket Trio until the items were ready, and would also help Ash apply for a technical patent as soon as they were finished.
Ash and his companions stayed in Lampur City for two days. During these two days, Ash purely spent time with his mother, Delia. Well... actually, most of the time, Misty and Delia were talking about Ash.
Before saying goodbye, Delia said to Ash, "Ash, Serena invited me to travel to the Kalos region a few days ago. I see that Gardevoir also hasn't seen her sister in a long time, so I plan to take her along." (Seeing that many readers want Ash to get a Gallade, a foreshadowing is here).
Upon hearing this, Ash paused, then looked at Gardevoir: "Gardevoir, are you willing to accompany Mom to the Kalos region?"
"Gardevoir...." (Ash, I....)
Gardevoir was very conflicted. She wanted to see her sister, but she also wanted to travel with Ash.
"It's alright, it's only for a few days. If Ash needs Gardevoir, he can just make a call and transfer her through a Pokémon Center," Dr. Oak reminded him.
"Pika!" (Exactly, exactly)
Pikachu strongly agreed with Dr. Oak.
Ever since Kirlia evolved into Gardevoir, he had monopolized Ash's shoulder. Now, if Gardevoir temporarily left, then he would be the only one Ash could keep outside of a Poké Ball.
Pikachu: Me, the mouse! What bad intentions could I have? He's just purely sad not to see the Gardevoir sisters, hehehe ( ´ ▽ ` )
"Dr. Oak is right, Gardevoir," Ash said with a smile.
He wasn't reluctant for Gardevoir to temporarily leave the team. He currently had quite a few Pokémon, and other Pokémon also needed to grow. Gardevoir's strength was already at the Quasi-Elite high level, almost touching the Elite threshold. She almost couldn't participate in Gym challenges anymore.
Moreover, the threshold between Quasi-Elite and Elite is quite large, and this threshold cannot be broken through by simply fighting. Letting Gardevoir go out and explore might even be a good thing.
Also, Ash knew his mother worked very hard. Before that Mr. Mime arrived, it was good to have Gardevoir accompany her for a while.
Loving Book So Far Check Out 80+ Chapters In Advanced At Pa Treon:
patreon.com/FicTonic1