"Do whatever you want with them. Anyway, these two are hopelessly stubborn." Red helplessly explained to Bruno, telling him to use Ash and Brock however he liked—Red didn't mind at all.
After all, Red had already tried to persuade Ash and Brock at the very beginning, yet the two remained obsessed with that so-called shortcut 'secret manual' and refused to listen. So Red simply let Bruno properly discipline the two who wouldn't see reason.
(Seems like this time I won't have to waste energy going hungry again…)
Although he couldn't understand Red's intentions for the moment, Bruno couldn't help but reveal a blissful smile, delighted at the thought of gaining two 'helpers'.
Meanwhile, Ash and Brock stood there nervously waiting. Due to Bruno's intimidating status as a member of the Elite Four, neither of them dared to approach rashly, afraid of offending him.
Because of this, the two didn't hear the exchange between Red and Bruno clearly, and both assumed Red was 'asking' Bruno to train them.
(Brother, you really are my good brother…)
Ash looked gratefully at Red, who was seemingly willing to 'lower himself' to ask Bruno for the sake of improving his strength. For a moment, he almost teared up, even feeling guilty about his laziness during that period.
(If I had known, I wouldn't have disappointed brother so much…)
"Is that your younger brother? He does look quite similar to you, but I can't shake the feeling something's off…" Bruno glanced in surprise at the overly emotional Ash, then turned to Red with a puzzled look.
(These days, even cooking for others can make someone this emotional?!)
"It's nothing. This kid acts dumb like this all the time—I'm used to it." Red joked, telling Bruno not to worry and to just focus on 'training' their willpower.
After entrusting the matter, Red turned and left, planning to have his giant Steelix 'challenge' the new generation's giant Onix king here, using the opportunity to temper its strength.
After all, the new generation giant Onix might be taken by Bruno, so letting his own giant Steelix 'train' against it in advance would make for an interesting memory.
Of course, Red wasn't deliberately targeting Bruno—it was just a sudden idea that came to mind.
Red took out a Poké Ball and recalled the patiently waiting giant Steelix beside him, then turned and used Teleport to vanish from the spot as if he had never appeared.
Ash's group was already used to this, but Bruno stood there stunned for a moment, not understanding what had just happened.
"What a convenient ability…"
After a moment, Bruno came to his senses and sighed.
After Red left, Bruno also turned and walked away, deliberately not letting Ash and the others follow him to avoid exposing his true intentions.
A moment later...
Walking along a small path toward his cave dwelling, Bruno turned his head with a 'surprised' expression at the Ash trio who had followed him.
"Why are you following me?" Bruno asked, pretending not to know.
"Well, it's like this… we…" Ash said awkwardly, frozen in place, not knowing what to say.
"Master Bruno!"
Fortunately, Brock reacted quickly. He suddenly knelt down nervously before Bruno and pointed at Ash beside him.
"This kid will soon participate in the Indigo League. Although he's foolish and reckless, he's a very serious person. Please teach him the secret manual—I'm willing to do anything!"
"Brock, you really are Ash's good friend…"
From afar, Red, who hadn't actually gone far, watched the scene. Seeing Brock kneel to Bruno for Ash's sake, he couldn't help but feel a trace of admiration.
"Ash, you should ask too!" Brock urged.
Hearing this, Ash was about to kneel as well, but at that moment, Bruno suddenly sensed a surge of killing intent.
Bruno immediately straightened his posture and rushed forward, quickly helping Ash up before he could kneel.
"Alright, alright. I've already felt your sincerity. If you're really willing to do anything, then come with me."
"We are willing—please, we're counting on you!" x2
Ash and Brock said sincerely in unison.
A moment later...
The trio arrived beside a clear stream, where they were laboriously carrying buckets of water for Bruno.
"What does carrying water have to do with the secret manual?" Misty complained, unable to understand why the two were so excited just to fetch water for him.
"I've seen in movies that carrying water is used in many martial arts schools as a way to train muscles," Brock explained.
"As expected of brother. It seems Master Bruno really does intend to pass the secret manual to me."
Ash said excitedly, feeling even more guilty toward Red. He hadn't expected his proud brother to be willing to 'bow his head' for his sake.
Thinking this, Ash accidentally tripped over a small stone at his feet. Though he managed to steady himself, the buckets he was holding splashed all their water directly onto Misty's face.
Ash looked awkwardly at Misty, who wore a speechless expression, and apologized,
"Sorry, I didn't mean to…"
Afterward, Ash and Brock struggled to carry the buckets up to a cave halfway up the mountain—Bruno's residence.
After a brief rest, Bruno assigned them another task.
Now that there was water, they needed firewood to boil it. So this time, Bruno instructed Ash and Brock to chop wood.
"What's the point of chopping wood?" Ash asked, confused.
"Chopping wood requires grip strength. It's one of the fundamental aspects of mountain training," Bruno explained seriously.
"I don't want to get dragged into this again. Sitting this far away should be safe, right?"
Misty said casually, deliberately sitting on a distant rock to avoid being affected by Ash again.
However, due to his insufficient grip strength, when Ash swung the axe, the split firewood flew straight into Misty's face, the impact knocking her flat onto the ground.
"I didn't mean to…" Ash apologized again.
"Next, move these stones over there," Bruno instructed.
"Master Bruno, what's the meaning of this training?"
This time, it was Brock who voiced his doubts. He couldn't shake the feeling that he and Ash were being used as free labor, but out of admiration for Bruno, he tried his best to suppress his confusion.
"By stacking natural stones, you develop a subtle sense of balance."
Bruno explained seriously once more, successfully dispelling Brock's doubts.
"So heavy…"
Ash struggled to lift a rock, but due to its unstable weight, he once again stumbled clumsily toward Misty.
"Hey! You did that on purpose!" Misty shouted angrily, quickly turning to run away, afraid of being hit again.
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