Sandgem Town

"It was actually a card!"

After capturing the Elite Four Level Elekid, Gary immediately opened the gift pack rewarded by the system, only to find a card inside.

"Could it be another Skill Card?"

Curious, Gary turned his attention to the card's description.

After reading the card's description, Gary could only stare in astonishment.

"As expected of the system—it even has this kind of card!"

According to the system's description, the item Gary had obtained was not the Skill Card he had expected, but an Aptitude Enhancement Card.

An Aptitude Enhancement Card was a card provided by the system that could improve a Pokémon's aptitude. As long as a Pokémon was below Champion aptitude, using this card would raise its aptitude by one tier.

In this world, a Pokémon's aptitude was extremely important, as it often represented that Pokémon's potential.

For instance, if a Pokémon possessed Elite Four Candidate aptitude, then after arduous training, its strength could reach the Elite Four Candidate rank. However, after reaching that level, further improvement would require tremendous resources, and there would not be much room left for growth.

But Pokémon with Champion aptitude improved at a rate far beyond that of Pokémon with Elite Four Candidate aptitude.

Under the same conditions, they would often be several steps ahead of Pokémon with lower aptitude.

Thus, a Pokémon's aptitude often represented its future, which showed just how precious this Aptitude Enhancement Card was.

However, this kind of aptitude card also had its limits. Each Pokémon could only use one once, preventing someone from endlessly stacking aptitude onto a single Pokémon.

Likewise, it had no effect on Pokémon with Champion aptitude or higher.

Even so, this Aptitude Enhancement Card was still extraordinarily valuable.

"But why did capturing an Elekid with Elite Four aptitude earn me an Aptitude Enhancement Card?" Gary was puzzled by his luck today. In his previous life, he had always needed to hit hard pity when pulling cards, so how had he become this lucky?

Just as Gary was wondering about it, the system's operating mechanism provided him with an answer—one that startled him.

"So that's how it is!"

The moment Gary saw the system's explanation, he understood.

"This really is a fateful encounter!"

Even Gary had to admit that although fate could sometimes change, what was meant to come would still come.

It turned out that this Elekid was the very one Gary had captured in the original story in the Sinnoh Region—the one that later evolved into Electivire and defeated Ash's Pikachu before Ash headed to Sinnoh.

Upon learning this, Gary could only exclaim that it was all fate's arrangement.

"Since Elekid and I were destined to meet, then this Aptitude Enhancement Card will go to it."

Gary had originally been conflicted over whether to use it on Arcanine, but after learning Elekid's identity, he immediately decided on the Aptitude Enhancement Card's target: the Elekid he had captured today.

As Gary silently thought the command to use it, the Aptitude Enhancement Card in the System Space instantly vanished.

The instant the Aptitude Enhancement Card took effect, Elekid's aptitude on its Attribute Panel changed from Elite Four to Champion.

Looking at Elekid, whose aptitude had become Champion, Gary's face filled with the joy of a bountiful harvest.

"Still, Arcanine's aptitude will have to wait until I get another Aptitude Enhancement Card."

After capturing Elekid, Gary had no reason to remain in the forest. He immediately got up, left the area, and headed back to the Pokémon Center in Jubilife City.

On his way back, Gary ran into the Youngster and Bug Catcher from before. An Ace Trainer wearing a purple jacket was with them as well.

The three of them paid no attention to Gary and hurried toward the forest he had just left.

Seeing how rushed they were, Gary immediately understood their goal: the Elekid he had just captured.

Sure enough, before Gary had even taken a few steps, a miserable cry rang out from the forest: "Where's my Elekid?!"

That wretched shout startled a flock of birds into flight.

"Too bad you were one step too late. Elekid is mine now!"

Hearing that, a smile appeared on Gary's face. He then headed back toward the Pokémon Center with light steps.

After resting for a night in Jubilife City, Gary checked out of his room at the Pokémon Center early the next morning. He then left Jubilife City and headed south toward Sandgem Town.

After traveling for some time, Gary finally arrived at the entrance to a small town—Sandgem Town, the destination of this journey.

"I never expected to see the ocean here too. It really makes one reluctant to leave!"

Looking at the azure sea not far from the town, Gary took a deep breath of the sea breeze and could not help but sigh.

Like Pallet Town, Sandgem Town was not as bustling as major cities like Jubilife City. Yet its peaceful and secluded atmosphere captivated countless people.

Professor Rowan's research lab, famous throughout the Sinnoh Region, was also located in this unremarkable little town.

It had to be said that Professor Rowan truly was Gary's grandfather's senior. The research labs of both world-renowned Pokémon Professors had not been built in bustling cities, but in quiet, remote towns like this.

Perhaps that was a shared preference among most Pokémon Professors.

After briefly marveling at the place, Gary did not linger at the town entrance. After asking the residents for directions to Professor Rowan's research lab, he continued onward.

Following their directions and hurrying along, Gary arrived at his final destination in the Sinnoh Region: Professor Rowan's research lab.

Like Oak Pokémon Research Lab, Professor Rowan's research lab was built on the outskirts of town and even encompassed the entire Back Mountain. It truly showed how wealthy these Pokémon Professors were!

Musing to himself, Gary arrived at the entrance to the research lab and prepared to knock.

However, just as Gary was about to knock on the door, an unfamiliar voice from behind stopped him.

"Excuse me, are you..."