Want to Have a Battle?

Xia Yan had visited Densewood Forest yesterday, so he was fairly familiar with its environment.

Besides, Densewood Forest had just been cleared out by them yesterday, so there would not be any major danger.

Xia Yan and Weedle followed behind Kenji and Bulbasaur.

They simply followed in silence, unable to muster much interest.

He was only doing it for the money.

But for Kenji and Bulbasaur, this was their first experience. They excitedly looked around, curious about every wild Pokémon they saw, even Caterpie.

This was probably one of the rare pleasures of the wealthy.

Time passed quickly.

The dangers they had expected never appeared. As the sun dipped westward, Kenji reluctantly led Xia Yan back to the gathering point in accordance with the school rules.

After the teacher's summary, everyone went their separate ways.

Xia Yan declined Kenji's offer to drive him back to the club and got out in the city center.

Weedle was almost out of Energy Cubes, so he needed to buy more. At the same time, he wanted to see if he could find anything on strengthening Weedle's Poison-type energy. He still had an Ekans poison sac, which should be able to help Weedle.

He walked down the bustling streets.

Goldenrod City was even more beautiful at night. Beneath the colorful neon lights, the city revealed its true appearance.

Xia Yan's clothes no longer drew much special attention. Only the gazes of a few young girls lingered on him for a moment or two.

He found a fairly large bookstore specializing in Pokémon knowledge and walked in.

The previous bookstore had been too small. Perhaps a larger one like this would have the books he wanted.

Bug-type, Poison-type, Dragon-type, Water-type, Fire-type. Breeding, coordination, battling. Large numbers of books were neatly arranged by category on the shelves.

The faint scent of ink greeted him the moment he entered.

There were not many people in the bookstore.

Unlike other shops, whose business became livelier at night, bookstores grew somewhat deserted and quiet after dark.

Several people wearing thick glasses held books and sat directly on the floor. As they read, their brows would sometimes furrow tightly, then relax as realization dawned on them.

Not everyone in this world wanted to become a Pokémon Trainer. Many were equally curious about Pokémon, but aspired to become researchers and explore the mysteries of Pokémon from another direction.

Pokémon had existed in this world for an unknown number of years, perhaps dating all the way back to ancient times, while humanity had only taken a tiny step toward understanding them.

There was still a long road ahead and much research to be done.

These researchers, great and small, undoubtedly provided every Pokémon Trainer with invaluable knowledge, allowing trainers to take fewer detours.

Seeing this, Xia Yan suddenly had an idea.

Then he smiled helplessly. "I've been limited by my own assumptions. Pokémon aren't just about battling."

Compared to battling, Pokémon research was something the Pokémon League valued just as highly.

It felt as though he had suddenly been enlightened.

He believed that if he published some of the Pokémon knowledge he had known in his previous life, it might cause quite a stir and earn him a good sum of money.

However, he first needed to learn more about the knowledge that already existed in this world before deciding what exactly to publish.

"I should buy some books first. Publishing articles can wait."

He walked over to the bookshelf on Poison-type Pokémon knowledge.

His eyes swept over the titles.

Nothing.

After briefly flipping through several likely books, he still found no specific description of Poison-type Pokémon consuming the poison sacs of other Poison-type Pokémon to increase their own toxicity.

After all, it was knowledge not accepted by the Pokémon League, so it was unlikely to have been written down and published.

Still unwilling to give up, he walked over to the shelves on Pokémon breeding.

Tap, tap—

At that moment, light footsteps sounded beside Xia Yan. Someone else approached the shelf, lifted his head, and scanned the books as though looking for something.

There were not many people in the bookstore, but there were still some, so Xia Yan did not pay much attention.

He pulled out a book on making Energy Cubes and combining ingredients, then began reading.

"Huh? Friend, your Weedle is rather unusual."

Weedle lay quietly on Xia Yan's shoulder. Knowing that a bookstore required silence, it had not made a sound the whole time.

But someone had noticed it.

Hearing the voice, Xia Yan lifted his eyes from the book and looked toward the speaker.

He saw a man in blue clothes trimmed with red, with short red hair and sharply defined features. The man was staring at Weedle with curiosity in his eyes.

Seeing him, Xia Yan frowned imperceptibly.

The man looked vaguely familiar, but Xia Yan could not recall where he had seen him.

"Uh, hahaha—sorry. I was just curious, I didn't mean anything by it." The man seemed to notice Xia Yan's gaze. He scratched his head awkwardly and laughed brightly.

"This is a bookstore," Xia Yan reminded him.

Only then did the man realize that quite a few people in the bookstore were looking their way.

"Sorry, I got excited and forgot. Forgot." As he spoke, he cast apologetic looks toward everyone watching.

Then he said to Xia Yan, "But this really is the first time I've seen a Weedle with such an unusual build, so I couldn't help myself."

Xia Yan merely nodded without speaking. He closed the book in his hand and returned it to the shelf.

After thinking about it, he felt that might be somewhat impolite. He gently stroked Weedle and replied, "It just eats well."

"That's eating far too well," the man could not help exclaiming.

It really did just eat well. Xia Yan had not lied; it was simply that what it ate was a little special.

"Oh, right, I haven't introduced myself yet. Nice to meet you, I'm Lance!"

The man suddenly extended his hand toward Xia Yan, a sunny smile on his face.

Lance.

Hearing that name, Xia Yan froze for several seconds.

When he came back to himself, Lance's hand was still outstretched.

He finally understood why the man's face had seemed familiar at first, yet he had not immediately recognized him.

Lance. Dragon Master Lance!

A Dragon-type Pokémon Trainer, the future Dragon-type Elite Four member of the Kanto Region and Champion of the Johto Region! The face of both Kanto and the Johto Region!

The real person was, after all, very different from the manga.

Most importantly, he was missing that iconic cape and Dragonite.

But why was Lance here?

Was it really such a coincidence?

Xia Yan slowly extended his hand and shook Lance's hand, which had been hanging in the air for quite some time. Forcing himself to remain calm, he said:

"Xia Yan."

"Xia Yan, are you a Pokémon Trainer too? To raise a Weedle to this extent, you must be an amazing trainer, right?" Lance still could not stop thinking about Xia Yan's Weedle.

"Wuu!"

Hearing someone praise Xia Yan made Weedle even happier than hearing praise for itself. It proudly raised its head and gave a low cry.

"What an adorable little fellow."

Lance smiled and reached out, wanting to pet it, but Weedle greeted him with its wary horn instead.

His hand stopped in midair, and his smile became somewhat awkward.

"It's afraid of strangers. It's my starter Pokémon, so naturally I've invested the most resources and effort into it," Xia Yan said, soothing Weedle.

"Oh?" Lance paused. "Using Weedle as a starter Pokémon is truly rare. But being able to raise even a Weedle this well really is impressive."

Seeing Xia Yan's clothes, Lance subconsciously assumed that he was a Pokémon League-registered trainer.

Pokémon League trainers could receive starter Pokémon from the League, though their range of choices depended on their contributions to the League.

Those with the greatest contributions could naturally choose the finest Starter Trio for their descendants: Bulbasaur, Squirtle, and Charmander.

Those whose contributions were not as high could choose from somewhat less exceptional Pokémon.

But this was the first time Lance had seen someone use Weedle as a starter Pokémon.

"It's excellent."

Xia Yan did not reveal that he was not a Pokémon League trainer.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to look down on Weedle." Lance thought Xia Yan had misunderstood.

Xia Yan shook his head.

Fixed ways of thinking were difficult to change.

"Such an outstanding Weedle! Then Xia Yan, would you like to have a battle?" Lance suddenly asked eagerly.

Xia Yan: "???"

He looked at him in surprise.

Are you Ash?

Why did he challenge people to battles at the drop of a hat?

Then again, he had forgotten that Ash was probably still drinking milk right now, while the person in front of him was still quite a distance away from becoming Champion.

Today's extra update wasn't too late, right? Please vote with your monthly tickets~~