Back in the backyard.
Most of Ash's Pokémon were there.
They were pityingly gathered around two lumps of "charcoal"—no, Professor Oak and Gary.
Beside the charcoal, Regieleki bounced around while Regidrago stood silently.
A scrapped camera sat some distance away.
The situation was obvious. While Professor Oak and Gary had been recording research material, they had triggered their unlucky constitution that made them targets of Pokémon attacks.
Such incidents had been documented in educational videos like Professor Oak's Pokémon Lecture and Professor Oak's Pokémon Encyclopedia, the post-credit segments from the early anime.
The sight instantly made Baimu feel as if he had been pulled back into his childhood. Smiling, he stepped forward and said, "Professor, Gary, how did you end up like this?"
"Ahahaha~"
Professor Oak looked a little embarrassed, but he quickly brushed the dust from himself and said, "That's research for you. How could we produce authentic, reliable material without being attacked by Pokémon once or twice?"
Gary restored his electrically exploded hair to its hedgehog-like shape and agreed, "Getting attacked is also a very important part of interacting with Pokémon!"
You people...
Pallet Town residents really did have some kind of bloodline, didn't they?
Baimu recalled how, back when he had been in Orre, he had barely dared let an ordinary Pokémon brush against him, let alone a legendary being like Regieleki.
Yet Professor Oak and the others were already used to being attacked by Pokémon. Ash, brave as ever, even dared to actively charge into Pokémon moves.
The difference between people was simply too great.
He walked over to Regieleki, put on insulated gloves, and touched its warm surface. Smiling, he said, "Don't be so rough. Settle down and cooperate."
"Beep beep beep~ Re~gi~"
The dots on Regieleki's face flashed, and its excited bouncing gradually slowed.