Over the next few days, Chen Yan continued studying under Professor Rowan.
As expected of a leading figure among Pokémon Professors, he had plenty to teach Chen Yan about Pokémon evolution.
That day, after he and Gengar finished delivering lunch to Glameow, Nurse Joy, and the others as usual, Chen Yan found a photo studio and had his carefully selected photos printed. Then he bought an album and arranged all 108 photos inside in order.
There were photos of him with Gengar, Weedle, Kakuna, and even Glameow and Snivy, along with pictures of wild Pokémon he had taken outdoors.
He suddenly remembered that he had also promised to mail Officer Jenny some of his Pokémon photos, so he put together another album especially for her.
Once the photos were printed, Chen Yan found a courier service to mail the albums back to Twinleaf Town. Officer Jenny would help deliver Grandmother's album to her.
After filling in the address and paying, Chen Yan headed to Professor Rowan's lab with Gengar and Kakuna.
They had stayed in Sandgem Town for quite a while now. Nurse Joy said Glameow could be discharged tomorrow, so once he picked Glameow up, it would be time for him, Gengar, and the others to leave Sandgem Town and set off again.
That was why he needed to let Professor Rowan know today. The professor had really done a lot for him lately.
When Chen Yan arrived at Professor Rowan's lab, he found the professor answering questions on a livestream. He smiled and greeted the assistant beside him, then slipped into a white coat with practiced ease.
Ever since Chen Yan had helped Professor Rowan register an account two days ago, the professor had been going live whenever he had time to answer Trainers' questions.
Chen Yan went out to the lab's backyard to check on the Pokémon, using his camera to record them playing together.
It was worth mentioning that, in just a few short days, King Gengar had become a presence feared by every Pokémon in the lab.
Generally, wherever Gengar was, no other Pokémon would come within miles.
"See? I told you not to prank them all the time, but you wouldn't listen. Now none of them want to play with you." Chen Yan looked at Gengar, who had Kakuna balanced on Gengar's head, and spoke in exasperation.
Gengar turned back and made a face at Chen Yan, then headed into the forest alone, carrying a Thin Bamboo Cane with Kakuna still perched overhead.
Although Professor Rowan's lab didn't occupy quite as absurdly large an area as Professor Oak's, it was still huge compared to those of other Pokémon Professors.
Almost everything as far as the eye could see was part of Professor Rowan's backyard.
Once in the forest, Gengar kept swatting the heads off the wildflowers and weeds beside the path with the Thin Bamboo Cane.
"Gengar-"
He was the one who gave me the idea, and now he's saying I pranked them! The nerve!
Gengar grumbled while practicing swordsmanship.
Reaching a rock, Gengar took Kakuna down and plopped onto the rock, setting the Thin Bamboo Cane beside it. Its short little legs swung back and forth as it spaced out.
In a moment of inattention, Kakuna slipped off Gengar's lap and hit the ground with a clang.
Gengar snapped out of its daze and looked at Kakuna, noticing a reflective shell covering its body.
"Gengar?"
Gengar hopped off the rock and reached out to tap Kakuna's shell.
Clang, clang~
Gengar's scarlet eyes darted around, and a grin spread across its face.
It set Kakuna upright on the rock, then chattered away at length beside Kakuna's ear.
Kakuna blinked, then its gaze grew determined.
Kakuna's body began to harden. Seeing this, Gengar picked up the Thin Bamboo Cane beside it.
Clang!
"Where's Gengar? Why haven't I seen it bothering the other Pokémon today?" Professor Rowan's voice came from behind Chen Yan. He walked up behind him, looked at the footage the drone was transmitting to the tablet, and asked,
"Recording another video?"
"Yes. We're planning to leave Sandgem Town tomorrow and head somewhere new, so I came today to say goodbye, Professor, and film some footage to use later."
"You're leaving tomorrow?" Professor Rowan sounded a little surprised.
Chen Yan nodded. "I've already spent a week in Sandgem Town. It's time to move on and continue my journey."
"Has it been that long already?" Professor Rowan pinched his drooping mustache. "All right, then."
Professor Rowan didn't try to keep Chen Yan there. After all, Chen Yan had only stayed to help as a temporary assistant from the start.
"Professor, if you're free, why don't we all have dinner together tonight? I'll cook for everyone," Chen Yan suggested, looking at Professor Rowan.
"You can cook, too?" Professor Rowan asked curiously.
"To tell you the truth, Gengar got that build from my cooking."
Recalling Gengar's sturdy little body, Professor Rowan nodded. "All right. I'll look forward to your cooking."
"Where should we have it? Would the lab's backyard work?"
"Of course." Chen Yan nodded. "I was planning to cook in the backyard anyway. That way, the other Pokémon can have some, too."
"Good. The lab will provide the ingredients, then. Thank you for taking on the work of cooking for all of us."
"No problem." Chen Yan glanced at the sky and recalled the drone.
"Done filming?"
"Yes. I need to find Gengar first and get it to help me out."
"Then let's go together."
Chen Yan and Professor Rowan entered the forest and spotted Gengar right away. When they approached, both froze for a moment.
Gengar was thrusting its Thin Bamboo Cane at Kakuna. When the cane struck, Kakuna merely rocked back and forth a couple of times before standing upright on the rock again.
Just like a roly-poly toy.
"What are you two doing?" Chen Yan asked.
Gengar turned around and saw Chen Yan and Professor Rowan. Grinning, it floated over to Chen Yan.
"Gengar-"
Kakuna and I are practicing swordsmanship.
"Swordsmanship? How are you practicing?"
To satisfy Chen Yan's curiosity, Gengar floated back over to Kakuna and swung the Thin Bamboo Cane down at it. Under the cane's fierce assault, Kakuna swayed nonstop.
"Is that... Harden?" Professor Rowan recognized the move Kakuna was using.
"So... by practicing swordsmanship, you mean having Kakuna use Harden and then whacking it with a bamboo stick?"
"Gengar-"
Yep! It's really fun. Want to try?
With that, Gengar generously offered Chen Yan the bamboo stick.
Chen Yan looked at the Thin Bamboo Cane in Gengar's hand, then at Kakuna standing on the rock. After a moment's hesitation, he took the cane and walked over to Kakuna.
"Use Harden, Kakuna."
Kakuna blinked, and its outer shell began to harden.
Chen Yan swung the Thin Bamboo Cane down hard. It whistled through the air, and Kakuna went flying straight into a tree.
Chen Yan: !!!
Gengar: Σ(ﾟ∀ﾟﾉ)ﾉ
Kakuna rolled a few times on the ground, then stared up at the blue sky, utterly bewildered.
Kakuna: ???
"Gengar!!!"
Little bro, don't die on me!!!
Gengar immediately floated over and picked Kakuna up. When it saw Kakuna blinking at it, Gengar breathed a sigh of relief.
That scared me to death.
Seeing that Kakuna was unharmed, Chen Yan breathed a sigh of relief as well.
Gengar set Kakuna back on the rock and looked at Chen Yan.
"Gengar?"
Want to keep playing?
Chen Yan shook his head and handed the Thin Bamboo Cane back.
"No. That nearly scared me to death. Be careful."
"Gengar-"
Okay-
"Wait, stop playing. Come help me out. We're making something delicious tonight."
"Gengar!"
Something delicious! Let's go! I'll help you right now!
Gengar grabbed Chen Yan's hand and floated toward the edge of the forest. Unable to pull him along, it simply lay flat in midair and frantically kicked both legs outward, its little face turning bright red with effort.
"Stop pulling. I get it already."
Chen Yan followed Gengar out.
Kakuna, on the rock: ???
"Wait." Chen Yan's voice drifted back from the distance. "Gengar, where's Kakuna? Where's your little bro?"
"Gengar?!"
Σ(ﾟ∀ﾟﾉ)ﾉ
I forgot!
Gengar floated back to the rock, scooped up Kakuna, then caught up with Chen Yan.
Kakuna: ...
You're just picking on me because I can't walk! Or talk! Or eat!
I'm shaking with rage and freezing cold!
(＊｀д´)
Before you continue