Pheobe's departure

"Pheobe, don't worry. Dusknoir wasn't hurt too badly."

"A little Potion spray will do the trick."

Chen Shi walked over to the anxious Pheobe, took out the Potion he had prepared beforehand, and sprayed Dusknoir with it.

Only then did Pheobe blush and say, "Thank you, Brother Chen Shi."

The girl was easily embarrassed, and losing the battle had left her feeling awkward.

"Put Dusknoir back in the Poké Ball first."

"Okay. Little Spirit, come back and rest for a bit."

After Pheobe recalled Dusknoir, Chen Shi said goodbye to Drakloak and headed down the mountain with her.

On the way, Chen Shi told Pheobe, "You don't have enough battle experience. As soon as something goes wrong, you start panicking."

"I suggest battling more people. It'll do you good."

"Besides, you actually sent Dusknoir up against a fast Pokémon like Drakloak. Weren't you just asking for trouble?"

Pheobe pulled a long face. Back at Mt. Pyre, her grandparents had used fast Pokémon like Gengar to battle her Dusknoir too.

But back then, as long as Little Spirit used Gravity to restrict the opponent's speed, Little Spirit could quickly beat her grandparents.

Why didn't it work against Drakloak now?

Little did she know that the two elders had simply been going easy on her to make their granddaughter happy.

Gravity was indeed a good move, but it wasn't invincible. With the right precautions, an opponent could still kite Dusknoir to death.

After all, even Groudon's Precipice Blade could be dealt with that way. Gravity wasn't anything special.

"Brother Chen Shi, what do you think I should do, then?"

After thinking for a moment, Chen Shi replied, "I think you should go out and see more of the world."

"Battle more people and build up some experience."

Pheobe's eyes lit up. "Can I go out now?"

The girl had long yearned to see the world outside, but unfortunately, Chen Shi and the others had never brought it up.

So Pheobe hadn't asked either.

Now that Chen Shi said she should go out more, didn't that mean he was going to let her leave?

As he walked, Chen Shi thought that it was about time to let the girl see the outside world.

Keeping her here forever wouldn't do her any good.

Some lessons couldn't really be taught. They could only be understood through firsthand experience.

With that in mind, Chen Shi nodded. "I'll discuss it with Grandpa and Grandma. Get ready to travel for a while."

"But let's agree on this first. You can go, but whenever you arrive somewhere new, you have to call home and let us know you're safe."

"Awesome!"

Pheobe was so excited she nearly jumped for joy. She could finally go out!

As for his last remark, Pheobe had already conveniently forgotten it.

Right now, nothing mattered more to her than going out to have fun.

"Then let's hurry!"

With that, Pheobe grabbed Chen Shi's hand and tried to run down the mountain.

"Slow down, slow down! What's the rush?"

"Grandpa, Grandma, that's what happened."

"I'm planning to let Pheobe travel for a while. What do you think?"

In the first-floor living room of the Chen home, the two elders fell into thought after hearing their grandson's proposal.

They couldn't help worrying. The girl was far too innocent.

If anything happened to her out there, how would they explain it to their old friends?

Those two old friends had only this one granddaughter. If anything happened to her, Grandpa Chen would probably never be able to face them again.

Still, both elders understood that Pheobe would eventually have to go out and see the world. She couldn't stay on the farm forever.

How would that be any different from staying at Mt. Pyre?

Sending Pheobe here would have been pointless.

Chen Shi understood his grandparents' concerns and gave them a look, signaling that he would find a solution.

The two elders knew their grandson had been full of clever ideas since childhood. Besides, children had to leave home eventually, just as Chen Shi had a year ago.

Although they were worried, they still supported the idea.

So they nodded their agreement.

"Yay!!!"

Pheobe jumped up in delight. "Grandpa Chen, Grandma Chen, you're the best!"

"Don't worry. I'll make sure to check in with you regularly."

Chen Shi said, "Go upstairs and pack your things first. You'll need a tent and things like that."

"Okay! I'll go right now!"

At his words, Pheobe skipped upstairs.

Chen Shi told the two elders, "Let's have Gengar protect her from the shadows."

"Otherwise, I doubt either of you would feel at ease."

"Gengar?"

Gengar emerged from Grandma's shadow. He had never imagined that watching the fun from the sidelines would drag him into it.

You actually want me to protect a little girl? Is this a joke?

His grandparents, however, thought their grandson had a point. Having Gengar protect Pheobe was the perfect solution.

It wasn't as though Gengar had anything to do at home anyway.

Grandma Chen agreed at once. "Gengar, sorry for the trouble, but please protect Pheobe for a while."

"Gengar."

Since Grandma Chen had spoken, Gengar could only agree. Then he glared fiercely at Chen Shi and bared his teeth at him.

You little brat! After how well I've always treated you, you send me out to do a thankless job like this?

Our little boat of human-and-ghost friendship has capsized!

Chen Shi naturally understood what Gengar meant, but for Pheobe's safety, he had no choice but to trouble his ghost buddy.

After all, Pheobe's guardians had paid him, even if that payment had nothing to do with Gengar.

Grandpa Chen said, "Go upstairs and help her prepare a few things too."

"It's her first time leaving home. She's bound to miss something."

"No problem," Chen Shi agreed, then went upstairs to help Pheobe pack.

At the entrance to the Chen Family Farm, Pheobe wore a Space Backpack and waved goodbye to the three people who had come to see her off.

"Brother Chen Shi, Grandpa, Grandma, you don't need to see me any farther. Don't worry about me."

"Wait."

Chen Shi stopped Pheobe and took out one million League Coins, handing them to her.

"If you see any Scyther or Sneasel on your travels, catch one of each for me."

"They need to be advanced-level."

"This is your payment in advance."

"Got it, Brother Chen Shi." Pheobe accepted the money with a grin.

"Once I've caught them, I'll go to a Pokémon Center and transfer them back to you."

"Bye, Brother Chen Shi! Bye, Grandpa Chen and Grandma Chen!"

As Pheobe dashed away, Grandpa Chen stepped forward.

"Shi, what do you need Scyther and Sneasel for?"

At the question, Chen Shi scratched his head and replied, "I discovered Scyther's evolution, and Sneasel's evolution too."

Grandpa Chen's mouth twitched. "Just by casually doing a little research?"

Chen Shi nodded solemnly. "Yep. Just a little casual research."

Garlic Frog