"Thank you so much, Ash..."
Returning to the door of the police station, Officer Jenny bowed deeply to Ash.
She thanked Ash in a very solemn and sincere tone.
"Please accept our police department's gratitude!!"
The so-called gratitude is the certificate and commendation that represents official praise.
With the encouragement of the onlookers, Ash accepted the symbol of official honor and reward.
It's really more than just a certificate.
In most cases, having such an official honor is a good amulet~~~
"This is just a reward from me as a police officer to you, Mr. Ash."
Officer Jenny smiled and said: "Then, from the perspective of our Jenny family, this is our sincerity..."
As she spoke, she handed Ash a black and gold card.
"This is the universal Member Card of the Orange Islands Region. It can be used in any store or building~~~"
Officer Jenny winked at Ash:
"There are very suitable discounts inside, and there is no limit on the number of times!!"
"Thank you, Officer Jenny!!"
Ash accepted all the kindness shown by Jenny's family.
It would be strange if Ash didn't accept the overture from one of the largest families in the world!!
Moreover, I have been trying to build up my favorability with Jenny and Nurse Joy.
No, the reward is here!
After chatting briefly with Officer Jenny again, Ash and his friends stopped being polite to Officer Jenny who kept expressing her gratitude.
Then, together with Misty and Tracey, we walked into the concrete jungle and high-rise buildings of Mandarin Island.
Got such a nice black card, although it's only for the Orange Islands.
But on Mandarin Island, it is completely usable.
Moreover, as the largest commercial center in the entire Orange Islands, it is the city with the greatest business atmosphere.
There are many good things gathered in this city.
Ash took Misty and Tracey with him, and the three of them started shopping.
Misty has some desired cosmetics, Tracey has some desired observation items, and so on.
You can use Ash's black gold shopping card to get good discounts.
Of course, they still have to pay for it themselves.
Well, as for Misty's portion, Ash can help take it as well.
But Tracey~~~he should figure it out on his own.
Inside the building, Ash looked at Tracey at the counter, who had a miserable face as if she wanted everything but had a very limited budget, and could only shrug.
He is not a kind-hearted person in this regard, so let him figure it out on his own.
On the contrary, Ash himself found two good things while shopping in the mall.
[Sharp Beak]: A long, sharp beak. After carrying it, the power of Flying Type's moves will be increased by 20%.
[Black Belt]: A belt that can cheer you up. Wearing it will increase the power of your Fighting Type moves by 20%.
Two items that can improve the strength of Pokémon and are also items for attribute enhancement.
"It's just right. We can give it to Pidgeot and apprentice Bear to carry."
Ash bought these two items without hesitation.
With these two things, the strength of Pidgeot and Apprentice Bear will be improved to a higher level.
Ash gained a lot from this shopping trip and it was worthwhile.
"So satisfying, so satisfying!!"
Misty also looked like she had gained a lot.
The rosy face with a feeling of happiness and joy formed a sharp contrast with Tracey, who was standing next to him with a complicated expression, with a hint of bitterness and happiness at the same time.
Well, everyone gained something from this shopping trip.
When they finished shopping, it was already evening.
After returning to the Pokémon Center and washing up, the few of them prepared to have a good rest.
And with Ash's help, Tracey finally got to meet his idol, Professor Oak.
"Professor Oak, it's our first meeting. Nice to meet you!!"
Tracey's original bitter expression had long since disappeared.
The only ones left were those faces that were so nervous and excited that they turned red.
"Who are you?"
Professor Oak, who was eating instant noodles as usual, asked in confusion.
"My name is Tracey, hello!!"
He quickly introduced himself there: "I am a Pokémon observer!!"
"Oh, so that's how it is~"
"Yes! I have admired you, Professor Oak, for a long, long time!!"
Tracey was in high spirits and started a discussion with Professor Oak.
Seeing this, Ash also smiled and turned back to his room to rest.
Meeting with the idol tonight will also put Tracey in a good mood.
"Very good, let's move on to our next destination!!"
The next morning, on the coast of Mandarin Island, Tracey revived with full energy and shouted passionately.
Misty on the side:
She looked at Tracey's energetic look, the two dark circles at the corners of her eyes were not affected at all.
Misty doubted whether Tracey would collapse headfirst on the journey given her current mental condition.
"Tracey, Professor Oak's reputation is really that high."
As the group boarded Lapras and continued to sail towards the sea.
Misty couldn't help but ask.
"What are you talking about!!"
Tracey was surprised and asked, "Don't you know?!"
"Every Pokémon researcher wants Professor Oak to read his or her report."
"Of course, I am no exception!!"
Even when he reached the surface of the sea, his excitement did not diminish in the slightest.
One can imagine the impact that Professor Oak has brought.
"Well, Professor Oak said, 'I'll take you to Pallet Town to have a proper confession with him.'"
Ash gestured for him to calm down.
"Where is our next destination?"
"..."
Tracey calmed down a little and flipped through the Orange Alliance magazine she took out of her backpack.
"It seems so..."
"Huh? What is that?"
Suddenly, Misty let out a soft "eh", causing both of them to look over at the same time.
Then I saw a message in a bottle floating on the sea ahead.
Crash.
Lapras swam closer, lowered its head, opened its mouth, picked it up, and brought it to Ash.
"Thank you, Lapras."
Ash touched its head and then opened the drifting bottle.
There was also a blank letter inside:
"If anyone knows about the Pokémon Crystal Onix, please tell me."
"I'll leave everything to you, Sunburst Island's Masami, that's it...
Residents on nearby islands often throw drift bottles into the sea. This is a common practice and a tradition of the Orange Islands.
However, the content mentioned in it did attract the attention of several people.
Misty tilted her head: "Crystal Onix? What is that?"
Tracey explained: "It's Onix whose whole body is made of crystals...
"There's this kind of Pokémon?"
"I don't know, but it seems someone has seen it before."
"Did the residents of the small island ahead see it?"
While everyone was talking, they saw a small island in the distance right in front of them.
"That's Sunburst Island!!"
Sunburst Island, located in the southwest region of the Orange Islands, is famous for its glass crafts.
Because the island is rich in high-quality crystal, many of its residents are highly skilled glass craftsmen.
People come from all over the world to Sunburst Island to see these glass works of art.
"Sunburst Island is famous for its glass crafts."
After the three of them landed on the island, they also saw the very lively scene inside the island city.
Tracey led Ash and Misty and gave the explanation:
"Most of the residents on the island are masters of making glass crafts."
"So there are a lot of tourists here, all coming to see and buy these things."
Just as Tracey said, the main streets in the city are lined with shops that make and sell glass crafts.
There is only one store...
"What's going on? Why isn't your store closed yet?!"
A Uproar sound came from a glass shop near the three people:
"You have nothing to sell, what are you thinking of doing?"
A boss wearing a glassmaking uniform said to a cute little girl named Stephanie who was wearing pink pigtails:
"Go back and tell your brother that if you don't have talent, you should give up as soon as possible."
"THE KING..."
Little Stephanie with pink twin ponytails was about to cry: "That's not true..."
The owner of the glassmaking clothing store: "...Okay, okay, please stop crying."
He also had a headache and said, "I can understand you."
"But if we live next door to a store like yours, no customers will come!!"
Little Stephanie with pink twin pigtails didn't have anything to sell.
As a result, tourists will not come here to patronize, and the business of the nearby stores will be affected.
The boss just came here to complain and couldn't do anything to little Stephanie.
After the boss left, Misty also showed sympathy and walked over to the pink-tailed little Stephanie:
"Little sister, are you opening a shop by yourself?"
"THE..."
Little Stephanie with pink twin ponytails stopped crying immediately when she saw a rare customer coming to her store. She said softly:
"The glass was made by my brother A Gong."
"Of..."
She became depressed again: "My brother can't make good glass works now."
When Misty saw this, she felt even more sorry for the two children who depended on each other: "What's your name?"
"My name is Zhengmei."
"Masami from Sunburst Island? Did you write this letter?"
Sure enough, by "coincidence", they also ran into the real boss.
"ah?!"
After seeing Ash take out the drift bottle, the pink twin-tailed little Stephanie Zhengmei suddenly became very happy:
"Did you come here because you saw this letter? Then are you here to tell me about Crystal Onix?"
Her beautiful eyes were full of anticipation.
"DB...
Misty and Tracey were choked up, but Ash smiled slightly:
"Yes, we know."
Ash nodded gently, "But we can understand why you want to know about Crystal Onix so much?"
"AND..."
Zhengmei, who was not happy yet, thought about it and then took them directly into her own store.
"I'm sorry, I haven't caused you any trouble..."
Brother A Gong, who was in the inner room staring at the glass workshop in a daze, immediately apologized to several people after understanding the whole story.
Several people waved their hands, and then looked at the surrounding environment.
This store has an excellent glass workshop. Logically speaking, the quality of the glass crafts produced here should be of the highest quality.
And, as Ah Gong said:
"In fact, our store has always had good business when my grandfather was running it."
"My grandfather is a highly skilled glass craftsman who can make glass Pokémon every day.
"But, since my grandfather passed away, I have inherited this store."
"But I still can't produce a work that can be put on the stage..."
On the counter next to it, there are also some finished glass crafts made by A Gong.
Obviously, in the eyes of Misty and Tracey, these glass crafts are quite good.
.....
But in A Gong's opinion, this can't be compared with the finished product made by his grandfather.
"These works have no soul at all."
Ah Gong said: "It doesn't look like a living Pokémon at all.
"The glass Pokémon my grandfather made look so lifelike.
"But I just don't have any inspiration."
"But if we can find the Crystal Onix, perhaps we can change this situation..."
A Gong also mentioned the name and existence of Crystal Onix.
"My grandfather said that when he was young, during his training, he once encountered a crystal Onix.
"It is said that its body is made of crystal."
"After meeting Crystal Rock, my grandfather created excellent glass works one after another."
Misty and Tracey understood immediately.
"So that's how it is~"
This is why the brother and sister want to find Crystal Onix.
"It is said that Crystal Onix is the messenger of the god of glass, and it is also considered a symbol of glass."
"I think if I can find it, maybe I'll get some inspiration..."
He showed Ash the finished crystal Onix glass craft that his grandfather had carved.
Suddenly, the sculpture, which seemed to be infused with soul and life, exuded a radiant Lucas.
It looks really different from normal glass crafts!!
"But I have searched every place on the island and couldn't find it...
Having said that, even Gong raised his head and looked at Ash with hope on his face.
He also heard from his sister Masami that this Trainer with Pikachu seemed to know something about Crystal Onix.
"Ah, I should be able to guess some conclusions about the Crystal Onix~"
Ash said with a smile.
..
In the Orange Islands, there is a record about Sunburst Island.
Sunburst Island is quite large, and there is a smaller island nearby that is connected to Sunburst Island via a sandbar.
Normally, you can go there by ferry on weekdays.
But when the tide recedes, a path will be revealed.
This route is only visible at low tide.
At high tide, they look like separate islands, but they reappear at low tide.
"And it just so happens that today is a high tide."
At the isthmus connecting to Sunburst Island, Ash looked at the road revealed in the middle of the receding sea water in front of him and said with a smile.
"It seems that we have come to the right place today."
During high tide, the rise and fall of the tide is very different and very obvious.
"No wonder I couldn't find it even after searching all over Sunburst Island..."
Ah Gong was also very excited: "So it's on this affiliated island."
"Grandpa said before that he didn't go out to sea on a ship, which made me think that Crystal Onix was always on Sunburst Island.
"Now that I think about it, it was probably low tide that day, and Grandpa accidentally followed this road that emerged and went to the attached island."
"Yes, it must be like this!!"
A Gong was so excited that he couldn't wait to step onto the path that appeared.
The others quickly followed suit.
Along the way, they also discovered many different kinds of shells on this road.