"Hello, Mr. Alex." Daisy's voice was soft and polite. She tilted her head slightly and extended her slender hand.
Alex immediately responded, shaking her hand with just the right amount of firmness to show respect. "I'm sorry for keeping you waiting, Miss Daisy." He withdrew his hand, his eyes warm and friendly.
"Not at all." Daisy smiled faintly and shook her head. "The moment I stepped outside, I saw you standing at the door already." As she spoke, she brushed a few wind-tousled strands of hair aside, the motion revealing the delicate curve of her ear beneath her golden locks.
She continued, her tone lowering as though confiding something: "Grandfather knew you were coming and was delighted. He especially asked me to come out and greet you."
"In that case, let's head inside. We shouldn't keep Professor Oak waiting." Alex replied with a light smile, his eyes hinting that he was just as eager.
"Alright." Daisy nodded and turned to lead the way.
Following her, Alex stepped into the Oak Research Institute.
Inside, the air was both serious and lively. This was one of the most advanced Pokémon research centers in the entire League, where technology, science, and love for Pokémon blended seamlessly.
All around, Alex saw sophisticated instruments he had only ever heard of or read about.
A massive confocal microscope, its lenses gleaming under bright lights, capable of magnifying and detecting the tiniest cellular changes in various Pokémon species.
A variable-frequency power analyzer, its screen tracing shifting energy waveforms in real time, mapping precisely how a Pokémon's energy fluctuated during battle or when using a move.
A short-wave electric field generator, a hydro-optic cutter, and a host of other strange devices Alex had never seen in person.
Each of these machines was worth tens of millions of League Credits; some were custom-built to such a degree that even money couldn't buy them.
Alex thought to himself: No wonder this place is considered the pinnacle of Pokémon science.
"Hahaha! Alex, you're here!" A warm voice rang out from ahead.
Looking up, Alex saw Professor Oak striding toward him with joy in his eyes. Though the man was well into his later years, his gaze still shone brightly with vitality.
"Professor, I hope I'm not intruding," Alex said, shaking the professor's hand and feeling the firm, steady grip in return.
"Not at all! Come, let me show you my research facilities." Oak chuckled heartily, his voice filled with enthusiasm.
For someone of Oak's stature, conversations with like-minded individuals were rare pleasures. After their lengthy discussion during their previous meeting, Oak had come to regard Alex as one of the few young trainers worth his time.
"Thank you, Professor," Alex said, unable to hide his own anticipation.
"Grandfather, let me join you," Daisy interjected, her eyes showing genuine interest. The last time she had met Alex was during one of Oak's lectures, when the young trainer had engaged in a long, confident discussion with her grandfather about Pokémon knowledge. It had left a strong impression on her.
Oak gave Daisy a teasing look, which made her cheeks color slightly. She let out a small laugh before leading Alex deeper into the institute.
"Alex, this is our training facility," Oak said, gesturing toward a vast open space.
It was the breeding ground for Kanto's Starter Trio. The area stretched across what must have been the size of at least twenty football fields, surrounded by secure fencing and advanced surveillance systems.
Bulbasaurs, Squirtles, and Charmanders of various sizes played under the sunlight. Some splashed in a pond, others lounged lazily in the grass. Caretakers moved between them, delivering food or performing health checks. The trust between Pokémon and humans here was palpable.
The moment Daisy entered, a group of Pokémon dashed over. A Bulbasaur hopped up against her leg, a Squirtle waved cheerfully, and one particularly sharp-eyed Charmander approached. While playing with Daisy, it carefully held its tail flame away with its small clawed hands to keep it from brushing her dress.
Alex immediately noticed the cleverness and consideration in that small action.
"Professor, where do Charmanders live in the wild?" Alex asked.
"You mean wild Charmanders?" Oak looked mildly surprised, but answered, "They can be found deep within Viridian Forest."
Viridian Forest… Alex frowned slightly. He recalled Brock mentioning, back in Pewter City, that a powerful Rocket leader had been spotted there. For safety's sake, Alex had abandoned his plan to search for white vanilla in that area. Now, unexpectedly, the very Pokémon he desired—Charmander—was found there.
Oak asked directly, "You're planning to catch a wild Charmander?"
"Yes," Alex nodded without hesitation.
Charmander wasn't just cute; when it evolved into Charizard, it gained the rare Fire/Flying dual type. Its powerful wings allowed for sustained flight, and its Fire typing covered weaknesses when working alongside Lucario and Gardevoir.
More importantly, Charizard was one of the few Pokémon capable of Mega Evolution—and it had two distinct Mega forms. Strength, potential, majestic appearance—everything Alex wanted for his third Pokémon.
In truth, Alex could have avoided all this trouble. By paying 20 League Credits, he could secure a starter Charmander from the League, even without being a native of Kanto. But when he saw the gentle-natured Charmanders at Oak's facility, he hesitated.
These Charmanders, carefully selected for new trainers, had been raised in a safe, nurturing environment, losing much of their primal wildness. Alex wanted a partner brimming with raw instinct and battle spirit—someone to grow with through the harshest trials.
A trainer could only raise a limited number of Pokémon. Every choice had to count.
Afterward, Oak and Daisy continued showing Alex around—the fossil DNA analysis lab, the rare Pokémon sanctuary, and even the specimen exhibition hall. But in the back of Alex's mind, an image of a wild Charmander in Viridian Forest had already begun to take shape…