Professor Cerise sighed and nodded with a grave expression. "Ash is right. Lt. Surge's philosophy is indeed too extreme."
"Let's go... I'll go have a word with Lt. Surge."
With that, Professor Cerise led Ash and the other two toward an inner room.
In a sense, Professor Cerise's status was actually on par with Lt. Surge's. Professor Cerise was qualified to speak with Lt. Surge as an equal.
Goh watched their retreating backs, especially Ash's attitude, which seemed to pay him no mind at all.
He clenched his fists in frustration and muttered, "Hmph, Ash from Pallet Town... I'm the one who's more outstanding."
Meanwhile, Ash, walking ahead, had his attention completely focused on Professor Cerise.
As for the boy named Goh, in Ash's eyes, he was just one of those "common, somewhat overconfident rookie trainers" Chloe had mentioned.
Wait a minute...
—Maybe I could introduce the 'Beast Tamer,' A.J., to Professor Cerise?
Ash felt this idea had potential.
Rather than letting this Goh character become the Pokémon Trainer chosen by Professor Cerise, it would be better to switch to the serious and hardworking A.J.
"Professor," Ash spoke up at the right moment, his tone sincere, "Actually, on our way here, we met a local trainer from Vermilion City named A.J. He calls himself the 'Beast Tamer.'"
"Oh?" Professor Cerise slowed his pace, showing interest.
"Although the Pokémon he uses is just a Sandshrew, he's achieved a 100-win streak in the wild through solid training and unique tactics," Ash continued, emphasizing his potential.
"He's very talented, trains hard, and has a strong will."
"I think he's a trainer with great potential and ideas, just lacking a better platform and guidance."
After listening, Professor Cerise nodded thoughtfully. "A Vermilion City local, talented and willing to work hard..."
Ash couldn't offer much help, but he could at least put in a good word or two.
Such a young man was indeed worth paying attention to.
"Thank you for the information, Ash."
"I'll keep an eye out for this 'Beast Tamer A.J.'"
Professor Cerise indeed hadn't had the energy to screen new trainers on a large scale, but with a recommendation for an excellent candidate, he was naturally willing to investigate.
After all, the Cerise Laboratory had just been established not long ago.
Although Professor Cerise was full of drive, a person's energy is finite.
So why had he chosen Goh for now?
Mainly because Professor Cerise had no time to select talent, but as a Pokémon Professor, he had to choose a new trainer.
It just so happened that Goh was a friend of his daughter, Chloe.
So he was chosen rather casually.
If a better new candidate appeared, he could be replaced.
After all, as a Pokémon Professor, his power and freedom were quite significant.
These words were overheard by Goh, who was following behind with his ears pricked up.
His face immediately darkened, his lips pressed into a thin line as a wave of resentment welled up inside him.
This Ash from Pallet Town not only stole the Professor's attention, but now he was even recommending someone else to take away what could have been his?
But he couldn't voice his objection at that moment, so he could only bottle up his anger and sullenly trail at the very back.
How could he possibly interfere with Professor Cerise's choice?
They entered the inner room.
Professor Cerise initiated a communication link with the Vermilion Gym.
The screen lit up, revealing Lt. Surge's dazzling blond hair and a face split by a wild grin.
"Yo!"
"Cerise!"
"What a rare sight! What can I do for ya?"
"Don't tell me your research finally needs a powerful Gym Leader like me to help with testing?"
"Hahahaha!" Lt. Surge's voice was loud, like rolling thunder.
Clearly, receiving a call from Professor Cerise was a bit of a surprise to him.
However, Lt. Surge didn't mind at all.
Although one belonged to the Gym Trainer faction and the other to the academic world faction.
Both of them belonged to the Vermilion City faction.
As long as Vermilion City developed for the better, it would be more beneficial for both of them.
Essentially, there was no conflict of interest between them.
In fact, they could both be considered one of the four people with the most actual power in the city.
The other two were Nurse Joy and Officer Jenny.
Some might find this surprising, but it was the truth.
The mayor, the nominal leader of the city, actually held a lower status than them.
Professor Cerise pushed up his glasses and laughed.
"That would be for the best."
"Gym Leader Surge, if such a need arises, I'll definitely contact you immediately."
"It's just that I've just heard quite a few complaints from Nurse Joy at the Pokémon Center. The number of trainers and Pokémon injured in Gym challenges has surged recently, and her workload is immense."
"Considering Nurse Joy might feel awkward saying it, I thought it would be better for me to communicate with you."
Professor Cerise found a suitable reason.
In a way, he and Lt. Surge were both men, while Officer Jenny and Nurse Joy were women.
They did indeed have more common ground and could chat more easily.
"Hahahaha!" Upon hearing this, Lt. Surge, far from feeling guilty, burst out laughing.
"Can't be helped, Professor!"
"The recent challengers have all been weaklings, they can't take a hit at all!"
"They can't even handle ten percent of my Raichu's power, it's just too boring. So I couldn't help but get a little... serious!"
Although he said that, he still waved his hand dismissively.
"Alright, alright, since Nurse Joy is complaining, I'll be more careful from now on."
The Nurse Joy family is very powerful within the Pokémon League.
After all, all the Nurse Joys come from one family, spanning multiple leagues.
Similar to Nurse Joy is the Officer Jenny family... also spanning multiple leagues.
Just then.
Lt. Surge's sharp gaze swept over the youths beside Professor Cerise, finally landing on Ash, especially the electric mouse on his shoulder.
Lt. Surge's smile became more aggressive, with a hint of amusement—he had created this whole spectacle just for Ash.
He couldn't just deliberately single out Ash, could he?
But if he took on all the rookies during this period, wouldn't it seem much more reasonable?
Lt. Surge had no desire to be woken up in the middle of the night by a masked Professor Oak coming to beat him up...
He wouldn't even have grounds to complain if he got beaten.
He only looked rough; he wasn't an idiot.
"Hey, kid!" Lt. Surge pointed directly at Ash through the screen. "You're the kid from Pallet Town that guy Bill mentioned, the one who saw the Giant Dragonite and dared to look it straight in the eye, right?"
Ash met his gaze without flinching. "I am."
"Interesting!" Lt. Surge licked his lips as if he'd spotted interesting prey. "Luck and guts alone aren't enough!"
"I'll be waiting for you at the Vermilion Gym!"
He paused, his voice carrying a strong sense of challenge, yet he offered a promise: "Come on, let me properly 'weigh' your worth!"
"If your performance can satisfy me..."
He glanced at Professor Cerise. "I'll stop what the Professor just mentioned immediately."
"How about it?"
This was undoubtedly shifting all the pressure and responsibility directly onto Ash.
Although playing mind games with a rookie kid was a bit dirty.
But for a trainer with a military background... on the battlefield, the dirtier the tactic, the better, as long as it achieved success.
____
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