When the setting sun dyed the horizon a warm orange-red, Erika led Ash and his two companions out from another gate of Celadon University.
The day's visitation activities had thoroughly concluded.
Honestly, if it weren't for Erika leading the team, it would have been really difficult to visit the important areas of Celadon University.
Oh.
Professor Oak's consent was also a major reason.
Those researchers and administrators inside Celadon University might not give Erika face, but they would definitely give Professor Oak face.
After all, that is the boss.
Unlike the majestic grandeur of the main gate.
The path they came out on appeared more secluded; on both sides were dense ornamental bamboo groves, the rustling sound of bamboo leaves accompanying their footsteps.
Aside from the internal research areas, the surrounding area also had many decorative environmental landscapes.
"Celadon University is very large; many researchers and students like to enter and exit from these side gates, as it is more convenient," Erika explained with a faint smile.
The gentle evening breeze brushed past her hair.
The sun set in the west, its glow reflected on her cheeks, floating like clouds; a peerless beauty.
"What you saw today is just the tip of the iceberg. I hope you can have a more three-dimensional understanding of Pokémon research," Erika said finally.
"Indeed so." Brock nodded; his horizons had truly been broadened today.
"...I feel that the raising of Magikarp has a lot of potential..." Misty decided to turn around and contact her own sister to see if she could get some investment for the laboratory.
Please.
A Magikarp that knows Dragon Rage, hey.
Super rare, okay.
"It's also my first time hearing that Magikarp can use Dragon Rage..." Ash expressed his agreement.
The Pokémon knowledge in books is already confirmed to be error-free.
But there is still a lot of unconfirmed Pokémon knowledge that has not been widely spread.
Such is the nature of development.
What is right today might be wrong tomorrow.
It's not without reason that many of those researchers suffer from hair loss.
After returning to that comfortable guest house in the Celadon Gym, Ash did not rest. Instead, he took Pikachu and Misdreavus to the training room specially prepared for guests in the Gym to conduct daily practice.
It was a bit remote here, but very quiet.
It was a very suitable place for entertaining guests.
Pidgeotto was resting in its Poké Ball, while Gyarados's body size was not quite suitable for indoor training.
"Pikachu, the speed of Quick Attack needs to be a bit faster!"
"Mengmeng, control of Mystical Fire, pay attention to focus!"
...Ash instructed attentively, and discussed the different usages of moves in different situations.
Pokémon moves are not fixed formulas.
Rather, they can be applied in variant ways.
The windows of the training room were open, and the cool night air flowed in.
Just then.
Misdreavus, who was originally practicing Psybeam, suddenly paused her movements and floated lightly to the window.
"Yi yi?" (Eh?)
Those large eyes looked curiously toward a hidden path below the window that led to the back alley of the Gym.
The vision of Ghost-type Pokémon can observe souls, which is different from human vision.
Stronger Ghost-type Pokémon can even extract souls directly.
...This is a kind of ability that cannot be described by Pokémon moves.
"What's wrong, Mengmeng?" Ash noticed his partner's abnormality and also walked to the window.
Following Misdreavus's gaze, he saw a figure walking sneakily and quickly along the small path.
The person was wearing inconspicuous dark casual clothes, a peaked cap pulled very low on their head, and exaggeratedly wore a large mask that almost covered their entire face.
But that subconscious elegant gait and the body outline that even loose casual clothes could hardly conceal...
Misdreavus blinked and spoke directly to Ash via Telepathy: [ Yi! It's Miss Erika! The scent and feeling can't be wrong! ]
But the Celadon Gym is Erika's domain; what matter requires her to be so sneaky?
As soon as the voice fell.
Misdreavus's figure became semi-transparent as if melting into the air, and she passed directly through the wall and window.
She floated silently to the outside, curiously following that "suspicious" figure.
Uh... Ghost-type Pokémon being able to pass directly through walls and windows is also a kind of ability that is difficult to describe with moves.
Outside the window, Erika seemed to sense something in her heart. She subconsciously glanced back, and her eyes met directly with the innocent large eyes of Misdreavus, who was floating behind her, tilting her head to size her up.
Four eyes met.
The air froze instantly.
Erika's body stiffened, and a trace of panic and awkwardness from being caught in the act flashed through her eyes.
She evidently hadn't expected to be discovered in this way.
Through the window, Ash could also see the tips of her exposed ears turning red rapidly.
After a stalemate of a few seconds, Erika seemed to take a deep breath, as if she had made some kind of determination.
She suddenly raised her hand, hooked her finger towards the window, and pointed in the direction of the back alley.
The meaning was obvious: Don't make a noise, come here.
Ash was stunned for a moment, his curiosity thoroughly piqued.
He said to the training Pikachu, "I'm going out for a bit."
Then he slipped out of the room lightly, and following the direction indicated by Erika, slipped out from an inconspicuous small side door of the Gym.
"Pika?" Although somewhat puzzled, Pikachu did not follow.
Pikachu was still very diligent; daily training was never lacking.
Since they were visiting during the day, the training had to be made up at night.
Moreover, in Pikachu's view... what danger could there be in this Celadon Gym?
Wasn't Misdreavus following along?
Especially since Ash still carried Pidgeotto and Gyarados on him.
As soon as he stepped out the door.
Erika grabbed Ash's wrist; the strength was not small... not inferior to an adult strong man.
Miss Erika, who looked frail, seemed to be quite capable in physical combat skills as well.
"Shh—" Erika lowered her voice. Her eyes still held a remnant of unnaturalness, but more of it was a resolute 'might as well' decisiveness.
"Since I was discovered by you... then let's go together."
"However, everything you see tonight must be kept secret, okay?"
"Today, you are an accomplice!"
There was a hint of amusement in Erika's tone, but she wasn't angry.
"Huh?" Ash felt baffled.
Without waiting for Ash to react after speaking, Erika dragged him and drilled into the intricate alleyways with familiarity.
Misdreavus followed excitedly behind, appearing and disappearing from time to time, feeling that this sudden "night tour" was extremely stimulating.
After seven turns and eight bends, a patch of dazzling lights that was out of place with the surrounding quiet neighborhood appeared before their eyes.
A huge neon sign flashed with the words "RAINBOW GAME CORNER".
Translated, it means—Celadon Game Corner.
The sound of music and electronic sound effects could be faintly heard.
Erika stopped in the shadows of the alley, checked the surroundings again, and then her face was no longer the usual gentle countenance, but an expression mixed with nervousness and excitement that Ash had never seen before.
"Let's go," Erika's voice was much lighter than usual, her eyes shining with light. "I'll take you to experience... the bustle of Celadon City."
She pushed open a relatively hidden side door of the Game Corner, and the waves of noise and colorful lights instantly swallowed Ash and Misdreavus.
Ash: I thought you were going to blow up the Team Rocket base!
Ash: So after all that sneaking around, you just came to play games?
Misdreavus: Play games! Play games!
____
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