"Big brother Ron, please come with me. I'll take you to my grandpa."
As Ash and Larvitar were gradually getting familiar with each other, Gary stepped out, speaking to Ron in a mature tone beyond his years.
However, the admiration in his eyes for Larvitar and the envy toward Ash had already betrayed his true feelings.
"Got it. In that case, would you and Ash mind helping me by keeping Larvitar close? It's a bit inconvenient for me to hold onto him all the time."
To preserve Gary's dignity, Ron used a polite and requesting tone when speaking to him.
"Sure, I understand."
Trying his best to suppress the excitement in his voice, Gary eagerly moved to Larvitar's other side and took hold of one of its tiny hands.
First, he gave Larvitar a gentle and friendly smile. Then, he and Ash led Larvitar forward, guiding Ron to their destination.
Perhaps it was because Ash was also present that Larvitar did not resist Gary too much. The small Pokémon let them lead the way into Professor Oak's laboratory without much fuss.
On the way there, Ron was confident that Professor Oak would be willing to meet him. Unlike the League officials who coveted his training methods, Professor Oak had once been an outstanding Pokémon Trainer in his youth before shifting his focus to Pokémon research.
The one thing that had never changed was Professor Oak's deep love for Pokémon and his admiration for dedicated trainers.
Given Ron's performance so far, he was fairly certain he could secure a meeting with the professor. The only uncertainty was what kind of person Professor Oak would turn out to be in real life.
After all, learning about Professor Oak through anime and manga could never truly capture the nuances of his character—especially when facing him as a living, breathing person.
"Grandpa, Big brother Ron is here!"
Upon entering the living room, Gary reluctantly let go of Larvitar's little hand.
"Alright, I see."
"Gary, go prepare two cups of tea. And while you're at it, bring some of my homemade Pokémon food for Larvitar."
"Okay, I'll go right away!"
Following Professor Oak's instructions, Gary quickly ran off.
"So, you're Ron. I've read about your accomplishments in the newspaper. You're quite an impressive young man."
Looking at Ron, Professor Oak spoke warmly, his eyes filled with genuine appreciation.
"Not at all. I was just doing what I should."
Ron responded humbly to the professor's praise.
In reality, standing before Professor Oak, Ron did not feel he had much reason to be arrogant.
"No need to be overly modest. The results you've achieved are undeniable."
"Gary mentioned you wanted to see me. Are you facing some kind of trouble?"
Observing Ron closely, Professor Oak took the initiative to steer the conversation in a direction that could benefit Ron.
With his vast experience, connections, and sharp analytical skills, Professor Oak could easily deduce the underlying situation from scattered pieces of information. He also understood that Ron was dealing with some challenges.
For a promising young trainer, Professor Oak was always willing to lend a hand—provided he could confirm their character and loyalty to the Pokémon League.
By deliberately guiding the discussion in this direction, Professor Oak was subtly testing Ron's intentions.
"Actually, I've encountered some difficulties in raising my Pokémon and wanted to seek your guidance."
Rather than following Professor Oak's implied direction, Ron instead asked about Larvitar's training methods.
In truth, Ron did have plans to ask Professor Oak to step in and dissuade the League officials who had been pressuring him. However, that was only a last resort if the situation became dire.
Today, Ron's primary goal was simply to establish a connection, making future plans easier to implement.
As for whether Professor Oak would offer his assistance, Ron wasn't too concerned. Even if his current achievements weren't enough to earn the professor's help, he had other methods.
For instance, the discovery of Fairy-type Pokémon, which had yet to be recognized. Merely proposing the existence of a new type would be enough to secure Professor Oak's interest and potential support.
At first, Professor Oak thought Ron was merely using this topic as a stepping stone to build a closer relationship before making a request.
But as their conversation deepened, he realized that Ron was genuinely eager to learn about Larvitar's training and dietary needs—especially regarding what type of food would best aid Larvitar's growth.
For Pokémon like Machamp, nutritional requirements were relatively straightforward. A combination of standard Pokémon food and high-quality Pokéblocks would suffice, with minor adjustments based on the Pokémon's training focus.
However, pseudo-legendary Pokémon like Larvitar were different. For them, food wasn't just a source of energy—it played a crucial role in unlocking their full potential.
For example, the red minerals that Larvitar consumed were already considered high-grade, but Ron was still unsatisfied. He wanted to find an even better diet, pairing superior energy supplements to help Larvitar fully realize its potential.
Such information was available through League resources, provided one was willing to spend contribution points to access it.
But with Professor Oak here, Ron saw no reason to waste his own resources.
While Ron and Professor Oak were engrossed in their discussion, Ash and Gary had started playing with Larvitar using the professor's homemade Pokémon treats.
Larvitar, moving its little legs, ran back and forth between Ash and Gary. Eventually, exhausted, it flopped onto the ground, letting them rub its belly. Before long, soft snores could be heard.
Seemingly influenced by Larvitar's drowsiness, Ash and Gary also started feeling sleepy. Before they knew it, the sky outside had darkened, signaling the arrival of evening.
"Sorry about that, Professor Oak. I didn't realize we had talked for so long."
Noticing that both Gary and Ash were starting to doze off, Ron apologized to Professor Oak with a slightly guilty expression.
It wasn't entirely Ron's fault—Professor Oak possessed an incredible wealth of knowledge and was always willing to share insightful advice without reservation.
He even helped Ron analyze various training approaches and battle styles, pointing out their strengths and weaknesses. It was almost as if he were a legendary mentor from the stories.
Before he knew it, Ron had lost track of time.
"It's no problem at all. Besides, it's still early. Why don't you stay over for the night? After dinner, we can continue discussing Larvitar's growth."
"Just as you mentioned, if Larvitar can achieve that kind of incredible speed, its battle style will definitely need some adjustments once Sandstorm comes into play."
"Gary, Ash, the floor's cold—get up already."
"Okay, Grandpa."
"Got it, Professor Oak."
At Ron's words, both Gary and Ash quickly stood up—only for their stomachs to start growling immediately after.
"Hungry, huh? Well then, let me whip up something delicious for you all."
Smiling, Professor Oak had already decided what flavor of instant noodles to prepare.
"Grandpa, since Ron is visiting today, why don't we eat out instead?"
Remembering the overwhelming dominance of instant noodles in their meals, Gary hesitantly suggested the idea to Professor Oak. His unspoken protest against another night of instant ramen was all too clear.
"Professor Oak, why don't you let me, your junior, take care of dinner this time?"
Seeing Gary's reaction, Ron immediately deduced that Professor Oak's culinary skills probably extended no further than making instant noodles.
If he wanted to have a proper meal, it was best to take the initiative himself.
After a brief moment of hesitation, Professor Oak reluctantly handed the responsibility over to Ron. Even Ash excitedly chimed in, insisting on staying to taste Ron's cooking—not that it had anything to do with his curiosity about Larvitar, of course.
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