Chapter 194: Fossil Collector
"Gary?!"
Ash was startled, because this arrogant youth was none other than his rival from Pallet Town, Gary.
"Well, well, if it isn't Ash. You're here to dig for fossils too? Dressed like that? Are you looking down on the Hiker profession?!"
Gary noticed Ash's group and was immediately intrigued. He walked right up to him, waving a golden pickaxe that radiated a dazzling light in his face.
The pickaxe made Ash's eyes burn with envy. He was just about to reach out and grab it, but Gary slung it back over his shoulder, leaving Ash with a dark expression as he said:
"Gary, when the hell did you become a Hiker?"
"I just got certified last month."
Gary smirked smugly and, with his other hand, whipped out a Hiker certification booklet. The cover also read 'Three Star Hiker'.
"So young and promising." Brock also took out his own Three Star Hiker certificate. Upon seeing it, Gary's eyes lit up, and a spark ignited between them.
"As expected of Mr. Brock, truly impressive."
"You're too kind. Mr. Gary, you truly live up to your reputation as a man of the fifth layer. To think you're also a Three Star Hiker."
All Hikers under the sky are one family. That is the first principle of the association.
As the two Three Star Hikers shook hands, it seemed an invisible bond had formed between them.
Ash: "?"
"Well, I'm off then. You can just wait here in line, hehe~"
The two Hikers didn't continue their deep discussion. Gary once again shouldered his golden pickaxe and swaggered toward the front of the line, cutting past dozens of people to directly enter the pass.
"He's cutting the line?!"
Ash was stunned. Seeing that none of the surrounding Hikers had any intention of stopping him, he was even more confused.
"Ash, he wasn't just making things up. To hold a golden pickaxe is to be a Hiker King. You can ignore your place in line and cut in anywhere you want. That's the third rule of the Hiker Association."
Brock's eyes were profound as he spoke slowly.
It seems this Gary is also a fortunate one, to have actually obtained the legendary golden pickaxe.
Ash swallowed hard, watching the golden legend recede into the distance, and couldn't help but ask:
"Is that golden pickaxe... really that special? Can it turn stone into gold?"
"Um... it lets you cut in line..."
After holding it in for a long moment, Brock could only state that one use.
Because the golden pickaxe, in truth, really only had that one use.
Ash: "..."
"By the way, what's the second rule of your Hiker Association?" Misty, who was beside them, asked curiously.
The first rule is for Hikers to help each other out, and the third is that the golden pickaxe lets you cut in line anywhere.
"Well, the second rule is: to hold a Diamond pickaxe is to be the Emperor of Hikers. Their status is even higher than a Five Star Hiker. But that's a legendary item now; the Diamond pickaxe has long since vanished without a trace..."
Brock sighed and explained.
Ash and Misty: "..."
This Hiker Association... it seems like they're not all there in the head.
Half an hour later, the three of them successfully entered the pass.
This Grand Canyon, a place where Fossils appeared, was now completely revealed before their eyes.
It was surrounded by earthen cliffs, but they weren't very steep. A series of crisscrossing slopes led down to the canyon floor.
The bottom of the canyon was a vast, flat expanse of rock, about the size of three or four soccer fields. At this moment, every few meters, there stood a Hiker, smashing an Iron Pickaxe against the ground.
Of course, the most eye-catching spot was in one corner. Every time the pickaxe struck, it kicked up a layer of brilliant golden light. It looked incredibly high-class, as if a 'nouveau riche gold' filter had been applied.
"Damn! That pickaxe is so cool!"
Ash was green with envy, but he had no choice but to borrow an inferior Iron Pickaxe from a few Hikers. He found a spot that wasn't crowded and looked promising, then rolled up his sleeves and started digging.
His equipment was poor, but he was strong.
Besides, his luck had always been good. He was sure he could dig up a precious Pokemon Fossil!
"Clang!"
"Clang!"
Nearby, Brock and Misty also began to dig.
"Clank-crack!"
A dull, heavy sound suddenly came from not far away, as if something unusual had been struck. Ash fixed his gaze and saw it came from the location of the golden pickaxe.
"Did he find something?"
"As expected of the golden pickaxe. I thought it could only be used to cut in line, but it turns out it can also increase your luck."
Many of the Hikers crowded around. The feeling of being the center of attention made Gary lift his head high, unable to resist putting his hands on his hips and laughing out loud.
"Hmph, even without this golden pickaxe, this young master's luck has always been maxed out! Ahaha!"
As he spoke, he pulled out a yellowish-brown stone that was clearly different from the surrounding reddish-brown earth. The object's exterior seemed to be encased in a layer of translucent amber, making it quite peculiar.
Pokemon Fossils, unlike other rocks, are actually extremely hard and can be struck directly with an Iron Pickaxe.
"It's really a Fossil."
"As expected of the golden pickaxe."
"Wait, let me appraise it."
From among the crowd of Hikers, a young man who looked like a researcher in a lab coat ran out. He looked to be about 17 or 18 years old, wearing a pair of thick, square-framed glasses, and seemed a bit out of place among the many Hikers.
"Hmm, let me see. This is indeed a Prehistoric Fossil..."
Before Gary could start laughing, the young researcher continued:
"Yes... this is a Dung Fossil from a Prehistoric Pokémon. Based on the color and thickness, it must have been constipated for three days..."
Gary: "?"
"Ahahaha!! To think he dug up poop! This idiot, he's really cracking me up!!"
On the other side, Ash burst out laughing—the kind of unrestrained, wild laughter.
The other Hikers didn't dare to laugh openly because of the status of the golden pickaxe, but Ash didn't care about that. Being able to Taunt Gary was definitely one of the top three joys in his life.
Gary: "..."
His face looked rather ugly under the glow of the golden pickaxe.
"Clank-crack!"
This time, it was Ash's turn to hit something hard. He quickly used the Frenzied Pickaxe Technique and, in less than half a second, pulled up a similarly yellowish-brown Amber Rock.
The young researcher hurried over to his side and, after a moment of analysis, said in surprise:
"Let me see... hey, this is also a Prehistoric Fossil!"
Before Ash could get happy, the researcher spoke his second sentence.
"Mmm... this one was constipated for a full week. Its concentration is much higher than the last one..."
Ash: "?"
"Ahahaha!! I can't believe you managed to dig up a poop fossil too! You've really given everyone a good laugh, hahaha!!"
The tables had turned.
This time, it was Gary's turn to taunt him mercilessly from the side, while Ash's face turned ashen.
Pallet Town may not have much else, but it has two unlucky fools...
Everyone: "..."
Is this place a Prehistoric Pokémon's toilet? Why is it all Dung Fossils?
"Allow me to introduce myself. I am a collector of Prehistoric Pokémon Fossils, and I'm also the technical advisor for this Hiker Association team-building event, specifically responsible for identifying the types of Fossils for everyone."
The young man with the square-framed glasses greeted Ash's group.
He had a keen sense for Fossils and seemed to have caught the scent of one on Ash, which was why he came over to say hello.
"Huh, why do you look so familiar?"
"Have we met before on Mt. Moon?"
"Aren't you that guy named Richuan Gangban?"
The trio paused for a moment, recalling the researcher on Mt. Moon who had given him a Fossil that day.
"Mt. Moon? Oh, you must be talking about my cousin. He's just an amateur Fossil enthusiast."
The researcher smiled faintly, inadvertently revealing a haughty expression.
"Hello. My name is Hikawa Toyohisa."
(end of chapter)