"Why is Misty going shopping at a time like this? I'm about to challenge the Gym!" Ash grumbled with some dissatisfaction on the way to the Cerulean Gym.
At such a critical moment for his Gym challenge, not only did Misty not cheer him on or strategize with him, but she also ran off?!
Wouldn't it be the same to go shopping after his Gym challenge is over?
"Haha, you might understand the reason later," Brock said with a chuckle, but it sounded like a riddle to Ash, who didn't understand at all.
Soon, Ash and Brock arrived at the Cerulean Gym. Unlike the Pewter Gym, the exterior of the Cerulean Gym was already very magnificent and grand. Just from the outside, the two gyms were not even on the same level.
One looked like a countryside cottage, while the other was a city's deluxe house.
Ash glanced at Brock, his eyes seemingly saying—why is your Pewter Gym so simple?
Brock's mouth twitched slightly, and he said with some resignation, "What can I do? I use the funds from the Pewter Gym to support my brothers and sisters, along with the usual Gym expenses and Pokemon training costs. If I didn't have a little side income, the Pewter Gym might have gone bankrupt by now."
"Is it that bad? The Cerulean Gym looks so luxurious. They seem to have plenty of funding. They must also raise Pokemon, so their expenses shouldn't be much different from yours," Ash said, scratching his head.
The expenditures in the Pokemon world are of two types: those related to Pokemon and those that aren't.
The former is extremely extravagant. For example, evolution items like the Moon Stone can easily cost tens or even hundreds of thousands. The daily food for Pokemon can also cost hundreds or even thousands per day.
But non-Pokemon-related expenses are actually quite cheap. Even a family's daily meal can cost only one to two hundred, which is not even as much as the daily food cost of a Pokemon.
So raising Pokemon is the main expense. Even though Brock has nine siblings to support, the actual expense isn't as much as raising a couple more Pokemon.
Therefore, the difference between the Cerulean Gym and the Pewter Gym shouldn't be that significant.
"Because the Cerulean Gym has extra income. Look over there," Brock pointed to a poster at the entrance of the Cerulean Gym, which had the big words 'Cerulean Water Ballet' written on it.
When Ash and Brock reached the entrance of the Cerulean Gym and asked the staff if they could go in now, a staff member said that there was an ongoing water ballet performance and they would need to buy tickets to enter.
A ticket costs one hundred and fifty. Compared to Pokemon expenses, it's not particularly expensive, but if it's just for a ticket, it's pretty steep.
This is what Brock referred to as the extra income of the Cerulean Gym.
"This is too expensive... needing a ticket to challenge the Gym. It's the first time I've heard of it," Ash said reluctantly, taking out 150 bucks to buy a ticket, while muttering complaints.
"Come on, you've only challenged one Gym. Cerulean is your second. Isn't it normal that it's your first time hearing about it? In fact, besides the Cerulean Gym, there are quite a few gyms in Kanto with their own side businesses."
"And strictly speaking, the ticket you bought wasn't for challenging the Gym; it was for watching the water ballet. There's no such requirement for Gym challenges," Brock explained as he paid.
"Is there such a thing?" Ash was honestly a bit surprised by Brock's words. Are Gym Leaders' salaries really that low? Why does everyone need a side job?
After buying the tickets, the two entered the Cerulean Gym. The water ballet performance was already at its climax.
They immediately saw three pairs of glowing white legs swaying on the stage.
Three beautiful women, each with unique looks, gracefully moved their bodies over the pool, their one-piece swimsuits accentuating their delicate white arms and long legs.
Their fair skin, under the lights, seemed to be enveloped in a gentle glow, exuding a faint warmth.
"Lalulalu~~" Ralts, perched on Ash's shoulder, joined in the excitement, its large eyes glowing under its aqua hair, seemingly very interested in the water ballet performance.
As for Brock, he was completely spellbound. In Pewter City, a place as remote as a mountain, where could he possibly see such beautiful women, let alone watch them perform a graceful and magnificent water ballet in swimsuits?
For a moment, Brock felt that the 150 tickets were totally worth it!! If he had known the content of the performance, he would have been willing to pay 1500!
Ash also found that the three beautiful women on stage were indeed performing well, but he hadn't forgotten that his purpose was to challenge the Cerulean Gym. So, he asked someone sitting nearby, "How much longer will it last?"
The man in the seat looked at Ash with a strange expression. Ninety-five percent of the people here to watch the water ballet were men, hoping the performance would never end. Who would ask when it would end?
However, the man answered Ash's question, "It'll probably be over in another twenty minutes."
Hearing this, Ash and Brock casually found a place to sit. Since they arrived late, all the good seats were taken. But Ash wasn't there for the performance anyway. Brock, on the other hand, watched intently and with great interest—even though his eyes couldn't be seen.
The Ralts held in Ash's arms also stared intently at the three beautiful women performing water ballet, its eyes filled with curiosity and longing beneath its fringe of hair. Will it also be able to dance gracefully like those on stage in the future?
Twenty minutes later, the performance ended, and the audience, under the guidance of the staff, began to leave in an orderly manner. Some people even wanted to get autographs from the Three Sisters of Cerulean, but they were promptly turned away.
When Ash tried to walk against the crowd toward the Cerulean Sisters, he was noticed by the staff. Just as the staff was about to stop him, saying that the Three Sisters weren't available for autographs or photos, Ash pulled out his Pokedex to prove his identity as a Trainer and stated that he was there to challenge the Gym.
Seeing this, the staff allowed Ash and Brock to pass, an act noticed by several audience members who wondered why Ash and Brock could go in when they couldn't.
The staff remained silent, busily ushering them out of the venue.
Led by one of the staff members, Shauna, Ash and Brock headed to the Gym's backstage. Along the way, Shauna explained some things about the Cerulean Gym to Ash and the others...