Tree shadows swayed across the dirt path in the woods, accompanied by the distant sounds of birds singing and insects buzzing.
The trio found a spot by the riverbank and began to build a fire to cook.
With Brock joining the group, food was no longer an issue.
As a Pokémon Breeder.
He could formulate special food for the most difficult Pokémon, and preparing food for humans was a trivial task for him.
Even Gyarados was released by Ash.
As for the reason...
"Sea Rogue! Go hunt freely in the river!" Ash said to the big guy who appeared in the water.
He couldn't keep Gyarados hidden forever; it was impossible to conceal.
So, the news of Gyarados's existence was bound to spread regardless.
"Urgh..." Gyarados lowered its head, looking somewhat disappointed.
It also wanted to eat the specially made Pokémon food.
Especially since it was currently in a growth phase.
It was still a baby, and its food requirements were currently massive; once it was fully grown and its strength solidified, its feeding frequency would gradually decrease.
During those two days at the Pewter Gym, Gyarados had practically eaten with an open belly, risking its life to stuff itself.
Pewter Gym had money anyway, so they didn't mind the cost of provisions.
But after leaving Pewter Gym, there was no other way.
Ash could only let Gyarados hunt freely now.
As for making Pokémon food for Gyarados... that was simply not something a solitary Pokémon Breeder could accomplish alone.
One had to realize that Gyarados was a monster seven meters long and weighing three tons.
Make Pokémon food for it?
Was that trying to work Brock to death!
And it would take far too much time.
A realistic world becomes troublesome in all these aspects.
There is a reason why the number of Pokémon a Trainer generally carries during travel does not exceed six.
It's laughable; you simply can't afford to raise them.
Especially biological-type Pokémon, which generally have a much larger demand for food than inorganic-type Pokémon.
Rock-type Pokémon can just gnaw on stones.
Plant-type Pokémon can take root and bask in the sun; drinking water is enough.
Can normal biological Pokémon do that?
They can't!
They would die!
So theoretically speaking... the Pokémon with the lowest dietary requirements are actually the Muk-types.
Eating some garbage and leaves is enough, and water is everywhere anyway.
"Even if you're dissatisfied, I can't help it!" Ash said with some distress.
"How about this, Gyarados!" Misty suddenly walked over.
She discovered that Ash's Gyarados was much more mischievous than normal Gyarados, and its personality was also softer.
...Except when it went berserk.
"When we get to Cerulean City, how about I treat you to a big meal?"
"As much as you want, I'll definitely let you eat until you're full, so just endure it for now."
As a Gym Trainer of Cerulean City.
Misty could, of course, allocate Pokémon food from within Cerulean City.
"Roar~~" Gyarados narrowed its eyes happily, then dived underwater.
Brock walked over holding the prepared lunch. "Pokémon in their growth phase have an even greater demand for food."
"Especially biological-type Pokémon."
"Like the Rock-type Pokémon I use, they can even go a month without eating anything."
"If they are in a dormant state, a year or even several years is no problem." Brock mentioned the characteristics of his own Pokémon in passing.
"Rookie Pokémon Trainers are indeed better suited for inorganic-type Pokémon, or plant-type Pokémon." Ash nodded in agreement.
Traveling in the wild was not as easy as imagined.
Being able to survive a solitary, arduous journey in the wild and defeat all 8 Gyms...
One could truly be called an elite among Trainers.
This could even be said to be the minimum baseline for employment as a Gym Trainer.
A Gym Trainer is not a specific rank, just a simple profession.
Even among Gym Trainers, the difference in strength can be heaven and earth.
The trio began to eat.
Ash began to discuss Pokémon breeding theory with Brock: "...So the core of Pokéblocks lies in the harmonization of Berry properties..."
"Pika..." Pikachu moved away from Ash and Brock and sat next to Misty, its two ears drooping naturally.
It looked utterly lifeless.
Didn't want to listen, didn't want to listen.
"...You find it annoying too, right? Pikachu." Misty rubbed Pikachu's head.
Although she didn't much like such academic discussions either.
But...
Misty looked at Ash and Brock in the sunlight; the golden sun spilled over Ash.
Healthy, brilliant, full of vitality.
"He is outstanding, isn't he?" Misty said with some emotion.
"Pika!" Pikachu laughed. "Pika! Pika!"
Pikachu was very satisfied with its Trainer.
Just then, a patch of dense bushes about a dozen meters away from the trio's campsite shook violently a few times.
Three pairs of eyes peered through the gaps in the branches and leaves, glued firmly to the Golden Gyarados in the lake.
Burning, greedy.
"Did you see that, meow?" Meowth's lowered voice trembled with excitement. "Sparkling gold! That's definitely the legendary Golden Gyarados, meow!"
Jessie's crimson lips curved into an arc of greed, and her fist clenched tight: "That's right! Exactly the same as in the intel photo! Such a rare treasure... should belong to our Team Rocket!"
A trace of imperceptible doubt appeared in James's gaze: "But... beside him are a Cerulean City Gym Trainer and a Pewter City Gym Trainer... can we really handle it?"
Compared to the wild ways of Jessie and Meowth.
James was a young master who had grown up with an elite education.
His abilities were stronger, and he generally thought more.
Although he knew the news of the Golden Gyarados's existence, James felt it was not to be trifled with.
"Idiot!" Jessie slapped the back of James's head, roaring in a hushed voice, "It's valuable precisely because it's dangerous!"
"Boss Giovanni personally named it as something rare! Catch it, and it's a promotion and a raise! Living the high life forever!"
Flames named ambition burned in her eyes.
A Golden Gyarados!
She had only heard of it once in her life.
And now it was the first time she was seeing it.
That glistening golden appearance was the embodiment of charm.
"Meowth is right, meow!" Meowth licked his paws, sly light flashing in his green eyes. "The intel leaked directly from the computer in the Viridian City Pokémon Center! Absolutely reliable, meow!"
Meowth recalled the blurry screenshot transmitted to their shabby communicator through special channels—surveillance records from the Special Care Unit of the Pewter City Pokémon Center.
Boss Giovanni controlled everything in Viridian City, including the seemingly neutral database of the Pokémon Center.
The Joy clan was indeed neutral.
But the Pokémon Center was built in Viridian City, and Viridian City was Giovanni's turf; it was impossible for him to be unprepared.
Considering that Viridian City was, after all, too close to the League Headquarters, and Team Rocket's policy was also not to foul their own nest.
Giovanni's overt methods wouldn't be too direct, but in the shadows, he definitely had to hold on tight.
This aspect certainly included the entire city's network information.
And the result was... a portion of the data shared by Pokémon Centers everywhere would be stolen by Team Rocket.
Team Rocket could be considered the other face of the Kanto League.
"Hehe..." James rubbed his hands, that bit of doubt instantly washed away by the beautiful dream of "promotion and a raise." "Then what are we waiting for? According to the plan..."
"Good!" Jessie's eyes grew fierce. "For Boss Giovanni's great cause! Go—"
"Arbok."
"Koffing."
Two red lights were released by Jessie and James.
Arbok burrowed underground the moment it came out.
Koffing began to charge up.
The two sides had coordinated for a long time.
Now, they just had to wait for Arbok to reach the approximate position, and Koffing would release smoke to attract attention and block vision.
_____
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