After hearing Tetsuya's words, Pryce suddenly seemed to grasp something and fell into deep thought.
Looking at Pryce like this, Tetsuya thought to himself, 'No wonder you only served as an Elite Four member for one term, with this kind of thinking…'
Pryce clapped his hands together. "That's right… How did I not think of that!? I didn't expect that at such a young age you would already have such insight. Haaah… with Sheila's strength, ordinary Gym Leaders are no match for her, yet she chose to take the referee exam."
'Did Pryce really not know the purpose behind Sheila taking the referee exam?'
---◓---
During the meal, Pryce brought up the matter of having Sheila apply to become the Mahogany Gym Leader. As expected, the two hit it off immediately. If it succeeded, Pryce would invisibly gain another Gym Leader's support, and the two of them would also be able to fight side by side.
"But if that's the case, I won't have time to look after Tetsuya's training at glacier falls," Sheila said.
"That's fine. Just give me compressed food and water," Tetsuya said.
Tetsuya had other plans at glacier falls and did not want anyone disturbing him.
'This child is really sensible…' "I'll definitely make time to come replenish your nutrition! This afternoon I'll prepare your daily necessities first."
After the meal, Pryce hastily left after explaining some matters regarding the Gym Leader application to Sheila. Lorelei then headed to Goldenrod City to catch a ship.
"So they've all left…" Sheila sighed.
"I'm going to the town to buy some things," Tetsuya said, nodding to Sheila.
Sheila replied, "Alright. I'll also go prepare your daily necessities and food. With your mind, I think you can definitely become Pryce's good assistant."
'Pryce's good assistant…?
Tehaha!'
At the very least, he would have to reach Gym Leader level power. Otherwise, he did not want to live every day with his life hanging by a thread. Danger aside, the key issue was that it would affect his normal training, and the improvement of his strength would become slower.
This time, heading out to Mahogany Town, Tetsuya's purpose was naturally to obtain the Will-O-Wisp TM.
He had thought for a long time about the balance between Pryce and that Piloswine.
If he told Pryce the location of the Piloswine, Pryce's favor toward him would definitely increase, and it was not impossible that Pryce would pass on all his lifelong knowledge to him.
However, the risk was too great!
Affecting his own growth would only be the smallest impact. If all the League executives regarded him as the same kind of person as Pryce and treated him as a thorn in their side, then would not all his future actions fall under the League's surveillance?
That would be the most damaging outcome for him. Not to mention developing underground forces, earning black money, and capturing Pokémon; even a small mistake would probably be magnified by those higher-ups, and one slip could land him inside for ten or twenty years. In that case, this life would be over.
Most importantly, Pryce was too… righteous.
Firm and easily broken, he could not tolerate even a grain of sand in his eyes, including Tetsuya himself.
Now Pryce's strength was already so formidable. If he were to obtain that Piloswine as well, would he not be able to run rampant across the Johto Region? If under his "killing and conquest" he truly turned the Johto Region into a royalized land, then there would be no place for Tetsuya to make his way there.
The current subtle balance was undoubtedly the most suitable environment for his development.
---◓---
TM prices were outrageously expensive. A single Will-O-Wisp cost Tetsuya a full twelve thousand Pokédollars.
He also bought two dummy targets, which did not cost much. After all, training for [Shadow Dagger] could not be neglected.
Returning to Sheila's house, he entered the lecture hall of Mahogany Gym through the backyard and released Haunter.
"Today we're going to learn a new move. You might feel that your previous moves are not yet fully perfected and that this will be a bit too much of a burden, but this move should be very easy for you, and it is also one of the most common moves at Ecruteak Gym, Will-O-Wisp."
After saying that, Tetsuya inserted the Will-O-Wisp TM into the learning device.
This time, what appeared on the screen was the all too familiar Dusclops to Haunter. Back at Ecruteak Gym, it often saw Raine's Dusclops use it, so it already had some base. Under the system explanation of the TM, Haunter learned it very easily.
Although Will-O-Wisp is a Fire-type move, the ones who can learn it more often are Ghost-type Pokémon. Perhaps because this move can one hundred percent cause the opponent to enter the Burn status, it was classified this way, but within Will-O-Wisp there is more Ghost-type energy that can directly seep into the opponent's body, causing them to enter the Burn status directly.
After learning Will-O-Wisp, there was now an opportunity to extract the Eternal Ice within that Piloswine's body.
What Tetsuya needed to do now was simply to wait for the right opportunity.
---◓---
Returning once more to Sheila's house, Sheila was already waiting for Tetsuya.
"I've already prepared the cabin over there. Come, come, eat dinner first and replenish yourself properly."
As she spoke, Sheila ladled soup for Tetsuya. The most delicious nourishing soup in the Pokémon world, Farfetch'd stewed with Farfetch'd Stalk.
Liquid food could also be enjoyed by Ditto.
Ditto and Swinub also had a hearty meal.
"I'm telling you, this Farfetch'd soup is top-tier~ Pokémon that eat it will strengthen their muscles. Whenever I have time, I'll stew it and send it over to you," Sheila said.
After dinner, Sheila took Tetsuya toward the small cabin near glacier falls.
The cabin was built on stilts, with two rooms in total, and it was connected to electricity. It was not shrouded in mist, and the surroundings were fully enclosed with wire fencing.
Tetsuya opened one of the cabins. Inside were stacks of Moomoo Milk, Swinub's Pokéfood, mineral water, and his own food.
The other cabin was his living quarters. Inside were all the necessary daily items. On the single bed were brand-new blankets and bedding. The washstand outside the cabin was connected directly to the water from glacier falls.
Tetsuya set up the targets. It was finally a temporary residence. Compared to the wilderness, it was already much better.
"Thank you for your trouble, Sheila."
"This is what I should do! After all, you're helping Pryce. And from your battle with Lorelei, I could tell that your potential is not ordinary. It's just a pity that I'm too foolish… Even after all these years of Pryce guiding me, I've only reached this level," Sheila said helplessly, shaking her head.
Tetsuya was at a loss for words, because she was using Pryce as the standard of comparison. Naturally, she would feel herself to be weak. From Pryce's words, it could be known that Sheila's strength was already above that of most Gym Leaders. Such a level already placed her among the best in this world.
"Then… are you also skilled with Ice-type Pokémon?" Tetsuya asked, hoping to gain some useful information from Sheila's answer.
"Yes, but what Pryce taught me were only his second- and third-team Pokémon. What Pryce is actually best at is Swinub's raising. That's something he's been researching ever since he was young," Sheila said.
Tetsuya felt that something was off. How could it be that what he was best at was raising Swinub!?