Tetsuya repeatedly instructed Shellder to hide its strength, because no one would simply hand over a fairly strong Pokémon to someone else like this.
Soon, the young deacon brought the priest to the shore of Lake Slowpoke.
When the priest saw Tetsuya, he revealed a surprised expression and said, "Wah! Truly not simple. To actually fish up a Shellder from Lake Slowpoke… You must know that Shellder are the most spiritual Pokémon in Lake Slowpoke. Even Slowpoke cannot fish them up, let alone humans."
" 'Fate', perhaps," Tetsuya said lightly.
"…However, the cost of raising this Shellder is extremely high. Sigh, every day it must receive the influence of Sage teachings and enjoy Pokémon food formulas passed down for a hundred years in this temple!
The ingredients within are extremely rare. I fear you may not be able to afford it… Otherwise, I can catch another Water-type Pokémon from the lake for you as compensation."
The priest appeared benevolent and kind, speaking as if he were considering Tetsuya at every turn.
Tetsuya smiled slightly, thinking that such nonsense could only deceive children. If they truly used Pokémon food passed down for "a hundred years", how could these Shellder have just frantically competed for the Swinub's Pokéfood he had scattered?
Tetsuya said with a smile, "Priest, saying this truly disappoints us, commoners. What the Sages speaks of is fate. Wealth is something external to the body. Since I am fated with this Shellder… why should I care about money, huh!?"
Tetsuya used the other party's method against him, speaking of Sages principles before the head priest of a great temple, causing a trace of gloom to appear on the priest's face.
This priest also understood clearly. Slowpoke Temple had widely publicized the matter of its founding master attaining enlightenment here, attracting a large number of people who came upon hearing its reputation.
Incense offerings flourished. They raised Water-type Pokémon and Slowpoke for sale, and it could be said that money flowed in daily. With this large amount of wealth, they had also built many connections among the League executives, showing signs of becoming the number one temple in Johto. Recently, they were planning to expand the temple's scale and attract even more worshippers…
However, such "prosperity" had naturally made them a thorn in the side of other temples, especially Ho-Oh Temple on Mt. Silver, the largest temple of the Johto League. Due to the rise of Slowpoke Temple, many worshippers had been drawn away, cutting off quite a bit of income.
They wished nothing more than to remove this temple. It was only because there was no legitimate reason that temples large and small all stared at this temple, hoping to find an opportunity to suppress it.
The priest had no choice but to swallow and quickly smooth things over. "W-What the young man says is correct… I was only thinking of you just now!
Since you insist repeatedly, please come to the temple to register your identity and name. Three years later, come to take this Shellder. The Poké Ball will serve as the best proof for retrieving this Shellder!"
'Tehahaha!'
---◓---
Tetsuya went to the temple to register, obtained a certificate, and then had no choice but to release Shellder back into Lake Slowpoke.
The temple sages naturally knew that Tetsuya had offended the priest and did not dare to speak with him. Tetsuya was also someone who understood the situation and did not linger before leaving.
One day he would return, because he wanted both Slowpoke and Shellder!
After leaving Slowpoke Temple, Tetsuya headed straight toward Battle Park.
Since he had taken a detour, he was destined not to reach Battle Park today. As dusk approached, Tetsuya arrived at a small town. There was a Laboratory in the town.
Tetsuya happened to pass by the small lake in front of the Laboratory. A man over sixty years old, wearing a lab coat, stood there with three Pokémon in front of him: a Poliwag, a Poliwhirl, and a Poliwrath.
So he had arrived at Lyra Town, an ancient and quaint town. This town was famous precisely because of the person before him, Professor Witherwood.
Professor Elm was his final student. Now already over sixty years old, he was a man who had devoted his entire life to Pokémon research. The rare Evolutions in the Johto Region had all been researched in his hands. His main achievements were the Evolution of Politoed, the Evolution of Slowking, the Evolution of Steelix, and the Evolution of Scizor.
However, in his previous life, it seemed that he had already passed away before Tetsuya began his journey. After that, Professor Elm, based on his research foundation, discovered Eevee's Evolutions Espeon and Umbreon, becoming the foremost Pokémon Professor in the Johto Region.
At present, the Evolutions of Steelix and Scizor had already been researched by Professor Witherwood. The Evolutions of Politoed and Slowking had not yet been given accurate conclusions.
Perhaps he might be able to establish some connection with him.
Tetsuya dismounted and bowed toward Professor Witherwood, saying, "May I ask if you are Professor Witherwood?"
Hearing someone speak, Professor Witherwood raised his head and said, "Hmm? I am Witherwood."
"Professor, you are researching the Evolution of Poliwhirl, correct?" Tetsuya said directly.
"You must have known that from reading the research topics I published," Witherwood was not very surprised by what Tetsuya said. His reputation was not only well known in the Johto Region but throughout all regions. Not long ago, he had published research regarding the possibility of Poliwhirl's Evolution.
The currently confirmed Evolution direction was that Poliwhirl uses a Water Stone to evolve into Poliwrath.
However, Poliwrath in the wilderness were already rare. Politoed were even rarer. There would not be five in the entire Johto Region, and they were all leaders among Poliwag and Poliwhirl. With Politoed as the leader forming groups, its cry could make the Poliwag obey. When its cry resounded in all directions, Poliwag and Poliwhirl would gather from various places.
Professor Witherwood's academic research had determined through genetic analysis between Politoed, Poliwhirl, and Poliwrath that Politoed evolved from Poliwhirl. It was just that the method of Evolution was not yet known.
"I have also conducted research on Poliwhirl, and I already know how it evolves into Politoed," Tetsuya said.
"…What!?"
Witherwood revealed a face full of shock and disbelief, the wrinkles on his face piling together. However, after seeing Tetsuya's age, he instantly became disappointed. "Sigh… a child conducting research? Do not make fun of this old man here."
After saying this, Witherwood continued observing the Pokémon before him, completely ignoring Tetsuya's presence.
"Who would dare make fun of the renowned Professor Witherwood? I have specifically studied all the reports you published and came here especially to research together with you. Heh~ I did not expect that you would judge by age, Professor. It truly chills the heart…"
Tetsuya deliberately sighed. After all, in his mind were stored more than sixty years of future research achievements. The things Witherwood had researched were naturally extremely familiar to him. Saying this, he was confident and could also attract Professor Witherwood's attention. Most importantly, he could obtain a Pokémon scholar certificate from him.