In the blink of an eye, Ryan had been home for over half a month.
In the training yard, he was carefully observing his two Pokémon when Lucario suddenly appeared in front of a target without warning and unleashed a furious barrage of punches. A sharp metallic clang rang out.
Then Lucario vanished and instantly reappeared at another training target, attacking again. The process repeated itself with flawless coordination.
"Excellent! Very well executed!" Ryan clapped his hands from the sidelines, praising the two Pokémon who were drenched in sweat from their intense training.
Kirlia used Teleport to instantly move Lucario next to the target for the attack, then immediately teleported him back to a safe position afterward. This combo technique was something Ryan had specifically trained with them, perfectly combining the strengths of both Pokémon.
"Lucario~ Lucario~"
"Kirlia~ Kirlia~"
Both Pokémon beamed with happiness at Ryan's praise.
"Alright, Lucario, keep training. Try to get used to the weight of the heavy training armor as quickly as possible," Ryan said, patting Lucario's shoulder.
Lucario nodded firmly and returned to its training.
"Kirlia, use Meditation to recover your energy," Ryan said gently as he bent down and rubbed Kirlia's head.
Continuous use of Teleport was quite draining for her.
"..." Kirlia's face flushed slightly. Her expression was a mix of shyness and enjoyment. She obediently walked to a shady spot, sat cross-legged, and began practicing the Meditation technique Ryan had taught her.
Ryan smiled, then turned and headed back inside the house.
...
"The 700,000 League Coins I earned last time are almost gone," Ryan muttered to himself. "After this period of training, both Oriolu and Kirlia have reached level 26, and their strength has improved noticeably. It's time to take on some more challenging missions to earn money."
The Pokémon League Center regularly posted missions that trainers could accept for rewards. There were all kinds of tasks — searching for items, investigations, bodyguard work, and more. The higher the risk, the higher the reward.
Once inside, Ryan turned on his computer and browsed the web. Just as he was about to open the League Center website to check for suitable missions, a news headline caught his eye.
"According to this report, the renowned Professor Oak will be arriving in the Hoenn region from Kanto next week. He will be holding a one-day lecture on Pokémon in Rustboro City, focusing on how to properly raise and train Pokémon. Those interested in attending, please register immediately…"
Professor Oak was giving a lecture in Hoenn?
The Hoenn region was relatively close to Kanto and Johto, so exchanges between the three regions were common. It wasn't unusual for Professor Oak to visit.
"Next week?" Ryan was very interested. Professor Oak had extensive knowledge of Pokémon and was highly skilled in breeding and training. Taking notes during his lecture could prove very useful.
Money-making missions could wait; there was no rush.
...
A few days later, the day of the lecture approached.
Ryan set off early for Rustboro City.
Rustboro City was a typical industrial steel city and home to the headquarters of the Devon Corporation. To the north lay Meteor Falls, rich in various ores. The local Gym specialized in Rock-type Pokémon, and the overall architectural style of the city felt calm and grand.
As Ryan passed by the Pokémon Center, a familiar female voice called out to him from behind, sounding both surprised and playful.
"Brother Ryan?"
The cute yet mischievous voice was instantly recognizable.
It was Sapphire Birch, the girl he had met some time ago.
"It really is you, Brother Ryan!" Sapphire exclaimed excitedly when he turned around.
"What a coincidence. You're in Rustboro City too?" Ryan asked, noticing her signature bright smile and two cute little fangs.
"Yes! What a coincidence," Sapphire replied, putting her hands behind her back. She looked at him curiously and asked, "Brother Ryan, did you come to Rustboro City for Professor Oak's lecture?"
"Yes," Ryan nodded.
There were noticeably more people than usual in the city, most of them there for the lecture.
"Professor Oak's lecture doesn't start until the day after tomorrow," Sapphire said, blinking her bright eyes. "I wonder if Brother Ryan has any other plans besides attending the lecture?"
"Plans?" Ryan was slightly taken aback.
Seeing his reaction, Sapphire immediately perked up. She grabbed his arm and shook it vigorously, looking at him with hopeful eyes. "Since you're free, can you help me? I've been challenging the Rustboro Gym every day for the past few days, but I've lost every single time. I don't know what to do!"
"Brother Ryan is so strong. Will you please help me?"
Sapphire looked so earnest and hopeful that Ryan found it hard to refuse. Besides, the lecture wasn't until the evening, so he had plenty of free time in the afternoon.
"Okay," Ryan agreed.
Sapphire's face lit up with joy. She immediately grabbed his arm and started pulling him excitedly toward the Gym.