"Salted Fish Teacher! How did you do that?"
After leaving the Vermilion Gym, Red could no longer suppress his curiosity and finally asked the question the chat had been dying to know.
"Didn't Lt. Surge already say it clearly?" Rei Akagi replied calmly as ever.
"No rules means anything is possible. Haunter had been hiding in the shadows the entire time. As for the Poké Ball I threw… it was just bait."
"Huh? You can do that?!"
Red's small eyes were filled with huge question marks.
After a brief pause, his tone suddenly carried a hint of worry.
"Um… Green won't get into trouble, right?"
"Relax. It's just a misunderstanding. His grandfather is Professor Oak."
Rei Akagi answered casually.
"Besides, do you think the title 'Rival Green' was given for nothing? If he wants to leave, who could possibly stop him—other than players like us?"
In the communication channel, Green, who had been quietly fishing by the sea the whole time, twitched slightly at the corner of his mouth when he heard that.
"Let's go. Next stop—Lavender Town…"
Before Rei Akagi could finish speaking, a panting figure rushed over and grabbed both Little White and Red by the hands.
It was the Pokémon Fan Club Chairman.
"Chairman: Phew… thank goodness I caught up! Great news! Everyone's missing beloved Pokémon have safely returned!"
"Chairman: Oh right! Abra told me things haven't been peaceful in Saffron City lately! Be careful during your travels!"
"Chairman: Here—take this! It'll definitely help you!"
"Little White and Red received the Twisted Spoon from the Chairman!"
"Little White and Red put the Twisted Spoon into the Items Pocket."
The chairman arrived in a hurry—and left just as quickly.
Receiving a new item put Red in a good mood. He controlled Red to follow behind Little White, practically hopping along the road.
The two headed east from Vermilion City, but at the entrance of Route 11, a striking wooden sign blocked their path.
Notice!
Route 12 is blocked by a sleeping Pokémon. Please detour through Rock Tunnel to reach Lavender Town.
— Vermilion Police Department
"A Pokémon is blocking the road?"
Red looked at the sign and hesitated, wondering if he should turn back and take the long route.
To his surprise, Rei Akagi simply controlled Little White to walk around the sign and boldly step onto Route 11.
"Don't forget—we have the Poké Flute."
Rei Akagi's voice sounded calmly.
"Even without the flute, there are plenty of ways. If you have a Flying-type Pokémon, you can just fly over it. Why take such a pointless detour?"
"So the sign is basically decoration? Official scam!"
"LOL I got played! I'm the idiot who obediently went through Rock Tunnel for two hours!!!"
"Hahaha! Game design malice! Salted Fish Teacher teaching you to break fixed thinking!"
"By the way, what does the Twisted Spoon do? Is it for eating?"
"That's a battle item, fake fan!"
As the chat discussed enthusiastically—
"Twisted Spoon is an item containing special psychic energy."
While guiding Little White forward, Rei Akagi explained:
"A Pokémon holding it will significantly increase the power of Psychic-type moves."
The two walked along Route 11, stopping occasionally and casually defeating several Trainers who jumped out of the grass to challenge them.
After a while, Red suddenly stopped in front of a large dirt mound beside the road.
On the side of the mound was a tunnel entrance big enough for one person to crawl through.
"That's Diglett's Cave."
Before Red could ask, Rei Akagi had already explained.
"It's an underground tunnel network dug by Diglett colonies. If you pass through here, you can take a shortcut straight to Pewter City. In real life, it's quite famous in the Kanto region—basically a landmark."
"So that's Diglett's Cave…"
Red sighed in fascination and had Red peek curiously inside.
But seeing Little White already walking away, he reluctantly gave up exploring for now.
I'll come back later to investigate, he thought.
After crossing Route 11, they reached the entrance to the seaside stretch of Route 12.
A gigantic, furry figure—like a small mountain—lay sprawled across the middle of the road, snoring thunderously.
It was an enormous Snorlax, far larger than ordinary members of its species.
Its round belly rose and fell with each breath. Above its head floated the familiar sleeping symbol:
Zzz…
It occupied nearly half the screen.
A system prompt appeared.
Snorlax Lv.38
Ability: Thick Fat
(Protected by thick layers of fat, reducing damage from Fire- and Ice-type moves.)
This Pokémon is lying comfortably with its limbs stretched out, fast asleep.
"Snorlax!"
Red exclaimed excitedly, circling it repeatedly with Red .
However, just as his excited voice faded, the sound of a Poké Ball popping open suddenly came from the communication channel.
Immediately afterward came a panicked scream.
"W-wait! Snorlax! I didn't tell you to come out! Wait! Don't! You're too heavy! This room can't handle—AHHH!!!"
Then came the sound of something collapsing.
The next second—
"Player Red has disconnected."
Wait.
They had just been chatting a moment ago—how did he suddenly disappear?
Rei Akagi silently mourned the unlucky Red for one second before continuing to control Little White.
Little White took out the various Berries they had gathered earlier and placed them one by one in front of Snorlax.
Then he played the Poké Flute.
The clear, melodious sound drifted across the seaside road.
Snorlax slowly woke up.
It first looked at Little White in confusion, tilting its head.
Then it noticed the Berries in front of it—and happily began devouring them.
Only after patiently waiting for it to finish eating did Rei Akagi step forward.
"Little White: Recruiting partners. Food and lodging included. You'll never go hungry."
Snorlax looked down at Little White.
Remembering the taste of the Berries, it nodded honestly.
Then…
It closed its eyes—
And collapsed right back onto the road, asleep again.
Rei Akagi smiled knowingly.
He controlled Little White to toss an Ultra Ball.
Snorlax's massive body disappeared instantly in a flash of red light.
The Poké Ball shook three times in the air.
Then it clicked and fell neatly back into Little White's hand.
"So you have to wake it up and feed it first?! I threw fifty balls at that sleeping Snorlax before!"
"A pile of berries in exchange for Snorlax's loyalty—Salted Fish Teacher is too strong!"
"You're too naive! Snorlax's stomach connects to another dimension! Prepare to go bankrupt buying berries! (From a Munchlax trainer's painful experience)"
"Where's the Red Legend? He was just here! How did he suddenly disappear? My Red baby!!!"
The livestream chat remained lively.
With Red disconnected, Rei Akagi glanced at the deepening night outside the window.
It was about time to end the stream for today.
"The Red Legend might be sleepy and went to rest early, but I'll still stay with everyone…"
Rei Akagi spoke casually.
Then suddenly paused.
"My closet just moved! So that's it for today's stream! Let's thank our two legendary guests once again. Finally… goodbye~"
Before he finished speaking—
The livestream screen suddenly went black.
"W-wait! Bai—!"
Green's voice suddenly burst out in the communication channel, rising sharply with panic.
On his screen, the Super Rod in his hand was shaking violently.
Beneath the water's surface—
A graceful, serpentine figure struggled wildly, about to burst out of the water.
"Connection terminated. Saving game…"
Then came a furious roar.
"THE DRATINI I JUST CAUGHT!!!"
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