Ash wiped the sweat off his forehead, turned around and smiled.

“Teacher Lu, I won!”

Lu Ye looked at the dirt-covered Ash and couldn’t help but swallow hard.

Sure, Ash was used to being shocked by Pikachu at this point...

But just tanking a Thunderbolt head-on like that—the visual impact was still insane.

“I fought so hard just now,” Lu-sensei muttered in confusion. “This guy… just ran in headfirst?!”

“Ahem!” Lt. Surge coughed dryly, stood up and patted off the dust, then laughed loudly to cover up the awkwardness.

“Not bad, Baby Ash. You actually managed to beat me at thirty percent strength!”

Ash scratched his head.

Just earlier, he’d been wondering why he was adjusting to the no-holds-barred format so quickly.

“So it turns out... Mr. Surge was holding back.” Ash clenched his fists, his eyes burning with determination. “Pikachu, we’ve still got a long way to go!”

“Pika! ψ(*｀ー´)ψ”

Lu Ye glanced over at Lt. Surge and noticed him frantically signaling with his eyes.

A nearly two-meter-tall musclehead, sweating bullets, looking a little shaken...

Lu Ye paused slightly.

Wait a minute… besides the Gym Battles, was Lt. Surge the first opponent Ash defeated?

And now in his first open-format battle, Ash totally steamrolled him again?

Lt. Surge, what a disgrace!

“But still…”

Lu Ye muttered to himself, looking at the excited Ash.

A bead of cold sweat slid down Teacher Lu’s forehead.

“Did I just… release a terrifying Pokémon into the world?”

As we all know, Ho-Oh resurrected the three legendary beasts.

Similarly, in the movie I Choose You, Ho-Oh revived Ash.

So, logically speaking, after being revived by Ho-Oh, Ash became a new Pokémon himself!

Lu Ye: “Hmm… makes perfect sense!”

Tony the sausage-lips and Biscuit exchanged a look, suddenly understanding.

No wonder the captain lost two matches in a row today...

So it was all part of his master plan to guide the newcomer, just giving him a taste!

“Captain, I finally understand your deep intentions!” Tony said, moved.

“Hahaha, right? Your captain’s still got style!”

Lt. Surge scratched his head and laughed, then coughed with a clenched fist. “But… since they’ve made it this far, I still have to give out the badges.”

He nodded at Biscuit.

Biscuit stepped into the back room, and shortly returned holding a tray.

On it were two sun-shaped Orange Badges.

“I get one too?” Ash pointed at himself. “But I already got one earlier.”

“You can never have too many badges,” Lt. Surge shrugged, reminiscing about tough times. “Besides, in emergencies, you can sell them for cash…”

Sell badges for cash?

Even Gym Leaders are struggling like this...?

Wait, I think I’ve got a bunch of Modu Badges back home…

“So that’s an option too? Should’ve said so earlier...” Lu Ye thought with a grin.

Still, he shook his head. “Nah, I’ll pass. Just give the badge to Ash.”

“Huh? Teacher Lu, aren’t you going to join the League?” Ash asked, surprised.

Lu Ye twitched.

Slander. This is straight-up slander!

Lt. Surge scratched his head too, thinking: The mentor refusing the badge… is he implying something’s missing?

“I got it!” Lt. Surge smacked his forehead and shouted, “Tony, go get my treasure!”

Tony’s face changed. “Captain, even that?!”

“Cut the crap. I said go!”

A sense of unease welled up in Lu Ye’s heart.

Tony returned at a jog, holding a yellow box that looked like a brick.

Lu Ye blinked.

[Power Booster: A box charged with massive electrical energy, highly favored by Electric-type Pokémon. (Improper use may lead to tears from your loved ones.)]

“Uh… it’s for evolving Electabuzz,” Lt. Surge said, tossing the iron box in his hand. “It’s low on juice now, but it can still work as a home generator.”

Lu Ye: “You sure this thing won’t randomly blow up in your house?”

Lt. Surge paused, then laughed loudly. “Of course not! This was personally tested by yours truly, the Electric-type expert!”

“Oh right, and here’s a TM for Charge Beam...” He fished out a yellow storage device from his belt. “Teach it to an Electric-type, and you’ll never need a power bank again!”

He patted Ash on the head. “You saw it, you get one. Here, Charge Beam is yours too.”

“Thanks, but… can you not pat my head? It stunts growth.”

“Hehe, that’s the whole point.”

Ash: “?”

Lu Ye rubbed his chin.

Back in the Thunder Room at the Academy, Gengar had already learned Thunderbolt.

But in everyday life… Charge Beam seemed way more practical.

Camping? No problem. Just have Gengar blast the phone once, no charger needed…

The Power Booster would also help Gengar learn Charge Beam faster.

“I’ll take these two,” Lu Ye said.

He tossed the Power Booster to Gengar.

“Gengaaa~” Gengar played with it a bit, then casually stuffed it into his dimensional pouch.

“Then… I’ll take the badge and TM too!” Ash nodded.

Lt. Surge crossed his arms and nodded slightly.

Seeing that the mentor still didn’t want the badge, Lt. Surge clicked his tongue.

Fine. Worst case, he’d just let Ash take an extra Orange Badge for safekeeping.

If the mentor ever needed it, Ash could hand it over…

As Lt. Surge was lost in thought, Lu Ye pulled out his phone and waved it at him.

“Hey bro, wanna join the group chat?”

A stunned look crossed Surge’s firm face.

“Huh?”

…

[Ding! New member ‘Captain of the Waterflow’ has joined the chat group!]

“Pfft! That’s your username?” Ash tried not to laugh.

“Idiot, this is branding! When clients add you, you gotta look professional!” Lt. Surge snapped.

Lu Ye felt a jolt in his heart.

D*mn, just like Brock… everyone’s hustling these days!

In the group chat, Red sent a greeting:

“Yo, Surge!”

“Uh…” Surge glanced at it, and his expression froze.

R-Red?!

Sabrina: “You lost?”

This woman got here before me?! Surge quickly typed:

“Lost? Nah, it was a tie. I was holding back!”

“Haha, Uncle Surge! Let’s play games together next time!” Gold, who once got help from him, laughed heartily.

“Uncle?!”

Thinking of that spiky-headed kid from Johto, Surge’s temple throbbed.

Just wait, next time I’m sailing to Johto to find you!

No one was surprised to see Surge join the group.

Even Sabrina, a former Rocket Commander, had joined.

Not to mention—

When Gold and Silver were frozen by Pryce, it was Surge who saved them.

It’s not about good or evil—just different positions. That’s what makes the Specials villains so fun.

Erika, once the lead Gym Leader of Kanto, thought aloud:

“Have we got all the Kanto Gym Leaders in the group now?”

Brock: “No… we’re still missing Mr. Blaine from Cinnabar Island.”

Yellow: “Eh? Σ(っ°Д°;)っ I thought Teacher Lu already recruited Grandpa Blaine!”

Lu Ye slapped his forehead.

Shoot! I was so busy evolving Arcanine, I forgot to recruit him!

“No worries… I have Mr. Blaine’s contact info.”

Red smiled. “I’ll invite him to the group later!”

Lt. Surge: “……”

Not just Gym Leaders, but also Elite Four and Champions from every region...

D*mn. This group is scarier than Team Rocket!

Lu Ye looked up at the sky.

Feeling dazed.

We’ve almost completed the Kanto Gym Leader set?

Are we… on a different leveling path or what?

Isn’t this supposed to be about fighting wild Pokémon and leveling up?

How did it suddenly turn into a trading card collection?!

“This isn’t Pokémon, I swear…”

Lu Ye muttered, “I’m playing Pokémon Masters…”

…

The business at Vermilion Gym wrapped up.

Aside from what Surge gave them, the biggest gain was the Insulated Gloves.

Lu Ye was ready to head out.

Just then, Surge called out to Ash:

“Hold up, Ash. I’ve got one more favor to ask!”

Ash looked at Lu Ye.

Lu Ye was just about to test out the new gloves, so he nodded and said:

“Go ahead. I’ll wait for you outside!”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay Read