Chapter 33: The News Industry of Vermilion City

"Thank you, Pidgeot."

Back on the cliff, Ash recalled Red’s Pidgeot and offered a word of thanks. Standing at the edge, Bill and the others rushed over to meet him. The battle they had just witnessed had left their jaws on the floor, and the way they looked at Ash now had shifted in a subtle, profound way.

"Ash, is that really you...?"
"How on earth did you manage that...?"

Whether it was the Pidgeot, that Charizard, or the inexplicable method used to capture the giant Dragonite, none of it was something an average trainer could achieve. Yet, all of this had happened at the hands of Ash, a novice trainer? It was inconceivable.

"Haha, don't worry about it. I just borrowed them from a friend," Ash said, waving it off with a laugh, offering no further explanation.

He would save the story of "Brother Red" for another time. If he spilled the beans now, he feared he might end up being carted off for dissection. But if even these people were reacting like this, one could only imagine the state of the Ash watching from the VIP gallery. His shock was, in truth, no less than theirs.

"Is Brother Red’s strength really that absurd...!?"

The strongest entities in his mind had always been the trainers he saw on television as a child. A class of titans known as "Elite Four" members were the ceiling of his world. Brother Red was every bit as formidable as they were!

"Please show me some respect..."

Red’s voice suddenly echoed in his mind, leaving Ash baffled. *I’m comparing you to the Elite Four—how is that disrespectful? Should I go back to Pallet Town and light some incense for you?*

Red: "..."
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...

Back in reality, Ash tossed the Poké Ball containing the giant Dragonite to Bill. "As promised, I’ve captured it for you. So..."

"You know the drill. Once I help this giant Dragonite resolve its longing, my next step is to return to the Johto region and start researching that hypothesis..."

Bill accepted the Poké Ball with excitement. It looked unremarkable on the outside, but it felt heavy in his hands. He had stayed at the lighthouse specifically to understand the inner yearning of that giant Dragonite. Now that the matter was settled, there was no need to stay. His home wasn't actually in Kanto, but in Goldenrod City in the Johto region. It was a major metropolis where all his specialized equipment was located.

Bill then caught on to something, winked, and softened his tone. "Then please thank your friend for me."

Ash scratched his head, looking perfectly innocent. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Heh..." Bill didn't press the issue, just smiled it off. Everyone had their secrets; there was no need to dwell on them. Even if this boy's secrets were a bit... exaggerated.

...

The day had grown late, and with their business concluded, the four of them decided to return to the lighthouse to get some sleep.

"Roar! Roar!"

A Pokémon beside them was still punching at empty air, filled with fighting spirit.

"Charmander? Why are you so pumped up?" Ash asked, puzzled.

"Perhaps it's feeling competitive after seeing that Charizard," Bill analyzed seriously. "From what I know, Fire-type Pokémon have very strong competitive spirits, especially towards members of their own species."

With other types, if a Squirtle met a Wartortle, it might just go over to say hello—*Hello there, senior, your head is so round.* But Fire types were different; it was usually a Flamethrower to the face, a clear gesture that they intended to topple their senior.

"Don't worry, you’ll be stronger than that Charizard one day!" Ash said with a gratified smile, rubbing the creature's smooth, bald head to encourage it. Although it didn't feel as nice as a Squirtle, it held a certain warmth.

"Roar!"

Charmander, not to be outdone, spat out a puff of flame. It placed both arms at its sides and began to flap them up and down. It was a takeoff motion.

"Seeing the Charizard made you crave flight...? That's it! That's the fighting spirit I want. As long as your will to fly is strong enough, you'll grow wings!" Ash encouraged it further.

Bill nodded, agreeing with Ash's sentiment. "In the Hoenn region, there's a Pokémon that longs to fly when it's at a low stage, and eventually, it actually grows wings and takes to the sky. I remember, what was that Pokémon called...?"

"Oh, it's called Bagon," Bill finally recalled.

Hearing this, Ash seemed to recall something as well. "The Hoenn region, huh... Is that the place where Rayquaza are so common that if you threw a rock with your eyes closed, you'd end up knocking one out?"

That was the intel he had received from a close friend of Bug Catcher Kogoro.

Bill: "?"
Is this the geography Professor Oak taught? And is it always this... absurd?

...

Early the next morning, the four parted ways at the crossroads outside the lighthouse. Ash and his companions were heading to Vermilion City, while Bill was off to Saffron City to catch the Magnet Train directly to Goldenrod City in the Johto region.

Before leaving, Bill remembered something and suddenly asked, "By the way, Ash, do you want me to upgrade your Pokédex to the latest HW model? It has 5G signal coverage across the entire Kanto region, providing truly seamless communication."

Ash waved his hand, rejecting the offer. They said on TV that 5G was all a scam. He was better off without it.

...

Three hours later.

Ash and his group finally arrived at the Pokémon Center in Vermilion City. It was a poetic port city shrouded in fallen leaves and a dim, yellow sky, carrying a sense of melancholic beauty. Surprisingly, however, they didn't see a single stray leaf or weed in any of the streets or alleys. It was spotless and clean.

"This city is really clean, isn't it..." the three couldn't help but marvel.

The first order of business in Vermilion City was, naturally, to challenge the local Gym. It was rumored that the Gym Leader specialized in Electric-type Pokémon and was a die-hard fan of electric mice. According to the locals, he was the best electric mouse breeder in all of Kanto.

At that, Ash couldn't hold back; he jumped up, ready to go and issue a challenge. When it came to raising electric mice, he didn't think he would lose to anyone. Hadn't they seen his Pikachu? It was a size larger than the average Pikachu!

But for now, he was in a rest period; his Pokémon were all at Nurse Joy's getting healed and rejuvenated. Ash had to suppress his restless heart and wait.

"Buzz, buzz...!"

Just then, the screen of a public television nearby caught their attention. As a port city, Vermilion wasn't actually known for trade and transport, but for its news industry. Ash became interested and fixed his eyes on the screen. *Let me see what the strongest news media in Kanto has to offer!*

The three of them stared at the screen...

"It is reported that on the 15th of this month, the morning after tomorrow, the most luxurious cruise ship in Kanto—the St. Anne—will set sail. We ask all the wealthy to board in an orderly fashion and experience the lifestyle of the elite. The poor folks may watch from the shore, also in an orderly fashion."

The three frowned, feeling a strange sense of being insulted. Though it was the truth, did news reports have to be so blunt?!

The screen cut to a gray, misty sea, with only a lonely lighthouse flashing in the distance.

The three: "!"

Wasn't that Mr. Bill's broken lighthouse? That made it to the news fast! Where were these reporters from?

"Breaking news. Shocking! A mysterious event occurred yesterday in the waters off Vermilion City, near the Cape Lighthouse! The legendary monster that has circulated for over a decade—the Lighthouse Behemoth—has appeared once again!"

"What is the story with the Lighthouse Behemoth? Everyone is familiar with the Lighthouse Behemoth, but what is the story behind its appearance? Let us take you through it."

"It is reported that the reason the Lighthouse Behemoth appeared is because of the Lighthouse Behemoth. You might be surprised why the Lighthouse Behemoth would appear yesterday, but that is the fact, and our editors are just as surprised."

"That is the full story of the Lighthouse Behemoth incident. What are your thoughts? Please leave a comment in the section below and discuss with us!"

The three: "?"

Was this the news industry of Vermilion City?