Before making a decision, Terrance headed all the way south from Pewter City to Pallet Town.
Right now, Ash should have already earned eight Badges and would be training near Pallet Town in preparation for the Indigo Plateau Conference.
Pallet Town.
Also known as "the place where it all begins."
In the southeastern corner of the town stood Professor Oak's Laboratory. At this moment, outside Professor Oak's Laboratory, Terrance had come here alone.
Using the excuse of looking for Ash, he also took the opportunity to pay Professor Oak a visit.
It had to be said, if you excluded Professor Oak's Laboratory, the entire Pallet Town combined wasn't even as big as the Laboratory itself. Having such a massive Laboratory, Terrance truly admired how Professor Oak managed to handle such a huge workload every day.
At present, Professor Oak mainly researched the relationship between humans and Pokémon. Because of this, Trainers registered in Pallet Town enjoyed a special privilege: any Pokémon they carried that exceeded their allowed number could be transmitted to Professor Oak's Laboratory to be taken care of by him. Of course, their Pokémon would also become subjects of Professor Oak's research.
"Oh, Terrance, you're finally here."
Not long after pressing the doorbell, Professor Oak himself came out to greet Terrance.
Before his visit, Terrance had already sent Professor Oak a message to let him know he'd be dropping by.
"Professor Oak, it's been three years already. Such a huge Laboratory, and it's still just you working here?" Terrance joked. "Why not find an assistant?"
After leading Terrance inside, Professor Oak smiled and replied, "The Laboratory's work is still just barely manageable. I'll wait until I meet someone suitable. How about it, Terrance? Are you interested? The benefits are quite generous, you know."
"Ahem, I… I probably couldn't handle such a monotonous research life." Terrance accepted the tea Professor Oak handed him, then asked, "Where's your grandson Gary Oak? The Indigo Plateau Conference starts in two months, he should have collected all his Badges by now, right?"
Once the tea was ready, Professor Oak also sat down. Mentioning Gary Oak brought a smile to his face. "That kid's not bad. Along with Ash, they're both the shining hopes of Pallet Town. To qualify for the regional tournament in their rookie year, their futures are limitless."
"Gary Oak has earned 10 Badges, and Ash has earned 8 Badges."
Qualifying to challenge the regional tournament in one's rookie year would have been extremely difficult for Terrance if he hadn't entered Crown Academy. Of course, that might have been different if he'd had the same resources as Gary Oak and Ash.
The achievements of Ash and Gary Oak were indeed impressive for rookie Trainers. Even Professor Oak, a Pokémon researcher, was very pleased. After offering a few words of praise, Terrance continued asking about Ash and the others.
"Gary Oak should be training in the hills out back. As for Ash, he's probably with Misty and Brock again," Professor Oak said after thinking, stroking his chin thoughtfully.
"I see." Terrance paused. It looked like he'd have to hurry to find Ash and the others. But there was probably no rush yet. Mewtwo had just abducted Nurse Joy and likely hadn't started sending out invitations.
Taking a short rest at Professor Oak's Laboratory, Terrance made use of the transfer device.
He sent Vulpix, Carbink, and Larvitar back, and then transferred over Arcanine, Gallade, Mismagius, and Ralts.
At the moment, the Pokémon Terrance carried with him were: Altaria, Gallade, Arcanine, Castform, Mismagius, Beautifly, and Ralts.
"Finished transferring?" Professor Oak leaned in with a knowing look. "Let me study your Pokémon a bit."
Professor Oak had been thinking about Terrance's Pokémon for a long time. He knew Terrance's Pokémon were all quite unique, but he'd never had a chance to study them. Now that he'd caught Terrance here, Terrance suspected Professor Oak wouldn't let him leave unless he agreed.
"Rather than that, Professor Oak, why don't you first take a look at this Ralts's condition?"
Calling Ralts out from its Poké Ball, Terrance briefly explained its symptoms.
"Lost the ability to express emotions?" Professor Oak furrowed his brow.
"Yeah." Terrance gently patted Ralts's head and let out a soft sigh.
"Uh…" With his brow still tightly knit, Professor Oak's expression turned strange.
If he remembered correctly, the first time Terrance had visited him, it was because of a Ralts with a physical defect that could only use Teleport.
And now on his second visit, there was another Ralts that couldn't express emotions?
Professor Oak couldn't help but look at Terrance with a peculiar expression.
"Come, let me take a look." Professor Oak reached out kindly, beckoning Ralts over.
Facing Professor Oak, Ralts raised its head and looked toward Terrance.
"It's fine, go ahead," Terrance nodded.
After examining Ralts's condition, although Professor Oak was a towering figure in the field of Pokémon studies, his research focus wasn't on strange conditions. Just like the first time, Professor Oak still had no solution at all.
"It should be a psychological issue. That's much harder to fix," Professor Oak said helplessly.
Professor Oak's inability didn't surprise Terrance; he hadn't held much hope to begin with.
Before observing Terrance's other Pokémon, Professor Oak sent a message to Ash and the others, telling them Terrance was visiting the Laboratory.
"Wow, this Arcanine is incredible."
Professor Oak practically plastered himself to Arcanine's side. Staring at the majestic giant Arcanine, his eyes shone. Just as he picked up his camera to start taking photos, he was suddenly shoved aside by Arcanine.
"Ahem, Arcanine," Terrance quickly intervened.
"Professor Oak, my Arcanine is a bit clingy, so be careful."
"Just now, it was just being shy, so it didn't use much strength, but don't get too familiar with it."
Standing up, Professor Oak rubbed his backside, grimacing. "Let me see how that Ralts, who could only use Teleport, is doing now."
As Terrance and Professor Oak talked, time slowly passed. While observing the individual conditions of Terrance's Pokémon, Professor Oak also offered many unexpected insights.
A good number of those insights could help Terrance in raising Altaria and the others, which pleased him. Professor Oak truly lived up to his reputation.
Three hours later.
Professor Oak's initial observations of Terrance's Pokémon were finally complete, when a hurried voice came from outside.
"Is Brother Terrance here?"
That voice made Professor Oak and Terrance pause. Then Professor Oak said, "Looks like Ash has arrived."
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