Rei Akagi left the homepage and, with interest, opened his following list.
The creator with the ID "Pokéfan Kricketune Knight" had transformed from an obscure small-time uploader into someone with over 300,000 followers.
Coincidentally, he had just uploaded a new video today.
"Deep Analysis! The Possibility of Intercepting the Hidden Eevee & Taking Cubone Away Early!"
Rei Akagi tapped the video.
The footage began.
Pokéfan Kricketune Knight started analyzing based on information revealed during Baizhou's livestream.
"Hello trainers! Today we're going to dig into two huge hidden Easter eggs revealed in Teacher Salted Fish's livestream! First up is the incident where Team Rocket's transport carrying the special Eevee was attacked on Route 3!"
"Although I couldn't find the exact time and location of the incident, clues from several in-game NPC dialogues indicate that the trainer involved was the Handsome Researcher."
"In other words, if we can locate the exact trigger time and location of the event, it may be possible to form a bond with that special Eevee ahead of time!"
As he explained, the video switched scenes to Lavender Town.
The frame finally froze on the lonely back of a Cubone.
"Alright, after Eevee, let's talk about this Cubone."
"Through countless save reloads, attempts, and timing tests, I discovered that if players don't follow the normal route after leaving Pallet Town and instead rush straight to Lavender Town, they can arrive just in time for the key event where Team Rocket attacks the Pokémon Tower!"
"Here's the key point! At that moment, Cubone's mother—Marowak—is still alive!"
"I boldly speculate that if the player can stop Team Rocket during the attack and protect Marowak, it may be possible to form a bond with Cubone!"
"However, the reason I say 'speculate' is because those Team Rocket grunts in Pokémon Tower are ridiculously strong! I've tried many times—if you bring only your starter Pokémon, you simply can't win! But if you spend time leveling up, you miss the event window. It's a vicious cycle!"
The video ended there.
In just half a day, it had already surged into the platform's trending recommendations.
The comment section was even more lively.
"Came here from Teacher Salted Fish's following list! Over 300k followers with just two videos? Absolute legend! That investigative ability is insane. Waiting for the next episode!"
"Finally someone explained this clearly! I suspected something was hidden when Teacher Salted Fish showed the data during the stream. Turns out there really are tons of secrets!"
"Sharing important intel! On the east side of Viridian Forest, if you defeat six Bug Catchers in a row, you'll meet an old Bug Catcher near the exit who keeps grumbling. After beating him, he mutters something about a transport truck flipping over on Route 3!"
"This is ridiculous! Even on the lowest difficulty, if you rush from Pallet Town straight to Lavender Town, the Team Rocket grunts there are all Level 20+. Your starter Pokémon just gets destroyed! But if you grind levels, you miss the timing. It's a dead loop!"
"Can a Master Trainer come save us here?! If someone perfectly triggers both Easter eggs and releases a step-by-step guide, the insane traffic and fame will be yours, brother!!!"
"Burp—I'm so full~"
Ash finished the last bowl of rice, patted his round belly, and asked casually:
"Oh right, Master Baizhou—do you know where Professor Oak is? He told me to look for him after arriving in Dragon City—"
"The professor's at the research institute. We'll talk about that later. Take out your phone first."
Rei Akagicame back to his senses. After returning the Pikachu he had been petting into a blissful daze back to Ash's arms, he opened the game chat group and continued,
"Come on in."
'Man of the Rainbow' invited 'Goal: Pokémon Master' to the group chat.
Battle Man:
"Ash???"
Breeding Man:
"He didn't show up for training a few days ago. I asked Aunt Delia and found out this guy actually ran off to Sinnoh. Looks like he met Brother Baizhou."
Evolution Man:
"I want to go play too! Damn that old man Oak! Even though we've already completed the Kanto Pokédex, he's still making us observe Pokémon ecology!"
Breeding Man:
"?"
Healing Man:
"Everyone… please don't argue…"
Aside from the four people who basically lived in the group—Red, Blue, Green, and Yellow—the other Gym Leaders were probably busy with Gym challenges and hadn't shown up.
Goal: Pokémon Master:
"Senior Red! Senior Blue! And everyone else is here too~"
Breeding Man:
"Let me ask you something, Ash. Why am I ranked after Red?"
Evolution Man:
"Let me ask you something, Ash. Why don't Yellow and I even have names?"
Battle Man:
"Let me ask you something, Ash. Why—uh… actually I guess I've got nothing to ask."
Rei Akagi watched the screen fill instantly with teasing messages and glanced at Ash beside him.
Ash was holding his phone with both hands, beads of sweat forming on his forehead, looking frantically at Pikachu on his shoulder for help.
"P-Pikachu! What do I do—?!"
Man of the Rainbow:
"Don't bully Ash."
Man of the Rainbow:
"He just finished eating thirty bowls of rice."
The moment the message appeared, the group chat fell completely silent.
"Master! You saved me!"
Ash looked like he had been granted amnesty. His signature goofy grin immediately returned as he gratefully looked at Baizhou.
Rei Akagiignored him and continued typing.
Man of the Rainbow:
"Livestream tonight. Two slots. First come, first served."
Battle Man:
"1"
Goal: Pokémon Master:
"Livestream?! Me me me me me!!! Pick me!!!"
Evolution Man:
"1"
Evolution Man:
"AHHH! Why are you guys so fast?!"
Healing Man:
"Brother Baizhou… make sure you rest early tonight…"
Breeding Man:
"…"
Man of the Rainbow:
"@Healing Man — Mm, health is the most important thing. I won't learn from those night-owls."
Man of the Rainbow:
"That's it. My phone's about to die. Logging off."
"A livestream?! Master!!!"
The moment Rei Akagi put his phone down, the flames of Ash's excitement were already burning right in front of him.
"Relax. If you're done eating, let's go. I'm guessing the professor will arrange for us to stay together."
Rei Akagi tried to cool him down with practical matters.
"You go to the research institute first and confirm the details. I still need to go to the supermarket and buy some daily supplies."
"Got it!"
Ash nodded seriously.
However, the moment the two of them walked out of the restaurant, Ash waved goodbye—
—and whoosh!
He vanished at the end of the street.
He hadn't even asked where the research institute was.
"Be careful on the road!"
Rei Akagi shouted toward the rapidly shrinking figure.
Honestly… that guy does everything with full passion.
He shook his head, tossing aside the untimely sentiment.
Taking out a sour-and-spicy flavored Pokéblock, he handed it to the proud little Dragon King hidden in his collar that refused to eat normal meals.
Then he casually grabbed Gengar and tucked it under his arm, preparing to leave this troublesome place.
But just as he stepped forward—
his movement suddenly froze.
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