Facing Julian’s extended hand, Primeape’s eyes moved.
It stood up and placed its hand on Julian’s.
After yesterday and today’s battles, and the stew just now, Primeape had already acknowledged Hakamo-o as a rival and Julian as a Trainer.
"Welcome to the team!"
Julian took out a classic red-and-white Poké Ball and enlarged it, placing it in front of Primeape.
Primeape stretched out its fist and touched the ball.
It was drawn inside.
With a click, it meant Julian had officially caught Primeape.
Meanwhile, Croagunk’s long training had made his muscles weak and sore.
His footing slipped on the wet stone, and the water washed him down, carrying him all the way to the place where Julian had cooked.
Julian shook his head helplessly, reached out, grabbed Croagunk by the foot, and dragged him onto the shore.
After shaking the water off him, he placed Croagunk on the picnic cloth.
"Stew. I saved this for you. Eat quickly. It won’t taste as good once it’s cold."
Croagunk held the large bowl, took one sip, and shed moved tears.
Julian gently placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Take it slowly. Training isn’t something that produces results in one day. At this stage, focus on using Bulk Up to strengthen your body, and Brick Break to learn how to channel force through different parts of yourself."
"Also, direct confrontation isn’t your strength. Using poison to weaken opponents and fighting while moving around them is where you excel."
"Once we go back, we’ll start learning Toxic."
Julian could tell Croagunk had been hit hard several times recently.
His confidence had suffered, and his actions had become impatient.
Learning Toxic could help him rebuild that confidence.
Primeape could withstand ordinary poison, but the effect of Toxic increased over time.
No matter how high its anger rose, Primeape could not endure that.
Since Primeape had already been caught, Julian immediately packed up and headed down the mountain.
Once he reached the foot of the mountain and his phone regained signal near the city, he immediately sent a photo of Hakamo-o to his online friend.
[Dancing Hakamo-o:My friend, look! Jangmo-o evolved!]
When Cynthia saw the message, she could not help smiling.
Hakamo-o had only just evolved, and this guy had already changed his username.
[KingGarchomp:Congratulations. Does that mean you’re going to apply to become Veilstone Gym’s new Gym Leader?]
[Dancing Hakamo-o:That’s right. I went into the mountains to catch Primeape, and the battle unexpectedly triggered the chance for evolution. My luck is pretty good]
[KingGarchomp:That wasn’t luck. It was the result of your serious training]
Learning that Jangmo-o had evolved, Cynthia felt strangely relieved as well.
Since Julian had caught Primeape, he also needed to consider the question of Primeape’s evolution.
There were many cases of Primeape getting so angry that they died.
So when it came to evolving Primeape into Annihilape, he had to be cautious.
Extremely cautious.
Rather than blindly figuring it out himself, he might as well ask his all-purpose online friend.
[Dancing Hakamo-o:Have you heard of Rage Fist and Primeape’s evolution, Annihilape?]
This truly touched Cynthia’s blind spot.
[KingGarchomp:What’s that?]
[Dancing Hakamo-o:I heard that far away in the Paldea region, there’s a move exclusive to Primeape called Rage Fist]
[Dancing Hakamo-o:By training Rage Fist and letting its anger break through a critical point, Primeape can obtain power beyond the physical body and evolve into Annihilape]
Cynthia frowned slightly.
She knew of the Paldea region, but she had never been there.
Perhaps she could ask Professor Rowan.
Professor Rowan was an expert in Pokémon evolution. He might know about Rage Fist and Annihilape.
[KingGarchomp:I really don’t know about this, but I can ask for you. I’ll see whether any evolution experts in Sinnoh have information on Rage Fist]
Julian’s eyes widened, and he quickly typed a reply.
[Dancing Hakamo-o:You don’t mean Professor Rowan, do you?]
Before crossing over, Julian had felt that Professor Rowan was just an ordinary regional professor.
After crossing over and reading many books related to Pokémon, he deeply understood how impressive world-famous researchers like Professor Rowan and Professor Oak truly were.
They were world-famous because they were authorities.
If even Professor Rowan did not have the information, then Julian could only go to Paldea to gather material personally.
He would have to battle local Primeape and learn Rage Fist through combat.
[KingGarchomp:That’s right. I once helped Professor Rowan with some insignificant research, so we’re acquainted]
[Dancing Hakamo-o:My friend, that’s amazing. Could Professor Rowan’s research ever be simple?]
His online friend was actually helping him contact Professor Rowan.
Julian felt he had to do something in return.
[Dancing Hakamo-o:The local specialities I mailed you last time tasted good, right?]
Cynthia nodded.
The snacks and dried goods Julian had made by hand were indeed delicious.
[KingGarchomp:They tasted good]
[Dancing Hakamo-o:Since you liked them, I’ll make more and mail them to you at Lily of the Valley Island again]
[KingGarchomp:All right]
When her grandmother found out Cynthia had gone to Veilstone City last time, she had scolded her for not buying any local specialities to bring back.
She had only brought back a box of incense.
Calling them "specialities" was not really accurate.
They were actually things Julian had made by hand.
Veilstone City did not produce them at all.
Speaking of incense, Cynthia had brought it back and casually put it aside, never lighting it to test the effect.
Her eyes shifted.
Why not try it today?
She rushed into Professor Carolina’s room.
"Grandmother, where’s the incense burner at home?"
Professor Carolina raised an eyebrow.
"Finally remembered the incense your little boyfriend gave you?"
Cynthia’s face reddened.
"Grandmother, what are you saying? We’re not..."
Professor Carolina smiled knowingly.
"Fine, fine. If you say you’re not, then you’re not. The incense burner is in the living room. I saw you bring back a box of incense, so I took it out from the cabinet for you."
Cynthia immediately stepped forward and hugged her.
"Grandmother is the best! Let’s try the incense that guy gave me."
Cynthia found the burner and incense, returned to Professor Carolina’s room, took out one incense stick, lit it, and placed it inside.
As the incense burned and smoke slowly spread out, a fresh, elegant jasmine fragrance filled the room.
Professor Carolina nodded.
"The scent is good. It can lift the spirit too. Lighting one while translating ancient documents should help."
"Your boy... friend is pretty good. Clever hands, thoughtful personality. The specialities he sent last time were good, and this incense is good too."
The word "boy" was almost silent.
"When will you bring him back for your grandmother to meet? You’re not that young anymore. You can start thinking about your personal feelings. You’re already one of the Elite Four."
"As a Trainer, what else are you dissatisfied with?"
Cynthia hurriedly argued, "I’m only an Elite Four member. I still want to become Champion!"
Professor Carolina shook her head.
"If you become Champion, then it’ll be even harder. What man can withstand the pressure of marrying the Champion?"
Cynthia’s face flushed red.
"Grandmother!"
If she became Champion and Julian learned her identity, just imagining that scene made Cynthia fear he would say:
My friend, amazing.
Professor Carolina smiled.
The fact that the two of them had chatted online for five years already proved that their interests matched in many ways.
As someone with experience, Professor Carolina deliberately pointed it out.
She simply hoped the two of them could take a step further.
Did Cynthia really think Professor Carolina liked eating local specialities?
She wanted Cynthia to go meet him more often.
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