"Although I know its name, I wouldn't say I know that much about it. I only know that it's an Electric-type Pokémon native to the Galar Region. And if I remember correctly, that fluffy patch beneath its neck is where it stores electricity, right?"
'You call that not knowing much?!'
'You clearly know quite a lot!'
"You're remarkably knowledgeable, and there's something rather unusual about the way you carry yourself. It seems you're no ordinary trainer."
Professor Cerise was genuinely surprised by Itsuki's knowledge.
However, rather than wasting time on pleasantries, he went straight to the point.
"Chloe mentioned that you needed my help with something?"
"I'm sorry for interrupting your work, Professor."
Itsuki took out his Pokédex.
"My name is Itsuki, and I'm from the Kalos Region. I've only just arrived in Kanto. The reason I came today was to ask whether you could upgrade the data in my Pokédex so that it can be used across every region in the world!"
Professor Cerise accepted the Pokédex and examined it.
"Hmm. Its design certainly is a little different from the Pokédexes used here in Kanto."
He nodded.
"But that's no problem. It's a simple matter. Come with me."
Itsuki hadn't expected things to go so smoothly.
Still, this alone was enough to show that Professor Cerise was a remarkably approachable person.
Following the professor out of the reception room, Itsuki entered the laboratory's main research area.
Apart from Professor Cerise, two assistants were working there, one male and one female.
The female assistant was Chrysa, an attractive woman with long, wavy, dark-blue hair.
The male assistant was Ren, a bespectacled man with messy hair.
Although Ren looked rather unremarkable at first glance, he was actually extremely talented.
Both Chrysa and Ren were easygoing people.
After Professor Cerise introduced them, the two greeted Itsuki warmly.
"Hello! I'm Professor Cerise's assistant. My name's Ren!"
"Hello! I'm Chrysa!"
Itsuki shook hands with both of them and returned their greetings.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Itsuki, a Pokémon Trainer. Sorry for troubling everyone with my request."
Chrysa waved her hand dismissively and smiled.
"Don't worry about it! The laboratory hasn't officially opened yet, so we don't have that much work to do. Things are actually pretty relaxed around here."
"Exactly!"
Ren nodded enthusiastically in agreement.
"There are only a handful of us working here right now, so it gets pretty lonely. Having you visit today actually makes the place feel a little livelier!"
While the group chatted, Professor Cerise placed Itsuki's Pokédex onto a machine and began operating it.
After a few minutes, he finished the procedure and handed the device back.
"All right, the data upgrade is complete. So, are you planning to challenge the Indigo League next?"
"That's right."
Itsuki nodded.
"However, Ralts is currently my only Pokémon. If I want to challenge the Gyms, I'll need to catch a few more Pokémon and expand my team first."
The moment the conversation turned to Pokémon, Ren's enthusiasm immediately skyrocketed.
He eagerly asked, "There are tons of different Pokémon in the Kanto Region! So, have you already decided which ones you want to catch?"
"I already have a few targets in mind."
Itsuki saw no reason to hide his intentions and answered openly.
"Charmander, Squirtle, and Bulbasaur. Those three starter Pokémon are definitely ones I want to catch. As for the others..."
He smiled.
"I guess I'll just have to leave that up to fate."
"The three starters?" Professor Cerise chuckled. "That's quite an interesting name."
"It's just something I came up with to make referring to them easier."
Itsuki waved his hand dismissively before asking another question.
"By the way, Professor Cerise, do you know anywhere around here where I might find wild starter Pokémon?"
"Well, you generally have a chance of encountering Charmander near volcanoes or inside lava caves. For Squirtle, you'd have better luck searching along remote coastlines or on isolated islands. As for Bulbasaur, you should be able to find them in dense forests. But somewhere nearby..."
Ren suddenly paused, as though something had occurred to him.
"Have you ever heard of the Mysterious Garden?"
"The Mysterious Garden?"
Hearing that name, Itsuki felt a strange sense of familiarity.
Professor Cerise, who was standing nearby, offered an explanation.
"According to legend, the Mysterious Garden is a place where Bulbasaur gather to hold a festival celebrating their evolution. However, because very few people have ever visited it, most consider it nothing more than a place that exists in fantasy."
'Oh, right!'
With that explanation, Itsuki finally recalled the storyline associated with the place.
'Didn't Ash enter the Mysterious Garden in the original Pokémon anime while searching for his Bulbasaur?!'
'But wait...'
A question suddenly occurred to him.
"Is this actually the season when they hold their festival?"
"I'm afraid I'm not entirely sure about that."
Professor Cerise thought for a moment before adding, "However, I can confirm that the Mysterious Garden really does exist. And even if it isn't currently the festival season, I imagine there must be quite a few Bulbasaur living in the surrounding area."
"I see."
Itsuki nodded.
"Then do you have any clues about its location? Or rather... how should I go about finding it?"
Professor Cerise operated his computer and brought up a map of the area surrounding Vermilion City on the large screen.
Pointing toward a particular section, he explained, "Although I don't know the exact location of the Mysterious Garden, our previous observations revealed that a large number of wild Bulbasaur are active deep within the forest north of Vermilion City. Perhaps you could try your luck there."
"I see!"
Itsuki carefully studied the map and committed the location to memory.
Then he sincerely expressed his gratitude.
"You've been a tremendous help, Professor Cerise! Thank you so much!"