“Thanks for the ride, Pidgeot.”
Pidgeot landed on the outskirts of Rustboro City, and Roy hopped gracefully off its back.
“Pidgeot!”
After a final farewell, the majestic bird took to the skies once more, heading back toward Lilycove City.
Roy unfolded the latest issue of the Lilycove Daily.
The headline stretched across the front page:
“Brave Ghost-type Trainer Assists Officer Jenny in Capturing a Notorious Poacher.”
Beneath it was a large photograph of Roy standing proudly beside Litwick and Duskull.
Roy stared at it for a long moment before sighing.
“They really didn’t capture how handsome I am.
What’s going on here?”
Even so…
The system’s Popularity Points had already climbed to 450.
Just fifty more points, and the System Shop would finally unlock.
Looks like getting publicity really does work.
There was still plenty of time before he needed to report to Rustboro Academy.
Since he was already in one of Hoenn’s largest cities, Roy decided to look around first.
After all…
The famous Devon Corporation headquarters was located here.
Before he could head into the city…
A frantic bark echoed from nearby, followed by someone’s desperate cries for help.
Roy turned toward the commotion.
A middle-aged man wearing a white lab coat, olive-green shorts, and sporting a thick beard was sprinting toward him with a panicked expression.
Right behind him…
A gray-and-black Poochyena was enthusiastically chasing him.
Professor Birch?
This scene looks awfully familiar…
“Young man!”
“Help me!”
Professor Birch waved frantically.
Behind him, Poochyena maintained the perfect distance.
Every time it seemed ready to bite…
It slowed down at the last second, barked twice, and encouraged Birch to run even faster.
It was less of a chase…
And more like a mischievous game.
Roy stared blankly.
Apparently, the little troublemaker understood exactly how close it could get without actually biting.
If it really sank its teeth into Professor Birch…
It would probably regret it afterward.
It reminded Roy of the village dogs from his previous life.
Always chasing people.
Rarely biting them.
Did I accidentally trigger some hidden event?
Wait…
Where was Professor Birch’s briefcase?
Roy immediately looked around.
He searched everywhere.
Nothing.
No briefcase.
“Young man!”
“Young man!”
Professor Birch continued shouting for help.
Did the story change?
Roy seemed not to hear him at all.
Instead…
He fell into deep thought.
Which starter should I choose?
After careful consideration…
Roy came to a brilliant conclusion.
Kids make choices.
Adults take all three.
Finally…
Professor Birch collapsed onto the ground, completely exhausted.
He panted heavily, no longer caring whether Poochyena would catch him.
Seeing that its prank had succeeded…
Poochyena wagged its tail proudly before disappearing into the nearby bushes.
Apparently…
Its only goal had been scaring Professor Birch.
Lying flat on the ground…
Professor Birch was just about to complain about how today’s young people had absolutely no compassion…
When Roy walked over and extended a hand.
Well…
Professor Birch reached for Roy’s hand.
Then Roy spoke.
“Professor.”
“I’ve made my decision.”
“I want all three starter Pokémon.”
Professor Birch froze.
“…What?”
Did this kid seriously just say that?
Does he have absolutely no shame?
Seeing no response…
Roy reluctantly lowered his expectations.
“If that’s impossible…”
“I’ll settle for Mudkip.”
Professor Birch stared at him.
Mudkip?
“You look like a Mudkip!”
In the end…
Professor Birch stood up by himself and brushed the dirt from his clothes.
Then he looked at Roy with a speechless expression.
Since when did saving someone automatically earn you a starter Pokémon?
If that were true…
He’d just let Poochyena chase him around every day and hand out starters like candy.
Even fools wouldn’t believe something so ridiculous.
Besides…
Distributing starter Pokémon was the League’s responsibility.
It had nothing to do with him.
He was a Pokémon Professor.
His job was research.
Not handing out Pokémon.
After confirming that Professor Birch truly didn’t have any starters with him…
Roy let out a long, disappointed sigh.
There went his dream.
His three starters had flown away forever.
The expression on his face looked as though he’d just lost a fortune.
Professor Birch was completely dumbfounded.
I’m the official Professor of the Hoenn Region.
A regional Pokémon Professor!
Why does this kid look at me like I’m some traveling supply crate?
Just as Birch was about to unleash a colorful string of complaints…
Litwick peeked out from Roy’s shoulder.
Professor Birch immediately froze.
“W…
What is that?”
His eyes instantly locked onto the tiny candle Pokémon.
“Is…”
“Is that your Pokémon?”
Roy nodded.
“His name is Litwick.”
“A Ghost-type Pokémon.”
Of course Professor Birch knew what Litwick was.
But…
This was the first time he’d ever seen one in person.
The moment he learned Roy specialized in Ghost-types…
His eyes lit up.
Like he’d discovered buried treasure.
Unlike ordinary people…
Professor Birch had absolutely no fear of Ghost-type Pokémon.
As Hoenn’s regional Professor…
His research on every Pokémon type was extensive.
Every type…
Except Ghost.
Ghost Pokémon were incredibly rare.
Their appearances were usually accompanied by strange urban legends and supernatural rumors.
For Birch’s own safety…
The League strictly prohibited him from researching Ghost Pokémon alone.
It had frustrated him for years.
His life’s research lacked only one final piece.
Ghost-types.
And now…
That missing piece had appeared right in front of him.
“Hehehe…”
“My precious little specimen…”
“Come here and let me study you!”
“Ahem.”
“Professor…”
“You might want to watch how you phrase that.”
“Right!
Right!”
Professor Birch instantly straightened his posture.
As if the creepy laughter hadn’t come from him at all.
He quickly realized that openly staring at someone else’s Pokémon without permission was rather impolite.
Allowing himself to calm down…
He extended a hand.
“Allow me to introduce myself properly.”
“I’m Professor Birch.”
“The Pokémon Professor of the Hoenn Region.”
“My primary field of research is the relationship between Pokémon habitats and their distribution…”
He continued talking.
And talking.
And talking.
It sounded almost like chanting scripture.
Roy nearly fell asleep standing up.
If Professor Birch were actually giving him a starter Pokémon…
He’d happily play along with the familiar opening scene.
But…
No starter.
No motivation.
“So, young man…”
Professor Birch suddenly smiled.
“You seem quite talented.”
“How about becoming my research assistant?”
Roy raised an eyebrow.
“Research assistant?”
“I think you just want an excuse to study Litwick.”
Professor Birch laughed sheepishly.
Well…
He couldn’t deny that.
Fortunately…
Roy didn’t actually mind.
Professor Birch’s interest had already earned him one Popularity Point.
“Do you have any other Ghost-type Pokémon?”
Roy silently pointed behind the professor.
“Behind me?”
Professor Birch turned around.
The moment he did…
A floating skull mask filled his entire field of vision.
“Hehehe…”
“Hehehe…”
“Duskull!”
Professor Birch practically shouted in excitement.
He immediately whipped out a magnifying glass and began examining Duskull from every angle.
Completely confused…
Duskull floated closer and pressed its single eye against the magnifying glass, curiously examining Birch in return.
Compared to Duskull’s cooperation…
Litwick took one look at Professor Birch’s scruffy beard…
And decisively rejected him.
Too ugly.
Just as Birch was trying to think of a way to observe Litwick…
His wrist communicator suddenly beeped.
He slapped his forehead.
Only then did he remember.
He had an appointment with the Safari Zone manager today to conduct ecological research.
His destination was the Safari Zone.
Exactly the opposite direction from Rustboro City.
Birch sighed regretfully.
Finding a Ghost-type Trainer willing to cooperate with his research was unbelievably rare.
After learning Roy was a student at Rustboro Academy…
Professor Birch immediately brightened.
“I’ll come visit you at the academy.”
“I hope you’ll help me complete my Ghost-type research.”
Roy nodded without hesitation.
After all…
If Professor Birch published an academic paper on Ghost-type Pokémon…
Roy would gain Popularity Points.
No matter how he looked at it…
It was a win-win situation.