238 Chapter 239
Until the night grew late.
Blue spent the entire day training with Red at Mt. Silver and returned to Professor Oak's Laboratory with a backpack.
"Hey, welcome back~" Professor Oak, donned in a white coat, took a sip of instant noodles, lifted his head, and greeted.
"Don't use the alcohol lamp for instant noodles every time," Blue sighed reluctantly. "Doesn't your assistant know how to cook?"
"After a busy afternoon, I let the kid leave work early," Professor Oak happily explained with a smile.
"Blue, the Trainer you recommended, I've already evaluated him."
"How?" Blue raised his eyebrows, eager to hear Professor Oak's assessment of Teacher Luke.
"A Trainer with seasoned command and decisive judgment," Professor Oak said, taking a chopstick of noodles, lost in thought. "Remarkable tactical skills and reaction abilities, perhaps even surpassing any player I've seen."
"And... the bond between him and Pokémon."
Sylveon, a Pokémon that only stays by a trusted Trainer's side, and Gengar, with a fighting spirit akin to Charizard's tail flame...
Professor Oak smiled. "You truly recommended an outstanding Trainer."
"...Your instant noodles are getting cold."
"Oops! I got carried away talking to you..." Professor Oak hastily lowered his chopsticks.
Blue, with one hand in his pocket, looked contemplative.
"So, he passed your assessment?"
Blue had never underestimated Teacher Luke's strength. Whether in terms of Red's value or Dragon Tamer Lance's equal match, Blue always regarded Teacher Luke as an equal or even stronger opponent. After all, Teacher Luke had yet to reveal his trump card.
"Yes," Professor Oak nodded. "I've given him the special Pokédex."
Although the result wasn't surprising, Blue asked curiously, "What was the assessment like?"
"I had a Double Battle with him."
Professor Oak didn't shy away. "Haha, and it turns out I lost!"
Blue was a bit surprised. Despite his grandfather's age, he had been a real Kanto Champion in his youth. If it were Dragonite and Kangaskhan, even Blue wasn't entirely confident of winning in a doubles battle.
"Haha, old fogey, I did my best!" Professor Oak said with emotion. "I hit Yawn and tried my best not to fall asleep. Didn't expect..."
"In the end, I lost," Professor Oak reluctantly admitted with a smile. "I gave it my all, and I still lost."
"I think I understand now," Blue said, lost in thought. Teacher Luke's evaluation in his mind had once again improved.
"Also, the most critical question..."
Blue squinted.
"What is Teacher Luke's ability?"
Not only Blue, but even Red couldn't discern Teacher Luke's true strength. According to Hoenn's Ruby, Teacher Luke was a splendid coordinator. And Mr. Brock praised Teacher Luke's breeding strength. Perhaps only Professor Oak's keen eyesight could successfully identify it.
"Tactics," Professor Oak said bluntly. "In the match between us, he read my commands first, then used Gengar to execute a deception."
"The most important thing is staying calm in a critical moment and executing 'Ally Switch' to perfection."
"Maybe..." Professor Oak said with a slight smile. "It's more accurate to describe him as 'The Tactician.'"
"The Tactician?" Blue nodded thoughtfully. Combining Teacher Luke's demonstrations and self-created routines, this title did seem more fitting. From another perspective, compared with abilities like 'communication' and 'incubation,' 'combat' and 'tactics' directly influenced battles. Though he didn't want to admit it, Blue harbored a trace of envy for Teacher Luke's innate talent—a quality comparable to 'The Fighter'!
"It's Teacher Luke after all..." Blue mumbled, turning his back and waving to Professor Oak.
Decision made. In Blue's eyes, Teacher Luke was a high-level fighter. He planned to summon Gold, the young trainer, and continue their training at Mt. Silver during this time.
"One more thing!"
Professor Oak called out, "That boy Ash, have you been in contact with him?"
Due to Teacher Luke's 'Tailwind' tactic, Blue was nominally Ash's Master. As a "reliable senior" in the group, Blue had taught Yellow and Silver. Ash, the bewildered rookie, was the most troublesome and challenging for Blue.
"Yes," Blue replied. "He's preparing for the Evergrande Conference. He should be back in Pallet Town soon."
"That's good. When he returns, ask him for me," Professor Oak said seriously. "See if he's willing to participate in the special Pokédex test."
"Hmph, you really like that kid," Blue grinned.
"Haha, after all, he and Red have similarities!"
"I will," Blue waved his hand.
.....
On the flip side, Luke is seated on the train bound for Saffron City.
"Jie jie~!" Gengar peered at the Pokédex in Luke's hand with a curious expression.
"Let me explore it a bit," Luke said, touching his chin as he carefully played with the special Pokédex.
[Special Edition Pokédex: Hand-made by Professor Oak, the extremely rare Pokémon Pokédex has more comprehensive functions. (Speaking of being comprehensive, in fact it is not comprehensive.)]
Luke: ???
Haven't pulled any tricks in a few days, have you decided to start again?
However, the significance of the special edition Pokédex outweighs its practicality. According to the information gathered by Teacher Luke, having a Pokémon Pokédex grants you store discounts and free room and board at the Pokémon Center. With the special edition Pokédex, you get an extra discount—a bonus for free room and board!
Regardless, Luke still feels a sense of responsibility in his heart. Everyone in the group is a colleague, and during future dinners, there won't be any awkward situations of not being able to produce a special Pokédex!
"It stands to reason that I should have a title..." Luke muttered as he played with the Pokédex. "In my haste, I forgot to ask Professor Oak."
Every Pokédex holder receives a corresponding title. For instance, Red displays the title of 'The Fighter' during battles, which looks quite impressive.
"Don't give me a shameless title, something like 'Heavenly Retribution'!"
Luke makes a wry face. In that kind of situation, the likelihood of Stantler going bare is no more than 30%. Sylveon was successfully hypnotized in this manner. Teacher Luke wonders if he was a military chief in his past life.
As for using 'Ally Switch' to turn the tables in the end, Teacher Luke feels a bit guilty.
"I never use Ally Switch," Luke coughed and nodded, thinking, "This move is too dirty. Sooner or later, I have to delete it!"
With time still before the train arrives and the evening getting late, Luke places Sylveon on his lap, twirling its ribbon and idly brushing the movements.
"Vui~! (#｀Д´)"
In the chat group, Gold is excitedly exclaiming.
"Luke, Teacher Luke, has become a Pokédex holder?!"
"Your voice is so loud..." Crystal said helplessly, "Teacher Luke received the invitation and participated in the assessment. Professor Oak handed him the Pokédex."
"Wu wu wu, I asked the old man for a long time, but he didn't give it to me."
Gold laments, "Why does Teacher Luke only take one day, no, one afternoon..."
Lance, having heard of the special Pokédex tradition, inquires curiously:
"What was the assessment like?"
"Doubles Battle," Blue said. "Teacher Luke won."
The group fell silent for a while until Viridian Forest's Yellow sent a Squirtle emoticon package.
Yellow of Viridian Forest: [How dare I speak·jpg]
Erika chimes in: "Professor Oak is the former Kanto Champion..."
Lorelei agrees: "Yes, he set a record and defeated Champion Grandma Agatha ."
Lance reflects: "Hmm... it sounds reasonable. Teacher Luke, who drew with me at the time, defeating a veteran is indeed nothing difficult."
Green happily interjects: "Evaluation! What did Professor Oak say?"
This kind of gossip moment is the best for everyone to discuss.
The title of 'The Evolver' made Green happy for a long time.
Luke, touching his chin, silently gazes at the sky. Please don't give me another weird title!
"The Tactician," Blue reveals.
Crystal, who witnessed the entire assessment, emotionally remarks: "Teacher Luke... has taken tactics to the extreme."
Luke is taken aback for a moment.
Steven, who has been silent, smiles and says: "What a handsome title."
Yellow of Viridian Forest cheers: ヾ(◍°∇°◍)ﾉﾞTeacher Luke is awesome ~~
Wattson, the Old Master, smiles: "@Teacher Luke, you've got something inside!"
Sabrina, with her black hair raised, the Top Rank Executive of Team Rocket, acknowledges: For Teacher Luke to receive such an evaluation from Professor Oak... even she feels a trace of admiration.
"So impressive... No, it's 'The Dirty-Hearted'!" Gold, who has been at the receiving end of Teacher Luke's various tactics, can't help but exclaim.
Although these dirty tactics are indeed part of strategy... Teacher Luke is just too dirty, hey!
"I can take that as a compliment!" Teacher Luke responds.
Gold:?
Steven:?
Erika:?
...
Upon hearing the evaluation, Luke coughs lightly and nods. Ah... at least this is a serious title. However, the feeling of another strange title has been added!
Counting on his fingers, Luke thinks for a while and finally sighs helplessly. "It's so special; I can't keep track of them..."
To receive such an evaluation, Luke thinks it's probably because of the last 'Ally Switch.' How did such a clever move as 'Ally Switch' end up so dirty? Luke pats his shoulder and smiles happily.
