Chapter 17: Chapter 16: Draconis Family! (2)
Since the physical recovery medicine had already been released a few days ago, the mental recovery potion followed the very next day. After all, the ingredients were mostly the same, and the mental potion could be produced directly on the same production line. That alone saved a lot of time.
As expected by Professor Oak, the mental recovery potion was immediately welcomed by the majority of trainers. Supplies were depleted at an alarming rate. Thankfully, the pharmaceutical production facility established by Masaki Oak was large enough to meet the explosive demand—barely.
And once again, the name of Ash Ketchum came into the spotlight of both independent trainers and those from powerful families. Unsurprisingly, Skye Draconis was furious. Ash seemed like a treasure trove just waiting to be unearthed!
In many prestigious clans across different regions, instructions were quickly passed down: maintain a good relationship with Ash no matter what. A person with such talent in potion-making must never be offended. After all, even Pokémon grow old. When that time comes, good medicine will be indispensable!
The Dragon Clan Residence
"You useless fools! Look at what you've done—forcing my grandson and his mother out of the family! Do you think I'm so old now that I can't keep you all in line anymore?!"
"And you! My unfilial son! What have I taught you about being a man of integrity? Is this how you treat your own woman? If my grandson refuses to return to the Dragon Clan because of you, I swear I'll break your legs myself!"
In the grand conference room of the Dragon Clan, an aged yet imposing elder sat at the head of the table, berating the gathered elders and two middle-aged men. That man was none other than Skye Draconis, Ash's grandfather. While proud of his grandson's strength and talent, Skye's heart was often stifled by Ash's cold attitude toward the family.
"Father, please calm down. I'll do everything I can to win Ash's forgiveness. Delia told me he's been an exceptional trainer for years—he reached elite rank at just seven years old!"
Trying to soothe his father's anger, Lance (Ash's father) spoke up cautiously. In truth, Ash had no idea that Lance often contacted Delia in secret. As Ash's biological father, Lance still longed to know how his son was growing up. If Delia hadn't explicitly forbidden him from meeting Ash, he might have shown up in Pallet Town years ago. Unfortunately, his past mistakes had left too deep a scar on her.
"Seven years old… and already an elite-level trainer?" Gasps filled the room. Even among the elite, that level of talent was unheard of. Many struggled their whole lives just to reach the advanced level.
"You bastard! If my grandson won't come back because of this, you can get the hell out of my sight!" Skye exploded at Lance again, furious.
"Father, enough! Big Brother was forced into this too. Besides, the elders who caused all this mess have already been dealt with. I believe Ash will calm down once he hears that," said Draco Draconis, the current head of the clan. Seeing his brother taking the brunt of the scolding, he stepped in to mediate.
After learning what the elders had done, Skye had flown into a rage. Without hesitation, he had removed them from power—permanently. In this world, actions had consequences. And sometimes, those consequences were deadly.
"How can I stay calm?! Just thinking about that smug old Samuel makes my blood boil! He's been living off my grandson's potions and still dares to gloat about it to me over the phone! That fat old man even gained weight from all the spoils!"
As Draco tried to deescalate, Skye's temper flared again. The memory of Professor Oak's smug face bragging about Ash's achievements only added fuel to the fire.
Knock, knock.
"Who the hell dares to interrupt the meeting now?!" Skye barked, glaring at the door.
"I-I'm sorry, Master!" stammered a nervous attendant. "The background report you requested has just arrived…"
"Then speak," Skye said, finally cooling his tone. Of course he would take the report seriously—it was about Ash, his grandson. He'd always kept a close watch.
"Wait!" came a voice just as the attendant was about to start.
An elderly woman entered, gentle and dignified.
"Mom!"
"Mom!"
"Dear?"
Everyone rose respectfully. The old woman was Kiko Draconis, Ash's grandmother and Skye's wife. Upon learning about her grandson, she had been deeply worried and insisted on staying updated.
"Ash Ketchum, fifteen years old this year. Officially registered as the young scion of the Oak family. According to the latest reports, his current trainer level is likely at the peak of Elite or early Quasi-Champion. Known Pokémon include Pikachu, Onix, Growlithe, and Pidgeotto."
"Currently, the subject is located in Pewter City. It seems he's participating in the Indigo League Conference."
After Kiko Draconis took her seat beside Skye Draconis, the scout began to report on Ash's recent whereabouts. The information left many in the room stunned.
At just fifteen years old, Ash had already reached peak Elite-level strength. Each tier within the Elite rank—early, mid, late, and peak—was notoriously difficult to climb. And if reports were accurate, Ash might already be nearing the Quasi-Champion tier!
"According to that old coot Oak, Ash is planning to challenge the Elite Four eventually. For now, he's about to start taking on the Gym Leaders. Send people to coordinate with them—I want complete footage of every battle as soon as they happen!"
Skye Draconis' eyes narrowed. Rank and title were one thing—but to truly assess a trainer's power, you had to look at their Pokémon in battle.
"As expected of my grandson. Even more talented than Lance was!" Unlike Skye's measured tone, Kiko Draconis beamed with open delight.
"Father," Draco Draconis interjected with a frown, "I've got a question. Why are all of Ash's Pokémon low in base stat totals? From what we've gathered, Ash holds an extremely high position in the Oak family. There's no logical reason why he wouldn't have access to higher-quality Pokémon."
He was clearly confused. After all, while some of the Pokémon on Ash's team had potential, their base stats were relatively low compared to typical powerhouses. That made it extremely difficult for them to break through their limits. From a traditional perspective, their potential ceilings were low.
"I asked about that a long time ago," Skye replied, his voice a bit gruff. "But that old bastard just told me it was Ash's own choice. He warned me not to underestimate Ash's Pokémon. That's why I want to see the battle footage for myself."
"I need to know if the boy's truly as monstrous as Oak claims," Skye muttered, furrowing his brow.
...
TN:
Support me on P-com/LordMerlin