Pokemon: This Trainer is Too Cautious!

"That bastard!"

Watching his Magneton shatter into pieces, Surge's eyes burned crimson with fury. But what he didn't expect was that Ace immediately fled, giving him no time to react at all.

"Boss, should we pursue?"

"Pursue!"

Surge's composure wasn't particularly deep, and being someone who held grudges, he only now realized that Ace had tricked him. Unable to contain his anger, he immediately dispatched his men to chase Ace.

However, Surge ultimately underestimated Aerodactyl's speed.

Through continuous flight training, Aerodactyl's speed while carrying a person had significantly improved.

More importantly, Ace wasn't carrying his heavy backpack, which meant a considerable reduction in weight.

For Aerodactyl, it was like shedding weights during flight, making its speed even faster than before.

By the time Surge and his men caught up, Ace and Aerodactyl's shadows were no longer visible in the sky.

"That damned bastard, don't let me see you again, or you'll regret it!"

Surge roared, but having lost their trail, he had no way of finding them.

"Ring, ring, ring..."

The phone rang. Standing within a pyramid-like shield formed by four Magneton, Surge answered the call.

"An Articuno has been discovered in the waters near the Power Plant. Go capture it. I want it alive."

"Understood, I'll depart immediately."

Surge recognized the voice as Boss Giovanni's, so he promptly agreed.

He stopped worrying about Ace for now; completing Boss Giovanni's mission was paramount.

As Surge and his team rushed to the Power Plant, Aerodactyl circled around in the sky with Ace before discreetly returning near Vermilion City.

After recalling Aerodactyl, Ace quickly disguised himself and blended back into Vermilion City.

Back at the hotel, Cynthia was still reading. Hearing the door open, Cynthia instinctively looked up at the entrance.

At first glance, Cynthia immediately burst out laughing: "What did you do? You're as black as charcoal!"

Ace rolled his eyes and, with his dark face, walked into the bathroom.

The sound of running water filled the air. After two minutes of washing the grime from his face, Ace emerged from the bathroom and said to Cynthia, "Let's go. The matter is handled. We're leaving Vermilion City for Mt. Silver."

"Time for special training?"

Cynthia, still unaware of what had happened, stood up, returned the book to Ace, and then said, "Perfect. After reading for so long, it's a good time to convert knowledge into experience."

Ace put away the book The Mysteries of Earth, slung his large backpack over his shoulders, and with Cynthia, checked out of the hotel. They then cautiously left Vermilion City via a shortcut.

Upon reaching Vermilion Port, Ace released Lapras. Riding on Lapras, Ace and Cynthia prepared to cross the ocean directly to Pallet Town.

After Ace and Cynthia left Vermilion City, all of Team Rocket sprang into action.

Janine, Koga, and Surge, the three executives, each led a fifty-person squad, heading to the recently scouted locations of the three Legendary birds.

As Ace had guessed, the final battle was about to begin.

For Ace to complete his main mission, he had to enter Mt. Silver within this short time and increase his strength as much as possible!

"Please look at me once more from afar."

"From that place you found."

"A quiet ripple emerged."

"Healing my weary heart, filled with sorrow."

"..."

Sitting on Lapras's back, Cynthia softly hummed a song. Her gentle voice seemed to soothe a wounded soul.

Ace listened to the song, gradually becoming immersed in it.

But when Cynthia sang: "Yes, ever since that Friday I saw your figure sitting on Lapras."

Ace instantly snapped back to awareness, looking at Cynthia with surprise, and asked, "Is that 'The Boy on Lapras'?"

"Yes, it's a song sung by Nut, a radio host I really like."

Cynthia nodded, looking at Ace, and asked, "You've heard it too?"

"..."

Ace was silent. He hadn't actually heard it, but he knew of the song.

This song was created by Professor Oak and others for Pryce, hoping he could emerge from the shadow of losing his Lapras.

Mr. Steel and the old man from the Day Care wrote the lyrics, Professor Oak and Elite Four Lorelei composed the music, and finally, the old woman from the Day Care sang it.

As for Nut, the radio host, she must have covered the song. Ace hadn't expected that even Cynthia, all the way in Sinnoh, knew this song.

"Song... Pallet Town... Professor Oak... Lapras..."

Several words instantly connected in Ace's mind, and Ace suddenly thought of a possibility, his eyes gradually brightening.

He thought of a person.

That person was Pryce!

If Giovanni was the king of Ground-types, then Pryce was definitely the pinnacle of Ice-types.

His main Pokémon, a Delibird, a Pokémon practically no one used in the games, could single-handedly take on Ho-Oh and Lugia in his hands.

Was Delibird strong?

Not at all; it was considered a rather weak Pokémon.

But for such a Pokémon to be trained to such an achievement by Pryce showed just how strong Pryce's talent for raising Ice-type Pokémon was!

Conveniently, while Ace's Lapras was a dual Ice/Water-type, Ace had always been developing it towards its Ice-type potential.

And Pryce, having painfully lost his own Lapras, had a special sentiment for the species.

Professor Oak once had old ties with Pryce. If Ace could get a "recommendation letter" from Professor Oak.

Then Ace could absolutely go to Pryce for a period of advanced training!

"Side Mission (Professor Oak's Recommendation Letter): Find Professor Oak, gain his favor, and obtain his recommendation letter. Reward: 2000 gold, mission points based on completion evaluation."

"Side Mission (Pryce's Approval): Find Pryce, gain his favor, and receive his guidance. Reward: 5000 gold, mission points based on completion evaluation."

"Side Mission (Ascend Mt. Silver): Ascend Mt. Silver within two years. Reward: 50000 gold, a legal plot of land (can build a house), mission points based on completion evaluation. Penalty: All held Pokémon's potential decrease by one grade."

Three missions appeared, and Ace's lips curved upward.

It seemed his idea had received system support. However, gaining the favor of two shrewd old men would still be quite challenging for Ace.

"First, I'll go to Pallet Town to find Professor Oak," Ace thought to himself, then looked at the side mission he had almost forgotten.

Obtain a starter Pokémon from Professor Oak!