"Thank you, Professor!"
Ash's eyes lit up as he spotted the brand-new machine on the desk—silver in color and somewhat resembling a fancy coffee machine.
"No need to thank me," Professor Oak waved it off. "If you're gonna thank someone, thank the League. That's the newest model of the Portable Poké Ball Transfer Machine, and the League gifted it to you for free."
"The Kanto League has been going through a dry spell these past few years. We've hit a talent drought. If it weren't for our close cooperation with the Johto League over in Mt. Silver, we'd barely be able to fill out our Elite Four, let alone crown a Champion."
"You, Ash… you've shown incredible talent as a Trainer. And more importantly—you're a rare, one-in-a-million psychic. Your future is limitless. That's why the League is taking you seriously."
"So besides this machine, the League wants to know if there's anything else you need. As long as it's not too excessive, they're willing to provide it."
Professor Oak stopped organizing his research materials, turned around, and spoke to Ash with rare gravity.
…
"I see…"
Ash gently ran his fingers across the surface of the Poké Ball Transfer Machine, his expression calm—but a spark of realization flickered in his eyes.
Back during the summer camp, Ash had intentionally shown off his talents as a Trainer—and had made no effort to hide his psychic abilities.
Sure, part of it was to win the camp rewards and secure early access to owning a Pokémon.
But more importantly, he'd hoped to attract the League's attention—to earn their recognition, support, and resources.
And now, barely a day after summer camp ended, the League had already responded through Professor Oak.
Though the benefits weren't massive yet, Ash could tell—he'd succeeded.
They valued him.
Even if they didn't gift him something like a Dratini or Larvitar right away, granting him special privileges and direct attention was already a big deal.
…
"Well," Ash grinned, "I know it's not realistic to expect the League to just hand me a Dratini or Larvitar… but if we're talking about small privileges, I do have a few things in mind."
"First, I'd like permission to own Pokémon without a cap on quantity. And second… if possible, I'd like the League to assign someone to protect me in secret—for my safety, at least until I officially debut."
"When Team Rocket escaped the summer camp yesterday, they made a point to call me out by name. Said they'd see me again soon."
"I think the talent I showed off at camp didn't just attract the League's interest—it also put me on the radar of Team Rocket."
Ash's tone grew serious as he met Professor Oak's eyes.
…
"Team Rocket's got their eyes on you now?"
Oak frowned instantly.
But he didn't doubt Ash's warning—this wasn't just some paranoid hunch.
Over the years, the Kanto and Johto Leagues had both suffered from Rocket interference. Whenever a promising Trainer emerged, the Rockets would either try to recruit them—or eliminate them outright.
That was the core reason behind the two Leagues' decline: a lack of talent.
And the root of that talent drain was the ever-present threat of Team Rocket's assassinations.
Hearing that Ash had already drawn their attention, Oak immediately understood the danger.
…
"Don't worry, Ash," he said. "Pallet Town is one of the safest places in all of Kanto, aside from the Plateau itself. But even so, I'll have the League increase security around you and your home."
"As for that request about Dratini or Larvitar… it's true you can't apply for them now. But in the future? That might change."
"Huh?" Ash's eyes lit up. "What do you mean, Professor?"
Oak smiled and began to explain:
"In recent years, the Kanto and Johto Leagues have deepened their collaboration across politics, economics, and culture. And as part of that effort, they've jointly launched a program called the 'Elite Trainer Development and Incubation Plan.'"
"As long as a Trainer demonstrates exceptional potential, the League will provide them with special privileges and resource support—including, yes, pseudo-legendary Pokémon eggs or hatchlings."
"When you officially begin your journey as a Pokémon Trainer—traveling the regions, challenging Gyms, collecting badges, and entering League Conferences—whether it's the Indigo Plateau Conference in Kanto or the Silver Conference in Johto…"
"As long as you win the championship, you'll be granted the right to apply for either a Dratini or Larvitar from the League."
Professor Oak looked at Ash with a meaningful smile.
A smile that asked—"So? Do you have what it takes?"
…
"The 'Elite Trainer Development Plan'… and winning the League earns me a pseudo-legendary?"
Ash clenched his fist, eyes burning with confidence. "If they've already prepared the prize, I'll just make sure to collect it when the time comes."
After all, if the League was willing to ensure his safety and give him a few years to grow stronger in peace—then when the time came, dominating a League tournament would be a piece of cake.
"Haha! That's the spirit!" Oak chuckled heartily. "Young people should dream big."
"Back in the day, Pallet Town was known as the Town of Champions. But after Kanto began to decline, we haven't produced a League champion in years."
"Ash… I'm counting on you to bring that title back home and put Pallet Town back on the map."
…
"I got it, Professor!" Ash's eyes gleamed with pride. "I'll make sure the name 'Champion Town' echoes across the entire world!"
"Not just Kanto's Indigo Plateau or Johto's Silver Conference—I'll win Hoenn's Ever Grande Conference, Sinnoh's Lily of the Valley Conference, Unova's Vertress Conference, and even Kalos' Lumiose Conference!"
"To become the world's strongest Trainer… to stand at the very top of the Trainer profession… to become a true Pokémon Master!"
"To me, those League Championships are just a mid-tier goal."
…
"Ahaha… good! It's been a long time since this old man saw someone with so much drive."
"Oh, and about that other request—the one about lifting the limit on how many Pokémon you can carry—I'll submit it to the League. Based on how much they value you, I don't think there'll be any issue."
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T/N:
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