What did she mean the Fighting Dojo had been abandoned three months ago?!
Grey's brain crashed for an instant.
Then he thought of one possibility.
He had crossed over again!
Hiss...
Now came the problem.
He was in a completely unfamiliar place. What was he supposed to do?
"If there's nothing else, I'm hanging up."
Sabrina's cold voice came from the other end of the phone.
Grey thought for a moment, then still said, "Thank you. Sorry to bother you."
After he finished speaking, Sabrina hesitated for a moment on the other end of the line, gave a soft "Mm," then hung up.
"Mm..."
On Grey's side, he and Professor Sada both fell silent at the same time.
"About that..."
In the end, it was Grey who broke the silence. "If I said I came from another space-time, would you believe me?"
"If it were anyone else, they might not believe that explanation. But if it is me, and if it were my late husband, we would absolutely believe you."
Professor Sada smiled gently and stroked the Koraidon beside her. "Would it be convenient for me to ask what kind of researcher I am in your world?"
Grey searched his mind for information related to Sada and Turo.
"You and Professor Turo are considered a model couple in the Paldea region, as well as honorary alumni of Naranja Academy. But during an accident, your husband passed away. After that, you stayed in Area Zero and carried out experiments related to Paradox Pokémon. So as for what kind of researcher you roughly are, that is all I can say."
"And only a small number of people know about the experiments related to Paradox Pokémon. Roughly speaking, the Pokémon Professors from the major regions and the higher-ups of the corresponding Leagues know about them."
Grey said everything he knew and did not forget to take out his relevant identification. "I am a Kanto League Honorary Elite Four member. Although I do not know why this world has no trace of me, I can assure you that I have no ill intentions."
"It's fine. I can tell."
Professor Sada smiled faintly at this. "Then, do you have any plans for the near future?"
"Of course I'm going back."
Grey was still waiting for the matter in the Hoenn region to be settled so he could go on a trip to the Alola region with Sabrina, Caitlin, and the others.
Now that he had been dragged into this mess, Grey could not help feeling unlucky.
How had a fight between Rayquaza and Deoxys somehow sent him to another timeline?
How strange.
Damn Palkia and Dialga!
When it came to matters involving space and time, Grey's first reaction was that Palkia and Dialga had set him up.
Otherwise, how could it be such a coincidence that he had been teleported here?
"I happen to have two options here. I wonder which one you would like to choose."
At that moment, Professor Sada raised two fingers. "One option is to complete the time machine and see whether it can return you to your original timeline. I do have selfish motives for this option, and its danger level is especially high."
"What about the other one?"
Grey also knew that thing's danger level was high, so he had no intention of riding a time machine. "Tell me more."
"The other option is to search for the Legendary Pokémon related to space and time. If it is them, I believe they should be more capable of sending you back to your original time."
Sada slowly said, "This option is safer, but if your luck is bad, you may spend your entire life without ever finding them."
"Then I'll choose that one. Based on my luck... I should have a chance to get back within a year."
Grey did not dare speak too absolutely.
But based on the number of Legendary Pokémon he had encountered recently, there was still a chance he could run into Palkia and Dialga.
Or...
He could go look for Ash and see whether he could borrow some of the guy's "luck," draw Palkia and Dialga over, and have them send him back.
"It seems you're quite confident in your luck."
Professor Sada looked at Grey a little more, thought for a moment, then added, "Could I trouble you with something?"
Grey nodded. "Go ahead."
"If one day you truly return, could I trouble you to take care of the me in that world's..."
Sada did not know whether her counterpart in that timeline had a son or daughter, so she briefly got stuck.
Grey understood what Sada meant and added, "Arven?"
"So you know him. Could I trouble you to help take care of that child, Arven?"
"No problem."
Grey agreed to the request. After thinking for a moment, he asked, "What about this world's Arven?"
He was still a little confused. Why was Professor Sada not asking him to visit this world's Arven?
In theory, he should still be alive, right?
"Palkia and Dialga are Legendary Pokémon of the Sinnoh region. You probably won't be staying in Paldea for very long, correct?"
Professor Sada knew Grey was eager to go back, so she did not disturb him too much.
"Oh, I might not leave the Paldea region until I earn enough travel money."
Grey gave an awkward yet polite smile. "You know how it is. Without money, you can't get anywhere."
"Then is there anything you need me to help you with?"
"Hmm... Could you help me find a job? Preferably something related to Pokémon battles. As for salary and benefits, it would be best if they can be discussed in person."
Grey did not want to owe this world's Professor Sada too many favors.
He was going to leave eventually, so he definitely would not be able to repay them.
That felt a little strange.
If he could avoid owing favors, he would avoid them as much as possible.
"No problem."
Without thinking, Professor Sada made a phone call.
"Chairwoman Geeta, I've met a Champion-level Trainer. He wants to find some work recently. I remember the Paldea League should need help from powerful Trainers lately, right?"
"All right. I'll tell him to go to Mesagoza and meet you."
A short while later, Professor Sada hung up and said to Grey, "You know how to get to Naranja Academy in Mesagoza, right? Also, this is a phone I replaced. Take it as a farewell gift. I hope you can return home soon."
"Ah, thank you!"
Grey had not expected Professor Sada to be so generous.
It made him want to repay her.
Professor Sada also noticed what Grey was thinking and replied, "During this time, if it is convenient for you, please help me take care of Arven."
"All right."
Grey accepted the request.
"Agias?" (Human, are you leaving already? I still haven't beaten you!)
Seeing that Grey was about to leave, Koraidon became a little unhappy.
"It seems this child, Koraidon, likes you very much. This is the first time the second specimen has ever clung to a Trainer other than me."
Professor Sada smiled and stroked Koraidon's head, her tone full of emotion. "This child is good in every way, but sometimes it is too ferocious and often clashes with the first specimen."
After saying that, Professor Sada stared at Grey for a long while before taking out a marked Poké Ball and handing it to him. "Although this is sudden, could I ask you to take this child with you?"
"Huh?"
Grey was stunned.
This was Koraidon!
A Pokémon with a base stat total as high as 670. It might not hold a so-called divine role, but its strength absolutely could not be underestimated.
"What this child needs is a larger stage. It should not be limited to Area Zero, staying here with me forever."
Professor Sada stroked Koraidon.
The latter understood the meaning in her words. When it looked at Grey, it let out a low growl.
"Agias." (Human, you are one of the few humans I acknowledge.)
"All right. Then I'll gladly accept."
Grey took Koraidon's Poké Ball and returned it.
"By the way, how do I get back up?"
Grey was troubled when it came to returning to the surface monitoring station.
Surely he could not just sit on Metagross's back and fly up, right?
Mm...
If it was Koraidon, maybe that would work.
"Just use the transporter. It's high-tech from the Kanto region, and it's very safe."
Sada pointed at the transport floor not far away.
All right. It really was subspace transfer technology from the Kanto region.
He had to admit, in certain technological fields, the Pokémon world really did have some serious stuff.
"Then I'll be going. Goodbye, Professor Sada."
"Mm. May you return to your own world soon."
At the Zero Gate.
"Holy crap, the air is so much better up here!"
The moment Grey returned to the surface, he took deep breaths of fresh air.
Down below was way too oppressive, and it was also very humid.
It had made Grey afraid to breathe too deeply.
Now, things were much better. Much more comfortable.
"Let me see... Mm, the nearest town to here is Medali. If I remember right, that should be Larry's town, right?"
Grey took out the phone and checked.
Hey, it really was!
When it came to Larry, the first thing that appeared in Grey's mind was that completely lifeless face.
Sigh. One person working three jobs, having to serve as a Gym Leader, an Elite Four member, and a League salaryman. No matter who it was, they would look that miserable, right?
That was also why Grey did not want to become a proper Elite Four member.
He was afraid of being squeezed dry like that too!
"Hello. Are you the young man Chairwoman Geeta mentioned?"
While Grey was thinking, a middle-aged man in a suit and leather shoes appeared. His face, however, was completely lifeless.
The moment Grey saw that face, he knew the other party was Larry.
"Mr. Larry... Are you all right?"
Grey blinked and asked.
"Mm... Chairwoman Geeta asked me to take you to Mesagoza. Please follow me."
Seeing Grey answer like that, Larry turned and sent out his hairdo bird, Staraptor, then flew off toward Mesagoza.
Grey also sent out his shiny Metagross. The moment it appeared, its silver brilliance immediately drew the eye.
Larry, flying ahead, sensed that extraordinary aura and could not help turning back to look.
One glance, and whoa!
A shiny Metagross!
Larry immediately understood that Grey was anything but ordinary.
At the very least, that luck was undeniable.
Under Larry's guidance, after several hours of travel, they successfully entered Mesagoza around evening.
"Where to next, the Pokémon League or...?"
"Naranja Academy. Chairwoman Geeta is in the director's office."
"Got it."
After entering Mesagoza, the distance was much shorter.
However, Larry did not go to Naranja Academy immediately. Instead, he brought Grey to a restaurant to eat.
"Would you like something to eat? My treat."
Larry handed the menu to Grey.
"Anything is fine. I'm not picky."
Grey pushed the menu back.
Larry nodded gently, ordered several dishes, and handed it to the server.
They did not talk much while eating.
It was mostly the miserable kind of conversation between adults.
"Sigh. Being a Gym Leader is tiring. Occasionally, if a challenger wants to challenge the League, I have to go over and stand guard too. Even though many people can't even get past Rika, I still have to stay there."
"True."
Grey nodded softly.
"Mr. Grey, what did you do before?"
Larry threw the question to Grey. He was also very curious. Grey had such powerful strength, so why had he come to the Paldea region?
Could he be looking for an easy position?
If he was looking for an easy position, Larry felt that Grey was probably going to be disappointed.
The Paldea region currently lacked talent.
Someone like Grey would definitely be "put to full use" by Chairwoman Geeta.
When the time came, perhaps he would end up like Larry, one person working three jobs.
Thinking this, the way Larry looked at Grey became like looking at himself.
A life with no end in sight, yet whose end could already be seen.
Good brother, I can barely protect myself. Once this meal is over, it's time for you to go down that road too!
That was what Larry was thinking.
Noticing Larry's expression, Grey scratched his head, unable to fully understand it but still sensing something impressive.
"Elite Four Larry! Why are you in Mesagoza today? And this person beside you... Wow! You're giving off the aura only strong Trainers have!"
While they were waiting for the food, someone who sounded like an acquaintance of Larry's arrived.
"Oh... Nemona. I'm here to handle something for Chairwoman Geeta."
Larry looked toward the voice and saw the newcomer.
Nemona?
Hearing that name, Grey also looked over.
The newcomer was a girl wearing a Naranja Academy uniform. She had a high ponytail and a streak of green in her hair.
All right. It really was Nemona, known as Iron Crush.
The girl before him was a battle maniac who loved battling Trainers.
There had always been a saying among Trainers, once your eyes met, you had to have a Pokémon battle.
But that saying did not work in the Paldea region.
In the early years, it had existed there too.
But ever since Nemona began her journey as a Trainer, that saying had completely collapsed.
The reason was that the local Trainers had all been beaten into fear by Nemona.
Now that Nemona sensed that Grey carried the aura unique to a powerful Trainer, she definitely wanted to have a Pokémon battle with him.
"Big guy! After you finish eating, how about we have a Pokémon battle?"
How about it?
Of course not!
Grey's desire to battle had not been very high lately. He only wanted to make money.
Mainly because his pockets were empty!
"About that..."
Grey was about to politely refuse Nemona.
But then he heard her say, "If you can beat me, how about I give you a prize of one hundred thousand?"
"Great. I've always been the kind of Trainer who loves battles. However, I need to go see Chairwoman Geeta in a bit, so it might have to be later."
Grey had originally wanted to battle after finishing the meal, but since he had already made arrangements with Geeta, it would be better to talk to her first and battle afterward.
"Mm! No problem! Naranja Academy happens to have a dedicated battlefield. Once you come out, we can battle there!"
Nemona could already hardly wait to battle Grey. "Big guy, I'll be waiting for you on Naranja Academy's schoolyard!"
//Check out my P@tre0n for 30 extra chapters on all my fanfics //[email protected]/Razeil0810.