"Taking disciples…"
Looking at the system's requirements for developing the Gym, Red asked:
"Are the rewards for taking disciples related to their identity, status, and strength?"
"Then if I can take Gary as a Gym disciple, what kind of reward would I get?"
The system seemed to lag for a rare moment before responding:
[Key character detected: Gary Oak (direct grandson of Professor Oak)]
[Mission Objective: Recruit Gary as a disciple of Songzao Gym]
[Mission Reward: Viridian Power (Incomplete)]
Red's eyes lit up instantly.
Without hesitation, he left the backyard and returned to the Gym.
Xiaowen looked puzzled when she saw him, while Gary's cheer squad cast displeased and hostile glances his way.
Red ignored them completely and strode straight toward Gary.
Seeing Red approach, Gary lowered his head, unable to meet his gaze.
But he still gritted his teeth and said:
"Gym Leader Red, I lost this Gym battle. But I'll keep working hard and earn the badge!"
Red thought for a moment, then quickly came up with a plan—
A way to make Gary willingly join the Gym.
"Keep working hard to earn the badge?"
"I'll be blunt. If you keep training the way you are now, forget earning badges—you'll eventually lose even to Ash!"
"Ash? Gym Leader Red, you know Ash too?"
Red lightly brushed the engraved Gym emblem on his Poké Ball—a mark passed down through generations of Songzao Gym Leaders.
"Of course. Right now, Ash may not be as strong as you, but in the future, he'll leave you far behind."
"Impossible! That hot-blooded idiot Ash? There's no way I, Gary, would fall behind him!"
Looking at the incredulous Gary, Red continued mercilessly:
"I swear on the reputation of Songzao Gym—what I'm saying is true."
Gary stared at Red, realizing he wasn't joking.
"I… would lose to that hotheaded idiot?"
If this crushing defeat was a slap to his face, then the idea of being surpassed by Ash completely shattered his confidence.
"I'm Professor Oak's grandson! I've had the best education since I was a child! My Pokémon all have top-tier potential, and I use the finest training resources! How could I lose to him?!"
Red responded with just one final sentence:
"You've already lost your passion for battling. To you, battles are just a way to show off."
"Determination, passion, willpower—these may sound vague."
"But when these things resonate with Pokémon, they create something extraordinary."
"That is what being a trainer truly is. Right now, you're just pretending to be one."
"If you keep this mindset, you might as well go home and inherit your grandfather's work. Becoming a Pokémon researcher wouldn't be shameful."
Gary's knees hit the floor with a dull thud. His carefully styled spiky hair drooped, and the Squirtle pendant at his collar swayed with his heavy breathing.
"Have I… just been pretending all along?"
His cheer squad rushed forward to support him.
But at that moment, Gary's eyes regained determination—as if recalling the excitement of the day he first set out with Squirtle.
He shook off their hands.
Then, without hesitation, he knelt before Red.
"It's only been three months since I started my journey… but I feel like I've already forgotten the excitement of that very first day with Squirtle."
"Gym Leader… I want to become a real trainer!"
Although Gary had met many Elite Four members—and even Champions—through Professor Oak…
Red was the first Gym Leader to truly point out his problem.
A smile finally appeared on Red's face.
"Still calling me Gym Leader?"
[Ding~ Congratulations to the host for accepting disciple—Gary. Reward obtained: Viridian Power (Incomplete)]
[Ding~ Disciple Growth System activated]
[Disciple Profile: Gary Oak]
[Identity: Direct grandson of Professor Oak]
[Current Strength: Beginner]
[Tactical Talent: ★★☆☆]
[Pokémon Affinity: ★★☆☆☆]
[Willpower: ★☆☆☆]
(☆ = potential cap, ★ = current level)
[Pokémon Owned: Wartortle, Krabby, Eevee, Rattata, Pidgeotto…]
[Exclusive Questline: Reforging the Original Aspiration (Completion: 5%)]
[Next Reward: Evolution Potion (Raises a Pokémon's IVs by 3–5 points)]
Red's smile widened as he looked at Gary kneeling before him—more and more pleasing to the eye.
"Good disciple, get up. The floor's cold."
"Follow your master from now on—I guarantee I'll help you pin Ash to the ground and beat him."
"Thank you, Master!"
Gary nodded sincerely, full of gratitude.
Watching this scene, Xiaowen rubbed her chin.
"The Gym Leader already started taking disciples on his first day?"
Meanwhile, Gary's cheer squad stood there, completely dumbfounded.
Gary had taken a master—but what were they supposed to do?
"Master, what should I do next?" Gary asked.
Red waved his hand decisively.
"First, dismiss your entire cheer squad. You're just an ordinary trainer, yet your entourage is more extravagant than some Elite Four members!"
Gary scratched his head awkwardly.
"Understood, Master!"
"And that sports car of yours—get rid of it…"
"…Actually, park it in the Gym garage. Just ride a shared bike instead. In the future, when you're riding a Champion-level Arcanine, won't that be way cooler than any sports car?"
Gary nodded repeatedly.
"Master is right! I'll get rid of these external distractions immediately!"
Soon, the cheer squad girls stared at the severance pay in their hands, on the verge of tears.
Among them, one particularly unremarkable girl looked especially panicked.
Because she wasn't just part of the cheer squad—she was actually a bodyguard secretly assigned by Professor Oak.
After all, Gary was his only grandson—some level of protection was necessary.
But today, under her watch, Gary had not only lost badly but had even taken someone as his master—a Gym Leader around his own age.
She was practically on the verge of tears.
Only one thought filled her mind:
I need to contact Professor Oak immediately—your grandson has been "taken away"!
Meanwhile, back in Pallet Town, inside his lab, Professor Oak suddenly sneezed while making instant noodles.
"Oh no! My noodles are going to get soggy again?!"
——————
Power Level Supplement
[Pokémon Level Tiers:
1–10: Novice
11–20: Normal
21–30: Advanced
31–50: Elite
51–59: Gym Leader
60: Quasi-Elite Four
Above 60: Elite Four level Trainer]
[A trainer's rank corresponds to the level of their Pokémon. However, due to differences in quantity and strength among Pokémon of the same level, the gap between trainers of the same rank can still be very large.]