"In any case, let's head to Bill's Laboratory first," Luke suggested.
The red-haired teenager, clad in a black jacket, nodded slightly and silently followed Luke.
According to their prior investigation, the alley they were in could lead them directly to the underground tunnel of Goldenrod City, which would take them to Bill's Laboratory. Meeting in this location was a precaution to avoid being tracked by Interpol and Team Rocket.
"Proceed," Silver said with a cold tone.
The red-haired boy demonstrated a high level of caution. Silver squinted as he examined Teacher Luke in front of him. Luke's appearance might seem unimposing, but his track record included defeating formidable opponents such as Lance and Cynthia. Even Gold, it seemed, had lost to him in a wild battle. This disparity fueled Silver's vigilance.
"No worries," Luke responded, laughing, and walked ahead confidently, leaving his back exposed to Silver.
Teacher Luke was well aware of Silver's character. While he was quiet and often had a stoic demeanor, he was also capable, determined, and protective when dealing with others. Recommendations from Green, Gold, Lance, and others had reassured Luke.
Silver was somewhat surprised by Luke's unwavering assurance. "Aren't you afraid..." he mumbled, his hands in his pockets, as he followed in Teacher Luke's footsteps.
...
The underground tunnel in Goldenrod City extended in various directions, forming an essential part of the city's infrastructure. Additionally, the city was renowned for its maglev train, connecting Johto and Kanto.
Luke had no plans to explore the city at the moment. He led Silver to the address provided by Bill.
"Haunter, keep an eye out!" Haunter patrolled back and forth, floating ahead with an air of authority.
Observing Haunter's presence, Luke couldn't help but comment, "It's time for you to evolve..."
It had been roughly four months since Haunter had evolved from Gastly, but curbing its evolution wasn't beneficial as its strength continued to grow. Luke felt a bit concerned about his already unstable finances, but when it came to his Pokémon's well-being, those concerns seemed trivial.
Luke reaffirmed his decision and nodded.
At that moment, Silver halted and indicated, "We've arrived."
Exiting the Underground Path, they found a modest house nearby, which was Bill's residence.
"Professor Bill! It's Luke; we've come for a visit!" Luke rang the doorbell and called through the intercom.
"The door is open; come in!" Bill's voice replied.
With a "ka-ching" sound, Luke cautiously opened the door and stepped inside.
The room was dimly lit and filled with disorganized books, scattered materials, and floating dust particles. An assortment of instruments was strewn about.
It didn't resemble a typical living space but instead seemed like a makeshift laboratory.
Upon entering the living room, both Luke and Silver froze simultaneously.
A tall Kabuto and others stood there, their scarlet compound eyes emitting a crimson glow...
Silver furrowed his brow and instinctively retrieved a Poké Ball, preparing for a potential battle.
Just in time, "Kabuto" hastily removed his headgear and exclaimed, "It's me, I'm Bill!"
Even Silver, known for his stoicism, couldn't help but be a little surprised.
Luke couldn't hide his peculiar expression and coughed, remarking, "Cosplay Kabuto... What an unusual hobby!"
"Hehe," Bill scratched his curly hair, slightly embarrassed but still smiling. "This is my way of understanding the perspective of Pokémon... It's my personal research method!"
Calling it a research method was one thing, but it was clearly a quirky personal interest.
At least this time, there was no body swap with a Rattata, which was an improvement. After all, in various Pokémon games and comic adaptations, Bill had been known for his body-switching experiments with Pokémon.
"Ah," Luke cleared his throat, wearing a complex expression. "Professor... The purpose of our visit..."
"Just call me Bill!" Bill cheerfully interrupted. "I've prepared the Link Device; come with me!"
As they arrived at the pavilion, a communication device stood in the center. This machine was connected via a pipe, and there were two trays on both sides designed to accommodate Poké Balls.
While Pokédex devices could also be used for trading, this particular method required the use of a Pokémon Pokédex custom-made by Professor Oak. Such a "special Pokédex" was only distributed to individuals with special abilities, and only a limited number were ever issued. Unlike the common Pokédex devices found in stores, these "special Pokédexes" were symbols of status.
Bill explained the trading evolution process to the two individuals. This process involved simulating a special magnetic field in the wild, which was the reason why Wild Gengar and Alakazam could be found in their natural habitats. He looked at Luke and Silver and inquired if they understood the procedure.
Silver, who possessed the unique "trading" ability, was already well-versed in this process, and his experience had even allowed him to assist Gold with his evolution.
On the other hand, Teacher Luke's mood was somewhat ambiguous. Haunter gave him a thumbs up, indicating readiness to proceed. Haunter seemed to be reassuring Luke, using the expression "jie jie~ !(๑•̀ㅂ•́)و✧" to convey this.
Bill leaned over to the console and initiated the machine. As Haunter prepared for evolution, Luke asked a serious question, "Have you thought about it?"
"Evolving into Gengar is irreversible..." Luke continued, expressing his concern for Haunter. He pointed out that Haunter might encounter stronger opponents and face increased risks if it evolved. Luke's demeanor became more somber as he discussed the implications of Haunter's choice.
With great power comes great responsibility. Luke wished for his Pokémon to enjoy happy days without battling, but he respected their individual wishes. If Haunter chose to evolve, Luke's role would be to work harder to provide for his Pokémon.
The connection between Trainer and Pokémon was deeply significant, forged through shared experiences and daily companionship over time. This emotional bond was the most essential aspect of their relationship.
Haunter's expression turned serious, indicating that it had considered these factors carefully. It acknowledged the potential hardships of evolving, facing formidable adversaries, and increased vulnerability. The goal was clear: to support and help Luke by growing stronger.
"jie jie~!" Haunter's eyes sparkled as it nodded with determination.
Bill was deeply moved and wiped away tears, exclaiming, "This is what it means to have a Pokémon!"
Silver found the situation rather odd. It was just an evolution, so why was there so much crying?
However, a thought crossed Silver's mind, and he furrowed his brow. Emotions were abstract, but in the Pokémon world, they held genuine power. From the initial frustration that Totodile experienced, which weakened as their bond grew, to the eventual return of warmth upon evolving into Feraligatr, Silver had come to understand the significance of emotions between humans and Pokémon. He had been influenced by Gold and the others, gradually comprehending the emotional bonds that connected them.
At this moment, Silver saw a multitude of senior figures overlaid on Teacher Luke, from the red-clothed figure atop Mt. Silver to Garchomp soaring through the sky and the white Mega Metagross. This revelation filled Silver with even greater respect.
He declared with sincerity, "Leave it to me."
Luke nodded in agreement. He took Haunter back and replaced the Poké Ball he held with one belonging to Silver. Looking inside Silver's Poké Ball, Luke saw the red Gyarados, a special Gyarados that Silver had captured at the Lake of Rage. Due to the interference of Thunder Wave, the red coloration from its Magikarp stage had been preserved, setting it apart from other ordinary Pokémon.
Luke placed the Poké Ball onto the communication device and observed it being suctioned into the connected pipe. The screen displayed the message "linking." A unique magnetic field surged, and the room was enveloped in a chilling haze.
Bill commented, "This is normal, but the power accumulated by Haunter is truly remarkable. Consuming Master Rank Pokéblocks like jellybeans all day allowed for the accumulation of this incredible power."
Fortunately, this anomaly was only temporary and soon subsided. The machine stopped, and the tray lowered with the Poké Ball embedded within it.
Silver gave a nod and declared, "Release Haunter. It's about to begin its evolution."
Although Haunter was at the forefront of this process, Luke was no stranger to the "Trading Manual." He had read it multiple times and knew exactly what to expect at this moment.
With a warm smile, Luke nodded and held the Poké Ball containing Haunter. In his heart, he silently urged, "Come forth…"
"Gengar!"
"jie jie~ !(ﾉ≧∀≦)ﾉ"
Haunter emerged from the Poké Ball. It seemed eager and excited to undergo its evolution.
The room was filled with an eerie atmosphere as dark fog swirled around, and the lights flickered. The temperature in the room dropped suddenly by 5℃. As the haze enveloped Haunter, a brilliant white light blossomed, signifying its evolution.