"By the way, why was that trainer so hostile towards you?"
As Flannery's mood calmed down, Rex curiously inquired.
"Talking about that guy irritates me. His name is Glaze, and he's a trainer who specializes in Water-type Pokémon."
"They say he's traveled through many regions and achieved good results in various league tournaments, so he's quite strong."
"Maybe because the Lavaridge Gym is a Fire-type gym, he has this inexplicable hostility. Moreover, he originally wanted to challenge my grandfather, Moore. But Grandpa Moore happened to be traveling, so I had to take on the gym battle."
"However, my skills weren't enough. Even though I gave it my all, I still lost the battle. Although it's frustrating, I have to admit that his strength surpassed mine."
Flannery narrated the whole story to Rex while eating some fruit.
Flannery was annoyed by Glaze's attitude, but more so at her own lack of strength, which left her unable to defeat him.
In regular gym challenges, gym trainers typically gauge the challenger's strength and adjust accordingly. However, against experienced trainers who've traveled through various regions, they often go all out.
These trainers' skills are usually not much inferior to those of gym trainers. Especially for a novice gym trainer like Flannery, lacking long-term experience and accumulation, she often finds herself at a disadvantage against seasoned trainers, particularly those with a type advantage.
Rex listened quietly without offering opinions, knowing that what Flannery needed wasn't advice but rather the realization that only by improving her strength could she avoid such frustrations in the future.
"By the way, Rex, you performed exceptionally well in the Hoenn League, making it to the top 16. Why did you suddenly withdraw from the competition?"
Flannery asked curiously.
She had initially planned to call Rex to ask about it, but decided against it, trusting that he had his reasons and didn't want to add to his troubles.
Facing Flannery's inquiry, Rex didn't hide anything. He explained the crisis that had occurred at the Farm, though he refrained from mentioning anything about Celebi to avoid spreading information about the mythical Pokémon.
"If you encounter any problems in the future, you can contact me. I can't guarantee a solution, but I'll certainly do my best,"
Flannery said, patting Rex's shoulder.
Then, Flannery personally cooked a fiery meal for Rex. Seeing the table full of chili peppers made Rex a bit apprehensive.
Fortunately, Flannery considered his taste preferences and prepared some mildly spicy dishes. However, even these 'mild' dishes made Rex break into a sweat, though they were indeed delicious.
After lunch, Flannery initially planned to go with Rex to the lava caves of Mount Chimney to hatch the Chimchar egg. But Rex suggested visiting the herbal medicine shop first.
Though puzzled by Rex's request, Flannery agreed, thinking it had been a while since she visited Grandpa Mike and Grandma Michelle.
Upon arriving at the old herbal medicine shop, Rex found not only Mike but also a kind-faced elderly lady.
Both elders had playful personalities, and Rex could hear them bickering when he and Flannery entered, though they quieted down upon seeing them.
"Flannery, what brings you here today?"
Michelle asked warmly.
"It's been a while since I visited Grandpa Mike and Grandma Michelle, so I came to see you,"
Flannery said, hugging Michelle's arm affectionately.
"Good girl, Flannery, I knew you were a sweet child,"
Michelle said happily.
"By the way, who is this?"
Michelle asked, noticing Rex, who she hadn't seen before.
"Aren't you the kid who asked me for Revival Herb and Energy Root seeds? Why are you back?"
Despite his age, Mike had a sharp memory and immediately recognized Rex, primarily because Rex had requested seeds to grow himself, leaving a lasting impression.
"I'm Rex. Hello, Grandpa Mike, Grandma Michelle,"
Rex greeted politely.
"You're not here to waste more seeds and ask for more, are you?"
Mike asked suspiciously.
"Old man, how can you say that? Rex seems like a good kid,"
Michelle scolded Mike, then nodded warmly at Rex.
"I am here to buy more seeds, but the previous seeds were successfully grown,"
Rex explained politely.
"Impossible, you're not tricking this old man, are you?"
Mike couldn't believe Rex. Given how many experts had failed before, he couldn't accept that a young boy could succeed.
Even though Michelle and Flannery didn't voice their disbelief, it was clear they also found it hard to believe.
Fortunately, Rex had prepared for this. He took out his phone and played a video showing his successful cultivation.
After watching for a while, Mike grabbed the phone to see more closely, watching the thriving Revival Herb and Energy Root in disbelief.
"How did you do it?"
Mike asked excitedly.
Flannery and Michelle also looked at Rex expectantly, hoping for a reasonable explanation.
"It's simple. I captured many Hoppip and taught them the Grassy Terrain move. By having them use Grassy Terrain daily in the cultivation area, the Revival Herb and Energy Root grew very well,"
Rex patiently explained.
"So that's it... why didn't I think of that?"
Mike murmured to himself.
But he quickly realized he couldn't manage it. Maintaining the medicinal herb fields on Mount Chimney was already taxing. Raising so many Pokémon and training them to learn Grassy Terrain was beyond him and his wife.
Even Flannery was shocked. Raising multiple Grass-type Pokémon was feasible for many, but training them all to learn Grassy Terrain was a challenge. The move was a rare group healing skill, not available in stores as a TM, and required significant effort from trainers.
The effort versus reward ratio seemed skewed. Even a Grass-type specialist like Flannery doubted she would go to such lengths, preferring to invest that effort in enhancing her Pokémon's strength.
Thus, Flannery now looked at Rex as if he were a marvel. She used to think of his claim to be a farm owner as amusing, but now she realized how seriously he invested himself in it.
(End of Chapter)