"Brock, the Gym Leader in Pewter City, is very strong. It's not easy to defeat him," Flint responded naturally after hearing Misty's words.
"I know better than you that Gym Leaders are very strong, but Ash is also very strong," Misty said, defending Ash without noticing the truth.
Ash glanced at Misty. In the original story, she hid her identity until they reached Cerulean City, but now he knew she was from the Cerulean Gym.
Of course, she knew the strength of Cerulean City's Gym Leader, but Cerulean City is not a particularly powerful gym.
"I can tell at a glance that you are Rookie Trainers. I sell stones here and have seen many Trainers. I can tell you that a Rookie can't defeat Brock." Flint stated confidently, showing his belief in Brock's abilities.
"Thank you for the reminder, but you seem to know Brock very well! I don't know if it's my imagination, but you seemed very proud when you mentioned Brock, like an elder seeing the achievements of the younger generation."
Others might not know Flint's identity, but Ash did. To be honest, any viewer of the anime could see it at a glance.
Ash, as the protagonist, didn't know it originally, but now he knows Flint is Brock's father.
This was a family matter, and Ash didn't intend to reveal it, but he couldn't resist giving Flint a little nudge.
"Well..."
Sure enough, Flint choked on hearing Ash's words. Ash knew Flint had always felt ashamed of leaving his son, Brock, to care for his many siblings alone for years.
Ash, familiar with the plot, didn't agree with Flint's approach. As a father, Flint's actions were shameful, but it was their family business after all.
"Yes, really? Then... of course! Because I am also from Pewter City. Brock becoming a Gym Leader makes us all proud, haha!"
Flint responded with a bit of embarrassment, which seemed reasonable to an uninformed person like Misty.
There are many cities in a region, but not many towns have Gyms. Gym Leaders are certified by the Pokémon League, and elite Trainers are employed. City residents with Gym Leaders also feel very proud.
"So that's the case! If you didn't tell me, I would really think you were Brock's father or something! But it's true, having a Gym Leader for a son is something to be proud of."
"Unless this father has done something wrong! Hehe! It's getting dark, let's go, Misty!"
Ash's deliberate words made Flint tense suddenly, his hands clenching. He was clearly ashamed of what Ash had pointed out.
Ash's words sounded normal to anyone else, but to Flint, they were ironic.
Yes, anyone should be proud to be the father of a Gym Leader, but he didn't even feel qualified to be a father.
Not only did he fail to fulfill his dream of becoming a powerful Trainer, but his life also became poor, and he was reduced to selling stones near Pewter city. Although selling stones is the main business of Pewter City, if his business was doing well, he wouldn't need to be in this remote place.
Ash's words made Flint feel even more ashamed. He wasn't just a weak Trainer, but also an unqualified father. Even his business had failed, and Ash's comments only deepened his sense of failure.
How could he face people who came to challenge the Pewter Gym and proudly claim that they weren't Brock's rivals? What qualifications did a father like himself have?
Ash didn't dwell on Flint's thoughts at this moment. He didn't need Flint's approval.
"Okay, let's go!" Misty didn't pay attention to Flint anymore and didn't grasp the underlying meaning of Ash's words, as she didn't know Flint's identity.
From her point of view, Ash had a really good temper, not getting angry despite being underestimated so much. She didn't realize how strategic Ash was being this time.
After watching Ash and Misty leave, Flint remained silent. After a while, he whispered to himself, "Is it a coincidence? Whether it is or not, it seems Brock has met a true rival this time!"
Flint questioned himself because of Ash's words, wondering if he had been too proud of Brock . Was this why Ash noticed something? If Ash suspected him because of those words, it meant the boy was indeed remarkable.
Ash's keen insight showed he wasn't just an ordinary boy. Flint realized he should stop underestimating him. The thought of Ash challenging the Pewter Gym made him eager to see the battle between Ash and Brock.
"This uncle is really inexplicable. Thanks for putting up with him," Misty complained as they walked.
"He's just someone I don't know. Why should I care? I prefer to speak through actions than words. When I defeat Brock, he'll be the one who's embarrassed," Ash shrugged indifferently.
"That's right, let's go to the Pokémon Center then!"
"Huh! Huh??" Ash nodded to misty but suddenly noticed a small shop by the side of the road.
It was a roadside stall similar to Flint's, with many ores, rocks, and some handicrafts on the table. Ash saw the handicrafts and unconsciously walked over.
"What's up, Ash?" Misty followed curiously as Ash glanced at the crafts on the table.
"Welcome! We have high-quality products here. Please take a look!" the shop owner began his sales pitch upon seeing potential customers.
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