Ash smiled when he saw this, likely understanding what had happened to Professor Oak's hand.
"Krabby, stay with Professor Oak for now!" Ash said, looking at Krabby on the other side of the phone. It wasn't that he didn't want to bring Krabby along, but there really wasn't any space for it right now.
Krabby, who had grown stronger over time, didn't mind. Hearing Ash's words, it squinted its eyes and waved its pincers in response.
"Huh? Is that Professor Oak?" At that moment, Bill walked over to Ash. He had heard the voice earlier and thought it sounded familiar. As he approached and looked at the screen, he realized it was Professor Oak.
"Oh? Isn't this Bill? Long time no see! Ash, you're here, so you've arrived at the White Strait?" Professor Oak said, sounding surprised to see Bill.
"Yes, we just got here!" Ash nodded in response to the Professor's question.
"Do you know Professor Oak?" Misty asked curiously.
"Of course! Bill is a Pokémon researcher, just like me. Ash, you should know that!" Professor Oak said, glancing at Ash. When he was younger, Ash had been exposed to many different regions' research.
"I know, I read about it in a book," Ash replied with a slight nod, though he hadn't actually read it—it was from memories of his previous life.
"It's a great honor to be praised by Professor Oak. No wonder this young man knows so much about ancient Pokémon. So, you two know each other." Bill responded humbly.
In fact, almost all regions, except for Professor Rowan in the Sinnoh Region, regarded Professor Oak as a senior in the field of Pokémon research.
"Of course! Ash is our highly promising Rookie Trainer with great potential! Bill, while he's there, I trust you to look after him," Professor Oak said, expressing his approval of Ash and asking Bill to keep an eye on him.
"Don't worry, Professor!" Bill nodded slightly, as he had already planned to let Ash and the others stay overnight.
"Alright then, Ash, I'll leave it here for now—oh no! My tofu's overcooked! I'll talk to you later!" Professor Oak exclaimed in a panic before abruptly hanging up.
"Uh...haha!" Ash and Misty chuckled awkwardly at Professor Oak's sudden exit.
"So, you know Professor Oak?" Bill asked again after the call ended.
"Yes, he looked after me when I was younger," Ash explained.
"For Professor Oak to think so highly of you, my judgment was right—you truly are an extraordinary trainer," Bill said with admiration.
"Thank you!" Ash replied gratefully. Just then, Brock came out and announced that dinner was ready.
Everyone gathered in the dining room. Brock had prepared a feast, including fried noodles, fried rice, pancakes, and salad. They all sat down and enjoyed the delicious meal.
Though it appeared to be a lighthouse from the outside, the interior felt more like a castle, and dining there gave the sense of being in a palace.
"Wow! It's been so long since I've eaten this much. Thank you for the wonderful meal!" Bill said, clearly impressed. "Usually, for the sake of my work, I just eat whatever's convenient, but this food is incredible! Having a chef like Brock is a rare treat," he added, clearly overwhelmed by the delicious meal.
"As long as you're satisfied, Professor, we're the ones who should be thanking you for letting us stay here!" Brock replied, clearly happy to receive praise for his cooking.
"It's nothing, really. Professor Oak asked me to help, and this place is usually so quiet. It's nice to have some company for a change," Bill said with a slight smile.
Bill lived in the lighthouse year-round, which gave him the peace and quiet he needed for his work. But after a while, the solitude could get lonely.
"Professor, is it okay if we stay here for a few more days?" Ash asked, putting down his fork and looking at Bill.
"Huh? Of course! As long as you're here, I get to eat Brock's amazing food. You're welcome to stay as long as you like," Bill responded generously.
"Isn't Ash heading to Vermilion City?" Misty asked, surprised by Ash's request. After all, Ash usually never stayed in one place for more than a day.
"It's fine," Ash replied. "Vermilion City is close by, and the beach here is perfect for training Pokémon. I want to use this time to prepare for my upcoming gym battles."
Ash explained his reasoning further. While he'd been training during their travels, most of his recent progress had been with newly caught Pokémon. Now, he wanted to take this opportunity to do some focused training. The seaside provided an ideal environment, especially for Water-type Pokémon like Squirtle and Gyarados, which were harder to train in the mountains or jungles they'd passed through before.
"I see! That sounds like a good plan. Plus, I can enjoy some sun and the beach," Misty said, no longer objecting once she understood Ash's intentions. Since she wasn't in a hurry to collect any Badges, a little break would be nice.
With Misty on board, Brock had no objections either. His goal was simply to travel with Ash, and as a Pokémon breeder, the chance to learn from an expert like Bill was too good to pass up.
"Professor, have you always lived here?" Brock asked, curious.
"Yes! This place allows me to think clearly," Bill answered with a nod. Though it could feel isolated at times, he was fully immersed in his research and didn't mind the quiet.
"Don't you ever get lonely?" Misty asked, unable to imagine living alone in such a large lighthouse.
"Not at all, because I have Pokémon here," Bill replied.
But this puzzled Misty. She glanced around, noticing that the lighthouse, though large, didn't seem like a place that could house many Pokémon. Up until now, they hadn't seen a single Pokémon around.