After Luo Yuan left, Ash, Brock, and Bill remained on the lighthouse, gazing out over the sea.
Halfway through the night, Team Rocket, still refusing to go home empty-handed, tried to ambush them again.
But Pikachu spotted them and sent them packing with a quick Thunderbolt.
After that, Ash and his friends waited anxiously, unable to sleep.
It wasn't that they didn't want to go back to bed.
It was that they kept seeing distant flashes of light and hearing explosions echoing across the foggy sea.
"Do you think Luo Yuan is okay…" Ash peered out at the hazy water, worry written across his face.
Even though he still owed Luo Yuan a substantial sum, Ash sincerely hoped for his safe return.
"Pika-pi~"
Pikachu's expression mirrored Ash's concern.
"That Gyarados of his looked strong; I'm sure he'll be fine… probably." Bill tried to reassure Ash, though he himself wasn't quite convinced.
The sounds of the distant battle were genuinely unnerving.
And from Ash and Brock, Bill had learned that Luo Yuan was still a rookie trainer who'd only set out this year.
A rookie trainer facing off against a giant unknown Pokémon…
The outcome was easy to imagine.
"I just hope he makes it back safely…"
Bill couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt. If anything happened to Luo Yuan because of his fascination with that mysterious Pokémon, he would carry the regret for the rest of his life.
As their anxiety grew, the first light of dawn finally broke over the horizon, revealing a faint silhouette in the distance.
"Pika!"
Pikachu, with its sharp vision, spotted it first and stood up, pointing toward the figure ahead.
"Is that… Luo Yuan!?"
Following Pikachu's direction, Ash and the others finally spotted Luo Yuan and collectively sighed in relief.
Their spirits lifted.
If Luo Yuan had battled with the giant Pokémon and returned safely, that must mean he'd gotten a good look at it, right?
Gyarados was swift, and soon Luo Yuan was back at Bill's lighthouse.
The moment he landed, Ash and the others hurried over.
"Luo Yuan, are you okay?"
"What happened out there?"
Everyone chimed in at once.
"I'm fine. Do I look hurt?" Luo Yuan replied casually.
"As for what happened…" Luo Yuan paused, smiling. "I was spotted while I was following it, but don't worry. I dodged quickly, so that Giant Dragonite didn't land a hit on me."
He spoke lightly, but even Ash could imagine how powerful that enormous Dragonite must have been.
Wait…
Bill's face froze as he processed Luo Yuan's words, and he asked in shock, "Luo Yuan, did you say… Giant Dragonite? That giant Pokémon was a Dragonite?"
"Yep, I managed to catch up and saw it clearly," Luo Yuan confirmed with a nod.
"I can't believe it… that Pokémon was a Dragonite!" Bill muttered to himself.
For years, he had chased this mysterious Pokémon.
Now, finally knowing its true identity, he felt both a sense of closure and a hint of loss.
It was a mix of emotions.
"I only wish I'd been able to see it myself."
Bill sighed in disappointment.
"Professor Bill, I think you're forgetting something." Luo Yuan grinned. "When I left, you told me to take a picture."
Bill looked up.
And there was Luo Yuan, holding up his phone with a picture of the Giant Dragonite wearing a thoroughly annoyed expression.
Ash, Brock, and Pikachu crowded around to see.
"Whoa, it's huge!"
"Pika-chu!"
All three of them gasped in awe.
"I'll send it to your email, Professor Bill," Luo Yuan offered.
"Thank you… thank you so much!"
Bill was speechless with gratitude.
He'd all but given up hope of finishing his research, but he hadn't expected Luo Yuan to risk so much just to get a photo.
This photo meant the world to him.
Not only did it fulfill his long-held dream, but it also served as proof.
With this photograph alongside the clues he'd collected over the years, he finally had evidence of the Giant Dragonite's existence.
At last, his research could be completed, freeing him from the skepticism he'd faced in the academic community.
Bill couldn't contain his excitement.
He had waited years for this one chance to prove himself!
And he owed it all to Luo Yuan.
So now came the question…
How could he possibly thank Luo Yuan for such a tremendous favor?
Money? Bill recognized the brand of Luo Yuan's clothes—custom-made from Hoenn's finest, indicating he wasn't exactly short on cash.
A Pokémon? If he'd had a strong Pokémon, he would have gone out to face the Dragonite himself.
After pondering it over, Bill decided on a plan: he'd list Luo Yuan as the second author on his paper.
When Luo Yuan heard about Bill's decision, he was pleasantly surprised.
He hadn't taken the photo expecting anything in return; it had just been a quick snapshot.
But Bill's gesture was sincere.
As the inventor of the Pokémon Storage System, Bill was well-respected across the League.
His research papers were widely read.
Being listed as the second author on Bill's publication would raise "rookie trainer Luo Yuan" into the League's spotlight, giving him valuable visibility and helping pave the way for his future League endeavors.
It was an incredibly generous reward.
And since joining the League had been Luo Yuan's goal from the start, Bill's contribution would save him a lot of work—an offer he couldn't refuse.
"Then I gladly accept, Professor."
"No, I should be the one thanking you."
They both laughed at the same time.
---
With psychic powers, Luo Yuan felt his ability to manage time had improved significantly. His energy seemed boundless.
While Ash and Brock stayed behind at Bill's lighthouse to catch up on sleep, Luo Yuan returned to Vermilion City atop Gyarados.
He hadn't been back long when he received a message from Surge: the S.S. Anne had docked in port.
The ship would be here for five days, restocking supplies and making preparations.
Rocket agents would board over the next few days, maintaining contact through encrypted channels.
Meanwhile, a message also came from the Hoenn Shipping Company regarding Luo Yuan's fake identity.
As a VVIP client who had booked a luxury suite at a premium rate, he was invited to board the S.S. Anne five days in advance.
"It's finally happening."
Luo Yuan stretched, relaxing a little. "But first, let's use the lottery chance from the Vermilion Gym."
"System, draw!"
[Drawing… please wait.]
---
T/N: Something I hate is that I can't remember if I put the system in the right format after the battle with Surge, my memory problem is just getting worse and worseeee
NOPE I ACTUALLY FORGOT IT anyway I went back to go change it