Pokémon: Chronicles of Freedom

Old Matsuda led Cain directly toward Pallet Town.

Although the surroundings seemed perfectly normal, Cain couldn't shake the feeling that a pair of eyes were watching him at all times.

There was no malice in the gaze, possibly just a precaution to ensure he wouldn't cause any destructive incidents.

He wasn't sure if the ones observing him were Professor Oak's Pokémon, Pokémon sent by the League, or Pokémon belonging to other people in Pallet Town.

Either way, Cain knew he couldn't resist even if he wanted to.

When Cain first arrived in the Pokémon world, he had the bold and reckless idea of attacking Pallet Town. Fortunately, before he could carry out his plan, he was intercepted by high-ranking members of Team Rocket, who stopped his imprudent decision.

With old Matsuda leading the way, Cain encountered no resistance.

They entered a large house, possibly the biggest in Pallet Town.

Inside, the place was filled with numerous pieces of equipment, some of which seemed incredibly valuable.

However, everything was scattered across the floor, creating a bit of a mess.

Clearly, the owner wasn't the most organized individual.

Then, they saw a white-haired man wearing a long, white lab coat. His back was turned to them as his hands moved rapidly over an experiment table, seemingly engaged in something highly complex.

When old Matsuda saw the figure, he smiled and approached, with Cain following close behind.

As they got closer, Cain detected a familiar aroma.

The smell of instant noodles.

There was no doubt about it—this man was Professor Oak.

A man who could cook instant noodles like no one else!

"Samuel!" old Matsuda called out.

Professor Oak, who was diligently eating his instant noodles, turned around, with some noodles still dangling from his mouth.

When he saw old Matsuda, his eyes lit up. He immediately put down the noodles. "Takashi! It's been ages since I last saw you!"

Old Matsuda's forehead showed faint lines of exasperation before he relaxed and replied with a smile, "You're still the same, Samuel. Couldn't you at least swallow before speaking?"

Gulp!

Professor Oak swallowed all the noodles in his mouth in one go, then burst into hearty laughter. "Ha-ha! Takashi, it really is you! It's been such a long time!"

The two hugged after so long apart, patting each other's backs.

That was when Professor Oak noticed Cain, who stood behind old Matsuda.

Old Matsuda cleared his throat and said, "Ahem, Samuel, this is my—"

"Cain! Your disciple—no need to say it. I've seen him on television. My, you do love to show off, don't you? At your age, still parading around like that. You wouldn't believe how many old folks are envious now that you've got such a talented disciple," Professor Oak interjected.

"Professor Oak, it's an honor to meet you! Until now, I'd only seen you on television. It's great to finally meet you in person," Cain said respectfully.

In truth, he had only ever seen Professor Oak on a two-dimensional screen.

"Good! Good! A promising young man. Takashi is fortunate to have found a disciple like you at his age..."

"Ahem!"

"Yes, it's your good fortune, Cain, to have Takashi as your mentor. His talent and skill as a Breeder rank among the best in the world," Professor Oak corrected himself after old Matsuda's pointed cough.

He continued, "I remember when I first set out on my journey, I met Takashi, who had just started his as well. Back then, he had the ambition of becoming an advanced-level Breeder. We traveled together across the Kanto and Johto regions."

The gleam in Professor Oak's eyes made it clear he was reminiscing about those times.

Professor Oak, whose full name was Samuel Oak, had been a renowned Pokémon Trainer before becoming a professor. Cain estimated his skills to be comparable to, if not surpassing, those of a champion.

He was one of the founding members of the Pokémon League, holding a unique and highly respected position within it, having helped and mentored countless individuals.

For this reason, old Matsuda had told Cain that if Professor Oak agreed to help, Cain would have no trouble opening his own gym.

However, Cain hadn't known that old Matsuda and Professor Oak were so close.

In this world, aside from family and master-disciple bonds, traveling companions formed one of the closest relationships. They were people with whom you could entrust your life, sharing everything during life-or-death situations.

It was a bond akin to that of blood brothers.

This meant that Cain's support within the League appeared even more solid.

Additionally, Cain noticed something curious: Professor Oak's personality and style were very similar to Ash's. Perhaps this was one of the reasons why Professor Oak had always been so fond of Ash—both shared the same love for Pokémon.

So, did this mean his mentor, old Matsuda, was something like Brock's equivalent?

Was Professor Oak plus old Matsuda equal to Ash plus Brock? And both aspired to be advanced-level Breeders?

Wait a moment—Flint had once said he wanted his son to become a talented Breeder like Cain. So was all of this preordained?

It seemed that, without realizing it, Cain had become part of the world's main storyline. Not even the butterfly effect caused by his arrival had been able to alter the course of events.

Professor Oak and old Matsuda continued talking about their past adventures while Cain quietly listened from the side.

After chatting for a long while, they finally switched topics.

"By the way, Samuel, the main reason for this visit is to ask you for a favor," old Matsuda said bluntly.

With the relationship he had with Professor Oak, there was no need for formalities, especially since Oak was known for his straightforward personality.

"Oh? What's the favor?" Professor Oak asked.

"Here?"

"Oh, right, right, we're still standing. Let's go inside. There aren't many people around today—I gave the researchers the day off. It's just my grandson, Gary, and me here at home."

"If you haven't eaten, how about some instant noodles? You know I'm great at cooking those."

Professor Oak spoke as he led old Matsuda and Cain further into the house.

After passing through several doors, they arrived at a massive backyard.

Though called a backyard, it was more like a sprawling meadow, home to many Pokémon.

Some were wild, others had been sent by trainers for Professor Oak to care for, and some were Oak's own Pokémon.

As a Breeder, Cain could tell that these Pokémon were exceptionally well cared for, with top-quality diets and nutrition.

When Professor Oak entered, many Pokémon approached, circling around Cain and the others.

"Ha-ha, go play. I have guests today, so I won't be able to join you," Professor Oak said with a smile.

The Pokémon curiously eyed Cain and old Matsuda but obediently dispersed, heading off to play with other Pokémon in the meadow.

(End of Chapter)