The list of required materials was daunting—some of them were so rare they were practically extinct.
In the small inn run by Blaine, Ash, Lorelei, and Cynthia gathered in a guest room to discuss the matter of the Rare Candy. When Cynthia first realized the woman before her was Lorelei of the Elite Four, she nearly jumped in surprise.
"This is difficult… I haven't even heard of some of these ingredients." Lorelei frowned as she reviewed the list. Behind her glasses, her sharp intellect and beauty carried an undeniable presence.
"Of course," Ash replied calmly.
"I first stumbled upon these by chance, and to refine a Rare Candy successfully, I had to exhaust everything I had. Not a single ingredient was left over."
No one doubted his words. The effect of Rare Candy was extraordinary—naturally, its creation would demand materials that were nearly impossible to gather.
"Very well," Lorelei finally said.
"I'll have my family search for these herbs. But the share you're asking for… half of the finished product… is no small price, even for someone like me." Though she agreed to cooperate, the thought of parting with so much still pained her.
Ash had already explained that one or two of these herbs could appear as rarely as once in several years. Even the Draconis family and the Oak family had been unable to secure them. Their scarcity spoke for itself.
"Don't think I'm taking advantage of you," Ash added with a faint smile.
"Even if you found every herb, without me you couldn't refine Rare Candy. That much is certain."
Lorelei couldn't deny it. Rare Candy was a creation born from the Pokémon world itself. If such herbs existed, they had to be real—but their rarity made them almost mythical.
What Ash didn't realize was that Lorelei's family, though largely engaged in the entertainment industry, maintained a hidden pharmacy stocked with rare medicinal herbs.
And because the Lorelei family specialized in Ice-type Pokémon, they had access to plants that grew only on snowy peaks or frozen cliffs. In Kanto, only the Joy family and the Jinguji family rivaled their stores of rare medicine.
"Fine," Lorelei said, brushing back her hair. "We'll proceed as you suggested. But Ash… you really don't see me that way? Even though I'm older?"
Her tone carried a hint of vulnerability. But Ash simply shook his head. "You can see for yourself—I haven't even figured things out with Cynthia and Sabrina yet. I don't want to complicate things further."
Cynthia and Sabrina instantly stiffened, both watching Lorelei with a sharp, guarded look. The tension in the room grew palpable.
Lorelei bit her lip, hiding her discomfort. She was nearly thirty, and within her family, her future was already decided. Women were prized for the alliances they brought, but that meant losing the right to choose their own love. Her most likely matches were Lance of the Draconis family, Bruno of the Musashi clan, or… Ash.
Compared to the others, Ash's youth and astonishing accomplishments stood out.
If she became his partner—even as a concubine—her future status would be far higher than if she were married off to another house. Families had rigid hierarchies, and no wife or concubine could ever truly change the order once it was set.
Lorelei sighed softly.
"Let's set the matter of cooperation aside, then. Ash, when do you plan on taking your next Gym challenge?"
"Tomorrow," Ash replied without hesitation. "I've already arranged for someone to take us to Saffron City, where I'll challenge the Gym."
"What?!" Lorelei slammed the table in shock. "You're going to challenge the Viridian Gym? That's Giovanni's territory—the Rocket Boss himself!"
"I know exactly what I'm doing," Ash answered firmly.
"Not only am I going there, I intend to reclaim what Giovanni has stolen." His eyes gleamed with conviction—the thing he sought was none other than Mewtwo.
"Lorelei," Blaine interjected, seeing her about to argue further.
"Ash has already made his decision. Don't press him. With the support of both the Draconis and Oak families, Giovanni won't dare risk dragging Team Rocket into open conflict."
With that, Blaine led Ash and his companions toward a secluded valley behind the wooden lodge, leaving the tension of the conversation behind.
If you look closely, you'll see a small volcano here. Lava erupts continuously, and the heat is overwhelming. For an ordinary human, staying here for more than an hour or two would be nearly impossible.
"It's so hot…" Cynthia muttered, wiping the sweat from her forehead.
"Do you really want to battle here?" Sabrina asked, her voice calm but laced with discomfort.
Sure enough, as soon as they arrived, both Cynthia and Sabrina were already struggling. It was summer, and with the volcano's blazing heat raising the temperature even further, it was nearly unbearable.
"The rules for this Gym challenge are two-on-two," Blaine explained.
"If you win both matches, you'll earn the badge. If it ends in a draw, you'll only receive a Silver Badge."
...
TN:
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