Norman's strength is undeniable; he's definitely the top trainer in the Hoenn region. However, compared to Steven, he's far behind in age, talent, and strength.
According to Professor Oak's information, Norman is already a father of two, in his forties, while Steven is only a young man under thirty.
One is middle-aged, the other a young man; one is comparable to a top player, the other already a champion.
The difference in their talent and strength is self-evident. Saying things like "Give Norman more time and he'll surpass Steven" is utter nonsense.
This little boy is likely a die-hard Norman fan, hence his blind trust.
Such confidence, even surpassing that of the person himself, can only be found in a devoted fan.
Ash simply smiled, offering no rebuttal.
Don't easily shatter a child's beliefs; otherwise, their immature minds might crumble, leading them to do dangerous things.
Don't ask how Ash knows this; everyone was a child once.
"Since Mr. Norman is so amazing, I really need to meet him. Otherwise, wouldn't my trip be a waste? By the way, since you admire Mr. Norman so much, are you also going to Violet City next?" Faced with Ash's calm and collected words, the little boy felt a pang of shame.
This person could speak to him so calmly; his tone earlier had been rather impolite.
Moreover, upon closer inspection, he realized that this person seemed strangely familiar.
The little boy was certain he had never seen this person in real life. That meant… on TV? Was this person a celebrity?
"Max! Max!!!" A sweet shout came from afar.
Upon hearing the name Max, the little boy froze instantly, then quickly ran behind Ash, hiding behind him.
Ash and the others were completely bewildered.
Just a moment ago, this little boy had been so defiant and arrogant; what was going on now?
In the distance, a curvaceous young woman jogged towards them. She too wore a green headscarf, and her short, brown hair cascaded over her shoulders, the ends curling naturally, making her face appear exceptionally delicate.
Her orange sleeveless top shone like the warm glow of the setting sun, the black trim at the neckline highlighting its refined lines.
A green fanny pack cinched her waist, like a splash of green amidst a field of flowers, as if she were wearing the fruits of summer and the new leaves of spring.
Her form-fitting black shorts were simply cut, perfectly hugging her hips and thighs, outlining smooth lines with a youthful playfulness.
Her exposed legs were slender and shapely, with fair skin and smooth, toned lines, revealing the balanced strength honed through years of walking and running.
They possessed both the delicate beauty of a young girl and a boundless energy and explosive power.
She wore black ankle socks with bright orange accents, and slightly worn sneakers, giving her the look of a trainer who was constantly traveling.
Upon seeing the girl, Misty and Serena almost simultaneously glanced at themselves, then turned their gazes to the girl, their eyes filled with envy and shock.
Wow, she's so big! She's about their age, how can she be so big?!
It feels like she'll grow up to be another Lorelei Master-level figure—referring to her physique.
The girl jogged over and stood in front of Ash. Ash also stood up, slightly taller than the girl by half a head.
He glanced at Max behind him, then at the girl's slightly angry expression, and roughly understood what was going on.
"Hello, are you this child's partner?" Just in case, Ash asked.
Hearing Ash's question, the girl's angry expression vanished, and she bowed apologetically to Ash, saying, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I am indeed this child's partner. If he did anything wrong, I apologize on his behalf. If there's anything that needs compensation, please come to me."
"...it's alright, it's alright. He didn't do anything wrong. He just discussed some knowledge about trainers with me. He seems like a very smart kid. If he embarks on his journey in the future, he'll definitely become a great trainer."
Misty & Brock: ???!!!
Is this something Ash would say?!
When did Ash's emotional intelligence become so high?
Is this still Ash?!
Ash, having finished his polite greetings with a smile, turned to see Misty and Brock's horrified expressions.
He rolled his eyes in annoyance and said, "What's with those faces? You look like you've seen a ghost! Can't I just talk normally?"
"No...no, it's just that Ash, you've changed so quickly. You never used to say things like that..." Misty thought for a while but couldn't think of a word to replace the polite phrase, so she simply skipped it. Ash knew what she meant anyway.
"People always have to grow up~" Ash shrugged, spreading his hands.
Actually, he had recently absorbed all the knowledge from this group regarding both trainer and Pokémon training.
Having grasped most of the basics, a new expert emerged in the group—a person named "Ash, the Master of Social Skills"—to teach him how to navigate various interpersonal situations.
In the outside world, the benefits of speaking well in social interactions are undeniable.
A single instance of low emotional intelligence can easily destroy a relationship. Human relationships are fragile; before any connection is established, a casual remark can cause a rift.
Furthermore, high emotional intelligence in communication can positively impact romantic relationships.
That's why the experts in the group recommended that Ash learn this skill. Ash thought of Misty and became less averse to polite formalities.
Originally, Ash believed in straightforwardness; there was no need for formalities.
He simply spoke the truth, believing that sincerity begets sincerity.
However, sometimes, a little white lie is necessary.
Politeness isn't hypocrisy; it's an essential part of interpersonal relationships!
That's right, Ash was persuaded by the experts in the group to learn this skill.
"Ash...you're Ash, the champion of the Indigo League?" The brown-haired girl paused for a moment after hearing the name, then asked with slight surprise.
"I remember now! Yes, yes, yes! You're the legendary most talented trainer in history, supposedly poised to challenge Leon for the Supreme Champion title before you're twenty! The foreign media are raving about you!"
A boy named Max suddenly jumped out from behind Ash, pointing at him with a look of surprise and delight.
Max's expression was as if he had discovered a treasure.
However, his pointing at someone made the girl's pretty face darken. She grabbed Max's finger and said with a forced smile, "Max!! Didn't I tell you to stick close to me? Do you know how long I've been looking for you! You didn't answer the phone, and now you dare to point at someone so rudely? Just wait until Mom and Dad get back, they'll see how you're treated!!"
Hearing this, Max shrank back, a fearful expression on his face.
He tried to pull his finger back, but it felt like it was being clamped in a vise; he couldn't move it at all, and the small, white hand gripping his finger was even tightening its hold.
Don't let the girl's seemingly frail appearance fool you; her shapely legs alone tell you that this girl is definitely not the delicate type.
"Sister, I was wrong, I was wrong, please let me go!!" Max quickly begged for forgiveness.
Sister? So this girl is this child's older sister?
They did look somewhat alike, but that wasn't Ash's focus. What mattered was the aura he sensed from this girl—the aura of a powerful trainer.
This girl…is a powerful trainer!
"…If you do that again, I'll have Mom and Dad lock you up at home, you hear me!"
"Okay~~" Max replied obediently, his hands clasped in front of him, head bowed, barely daring to breathe, afraid of angering his sister again.
If she really locked him up at home, it would be no different than killing him!
"I'm sorry, my little brother is a bit rude."
After scolding Max, the girl bowed to Ash in apology. Ash waved his hand and said, "It's alright, he's just a kid... By the way, is your whole family from Hoenn here for a trip to Johto?"
"We're not here for a trip. Our father has some business to attend to, and as for me... I'm here to challenge the Silver Conference. I'm here today to register for the competition."
"My little brother kept insisting on coming along, so I had no choice but to bring him. And now he's causing me trouble."
The girl glared at Max with her beautiful eyes, and Max turned his head away, pouting slightly.
"I see. I'm Ash from Pallet Town, and my goal is also the Silver Conference. Looks like I can look forward to battling you there." Ash said, extending his hand to the girl.
"My name is May, and I'm from Petalburg City in Hoenn." May also extended her small, white hand and shook hands with Ash.
"Petalburg City? Isn't that the city where Mr. Norman lives?"
"So you live in the same city as Mr. Norman! No wonder Max idolizes him so much; after all, his idol is always around, so his reaction is normal. Don't blame him."
Ash said, a look of realization dawning on his face, while simultaneously defending Max.
Since the two siblings are from Petalburg City, they must be very familiar with Norman. Norman might even live next door. This explains Max's admiration for Norman.
Regardless of the difference between Norman and Steven, Steven is just someone on TV, while Norman is a real person. It's understandable that they might misjudge him.
"Ahem, actually, Mr. Norman is our father." A smile crept across May's lips. Finally, unable to hold it in any longer, she told Ash the truth.
Having a Gym Leader father wasn't anything shameful, but May wouldn't normally tell others that her father was the Gym Leader of Petalburg City.
In the Hoenn region, Petalburg City was different from other Gyms; it was widely recognized as the strongest Gym, and Norman's reputation was incredibly high.
Although he wasn't a member of the Elite Four, his fame was second only to Steven, making him the number two figure in Hoenn.
If she told others that her father was Norman, aside from whether people would believe her, even if they did, it would cause considerable trouble.
Therefore, normally, May wouldn't mention her father's name in public. Even though they were from afar, she had strictly forbidden Xiaosheng from mentioning it.
But when facing Ash, May blurted it out without hesitation.
Her initial reluctance was simply a desire to tease him. Ash's successful defense of her brother immediately won her favor.
As the saying goes, how you criticize your own family is your own business; if others interfere, it's a different story.
Even if others are right, family members will always feel uncomfortable.
Ash's behavior of protecting her brother after he did something wrong, giving him face, undoubtedly greatly increased her goodwill towards him.
Besides this reason, there was also May...
They recognized Ash. Ash wasn't just the Indigo League champion; that was merely the official honor. His achievements off the board were far more impressive than any official title.
Take the recent example: Ash's exhibition match against Lorelei a month ago.
The news spread even throughout Hoenn. A fifteen-year-old boy had actually defeated Lorelei, a champion-level fighter, in a two-on-two battle.
If they hadn't witnessed it firsthand and had video evidence, probably no one would believe it.
Therefore, Ash is actually on par with their father.
In terms of strength, Ash is definitely not inferior to their father, and may even be stronger!
Meanwhile, Ash and his friends were listening to May...
After revealing that their father was Norman, their minds went completely blank.
They never imagined that a random person they met on the street would turn out to be the son and daughter of the gym leader they were about to challenge.
This encounter was just too surreal!
...In a bubble tea shop in New Bark Town, Ash and his friends, along with May and her siblings, sat at two tables pushed together, chatting.
Since May and her friends also needed to go home, meaning they shared the same destination, they decided to find a place to order drinks and chat before setting off together later.
Traveling with more people makes the journey more exciting!
While drinking her bubble tea, May made a request to Ash: "Ash, please battle me!"