"That's not necessarily true," Misty replied.
"Gyms have to accept challenges from a huge number of Trainers all the time. Venue maintenance, staff salaries, daily operating costs… once you add everything up, the League's funding basically just offsets those expenses.
"In other words, League funding only keeps a Gym running normally. Whether a Gym actually makes money mainly depends on the city's municipal revenue sharing.
"Take Cerulean City, for example—it's a first-tier city in Kanto. Its annual fiscal tax revenue is around thirty to forty billion.
"Even though our Cerulean Gym has declined, and the revenue-sharing ratio dropped to just one ten-thousandth, that still means three to four million a year. Add in ticket income from my sisters' water ballet performances, and our Gym still makes tens of millions annually."
"As for smaller places—especially Gyms located in towns—their tax revenue share is extremely low. League funding is barely enough to maintain basic operations. That's why those Gyms usually take on disciples or run side businesses just to turn a profit."
Seeing how interested Ash was in the Gym business model, Misty didn't hold anything back and explained everything she knew.
Even so, Ash was still stunned.
"No wonder Brock's parents could afford to have ten kids in the original story—and still spend all year traveling around the world on their honeymoon," Ash thought to himself.
"So Pokémon Gyms are that profitable…"
And Misty had just said that Cerulean Gym's tax share was only one ten-thousandth because the Gym had declined.
If Cerulean Gym hadn't fallen behind, the revenue-sharing ratio would've been even higher.
"Viridian City is far more prosperous than Pewter City or Cerulean City," Ash mused internally.
"And Viridian Gym is much stronger than both Pewter Gym and Cerulean Gym. Its annual profits must be astronomical."
"I'm currently the only disciple of Giovanni, the Viridian Gym Leader. If I were to report Giovanni—or when his identity is eventually exposed—wouldn't I have a chance to inherit Viridian Gym?"
Ash thought about this in a very 'filial' way.
Ding-ding~
Just as Ash was pondering how he might seize the Viridian Gym inheritance in the future, a transfer notification popped up in the chat window. He tapped it, and his phone immediately chimed.
[Poke Coin Pay received: 20,000 Poké Dollars]
"Recover, Aqua Ring, Light Screen, and Reflect" were all non-damaging support moves.
Aside from Recover, which was more valuable, the other three usually sold for around 3,500 each in Ash's online shop.
Misty had transferred him a full 20,000. Split evenly, that was 5,000 per move—far higher than his listed prices.
"Misty, honestly…" Ash sent back a helpless emoji.
"(^^)/ Ash not only let my Pokémon cut in line to learn moves, but also gave me so much valuable advice on choosing my starter Pokémon and training strategies."
"If my sisters hadn't only given me 20,000 in allowance this month, I would've transferred even more to you," Misty said cheerfully.
"You…" Ash replied.
"This is the first time—and I hope it's also the last. When I help friends' Pokémon learn moves, I don't charge money."
"If you really consider me a friend, then don't do this again," Ash added seriously.
Seeing Ash's message, Misty wasn't upset at all—instead, her excitement visibly rose.
"Ash, does that mean… we're friends now? (๑°ㅁ°๑)‼"
"Of course," Ash replied.
"Since I'm your friend now," Misty typed excitedly,
"when I officially set out on my journey in four years, can I come find you and travel together?"
"Travel together?"
Hearing that, scenes from the original anime—of the former Ash traveling with Misty—surfaced in Ash's mind. A faint smile appeared on his face.
"Sure," Ash replied.
"Yay! Ash, you have to remember what you said today—you're not allowed to go back on it! Don't let me come looking for you after I start my journey, only for you to kick me away."
"How could I? Don't worry—it won't happen."
After chatting with Misty for a while longer, Ash pulled out his notebook and wrote up his daily summary, then made plans for the next day.
With the Ascension Trainer System assisting him, the growth rate of his Pokémon was incredibly fast—visible improvements every single day.
Especially Spearow, Magikarp, and Feebas—their strength was changing rapidly.
That's why at the end of each day, Ash would adjust and refine the next day's training plan.
…
Spearow
Level: LV.23
Type: Normal / Flying
Nature: Bold, Mischievous
Ability: Keen Eye
(Hidden Ability: Sniper)
HP: 46
Attack: 69
Defense: 35
Sp. Atk: 36
Sp. Def: 36
Speed: 81
Total: 303
Potential: Red (Elite) +1.62%
Moves (Copyable):
Mastered (1/5000): Peck, Focus EnergyProficient (1/1000): Fury AttackSkilled (1/500): Growl, LeerNovice (1/100): Mirror Move
Peck—the basic attack move—and Focus Energy, the core skill that boosts critical-hit and vital-hit rates, had both reached Mastered proficiency. That was more than enough for now.
Next, it was time to learn new moves.
Since Spearow was a Pokémon that lived on speed, heavy-hitting attacks could wait.
But the speed trio—Quick Attack, Agility, and Double Team—were absolutely mandatory.
If its speed was high enough, Spearow could strike multiple times in a short window.
Even a basic move like Peck, when paired with boosted crit and vital-hit rates, could deal terrifying damage.
But if Spearow was too slow, then even powerful moves like Drill Peck or Sky Attack would be hard to land—and it might even get countered instead.
…
Aside from Spearow, both Magikarp and Feebas had already trained Tackle and Water Gun to Mastered proficiency.
Next, Ash planned to teach both of them new moves.
Magikarp: Physical Attack, Physical Defense, HPFeebas: Special Attack, HP, Special Defense
Based on their development paths, both Pokémon needed further enhancement to their endurance.
So Ash planned to teach Aqua Ring, a recovery move, to both Magikarp and Feebas next.
Once Aqua Ring was learned, their growth paths would begin to diverge—each heading in a different direction.
But no matter what, starting from a clean slate—like blank sheets of paper—made it easier for Ash to fully control both base-stat training and skill-framework construction from the ground up.
And for him, that was actually an advantage.
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T/N:
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