Pokémon: Did you play Pokémon today?

Chapter 256 "Jihua City"

After a series of twists and turns, Akin's actions were fraught with difficulties.

Hibiki finally made it through the perilous Route 29 without any major incidents and officially entered the first town area.

"Hehe! Just by crossing the first path at the start, Explosive Taro has already reached level 10! How about that, I'm definitely a game master!"

Ah Jin chuckled smugly and, as was his habit, began to boast to Xiao Yin, who was standing by with a cool and aloof expression.

He was trying to gain some recognition (even if it was sarcastic) from this old rival and partner.

"Doesn't this also indirectly prove my unparalleled talent as a trainer?"

"talent?"

Xiao Yin seemed to have been intrigued by his self-praise, and she lowered her arms, a playful smile curving her lips.

"I didn't really see any talent in him."

His tone was calm, but every word he spoke was piercing.

"I only saw the undeniable brilliance and ingenious design of Pokémon HeartGold/SoulSilver."

"Tch, I think you're just plain envious and jealous."

Ajin pursed his lips, already used to it.

He turned to look at Chris on the other side, trying to seek support from this usually more docile companion.

"Class representative, oh no, Chris—you must also think my performance just now was pretty impressive, right?"

"that----"

Chris gave a slightly awkward yet polite smile, hesitated for a moment, and then chose to express her true feelings.

"Actually—I think Xiaoyin makes more sense."

She looked at the screen, her eyes thoughtful.

"Compared to Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, which we played before, I always felt that the Pokémon in Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver seemed particularly energetic and gave me a more 'real' feeling."

She paused, as if organizing her thoughts for more precise language.

"Do you remember the message that popped up in the dialog box when Cyndaquil tried to block all the attacks to protect Hibiki?"

"It did not gain experience by defeating any wild Pokémon, but because of its strong will to protect its trainer, it directly raised its level to 10."

"This is probably—the power born from that incredible 'bond' between humans and Pokémon that Shirazu once mentioned?"

She continued to give examples, her eyes shining brighter as she spoke.

"And then there's the leader, the Pidgeot. It gets angry because of Hibiki's behavior, and it will actively call out to stop the riots in the group. It even shows signs of thinking after a defeat in battle, looking for more effective ways to fight back —"

"All these details make them no longer cold data, but so real and vivid, as if they really have their own emotions and will, living independently in that virtual yet vivid world."

The moment Chris uttered her first word of agreement with Silver, Akin's face instantly fell.

He was about to open his mouth to refute, but after listening to the in-depth analysis that followed, he swallowed back the words that were on the tip of his tongue.

Although he wanted to continue showcasing his "exceptional" gaming talent, deep down he had to admit it.

Chris's words made perfect sense; they even captured the indescribable sense of awe he felt while playing the game himself.

In reality, they all naturally have Pokémon partners who understand each other, and there is an unbreakable bond between them.

They have all experienced similar situations, to varying degrees, where Cyndaquil sacrificed itself to protect its trainer.

But this is a game!

These are completely different concepts!

Real-world Pokémon possess independent thoughts and rich emotions, and the bond they develop with their trainers over a long period can indeed give rise to extraordinary power.

But Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver manage to bring this abstract concept of "bond" and "emotional interaction" to life.

It's truly amazing how realistically and naturally the game mechanics are simulated and presented!

It can be said that it was after Cyndaquil stood in front of him without hesitation that Gin finally put away his initial "just playing around" attitude.

He no longer sees the Cyndaquil in the game as a string of data code that can be reset at will, but truly regards it as a partner that he needs to take responsibility for and fight alongside him!

So later, when they were surrounded by a flock of Pidgey birds in the bushes, they were in a dilemma.

Instead of adopting a nonchalant attitude and choosing to rush out with Cyndaquil to "die" and then reload the save, I decided to start over.

Instead, he preferred to hide in the grass, feeling utterly miserable. His real purpose was to prevent his partner, who had just risked his life to protect him, from getting hurt.

"Yes, I feel the same way."

At this moment, Xiao Yin's cool voice rang out, adding the final "assist".

"Unlike Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, which focus more on adventure and growth, the core theme of Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, in my opinion, is emotion and bonds."

"It's trying to build a warmer and deeper Pokémon world."

After an in-depth conversation, the three partners gained a deeper understanding and greater anticipation for this new work.

At the same time, the game screen finally showed the full appearance of the first town they arrived in.

The first thing that catches the eye is a vast expanse of colorful flowers, spread out like a tapestry.

Various unnamed flowers swayed gently in the breeze, creating ripples that formed a harmonious and beautiful picture.

Jihua Market

"A city where wildflowers bloom and a gentle breeze caresses the face."

As poetic introductory text quietly appears, a light and rhythmic town background music begins to play.

As Ah Jin controlled Ah Xiang, he officially stepped into the city that seemed to be enveloped in flowers and gentle breezes.

However, before he could decide where to explore next, a huge yellow exclamation mark suddenly appeared above Ah Xiang's head!

At the same time, a figure rushed over from the direction of Route 29 where he had just come from, stopped in front of him panting, and leaned on his knees, breathing heavily.

The newcomer had a messy, unkempt hairstyle and wore a white lab coat belonging to researchers, which was wrinkled and covered with bits of grass and dust.

Despite his handsome face, he couldn't hide his disheveled and exhausted appearance.

When he finally caught his breath and straightened up, he noticed Ah Xiang standing next to him.

He carefully examined the other person, then suddenly broke into a bright smile and approached them in a very familiar manner.

But he didn't need to introduce himself at all.

Outside the game screen, A-Jin, Xiao-Yin, and Chris almost simultaneously exclaimed, "Brother Bai Zhou!?"

"Handsome Researcher: There's no mistake! Judging from your intelligent eyes and your standard rookie trainer attire, you must be the boy Professor Elm mentioned in the communications, right? Nice to meet you!"

A dialog box pops up in the game.

The handsome researcher with messy hair casually put his arm around Ah Xiang's shoulder, speaking to him with the warmth of an old friend.

"Handsome Researcher: I'm Professor Oak's assistant. You can call me Handsome Researcher. Haha, nice to meet you!"

He was completely oblivious to his slightly disheveled appearance and continued speaking.

"Handsome Researcher: I was worried you'd get lost, so I was heading to Route 29 to find you. But I'd only gone a short distance when I bumped into a bunch of Pidgeys and Pidgeottos that were inexplicably furious. The sight was...!"

"Handsome Researcher: Tsk tsk, luckily I trained when I was young and I'm still quite agile, which is why I escaped unharmed."

At this point, he seemed to suddenly remember something, and his tone became slightly annoyed as he muttered something under his breath, almost to himself.

"Handsome Researcher: That's strange—I clearly remember marking a warning on the road sign, right? Did the ink fade, or did some reckless trainer accidentally provoke them again?"

Upon hearing this, the culprit, Ah Jin, immediately felt guilty, shrank his neck, and stared at the screen, not daring to utter a sound.

Even Xiao Yin, who was standing next to her, started to look uneasy and her eyes darted around.

After all, if we really trace the source, the bird riots are inextricably linked to him.

Only the completely innocent Chris smiled knowingly and found it amusing, her tone full of excitement.

"I knew it! I always felt like something was missing from this adventure! Now that Brother Bai Zhou has appeared, the whole story feels right! It suddenly feels complete and reassuring!"

"Hmm—based on what he said, and considering the game design logic—"

Xiao Yin chimed in, regaining her composure.

"If we hadn't managed to escape the flock of birds and were in dire straits, he, who happened to be searching for us nearby, would most likely have appeared and helped us out of the crisis."

This wasn't just his overthinking; it was a reasonable deduction based on a deep understanding of the modus operandi of a certain game producer and "mastermind."

Let alone in Pokémon FireRed/LeafGreen.

If you think about it carefully, you can always find the shadowy figure of Bai Zhou "protecting" them behind the many adventures they experience in reality.

"Handsome Researcher: Hey? You little brat—why are you stunned? Could it be that—you were so surprised to see me so teacher-like in this game that you forgot how to play?

Seeing that Ah Xiang didn't react for a long time, the handsome researcher revealed a mischievous smile as if he had just realized something.

He quickly uttered a sarcastic remark that was clearly breaking the fourth wall and directed at the player in front of the screen.

Any player familiar with Shirozuru's style will involuntarily smile knowingly upon seeing this sentence.

For example, the three people in front of the screen, including A-Jin, genuinely had smiles on their faces.

"If you don't talk to the handsome researcher for a long time, he'll criticize you in this way, and might even directly expose your identity as a player —"

Chris laughed and complained, but there was no dissatisfaction in her tone about the game's rhythm being interrupted; on the contrary, it felt even more friendly.

"This hidden little Easter egg is surprisingly in line with Bai Zhou's sometimes mischievous and playful personality."

Xiao Yin simply raised her hand and tapped Ah Jin on the back of the head, a move so practiced it was heartbreaking.

"Idiot! Stop spacing out! Answer me!"

"Okay, okay! Coming right away!"

Ah Jin immediately responded, even forgetting to take Xiao Yin's "insubordinate" attack seriously.

After all, it involved Brother Bai Zhou, so the usually lawless Ah Jin really didn't have any thoughts of resistance and became as obedient as a bug-catching boy.

Others may not know just how "terrifying" Brother Bai Zhou really is, but he has experienced it firsthand!

Among the two generations of main characters, he is the only one who was dragged into a dark room by Brother Bai Zhou under the guise of "special training" for "individual tutoring".

He said he wasn't proud at all, really, and there was no need to envy him.

Akin: That's hell! Hell!

He quickly instructed Ah Xiang to respond.

"Brother Bai Zhou—no, handsome researcher, I'm the person you're looking for. What can I do for you?"

'

"Handsome Researcher: It's nothing particularly important."

The researcher waved his hand casually, his tone relaxed.

"Handsome Researcher: I'm mainly worried that you might get lost in the complicated roads on your first trip, or be tricked by some ill-intentioned guy, so I came here to meet you and act as your temporary guide."

As he spoke, he seemed to remember something and began rummaging through the pockets of his seemingly spacious white lab coat.

Finally, she pulled out a pair of running shoes that looked a bit travel-worn, with mud stains even on the soles.

"Handsome Researcher: Oh right, I almost forgot about this. These running shoes are for you. They look a bit old, but they should make you walk much faster than usual and save you a lot of time traveling."

He handed the running shoes to Ah Xiang, then lowered his voice to add, as if sharing some little secret.

"Handsome Researcher: Just between you and me, the previous owner of these shoes was quite a figure! You might even have a chance to meet him on your future journey!"

"Ah-Xiang got running shoes from the handsome researcher!"

"Who was the previous owner?"

Ajin looked at the pair of running shoes in his inventory that were clearly "second-hand," raised an eyebrow, and fell into deep thought.

But the next second, he suddenly realized something was wrong!

"Wait a minute! Something's not right! Why are these secondhand shoes?! Shouldn't they be brand new running shoes?! Bai Zhou, you're so stingy!"

Ajin couldn't help but complain to the screen.

However, his complaints did not cause any ripples in the game.

In the game, the handsome researcher had already naturally entered the role of "guide" and started taking Ah Xiang for a stroll around Jihua City.

They also gave him a simple explanation of the basic functions of the Pokémon Center and the Friendly Shop, which was like a helpful guide for newcomers.

"Handsome Researcher: Alright, that concludes the basic introduction to town facilities. The rest, such as what interesting people or things are hidden there, is up to you to explore and discover. That's what makes the adventure so enjoyable."

After completing the basic introduction, he changed the subject.

"Researcher Shiqi: When you've explored enough, remember to come find me at the intersection of Route 30 in the north of town. I'll be waiting for you there."

After saying that, he turned around without looking back and made as if to leave.

But after taking only a few steps, he seemed to suddenly remember something, turned around, and gave Ah Xiang a slightly mysterious smile.

"Handsome Researcher: Watch the time! I still have one more item for you! If you're late, I might change my mind!"