"Leader Morty, I was lucky enough to catch a det Ghost-type Pokémon on my journey. However, due to my team position, I don't have the capacity to train it, but I'd like to find a worthy Traio entrust it to."

  Sato handed over the Poké Ball, carefully choosing his words—he wasn't a gift, but rather subtly implying he was seeking assistan pg it.

  "okémon is it?" As a master specializing in Ghost-types, Morty was familiar with all known Ghost Pokémon. Without much thought, he casually took the ball.

  "A Duskull."

  Passing the Poké Ball to a nearby disciple, Morty then turned his attention back to Sato, calmly asking if he had any trainied questions he could help with.

  Smatic!

  Sato mentally beled Morty as a calg man, but that was exactly what he wanted.

  Once Morty realized the potential of this Duskull, if he truly wa, he'd have to offer something of equal value!

  Ign the disciple who had taken the Poké Ball a, Sato seized the opportunity to ask numerous questions about training and developing Haunter.

  Morty, having already received a be, was quite forthing. He answered Sato's questions thhly, expining various teiques and strategies.

  However, whehe discussion edged toward more advanced, core trainihods, he suddenly became vague and evasive.

  Fortunately, before Sato's patience wore thin, the disciple who had left returhis time rushing in with visible excitement. Notig that Sato was still there, he posed himself, then leaned in to whisper something in Morty's ear.

  No shoo visible reaorty simply took the Duskull's Poké Ball back, his expression more serious now. His gaze lingered on Sato for a moment before he finally spoke.

  "Sato, this Duskull of yours has impressive potential."

  "Yes, it has Pseudo-Elite Four-level Ghost-type potential. It should be acceptable, right?"

  Testing me? Old fox.

  "Earlier, you asked how to enhance Haunter's training efficy, right? Try this method when you go back…"

  As expected, the Duskull had an immediate effect. Fym Leader, a Pokémon with Pseudo-Elite Four potential was valuable enough to bee a core team member.

  With his Dark Energy aiding him, Sato had a much easier time finding high-potential Pokémon pared to others. Otherwise, even if this Duskull didn't fit his team's battle style or strategy, he wouldn't have given it away so easily.

  But Sato wanted more than just training tips—he released Haunter.

  "Leader Morty, what do you think of my Haunter?"

  "Hmm?"

  Morty focused on Hauhen closed his eyes. Strangely, Haunter followed suit, floating motionless in the air.

  Sato could clearly feel a unique energy eg Morty and Haunter, even causing a slight disturban the Dark Energy within his body.

  He didn't interrupt—after all, it ublicly known that Ecruteak Gym Leaders throughout history possessed special abilities.

  The ability to unicate with Ghost-type Pokémon, and hundreds of them at once, and even borrow their power to see distant pces—this was a formidable gift!

  After a long moment, both Haunter and Morty opeheir eyes simultaneously. A brief flicker of envy in Morty's gaze did not escape Sato's notice.

  "I uand why you came here. I will help your Haunter plete its evolution perfectly—as a return gift for the Duskull yht me."

  "Thank you, Leader Morty!" Sato stood up and expressed his gratitude.

  "You deserve it. During this time, you e here anytime to study. If you have any questions, feel free to ask me. When the middle of the month arrives, I will arrange Haunter's evolution."

  "Uood."

  Without asking why they had to wait half a month, Sato agreed without hesitation.

  ----------------

  For the wo weeks, Sato traveled bad forth between the Pokémoer aeak Gym. Aside from the group training sessions for his Pokémon in the ms, most of his focus ced on Haunter.

  As one of the most prestigious Ghost-type Gyms, every disciple of Ecruteak Gym was required to own at least one Ghost-type Pokémohe janitor kept a retively mild-mannered Shuppet.

  And Gastly and Haunter were practically standard for all disciples. In a short period, Sato rapidly expanded his knowledge and uanding of the Gastly line.

  The various unique abilities of the Gastly and Haunter he entered left Sato deeply impressed. By and adapting their teiques, Haunter's progress skyrocketed!

  As time passed, the two Poké Balls Sato had entrusted to Nurse Joy were successfully sold—at a price even higher than what Wester had offered on the market.

  At the same time, the Johto branch head of the Joy family—the elderly Joy whom Sato had met in Goldenrod City—took the time to personally write him a letter.

  In a grandmotherly tone, she reassured Sato to grow without worry and expressed her appreciation for his hoy.

  Stability secured!

  Sato replied with a letter of gratitude and then threw himself bato training. Seeing Haunter's rapid progress was almost addictive—he didn't want to stop.

  Finally, the mid-month date arrived, and Morty informed Sato that the optimal time for Haunter's evolution would be at midnight.

  However, as soon as the sun had set, Sato was already waiting at Ecruteak Gym. Haunter, usually carefree and mischievous, was now restlessly floating around him.

  "You've done everything you o—stay calm."

  Haunter nodded seriously, having seen many Gengar at Ecruteak Gym. It wasn't unfamiliar with the form it was about to take. There was little fear—only anticipation.

  "Let's go."

  "Outside?"

  "Yes, to a pce suitable fhost-type Pokémon's evolution. You'll uand whe there."

  Morty strode out of the Gym, followed closely by one of his stro disciples. Sato recalled that this disciple also had a Misdreavus that o evolve.

  Avoiding the bustling market he Gym, the three of them headed northwest toward the outskirts of the city.

  As the crowd thinned, Sato thought about Ecruteak City's yout and quickly deduced their destination.

  The Burower!

  Once used to summon the legendary Ho-Oh, the tower was pletely destroyed after angering the Legendary Pokémon. Only the first floor and parts of the sed floor remaianding, while the rest had colpsed into ruins.

  As they approached, various curious Ghost-type Pokémon began appearing—Gastly, Haunter, Misdreavus, Shuppet, and more.

  Perhaps due to Morty's presehe Ghost Pokémon behaved retively calmly.

  "Watch your step. We o reach the sed floor of the Burower. Follow my footsteps exactly."

  "You go first. I'll cover the rear," Morty's disciple offered. Sato nodded in thanks and followed Morty without hesitation.

  Though he refrained from using Dark Energy in a pce swarming with Ghost-types, his night vision was unparalleled—few could rival his sight in the dark.

  Soon, Morty led them to a retively open spa the sed floor.

  At its ter, the soft glow of the moon filtered through the ruined ceiling, illuminating a small stoform no more than thirty timeters wide.

  Then, Morty sat cross-legged on the ground, closed his eyes, aered a meditative state, silently waiting for midnight to arrive.

  "Creaaak... creaaak..."

  The sound of footsteps echoed through the ruins. Sato turned sharply, his guard raised.

  He saw a familiar face—the monk he had briefly entered before. Hands pressed together in a prayerful gesture, the monk sloroached.