Pokemon: The Gameboy Effect-Chapter 223: Family Banquet

1901 Three Towers, Aethermere City Center, Peace District

When John arrived at the address given to him by his teacher, Saul Badman, he almost thought he had the wrong place.

Peace District was a high-end neighborhood in Aethermere City, featuring a central fountain where many water-type Pokemon, like Wooper and Poliwag, gathered. The lush greenery provided a home for Oddish under the trees, while Pidgey and Fletchling perched on the branches. The well-maintained environment was a testament to the community's dedication to keeping nature and Pokemon in harmony.

But... no matter how nice the area was, it still didn't seem fitting for someone of Saul Badman's status. After all, his student Damian, an Elite Four trainer, had a villa. If Saul wanted one, he could easily have it built wherever he pleased.

Still, John reached out and rang the doorbell. The door swung open to reveal a vibrant woman dressed in purple, an Aipom perched on her shoulder.

She beamed at him, her smile warm and inviting. "You must be John, the junior our teacher told us about! Come in, everyone's waiting for you!"

Aipom waved its tail cheerfully. "Aiiipom!"

"Uh... thanks, ma'am," John said, stepping inside, unsure of who she was but guessing she must be one of Saul's old students.

Inside, the apartment was lively. Four people sat in the living room, watching TV alongside their Pokemon. Saul Badman himself was there, of course. John recognized another face too, Damian, whom he'd met briefly before.

The other two were unfamiliar. One was a man in a black leather jacket with a gun holstered at his side—clearly someone in law enforcement. The other was a laid-back young man lounging on the sofa, biting into an apple.

A mischievous-looking Gengar sat cross-legged on the couch, propping its chin up with one hand, lost in thought. It was an oddly comical sight.

From the kitchen, the aroma of home-cooked food filled the air, and a middle-aged couple busied themselves over the stove, setting up a feast.

"Ah, John's here! Everyone, take your seats!" Saul called, motioning for them to gather at the table.

The moment John stepped in, all eyes turned to him, evaluating their teacher's newest apprentice. The first impression? Handsome. That was the unspoken consensus.

Following Saul's cue, everyone took their places at the dining table. Saul sat at the head, with the middle-aged man and Damian flanking him on either side. The rest filled in accordingly, leaving an open seat directly across from Saul—for John.

Saul raised his glass. "Another year, another gathering. Thanks for always making time to visit an old man like me."

"It's what we should do, Teacher!" the middle-aged man said, pouring himself a drink.

"That's right!" The others chimed in, glasses lifted.

John followed suit, mirroring their toast.

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After the first sip, Saul introduced him properly. "This is John, my latest student. A freshman this year. You all should look after him."

"Don't worry, Teacher, we will," the middle-aged man assured, then turned to John. "I'm Thomas Reed, Teacher's first student. I specialize in Pokemon mythology research. If you're interested in this field, feel free to come to me."

John nodded. "Nice to meet you, sir." He knew mythology research was an elite branch of Pokemon studies, dangerous, too, since legendary Pokemon were real, and some had no problem appearing in front of researchers. Without sufficient strength, one might not survive such encounters.

Thomas's name rang a bell, though John couldn't place where he'd heard it before. Still, he was 80% sure that Saul's first student must be a big name in the field.

"I'm not one of Saul's students, but I'm Thomas's wife. Like him, I also study Pokemon mythology," the woman who had been helping in the kitchen introduced herself. "You can call me Helen."

The woman in purple, the one who had greeted John at the door ,spoke next. "I'm Violet. My specialty is Pokemon medicine. If your Pokemon ever gets seriously injured or has a condition that won't heal, come to me!"

She flashed a grin. "I'm kind of a big deal in my field, y'know. Here, let's add each other on Twitter—I can even introduce you to some top-tier female doctors and nurses." She winked, eyes twinkling like she'd discovered a hidden treasure.

John chuckled awkwardly, not sure how to respond.

Next was Damian.

"John, we meet again. I don't need to introduce myself, do I?"

"No, Damian, and thanks again for your help last time." John gave a respectful nod, recalling how the Elite Four trainer had guided him in training his Haunter.

Then the lazy-looking young man leaned forward. "Harrison Watts," he said casually. "Gym Leader over in Icefall City. Heard you're planning to challenge some gyms. How about a little sparring? I'll give you some special training before your real matches."

Violet instantly shot him a glare. "Seriously? It's New Year's Eve, and the first thing you want to do is knock the kid out? I am not spending the night patching him up!"

Harrison smirked. "Fine, fine. Then tomorrow."

Violet rolled her eyes.

Lastly, the man in black leather spoke up. "Zachary Hayes. Pokemon investigator. If you're ever interested in my line of work, let me know."

John had guessed as much, Zachary was definitely in law enforcement.

The introductions wrapped up, and the atmosphere grew lively as everyone chatted over dinner. John couldn't help but feel both nervous and excited—he was now part of a prestigious circle of Saul Badman's students.