Pokémon: Raising Abandoned Pokémon into Legends

Chapter 26: Learning Ancient Script

After confirming no one was around, Rio took out the treasure map again.

Gradually, his brow furrowed.

Although he could tell from the illustration that this was a treasure map related to Lugia, the text written on it appeared to be in ancient script. To him, it was practically indecipherable—he couldn’t recognize a single character.

"Grandpa Fuji should be able to read this," Rio muttered.

The Cinnabar Research Institute that Mr. Fuji had founded focused on reviving ancient Pokémon fossils, so its founder should be very familiar with this kind of script.

"I’ll go to Grandpa Fuji to learn ancient script when I get back."

Having made up his mind, Rio put the map away and walked over to the ice cream cart to pay for Munchlax.

Three days later.

Rio and Karen returned to the Pokémon House with the three abandoned Pokémon.

Mr. Fuji, along with Rina and some volunteers, was waiting outside to welcome them.

"Rio, with your strength, you should have secured the Gym challenge, right?" Mr. Fuji came up with a kind expression as soon as Rio got out of the truck.

"I got it," Rio nodded with a smile.

Mr. Fuji then glanced at Munchlax, who was fast asleep in the truck’s cargo bed.

"That Munchlax didn’t cause you too much trouble along the way, did it?"

Rio replied: "It didn’t cause much trouble—it just cost a little more money than expected. I’ll need you to reimburse me, Grandpa Fuji."

Mr. Fuji waved his hand casually: "That’s no problem—reimbursement is only right."

Rio grinned at that. He immediately pulled a notebook out of his backpack, on which he had recorded all of Munchlax’s expenses over the past few days.

"Thanks, Grandpa Fuji. If the numbers don’t add up, feel free to check the receipts with me. I’ll go see how my Gym construction is coming along." He placed the notebook in Mr. Fuji’s hands.

Mr. Fuji took it. As he scanned the listed expenses, his previously relaxed expression gradually froze.

Rio, meanwhile, quickly made his exit and crossed the street diagonally from the Pokémon House.

His Gym was located right there.

At the moment, about a dozen workers, along with Machop and Machoke—and two Tyrogue—were busy hauling bricks and constructing the Gym. Not far away, their Gym trainees were conducting special training and Pokémon battles on an open lot.

"Not bad—everything is heading in the direction I hoped," Rio murmured, then walked over to the trainees to direct their training.

That night, Rio brought paper and a pen to Mr. Fuji’s office.

"Is there something you need, Rio?" Mr. Fuji looked a bit surprised to see him with writing materials.

"Nothing major—I just wanted to ask you about a few characters. I was hoping you could help me decipher them," Rio said, placing the paper and pen in front of Mr. Fuji.

Mr. Fuji picked it up, glanced at it, and immediately chuckled: "These three characters are simple—they’re all ancient script from long ago. They mean ’Crimson,’ ’Silver,’ and ’Summon.’"

As he spoke, he wrote the modern equivalents below each character.

After finishing, he asked: "Rio, what made you interested in these three ancient characters?"

"I saw them at the Pewter City Museum and thought they looked interesting, so I jotted them down. I figured with your vast knowledge, you’d be able to explain them," Rio said.

Mr. Fuji laughed heartily.

"You’re not wrong there, kid. In terms of knowledge, I’m not bragging—there really aren’t many in this world as knowledgeable as I am. I mastered most of this ancient script when I was young."

Rio’s eyes lit up: "Then, Grandpa Fuji, could you teach me ancient script? I think at my age, it’s a great time to be learning."

"Excellent—that’s a very good attitude, kid. You can spend some time with me every day learning it. Coincidentally, an old friend’s granddaughter will be coming from the Sinnoh region soon to study this subject with me—you two can learn together."

Mr. Fuji agreed with a smile and pulled a book from his shelf. "Here—you can take this dictionary of ancient script back with you. It only covers a portion of the characters, but it’s very beginner-friendly."

Rio took the book gratefully. Flipping through it casually, he saw page after page of ancient text he couldn’t understand.

After chatting for a while longer, Rio left with the dictionary and returned to his private dormitory.

Charmeleon was resting in the cozy little bed Rio had bought for it. It chirped when it saw him come back.

Rio patted its head affectionately.

Then he sat down at his desk and began studying the ancient script.

The three characters he’d shown Mr. Fuji were ones he had randomly copied from the treasure map.

After studying for about half an hour, Rio felt his phone vibrate.

He picked it up—it was a notification that his online registration as a Pokémon Guide had been approved.

Now he just needed to set his guidance fee, and he could start training other trainers’ Pokémon online and collect payment.

Looking at his phone, he saw that among the current listed guides, the eight Gym Leaders charged the highest fees—ranging from 100,000 to 150,000 League coins—with the Viridian Gym having suspended its guidance services.

After a moment’s thought, Rio set his own fee at 5,000 League coins.

That was the highest price in his current tier. Other guides with only one Gym badge charged between 1,000 and 2,000.

Good wine needs no bush. He was going for a high-quality guidance route, and he believed that once he got his first client, a second and third would follow—and he might even have to raise his prices later.

Knock, knock, knock!

Just as Rio finished setting his price, someone knocked on his door.

He quickly put away the treasure map and went to open the door.

Standing there was Munchlax—the little chubby one—carrying a pile of Berries.

"Ka~" — Good evening, Rio.

Munchlax greeted him, then waddled right in and plopped down onto Charmeleon’s little bed, much to Charmeleon’s bewilderment. It tossed one Berry to Charmeleon, then lay down on the spot.

"Ka~" — Mankey is going crazy in the room next door. I’m sleeping with you guys tonight.

Charmeleon, whose bed had been taken over, looked at Munchlax with utter exasperation. But since this guy had been sharing its food over the past few days, Charmeleon let it slide.

Rio raised an eyebrow—and immediately went online to order a bed for Munchlax as well.

Then he went back to studying the ancient script.