Chapter 14: Bug Catcher Bob  

Seeing Gary's solemn expression, the Bug Catcher boy was delighted. Confidently, he said, "Beedrill is the third evolution of a Pokémon. Now, I'll show you the consequences of bullying Bug-type Pokémon!"

As the Bug Catcher was about to command Beedrill to attack, Gary quickly raised his hand to stop him.

"What do you want to say now?" the Bug Catcher asked, glancing at Gary. "If you're trying to explain, it's pointless."

"No, it's just that there's a misunderstanding. I didn't intend to bully the Caterpie; I was only trying to help my friend. She's a bit afraid of Caterpie, and I was trying to help her get over it. I meant no harm to the Caterpie," Gary explained.

The Bug Catcher, though skeptical, was willing to listen to what Gary had to say. Gary finally breathed a sigh of relief and then recounted how he used the Caterpie to help Mia overcome her fear of it.

"Is it really that simple?" the Bug Catcher asked, still doubtful.

It was understandable that he didn't believe Gary's words. After all, he didn't know Mia or her fear of Caterpie, so it was natural for him to be skeptical.

"I knew you wouldn't believe me. But did you actually see me bullying the Caterpie? I remember that I just gently pressed it down, held my friend's hand, and touched its body, right?" Gary asked, trying to clarify his actions.

Hearing Gary's explanation, the Bug Catcher seemed to consider it. "When you put it that way, it does seem true. But even if it wasn't bullying, your behavior was still undesirable. Don't do it again."

The Bug Catcher looked at Gary and then at Mia, who was still a bit dazed. He nodded but still felt that Gary's actions were inappropriate.

"Ding!"

"Congratulations to the host for persuading the Bug Catcher. The reward has been issued."

As the Bug Catcher no longer believed that Gary had bullied the Caterpie, the system prompt sounded, much to Gary's relief.

"Hmm?" Gary finally relaxed and smiled at the Bug Catcher. "Now that we've cleared up the misunderstanding, do we still need to battle?"

"Of course, I won't continue. Your Pokémon is strong, but there's still a gap compared to Beedrill. I don't want to use power that isn't mine to win. But if you insist on being defeated, I don't mind," the Bug Catcher said with a smile.

"Since you put it that way, I won't rush to be defeated. By the way, are you a ranger of Viridian Forest?" Gary asked, changing the subject.

"Well... almost. But with my current strength, I'm far from being a ranger. My father is a ranger of Viridian Forest. Compared to him, I'm still far behind," the Bug Catcher replied, shaking his head.

"I see. So, what are you going to do next?" Gary inquired.

"Me?" The Bug Catcher tilted his head in thought. "I might continue exploring the forest. I heard that Team Rocket has been around recently."

"Team Rocket is full of villains. Can you handle them alone? How about we go with you? We don't plan to leave Viridian Forest anytime soon," Gary suggested.

The Bug Catcher was happy to hear Gary's offer but didn't want to waste his time. "It would be great if you could help, but are you sure you're not in a hurry? If my father finds out you stayed to help me and delayed your journey, he'll definitely scold me."

"Don't worry, it won't delay us. But I have an idea. We'll help you find Team Rocket, and in return, you can guide us out of Viridian Forest. What do you think?" Gary proposed.

"I thought you were going to ask for something difficult! That's a simple request, leave it to me," the Bug Catcher replied, relieved.

"Thank you very much. Let's get going quickly. If Team Rocket is really in the forest, it will become more dangerous. Finding them as soon as possible will help bring peace back to the forest," Gary urged.

Since Mia hadn't fully recovered from the incident with the Caterpie, Gary asked the Bug Catcher to lead them to his father's temporary residence in Viridian Forest, where Mia could rest. Meanwhile, Gary and the Bug Catcher would search for any traces of Team Rocket.

On the way, Gary looked at the Bug Catcher and smiled. "I've been calling you 'Bug Catcher,' but I don't even know your name. Let's formally introduce ourselves. I'm Gary, a rookie trainer from Pallet Town."

"My name is Bob. I didn't expect you to be a rookie trainer from Pallet Town. Speaking of which, I met a trainer from Pallet Town before. I think his name was Ash. You should know him, right?"

"Of course I know him, but I didn't expect that Ash had come this far," Gary said, surprised at the mention of his rival.