Hello all, yes there's a new chapter already! I'm still amazed by the amount of support this story has gotten so far and I'm glad to see so many people enjoying it. Thank you all again and please enjoy!

CH 9: Ash and the Salaryman

Outside of Mesagoza

Ash and Arven were originally on their way to Artazon, that was until Arven ran off somewhere else. He had told Ash he had some urgent business to take care of so he should either wait for him or go and he'd catch up. Ash had no clue what this urgent business was and he had a feeling Arven was hiding something. Ash wasn't too keen on going on his own so he opted to wait for him.

He decided to take this chance to check something out, a small ramen shop that had opened just outside of Mesagoza. The place was apparently a traveling business, it operated out of a large tent that appeared across Paldea. Nemona had raved about it so he was eager to try it for himself. He found the place just outside the city and he was happy to try it. True to Nemona's words the place was amazing, even Pikachu liked it. It was rather empty but that was because it seemed to be the least busy time of day.

Ash was sitting at the counter chowing down when he heard someone sit next to him.

"Hey, give me my usual." The man sounded bored out of his mind, speaking in a very dull voice.

Ash looked over to see a dark haired man in a business suit, a large briefcase leaning against the stool,"you come here often?"

"Whenever I can,"the man answered, not even looking towards Ash. The man didn't seem rude, just rather disinterested.

"You're a businessman?" Ash asked still trying to get a conversation going.

"When the league isn't giving me a million things to do," he looked over at Ash finally and just sighed,"look I'm not interested in a gym battle right now."

"Wait, you're a gym leader?"

"Unfortunately yes, an Elite Four member too. That second part wasn't my idea though."

"Umm do you not like it?"

"No I don't, I told them I was busy enough with the gym and my other job. Yet they still gave it to me, it's a real pain I tell you."

"What don't you like about it?"

"It's just not worth the trouble, kids these days just want their badges handed out to them. They don't want to put the effort in, just want everything handed to them on a silver platter. Going from region to region like you did is rare these days kid."

Ash could sort of understand where he was coming from. Sure not every trainer was as driven as him but surely he wasn't the only one.

"I don't think I caught your name, I'm Ash but you probably knew that already.

"Larry and I did yeah, all the league officials here know who you are. Unfortunately I don't find myself getting too excited to do my job anymore. It's just like another day in the office."

"You don't enjoy it at all?"

"Look when you get to a certain point in your life it doesn't spark as much joy. Nowadays it's just a job for me, nothing more.

"Do you want to quit?"

"No, it's not something I can just up and leave behind. I'll do it as long as need be, the benefits and pay are good at least. Plus I get all my travel expenses paid for, it's a living."

"Though if you have no passion for it should you really be doing it?"

"Look kid, you're still young, a time will come when you realize you don't have the same passion as when you were young. It's like a fire that evaporates over time."

Larry dropped his focus on Ash again as his food was placed in front of him. He dug in, not saying anything else. Ash wasn't sure what to make of him, while he seemed pretty experienced he also didn't seem to care for much. Surely the man had some passion buried under there somewhere. The two sat in silence after that, Larry didn't seem interested in chatting so Ash just left it be.

The two continued to eat quietly until Larry finished and got up,"I'll see you at my gym when you get there." With that he left the tent without another word.

"He's quite the character," Ash said to Pikachu who agreed.

"Don't let his monotone nature bother you."

Ash looked over to see Geeta sitting next to him now. He hadn't seen her since he first arrived in Paldea. "Is he always like that?"

"He is, though he is really good at his job. That's why I appointed him as an Elite Four member, I knew he wouldn't like it but he was a good candidate for the position."

"Is there anything I can do to change that?"

"That's just what he's like, it's always just been a job for him. I doubt he'll change anytime soon."

"If you say so, I'm sure there's some passion under there."

"Perhaps we'll see, are you heading to Artazon next?"

"I am yeah, just waiting for my traveling companions."

"Hehe I heard Iono dragged you into her streaming antics," Geeta smirked.

"She did yeah, to be honest I still don't get half of it."

"If it's any consolation she seems quite fond of you, something a lot of her fans would be jealous of."

Geeta did have a point, he and Iono had become good friends since they first met each other. While it was all new to him, he was enjoying it so far, It was like a new challenge for him to conquer.

"It's been fun yeah, I've been enjoying trying something new at least."

"Iono has always been quite hyper, so the fact that you can keep up with her is impressive."

"Yeah she is quite difficult to keep up with, but she is fun to be around."

"Good, well I'm glad to see you are making friends here. I'm looking forward to us eventually battling someday."

"I am too, I promise it'll be one to remember."

Geeta smiled before looking at her phone,"I actually had an idea, something I've been trying to organize on the side."

"A side project of sorts?"

"Yeah, something for the academy students to be able to watch and enjoy."

"What are you thinking of?"

"Sorry but I can't tell you, it would ruin the surprise. Once all the details are set you'll be the first to know."

This got Ash excited, if Geeta was planning something then it must be something big. Hearing that it would be something for all the students to enjoy made him even more intrigued.

"Now I'm really looking forward to it!"

"By the way Ash,"Geeta said as she dug into her ramen," I have a challenge for you."

"What kind of challenge?" Ash asked excitedly.

"If you can get Larry to admit he likes his job I will fulfill any one request you may have."

"He didn't seem to like his job though, at least the Elite Four part."

"Larry won't admit it, but I think he does enjoy it. If Larry had turned down my request to become an elite, I would have honored his decision. Deep down I know he likes battling challengers, he's just so stuck in his way of thinking that he's forgotten he does."

Ash agreed with Geeta, he could tell there was more to Larry than he was letting on. He just wasn't sure how to get him to open up about it. Ash wondered why Geeta ws asking him about this either. Perhaps it was because he was an outsider and didn't have any real professional connections to Larry.

"If you think I could manage it then I'll give it a shot."

"I think you could, if anything, it'd motivate him to be more open with others. He's always kept more to himself. Maybe try asking Iono for advice too, she's managed to get him on her streams before."

"That's a good idea she might have some insight,"Ash said finishing his food,"well then I think I'm going to head off. I need to check to see if Arven and Iono are ready to head out."

"Good luck with the rest of the gyms, I'll be watching your progress."

Later that day

Ash, Arven and Iono had made a stop on their way to Artazon, it was getting late so they figured they'd set up camp for the night. Arven was out gathering materials, leaving Ash and Iono to their own devices.

"So Geeta wants you to re-invigorate Larry's passion for battles?"

"She does yeah, she seems to think I can manage it."

Iono looked at Ash before bursting out into laughter,"Larry enjoying battles? Oh man that's rich, hah yeah good luck with that!"

"What makes you say that?"

"Look it took me weeks of back and forth to even get him on my stream. Be prepared to put the work in, that man hardly ever budges on his views."

"I was hoping you'd have some advice for me."

"Hmm not at the moment, however, I can try and help you out. We can see if we could maybe get him on another stream."

"You guys missing out on a stream?" Arven asked as he returned with a basket full of berries and other ingredients he foraged for.

"Nope, we're doing a vlog in the morning instead,"Iono answered grabbing some berries,"you are welcome to join us."

"No thank you, still not something I'm too interested in."

"Well if you ever change your mind you're more than welcome to join us,"Iono added,"it is quite fun after all."

"Did you two get anything back about the mechanical Pokemon yet?"

"No not that I've heard so far,"Ash answered,"nothing substantial at least, just more rumors."

"I think there were some trolls in the chat, I've been getting some questionable things sent to my email," Iono added with a frustrated sigh.

"Yeah I haven't had much luck on my end, both with Professor Turo and others I've talked to. I think it's the same for Nemona."

"We may have to take a different approach, I probably should have asked Geeta when I ran into her. We should maybe ask the other gym leaders too," Ash suggested.

"Ohbwe can ask Brassius when we make it to the gym!"

"Oh Iono what is he like anyway?"

Iono sighed,"he's kinda weird, Brassius is an eccentric artist. I never understood his art but he appreciates my work as a form of art at least."

"I'm surprised you haven't tried to drag him on stream,"Arven commented much to Iono's excitement.

"That was my plan actually, we're going to live stream an art session with him!"

"All of us?" Ash asked confused.

"Yeah well except for Arven, it'll be a fun activity to stream, Brassius already agreed to it as well. He said he thought it'd be a good chance to share his art with the region as a whole."

"Will that be before I battle him or after?"

"Before, he said that it will be your gym test instead of his normal one."

"What are we going to be doing exactly, are we painting something in particular?" Ash asked feeling slightly nervous now.

"That'll be up to Brassius to decide,"Iono answered,"I told him I'd leave it up to him."

"We should ask him about those mechanical Pokemon too, he may know something as a gym leader," Arven suggested.

Ash nodded in agreement,"I was also going to ask Penny about it too. Though when we get to Artazon I really need to call back home."

Ash had realized he had yet to call his mom back since he got to Paldea, he had to before she started to worry too much. While he was at it he figured he should call Professor Oak as well, so he could introduce Miraidon to him. Plus Arven had been interested in talking to him as well.

"Have you not done that yet?" Iono asked surprised.

"No it slipped my mind so I have to make sure to do it when we get to town."

"Well then that's the first thing we'll do once we check in at the local inn,"Arven said looking over his brochures for the town.

"I gotta finish my little side project,"Iono said standing up,"I'll be back in a bit." She left with that.

"Don't stay away too long!" Arven called out after her.

"I wonder what she's working on anyway."

"I thought you'd know that Ash?"

"No she hasn't told me anything, I assume it's some sort of secret project."

"Everyone has their secrets it seems." Ash wasn't sure what Arven was hinting at, but it seemed something was on his mind.

"Something bothering you?"

Arven just smiled and shook his head,"nothing to be worried about but I appreciate the concern."

"Well if you say so, just know you can talk to me if you need."

The two fell into a comfortable silence as they waited for Iono to return and to resume their journey in the morning.