Pokémon: This Is Definitely Pokémon!

Gabriel stood before the gate of Jindu Gym, noticing immediately that it felt different from other gyms—a bit... outdated, perhaps.

"Don't they clean this place? I can see bird nests on top of the gym."

The elderly man nearby remained silent, his face unreadable.

Gabriel frowned, confused, and asked, "Isn't this a historical landmark? Shouldn't it be well-maintained?"

"Where did this brat come from? This is no place for kids. Shoo, shoo, shoo!"

The old man suddenly flew into a rage, waving a fan in his hand as he tried to push Gabriel out the door.

What's going on with this gym? Why are they kicking people out as soon as they show up?

Dumbfounded, Gabriel found himself being firmly escorted out. However, as a child, he couldn't resist the old man's surprising strength. In the end, it was Elle who stepped in to stop the old man.

"Good day, sir. This young man here is the son of the chairman of Infinite Pokéblock Co., Ltd. We're just here to take a look around."

Infinite Pokéblock? That's Dad's company, isn't it? It must be pretty influential.

The old man's eyes widened as he looked at Elle in disbelief.

"Infinite Pokéblock Co.? The company that produces those pokéblocks ?"

Elle nodded. The old man's attitude changed immediately.

"Why didn't you say so earlier? As the oldest gym in the country, we welcome all visitors! You're Gabriel, right? Come on in, come on in!"

The old man's fierce demeanor transformed into a kindly smile. He grabbed Gabriel's hand and led him into the gym, all traces of his earlier hostility gone.

Once inside the gym, the old man released Gabriel's hand and turned to smile at them both.

"Let me introduce myself. I'm Everette, the Gym Leader of Jindu Gym. You can call me Leader Eve. Here's a map of the gym. Feel free to look around wherever you like. If you need anything, just call me—I'll be right here."

He waved at Gabriel with a smile before heading back to the rocking chair by the gym's entrance.

This... This is the gym leader? He doesn't seem to have the authority or demeanor of one.

Gabriel sighed, scratching his head. No matter. He was here to learn how to train Pokémon, and those resources must be somewhere inside the gym.

As Gabriel and Elle walked deeper into the gym, Everette, now sitting in his rocking chair, suddenly opened a Poké Ball. A Vespiquen materialized in the gym.

"Gather your workers and keep a close eye on that kid!"

"Bzz?"

"Bzz what? That kid isn't just anyone—he's the young master of Infinite Pokéblock Co. If we can seize this opportunity, we'll finally have access to those pokéblocks. No more trading honey for berries!"

Hearing this, Vespiquen's gaze sharpened.

For pokéblocks, it's worth it!

Meanwhile, Elle, who was walking alongside Gabriel, sensed something amiss. He noticed groups of Combee hiding in the shadows, watching them intently.

Those must be Leader Everette's Pokémon. Judging by how many Combee there are, he must have a powerful Vespiquen leading them.

Gabriel, however, was oblivious to the tense atmosphere. Instead, he focused on the dilapidated state of the gym. As he opened yet another door, a thick layer of dust swirled into the air, making him sneeze violently.

"What the heck? This doesn't look like a gym at all! Nobody's cleaned this place in years."

Gabriel looked around the run-down room, shaking his head. If someone wanted to shoot a horror movie here, they wouldn't need to redecorate—the natural creepy vibe was perfect as it was.

This was the sixth room he'd checked, and all of them were in the same state. He turned to Elle with an exasperated look.

"Elle, are you sure this is really a gym? It doesn't look like one at all."

"Although it hasn't been renovated in a long time, Leader Everette is undeniably strong. I'm no match for him."

Elle's words surprised Gabriel. He knew Elle's Garchomp was incredibly powerful—most Pokémon couldn't hope to match it. Yet Elle admitted he couldn't defeat that old man, Everette!

Maybe he'd been too quick to judge. To become a gym leader, one must possess extraordinary strength—it's a prerequisite for becoming an Elite Four member.

Sighing at the state of the gym, Gabriel decided it was pointless to search further on his own. He might as well talk directly to the old man.

Just as Gabriel turned to find Everette, the gym leader suddenly appeared in front of him.

"Looking for me, Young Master Gab?"

"How... How did you get here?"

"Hahaha, I'm a gym leader, after all. Tricks like this are second nature to me. Besides, this gym is a historical site. If any thieves show up, I need to handle them immediately."

Gabriel's face darkened with disbelief. Thieves? In this gym? They'd probably feel sorry for you and leave some money behind.

"Leader Eve, I came to Jindu Gym to learn about Pokémon training techniques."

"Pokémon? What's that?"

Elle sighed and explained to Everette.

"Oh, you mean monsters? Pokémon, huh? That's a strange name. Well, if Young Master Gab wants to learn how to train monsters, I do have some methods."

Though Elle had assured him of Everette's strength, Gabriel couldn't help but feel doubtful.

Is this old man really reliable?

Everette, experienced as he was, immediately noticed Gabriel's skepticism. Without a word, he decided to show, not tell.

Waving his fan, Everette summoned a shadowy figure that whipped up a strong gust of wind. A Vespiquen appeared behind him.

Before Gabriel could react, the room filled with swarms of Combee, circling the Vespiquen in tight formations. The sight was so overwhelming it could trigger anyone's fear of bugs. Standing in the center of the swarm, Everette looked completely at ease, gently fanning himself like a ruler of the insect world.

Evertte smiled at Gabriel.

"Now, do you think I'm qualified?"

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