He looked around.
Confirming no one was around, Jiang Fan took out the treasure map again.
Slowly, his brows furrowed.
Although he could tell from the drawing that this was a treasure map related to Lugia, the text on the map seemed to be ancient script.
To him, it was completely indecipherable, not a single character he recognized.
"Old Man Fuji should understand it," Jiang Fan muttered.
Old Man Fuji founded the Cinnabar Lab, which focused on reviving ancient Pokémon fossils, so he, as the founder, should be very knowledgeable about these scripts.
"After I go back, I'll learn ancient script from Old Man Fuji."
Once he made up his mind, Jiang Fan put the treasure map away and went to the ice cream stall to pay for Munchlax.
Three days later.
Jiang Fan and Karen returned to the Pokémon House with the three abandoned Pokémon.
Old Man Fuji, Li Nai, and some volunteers were waiting outside to greet them.
"Jiang Fan, with your strength, you must have conquered the Gym challenge, right?" As soon as Jiang Fan got out of the car, Old Man Fuji approached him with a kind expression, showing concern.
"I did," Jiang Fan smiled and nodded.
Old Man Fuji glanced at Munchlax, who was sound asleep in the truck's cargo bed.
"Munchlax didn't cause you too much trouble on the way, did he?"
Jiang Fan replied, "He didn't cause any trouble, it's just that he spent a little too much money, so I need you, Grandpa Fuji, to reimburse me."
Old Man Fuji casually waved his hand, "That's no problem, reimbursement is expected."
Jiang Fan chuckled at his words.
He immediately took out a notebook from his backpack, which recorded Munchlax's various expenses over the past few days.
"Thank you, Grandpa Fuji. If you feel the amount isn't right, you can check the consumption records with me. I'll go see how my Gym construction is coming along first." Jiang Fan placed the notebook in Old Man Fuji's hand.
Old Man Fuji took it, and as he saw the numerous expenses recorded, his previously casual expression gradually stiffened.
Meanwhile, Jiang Fan quickly slipped away and arrived at the diagonal opposite side of the road from the Pokémon House.
His Gym's chosen location was right there.
At this moment, more than a dozen workers, along with Machop, Machoke, and two Tyrogue, were moving bricks and constructing the Gym.
Their Gym students, on the other hand, were at a nearby construction site, conducting special training and Pokémon battles with their Pokémon.
"Not bad, everything is progressing in the direction I hoped for."
Jiang Fan murmured, then walked towards the students, directing their special training.
That night.
Jiang Fan went to Old Man Fuji's office with paper and pen.
"Is there something, Jiang Fan?" Old Man Fuji was a little surprised to see Jiang Fan come in with paper and pen.
"It's nothing major, I just wanted to ask you about a few characters, Grandpa Fuji. I wonder if you could help me with them." Jiang Fan placed the paper and pen in front of Old Man Fuji.
Old Man Fuji took them and glanced at them, then immediately smiled, "These three characters are simple. They are ancient scripts from a long time ago, meaning 'red,' 'silver,' and 'summon' respectively."
Saying that, Old Man Fuji also wrote down the modern equivalents of the three characters below them.
After writing, he said, "Jiang Fan, why are you interested in these three ancient characters?"
"I saw them at the Pewter City Museum, and I found them very interesting, so I wrote them down. I thought you, Grandpa, with your vast knowledge, would definitely be able to answer them," Jiang Fan said.
Old Man Fuji laughed heartily.
"You're absolutely right about that, kid. When it comes to knowledge, I'm not boasting, but there really aren't many people in this world as smart as me. I mastered most of these ancient scripts when I was young."
Jiang Fan's eyes lit up, "Then, Grandpa Fuji, could you teach me to recognize ancient scripts? I feel that at my age, it's the perfect time to study hard."
"Good, that's an excellent idea, kid. Just spend some time each day learning with me. Conveniently, an old friend's granddaughter from the Sinnoh region will be coming to me soon to study this kind of knowledge, and you two can learn together."
Old Man Fuji smiled and agreed, while also taking a book from the bookshelf. "Oh, and you can also take this dictionary on ancient scripts to read. Although it only contains a portion of the characters, it's very beginner-friendly for you."
Jiang Fan gratefully accepted the book.
He casually flipped through it and saw a large amount of incomprehensible ancient text.
The two chatted for a while longer, then Jiang Fan left with the dictionary.
He returned to his private dormitory.
At this time, Charmeleon was resting in the exquisite small nest Jiang Fan bought for him, and he let out a cry when he saw Jiang Fan return.
Jiang Fan stroked his little head.
Then he began to study ancient script at his dormitory desk.
The three characters he had given to Old Man Fuji were three characters he had randomly selected and copied from the treasure map.
After studying for about half an hour, Jiang Fan felt his phone vibrate.
He picked it up and saw that his online Pokémon Instructor registration had been approved.
Now, as long as he filled in the instruction fees, he could instruct Trainers online on how to train Pokémon and charge a fee.
Jiang Fan looked at his phone. Currently, the highest instruction fees were from the eight Gym Leaders, ranging from 100,000 to 150,000 alliance coin, with Viridian Gym having stopped its instruction services.
Jiang Fan pondered for a moment and finally set his fee at 5,000 alliance coin.
This was the highest price in his current tier.
Others who had one Gym Badge had prices ranging from 1,000 to 2,000 alliance coin.
Good wine needs no bush. He was pursuing a high-level instruction route, and he believed that once he started, there would definitely be a second, and a third person seeking his guidance.
He might even raise the price later.
"Knock, knock, knock!"
Just as Jiang Fan set the price, there was a knock on the dormitory door.
He immediately put away the treasure map, then went to the door and opened it.
When he opened it, it was Munchlax, the Little Fatty, holding a pile of berries, standing at the door.
"Ka~" -- Good evening, Jiang Fan.
Munchlax called out to him, then walked in by himself, holding the berries, and plopped down into Charmeleon's bewildered little nest.
After giving Charmeleon a berry, he just lay down directly.
"Ka~" -- Mankey is going crazy in the room next door, so I'm sleeping with you guys tonight.
Charmeleon, whose nest had been usurped, looked at him speechlessly.
But thinking that this guy would share his food with him these past few days, he didn't bother about his behavior anymore.
As for Jiang Fan, he raised an eyebrow.
He immediately bought a nest for Munchlax online.
Then he continued to study ancient script.