Chapter 38: Chapter 38
With the sound of battle ringing out behind you, you made your way deeper into the lighthouse and went in search of Bill.
It was a bit of a tight fit for Kingler with his now massive size, but walking sideways as he liked to do, ensured it wasn't too much of a problem.
After stepping in and asking Brock, you found out that Bill was up top in the room where the light beacon was shining from.
You hadn't actually managed to talk to him one on one yet, and you were looking forward to seeing what you could learn from one of the foremost pokemon experts.
Honestly, as you entered, you couldn't help but take in his looks. The perfectly coifed dark green hair, the red velvet suit that probably cost hundreds of thousands. He looked out of place in a lighthouse. And considering how much money he had, a lighthouse on the edge of the ocean was definitely not where he should be.
Bill turned to greet you the moment you entered the room, but his mouth dropped wide open as his eyes skimmed to behind you, taking in the monstrous size of your Kingler, "By jove, that Kingler is absolutely massive." he gasped.
"Yeah, he grew pretty quickly when he got close to evolving." you shrugged.
Bill walked over and stopped a moment, gesturing to your pokemon, "May I examine him?" he asked politely.
"You fine with it?" you asked the mon himself. Kingler just shrugged, so you gestured for the green haired pokemon expert to help himself.
He pulled a tape measure out of...somewhere, and began quickly walking around Kingler, measuring each and every piece of him, "Utterly fabulous," he marvelled, "Legs easily twice the length of an average Kingler, and this claw, it's so heavy! It must be at least two hundred pounds if not more! Yes, yes I think this might just be one!"
You raised an eyebrow, "One what?" you questioned.
"Oh, you don't know?" Bill, perked up, a smile on his face as he came back around to face you, "It's the thesis of my current research. I call it, the King's Gene. Superior species of pokemon born with a gene that allows them to naturally grow much larger, and much more powerful than their average bretheren, thus, a king amongst the commoners as it were."
No you didn't know about that at all. You're not sure about your Kingler, he was small when you first caught him and just ballooned in size, could be he was just really young though, but what about Growlithe? Your canine fire type is near twice the size of an average Growlithe.
"That sounds amazing," you gushed excitedly, and it really did excite you. It was probably growing up and learning from Oak, but you found discoveries like this to be amazing. "Please, tell me more."
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According to Bill, the King's Gene wasn't just something that made pokemon giant. It allowed for them to grow physically stronger and larger than the average of their species, to a much higher, and quicker degree under the right circumstances.
So just because Kingler was small when you caught him, didn't mean he couldn't have it. Actually, according to Bill, he was quite sure Kingler did have the gene, because he was massive in size, so much so that just the amount of training and food you gave him couldn't account for it.
And the same could be said for Growlithe according to the green haired man when you showed him the canine pokemon.
"Truly extraordinary," Bill shook his head after you returned your pokemon, looking at the blood samples in his hand he'd taken of your pokemon with permission, and even a clump of Growlithe's fur "To think I'd see two pokemon possessing the King's Gene, just from a lad passing by and just starting his journey, this will definitely be a big help to my research."
"Glad to help." you told him sincerely.
"And a big help you've been my good chap," Bill clapped you on the shoulder, "You've added another two species to ones I've encountered already, bringing the total up to sixteen species."
Only sixteen huh? That was actually quite the low number all things considered.
"If there's anything I can do to repay you Cobalt, just say the word," Bill continued, smiling brightly at you, "This is the first blood sample I've been able to get from any pokemon with the gene, they're usually too strong to be subdued without a gym leader, and you've given me not one, but two samples of two entirely different species." he gushed excitedly, lifting the vials of blood up and staring at them almost reverently.
"..Well since you brought it up.." you hedged, "I'm wondering if you've heard of any interesting rumours, or places with powerful pokemon."
Bill blinked, "Ah, looking to expand your collection then?" he smiled, nodding in understanding, "Well, there are a couple things I can pass on to you, tell me, have you heard of Grandpa Canyon?" the green haired man asked.
You cocked your head, a sense of familiarity ringing in your brain. You'd heard of it, you were sure, but couldn't remember much about it, "..It's close to Fuschia City right?" you asked.
Bill's eyes lit up, "Yes, that's the one," he said, "I've got some interesting information lately. While there are some decently powerful rock and ground types that live there, what is most interesting is that it has been confirmed to be an area ripe with Pokemon fossils."
Your eyes shot wide, "Pokemon fossils?!" you gasped, "As in the extinct pokemon like Aerodactyl?" your mind zeroed in one that one. You'd saw Lance use one on television a year ago, the technology used to bring fossils back to life had been, while not perfected, near completed in the last few years, and Lance showed his own revived, ancient pokemon off to the world. And what a beast of a pokemon it was. You wanted one.
"That's right," Bill nodded, "The expedition to excavate isn't due for a few months yet, so if you head there soon, you can maybe get your hands on a few before anyone else, and if you do, one of my good mates is a scientist in the faction reviving fossils, so I'm sure I can get help you get the fossils you get revived."
Oh my god. You felt your hands shake a bit in glee. You could actually possibly get your hands on legitimate ancient pokemon! They were worth so much money!
"That sounds amazing!" you exclaimed, grabbing Bill's hand in both of your hand and vigorously shaking it, "Thanks so much Bill!"
Bill laughed, "I can see that piece of information has got you all excited," he laughed before pausing, "Actually, I do know another little interesting tidbit that might interest you."
You stopped shaking his hand, looking at him curiously? "Oh?" you hummed in interest.
Bill stepped back from you after nodding, and then turned around, pointing down towards Saffron, well rather the ocean split in between them, "About a mile or so down that way, there's an island I used to own," Bill began explaining, "I lent it out to Koga for a while, he wanted a large, private area to train himself and his pokemon, and he ended up bringing in many poison and bug type pokemon from all over."
Interesting you supposed, but not really that attention grabbing. You already have poison types, and a bug type.
Bill looked at you and chuckled, "Yes, not very impressive sounding at first," he noted, "But that was years ago, and the area has become ripe for poison and bug types primarily, so the strongest of these types have been migrating there for years now and gathering up in species specific groups and warring against each other to take control of the area, they got so strong even Koga couldn't continue to train there lightly."
"Now that's much more interesting." you nodded, eyes going wide again. Wild pokemon getting so strong they can chase off one of the regions top gym leaders? Now that would be a good place to train, and possibly catch a few more pokemon.
"The most abundant are the Beedrill, but you'll find all types of species there, Scyther, Pinsir, Arbok, Weezing, the works," Bill continued, "I did end up selling the island after Koga left it behind, I sold it to a man named Scott, who has an incredibly powerful trainer watching over the island, I think his name was Spencer."
..You're definitely going to need to hit that place up at some point.
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