Chapter 174: Beauty Street

At noon, Ash and his friends decided to have lunch at a popular restaurant inside the mall. After finishing their meal, they continued shopping.

However, Brock seemed distracted as they walked through the various stores. While Misty and Ash were busy browsing, he appeared lost in thought, barely paying attention to their surroundings.

Ash quickly noticed the change in his mood. "What's wrong, Brock?" he asked, tilting his head in curiosity.

"Huh? Oh, it's nothing..." Brock was startled by Ash's question. He forced a smile and shook his head, but after a brief moment of hesitation, he continued, "Actually... Ash, I want to go outside and look around for a bit."

"Go outside? You mean outside the mall?" Ash asked, confused. Pikachu, perched on his shoulder, also looked at Brock with a puzzled expression.

"Yeah... I want to visit Beauty Street," Brock admitted, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly.

"Beauty Street?" Ash raised an eyebrow. "Wait, Brock, are you planning to get a beauty treatment?"

Hearing Ash's exclamation, Misty turned around in surprise. "Brock, you want a beauty treatment?" she repeated, clearly amused by the idea.

"No, no, no!" Brock quickly waved his hands in protest. "That's not it!"

After a brief explanation, Ash and Misty finally understood what Beauty Street was. It wasn't just a place for human beauty treatments—it was also a hub for Pokémon grooming, training, and care.

More accurately, it was known as the Breeder's Street, a famous part of Celadon City where Pokémon Breeders from around the world gathered. The shops there specialized in Pokémon nutrition, training advice, grooming, massage therapy, and various other services. It was well-known among both Trainers and Breeders.

"The Breeder's Street?" Misty's eyes lit up with interest. "That sounds fascinating! Let's all go together! I'd love to see how different Breeders work compared to Brock."

Ash nodded. "Yeah, I don't think we've met many Breeders besides Brock. It'd be great to learn more about them."

Brock smiled at their enthusiasm. "Alright then, let's go together."

With that, the three of them left the Celadon Department Store and made their way toward Beauty Street, following Brock's lead.

Arrival at Beauty Street

Beauty Street was located in a lively and prosperous part of Celadon City.

It wasn't far from the Celadon Department Store—just a ten-minute walk. As they neared the street, Ash and Misty quickly noticed something different about this area.

The Trainers here seemed wealthier than the ones they had seen elsewhere. Many of them wore stylish clothing, and their Pokémon looked exceptionally well-groomed, with glossy fur, well-maintained scales, and shining coats.

"Wait a second!" Brock suddenly stopped, his eyes locked on a large bulletin board near the entrance of Beauty Street.

Ash and Misty walked over to him, curious about what had caught his attention.

They followed his gaze to a colorful poster on the board. There were numerous flyers, advertisements, and event announcements posted there, but Brock was focused on one in particular.

"Beauty and Massage Lecture?" Ash read aloud. His eyes skimmed over the details. "It says a well-known beauty salon is hosting a special lecture on Pokémon beauty care and massage techniques."

Looking at the poster's vertical image, Ash immediately understood why Brock had stopped. The advertisement featured a stunning woman standing beside a beautifully groomed Persian, both radiating elegance and grace.

Brock clenched his fists with excitement. His eyes sparkled.

"This is it!" he declared. "This is my chance to learn more about Pokémon massage techniques! If I study under an expert, I can improve my own Breeder skills!"

Ash and Misty exchanged amused glances.

Misty sighed. "You sure it's about learning, and not just because the instructor is a beautiful woman?"

"Of course not!" Brock protested, though his flustered reaction made it obvious that Misty wasn't entirely wrong.

Ash chuckled. "Well, if you're serious about it, let's go check it out!"

Brock nodded enthusiastically, and with that, they made their way toward the beauty salon where the lecture was being held.