[Ludwig doesn't reply till he's read the whole thing from top to bottom. When he does, though...]

So collecting the badges won't get us home... that was what I was thinking was going to happen. [He frowns deeply, but it quickly goes away.] I'll certainly keep your Pokemon recommendations in mind. I think several of the Pokemon I plan to get evolve into your recommendations, so I feel I'm on the right track. [And of course, if it's by the book, it's right in Ludwig's eyes.]