Half an Hour Later, Professor Oak's Research Lab.
Will's face was covered in bruises, with no part of his skin left unscathed. His battered appearance startled the group of young boys and girls who had co to attend the lecture.
"Brother Will, what happened? Were you attacked by terrorists?"
Blue asked curiously.
"Not terrorists... more like a tigress—"
Will had barely finished speaking when he noticed Karen's murderous glare. Swallowing the rest of his words, he imdiately shut up.
anwhile, on the other side, Stephen was greeting Oleana.
For those who might not rember, Oleana was the secretary of Rose, the chairman of the Galar League. She had previously appeared at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the launch of Rainbow Corporation.
"It's been a while."
Oleana maintained her usual indifferent deanor, responding with a blank expression before continuing:
"Chairman Rose asked to inform you, Dr. Stephen, that he has found what you requested. The preparations are complete, and he's just waiting for you to inspect the goods."
"A phone call would have sufficed for sothing like this. No need to travel all this way."
Stephen chuckled.
Oleana remained as composed as ever.
"Chairman Rose holds you in very high regard, Dr. Stephen. This level of effort is expected."
At that mont, Professor Oak pushed over a blackboard for the lecture.
Sitting in the front row, Iono skillfully opened her phone's cara.
She noticed that her inbox was flooded with ssages—more than 99 unread ssages.
She grinned.
"Wow, I'm getting more famous! Hehe~"
It was all thanks to Dr. Stephen... oh, and Joker.
Even though Joker's videos were quickly taken down, they had helped Iono gain her initial popularity.
Not to ntion, Joker had saved her once.
Whether it was Dr. Stephen or Joker, if she ever got the chance, she would make sure to repay them.
With that thought, she clicked on her inbox.
Unlike celebrities in Dr. Stephen's past life who had assistants managing their social dia, the still up-and-coming Iono handled her account. As long as the ssages weren't inappropriate, she made sure to reply to each one.
"Hmm?"
One ssage caught her attention.
The sender's userna was [Joker's No.1 Fan], and the ssage read:
["Hello, I'm an intern journalist. May I interview you?"]
Iono blinked, thought for a mont, and replied:
["Sure! But today is the last day of sumr camp. Tomorrow, I'll be heading back to Paldea. Where are you? Will you be able to make it in ti?"]
Before she could see the reply, Professor Oak clapped his hands, drawing everyone's attention.
"Alright, kids. Today is the last day of sumr camp, and it's also Dr. Stephen's final lecture. Make sure to listen carefully!"
As soon as he said that, the children's eyes widened in shock.
Hilda: "Huh? Is it already the third day? Ti flies so fast!"
Rosa: "The thing I look forward to the most every day is Dr. Stephen's science lessons. They're super helpful for Pokémon battles! And he's so handso, hehe~"
Serena: "We're leaving tomorrow...? I felt so out of place when we first arrived, but now I don't want to go..."
Under the watchful eyes of the children and Iono's cara lens, Stephen took out a device that resembled a GBA (Ga Boy Advance).
"This is a new invention that Professor Oak and I developed together—the Pokédex."
"Dr. Stephen—"
Professor Oak was montarily stunned as if he wanted to say sothing.
However, Stephen raised his hand, signaling him to stop.
Stephen continued:
"Its main function is to scan a Pokémon within a second and search the database to provide you with basic information about the targeted Pokémon. For example..."
He exchanged a glance with Professor Oak, who nodded and tossed out three Poké Balls.
"Bulba!"
"Charmander!"
"Squirtle!"
Landing on the ground was the Kanto starter Pokémon offered to new trainers.
"Ohhh! It's Bulbasaur! The Pokémon I've always dread of having!"
Ash's eyes sparkled as he stared at Bulbasaur, standing on the far left.
Professor Oak chuckled.
"Unfortunately, Ash, you'll have to wait a few more years before you can have one."
Stephen quickly scanned the Kanto starters with the Pokédex.
Imdiately, the device played an AI-generated voice:
["Bulbasaur, the Seed Pokémon. A seed is planted on its back at birth, and it grows along with the Pokémon."]
["Charmander, the Lizard Pokémon. Its tail fla represents its life force. When it's full of energy, the fla burns brightly."]
["Squirtle, the Tiny Turtle Pokémon. It hides in its shell for protection and attacks with Water Gun when it sees an opening."]
The children stared in awe.
Professor Oak stepped forward.
"As you can see, the Pokédex provides basic information about scanned Pokémon, including their na, type, abilities, and nature..."
At that mont, Goh raised his hand.
"Professor Oak, I've already read about all of this in books. Isn't it unnecessary to carry a Pokédex on a journey?"
Professor Oak was montarily speechless. He silently turned to look at a boy sitting in the far-left corner of the group—the one who always acted like a know-it-all.
(You might not need it, but others do...)
Just as Professor Oak was about to explain, Stephen stepped in.
"So you're saying you have the confidence to morize every single Pokémon in the world? Even this one?"
With that, Stephen casually tossed out a Poké Ball.
A Bewear erged.
The towering Bewear stood before the children. Whether it was Ash's group, Iono, or Serena, they were all wide-eyed with curiosity.
Since there were no children from Alola present, none of them had seen this Pokémon before.
Rosa: "Is that Dr. Stephen's Pokémon?"
Iono: "It's so tall! And so muscular!"
Hilda: "Even though it's huge, it sohow looks adorable."
Goh: "I think it looks a bit dopey."
Saying that Goh reached out and poked Bewear's knee.
"Goh, don't do that!"
His childhood friend, Chloe, tugged on his sleeve.
"It's fine! Look, she's waving at ! I think she likes it!"
As he spoke, Goh increased the pressure and pinched Bewear's knee.
In an instant, Bewear's deanor changed drastically.
Before anyone at the scene could react, the originally friendly waving right arm clenched into a fist and swung down toward the annoying kid head that barely reached its knee.
Whoosh—
The exaggerated force even produced a wind-breaking sound as it swung.
"Oh my god!"
Professor Oak, standing nearby, was startled.
The others at the scene were even more caught off guard.
It all happened too suddenly.
Bang!
A large Dragonite, which had been lazily dozing inside Professor Oak's Poké Ball on his belt, instantly jumped out.
Its two dragon claws stretched from the side, attempting to grab Bewear's arm.
However, just as Dragonite clung to it...
The entire dragon was flung into the air.
"Boom!"
Like a volleyball being spiked, it crashed against the research lab's wall behind the group.
Yet, Bewear's palm did not lose montum and continued its downward swing toward the kid's head.
"Stop!"
At the last mont, Stephen's stern command rang out.
Bewear's massive paw halted just 0.001 milliters above Goh's head.
Feeling the faint softness of Bewear's paw pads hovering over his head, Goh was drenched in cold sweat.
The next second, under Stephen's command, Bewear withdrew its paw.
The relief of surviving the ordeal surged through Goh's body, and in that mont, he lost control.
"Brother Red, do you sll sothing?"
Ash sniffed the air.
Red remained silent and looked at Goh's pants, which had turned from white to black.
Nearby, Trip burst into exaggerated laughter. "Hahaha! This guy peed himself!"
Goh's face turned red with sha. He grabbed Trip by the collar, and the two started wrestling.
"You bastard! What's your problem?!"
"You peed yourself and don't even let people ntion it?"
"I told you to shut up!"
"Stop it, stop it!"
Professor Oak hurried forward to break them apart.
anwhile, Stephen, as if nothing had happened, calmly scanned Bewear with the Pokédex prototype.
The AI introduction voice sounded again:
["Bewear, the Strong Arm Pokémon. A Normal/Fighting-type Pokémon. It appears to wave in a friendly manner, but this is a warning gesture. Never approach it carelessly. Nurous trainers have lost their lives after having their spines crushed by its imnse strength."]
A group of young boys and girls silently swallowed a gulp of saliva.
Stephen said, "Now do you understand? There are many Pokémon in this world that are not recorded in books. So may look deceptively harmless but are extrely dangerous. You never know when you might encounter one. Now do you understand the importance of a Pokédex?"
Everyone nodded vigorously, like pecking chickens.
Even the future Champion of Mount Silver and the shortest-reigning Champion were among them.
The four brothers from Pallet Town glanced at Dragonite, who was just getting back up from the ground.
They had watched the video of Professor Oak's participation and victory in the first Indigo League Tournant many tis.
That very sa Dragonite had appeared in the tournant.
In the video, it was undoubtedly a Champion-level Pokémon.
Even though Professor Oak had completely switched to research over the years, almost abandoning battles, maintaining an Elite Four-level strength should not have been a problem.
Yet just now... it was flung aside so effortlessly.
Even Ash, the most naïve of the four, glanced at Bewear and swallowed hard.
That bear... just how strong is it?
"Dr. Stephen, could you at least give us a warning when demonstrating sothing like that? You scared everyone!"
Professor Oak finally managed to separate Goh and Trip.
"I didn't expect him to squeeze Bewear's fur that hard either."
Stephen shrugged, looking innocent.
"By the way, Professor Oak, maybe you should change your coat. It slls a bit strong now."
Stephen reminded him.
Professor Oak looked down and realized that while breaking up the fight, a corner of his white lab coat had been stained with so child's urine.
It must have happened during the scuffle just now.
And Trip was even worse off.
"Uh... excuse , could we take a break? Daisy, could you grab a spare coat? And also, get these two kids so fresh pants. Just use Blue or Gary's."
As Professor Oak's assistant, Daisy quickly brought two pairs of pants.
Seeing this, Blue and Gary both showed looks of utter disgust and muttered:
"I don't want those pants anymore."
"P-Professor Oak, is there a changing room?"
Trip asked awkwardly.
There were too many people around... and there were girls too.
"Ah... no, there isn't. Maybe you could go to the backyard? Uh... actually, never mind."
Professor Oak, now in a fresh lab coat, suddenly rembered that the backyard was filled with Pokémon. What if one of them ambushed the boys while they were changing?
"Girls, please step outside for a mont."
Daisy led the blushing girls out of the lab.
Just as they stopped outside, they suddenly heard a burst of laughter from within:
"Hahaha! Both of them are so small!"
Instantly, the girls didn't know how to react.
...
After Goh and Trip finished changing, the boys rejoined the group.
The three-day course had concluded, and now the sumr camp's official activities were about to begin.
"Alright, everyone, gather around! Ti to head out!"
Daisy clapped her hands, signaling everyone to assemble.
"Next, we'll be heading to Route 1 to observe wild Pokémon. According to league regulations, anyone without their own Pokémon is not allowed to venture into the wilderness, so we'll only be observing from the outskirts. Make sure not to wander off, understood?"
Everyone nodded in agreent.
"Yes~"
After receiving a unanimous response from the children, Daisy glanced through the window at her grandfather and Stephen, who were already busy in the research lab and thought to herself:
"Grandpa was originally supposed to take everyone out today... but he probably isn't in the mood for that right now."
...
...
Daisy led Serena and the other sumr camp participants onto Route 1. At that mont, a group of Butterfree flew overhead, and Daisy smiled as she introduced them:
"Those are Butterfree, butterfly Pokémon. They are Bug—"
"They are Bug Flying-type Pokémon. They have excellent flower bud detection abilities and are said to bring nectar from flowers up to ten miles away from their nest."
Before Daisy could finish her sentence, Goh, who was walking at the front of the group, suddenly stepped forward and cut in.
"Goh!"
Chloe, who had a rather dangerous-looking hairstyle, tugged at his sleeve.
Gary, walking in the middle of the group, frowned slightly.
After listening to Stephen's explanations, Blue and Red had already left.
They felt that only Stephen's information was useful for their journey as Pokémon trainers.
Hanging around with these little kids was just a waste of ti—it was better to study on their own.
Originally, Gary also wanted to leave, but his grandfather always told him that he should learn as much as possible before receiving his first Pokémon. So, reluctantly, he ca along.
Although Gary was only six years old, he still felt that he was on a completely different level from these little kids.
Gary silently glanced at Ash, who was walking beside him and showing interest in everything.
This guy sure enjoys everything he does.
Daisy didn't mind being interrupted by Goh. She gently nodded and said, "Yes, yes, Goh is right."
The group continued walking along Route 1.
At that mont, a group of Chansey happily chirped, "Chansey," as they walked past Daisy and the others, waving at them in a friendly manner.
Daisy introduced them, "Those are Chansey. They—"
Goh cut in again, "They are Egg Pokémon, very gentle in nature. They even share their highly nutritious eggs with injured humans or Pokémon."
"That's right. Goh is very knowledgeable."
Diasy still had a smile on her face as she praised Goh, but this ti, her smile seed a bit forced.
Just as she finished speaking, a group of Kangaskhan erged from the bushes ahead. Like the Chansey, they also had pouches on their bellies.
However, instead of eggs, their pouches carried baby Kangaskhan.
"Chansey~"
The Chansey smiled as they handed over their eggs to the Kangaskhan, who in turn accepted them with grateful nods.
"Huh? That Kangaskhan looks a little strange."
Rosa pointed at a Kangaskhan on the far right.
Serena and Hilda turned their heads and noticed sothing was indeed odd.
Because instead of a baby Kangaskhan, the pouch of that Kangaskhan mother held a Pichu.
What's going on?
Do Pokémon have the concept of adoption too?
anwhile, Ash was staring straight at the Pichu snuggling with the Kangaskhan mother.
He didn't know why, but for so reason, Pichu seed to have a mysterious attraction to him.
Daisy, leading at the front, spoke up for the third ti, "That—"
However, just as she uttered a single word, a certain soone interrupted yet again.
"That is a Kangaskhan. They raise their young in their pouches, and after about three years, when the child is fully grown, they separate and go their—"
"I've had enough of you!"
Before Goh could finish his sentence, Gary suddenly launched a flying kick at his back.
Goh fell flat on his face, eating dirt.
Whether it was Serena, Chloe, or even Iono, who had been focused on the Kangaskhan and Pichu, they were all dumbfounded.
"Let big sis finish talking!"
Gary pointed at Goh, who was spitting out a mouthful of dirt and scolded him.
Damn it, I've been holding back for so long, and you still won't stop?!
"You little—!"
Goh, who had wanted to show off his knowledge to make up for wetting his pants earlier, spat out so mud and got up, ready to retaliate.
Fortunately, Daisy and Chloe reacted quickly, imdiately grabbing their younger brother and childhood friend to stop them.
anwhile, during this commotion, the Kangaskhan and Pichu looked around in panic, as if searching for sothing.
When everyone was too busy breaking up the fight, they suddenly turned and ran back into the forest, calling out as they went.
...
After struggling for a while to separate Gary and Goh, Daisy forced a smile and said, "Alright, alright! From here on, everyone can move freely. But rember, you can only stay in the outer areas of Route 1. The deeper you go, the more dangerous the wild Pokémon beco."
"Hmph!"
Gary snorted coldly, straightened his wrinkled clothes, and walked off. Goh, on the other hand, headed in the opposite direction from most of the group.
"This is exactly why you never make any friends."
Chloe hesitated for a mont before following her childhood friend. She had lost count of how many tis she had said this to him.
"Who cares about making friends? I just want to capture the strongest Pokémon that no one has ever seen before."
Goh rubbed the spot on his back where Gary had kicked him, his face still full of disdain.
"Huh? What's that...?"
Just then, Goh noticed sothing unusual.
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