After some discussion, it was decided that the candidate should come from the Trainer Association. The person needed to possess both agricultural knowledge and a genuine love for Pokémon.
To ensure fairness and rigor, the Trainer Association would conduct a formal assessment before making its selection.
Lucien entrusted the entire matter to the Association.
Once a suitable candidate was chosen, they would be brought before him and the three Cloud Gods.
Afterward, that person would travel together with Landorus, Tornadus, and Thundurus across the Unova region, spreading abundance to every corner of the land.
When that day came, Unova would become the most prosperous region in the world.
The assessment would take time, and Lucien was in no hurry.
After returning to Raven City from Undelle Town, he immediately immersed himself once again in his official duties.
Meanwhile, at No. 32 Bean Dove Street.
The residence of Scholar Derrick.
The second floor of the house had been remodeled into a research space dedicated entirely to magical beasts, now known as Pokémon.
Derrick had long been fascinated by Pokémon.
Now that humans and Pokémon had begun to coexist openly, he could no longer suppress his thirst for knowledge.
A week earlier, he had purchased several Poké Balls from the local Friendly Shop and ventured into the forest outside town.
The experience had been chaotic.
He had been chased by a Rattata, threatened by an angry Vulpix, and struck by a falling Geodude.
After enduring all that, he finally encountered a Pokémon that showed no hostility toward him.
It looked like a flying squirrel.
Its body was mostly white, with black eyes and a small nose. Two yellow electric sacs sat on its cheeks, and a pair of large, round ears gave it the appearance of wearing a hood. Thin yellow wing membranes stretched from its limbs, allowing it to glide through the air.
This Pokémon had not yet appeared in any newspaper reports, and Derrick had no reference material about it.
Based on its appearance and the strange energy it emitted, Derrick gave it a temporary name.
Electric Squirrel.
Later, after studying it further, he learned its true name.
Emolga.
Lucien had previously published information about a mysterious energy known as electricity. This Pokémon was clearly capable of producing it.
Emolga lived in forest trees, nesting in hollows carved out by Noctowl and other bird Pokémon.
Derrick had accidentally wandered into its territory. At first, he was captivated by its adorable appearance.
He carefully took out Pokémon food he had prepared in advance.
Lucien had once stated that capturing Pokémon was not only about strength, but also about trust and care.
Emolga was wary at first, but after sniffing the berries, it gradually relaxed and began eating.
Derrick was ecstatic.
It was his first time being so close to a Pokémon.
Overcome with excitement, he reached out his hand.
The next moment, Emolga reacted instinctively.
A brilliant flash of yellow light erupted as electricity burst from its body, knocking Derrick flat onto the ground.
Even so, Derrick did not give up.
After repeated attempts and many minor injuries, he finally earned Emolga's approval and brought it home.
The memory faded.
Derrick looked at Emolga, which was happily chewing on a berry, his eyes shining with curiosity.
"Emolga, try using that move again," Derrick said eagerly.
Emolga tilted its head.
Yellow electricity surged from the sacs on its cheeks, accompanied by a blinding flash.
Boom.
A violent explosion echoed through the room, sending pigeons outside the window scattering in fright.
Hearing the noise, Derrick's parents rushed upstairs.
They found him sitting amid scattered papers, hair standing on end, his face blackened with soot.
"Derrick!" the old man cried out in alarm.
Derrick snapped back to reality and scratched his head awkwardly.
"Father, don't worry. I'm fine. I was just doing research."
The couple exchanged uneasy glances.
Over the past few days, they had heard screams, crashes, and explosions coming from the second floor at all hours.
The mother whispered nervously, "Should we get a doctor? Our son seems a bit unstable."
Derrick paid them no mind.
He stared at Emolga with intense focus.
"Excellent. Just as I suspected," he muttered. "Emolga stores electricity in the membrane between its limbs, allowing it to discharge power even while gliding."
"Emolga, go play outside for a while. I need to write this down."
Emolga nodded, spread its wing membranes, and flew out the window.
Derrick immediately grabbed his notebook and began scribbling furiously.
Time slipped by without him noticing.
When he finally looked up, he realized it was already evening.
Emolga still had not returned.
Worried, Derrick hurried outside to search.
After some effort, he spotted Emolga in a grassy clearing.
However, it was facing another Pokémon.
A Grass type named Roselia.
Emolga released a powerful burst of electricity, striking Roselia directly.
But instead of collapsing, Roselia barely reacted.
The electricity flowed from its feet straight into the ground.
Derrick froze.
A realization flashed through his mind.
"Roselia used the ground to divert Emolga's electricity, thereby reducing the power of that move?" Derrick murmured.
In that instant, inspiration struck like lightning.
Type advantage.
Grass-type Pokémon naturally resist Electric-type moves.
Derrick's breath quickened. He wanted to grab pen and paper immediately and write everything down.
A completely new world was opening before him.
There were far too many unanswered mysteries surrounding Pokémon, and for the first time, Derrick felt that these mysteries could be organized, analyzed, and understood.
Just then, Roselia noticed the approaching human and immediately turned to flee into the grass.
Emolga, however, remained in place. It puffed up its cheeks and squeaked angrily, glaring at Derrick.
"Emooo!"
Derrick snapped back to reality and quickly raised his hands. "Alright, alright. It's getting dark. Let's go home. I'll give you Peach Berries tonight."
"Emool."
At the mention of its favorite berries, Emolga huffed once, tilted its head, and reluctantly accepted the apology.
Back home, the two finished dinner quickly. Derrick barely tasted the food. He rushed upstairs and immersed himself in his research.
His notebook was already packed with dense handwriting.
Observations. Hypotheses. Behavioral patterns. Energy reactions.
Everything he had learned since coming to Raven City was recorded inside.
But it still was not enough.
Under the dim glow of a kerosene lamp, Derrick stared at the pages, deep in thought.
Too little.
This knowledge was far from sufficient.
If Pokémon truly followed rules, then those rules needed to be discovered, cataloged, and taught.
But within the kingdom, who could possibly know more about Pokémon than he did?
The answer appeared instantly in his mind.
His Majesty Lucien.
If anyone in Eindoak truly understood Pokémon, it was undoubtedly Lucien.
After all, it was Lucien who had ended the war between humans and Pokémon and led them toward coexistence.
If only he could meet His Majesty.
Derrick looked down at the notebook in his hands, heart pounding.
Perhaps he should present his findings directly to the king.
The decision was made.
Early the next morning, Derrick gathered his research materials, placed his notebook securely under his arm, and brought Emolga with him to the castle.
Inside the castle, Lucien was calmly brushing the white fur of his Larvesta when a guard entered.
"Your Majesty, a scholar from outside the city claims to be named Derrick. He requests an audience."
Lucien looked up, slightly surprised. "A scholar? What kind?"
"This subordinate does not know," the guard replied. "However, he brought a Pokémon with him and claims to have something to present to Your Majesty."
Something to present?
Lucien's interest was immediately piqued.
"Bring him in."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Moments later, Derrick was escorted into the hall.
Emolga sat perched on his shoulder, eyes darting around curiously. Derrick clutched his notebook tightly, visibly nervous.
"Your Majesty!" Derrick bowed deeply.
"Rise," Lucien said gently. His gaze briefly passed over Emolga, then returned to Derrick. "Who are you?"
Derrick straightened, excitement and anxiety mixing in his voice.
"I was originally a scholar in Flying Cloud City. After reading about Raven City and the Great Library in the newspaper, I moved here with my family."
He swallowed, then continued eagerly.
"Since arriving, I have been researching Pokémon. This notebook contains my findings. It is the result of all my observations and experiments."
Derrick stepped forward, holding the notebook with both hands.
"This is my gift to Your Majesty."
A scholar?
Lucien was momentarily surprised, but on second thought, it felt completely natural.
Under his governance and active promotion, Pokémon culture had already begun to flourish throughout Unova. Poets composed verses about Pokémon, painters captured their forms on canvas, and children spoke their names with excitement. It was inevitable that scholars dedicated to studying Pokémon would eventually emerge.
Lost in thought, Lucien said calmly, "Let me see it."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Derrick respectfully presented his notebook with both hands.
Lucien accepted it and opened to the first page.
There was a carefully drawn illustration of a massive Pokémon.
It resembled an enormous tortoise, with a towering oak-like tree growing from its shell. Grass, stones, and shrubs spread across its back, forming what looked like a complete miniature ecosystem. Several smaller Pokémon were depicted living atop it, building nests, breeding, and spending their entire lives there.
The Pokémon was unmistakably Torterra.
Beneath the drawing, Derrick had written a speculative note:
"Beneath the earth, does an even greater Torterra exist?
Do humans and Pokémon, like these smaller creatures, live upon its back?"
Lucien's eyes lingered on the page.
An interesting hypothesis.
He continued reading. The following pages contained records of various Pokémon, most of them Grass type species that were non-aggressive and often found near human settlements. The notes were meticulous, detailing habitats, behaviors, feeding patterns, and interactions with humans.
The most recent entry caught his attention.
Emolga.
Lucien paused slightly when he saw the name.
"So he arrived at the same conclusion," Lucien thought. "Is this coincidence, or fate?"
The Emolga section was extensive. It described its eating habits, sleeping behavior, territorial instincts, and battle capabilities. Every line showed care, patience, and firsthand observation.
Lucien closed the notebook and looked at Derrick.
"This information is extremely valuable," he said. "Tell me, what reward do you seek for offering me your work?"
Derrick's heart skipped a beat. He immediately bowed and replied earnestly, "Serving Your Majesty is already my greatest honor. I am deeply fascinated by Pokémon. Within the entire kingdom, no one understands them better than you, so I hope to learn more from you."
So it was pure curiosity.
Lucien nodded slightly, then said in a measured tone, "There are countless Pokémon in this world. Even I only understand a portion of them."
A trace of disappointment flickered across Derrick's face, though he quickly accepted it. That was only natural.
Before he could speak again, Lucien continued.
"However, while I cannot teach you everything, I can support you."
Derrick froze.
"I will sponsor your research," Lucien said. "You will investigate unknown Pokémon, record their ecology, and uncover the rules that govern them."
"R-really, Your Majesty?" Derrick exclaimed, barely able to contain his joy.
"Of course," Lucien replied. "From what I see, you are truly devoted to Pokémon."
"Yes!" Derrick nodded vigorously.
Lucien smiled.
The kingdom needed someone like this.
He could not personally handle every aspect of Pokémon knowledge. Types, moves, behavior, ecology, evolution. One person's capacity was limited.
What Unova needed was a Pokémon scholar. A researcher. Perhaps even a professor.
"In that case," Lucien said, "I will fund the establishment of a dedicated Pokémon Research Institute. From today onward, you will be responsible for researching and observing unknown Pokémon across the region."
"Yes, Your Majesty!" Derrick replied, overwhelmed with gratitude.
Lucien nodded.
In the future, researchers and trainers would work together. Scholars would issue research tasks. Trainers would explore the wild, observe Pokémon, and bring back data. The institute would analyze, verify, and compile the information.
Step by step, the Pokédex of the Unova region would be completed.
...
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