At a research institute located on the outskirts of the capital of Xia Country,
an elderly man with white hair and beard was staring intently at a computer screen, carefully calculating something.
Around him were all kinds of research instruments, along with extremely rare high-level resources that were almost never seen outside.
Spirit Cloth, King's Rock, Dawn Stone…
items that would cause trainers everywhere to fight over them were casually tossed onto the desk, treated like ordinary clutter.
Suddenly, the communicator beside him rang.
The old man showed no reaction at all. He continued frowning, eyes fixed firmly on the screen.
Only after a long while did he shut down the running program in frustration—it seemed that another set of experimental calculations had failed.
Only then did he notice the communicator.
"I've already said it—don't bother this old man unless it's something important," he said as he accepted the call.
An apologetic voice came from the other end.
"Sorry, Elder Lu, but there's a paper we really need you to take a look at."
The old man sighed lightly.
"Fine. If it's important enough to reach me, send it over. I'll treat it as a bit of seasoning for my dull research life."
This elderly man, completely immersed in research, was none other than Lu Xinghe—
the man who had not appeared in public for a full ten years.
Everyone believed that this undisputed giant of Pokémon research had already lost the ability to continue his work.
Yet no one knew that, all alone in this remote research institute,
he had been carrying out a study in an unknown field.
And he had been doing so for ten whole years.
Before long, the paper arrived in Lu Xinghe's inbox.
The moment he opened it and saw the title, his casual expression instantly turned serious.
This was no simple topic.
When he read the line—
"Does what has always been so necessarily mean it is correct?"
Lu Xinghe nodded in agreement.
All human research was built upon known foundations.
No conclusion could ever be absolutely correct.
At any time, a newly discovered rule or phenomenon might overturn everything that came before—
and humanity would then continue forward from that new foundation.
That, precisely, was the true essence of scientific research.
Just as the eighteenth Pokémon type could be discovered today,
the nineteenth or twentieth might be discovered in the future.
As long as humanity continued moving forward, it would eventually approach the truth—
even if that destination was infinitely distant.
Lu Xinghe continued reading.
The experimental procedures were clear, the data detailed and precise.
At the end, there was even a direct link to another paper—
one detailing Sylveon, a brand-new evolution of Eevee.
From that paper, it was clearly shown that Eevee's new evolution belonged to this newly proposed Fairy-type,
and the full evolution process was recorded in unmistakable detail.
Nothing was more convincing than seeing it with one's own eyes.
Lu Xinghe gently stroked his beard, a sharp light flashing through his slightly clouded eyes.
This was the most interesting paper he had seen in the ten years since his "retirement."
It was absolutely worth verifying.
He immediately called back through the communicator.
"Prepare several Pokémon for me—use the species mentioned in the paper.
Ralts, Togepi, and the Clefairy line."
The voice on the other end was delighted.
"Elder Lu, are you planning to personally conduct the verification?"
"You've already come straight to me," Lu Xinghe replied calmly.
"How could I refuse? Besides, this paper is genuinely fascinating."
He paused, then added thoughtfully,
"Let me guess—was it written by Old Zhang? No, he's still far from this level.
Old Wang, then? He does have experience researching Eevee…
deriving a new type from a new Eevee evolution would be possible for him."
"You didn't guess correctly," the alliance official said awkwardly.
"This paper wasn't written by Elder Zhang or Elder Wang."
Lu Xinghe took a sip from his thermos.
"Then who? A new talent that emerged while I wasn't paying attention?"
"…It was written by an eighteen-year-old," the official replied.
"His name is Oliver."
"Pfft—!"
Lu Xinghe nearly choked, hurriedly wiping his mouth as his eyes widened.
"Eighteen?!"
"Yes."
An eighteen-year-old solved a problem that countless top researchers had failed to crack?
Lu Xinghe had secluded himself in this laboratory for ten years—
had the outside world changed this much already?
In truth, many people—including Lu Xinghe himself—had once tried to determine whether an eighteenth Pokémon type existed.
Every attempt had failed.
Which was why hearing that the breakthrough came from an eighteen-year-old shocked him so deeply.
"This… this is genius," Lu Xinghe said slowly.
"Whether it's luck or true ability, he was born for Pokémon research."
The official continued,
"Half a year ago, he also published a paper on Feebas evolving into Milotic."
Lu Xinghe's surprise deepened.
"That was his work too? I've heard of it, but never studied it closely.
To think that in just half a year, he's produced another world-shaking result…
truly terrifying talent."
"Elder Lu," the official asked carefully,
"Does this mean you're considering taking him as a disciple?"
Lu Xinghe did not answer.
But his silence was answer enough.
"We'll send the Pokémon you requested shortly," the official said.
"I won't disturb you any further."
After the call ended, Lu Xinghe searched for Oliver's earlier paper online:
"A Study on the Relationship Between Feebas and Milotic."
Even after half a year, new comments were still appearing beneath it—
clear proof that researchers continued revisiting and studying it.
After reading the entire paper, Lu Xinghe remained silent for a long time.
Not a piece of uncut jade—
this was already a masterpiece.
It was hard not to want such a disciple.
Yet, after a moment, he sighed softly.
He was old now.
All his remaining energy was devoted to completing his current project.
Did he truly have the strength left to guide a disciple?
Besides, if Oliver could reach this level on his own,
perhaps he didn't need an old man like him pointing fingers at all.
"Enough… enough," Lu Xinghe murmured.
"I'll focus on my research."
Soon, the Pokémon requested by Lu Xinghe were delivered.
For reasons of secrecy, even the delivery personnel likely had no idea what this place truly was.
They simply followed orders and left.
Lu Xinghe released the Pokémon one by one and began verifying the experiments step by step,
exactly as described in Oliver's paper.
Though the final results had not yet been obtained,
his heart had already accepted the conclusion.
He firmly believed—
Before long,
the entire world would be shaken by the name Oliver.
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