Shiro wasn't suddenly acting out of conscience or turning into a saint.
The truth was, when it came to this Egg Group paper, all he knew were the final summarized theories. If any breeding researcher came over and asked a few basic questions, he would be exposed on the spot.
For example, if someone asked, "After a Charizard successfully breeds, how many days does it take for the female to lay an egg?"
How many days?
He's not a male Charizard, how would he know…?
Without deep research in breeding, there was no way to answer such questions. These problems really gave him a headache.
But on the surface, Shiro still wore a pained expression and explained, "Right now, the research world is full of competition. Even researchers compare and suppress each other, treating results like their lives. Many take credit for their assistants' work, blocking the path for younger researchers. So we must uphold basic research ethics. We need to clearly define contributions and create a healthy environment. Otherwise, how will new researchers appear in the future?"
"Hiss..." Rei sucked in a breath and nodded again and again. "Dr. Corviknight truly has the most integrity."
Dale didn't fully understand, but he kept nodding anyway.
Only Rowan, standing off to the side, stroked his beard with a thoughtful look.
'Is the research world really that bad?'
He couldn't recall hearing about any researcher or professor stealing credit from assistants.
'Maybe I just don't know because I focus on research all the time?'
After thinking for a while, he gave up. Human nature was too hard to figure out.
Meanwhile, the discussion on the website quickly exploded.
"Dr. Corviknight is too humble. This is first authorship on the Egg Group theory!"
"Come on, this is the quality of a genius researcher. Confidence. Only confidence lets you give up credit like this."
"Wait... is it possible he's telling the truth? Maybe he really didn't contribute much, and Professor Elm was just being kind..."
* * *
In Kanto, Lorelei sat on her bed, staring at the comments on her laptop. Her anger rose instantly, and she quickly typed, "If you can do it, then go ahead."
Many like-minded researchers also echoed her words.
"Exactly. If Professor Elm adds your name to the author list too, then I'll believe you."
* * *
At the Kanto headquarters, a red-haired Lance sat in front of his computer, feeling unconvinced.
"If I knew Professor Elm, I could get my name on it too... What's so impressive about that?"
* * *
At the Devon Corporation headquarters in Hoenn, Steven put down the stone in his hand and typed a reply.
"@Dragonite Messenger, show us your research results. You're not a trainer pretending to be a researcher and stirring trouble, are you?"
As soon as this was posted, suspicion spread immediately.
"Yeah, what kind of researcher calls themselves Dragonite Messenger?"
"That's clearly a trainer's username."
"This guy shows up under Dr. Corviknight's papers every time and spouts nonsense!"
The more they talked, the more convinced everyone became. Soon, many dug into the account's past activity and discovered that Lance was indeed a loyal fan of Professor Oak… but only from a trainer's perspective, not as someone in the research field.
Far away in Kanto, Lance began to panic. He tried to explain, but was instantly drowned out by a flood of replies.
"Trainers, get off our website!"
"You do nothing all day and contribute nothing, yet you come here to slander Dr. Corviknight!"
"People like you only cause trouble. You're always up to no good and just drag down the progress of Pokémon research!"
Reading those comments made Lance's scalp tingle.
What do they mean, doing nothing all day? He was one of the Kanto Elite Four!
His hand reached toward the keyboard, but he stopped just in time.
If he said he was Elite Four, that would expose his identity. Wouldn't he just get torn apart online? And what would Professor Oak think of him then?
Besides, wasn't Corviknight also a trainer? And even the Champion of Galar!
After thinking it over, he typed instead, "Corviknight is a trainer too! What's wrong with trainers?"
Ice Lapras replied, "Dr. Corviknight is a Champion. Who are you?"
That one line hit hard. Lance wanted to reply that he was an Elite Four member, but then realized it would only make him look worse.
"I..."
Lance hesitated.
He's a Champion. I'm just Elite Four... would saying that be embarrassing?
His fists clenched as he reached to close the page.
Stone-Collecting Metagross replied, "@Dragonite Messenger, do you even deserve to call yourself a trainer?"
"Dammit!"
Lance slammed the computer shut, his veins throbbing in anger.
The internet was a complete cesspool.
He grabbed a Poké Ball and stormed off to the training grounds, filled with frustration.
* * *
"Hmm..."
Shiro looked at the comments with interest. He could almost feel that Lance had completely lost it.
Right now, Lance was probably at most a Kanto Elite Four.
No, not probably, definitely just a Kanto Elite Four.
Later on, the Johto Champion position would be handed over when Red stepped down...
Buzzt!
The communication device rang. Shiro picked it up right away.
"Hello? Is that Shiro? It's me, Elm..." The voice on the other end was fast and urgent. "What do you mean your contribution was small? Do you even realize the entire Egg Group theory was proposed by you?"
"Professor Elm, I think even without me, you would have figured it out with enough time," Shiro answered honestly.
"What kind of talk is that!" Elm shot back sharply.
"Years, even over ten years! For a researcher, that could be a lifetime! And a bit of inspiration might take who knows how long. Some people spend decades going in circles without any progress!"
He paused and added, "By the way, I'm not talking about Professor Rowan..."
Coughing awkwardly, he stopped talking.
"I already heard that..." Rowan's voice came faintly from the side.
Because Elm was too emotional, his voice had carried clearly.
If he had not added that last sentence, it would have been fine. Saying it made it obvious who he meant.
Rowan felt slightly offended again.
"Sorry..." Elm scratched the back of his head on the other side.
He quickly moved on and continued, "Anyway, the paper has already been published. I'm not changing it. Everyone at my lab agrees that you deserve first authorship. Also, I'm going to present the Egg Group theory at the Academic Summit!"
"Present?" Shiro raised his voice. "Don't tell me I have to..."
"Of course!" Elm responded immediately. "You'll be the one leading the presentation!"
**
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