After the discussion ended, the researchers stood up one after another and left the lab.
"Dr. Corviknight is really steady. If it were me, I'd definitely plan out the entire report process in advance," Rei said with a smile.
"Then none of us would have had a chance to say a word," a familiar researcher beside him replied as he stretched.
"Under normal circumstances, there really shouldn't be any room to speak," another added with a chuckle.
The group chatted and laughed as they quickly left.
Inside the research room, only Rowan and Shiro remained.
"Shiro, there really aren't any problems with this report now, right?" Rowan still looked uneasy, unable to settle his mind.
Shiro patiently reassured him, "Don't worry, Professor. You also worked your way up from being a researcher. How much stronger can the other professors really be? Sometimes you just need a bit more confidence. It's just a report. Ours is about the evolution field. Who knows what the others will even present."
"That's true." Rowan sighed softly, then walked out of the lab and said goodbye.
After returning to his room, Shiro washed up briefly and went to sleep.
* * *
"Hiss! The friendship theory?"
The next day, Rowan finally remembered to check the academic website and let out a shocked gasp. He rubbed his eyes and confirmed he hadn't seen it wrong.
"The manifestation of the bond between Pokémon and trainer, named friendship, is another important factor affecting Pokémon evolution!"
He flipped to the author section and found that it was co-written by Shiro and the two assistants he had brought. But the problem was, those two assistants had spent most of their time in the institute, yet they still managed to run experiments?
Rowan read through the paper and its experimental process again. As understanding dawned on him, a trace of concern followed.
"I'm afraid the sample size is too small. And this Lucario, and this… only a few growth photos? That's too careless."
In fact, the comment section had already exploded.
"Friendship theory? It's part of evolution studies, and quite novel. It does seem convincing, but…"
"But the sample size is way too small, right? These few pictures don't even count as proper cases!"
"Uh, aren't there also data on a few Bug-type Pokémon below?"
"Still too little. It's not convincing enough."
"…"
Dragonite Messenger: "Seriously? You're trying to fool people with this little data?"
Stone-Collecting Metagross: "How do you know the data isn't enough? Have you tested it yourself?"
Dragonite Messenger: "What, you just like arguing with me, don't you?!"
Without knowing each other's identities, the two immediately started arguing again.
By the end of the day, after an entire afternoon of back-and-forth arguments, both researchers and observing trainers gradually reached a consensus.
SquirtleSquirtle: "I strongly suggest letting a third-party professor replicate the experiment!"
Ice Lapras: "Agreed! Clear Dr. Corviknight's name!"
Dragonite Messenger: "Replicate it!"
Stone-Collecting Metagross: "Agreed!"
Ice Cream Loving Garchomp: "…Agreed."
They began searching for this so-called "third-party professor" who could carry out the replication experiment.
This third party definitely couldn't be Shiro himself, nor any professor or researcher connected to him. With that, Rowan's lab and Elm's lab were automatically excluded.
But the remaining professors all shook their heads.
Professor Juniper: "If it were half a month earlier, I would have had time. But Unova is a bit far from Kanto, and I've already set off."
Professor Birch: "I'm out in the field. I haven't gone back yet."
Professor Sycamore: "The research materials here won't arrive in time…"
Could it be that the truth of this paper would remain unresolved until the Academic Summit began?
Just as everyone was thinking this, an unknown user tagged Professor Oak.
SquirtleSquirtle: "@SamuelOak, old man! I know you have time!"
Unexpectedly, Oak actually responded.
Professor Oak: "Alright. Stop rushing me. I'll get it done now!"
At that moment, researchers and trainers across different regions all had the same question in their minds.
Who exactly was this "SquirtleSquirtle"?
And how could he rush Professor Oak like that?
* * *
At this time, in Kanto.
Oak Research Institute.
Inside the lab, Professor Oak stood with one hand in his pocket, looking helplessly at the brown-haired boy leaning against the door.
"Alright, alright, Blue. Stop pushing your grandpa. It's just a paper. I'll get some people to run a few experiments and verify it, okay?"
Blue clicked his tongue, crossed his arms, and stepped aside from the door. Once Oak walked out, he followed closely behind, clearly unwilling to let things go until he saw the experiments himself.
Oak couldn't help lowering his head in defeat. His earlier plan to casually brush this off was completely gone.
With no other choice, he went into a lab and dragged out a few researchers who looked relatively free, then started assigning tasks.
"Have you read Corviknight's friendship paper?"
Some nodded, some shook their heads, and some stood there stunned, a bad feeling rising inside them.
"Good, very spirited!" Oak waved his hand. "Go to the breeding area and get the Pokémon. I want results within five days!"
"Ah? Five days?" someone couldn't help but exclaim.
But Oak's sharp gaze instantly made him swallow the rest of his words.
"Five days is enough! Use those common Pokémon. The paper didn't mention any minimum level, so pick low-level ones and build up their bond."
"Feed them whatever good stuff you have! I'll personally approve it. If it's not enough, go ask for more!"
"Then collect information on those Pokémon, including their trainers and their evolution…"
"It's such a simple task! Five days, can you do it?"
No one dared to even breathe loudly. Afraid of angering him, they all nodded quickly. "It's enough. It's enough!"
After watching them rush off in a panic to start the experiments, Oak turned back to Blue and immediately put on a smile.
"Blue, what do you think? Is this okay?"
"Mm." He nodded coldly, said nothing, and turned to leave.
"Hey, hey! Blue!" Oak hurried after him, speaking in a pleading tone. "About what I told you before, what do you think? Just come to the Academic Summit. Let grandpa take you to see the charm of academia!"
With his hands in his pockets, Blue kept walking forward in silence, neither responding nor pushing Oak away.
His grandfather was always like this. To achieve his goal, he would do anything without limits.
* * *
Seven days later.
The researchers who had finally finished the experiments rushed into the Oak Research Institute.
"Professor Oak! Professor Oak!"
They shouted loudly in the hallway as they ran all the way to the laboratory where Oak was.
**
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