"You say you want to establish a research center?"
After meeting with President Beckett, Ethan directly explained the reason for his visit.
"Yes, that's right. I believe that, since I have become a Pokémon Professor, I already have the necessary qualifications to establish a research center."
Ethan smiled faintly at President Beckett, thinking of all the opportunities this implied, and feeling some anticipation.
"Indeed, you have the qualifications to establish a research center. But what kind of research center do you plan to create?"
"The type of project you propose will be directly proportional to the resources the Pokémon Researchers Guild can allocate to you."
Suddenly, President Beckett showed anticipation.
Ethan had become a Pokémon Professor thanks to the study of special evolutions and Friendship Evolution.
Among all Pokémon Professors, the academic "weight" of Ethan's title could easily be considered one of the highest.
And now that Ethan had come so seriously to establish a research center, it seemed evident that he had found a new direction of study.
"Yes, this time I want to research... evolution and the leap in life level."
Ethan nodded and once again laid out that theory of his that evolution was, in essence, a life transition.
"A leap in life level... an evolution of life?"
Upon hearing the research topic Ethan proposed, President Beckett's eyes lit up.
Among Ethan's hypotheses, there was one that was especially striking: through continuous leaps in life level, a Pokémon could approach the level of the legendary ones indefinitely.
If that project achieved a breakthrough, it could truly cause a gigantic shock throughout the world!
Legendary Pokémon were called gods precisely because their life level represented the absolute peak of the world.
And now, if the study of life transition were completed, perhaps it would be possible to make ordinary Pokémon approach the legendary level, artificially creating gods.
"I believe the League will be willing to approve it."
After speaking with Ethan in more detail, President Beckett showed an expression of admiration.
He had read Ethan's proposal: it was well argued and well founded, and without a doubt, it was an excellent project.
If Ethan truly managed to develop an evolution of life, he could directly become a top-level Pokémon Professor!
A top-level Pokémon Professor...
Even in the entire history of the world, there had been no more than a handful of figures of that level. Even he, as the Great President of the Pokémon Researchers Guild and also a top-level Pokémon Master with Champion-level strength, was still not a top-level Pokémon Professor.
Although "top-level Pokémon Master" and "top-level Pokémon Professor" were both supreme titles, the status of the two was still not comparable. Perhaps only those great Divine Envoys of the highest rank could equal the position of a Pokémon Professor of that caliber.
After continuing to talk for a while, President Beckett ended up giving him his word, although he also explained that the approval and resource allocation procedures were still necessary, so they would have to wait for some time.
During that period, Ethan could go ahead with the preliminary work, for example preparing the location where the research center would be built and forming the research team.
As for the location of the center, Ethan had actually thought from the beginning of reusing the abandoned laboratory in Stonefield Town.
However, that laboratory was only an ordinary facility and could not satisfy the experimental needs of the study on life transition.
Moreover, considering the recent exploration of the Spirit World in the quarry, Ethan thought it would be best to build the research center directly there, in the quarry.
In that way, the Pokémon Hunters Guild would no longer have to keep assigning personnel to guard the quarry, freeing up a professional-level trainer. In addition, Ethan's own strength far surpassed that of an ordinary professional hunter, and he could much better protect both the Spirit World and Sandslash's Secret Kingdom.
On the other hand, if the Spirit World and Sandslash's Secret Kingdom were included within the research center itself, that would greatly facilitate both research and confidentiality. They could even directly monitor the Secret Kingdoms with technology, in the style of a military base. The advantages were numerous.
As for the second point, forming the research team, Ethan also already had a plan.
In reality, his research project was extremely attractive. If he released the news, even other Pokémon Professors would surely be very interested in participating.
But, following the principle that "benefits should not fall into the hands of outsiders," and also because of trust, Ethan went directly to find Professor Harris and Professor Reynolds, intending to invite them to participate in the research.
In addition to the two professors, Ethan also planned to give Alex an opportunity and invite him to join the project.
During this time, Alex had finally managed to become an Advanced-level Pokémon Researcher thanks to the evolution method of Milotic.
And the study on the transition of life level could become the key opportunity for Alex to become a Pokémon Professor.
In addition, at that moment the two of them could already be considered best friends. Ethan trusted Alex a great deal, and he also knew that, in secret, Alex could help him greatly in many matters. Now that he had a major project in hand, there was no reason not to lend a hand to his trusted brother.
Once he decided who would be part of the team, Ethan immediately went to find Professor Harris and Professor Reynolds.
During that period, the two professors were mainly dedicated to researching Rhyperior and the reinforced training method Ethan had proposed.
When Ethan made the invitation to them, the two looked at each other and smiled, accepting it without the slightest hesitation.
In the eyes of those two old professors, Ethan was already almost like a son. And now that the three of them would be able to research the same project together, both felt an expectation that was difficult to describe, as well as great warmth in their hearts.
On Alex's side, it was even simpler. When Ethan asked him whether he wanted to join him, Alex did not even bother to ask what exactly the research topic was: he accepted enthusiastically at once. The two looked at each other and smiled; nothing more needed to be said.
Once the location of the research center was defined and the team was formed, the project named "Life Transition" was officially put into motion.
From that moment on, all that remained was to wait for the League's approval, and then the construction of the research center could formally begin.
(End of chapter)