With Draconis's funding, the Derrick Institute was quickly established.
The site chosen was a mansion on the edge of town, near the countryside, with a large walled garden.
The house had two floors: one dedicated entirely to research, the other to rest.
The garden was turned into an ecological zone where Pokémon could be kept inside the institute.
In this era there were no modern precision instruments—no energy detectors, no X-rays—so the energy inside Pokémon or their internal structures couldn't be examined in detail.
Humans could study Pokémon only through naked-eye observation and comparative experiments.
To prevent twisted Scholars or researchers from harming Pokémon in pursuit of their experiments, Draconis enacted a special law aimed at the Scholar profession.
Rule one: absolutely no harm to Pokémon during research.
Even so, Derrick was already very satisfied.
Pokémon are so cute—how could I ever hurt them? he thought.
"Emolga?"
The Emolga on Derrick's shoulder gazed curiously at its new home.
Draconis glanced at the adorable Emolga. "Funds for future research will be delivered by a designated person; you only need to focus on studying Pokémon here."
"Yes! I will not fail Your Majesty's expectations!" Derrick brimmed with determination—he would give it his all!
"Excellent." Draconis smiled and nodded. "I have one more task for you."
"Please speak, Your Majesty." Derrick said, "I will devote every ounce of my strength!"
"I want you to compile a Pokédex," Draconis said.
"Pokédex?" The word made Derrick pause.
"Exactly. So many species of Pokémon live in this world; to understand them better we must catalogue them in a single reference." Draconis explained slowly.
"Pokédex… Pokédex…" Derrick repeated softly, then his eyes lit up. "Wonderful! When people meet an unfamiliar Pokémon they can simply open the Pokédex and look it up!"
Draconis inclined his head—undeniably, a Pokédex would help humanity understand Pokémon far better.
"Understood—I'll try to compile it." Yet hesitation crept into Derrick's heart. "But, Your Highness, the number and variety of Pokémon around Nimbasa City are limited. We can't complete a full Pokédex from those alone, and I can't travel to other regions to observe—"
After all, Pokémon didn't exist only on land.
In deep mountains, in the seas, in the sky, they could be seen everywhere; how could they find Pokémon in places humans couldn't reach?
Draconis smiled at his concern. "You needn't worry about that."
"Your Majesty already has a plan?" Derrick couldn't help asking.
Draconis nodded. At present, however, the kingdom had bred only a limited number of Pokémon suitable as starters for new Trainers—far from enough for every eligible child nationwide.
Therefore, Draconis intended to wait a little longer; once enthusiasm for Trainers and Pokémon reached its height, he would formally promote Trainer culture throughout the land.
Trainers are the bridge between humans and Pokémon.
Yet in this era the relationship between humans and Pokémon still fell far short of what was seen in the anime.
For the safety of prospective Trainers, Draconis had raised the minimum age to receive a starter Pokémon from ten to fifteen.
Before receiving their first Pokémon, these youths would attend school for unified lessons on wilderness survival and on knowledge about Pokémon.
Only after humans and Pokémon truly integrated and wild Pokémon no longer viewed humans with hostility would he consider lowering the age again.
Moreover, infrastructure like Poké Marts and Pokémon Centers had yet to cover the entire nation.
Even the most remote village needed its own Pokémon Center.
To Derrick's curiosity Draconis offered no more suspense; he laid everything out plainly.
After hearing it, Derrick's eyes sparkled.
"Commission Trainers to help capture wild Pokémon and send them to the institute for me to tend to, then observe and compile the Pokédex—perfect! Absolutely perfect! Your Majesty, you're a genius!"
This way, Trainers, Pokémon Scholars, and Pokémon could form a perfect cycle!
Looking at Draconis, Derrick's eyes shone with reverence.
"Your Majesty… actually, there's a question I've always wanted to ask you," he said.
"Mm?" Draconis was slightly surprised. "What is it?"
"Back then, how did you realize that humans and Pokémon could live together?" Derrick asked.
Draconis merely smiled and shifted the topic.
"Compared with Castelia City, how is Nimbasa City?"
The question startled Derrick. After careful recollection and thought, he answered, "Advanced! Prosperous! Friendly! This city is simply perfect!"
"Do you know the reason for all this?" Draconis asked.
"It's thanks to Your Majesty's brilliant leadership!" Derrick blurted—those were his heartfelt words.
Without His Majesty, who knew what would have become of the kingdom of Eindoak!
War might still be spreading, countless humans and Pokémon losing homes and lives, the two princes fighting until the earth itself shattered.
Draconis: "——"
"It's because of Pokémon," Draconis said, ignoring Derrick's flattery. "Their wondrous power enabled Nimbasa City to develop this far in such a short time."
"I personally saw the changes Pokémon could bring to human life; at that moment I resolved that since both humans and Pokémon live on this land, why can't we coexist?"
Reverence in Derrick's eyes deepened. "And now, Your Majesty, you've done it!"
Draconis smiled. "This is only the beginning."
It was now the year 150 of the kingdom calendar; he had crossed over in year 148—two years had slipped by unnoticed.
How time flew!
With every matter of the institute settled, Draconis turned and left, returning to the castle.
"Alfred, how is the envoy group faring?" Draconis asked.
Back in April he had dispatched, in the king's name, a team to promote Pokémon throughout the realm—teaching people how to live alongside Pokémon and how to use their power for a better life.
To prove to all that humans and Pokémon could coexist.
For greater effect Draconis had borrowed the oratory style of Team Plasma from the anime to spread Pokémon culture.
No settlement was overlooked, from cities of over a hundred thousand souls to hamlets of barely a dozen households.
"Your Majesty, word from the envoys is that everything proceeds smoothly; however, because the kingdom has so many villages, they will need more time to finish," Alfred reported.
....
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