Professor Birch.
The man was slowly feeling his way through a dim corner of the venue, and before long, he disappeared from sight.
Shiro had sharp eyesight, yet even he could not clearly see what was there. Only after using his psychic power did he notice a hidden side door where Birch had vanished.
"Haunter…" he softly called out.
There was no response for a while. Then he remembered that Haunter had already been taken away by Rushtha for special training.
"Drakloak," he called instead.
Drakloak lazily poked its head out from the shadows, its blue claws resting on the edge of the darkness as it glanced around the hall in confusion.
"Go over there," Shiro instructed carefully. "Follow Professor Birch and see what's going on."
After that, he had Unown G follow along with Drakloak. It would help relay information back through psychic communication.
* * *
With a flick of its tail, Drakloak vanished and glided like a shadow toward that dark corner.
Passing through the hidden door, it moved down a long corridor and stayed close behind Birch. Eventually, Birch stopped in front of a door and walked in. Drakloak slipped into the shadow beneath his feet and followed inside.
Standing in the center of the room, Birch spoke immediately.
"Professor Oak!"
By the window not far away stood Oak, his hands behind his back as he looked outside.
"You still haven't decided?" Oak's voice was cold.
"I have a wife and a daughter..." Birch shook his head as he spoke. "What will happen to them?"
"You think I don't have children and grandchildren?" Oak turned around and snapped.
"No... that's not the point." Birch's expression turned serious. "I never agreed to this in the first place. You're the one insisting on it. If you're determined to make that thing public, then don't drag the entire Pokémon academic world into sharing the responsibility!"
"Don't you want to see progress? Don't you want the world to develop?" Oak growled. "Besides, without me, Samuel Oak, would this field even still be what it is?"
He gave Birch no chance to argue further. Turning away again, he snorted coldly. "I've already made my decision. Whether you agree to help or not, it won't change the outcome. If you insist on putting yourself in an impossible position, then go ahead!"
"I..." Birch clenched his brows tightly. Looking at Oak's resolute back, he felt unwilling no matter how he thought about it. "I understand."
After saying that, he deflated. With a defeated expression, he pushed the door open and left.
* * *
Back in the venue, people who had gone out for air or to the restroom were gradually returning.
Drakloak and Unown G soon came back as well. Through psychic transmission, they replayed everything that had happened in the room.
"Professor Oak is forcing Professor Birch to agree? Agree to what?" Shiro quickly formed a guess.
He wants to release the Pokédex.
But what does that have to do with Birch...
Birch is a Hoenn professor. His research focuses on Pokémon habitats...
"Did Birch provide a lot of data for Oak's Pokédex?" Shiro speculated. He then recalled how Rowan had manually entered data for Oak back at the institute.
It was very possible that when providing the data, Birch did not even know what Oak was planning. He simply could not refuse, given Oak's authority as the leading figure in Pokémon research.
Kanto, Hoenn, Sinnoh, Unova, Kalos...
If the Pokédex were to be promoted across regions...
To prevent anyone from refusing, Professor Oak had secretly gathered data from all the professors in advance. Then, when releasing the Pokédex, he planned to publish all that data together.
These datasets were among the most confidential materials of each region. The fact that he possessed them implied that he had already obtained everyone's consent.
He intended to bind all the professors together, forcing them to become co-developers of the Pokédex. By releasing the data, they would also share the pressure from those ancient families and noble factions.
Birch must have realized Oak's true intention. That was why he rushed over earlier, trying to confront him and withdraw. But Oak clearly had no intention of letting go.
'Professor Oak... what a madman.'
Shiro sighed inwardly, yet another question surfaced.
Why was Oak blocking his professor title?
Oak definitely did not have data on Galar's Pokémon.
Could it be... the man feared that once he became a professor, he would stand on the opposing side?
Shiro's thoughts grew heavier.
* * *
In the hall, all the professors and researchers had taken their seats Rushin.
On stage, the two hosts resumed announcing the next speakers.
After a while.
"Next, Researcher Shiro and Professor Elm will present their report on Egg Group theory..."
Elm and Shiro stood up at the same time and walked forward.
Clap, clap, clap…
Suddenly, from the front row, Oak began clapping loudly. The researchers around him quickly followed, and within moments, the entire hall erupted into thunderous applause.
This had not happened during any previous presentation.
Some researchers assumed it was Oak's strong support and looked at the two on stage with envy.
'Killing with praise...'
Those three words appeared in Shiro's mind.
Down below, Oak's gaze was deep, as if he was very interested in this Egg Group theory.
Without hesitation, Shiro began speaking, reciting the prepared content fluently as his voice spread clearly through the hall.
"Pokémon breeding has always been a time-consuming field. It often requires generations of breeders to accumulate experience before determining which Pokémon can reproduce together. If we switch to a different region with different species, much of that experience becomes useless."
"Now, after a period of research..."
Shiro had only spoken a little when he noticed someone in the audience raising a hand high.
It was a very young researcher named Rush.
Rush was from Johto and had traveled far to Kanto to join Oak's lab. At this time, the two regions were still considered one.
During the earlier break, he had received instructions from Oak. He was told that Shiro likely did not understand breeding at all, and that the Egg Group theory had been stolen. Now, he was to take the initiative, expose the academic theft, and reveal the truth in front of everyone.
Rush admired Professor Oak deeply. He was excited, his raised hand stretching as high as possible.
"Yes, sir. What is your question?" Shiro gestured for him to speak.
Rush stood up, full of excitement.
He specialized in Pokémon breeding, and that was also his focus at Oak Research Institute. When he first saw Elm's Egg Group theory online, he had been stunned. He had even thought that the one who summarized the theory, Corviknight, was like a god in the field of breeding.
But now...
He was going to follow Professor Oak's instructions and expose this so-called false god.
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