Oak already knew that his plan had failed.
On stage, Shiro raised both hands to quiet the applause, then calmly continued the report according to the prepared script. This time, no one questioned anything, and the presentation ended soon after.
He and the members of Elm Research Institute bowed together, then returned to their seats.
Not long after, the next professor went up to present.
Down below, Rowan leaned closer and asked in a slightly surprised tone, "Shiro... how did you know about Kanto's legendary Pokémon?"
"Professor Rowan." Shiro cut him off gently. "You know my mother is from Kanto."
"..."
Rowan stroked his beard a few times but did not press further. That explanation might have worked before, but now it sounded a bit far-fetched.
Back then, it made sense that he knew about Kanto Pokémon and breeding methods because of his mother. But now even legendary Pokémon knowledge came from her?
Could she be some noble princess who fled from Kanto?
"In any case, I just know." Shiro gave a simple answer, as there was no way to explain it properly.
"Alright." Rowan sighed and let it go.
Everyone had their own secrets, especially researchers and prodigies. Just like before, when Rowan himself worked with Oak, he could never figure out what the man was really thinking.
After a short while, the host on stage announced again, "Next, Researcher Shiro will present his academic report on Pokémon Friendship..."
Hearing that familiar name once more, many of the professors and researchers in the audience were starting to feel a bit overwhelmed.
"Him again? That's the third time..."
"Three presentations in one conference. That might be a record."
"No. Tied for first. The last one who did that was Professor Oak."
Soon, Shiro walked onto the stage again, this time with only two assistants, Dale and Bria.
After watching his earlier performance, Dale felt no fear at all. Even though this was his first time attending such a conference, and his first time stepping on stage to present, he only had one thought.
This is amazing.
He was just a junior researcher. How did he even get the chance to attend, let alone present?
This would become a huge highlight on his record. With experience like this, any research institute would welcome him with open arms.
Not long ago, he had just been an unlucky hostage used by Team Rocket as cover. Now everything had changed.
Dale forced down the grin that kept trying to appear, his face glowing with excitement as his eyes locked onto the figure ahead of him.
The one who gave him all of this.
The genius he admired most.
Dr. Corviknight.
Feeling the mix of shock and envy coming from the audience below, Dale could not hold it back anymore. This felt absolutely incredible.
Behind him, however, Bria stood with her head lowered. Fine beads of sweat covered her face, and she did not dare look up at all.
Compared to Dale's excitement, she was so nervous she barely dared to move, afraid that even the slightest mistake would draw attention and make her look foolish.
All she wanted was to stay unnoticed. She had never imagined herself standing on a stage like this.
Below, jealousy had already twisted the expressions of some researchers.
A few from Oak Research Institute recognized Dale. After all, he had once come for interviews and evaluations there, only to be eliminated.
And now, someone who had failed their selection was standing proudly at the front of the Academic Summit stage, enjoying one of the highest honors in the Pokémon research world.
That imbalance gnawed at them.
Why?
Just because he had latched onto Corviknight, that Galar Champion Shiro?
And that girl behind him, head down like that. She probably could not even speak properly if asked to talk.
Several researchers from Oak Research Institute raised their hands.
Shiro paused mid-sentence and looked over, slightly puzzled, then gestured politely. "What question do you have, sir?"
He thought, 'Surely no one is stupid enough to provoke me again. They cannot be that reckless, right?'
The other professors and researchers in the hall were just as confused. Their gazes shifted toward Oak at the front. Everyone knew that those raising their hands were from Oak's lab. This had to be with his approval.
Oak himself looked momentarily stunned. He turned and frowned at them, trying to stop them with a look.
It did not work.
One of them had already stood up.
"Dr. Corviknight, my name is Andy. I truly admire your research." The man was tall and thin, with thick glasses. He adjusted them and continued, "However, I have some doubts about the two researchers behind you..."
He was certain that Dale was just tagging along to gain credit.
During the previous evaluation, Dale had performed poorly. He could only follow procedures and carry out routine experiments. He showed no creativity and no real thinking. At best, he was just an assistant.
On stage, Dale's face turned pale at once. He recognized Andy as well. He had been one of the evaluators back then.
Behind him, Bria lowered her head even further.
"What exactly is your question?" Shiro's smile faded.
Even if this was not directed at him personally, questioning his team was no different from slapping him in the face. His gaze turned cold as he stared at the man below.
A chill ran down Andy's back, but he forced himself to continue. "Mr. Dale, can you propose an indicator similar to friendship?"
"I..." Dale opened his mouth, but no words came out.
His fundamentals were solid, but under pressure his mind went blank. And truthfully, he was not quick with this kind of question. If given a quiet place to think, he could come up with something in minutes.
But here, on this stage, his thoughts collapsed into chaos.
"There is such an indicator, and I am already researching it." Shiro answered coldly. "It concerns a Pokémon's beauty. It may even become one of the standards for Contest competitions."
Andy froze.
He had not expected Shiro to answer in Dale's place. That was against the usual rules.
But the audience did not care about that detail at all. Their attention was completely drawn to what he had just said.
Beauty?
And related to Contests?
Pokémon Contests had only been established for a few years. They were not widely known yet, but they already had a group of dedicated supporters. If this idea of a "beauty" metric was correct, it would surely gain strong backing from those supporters.
"M-Mr. Shiro..." Andy quickly grabbed the microphone, anxious. "You cannot just answer for him—"
Before he could finish, a sudden force pressed down on his shoulder, forcing his body back into his seat.
Shiro smiled faintly and nodded to the audience, then continued reading his report as if nothing had happened.
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