"We understand, leave this matter to us."
"The owner of the Devon Corporation is an old acquaintance of ours, he won't let you suffer a loss."
Hearing Ethan Black's words, Professor Harris nodded. For Ethan Black, without a doubt, this was the best way to handle it.
With Professor Harris's guarantee, Ethan Black let out a sigh of relief and then pointed at Steelix's body: "Steelix's method of evolution is very simple: the item Metal Coat."
"Metal Coat?"
Professor Harris and Professor Reynolds looked at each other, both showing an expression of surprise.
They knew that evolutionary stones could make Pokémon evolve, but they hadn't imagined that an item like the Metal Coat could also have a similar effect.
"Coincidentally, I have a Metal Coat right here!"
Professor Reynolds rummaged in her bag for a moment and indeed pulled out the Metal Coat.
This item could increase the power of Steel-type moves, and since Professor Reynolds specialized in Steel-type Pokémon, it was natural for her to have one in her collection.
"Professor Reynolds, let my Onix try it. After we finish the research, I'll compensate you for the Metal Coat."
Professor Reynolds rolled her eyes, said nothing more, and directly tossed the Metal Coat to Professor Harris.
He took it with an awkward smile, and without further words, the two of them walked together to Professor Harris's laboratory.
Once there, Professor Harris called out his Onix and put the Metal Coat on it.
At first, Professor Harris thought the Metal Coat was like an evolutionary stone, that it would make Onix evolve instantly. However, the evolution light he expected did not appear.
"Professor Harris, this Steelix evolved in the Secret Kingdom."
"So I think that, besides the Metal Coat, Onix needs a spatial evolution method, like with Golem."
Seeing that Onix didn't evolve right away, Ethan Black quickly reminded Professor Harris.
"Spatial evolution, eh?"
Professor Harris nodded and led Onix toward the entrance of the Secret Kingdom.
As soon as Onix entered with the Metal Coat, its body immediately burst into the glow of evolution, quickly lengthening within the white light.
Ethan Black, seeing this, pulled out his phone to record the moment.
"ROOARRR!"
With a roar, Professor Harris's Onix—already at the limit of its strength—completed its evolution through this special method, successfully becoming a Steelix.
"It really evolved!"
Alex Baxter opened his mouth in astonishment.
Not only him; even Professor Harris and Professor Reynolds showed surprise on their faces.
"I knew it would work!"
Professor Harris took a deep breath and looked at Ethan Black with appreciation.
He felt that Ethan Black was his good luck charm: first he had led him to the study of the sandstorm climate, and now he had made his old partner complete its evolution.
"Just as I thought, if Onix holds a Metal Coat and evolves through a spatial method, it can successfully transform into Steelix."
Ethan Black narrowed his eyes, clutching Steelix's Poké Ball in his hand as a smile spread across his lips.
With Steelix already evolved, he only needed to edit the video he had recorded and use Professor Harris's Steelix as proof to complete his knowledge about this Pokémon's evolution.
"Ethan, to be honest, at first I underestimated the value contained in your knowledge about Steelix's evolution."
Professor Harris stroked the newly evolved Steelix, his face very serious.
"That a Pokémon can evolve by holding a certain item and through a spatial stimulus... this completely opens up a new direction of research on evolution."
"The significance of this is enormous!"
Professor Reynolds also nodded. Before today, it had never crossed their minds that a Pokémon could evolve in this way.
She herself had a Metal Coat, but who would imagine that this item could make Onix evolve into Steelix?
The known effect of the Metal Coat was to increase the power of Steel-type moves, so it was practically a standard accessory for such Pokémon. And given the rarity of the items, no one would think of putting it on an Onix.
It's easy to imagine that, after today, countless researchers would begin new Pokémon evolution experiments, and perhaps more species would evolve through special methods like this.
It could be said that Ethan Black's discovery had opened a new door for Pokémon research.
"Ethan, I want you to think carefully about this."
"Although selling the knowledge about Steelix's evolution to the Devon Corporation will give you a huge short-term gain..."
"If you deliver that knowledge to the Pokémon Researchers Guild, for the simple fact of having discovered a new direction in evolution, you could directly become an Advanced-level Pokémon researcher."
"And with that, I guarantee you could obtain resources that would not be inferior to those from the Devon Corporation."
Professor Harris took a deep breath, looking at him with great seriousness.
"An Advanced-level Pokémon researcher?"
Hearing this, both Ethan Black and Alex Baxter were surprised.
Especially Alex Baxter, who knew what that meant: it was practically the peak of the Pokémon researcher career, and above that were only the masters like Professor Harris himself.
"A new direction in Pokémon evolution?"
Ethan Black murmured those words, feeling a little dazed.
He had never realized that the knowledge in his mind could be so valuable, to the point of triggering a storm in the academic community.
"I suppose this is because the fusion between the Secret Kingdoms and the real world is still recent."
"As both worlds continue to merge, these evolution methods will eventually come to light sooner or later."
Ethan Black closed his eyes to reflect, then looked at Professor Harris and nodded with gratitude.
He knew that much of the benefits he was gaining were thanks to the help of Professor Harris and Professor Reynolds.
Only researchers of their caliber could see the true significance of this knowledge about Steelix's evolution; without them, if Ethan Black had lightly sold this secret, he might never have had anything to do with this so-called "new direction in Pokémon evolution."
Only an opportunity truly seized can be considered a real opportunity.
(End of chapter)