"What I want to know is why the New Water Fleet is looking for Lugia."
Baimu said calmly, "And whether the New Water Fleet has continued to search for Lugia since the undersea exploration, or even if they have already captured it."
Dr. Akihabara heard this but didn't answer his question, instead, he asked back.
"Are you a member of the Magma Team?"
"No."
"International Police? Patrolman?"
"Neither."
"Then why are you asking about this matter?"
"If I said it's out of a strong sense of justice, would you believe me?"
"I see."
Dr. Akihabara nodded without hesitation, but before Baimu could judge whether he believed him or not, he picked up the phone again trying to make a call.
Baimu frowned, "What are you doing...?"
"Have Miss Aquan come in and explain it to you, explaining myself might make things more complicated."
Dr. Akihabara clearly had strong trust in Aquan.
However, Baimu wasn't ready to face this New Water Fleet officer just yet, even if his subconscious felt the New Water Fleet was not a problem, it would be troublesome if something unexpected happened and he needed to escape.
He tried to press the hang-up button again, but footsteps suddenly came from outside the office.
Knock knock knock.
A knock on the door sounded.
"May I come in?"
The voice was actually Aquan's, which made Baimu feel awkward for a second. Did the New Water Fleet's officers have nothing serious to do? It seemed they were too free.
Or was there a bugging device hidden in Dr. Akihabara's office?
It couldn't be, right?
"You may!"
Dr. Akihabara responded directly, and Aquan entered with a big smile, saying, "Baimu, I heard you came this morning, and I apologize for not having my subordinates treat you well."
Baimu's heart skipped a beat.
What's going on? Why so enthusiastic!
He maintained his composure outwardly and returned the smile, "No need, you're too kind."
"Not at all, we at the New Water Fleet have always respected outstanding Coordinator Trainers like you." With this, Baimu immediately understood the reason for her enthusiasm.
Dr. Akihabara looked left and right, interjecting, "Miss Aquan, look at this!"
Aquan looked accordingly and immediately saw the black box with a pitted surface.
"Ah! A data logger! Where did you find it?" She walked over in surprise, which gave Baimu an opportunity to quietly withdraw.
But unfortunately, Dr. Akihabara was too straightforward.
"Baimu brought it and is curious why the New Water Fleet is searching for Lugia, worrying that you might use Lugia for wrongdoing."
Upon hearing this, Aquan immediately turned and met Baimu's gaze, who was halfway out.
Instinctively, he was about to make a run for it.
"Wait! Give us a chance to sit down and talk!"
A call from Aquan without the sound of a Pokeball opening stopped him in his tracks.
Baimu turned around, looked at Aquan holding the black box, with a helpless and slightly melancholic expression, and asked, "Can we really talk?"
"We really can talk."
Aquan nodded emphatically, adding, "Moreover, even in the past, we wouldn't excessively harm others' personal safety. We are idealists, not murderers."
"The bad guys' justifications are often similar."
Baimu replied casually but didn't run out any further.
Aquan was somewhat relieved and didn't respond to this comment, instead giving a new smile, "Come, let's sit and talk. It will be easier for everyone."
He glanced at Dr. Akihabara, who offered him a reassuring look.
Out of trust for the world-renowned doctor, coupled with some prior judgment, Baimu returned to the office to face Aquan.
She was the first to speak.
"Since you know we are searching for Lugia, I assume you've already seen the contents of the black box, right?"
"Uh, I've watched the video footage..."
Baimu turned his head a little awkwardly.
"Well, that makes it much simpler to explain." Aquan didn't mind at all that the organization's privacy had been peered into, "Do you think a Legendary Pokémon like Lugia, a Pokémon that left mythical history in the Johto Region, exists independently? Without any of its kind?"
"I think there are others like it."
He replied.
"Good." Aquan nodded and continued, "Then do you think the probability that there is a native Lugia in the Hoenn Region, but it never left any historical traces, is high?"
"That... seems unlikely?"
"Yes, indeed, there are multiple Lugia, but for the Hoenn Region where no myth or legend of Lugia exists, it likely means Lugia does not inhabit it."
Aquan continued, "Assuming this Lugia is a foreigner, why would it migrate to the Hoenn Region? What happened to its original habitat? We are searching for Lugia to understand these questions."
"...That's it?"
"'That's it'? Baimu, I must remind you, this is a very serious matter!"
Facing Baimu's somewhat peculiar expression, Aquan suddenly became a bit serious, "Ordinary Pokémon would not easily change their place of residence, let alone a Legendary Pokémon like Lugia. Leaving the nest is a big deal for any Pokémon!"
"Their movement patterns contain deep meanings! The migration of Lugia may suggest it has this behavior, but what if there's an issue with its original habitat? Such wishful thinking should not appear in the ambition to protect the ocean, you know the ocean nurtures..."
"I'm sorry, I misspoke, it's my fault, I reflect on it."
Baimu quickly apologized to prevent Aquan from getting more worked up.
However, after hearing these words, he almost believed in New Water Fleet's pure intentions by eighty percent, reserving the remaining twenty percent of suspicion as a precaution.
"In any case, perhaps we did some foolish things in the past to expand the ocean. But now, we understand that some powers should not be controlled by humans. Rather than manipulating it, let it develop naturally and peacefully under protection."
Aquan seemed a bit tired from speaking, so she went to the water dispenser and poured two cups of water.
"Unfortunately, ever since the last mini-submarine explosion, the underwater cave where Lugia resided has completely disappeared. Perhaps it has migrated to another place?"
"Has it already left?"
Upon hearing this, Baimu showed a bit of regret.
Seeing this, Aquan asked curiously, "Why...you wouldn't have come to Martial Arts Town looking for Lugia to try and capture it, based on that short video, would you?"
"Not at all."
He shook his head and selectively disclosed part of his reasons for pursuing Lugia to Aquan.
After listening, she was quite surprised, "Lugia from the Ore Region?"
"I'm not sure." Baimu shook his head, "Without seeing it firsthand, without communicating with it, it's all inconclusive."
"You have a point... But wanting Lugia to return to Ore and continue to shelter you... Frankly, this might be very difficult."
Aquan sighed, "Gaining the approval of a Legendary Pokémon is incredibly challenging."
Then...
Before Baimu could respond, Aquan proactively said, "In that case, why not let the New Water Fleet assist you?"
"Huh?"