POKEMON : STARTING WITH FLASH METAGROSS

The bus sped along, and Rax arrived in Zhenshang Town by evening.

As he stepped off the bus, the salty and wet smell of the sea filled the air, instantly reminding him of all kinds of delicious seafood.

Zhenshang Town, nestled by the sea, thrived on its robust fishing industry. Although small, it had grown considerably thanks to Dr. Rowan's research institute, which had greatly boosted the local economy. Today, its prosperity rivaled that of many ordinary cities.

Rax glanced at the listless Hoppip cradled in his arms and had a sudden idea.

"Let's go! I'll treat you to a seafood feast first!"

"Hoppip?"

Hoppip tilted its head curiously. Having grown up inland, it had no idea what seafood was. But if it was a feast, it had to be delicious!

---

An hour later, Rax returned to the Pokémon Center carrying two large bags of packed seafood. This time, he chose to stay at the Pokémon Center rather than rent a room elsewhere.

As for the seafood? It was all for his Pokémon, especially Beldum. The Pokémon world had long developed special methods to prepare food for different Pokémon types, ensuring even seafood suited the unique tastes and needs of each Pokémon.

One human and three Pokémon—Beldum, Marowak, and Hoppip—feasted together that evening, their stomachs full and their hearts content.

---

The next morning, Rax contacted Dr. Rowan and, after confirming the doctor's availability, headed to the research institute.

As one of Sinnoh's most renowned Pokémon researchers, Dr. Rowan's institute was no modest setup. Satellite imagery revealed that the institute occupied nearly a third of Zhenshang Town, with dense forest backing its expansive grounds. Details about the facility were classified, and aerial images only provided blurry outlines.

Even so, the main gate looked simple and unassuming.

Ding Dong~

Rax pressed the doorbell and waited quietly. Soon, a young researcher opened the door.

"Are you Rax? I'm Uesugi, Dr. Rowan's assistant. I'll take you to see him."

Uesugi greeted him with a friendly smile but carried himself with the same decisive air as Dr. Rowan—no wasted motion or words.

"Thank you, Uesugi!" Rax nodded, following him inside.

Contrary to his expectations, the institute was quiet, with only a handful of researchers visible. Each person was entirely focused on their work, undistracted by Rax's presence.

"Dr. Rowan is currently measuring Magneton's data. He asked me to bring you directly to him," Uesugi explained as they walked toward a lab designed to mimic a cave environment.

---

Inside, Rax finally met Dr. Rowan—a middle-aged man with black and white hair and a stern expression.

The lab was eerily silent, save for the faint scratching of Dr. Rowan's pen as he recorded data. The atmosphere was heavy with an unspoken tension, and Rax instinctively chose to remain quiet.

Suddenly, the two Magneton beside Dr. Rowan turned to him, their bodies crackling with electricity.

"Magneton!!"

They roared and rushed at Rax, electromagnetic cannons charging up in front of them.

"Stop!"

"Marowak, block them! Hoppip, use Sleep Powder!"

With a flash of red light, Marowak and Hoppip appeared in front of Rax. Marowak caught the electromagnetic cannons head-on, its sturdy bone absorbing the attack without flinching. Simultaneously, Hoppip spun its corolla, releasing a cloud of blue powder that quickly enveloped the two Magneton, putting them to sleep.

Dr. Rowan, who had been startled by the commotion, set down his pen and nodded approvingly.

"Quick reflexes, proper strategy—well done!" he said before bowing slightly. "However, this was my oversight. I forgot that you had a prior conflict with this group of Magneton. I apologize."

Rax blinked, surprised by the unexpected humility.

"Uesugi, please take care of the Magneton," Dr. Rowan instructed.

"Yes, Doctor!" Uesugi responded immediately, summoning a Gengar from its Pokéball. The ghost-type floated forward, effortlessly lifting the Magneton and carrying them away.

Rax watched, amazed. Even without his intervention, he would have been perfectly safe under Gengar's protection. He couldn't even estimate its level—it was far beyond anything he'd seen before.

"Rax, come with me," Dr. Rowan said, snapping him out of his thoughts.

---

The doctor led Rax through an inner door. With the press of a switch, part of the wall slid away, revealing a large tempered glass window. Behind the glass, Rax saw a group of Magnemite and Magneton moving erratically.

"Doctor, what are they doing?" Rax asked, pointing to the Pokémon beyond the glass.

"We've simulated the magnetic field environment of the Iron Island mines, and the Pokémon have begun exhibiting abnormal behaviors. Just yesterday, a Magneton evolved into a Magnezone!"

Dr. Rowan's tone was serious, but his excitement was unmistakable.

"We've traced the magnetic field changes back to Mt. Coronet. It's highly likely that the mountain's magnetic field is the true catalyst for Magneton's evolution into Magnezone. Next…"

Dr. Rowan continued to elaborate, delving deep into his research. Rax listened quietly, letting the doctor speak uninterrupted.

Ten minutes later, Dr. Rowan paused abruptly.

Realizing he might have overwhelmed Rax with technical jargon, he said, "I may have gotten carried away. Still, thanks to you, I plan to credit you in the papers I publish about Magnezone's evolution. You'll also receive a share of any associated profits."

This was the dream moment—being credited on a groundbreaking research paper! But Rax wasn't here for academic glory.

As an undercover operative for Team Rocket, such recognition could blow his cover. Besides, Rax knew his limits. Providing clues was one thing, but contributing to the actual research? That wasn't his area of expertise.

"Doctor, I'm not from your field, so a credit isn't important to me. I'm just a simple trainer. If you could give me a larger share of the profits instead, I'd appreciate it."

Dr. Rowan's face grew more serious, and Rax felt a wave of pressure. Did he offend the doctor? Would he lose his goodwill?

After a long pause, Dr. Rowan nodded. "Alright, that's fair."

Rax let out a quiet sigh of relief.