"Draconia Champion John Captures the Wish Star Pokemon!"
"John Invites Domestic and Foreign Experts to Gather in Draconia to Study the the mythical pokemon Jirachi!"
"Did the Wish Star, Jirachi, Help John Become Champion?"
The following day, news about Jirachi dominated headlines worldwide. The story's popularity rivaled even John's historic championship victory.
Many speculated that John had only achieved his champion status thanks to Jirachi's assistance. However, truly knowledgeable trainers understood that John's strength was unquestionable, with or without a wish Pokemon, he was undeniably champion material.
Regardless of the debates, one fact remained clear: John owned Jirachi.
Researchers from around the globe began flocking desperately toward Draconia's capital city.
Jirachi represented a once-in-a-millennium opportunity.
While multiple Jirachi existed throughout the world, their ability to remain awake for only seven days per thousand years meant that recorded encounters were extraordinarily rare. Human history contained perhaps a handful of documented Jirachi awakenings, with no photographs and only blurry stone tablet etchings as evidence.
Studying such a Pokemon had always been pure fantasy.
But now, fantasy had become reality, a genuine opportunity to achieve the impossible dream.
No researcher with ambitions could pass up this chance.
The interest extended beyond cosmic specialists to include countless breeders eager to study any legendary Pokemon firsthand.
"This commotion is certainly massive, my contact information is practically exploding," Saul Badman chuckled, addressing his most accomplished student with obvious amusement.
"Mentor if someone can reach you directly, feel free to screen them personally. Don't bother with the rest, I'll handle them myself," John replied with quiet authority.
The flood of breeders and researchers seeking to join Jirachi's research had become overwhelming. Among them lurked unscrupulous individuals attempting to pressure John at national levels, demanding he surrender Jirachi under the guise of "protecting rare Pokemon."
These demands came from both domestic and foreign sources.
Such behavior represented a time-honored tradition. Whether in the Pokemon world or elsewhere, certain people believed their positions entitled them to claim whatever they desired from anyone.
John's response had been refreshingly direct.
"Want Jirachi? Fine! Come take it yourself!"
This challenge immediately silenced some organizations and individuals.
After all, if someone could actually obtain a Pokemon from John by force, why settle for a Jirachi that would return to space in seven days? Wouldn't his shiny black Lugia or white-furred Zeraora make better prizes?
Of course, forcibly taking Pokemon from John remained an impossibility.
John secretly hoped someone would attempt it, providing the perfect opportunity to make an example of them.
"Very well, I only need three positions, and I guarantee all three will be relevant field experts," Saul nodded. His student had shown such tremendous respect that he would naturally maintain strict standards in return.
While domestic and foreign breeders and researchers required time to arrive and undergo screening, John and Saul weren't sitting idle.
On the morning after acquiring Jirachi, John had purchased a "Cosmic Research Center",or more precisely, Draconia's government had gifted it to him.
The facility cost exactly one dollar and came fully equipped.
Given John's champion status and the worldwide attention surrounding Jirachi's research, official support seemed entirely reasonable.
For personnel, John's midnight notification had allowed Emerald's team to move in before other researchers could arrive.
John, Saul, and Emerald formed the Cosmic Research Center's three-person leadership structure.
Their research goal: preventing Jirachi from returning to its slumber cocoon.
John's mentor handled theoretical analysis, while Emerald's team managed experimental operations. John's responsibility involved providing Pokemon subjects.
John had already directed his Gameboy character to Mount Hokulani in the Alola region.
This location offered the best opportunity to capture Minior, along with the occasional Cleffa. After accumulating sufficient Minior specimens, John planned to visit Meteor Falls to capture Solrock and Lunatone.
If Earth-based cosmic energy sources proved inadequate, these space-origin Pokemon represented their only alternatives.
As a final contingency, John had contacted observatories worldwide to help "lock onto Deoxys." If urgency demanded it, he'd venture into space and capture the virus Pokemon directly!
Despite the trio's exhaustive efforts to find solutions, their primary subject seemed less than cooperative.
"Jirachi~~~( I don't want to stay here! I wants to play games with Togepi and Mew!)" After familiarizing itself with the laboratory, Jirachi began spinning around in obvious boredom.
"Wait another fifteen minutes. After this test concludes, I'll take you back," John promised reassuringly.
Jirachi had just awakened and possessed a child's natural temperament.
Expecting it to endure lengthy, tedious research sessions was unrealistic. John had established a simple agreement with Jirachi: only one hour of daily work.
Only research requiring Jirachi's direct participation would bring it to the laboratory, otherwise, it could remain at home playing games with its friends.
John had just finished his reassurance when he noticed everyone in the lab staring at him intently.
"What's wrong?"
"You also have Mew at your house?" Emerald asked, her tone heavy with disbelief.
"Uh... didn't I mention that before?" John scratched his head. Mew wasn't technically captured, more like a regular playmate. Since he hadn't included Mew in any formal breeding plans or in any of his teams, John rarely thought about it seriously. Besides, with his current strength, he wasn't concerned about anyone discovering its presence.
"Soo, what is this abiut? How did you acquire a Mew?" Saul raised an eyebrow.
"Well, it's just a friend I met at the Avian Sanctuary who often visits my house to play games with my Pokemon," John explained casually.
"Take me to see it!" Emerald's eyes blazed with enthusiasm, her desperation exceeding even her reaction to meeting Jirachi.
"This evening, you can meet it when you come to my house for dinner. Work first. I'll take Jirachi back in ten minutes," John waved them off quickly, though he understood their excitement perfectly.
Mew was legendary as the ancestor of all Pokemon, and the optimal approach to studying any creature involved starting with its origins. For Pokemon researchers, Mew represented an irresistible attraction.
However, their immediate priority remained Jirachi. While Mew could be studied later, Jirachi only had these precious seven days.