Blatano, who was scratching his head, finally saw Natsuhiko standing in front of Ailan, and his eyes lit up.
"Dr. Blatano, sorry for the sudden visit," Natsuhiko said with a smile.
Blatano naturally recognized Natsuhiko. At the time of the research conference after Sakuragi's conferment, they had exchanged a few words.
"Dr. Natsuhiko." Blatano did not shy away from Natsuhiko's identity issue, grabbing his wrist and wanting to lead him inside.
He appeared very enthusiastic.
"Dr. Blatano, I haven't been conferred yet," Natsuhiko said, a little embarrassed.
"No worries, since you've already passed the application, it's just a matter of time."
Saying this, he led Natsuhiko into the institute; they chatted and laughed along the way, without any disparity in status showing.
But Ailan and the researchers inside the institute were dumbfounded.
Natsuhiko... Doctor?!
And from Blatano and Natsuhiko's conversation, it seems like Natsuhiko has already passed the doctoral application, just hasn't completed the formal conferment, just like Sakuragi back then.
Doctor...
A doctor at less than twenty years old?
The researchers looked at each other in disbelief.
Ailan also stood there for a long time before reacting, striding to catch up with Natsuhiko and Blatano.
"So, you're here this time to investigate the natural environment of the Kalos Region and make some comparisons with the Alola Region?" Blatano and Natsuhiko were walking inside the institute's corridor.
The corridor was fully enclosed, with a wall on one side and floor-to-ceiling transparent glass on the other.
Outside the glass was a completely enclosed, artificially simulated natural environment.
Lush greenery, gentle flowing streams, and even some Pokémon frolicking about.
"Yes, I figured no one knows the natural environment of the Kalos Region better than the Doctor. I thought it might save me some effort."
Natsuhiko didn't show any intention to hide his purpose.
Researchers like to be straightforward; too much winding around isn't suited for them.
"Haha—then you've come to the right person, Natsuhiko. I've also been researching the environmental changes in the Kalos Region lately," Blatano said openly.
"However, I can probably only provide data from six months ago. If you need any information, just let Ailan know; he's my assistant."
"Ailan?" Natsuhiko glanced at the somewhat restrained young man following them, grinning, "He's quite an excellent little guy."
"Right?"
Blatano certainly agreed with this, adding with a slight tease, "Ailan's idol is you, Natsuhiko."
"Huh?" Natsuhiko was slightly stunned.
Ailan's face turned red, his eyes showing undisguised admiration when he looked at Natsuhiko.
To achieve such levels as both a Trainer and a Researcher, in the whole Pokemon Realm, only Mr. Natsuhiko could do it, right?
"Keep it up," Natsuhiko smiled and encouraged him.
"Uh... uh-huh!"
Ailan nodded like a pecking chicken, showing none of the future traits of being threatened by Lysandre, and Natsuhiko even saw a shadow of Ash Ketchum in him.
"Dr. Blatano! Something's wrong again, the data is showing abnormal fluctuations, you'd better come take a look."
At this moment, a researcher suddenly ran out shouting.
He didn't look much better than Blatano, his face exhausted and hair messy like a bird's nest.
Hearing this, Blatano's expression turned serious, hurrying to say, "Record the data first!"
"Yes!" the man rushed back.
"Natsuhiko, why don't you have Ailan...," Blatano looked at Natsuhiko, then suddenly said, "Natsuhiko, why don't you take a look too? Maybe you can help us spot some problems."
He, as one doctor, was already a bit flustered; if there were two doctors, maybe the problem could be identified sooner.
Blatano already regarded Natsuhiko as being on the same level as himself.
Natsuhiko hesitated, "Is it appropriate?"
"Of course, this concerns your interest in the environmental changes of the Kalos Region."
Saying so, Blatano jogged toward the research room's location.
Natsuhiko touched his nose.
He was just casually finding an excuse...
But since Blatano had invited him so warmly, taking a look wouldn't hurt, even if it's not his specialty... Thinking this, Natsuhiko followed Blatano to the research room.
Inside was chaotic.
Numerous instruments were arranged in the research room.
Blatano was directing the researchers on their operations.
After scanning the room, Natsuhiko's attention was caught by something in the corner of the research room.
In a transparent glass vessel, a multicolored stone was placed on a rack, emitting a faint shimmering halo.
Super Evolution Stone!
"Natsuhiko, come and look at this," Blatano's voice came through.
"Oh." Natsuhiko quietly withdrew his gaze.
Walking over to Blatano, he looked at the data listed on the instrument and the wave-like graph.
His brow slowly knotted.
"Why is there such a big difference between the energy peaks and valleys?"
He glanced at some instrument screens nearby, showing the actual condition of a forest in the Kalos Region.
In some images, the vegetation was exceptionally lush, and the growth rate of the plants could almost be seen with the naked eye.
In other images, the vegetation appeared "barren" with fallen leaves everywhere, the trees bare, and even the branches were grayish-black.
The visual impact brought by the two extreme contrasts was significant.
Upon hearing Natsuhiko's voice, Blatano said somewhat despondently, "It started a few months ago. But back then, the changes weren't as significant. Recently, the forest changes have been getting increasingly strange."
He paused, the words struggling to come out, "And through our speculation, it's even been deduced that...
"In at most a month, the Kalos Region won't either look like the lush scene presented in this image or it will appear as the scene of decay in this image."
Natsuhiko then understood why Blatano seemed so exhausted and worn out.
One month.
The natural environment of the Kalos Region would become so clearly polarized.
This was one side heaven, one side hell.
Simultaneously, images of two Pokémon flashed across Natsuhiko's mind.
He muttered in a voice only he could hear, "Could it be that X Deer and Y Bird are competing? What about Gundam? Is it not going to intervene?"
——————
PS: University roommate's wedding, making a trip to Xiaoshan, will be back late~~ Asking for monthly tickets!