dmims Chapter 40 The Reasons for Choosing the Otter
Chapter 40 The Reasons for Choosing the Otter
"The sixty-fourth! The sixty-fourth trainer to choose it has appeared!"
With her keen hearing, Azure overheard a researcher's whisper.
What does the sixty-fourth trainer mean? As the assistant who was stood up by the detective, Azure felt completely baffled.
"Everyone in the research institute, please listen to me."
Just as the researcher was about to put the triumphant Otter into a Poké Ball and give it to Azure, Professor Yew stopped the student and turned to everyone in the room, saying—
"In the past, in order to allow trainers to choose their starter Pokémon freely and fairly, we had to strictly adhere to the principle of not revealing to trainers who had received other people's starter Pokémon. At the same time, in order to prevent trainers from regretting their choice on the spot, we also had to keep quiet about the fact that no trainer had chosen Tepig or Snivy as their starter Pokémon in the past six months."
"What?"
Azure gaped in astonishment, only then did she hear this outrageous news that left everyone speechless.
No one has chosen Tepig or Snivy in six months? How is that possible? Does it mean that all the newcomers to this research institute in the past six months have chosen Otter as their starting partner?
So that's what "sixty-four" meant! There were actually sixty-three other trainers who made the same choice before her!
What a bizarre and uncanny coincidence!
In the same scenario, if no one at Professor Oak's lab claimed Squirtle and Charmander for several months in a row, and all the novice trainers chose Bulbasaur, she would definitely think that either she had misheard, or that the world had been invaded by Clefairy in a spaceship, and all of humanity had fallen into a virtual reality under Clefairy's rule, experiencing a collective hysteria.
I really just closed my eyes and picked something randomly... Is that really true?
Looking at the pristine white scientific instruments and gray walls of the research institute, Bilan fell into deep self-doubt.
“However,” Professor Yew smiled smugly, breaking the awkward silence in the research institute, “Ms. Azure, who was invited to the institute today, is not a novice trainer about to embark on her journey, but a genuine veteran trainer. Moreover, she is new to Unova and did not know about this before I told her that she could receive a Pokémon.”
"So we don't need to worry about the Alliance's rules; we can simply ask Miss Azure why she chose the water otter!" The middle-aged researcher had an expression of profound understanding and admiration. "So there's this method! Yew, this is amazing!"
A researcher who looked like a student nodded repeatedly: "Moreover, this young lady who just arrived in Unova has no preconceived notions. Since she chose the water otter without hesitation, the factor that led her to make this choice can only be an anomaly within our institute! It's almost a perfect control test!"
So that's how it is. Is this why Hugo had me come to the Yew Research Institute? It was indeed a brilliant move, as the older man and the student-faced man said, but…
Bilan suddenly remembered that the detective had instructed her to pay attention to the situation along the way, but she hadn't found anything even by the time she reached the research institute's entrance. It turned out that Hugo's advice to "pay attention" meant he wanted her to find the unusual factors influencing the novices' choice of partners.
Could it be that the detective already thought the plan was foolproof, that he could leave the task to me, and then went back on his own?
Cold sweat gradually broke out on Bi Lan's neck.
"So, Miss Azure, what is your reason for choosing the water otter?" another young researcher wearing glasses asked the girl.
Oh no, oh no, oh no! She was surrounded by curious eyes from the research institute members, all waiting expectantly for her to speak and reveal the truth... But Azure was completely clueless at this moment!
"I... I just chose the water otter on instinct, there was no special reason. I'm so sorry." Azure honestly lowered her head and admitted her mistake.
I'm sorry, Mr. Hugo, you entrusted me with the task of uncovering the final truth as a detective, but I utterly botched it all. I'm not a qualified detective's assistant. Please don't fire me the day after I got the job...
Azure muttered to herself.
The once-brilliant female battle prodigy who shone brightly in the Kanto League is now trembling in fear in a beginner's city in the Unova region. How ironic, how absurd.
"It's possible that it's because I'm naturally fond of water. When I embarked on my adventure in the Kanto region, I chose Squirtle as my partner—that's right, I've been interested in these kids who can manipulate water and waves ever since. And... and look, Oshawott is pretty cute too. Doesn't that arrogant and domineering expression make you want to pinch and rub it?"
Azure started to stumble and lie, first making up a reason that sounded like the signature line of a Water-type Gym Leader, and then making up a line about a girl who was blinded by desire and liked cute things.
The researchers were greatly disappointed upon hearing this, shaking their heads in regret as they continued to whisper among themselves.
"It's impossible that everyone thinks that way, right? Surely some of the top 63 trainers also prefer Fire or Grass types?"
"Are those narcissistic Pokémon really that popular? I think Tepig, who's hiding in a corner and silently shedding tears, is quite cute too."
"Oh dear, I thought I would definitely be able to solve the mystery this time, but it seems I was too optimistic."
"Could it be that an unusual magnetic field has appeared in this area that can alter the mind of trainers?"
A cacophony of questions and discussions erupted, while at the same time, Azure herself clutched her head, desperately trying to recall—
Why did I choose the Otter without even thinking? It's not that cute! Speaking of cute, I already have Eevee...
Huh? Eevee?
Azure recalled the Eevee Poké Ball tucked in her backpack, and she suddenly remembered what had happened on Route 1 on her way to the research lab.
At that moment, the energetic Ibrahimovic jumped off his shoulder and dashed off into the bushes.
When I caught up with Eevee, it was pouncing and biting a brown, puppy-like Pokémon. I remember that Pokémon was called Little York.
No, that's not the point. During the battle, Eevee and Azure were naturally lured to the grassy area outside the main road, and the defeated Yorkshire Terrier eventually hid in the deepest part of the woods. When I went to retrieve Eevee, I thought I saw something deep in the forest…
What exactly did I glimpse at that moment? This vague impression was forgotten as I continued on my journey.
But now that I think about it, I think I saw the shadow of some kind of creature.
Because it was just a fleeting glance, she didn't get a clear look. It was a silhouette of a Pokémon that Azure wasn't familiar with. If it were a Pokémon from the Kanto region, she would have recognized it instantly. Unfortunately, this was Unova, and all around her were Pokémon she was seeing for the first time.
Is this really the first time? This feeling of déjà vu is...
Azure's pupils suddenly contracted, and her eyes widened at the same time.
So that's how it was!
The girl suddenly realized what was happening, and just as she was about to speak the answer...
Tap, tap, tap—
The sound of hard wood striking the floor tiles could be heard; the sound was short and steady, coming from afar.
Compared to the faltering steps of the disabled, the person using this cane did not support their own weight on it. The loud, forceful sound coming from the entrance of the research institute's corridor was like some kind of demonstration, or perhaps a countdown before a verdict.
"Mr. Eric, Matsubara, Yamamoto, and Furuya, I hope you can pause your discussion about the initial spirit case, because this scene is rather ironic and absurd to me."
Azure turned around and saw that the person who came was Hugo, who was walking briskly but was still carrying a cane.
He stood at the entrance to the hall, facing the crowd, and slammed his wooden cane into the floor tiles in front of him with a loud thud.
The detective in the white coat, leaning on his cane, calmly surveyed the crowd, exuding an aura of invincibility.
The detective's sarcasm drew angry glares from the researchers except for Dr. Yew, but Hugo ignored their stares and loudly announced—
"Isn't it utterly distasteful to discuss the very masterpiece of the person who started the case? Indeed, as the detective invited by Dr. Yew, I hereby declare—the culprit who caused sixty-three novice trainers to choose the Otter as their initial partner is one of you four!"