"An Eevee capable of infinite evolution and devolution?"
On his way to the outskirts of Celadon City, Ryuuske contacted Professor Oak to gather more information. He found it strange that Sabrina would disclose such precious and critical Pokémon information to him. While Sabrina wasn't purely evil by nature, she certainly wasn't the type to go out of her way to help others either.
After hearing Ryuuske's account, Professor Oak stroked his chin thoughtfully. "...If it's Team Rocket we're talking about, then it's entirely possible. They managed to create Mewtwo, after all. So, genetically modifying an Eevee wouldn't be all that surprising."
"...Now that I think about it, a few years ago, a Pokémon research lab in Viridian City was attacked by terrorists. According to the investigation afterward, some crucial documents were stolen—among them were studies on Pokémon evolution and devolution, with Eevee as the primary subject."
"This doesn't sound like standard research. There are actual labs conducting experiments on Pokémon's physical forms?" Ryuuske asked, surprised.
"That data is very old. The researcher who wrote that thesis had their work sealed away by the lab due to ethical violations—it was never published. I have no idea how Team Rocket even learned of its existence."
Professor Oak hesitated before continuing, "...The researcher in question is someone you've met recently—Agatha."
At the mention of the old woman, Professor Oak's expression turned complicated.
"So, you already knew Agatha was behind the incidents in Lavender Town," Ryuuske remarked.
"After hearing about Gary's disappearance, I investigated Lavender Town. The moment I heard about the urban legends appearing there, I guessed it was Agatha's doing. Though her experiments sometimes cause collateral damage to innocent people, she never actively attacks others. That's why I felt safe sending you to help Gary. It's a principle she's adhered to for decades in her research."
Professor Oak sighed nostalgically. It seemed he and Agatha really were old flames—otherwise, he wouldn't know her so well that he could pinpoint her involvement from minor details alone.
"Compared to a trainer, Agatha is more of a pure researcher. She only continued training Pokémon out of resentment for losing to me in the first Indigo Plateau Conference all those years ago. Now, she's gone and become one of the Elite Four."
"Now that you mention it, Professor, I just remembered—you were once the Champion of Kanto, weren't you? And the very first one at that," Ryuuske said, recalling publicly available records.
"Hahaha! That was back in my youth. I'm old now and haven't trained seriously in years. I'm nowhere near as strong as I was back then."
Professor Oak waved his hand dismissively, laughing. Ryuuske remained skeptical—he doubted the professor had truly slacked off—but since Oak wasn't admitting anything, he didn't press further.
"As for what you asked me earlier, I do know a bit. Some time ago, I received word that Team Rocket's secret research base in Celadon City had been exposed. Erika, the city's Gym Leader, led local trainers in destroying the facility. That Eevee was likely rescued by her. The reason Sabrina told you about it is precisely because Team Rocket has already lost control over it."
"So, Sabrina just handed me information on something that wasn't even hers anymore as a favor?"
"Essentially, yes. And she probably assumed that if you took an interest in the Eevee, you'd end up clashing with Celadon City's Gym Leader."
Professor Oak, having lived for so long, was exceptionally well-informed and had easily deduced Sabrina's intentions.
"Team Rocket operates so brazenly, yet the League doesn't do anything about them? Even you know Sabrina is a member now," Ryuuske said, frowning.
"There's nothing to be done. Many high-ranking League officials have likely been bribed by Team Rocket. Their influence has grown to the point where their control over Kanto rivals the League's. On top of that, the Elite Four refuse to follow the League's orders. If they had united against Team Rocket from the start, the organization would never have grown this powerful."
Professor Oak's whitened brows furrowed, revealing his distaste for political matters.
"Enough about that. One way or another, a confrontation with Team Rocket is inevitable. Lately, they've been increasingly active—it seems they're preparing to step into the open! That Eevee suffered just as you once did, Ryuuske. You of all people would understand its pain. So go and capture it. If you have time, let me study it as well. While I disagree with Team Rocket's methods, I'm still curious about this Eevee."
Professor Oak spoke cheerfully, even urging Ryuuske to hurry.
"...From the data I've gathered across regions, Eevee currently has eight known evolutionary forms. However, some evolution methods remain unclear and are still being researched. Many scholars firmly believe a Dragon-type Eeveelution must exist. Perhaps if your power interacts with Eevee's evolution, we might finally witness the first true Dragon-type Eevee!"
Professor Oak's tone grew excited. His love for Pokémon was genuine, and his curiosity about their mysteries was boundless.
After asking the professor a few more specifics, Ryuuske hung up. Following the signal, he had already arrived at his destination.
This was the outskirts of Celadon City—a place almost devoid of pedestrians, with very few wild Pokémon in sight. Before him stood what appeared to be a walled-off estate, resembling private property.
Seeing this, Ryuuske realized Professor Oak was right. This Eevee hadn't escaped on its own—it had been rescued. This isolated estate, free of humans and Pokémon, seemed like a temporary home prepared specifically for it.
For a moment, Ryuuske wondered if the Eevee had already been captured. If it had an owner, unless they released it, no one else could claim it.
With this uneasy thought, Ryuuske stepped into the lush estate. The tracker's precision was down to the meter, and soon enough, he spotted the Eevee.
It was a fox-like Pokémon, its fur mostly brown, with a fluffy tail and long, rabbit-like ears. Small and adorable, it hadn't noticed Ryuuske's arrival yet, happily bouncing back and forth on a wooden seesaw.
"Eevee! Eevee~!"
The Eevee yipped cheerfully like an excited puppy, as if it had already forgotten the cruelty of its past experiments. Then, its long ears twitched. Its joyful expression instantly turned wary as it dug its paws into the ground, staring in Ryuuske's direction.
Upon spotting the sudden intruder, the Eevee sniffed the air—and its brown pupils immediately filled with terror. Its body rapidly expanded, its fur shifting from brown to fiery red, transforming from a small creature barely 30 centimeters tall into a nearly two-meter-tall beast!
"It can evolve without a Evolution Stone... It really is one of a kind."
Ryuuske's eyes gleamed as he swiftly grabbed a Poké Ball. The simplest way to capture a Pokémon was, of course, to defeat it in battle!
Meanwhile, just outside the estate, a girl in a JK uniform walked gracefully toward them.
To be continued…
Advance 100 Chapters are up on my Patreon!
pat reon.com/AlphaSenatus