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“The data here is fully logged. Thank you for your contribution to this incident!”

“The data from today will play an irreplaceable role in researching other dimensions!”

Professor Burnet let out a long breath. Without Hikaru, the Nature Preserve would have been ravaged.

And those two Ultra Beasts that strayed in wouldn’t have met a good end either.

After all, those fearsome Gyarados wouldn’t have shown them mercy.

The professor’s mood lightened. The emergency at the preserve had wound down, the Gyarados dispersed in turn, Principal Cyrano still hadn’t fully calmed, and the four kids waved at the Gyarados school, thanking them for their help.

“Even without Sensei calling them, they would have protected their home.”

“But that would have caused massive damage.”

“So Hurricane in the rain can unleash that much force…”

The kids chattered through their thoughts, and Hikaru nodded along.

“Exactly—that’s weather!”

“In both natural ecology and Pokémon battles, weather is crucial. Lots of different Pokémon can call different weather, with a whole array of effects. How you pair moves and Pokémon to maturely leverage weather is a real test of a Trainer’s skill!”

Professor Burnet noticed Hikaru explaining while also messaging someone.

“You texting?”

Hikaru waggled his Poké-Device. “This? I’m pinging the Ranger Union’s Chief Ranger Sevyn.”

“I’m an Assistant Ranger.”

“With an anomaly like this in a Nature Preserve, of course I’ll notify the Ranger Union. They’ll probably dispatch Rangers out here—but I’ll remind them to be careful. Whatever they do, don’t get sucked into an Ultra Wormhole.”

“Chances of a recurrence are lower now, but it’s still possible.”

Seeing Professor Burnet’s puzzled look, Hikaru smiled and elaborated, and her curiosity only grew, eyes bright with inquiry.

“Seeing a Ranger here is rare indeed.”

“Makes sense you’re so familiar with these abnormal situations—and that’s gotta be Ranger Union knowledge too. Rangers encounter all kinds of strange things, so they’re walking encyclopedias.”

She thought for a moment, then her eyes lit up with an idea she clearly loved.

“Um, I have a request… I hope you’ll hear me out.”

“I mentioned earlier, I’m heading to Alola to found a Spatial Research Institute. Naturally, our research will focus on space and matter.”

“You’ve got deep insights on Ultra Space. Would you join my institute and investigate spatial phenomena with me?”

Principal Cyrano heard her and coughed meaningfully. “Professor Burnet, my invitation went out first, ahem.”

“From here on, Lord Hikaru will be participating in our Academy’s research!”

The old principal hurried over to stake his claim—he’d finally picked up a wild prodigy; he couldn’t let this beautiful researcher just whisk him away!

Professor Burnet looked regretful, but after a beat she brightened with a plan.

“However, Blueberry Academy is still in planning. If new researchers join and push together, won’t construction speed up dramatically?”

Hikaru caught her drift. “You mean—the Spatial Research Institute will take part in Blueberry Academy’s design and build?”

Cyrano cleared his throat and pivoted instantly. “If that’s the proposal… then it’s negotiable!”

The Blueberry Dome is a world-class marvel—and it is tied to “space.” The more spatial researchers involved, the better.

“Judging from your work and what happened here, I believe you’ll quickly become a remarkable researcher. Having someone of your caliber join our project would be an honor!”

Cyrano had already wanted to recruit Burnet. Now she’d brought it up herself—and to join—which delighted him.

Professor Burnet smiled brightly. “Then we’re in alignment!”

“I haven’t decided yet,” Hikaru said, shaking his head.

“But I have dabbled in spatial research.”

Burnet clapped once. “So you’ll come? Join the Spatial Research Institute—believe me, you’ll see far more about extradimensional space there!”

“As for compensation…” She bit her lip.

Blueberry Academy was a “facility of the future” on paper, and the Spatial Research Institute was no different.

And compared with the deep-pocketed, widely renowned Principal Cyrano, her project budget was… modest.

Still, if she could recruit a talent like Hikaru—someone with real depth in spatial cognition—

She’d pay out of pocket to bring him in!

“Don’t worry! Our institute already secured an investor! They’re wealthy!”

Burnet cleared her throat to hide her awkwardness, cheeks pink.

“The Aether Foundation is willing to fund my facility. In return, I’ll present some research outcomes to them…”

“More precisely—to that Chairwoman.”

Hikaru’s eyes flickered.

Connected.

On the surface, Aether Foundation is all about protecting Pokémon—a shining paragon. Internally, though, it had started to go astray. Not as pitch-black as some older villain teams, but still… drifting.

The key point is the Chairwoman Lusamine’s slide into obsession. The earliest Ultra Space researcher, Dr. Mohn, vanished during an Ultra Wormhole-link experiment, leaving behind notes on Nihilego and a extradimensional Pokémon named Cosmog.

His wife—Aether’s chairwoman Lusamine—hatched the idea of using Cosmog’s power to reach Ultra Space and find Mohn.

From that point on, Lusamine’s personality skewed… extreme—and she grew fixated on Ultra Beasts.

“I wonder whether this Alola is ‘Sun & Moon’ or ‘Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon’… One region spawning four parallel worlds is a record.”

“Different parallels diverge in events, but Dr. Mohn’s disappearance is universal to all of them.”

Hikaru mulled, while Burnet kept stressing Aether’s sizable investment—dropping repeated hints that she badly needed manpower.

“Professor, if I go help at the Spatial Research Institute, it’ll be for knowledge. Don’t worry that I’ll bolt over salary.”

Hikaru chuckled. Burnet exhaled in relief.

“I don’t know if that’s you reassuring me or the plain truth, but as long as you agree, I’m happy!”

“When the institute is ready, I hope you can come quickly—”

“Right—about your C-Gear.” Seeing the agreement shape up, Professor Burnet asked to try the C-Gear herself.

“I heard the C-Gear only came together thanks to your help, right?”

“That was just a tiny assist,” Hikaru said modestly—and honestly.

“I helped Fennel overcome a few hurdles. Even without me, she would have solved them in time.”

Professor Burnet laughed behind her hand. “Heh. Regardless, with your help she completed this impossible machine—world traversal, space-link secrets…”

“Wonderful that Fennel got there first.”

Under everyone’s gaze, Professor Burnet activated the Link function.

Because she hadn’t caught any Pokémon in the Dream World, she couldn’t enter that realm. So transferring directly into the Entralink didn’t require a Pokémon to “dream.”

She vanished—like magic. The kids and Principal Cyrano gaped. After a while, Professor Burnet re-materialized from the Entralink, still dazed.

“T-this… this is a result of spatial research?!”

Cyrano stared, thunderstruck, at the tiny device. All he could do was sigh—this world had too many geniuses!

Hikaru thought: Unova has more than spatial breakthroughs. There’s an even greater invention—the Time Machine.

Burnet was rocked to the core. After standing stunned, she patted her cheeks to confirm reality!

Her excitement was irrepressible.

Burnet: “Fennel’s theoretical model works. This will transform the whole world—and long-sealed powers will see daylight again…”

Hikaru: “Sounds like the Entree had a chat with you?”

Burnet: “Yes… It’s strange to say, but I never thought a tree would scare me.”

She rubbed her brow, digesting the new knowledge—and brimming with drive.

“I can’t linger. Principal Cyrano, when does Academy research begin?”

“Er… we still need some time,” Cyrano said, stroking his chin. “Once the planning is finalized and staffing complete, we’ll start the most critical construction.”

“Alright, here’s my contact. If you need me, call right away.”

Professor Burnet and Principal Cyrano exchanged Poké-Device numbers.

Cyrano nodded. “My work here is mostly done as well—we’ve mapped the terrain.”

Skyla, hearing this, asked:

“Are we flying back now?”

“Sensei! Sensei!” The four kids’ voices piped up.

They turned to see a cluster of Shiny Pokémon gather around Rosa and the others, hopping and circling them in an excited ring.

“These Pokémon were drawn by what just happened… Mm, they’re highly excited right now, but show no hostility.”

Hikaru parsed their thoughts and added—with a faintly odd look:

“Mm. They witnessed the power of strong Pokémon and want to become stronger too. So they’ve decided to go with you.”

Most of the jumpy newcomers were very young—Pokémon babies in all but name.

Though the kids hadn’t joined the suppression of Celesteela and Kartana, their on-the-spot analysis was on point—and a bunch of Pokémon had already been listening in.

Pokémon understand human language, and these kids’ analysis felt impressively pro to them. Also—

Rosa is so cute!

Plenty of Pokémon were motivated by just that!

Hikaru’s expression grew a bit wry.

The Nature Preserve forbids wanton captures. But when Pokémon volunteer to follow… that’s another matter entirely.

Among the kids, the ones clustering around Rosa were the most numerous. She hugged two particularly distinctive Pokémon—

A Cottonee and a Foongus—both Shiny.

“Is this fate or what? With these two on your team, it’d be impossible not to go full stall!”

(End of Chapter)

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