"No. 64! The sixty-fourth trainer who chose it has appeared!"
Bilan, who has keen hearing, heard the whispers of a researcher.
What does the sixty-fourth trainer mean? As an assistant who was rejected by the detective, Bilan just felt baffled at this time.
"Everyone in the institute, please listen to me."
Just when the researcher was about to put the proud water otter into the Poké Ball and award it to Bilan, Dr. Yew stopped the student's movement and turned to everyone in the room and said——
"In the past, in order to allow trainers to freely and fairly select starter Pokémon, we had to strictly abide by the principle of not disclosing other people's collection status to trainers; at the same time, in order to prevent trainers from regretting on the spot when receiving starter Pokémon, we also had to block information , keep silent about the fact that in the past six months, no trainer has chosen Nuan Nuan Pig and Teng Teng Snake as their initial partners."
"What?"
Bi Lan opened her mouth wide in surprise. Only then did she hear this outrageous news that made people drop their jaws.
No one has chosen Nuannuan Pig or Vine Snake for half a year? But how is it possible? Could it be said that in the past six months, all the newcomers who came to this institute have chosen water otters as their initial partners?
That's what "sixty-four" is all about! There were actually sixty-three trainers before her who made the same choice as her!
What a strange and bizarre coincidence!
In the same situation, if no one at Oak Research Institute receives Squirtle and Charmander for several months, and the novice trainers all choose Bulbasaur, she will definitely think that either she heard wrong, or the world has changed. Occupied by Pippi who invaded the earth in a spaceship, all human beings fell into virtual reality under Pippi's rule and suffered collective hysteria.
I really just picked it randomly with my eyes closed... Is that really the case?
Looking at the white scientific instruments and gray walls in the research institute in front of her, Bi Lan fell into deep self-doubt.
"But." Dr. Yew showed a somewhat proud smile, breaking the awkward deadlock in the institute, "Miss Bilan who was invited to the institute today is not a novice trainer who is about to embark on a journey, but a genuine trainer. Teacher, and it’s her first time coming to Hezhong, so she didn’t know this existed until I told her she could collect Pokémon.”
"So we don't have to take into account the alliance's regulations. We can simply ask Miss Bilan directly from her mouth why she chose the otter!" The uncle-looking researcher showed an admiring expression of enlightenment, "So there is such a way! Yew, this The move is too powerful!"
A student-looking researcher nodded repeatedly on the side: "And this young lady who just came to Hezhong has no preconceived ideas. Since she chose the water otter without hesitation, the factors that led her to make this choice can only be It’s an anomaly in our research institute! It’s an almost perfect controlled test!”
I see. Is this why Hugo asked me to come to the Yew Institute myself? It is indeed a clever move as the uncle and the student face said, but...
Bilan suddenly remembered that the detective had told her to pay attention to what was going on along the way, but she had not discovered anything until the entrance of the research institute. It turns out that Hugo's so-called attention situation is to hope that she will find out the abnormal factors that affect the novices' partner selection.
Could it be that the detective already felt that the plan was foolproof and just left the mission to me, and then went back on his own?
Cold sweat gradually broke out from the back of the blue neck.
"So Miss Bilan, why did you choose the water otter?" Another young researcher wearing glasses asked the girl.
Finished, finished, finished, all around were the curious eyes of the members of the institute. They were all waiting expectantly for her to speak, for her to tell the truth... But Bilan had no clue at this time!
"I...I just chose the otter based on my intuition. There is no special reason. I'm really sorry." Bilan lowered her head and admitted her mistake honestly.
I'm sorry, Mr. Hugo, you clearly gave me the task of uncovering the final truth as a detective, but I messed up everything beautifully. I'm not a qualified detective assistant. Please don't fire me the day after I found the job. …
Bi Lan thought to herself.
The genius battle girl who once shined in the Kanto League is now trembling in the novice city of the Unova region. How ironic, how ridiculous.
"It's possible that it's because I'm naturally fond of the water system. I chose Squirtle as my companion when I embarked on an adventure in the Kanto region. Yes, from that time on, I have been fascinated by these children who can control water and waves. I became interested. And... and you see, the water otter is also quite cute. Doesn’t that arrogant expression now make you want to pinch it and rub it? "
Bilan began to stumble into lies, first making up a reason similar to the water gym leader's signature line, and then making up a line about a girl who likes cute things who is carried away by desire.
The researchers were disappointed after hearing this, and shook their heads with regret while continuing to whisper.
"It's impossible for everyone to think like this, right? There should be some of the sixty-three trainers in front who like fire or grass, right?"
"Is that kind of narcissistic Pokémon really that popular? I think Nuan Nuan Pig, who is hiding in the corner and crying silently, is also very cute."
"Oh, I thought I would be able to solve the mystery this time, but it seems I was too optimistic."
"Is it possible that there is an abnormal magnetic field nearby that can change the trainer's mind?"
Questions and discussions boiled over one after another. At the same time, Bilan herself was holding her head and thinking hard -
Why on earth did I choose the otter without even thinking about it? It's not that cute either. Speaking of cute, I already have Eevee...
Huh? Ibrahimovic?
Bilan recalled Eevee's Poke Ball stuffed in her backpack, and she suddenly thought of what happened on Route 1 on the way to the institute.
At that time, Ibrahimovic, who was too energetic, jumped off his shoulders and ran towards the grass.
When I caught up with Eevee, it was pouncing and biting at a Pokémon that looked like a brown puppy. I remember that Pokémon was called Little Yorkie.
No, that's not the point. During the battle, Ibrahimovic and Bilan were naturally led to the grass outside the road, and the little Yorkie who finally lost and escaped ended up hiding in the woods deepest in the grass. When he went to recover Eevee, he seemed to see something deep in the forest...
What exactly did you glimpse at that time? This vague impression was thrown out of the sky as I hurried on.
But now that I think about it, I seemed to have seen the shadow of some creature.
Because it was just a quick glance, she didn't see it clearly. It was the silhouette of an elf that Bi Lan was unfamiliar with. If it was an elf from the Kanto area, she would have recognized it instantly. Unfortunately, this was Hezhong, and she was surrounded by Pokémon she had seen for the first time. .
The first time, is it really the first time? This feeling of déjà vu is...
Bilan's pupils suddenly contracted and her eyes widened at the same time.
It turns out—that’s what happened!
The girl suddenly realized it at this moment, just when she was about to speak out the answer...
Tuk, Tuk, Tuk——
There was the sound of hard wood hitting the floor tiles. The knocking sound was short and steady, coming closer and closer.
Compared to the hobbled steps of a person with limited mobility, the person using this crutch does not put his or her own weight on it. The sound coming from the entrance of the corridor of the institute was powerful, like some kind of demonstration, or like a countdown before the verdict.
"Mr. Eric, Matsubara-san, Yamazoe-san, Furuya-san, I hope you can suspend your discussions about the initial elf case, because this picture is really ironic and ridiculous in my eyes."
Bilan looked back and saw that the person who came was Hugo, who was clearly walking like flying, but still carrying a cane.
He stood at the entrance of the hall facing everyone, and vigorously poked the wooden cane on the floor tiles in front of him, making a loud thud.
The detective in the white coat held his cane with both hands and looked at everyone calmly and calmly, with the aura that one man was in charge and no one could stop him.
The detective's sarcasm caused the researchers except Dr. Yew to glare angrily. Hugo ignored the gazes and announced in a loud voice——
"Isn't this ridiculous scene of discussing the masterwork of the case with the person who initiated the case so hypocritical that it makes you sick? Yes, as the detective invited by Dr. Yew, I hereby announce that - sixty-three novice trainers were responsible for this. The culprit for choosing the otter as your initial partner is between the four of you!"
