Logan turned his head, one hand still tucked in his pocket. The entire research lab lit up brilliantly, becoming like a glowing jewel in the dark of night. He released the psychic energy from his eyes, allowing the world to return to normal. As he glanced upward, the girl who had flown off on a Jigglypuff had already vanished into the dark, dense clouds.
"I'm not that old to sleep through all that noise," grumbled Professor Oak with mild annoyance.
"Why didn't you let me have Mewtwo capture her? Don't worry, she's just a thief—I wouldn't go overboard," Logan replied, thinking the professor was afraid he'd accidentally hurt or cripple the girl.
"That's not the concern. Here—this is a snapshot from the lab's surveillance system. Take a look…"
Logan reached for the photo and quipped, "Wait, the lab's surveillance actually works? I always thought those cameras were just for show."
"Don't underestimate my lab," Professor Oak replied with a chuckle. "That girl thought she bypassed our systems, but what she disabled was only a surface layer. The real surveillance is much harder to get past."
Professor Oak shook his head, half-laughing, half-sighing. It felt like Logan saw him as some unreliable old man.
"Huh?"
Logan's expression shifted as he looked at the photo. Though the image was a bit grainy due to the darkness, the outline and face of the girl could still be discerned. But what truly surprised Logan was how the girl looked. She wasn't just some generic silhouette—her appearance was stunning, enough to make Logan's heart skip a beat. Even in a blurry image, she had a fairy-like charm that was impossible to ignore.
"She's seriously beautiful. Is that why you're showing me this, Professor? Don't tell me... you've taken a liking to her?"
Logan narrowed his eyes suspiciously at Professor Oak, as if looking at some hopeless old flirt.
"I think you're seriously misunderstanding me, Logan!" the professor barked with a laugh.
But the exchange brought a warm sense of ease. Logan wasn't like the usual polite and overly respectful students who came to study with Oak. Nor was he as stern and serious as Oak's grandson, Blue. Logan had a sense of respect, sure, but he wasn't afraid to crack a joke. For an old man who often felt the sting of solitude, it was refreshing. That was part of why Oak didn't want Logan to leave—aside from the fact that he was a great cook, of course.
"I'll hang on to this photo, then. It's solid evidence of the theft. If I ever run into her again, I might just…" Logan trailed off, cutting himself off before he could say something like "use it to blackmail her."
Professor Oak didn't catch the nuance in Logan's voice. Instead, he pulled out an even older photograph, his expression turning thoughtful.
"Now look at this. This is from a child abduction case in Pallet Town ten years ago. A strange bird no one had ever seen snatched a child and flew off. This photo was the only trace left of her."
Logan took the picture. Though faded, it was much clearer than the surveillance image. It showed a shyly smiling little girl, around five years old, with vibrant red hair.
Comparing it side by side with the recent image, Logan's eyes narrowed.
"Eighty percent chance it's the same person," he said confidently.
"Exactly," Oak nodded. "That's why I stopped you earlier. This girl was taken by some unknown Pokémon and vanished. No one knew where she ended up. She's probably had a hard life all these years… To see her again after a decade is practically a miracle. So let's forgive her this once. Theft isn't a good habit, but if you meet her again, she deserves a proper talk—not punishment."
Oak's brows furrowed, and he sighed deeply.
"Leave it to me, Professor. If I meet her again… I'll make sure she gets 'educated,'" Logan said, putting extra emphasis on "educated."
"Thanks, Logan. Now, get some sleep. Tomorrow is your big day—the start of your journey."
"She stole the Squirtle, right? Don't tell me that was supposed to be my starter?" Logan said, not quite buying his own theory. After all, Professor Oak had plenty of starter Pokémon. But still, why had he numbered Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle as the first three in the Pokédex?
"Hahaha, no, it's not Squirtle. You'll find out tomorrow," Oak said with a mysterious grin.
"So secretive…" Logan mumbled, chatting a little longer before heading to his room for the night.
—
The next morning, Logan was up early, just as usual. After washing up, he cooked breakfast for both himself and Professor Oak. But to his surprise, Oak was already awake, waiting in the living room—perhaps because he knew Logan would be leaving today.
"This'll be the last breakfast I make for you, Professor. Make sure you still eat well after I'm gone."
Logan placed the simple meal in front of him with a warm smile.
"Don't worry about this old man. My granddaughter's coming to visit soon—she'll take good care of me."
"Granddaughter?"
"Yup. My eldest granddaughter—Blue's older sister. Oh, and Logan, I told Blue about you. If you ever run into each other during your travels, look out for one another."
"No problem. Though with how big Kanto is, it might not be easy to cross paths."
After breakfast, Logan's excitement became evident. It was one of the rare times Oak saw the boy show youthful impatience. The professor chuckled, beckoning him to follow.
Just like the night before, they passed through the high-security corridors leading to the storage room where the rare Pokémon were kept. After going through three security layers, they reached a concealed chamber. This time, Oak dropped the air of mystery and directly handed Logan a Poké Ball placed carefully on a pedestal.
"This is…"
Logan held up the Poké Ball. In the filtered morning light, he could faintly see the Pokémon within through its semi-transparent casing.
"Gible," Professor Oak said. "A Dragon-type from the Sinnoh region. You've read enough to know that different regions have different Pokémon species due to environmental factors. While they can survive outside their native regions, they can't easily reproduce."
"This Gible is a twin. A friend from Sinnoh sent it to me for research. Its sister was given to his granddaughter for her journey over a year ago. This one—I'm entrusting to you. Gible is rare and powerful, even in Sinnoh. I believe in you, Logan. Raise it well."
Professor Oak placed a firm hand on Logan's shoulder, smiling with deep warmth.
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