Chapter 276: Intelligent Warfare

A Pokémon they didn't recognize, but one that existed in the Pokédex.

At this moment, regardless of Porygon's looks, the curiosity of every Trainer present was roused, and they crowded over one after another to investigate that Pokémon's true identity.

The Trainer who had earlier shouted "Porygodog" blended into the crowd, clearly not daring to show his face again, afraid of mockery from those around him.

Baimu saw more and more people gathering to observe Porygon, and thought this was a good opportunity to promote Porygon, so he tugged at Dr. Akihabara's sleeve.

The latter took the hint and excitedly raised his hand.

"Every—"

"Doctor, so you were here."

Before Dr. Akihabara's surging heroic feelings could be released, the words he had just spoken were abruptly cut off. A group of people parted the huge crowd and appeared before him.

The leader was the smiling Aqua Team executive, Izumi.

The onlookers, seeing that this group did not look friendly, scattered one after another.

"Please come back with us, there's still work unfinished, isn't there?" She waved her hand, and immediately two Aqua Team members stepped forward to flank Dr. Akihabara on the left and right.

Baimu looked at them, then at the flustered Dr. Akihabara, and seriously doubted whether the new Aqua Team had truly reformed.

How were they still acting so domineering?

He exchanged a glance with Chansey, then glanced at the patrolling officers in the distance, planning to do something to draw them over—

"Please come back with us!"

A shout rang out.

The two Aqua Team members flanking him bowed at ninety degrees. The inexplicable pressure made Dr. Akihabara extremely embarrassed, and he hurriedly grabbed his VR goggles, ready to flee.

But Izumi had long known his escape routine, and waved her hand again, sending two more Aqua Team members after him.

Surrounded on all four sides, Dr. Akihabara suddenly had nowhere to run. He could only stand helplessly, looking at the four people bowing at ninety degrees, not knowing which way to go.

Baimu: "... What the hell?"

"Ah! That kid who helped us catch the thief!"

A voice suddenly rang out from behind Izumi.

He looked over, and the speaker was none other than the Aqua Team member he had almost mistaken for plotting mischief that afternoon.

Hearing her subordinate's words, Izumi couldn't help but look at Baimu, who was standing with Dr. Akihabara. "What a coincidence then. In that case, young man, are you free later?"

"Uh, yes."

"Then come along. Repaying kindness is the principle of our new Aqua Team! And Dr. Akihabara, you should come back with us too, shouldn't you?"

Facing Izumi's words and seeing the onlookers gradually dispersing, Dr. Akihabara covered his face in exasperation. "Aiya! Fine, fine! I'll go back with you! Every single time, it's always like this! The moment I start promoting Porygon, everything goes wrong!"

Hearing this, Baimu glanced at the dispersing crowd and couldn't help but sigh for the rather bewildered Porygon before him.

"Could this be fate?"

"Pory~"

The Porygon that had made the strange cry seemed not to understand what was going on.

"I'll explain it to you properly when there's a chance later." He returned Porygon to its Poké Ball.

——

Under the guidance of a group of new Aqua Team members.

Baimu and Dr. Akihabara arrived at a massive building that resembled a research institute.

The moment they stepped inside, the latter's bearing suddenly changed completely. He began asking the researchers passing by all sorts of questions, and when faced with doubts raised by some, he made various decisions.

The aura of a leader washed over them.

He couldn't help but look at Dr. Akihabara a couple more times.

Izumi beside him said with a smile: "Aside from usually being a bit unreliable and always running off to promote Porygon, the Doctor is actually quite charismatic."

"... Indeed."

Baimu nodded, then couldn't help but ask: "Pardon my boldness, but what is the project you plan to research?"

"A marine ecological protection system. By examining water quality in various regions, we identify pollution and eliminate it. You know, if the garbage humans produce is dumped at will, it can form a whole new continent on the sea!"

Izumi spoke at length: "But a continent formed from trash and sewage will only cause destruction to the ocean, inflicting damage that's extremely hard to reverse. We must do our utmost to prevent this terrible behavior. Not just for Pokémon, but for humanity itself."

"That makes sense."

He quite agreed with Izumi's words.

Essentially, if Aqua Team didn't go to extremes and try to use ancient Pokémon to expand the ocean's area, they were simply a straightforward ocean protection organization.

Seeing that Baimu's expression didn't seem feigned, Izumi couldn't help but say: "I wonder if you'd be interested in dedicating yourself to this cause? To be honest, as long as our ideals align, we don't ask about one's background..."

"I'm sorry, I already belong to an organization."

The former apologetically cut her off.

"You already have an organization?"

Izumi was taken aback.

"The Orei Region Rescue Organization. You probably haven't heard of it—after all, our aims aren't as grand as yours." Baimu said with a smile: "But everyone in the organization is, without a doubt, a group of remarkable people."

The Rescue Organization wasn't one that needed to be hidden. On the contrary, it could be openly revealed in the sunlight, told to everyone.

Izumi indeed hadn't heard of this Rescue Organization, and for the moment couldn't offer any evaluation.

She only felt a touch of regret in her heart at failing to recruit Baimu.

One had to know that the report from those two subordinates after they returned had been full of praise for his strength. Although the new Aqua Team currently didn't have much need for combat units, recruiting a Trainer with such promising prospects was certainly not wrong.

What a pity...

"Please come with me, I'll show you around the place." Izumi was still not giving up, hoping that while giving Baimu a tour, she could make him change his mind.

Shortly after.

Under the guidance of the new Aqua Team, Baimu toured the entire marine research institute.

He also learned that the boss of the Neo Water Fleet, Wutong, because of certain past events, now had to do community work from time to time—

In the anime, the Water Fleet committed relatively few sins; after Groudon and Kyogre awakened, they just had a fight at sea and never involved innocent civilians.

That was also the main reason he hadn't been locked up for life.

As for the cooperation between the Neo Water Fleet and Professor Akihabara, it was pure coincidence.

The latter had long since handed the Pokémon Transfer System over to someone else to manage, focusing entirely on restoring the human transfer system he had once completed, as well as promoting Porygon.

Unfortunately, due to all sorts of factors, no one was willing to cooperate with him and provide funding, leaving Professor Akihabara with a furrowed brow.

"My Healing Game"

At this moment.

During a TV promotional event that came to Hoenn, Professor Akihabara met the Neo Water Fleet; the former needed the latter's financial resources, and the latter needed the former's brilliant mind—the two hit it off immediately.

"It's a pity Professor Akihabara cares too much about his Porygon, saying that if Porygon doesn't develop, it'll sooner or later be completely replaced by Rotom—I don't really understand why he dislikes Rotom so much."

Izumi brought All Baimu a cup of coffee.

"Thanks."

The latter nodded.

He wasn't surprised by Professor Akihabara's thinking; among Pokémon that could live in the network, Rotom, which could freely change forms, was far stronger than Porygon.

GF clearly favored Rotom more as well, creating a whole bunch of appliances and machines for Rotom to possess, and later even made phones into Rotom Phones.

How could Professor Akihabara not blow up?

My Porygon is a virtual lifeform too, hey!