Chapter 6: Zhu Zhishu

“Hello, Uncle, my name is Pape, I’m ten years old........”

On the way to the research lab inside the institute, Pape, restored to full energy, chattered nonstop beside Luo Mu.

Luo Mu had a headache—could this talkative kid really become the slightly melancholic Senior Pape from Pokémon Scarlet and Violet?

The change is too extreme, isn’t it?

Actually, Pape’s chattiness wasn’t much to Luo Mu—he was the man who could sit through four-hour meetings right after work until the very end; this mere verbal bombardment........

But this one thing, Luo Mu could not tolerate.

After Pape shouted “Uncle” again, Luo Mu placed his hand on Pape’s shoulder and smiled: “Is it possible I’m only about eight years older than you?”

“Good boy, call me Brother.”

“......Luo Mu Brother,” Pape whispered weakly.

Though he preferred calling Luo Mu Uncle, the smile just now had seemed to hide a slide he dared not touch—Pape chose to listen to his heart.

Children’s moods come fast and go fast; Pape soon started chattering again, calling “Brother, Brother” endlessly.

This time, Olin, who had endured it long enough, couldn’t stand her son’s incessant babbling like a monk chanting sutras; half-angry, she snapped: “Shut up! Go play in your room with Aojiaofu .”

Pape, long accustomed to Olin’s temper, stuck out his tongue at her and rode off on Aojiaofu toward another corridor.

Olin could only watch helplessly as Pape rode away on Aojiaofu , a softness appearing in her eyes—even she hadn’t noticed it.

Luo Mu, who had witnessed it all, suddenly recalled the melancholy expression of grown-up Pape.

Even though his parents had stayed in Zone Zero for years researching the time machine, in that moment when the AI impersonating his parents contacted Pape, perhaps he already sensed the parents speaking to him had become strangers.

That’s why Pape’s brow always carried an indelible sorrow.

True emotion is too hard for AI to mimic—even with all emotions inherited, the Olin/Futo AI only gradually understood them after observing the protagonists’ grand adventures.

Could my arrival change these tragedies?

Luo Mu fell into deep thought.

Olin sensed the atmosphere had grown heavy after Pape’s departure; still feeling guilty for wrongly blaming Luo Mu, she decided to find some small talk.

“Luo Mu, do you know why I was so tense just now?”

Luo Mu, snapped out of his thoughts, slowly raised his head, eyes filled with confusion.

Right—Olin hadn’t mentioned it, and he hadn’t thought of it.

As Paldea Region is an area with few evil organizations, the number of criminals should be minimal.........

Yet Olin had been so tense, as if fearing something.

Luo Mu nodded: “I’m curious.”

Olin said seriously: “The police have issued alerts—recently, a gang of criminals from other regions has fled into Paldea, and their business is child abduction or kidnapping.”

“For children of wealthy, high-status parents, they extort money; for ordinary kids, they sell them directly to evil organizations in other regions—that’s why I reacted so strongly to you.”

“So that’s how it is........”

Luo Mu’s gaze sharpened—he held deep contempt for such child-trafficking criminals.

Though he wouldn’t go out of his way to become a justice partner, if he ever encountered them, they’d get no mercy.

Soon, the place where Olin and the never-before-seen Futo conducted their daily research came into view.

The lab wasn’t like the high-tech, metallic places Luo Mu imagined—it was full of lived-in warmth.

Naturally, the research area held plenty of advanced equipment, but the room also contained a sizable living space, especially a bookshelf piled high with all kinds of books.

Seeing Luo Mu’s curious gaze, Olin gave him a detailed introduction to her research topic: “Besides accepting commissions to craft Terastal Crystals, my husband and I study legends passed down since ancient times in Paldea.”

“The four ancient shrines scattered across Paldea, the ultimate mystery of the Paldea Deep Pit—just thinking about them makes my blood boil.”

Olin was undoubtedly a researcher who loved her work; when she spoke of research, her face glowed.

Olin walked to the bookshelf, pulled out a book with a red cover, and fondled its spine as she enthusiastically introduced the institute’s facilities.

But Luo Mu heard none of it—his gaze locked onto the book in Olin’s hands, his pupils shrinking slightly.

This is........ Zhu Zhishu!

He remembered: this book was written by the explorer Hezhe, who successfully reached the bottom of the Paldea Deep Pit one or two centuries ago.

It mostly recorded Hezhe’s expedition team’s observations in the mysterious region at the pit’s deepest point, which they named 【Zone Zero】.

But Zhu Zhishu’s contents were utterly bizarre; the mainstream view in Paldea today considers it Hezhe’s delusion.

Zhu Zhishu was labeled supernatural fiction, and Hezhe himself was branded a 【fraud】.

Notably, Zi Zhishu was published right after Zhu Zhishu by Hezhe.

Luo Mu still roughly remembered the contents of Zhu Zhishu and Zi Zhishu; both books were also archived in the Orange Academy library—if he forgot anything, he could always reread them after class.

But what shocked Luo Mu wasn’t the existence of Zhu Zhishu or Zi Zhishu—it was Olin holding Zhu Zhishu.

This meant....... Olin and Futo might already have the idea of traveling to Zone Zero to build a time machine and study Pokémon from the past or future.

Once they had that idea, the emergence of Paradox Pokémon—and even the arrival of the Level One Deities of Scarlet and Violet—wouldn’t be far off.

Luo Mu fell silent for a long while. His dream was a quiet, leisurely life—but he also couldn’t bear to watch these tragedies unfold.

After a moment’s hesitation, Luo Mu asked: “Dr. Olin, do you really like this Zhu Zhishu?”

Olin paused, then smiled brightly: “I’m fascinated by the ancient, wild, monstrous Pokémon described in the book—it’s what drove me to devote myself fully to researching Zone Zero.”

“You came at a perfect time—my husband and I plan to restart the Tera Project this month, and my husband is currently away negotiating with potential investors for this project. If you wait any longer, I won’t have time to make your Terastal Crystal.”

“Are you interested in Zhu Zhishu too?” Olin looked at Luo Mu with hopeful eyes; Chief Cui had specifically mentioned to her that Luo Mu was a Champion-level Trainer equal to her.

If he could be persuaded to join her research team, the dangerous wild Pokémon in the Paldea Deep Pit and Zone Zero would no longer be threats.

Luo Mu thought for a moment, humbly replying: “I’ve only read it before........ just a little.”