Chapter 417

"Mindless puppets are fine, but wouldn't it be more interesting to control a legendary Pokémon with intelligence?"

Looking at Mewtwo curled up in the culture dish, seemingly asleep, Sakaki's lips curled slightly.

As the underground Emperor of the Kanto region and the true Boss of Team Rocket, Sakaki had never doubted his ability to truly control Mewtwo's power.

After all, aside from that retired legendary figure on the Shi Ying Plateau, the remaining Four Heavenly Kings were no match for him.

The Dragon Envoy Du, now hailed by the Shi Ying Plateau as the "Uncrowned King" and "Justice Bringer," was merely his defeated subordinate ten years ago.

If he could possess a stronger Pokémon, his strength would surely advance further, and then...

His wish would ultimately come true.

"Do not disappoint my expectations—grow into the ultimate tool, Mewtwo."

Recalling something, Sakaki's expression softened slightly; after glancing at Mewtwo one last time, he slowly left the laboratory.

With Sakaki and the researchers gone, the empty lab saw the originally sleeping Mewtwo suddenly open its eyes.

【Sakaki?】

【Is that the name of the human who gave me my name?】

After half a month of growth, Mewtwo now possesses a certain capacity for thought and has fully mastered human language.

Yet for this human who reappeared after a long absence, Mewtwo still feels utterly bewildered.

【If he is my "father"...】

【Why do I feel no special emotional fluctuation toward him at all?】

Even the white-clad humans I see every day always give me some indescribable feeling when they see me.

In human language...

Should it be pity?

Mewtwo does not understand human emotions, but one thing is certain—

He is not my father; at best, he is merely "the one who created me."

Theoretically, I should be grateful to him for bringing me into existence?

But Mewtwo cannot comprehend this at all.

Why does the man named Sakaki call me a "tool"?

As it pondered this, it suddenly sensed a turbulent psychic current forming in the air outside the culture dish.

Soon, a pink-skinned creature appeared out of nowhere.

"Mew!"

Mew's appearance caused the Mewtwo in the culture dish to unconsciously lift the corners of its mouth.

【Don't look—they've already left.】

Noticing Mew looking anxious and darting its eyes around, seemingly searching for human traces, Mewtwo unconsciously used psychic power to remind it.

During this period, the creature named "Mew" has almost daily appeared in the lab, so Mewtwo has gradually grown accustomed to its appearances.

"Mew~"

With Mewtwo's reminder, Mew quickly broke into a smile.

【Did you come to see me for something today?】

【Mewtwo means, if there's nothing, I can't come see you? We aren't friends, are we? Truly heartbreaking, waa waa waa~】

【... I didn't mean that, sorry.】

【It's fine, I forgive you!】

【Thank you.】

After skillfully using psychic power to converse with Mewtwo in the culture dish, Mew quickly turned its head, mouth curling into a mischievous smile.

Indeed, as Qing Yu said, Mewtwo is now completely just a little kid.

Knowing nothing, and yet its reactions are especially amusing!

With Qing Yu's earlier explanation, plus these days of interaction with Mewtwo, Mew quickly confirmed one thing—

It and Mewtwo indeed share a genetic connection, which is why it instinctively feels close to it.

Although Mew knows it usually acts a bit unserious, it mostly teases humans and Pokémon, rarely drawing close to other beings.

Aside from the Eevee that proactively approached due to its cuteness, and the interesting human Qing Yu met through that Eevee...

Only this Mewtwo before it can make it lower its guard and initiate communication.

Mewtwo's size is actually already two to three times that of Mew, but this doesn't stop Mew from occasionally teasing it.

Kids are just for playing with!

Recalling Qing Yu's words, Mew puffed out its chest with unjustified confidence, almost ready to put its hands on its hips.

According to Qing Yu, the vast majority of Mewtwo's genes come from me, which is why it shares so many physical traits with me and can link psychically.

So, I am indeed Mewtwo's "mom"!

But...

If I am the mom, then who is Mewtwo's dad?

That black-clad man who brought his lackeys to chase me for years, looking at first glance like no good person?

It seems the extra human genes in Mewtwo's body come from that very annoying guy...

"Mew!"

Absolutely not—I refuse to accept it!

Mew quickly shook its head, its expression toward Mewtwo now layered with more complex emotions.

Indeed, it's better to just regard it as a friend.

Becoming a mom painlessly at just a few thousand years old—still too fast!

?

The Super Dream in the petri dish quickly noticed its change in expression, slowly tapping out a question mark.

【You seem… to be pitying me?】

【Like some researchers, can you tell me why?】

Super Dream could perceive their emotions and those in Mew's eyes, yet could not truly feel their meaning.

But at least it could understand that this emotion was absolutely not a good thing.

Thus, it proactively used psychic power to ask Mew.

And Mew quickly shook its head.

【I just feel you might be a bit too lonely? Life in the petri dish must be boring, right?】

【But now isn't the time, oh—once the power within your body awakens, I plan to take you outside to meet more interesting humans and Pokémon~】

【Outside…?】

For this unfamiliar term, Super Dream inevitably felt confused.

Since it gained memory, it has lived in this narrow laboratory, never even leaving the petri dish.

Where humans and Mew go after leaving is completely unknown to it.

"Mew…"

Mew sighed.

No wonder even the researchers among that group of villains have become somewhat tolerant and sympathetic toward Super Dream.

Pokémon born in such an environment have, from the start, been deprived of the possibility of freedom and selfhood……

If it hadn't happened to come find Celebi and sensed Super Dream's aura, who knows what Super Dream would have become under Sakaki's control.

Thinking of this, Mew felt a sudden chill.

If Super Dream goes astray, I'll have fewer amusements later……

No, I'll lose a friend!

"Mew~"

Mew quickly spoke again.

【Once your body grows enough to survive outside without nutrient fluid, I'll take you to see the outside world!】

【There's also a very interesting human—I think you'll like him too~】

If Super Dream's body weren't still underdeveloped and unable to survive in normal conditions, perhaps Mew would have already snatched it away.

Super Dream is a forbidden product, a special individual born from the fusion of human and Pokémon genes, theoretically an existence that should not appear in this world at all.

Therefore, even after birth, Super Dream's body needs a long time to adapt to this world.

Without the petri dish and complex life-support systems of this underground research institute, Super Dream might not survive at all, and Mew wouldn't dare take the risk.

Since the miracle of life has already been born, all it needs to do is wait patiently.

Once Super Dream grows enough to adapt to the outside world and gain self-defense ability, Mew will find a way to take it away from here.

【Humans… like?】

Super Dream repeated the two key words, then quickly shook its head.

If all humans were like Sakaki, whom I've seen—completely ignoring my will and treating me only as a tool……

Then it would absolutely not get close to any human.

However, out of consideration for its relationship with Mew, Super Dream ultimately nodded.

【Alright, I'll listen to you.】

If I refuse, it might make my only friend sad……

Unconsciously, this only being able to communicate without barriers—and even treat me as an equal—"friend," has become a very important presence in Super Dream's heart.

Compared to the "father" who created my physical body, it is actually Mew before me who awakened my will and gave me the real feeling of being "alive."

So, no matter when, it will firmly believe in Mew's choices.

"Mew?"

Mew quickly sensed Super Dream's inner resistance, then soon smiled knowingly.

It's fine—so long as it's willing to leave with me, there will be plenty of chances later to gradually correct its nature.

If really necessary, just leave Super Dream with Qing Yu for a while—he seems like a pro at babysitting~

Anyway, raising a baby dragon is like raising a kid—bringing one more won't be a big problem, right?

"Mew!"

【Time's about up—I'll head off first then!】

After Mew greeted it, under Super Dream's waving gesture, it quickly vanished.

【Goodbye, friend.】

After Super Dream's psychic power slowly faded, it soon curled up again, emptying its mind in the petri dish to spend the rest of its time.

Time without friends passes so slowly……

So lonely……

……

Likewise in the Kanto region, Pallet Town.

"Professor, I'm setting off!"

"Be careful on the road!"

A boy wearing a red-white baseball cap and standard trainer attire rode his bicycle out of town, heading toward Route 1.

Seeing this, Professor Oak, who was waving goodbye at the Pokémon Lab, suddenly felt a pang of emotion.