"Professor Fuji, Professor Colress, you've both worked very hard."
Watching Mew and Mewtwo Y seemingly playing together, Lucas smiled faintly and walked toward Fuji and Colress.
This word of thanks was only proper.
After all, while the concept and plan had been his, the ones who truly completed the work were Fuji and Colress.
"No—if anything, I should be the one thanking you, Mr. Lucas. This is… the dream of every researcher, isn't it?"
Colress straightened his researcher's white coat, a faint smile lingering at the corner of his lips as he spoke slowly.
"An artificial legend. Its very existence will surely be passed down forever."
Colress's gaze drifted toward Mewtwo Y as he murmured softly, almost as if speaking in a dream.
After the overwhelming satisfaction and pride, Colress now felt a faint sense of loss.
The Mewtwo experiment had succeeded—but that also meant that this experiment had truly come to an end. Even Colress understood that this project was basically impossible to replicate. Although Fuji possessed complete research data on the first-generation Mewtwo, the path they had taken was filled with too many coincidences.
In Colress's view, the birth of Mewtwo Y itself was a miracle.
Yet they had succeeded all the same. Perhaps this, too, was fate's arrangement.
"Lucas, I would like to return to Lavender Town to live. May I?"
After gazing at Mewtwo Y for a long time, Fuji smiled, a smile both relieved and bitter, before turning his head toward Lucas to make his request.
The birth of Mewtwo Y had finally allowed him to let go of his obsession.
He saw Amber's shadow in Mewtwo Y, yet Mewtwo Y was ultimately not Amber. Perhaps… he really had been wrong all along.
Lucas fell silent upon hearing this.
"Professor Fuji, with your abilities—"
Colress frowned slightly and shot Lucas a subtle glance, lowering his voice as he tried to persuade Fuji.
Putting aside his personal desire to continue working with Fuji, the Mewtwo Project had only just ended—would Lucas really let Fuji leave so easily?
"I've already organized all the Mewtwo research data. I didn't keep any backups," Fuji sighed, interrupting Colress. "I'm tired. I just want to return to Lavender Town and live out my old age."
He truly no longer wished to continue as a researcher.
He only wanted to return to his Pokémon House and keep helping injured or abandoned Pokémon.
"That's fine. Thank you very much for everything you've contributed during this time, Professor."
There was a trace of regret in Lucas's eyes as he agreed to Fuji's request.
He did not make things difficult for Fuji, and he could tell that Fuji was genuinely exhausted—perhaps because his dream had ultimately not been fulfilled.
As for controlling Fuji because he knew the secrets of Mewtwo?
There was no need.
Mew was now in his hands, all Legendary genes had already been reclaimed, and without those, Fuji could never create a third Mewtwo.
Besides, the birth of a Mewtwo was never something easy to replicate.
Moreover, Fuji had left behind all the Mewtwo research data. With surveillance in place, there was no way Fuji could have secretly kept a backup.
After all, Colress had always been Lucas's man.
"Thank you." Fuji bowed his head slightly toward Lucas.
Lucas was indeed different from Team Rocket—Fuji could feel that clearly.
And Lucas had not instilled Mewtwo Y with massive amounts of war knowledge. Instead, he treated it as a brand-new life.
"Mewtwo Y's genes are completely different from Mewtwo's. Perhaps because other Legendary genes were fused into it, its own genetic structure has undergone some degree of mutation," Fuji said after a moment of contemplation.
"Mutation?" Lucas raised an eyebrow.
"It's a beneficial one. Although we don't yet have a definitive understanding, one thing can be confirmed…"
Fuji shifted his gaze toward Mewtwo Y and Mew.
At this moment, the two little ones were playing a game of chase. Mew transformed into a small Spearow, flapping its wings as it flew around.
Unable to catch up, Mewtwo Y showed a trace of anxiety. Then, a faint layer of black light emerged around its body.
Lucas narrowed his eyes slightly—this familiar, dense aura of malice.
"Screeee—!"
As the black light dissipated, a black Pokémon with outstretched wings instantly appeared before everyone's eyes, chasing after the "little Spearow."
"Shadow Lugia…"
Lucas recognized it immediately. Although the size was completely off, it was unmistakably Shadow Lugia.
"It can transform into other Legendary Pokémon, and its genes can simulate them to an almost perfect degree!"
Fuji's voice sounded in Lucas's ears at the same time.
"This really is an unexpected surprise."
The corners of Lucas's mouth slowly curled upward.
According to ancient records, Mew possessed the genes of all Pokémon—whether that was truly accurate or not remained uncertain.
But Mew's exceptional transformation ability was undeniable. It could even transform into Ho-Oh.
Mewtwo, created using Mew's genes as a base, was instead a pure weapon of war—a Pokémon born solely for combat—and did not inherit Mew's transformation ability.
Yet this Mewtwo Y had inherited it.
And it could even transform into Shadow Lugia.
This clearly indicated that its genes had indeed changed due to the fusion of other Legendary genes.
The only question was—just how many more surprises would this change bring Lucas in the future?
After subduing Mewtwo Y, Lucas did not disband this research team.
Although Professor Fuji had decided to retire, Colress was still here.
Lucas planned to bring Colress back to Johto and build a dedicated research base for him.
He would allow Colress to continue pursuing the research that interested him.
Colress was a genius researcher—Lucas had never doubted that. Who knew? Perhaps one day Colress would develop some truly useful tools.
After returning to Blackthorn City, Lucas arranged for people to prepare a base for Colress, and then—
It was once again that pavilion in the rear garden.
"I really didn't expect Chairman Loki to release you so quickly."
"I was even planning to visit you in a couple of days, Cousin."
Lucas lit a cigarette and looked at the red-haired young man sitting calmly across from him.
It was Lance.
"Judging by your expression, you don't seem surprised at all," Lance said flatly, glancing at Lucas.
He said he hadn't expected it, yet Lucas showed no trace of surprise whatsoever.
"N and Zinnia were arranged to enter the League by you, weren't they?"
"Why would you say that, Cousin?" Lucas raised an eyebrow, still wearing a gentle smile.
"The Johto League was proposed by Zinnia. And now, both N and Zinnia have applied to be transferred into the Johto League."
Lance took a sip of the tea Ilene had poured, his tone calm.
"Your fiancée makes good tea."
After tasting it, Lance offered a brief compliment.
Lance also knew that Lucas would be marrying Marnie and Ilene early next year—after all, this was a major event for the eldest young master of the Blackthorn clan.
"I'm glad you like it, Cousin," Ilene smiled softly.
Ever since becoming engaged to Lucas, she had learned many traditionally feminine skills—tea brewing included.
And receiving praise from the former Indigo Champion, Dragon Master, current World Championships No. 1 ranked trainer—and most importantly, her future cousin-in-law—made Ilene genuinely happy.
"N is the leader of Team Plasma. Although I drove him out of Unova back then, his identity hasn't changed."
"I also looked into Zinnia—the Draconid of Hoenn. During the Hoenn incident, both of them were connected to you."
"The Chairman came to see you before as well. You were the one who recommended these two to him, weren't you?"
Lance's gaze rested on Lucas. Unlike his former sharp, oppressive stare, Lance's eyes were now far more restrained.
After his defeat in Vermilion City, Lance's mindset had truly changed.
"So, Cousin still thinks they're a problem?" Lucas chuckled softly and asked in return.
Lance had once firmly believed that "evil is evil."
"No. I've already had contact with them. Although Zinnia's intentions are unclear, N is indeed different from before." Lance shook his head, rejecting Lucas's implication.
"I just want to know what you're really trying to do, Lucas."
"You're promoting the Johto League, arranging for N and Zinnia to enter it—and next, you'll probably have Uncle compete for a Johto League council seat, won't you?"
Lance's eyes gradually sharpened.
If he could analyze this much, then he could naturally deduce that Lucas's initial arrangement of N and Zinnia into the Kanto League had never been pure in intention.
And Lance could roughly guess Lucas's plan—placing his own people among both the council and the Elite Four. If that happened…
"I'm just doing this for the family," Lucas replied with a faint smile.
"For the family?" Lance neither affirmed nor denied it, instead letting out a cold chuckle.
"Lucas, you were kidnapped at the age of eight. In the ten years that followed, you only returned to the Blackthorn clan once."
"With your strength and your current situation, I don't believe you couldn't come back for some 'special reason.' Don't use that kind of excuse to brush me off."
Lance did not believe Lucas's goal was that simple.
After all, Lucas, like him, could not possibly have such a strong sense of belonging to the Blackthorn clan.
Lucas had left the family at a very young age. His growth had nothing to do with the Blackthorn clan. If there was any bond left, it was only his father, Cassius Blackthorn.
And Lance himself was the same—he grew up in Viridian Forest and rose to the top through his own strength. The Blackthorn family had little to do with his success.
"As expected, Cousin isn't so easy to fool." Lucas shrugged.
"But saying it's for the family isn't wrong either. If you insist on a reason…"
"Maybe it's just because it sounds fun."
"Fun?" Lance's brows knitted together.
"Yeah. Using the power of a family to control an entire region—don't you think that's interesting, Cousin?"
Lucas wore a gentle, pleasant smile and spoke in the most casual tone—yet the words themselves were terrifying.
"You…" Lance frowned even deeper.
"Don't worry, Cousin. I know what you're concerned about, but I'm no longer interested in causing trouble."
"I've never had any interest in meaningless harm."
Lucas calmly interrupted him. He understood why Lance was asking these questions.
It was nothing more than concern that Lucas's ambition might spiral out of control and bring disaster upon innocent lives.
Although Lance's ideology had subtly changed, he was still the same Lance who loved Pokémon and nature.
He absolutely did not want to see his cousin consumed by ambition and become a nightmare for this world.
Because—
Lucas was too terrifying.
If he truly turned to evil, Lance didn't even dare imagine how he could stop him.
"After all, we both bear the name Blackthorn. If we can elevate the family further, what's wrong with that?"
Lucas stubbed out his cigarette and smiled at Lance.
"With the Johto League under our control, given our strength, competing for the next Pokémon League Chairman position wouldn't be too difficult."
"If my father becomes Chairman, then the League would largely fall under our control, Cousin."
"At that point, we could even push whatever policies we want. Wouldn't that be great?"
Lucas spoke slowly and calmly.
After all, Lusamine controlled the Alola League.
And the Johto League would fall under the Blackthorn family's control as well.
With their strength, once Loki retired, their chances of competing for the League Chairman position would be quite high.
"You want me to become the Johto League Champion?"
After a moment of silence, Lance stared into Lucas's eyes and asked.
He was certain that Lucas was not lying.
Since Lucas wasn't pursuing evil, then there was nothing to worry about.
"Of course. That position suits you best, Cousin."
"Even if I became the Johto Champion, with N and Zinnia included, we'd still be short two Elite Four members. Lorelei may not necessarily help us."
"And the League wouldn't allow multiple members of the Blackthorn family to become councilors."
Lance's stern face gave nothing away, but from his words, it was clear that he agreed with Lucas's plan.
Indeed—no matter what, he bore the name Blackthorn.
Lance had no objection to the Blackthorn family growing stronger.
Most importantly, if they could control the League, then Lance—standing at the true center of power—could finally realize the justice he held in his heart.
He no longer wanted to experience the frustration he once felt in the Kanto League, surrounded by dead weight and shady characters.
"I already have some good candidates. There's no rush," Lucas said with a slight smile. He had long since prepared candidates for the Johto Elite Four.
"Well then, Cousin, I'll be challenging you soon. You've been eating prison food for quite a while—your strength hasn't declined, has it?"
"Hmph! Who are you looking down on?"
Lance snorted, his expression far from pleasant.
Damn it—just because I ate prison food doesn't mean my Dragon Legion isn't still invincible—no, second only in the world!
(End of Chapter)