"Ahem. What I mean is, when you turn yourself in, you should show some talent—like reviving Pokémon and modification technology."
Grey thought for a moment, then continued, "Maybe after they look over your resume, the Kanto League will cut you some slack."
"Really?"
Colress leaned forward, and the eyes behind his lenses lit up.
Like a drowning man clutching driftwood, he pressed urgently, "You mean… as long as I can prove my research is valuable, there's still hope, right?"
Where was that composed prideful scientist now? At this moment he looked exactly like a prisoner awaiting sentencing.
If it meant avoiding prison, he would gladly hand over all his materials on the spot with both hands.
Seeing this, Grey chuckled to himself.
Sure enough—an academic fanatic's weakness was always their research.
"Gym Leader Grey, say something!"
Colress couldn't help but push again.
Just imagining his instruments and experimental data being sealed away forever made his breathing grow more rapid.
You could say everything he'd done was a lifetime's worth of work.
Prison bars wouldn't just confine his body—they'd strangle every last one of his scientific dreams.
To a mad scientist like him, that was more brutal than any torture.
"I can only say it's possible. Which is why you need to tell me everything you can do."
Grey took out his phone and said, "Mr. Colress, you don't want your research projects to be forced to stop just because you end up behind bars, do you?"
"…?"
Off to the side, Giovanni heard that and couldn't shake the feeling something was off.
"Grey, you really know your way around this kind of thing. Do you do this a lot?"
Giovanni remembered Grey teasing him earlier, and now that there weren't many people around, he teased him right back.
Hearing that, Grey lowered his voice. "Yeah, Gym Leader Giovanni. Back when I dealt with Team Rocket's four executives, this is exactly what I did."
"…?"
Giovanni gave a smile that wasn't a smile. "As expected of Gym Leader Grey—making outstanding contributions to the Kanto League by cracking down on Team Rocket."
"Just doing what I can. We're both Kanto trainers, and we're both Gym Leaders under the League. Taking down Team Rocket is our duty, right?"
Grey patted Giovanni on the shoulder and lowered his voice even more. "Gym Leader Giovanni, watch how I play this."
With that, Grey hit record.
"Mr. Colress, please begin your performance. Maybe this is your only chance."
As he said it, Grey couldn't help smiling at what he was about to do next.
Giovanni watched Grey's expression, and his own face twitched involuntarily.
So that was the banner Grey was waving this whole time…
Meanwhile, under normal circumstances, Colress would have already sensed something was wrong.
But right now, to avoid prison, he had no choice but to spit out everything he knew.
"My research focuses on rapidly drawing out a Pokémon's potential, quickly restoring a Pokémon's stamina, and combining ancient Pokémon resurrection with modern technology."
"…What the—"
The moment those words left Colress's mouth, both Grey and Giovanni sucked in a sharp breath.
Colress really did deserve the title "dark scientist."
The first two were one thing.
But that last one—
What kind of normal person even thinks up a project like that?
"Gym Leader Grey, Gym Leader Giovanni—don't you think 'combining ancient Pokémon resurrection with modern technology' is perfect?" Colress's tone turned heated, and he even forgot that he was supposedly a "prisoner" right now. "For example, in your Kanto region, the Water-type starter Blastoise has modern cannon barrels growing out of its back."
"And Blastoise is a kind, gentle Pokémon with no real viciousness to speak of. I think those cannons are completely wasted on Blastoise."
"Instead, give them to our Unova fossil Pokémon—Carracosta. Or any other ancient Pokémon with a more ferocious temperament."
"Like a terrifying existence such as Aerodactyl."
The more Colress spoke, the more excited he became.
He pulled out an Ultra Ball and declared confidently, "Most importantly, I've already mastered how to revive Pokémon—and how to mount modern weapons onto their bodies!"
"Gym Leader Grey, Gym Leader Giovanni—this is the result of my research in Team Plasma!"
As soon as he finished, Colress abruptly hurled the Ultra Ball.
A blood-red "metal disc" slammed onto the ground.
Pokémon: Genesect (Mythical Pokémon)
Type: Bug/Steel
Level: 70
Ability: Download
Moves: Techno Blast, Blizzard, Fire Blast, Thunder, Psychic, Energy Ball, Dark Pulse… and more.
Genesect's moveset was absurdly loaded.
Even Grey, after seeing it, almost wanted to give a thumbs-up.
It had learned everything it possibly could.
Honestly, Colress really did have some skill when it came to raising Steel-type Pokémon.
It was just… a bit too twisted.
And when Grey thought about how Colress "uploaded data" into Genesect through a computer, he couldn't help feeling weird about the whole thing.
Way too twisted.
"Take a look, you two—this is my proudest invention! Its name is—Genesect!"
Colress crouched down and patted Genesect's rock-hard body as he said, "This is an ancient Bug-type Pokémon. I revived it. But Bug-types are naturally frail and have poor vitality, so I added steel to extend its life—and to increase its power."
At this point, Colress looked utterly proud.
Bug-types being weak wasn't some new problem. But now, he'd turned a Bug-type into "Genesect" and given it the Steel type—basically bringing Genesect to life.
Out of the eighteen types, it was only weak to Fire!
And it had eight resistances and one immunity!
Colress even specifically calculated Genesect's base stat total.
A staggering 600!
For any Pokémon, that was a sky-high leap.
A literal rocket jump to the top.
"So? Isn't my Genesect great?"
After finishing his explanation, Colress lifted his chin high.
He looked like a kid showing off, proud and "innocent."
"Not bad, not bad. This Genesect really is pretty impressive."
Grey's lips curled upward. He hadn't expected to pry something like this out of Colress.
"Gym Leader Giovanni, I want to ask—if someone privately modifies Pokémon like this, and they get reported and caught… is there a big bounty?"
"Grey, you bastard—you tricked me!"
Even the refined, mild-mannered genius scientist Colress, faced with Grey's play, finally swore out loud.
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