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"That's a type of research that combines the genes of Pokémon from different individuals," Blaine explained openly when Agatha questioned him, making no attempt to hide the truth.
"Why would you pursue such research?" Agatha's voice carried a sharp edge.
"To apply it to the most crucial research project of all!"
Blaine hesitated at this point, his words trailing off as if he was reluctant to elaborate further. The weight of what had happened after the project's completion—how it had led to his granddaughter's death—made the topic too painful to discuss openly.
"Gene fusion? What happens to the Pokémon subjected to this research?" The concept sounded inherently evil to Agatha, and a cold light flickered in her eyes as she pressed for answers.
"If the original genetic material successfully adapts to the foreign genes and reaches the perfect fusion state, the previously distinct genetic codes will merge together to create a single, unified individual. This process can be termed 'genetic fusion,'" Blaine explained with clinical detachment.
"And what occurs if the integration proves imperfect or fails entirely?"
"Then you might end up with something that can't truly be called either a Pokémon or a natural creature—something altogether different and potentially monstrous."
Blaine paused, running a hand through his hair. "After developing this technology, I came to understand the horrific possibilities it presented, so I temporarily suspended the entire project. Despite my obsession with research at the time, I hadn't completely lost my moral compass."
Agatha's expression softened slightly, though suspicion still lingered in her eyes. "Then what connection does this have with the Three Legendary Birds?"
"The bodies and inherent strength of ordinary Pokémon simply aren't sufficient to withstand such procedures," Blaine continued, his voice growing more somber. "Successful gene fusion also requires individuals of similar types with higher compatibility rates. Given these constraints, it was only natural that we would target the Three Legendary Birds—Pokémon with incredibly robust bodies and extraordinary power."
To put it more simply, regular Pokémon were too fragile for such experiments. As legendary Pokémon, the Three Legendary Birds possessed the strength and physical resilience necessary to potentially survive the process. Additionally, being part of the same legendary trio meant their genetic structures might prove more compatible with one another.
"If that was your plan, why wasn't it executed back then? Why did it resume only after you left Team Rocket?" Agatha found this timeline confusing.
"At that time, I believed the project still had significant flaws that needed addressing. Other aspects of my research had shown more promising progress, so I decided to cancel the gene fusion project entirely. I suspect they must have restarted it after my departure!"
"You're absolutely despicable!" Agatha couldn't contain her anger any longer and cursed at him.
"You're absolutely right! I am despicable. Heaven knows how many terrible things I've done over the years. Don't I deserve punishment? I'm simply waiting for the day when fate finally claims my life!"
Blaine leaned back heavily in his chair and spread his arms wide in a gesture of complete surrender and resignation.
This unexpected response left Agatha, who had been burning with righteous anger, momentarily speechless. Any emotional appeal becomes meaningless when directed at someone who has already lost all attachment to life itself.
"You may deserve death, but there are still important matters that must be resolved before that happens," Agatha said, regaining her composure.
"A young trainer was captured by your former colleagues while trying to prevent them from capturing the Three Legendary Birds." Agatha fixed Blaine with her piercing gaze as she delivered this information.
Blaine started slightly upon hearing this news. His surprise wasn't about Team Rocket's failure to capture the Legendary Birds, but rather because what Agatha was describing sounded remarkably similar to information he had recently learned from Green.
He had originally intended to help Green investigate the matter, since despite no longer being affiliated with Team Rocket, he still maintained contacts within the organization. In any large organization, there are different types of people, and Team Rocket was no exception. The team included truly ambitious individuals, genuinely malicious criminals, but also people who had been forced to join simply to make a living.
Now it seemed these two separate incidents were actually the same event. Even so, he found himself surprised. If even someone as capable as Green had been captured, and the situation was serious enough to alarm Agatha herself, who exactly was this trainer?
"Unfortunately, even with my resources, I haven't been able to locate their whereabouts," Blaine admitted.
"He was captured in Neon Town. Our intelligence suggests they might be bringing him to Cinnabar Island," Agatha revealed.
"Coming to Cinnabar Island? That would mean they're after Moltres, wouldn't it?"
The logic was clear: Articuno preferred cold, icy environments; Zapdos sought out areas with frequent thunderstorms and electrical activity; and Moltres was naturally drawn to high-temperature volcanic locations like Cinnabar Island.
"I understand completely. I am currently serving as a Gym Leader, and I will fulfill the duties that position demands," Blaine declared with newfound determination.
"Excellent. Here's a photograph of the boy in question."
Agatha reached into her coat and withdrew a photograph, sliding it across the table toward Blaine. The image showed Ash with Pikachu perched on his shoulder. Upon seeing the young trainer's face, Blaine's expression shifted noticeably.
"Hmm?" Looking at the photograph more carefully, Blaine felt a strong sense of familiarity, as if he had encountered this person before.
Agatha wasn't surprised by this reaction and spoke calmly, "He looks familiar, doesn't he?"
"Is he... that person's son?" Studying the photo intently and processing Agatha's words, Blaine looked up at her with surprise and asked the question that was forming in his mind.
"That's correct," Agatha confirmed with a simple nod.
Neon Town
Meanwhile, on Cinnabar Island, after Agatha's meeting with Blaine concluded, back at the Neon Town Pokémon Center, Pidgeotto's injuries had healed significantly.
The Flying-type Pokémon, who had been resting peacefully in the Pokémon Center's recovery ward, suddenly opened its eyes. It lifted its head and looked around the room with alert attention.
It was as if Ash's voice was calling out somewhere nearby, but no matter how carefully Pidgeotto searched the immediate area, its trainer was nowhere to be seen. While Pidgeotto had been sleeping, fragments of their previous battle kept replaying in its mind, and simultaneously, it began sensing something unusual—a strange pull in its consciousness.
A sharp, determined light flashed in Pidgeotto's eyes. Without hesitation, it stood up quickly, launched itself from the recovery bed where it had been resting, flew directly through the nearby window, and soared off in the direction that the mysterious mental signal seemed to be indicating.
"Pidgeooooo!" it cried out as it flew.
At that same moment, outside Neon Town, Gary and his companions had joined the police investigation team at the scene where Ash had been captured, but their search hadn't yielded much useful information.
Ultimately, they were forced to resort to a more traditional tracking method. Officer Jenny gave Ash's hat, which had been left behind during the struggle, to her Growlithe. The plan was to see if the Fire-type Pokémon could track Ash's scent and determine which direction his captors had taken him.
While this approach might not prove very effective—after all, the aircraft had taken Ash away through the air, and his scent trail should have dissipated long ago—it represented their last remaining option. Officer Jenny watched hopefully as Growlithe began its tracking attempt.
The loyal Pokémon sniffed Ash's hat thoroughly, then began searching for any trace of a directional scent trail. However, after several minutes of careful investigation, Growlithe shook its head slightly in disappointment. Ash's scent had indeed vanished completely—carried away into the sky without leaving any ground-based trail to follow.
"This is hopeless," Officer Jenny sighed in frustration, while Misty and the others felt their spirits sink with disappointment.
"What are we supposed to do now?" Misty asked desperately, her voice breaking slightly as she struggled with feelings of helplessness.
"Pidgeooooooo!"
At that precise moment, a familiar cry echoed from the sky above them. Everyone immediately looked up to see Pidgeotto flying overhead in a determined pattern, clearly searching for something or someone important to it.