At the time, that craftsman had taken an interest in my talent and wanted to accept me as his apprentice, hoping that I would inherit his skills in crafting Pokémon equipment. However, I was completely devoted to the path of becoming a Trainer, so I turned him down.
"So, in order to avoid revealing that senior craftsman's identity, as well as exposing even a small part of his techniques and methods for crafting those items…"
"Those two items, including the Key Stone and Mega Stone, are things I truly cannot hand over to you for research, Professor."
"I hope you can understand."
Seeing the sincerity in Sycamore's apology, the tension in Ash's expression eased considerably. He nodded before explaining,
"I understand. I really do."
Sycamore nodded as well. Ash had made his position clear, and after everything the young Trainer had already shared with him, Sycamore knew there was no point in pressing the matter any further.
After all, his earlier words had already created a faint sense of distance between them. Their relationship had never been particularly close to begin with, and if he continued making requests without knowing when to stop, there was a very real chance that things would become awkward between them.
That was the last thing Sycamore wanted.
As for Ash's statement that the Key Stone and Mega Stone were witnesses to the bond between him and Pidgeot, Sycamore could not personally understand that feeling.
He was a researcher, not a Trainer. He had never experienced that kind of emotional bond firsthand.
But he had encountered something remarkably similar before.
Previously, when Sycamore had approached Diantha, the Champion of the Kalos Pokémon League, and asked to borrow her Key Stone and Mega Stone for research, Diantha had politely refused.
Her reason had been that those two stones carried the memories of her bond with Gardevoir. They were witnesses to the relationship and emotional connection between the two of them.
Sycamore could not truly experience or understand that kind of attachment himself.
Yet this time, when he had made a similar request to Ash, Ash had given him essentially the same reason for refusing.
And when Sycamore thought back to what had happened earlier, he realized that his excitement had gotten the better of him. He had unconsciously pushed his request even further, only to provoke Ash's resistance and displeasure.
Now that he had calmed down, Sycamore began reflecting on his actions.
There were many things he still could not fully understand because their identities and positions were fundamentally different. Nevertheless, as a researcher who was accustomed to thinking deeply about problems, Sycamore could not help but reconsider his behavior.
Whether it was Ash or Diantha, both of them were Trainers—not scholars and researchers like himself.
When it came to academic research, they had shown positive and supportive attitudes. They were willing to contribute what they could to scientific research, whether because they respected him or for some other reason.
Whatever their motivations, both Ash and Diantha had provided him with considerable assistance whenever he asked for their help.
But at the end of the day, they were Trainers.
Expecting them to abandon their own identities, interests, and positions and give everything they had for the sake of his academic research was simply unrealistic.
In fact, Sycamore realized that he should never have made such a request in the first place. He had been asking them to put themselves in a difficult position for his benefit.
The research surrounding Mega Evolution could potentially bring tremendous benefits to the entire professional Pokémon field.
But it was still his research.
When the final academic papers were published, his name would be attached to the results. He would receive the greatest share of the academic recognition and reputation that came with those achievements.
If that was the case, then what right did he have to demand that other people abandon their own interests and positions and contribute everything they had to what was, ultimately, his academic research?
Once he thought things through, Sycamore could not help feeling ashamed.
He felt that he had failed to appreciate the goodwill Ash and Diantha had already shown him.
At the same time, he could not help sighing inwardly at himself.
He was already in his thirties or forties, after all.
He had spent so many years buried in laboratories and research institutes, focusing almost entirely on academic research. Although he had achieved considerable success in his field, when it came to interpersonal relationships, he could not exactly call himself immature—but he had to admit that he was far too idealistic.
And, perhaps more importantly, he had become somewhat self-centered without realizing it.
Fortunately, Sycamore was also a researcher who was good at self-reflection, and he possessed a remarkably broad-minded personality.
Now that he understood where he had gone wrong, there was no need to keep apologizing. He had already sincerely apologized once. Continuing to do so would only make their relationship more awkward and distant.
So Sycamore simply let the matter go.
As for Ash, a young prodigy who had provided him with so much valuable assistance regarding Mega Evolution—Sycamore now interacted with him with both gratitude and genuine admiration.
After finishing the measurements of Pidgeot's normal form and Mega-Evolved form, including its appearance and various physical data, Sycamore also completed the scan and recording of the Mega Evolution Wave released during Pidgeot's Mega Evolution.
With nothing else requiring immediate attention, Sycamore did not immediately throw himself into his research.
Ash had come to the research institute as a guest, so as the host, Sycamore naturally took the initiative to show him around.
As they toured the institute, the two of them discussed a wide range of subjects related to Mega Evolution and Pokémon research.
Ash possessed Aura, allowing him to perceive changes in people's emotions and mental states. Once he sensed that Sycamore's attitude had genuinely changed, he finally lowered his guard and let go of the lingering sense of distance between them.
The two could now interact normally again.
"…"
"…"
"Ash, I really didn't expect that your understanding of other areas of Pokémon research would be this deep in addition to your knowledge of Mega Evolution."
"No wonder you're such a famous genius Trainer throughout the Kanto region. I finally understand why, every time I speak with Professor Oak on the phone, he always brings you up and praises you."
After their conversation continued for some time, Sycamore was repeatedly surprised by the depth of Ash's knowledge and the breadth of his experience.
At one point, he even forgot Ash's actual age.
He found himself unconsciously treating the young Trainer as though he were an established scholar of the same caliber as himself.
"Professor, you're being too kind."
Ash waved his hand modestly.
"Most of what I know comes from books, as well as the academic papers published by outstanding scholars and researchers like yourself."
"As for the things I've personally experienced, observed, and studied, my understanding is actually still quite shallow."
"Hahaha, Ash, you're being far too modest."
Sycamore clearly did not take Ash's humble words at face value.
After meeting Ash in person today, his impression of the young Trainer had been refreshed again and again.
Unknowingly, the image of Ash in Sycamore's mind had already risen to an astonishing height that ordinary people could hardly imagine.
—Lumiose City · Team Flare Secret Base—
"That representative really is something."
The woman spoke while chewing gum, her expression filled with arrogance and displeasure.
"It's just a brat with a decent amount of talent as a Trainer. Not sending a capture squad to take his Pidgeot and his Key Stone and Mega Stone is already generous enough."
"And yet he actually sent me personally."
She was a high-ranking Team Flare executive as well as a scientist, but instead of wearing a lab coat, she was dressed in a skin-tight, fire-red patent-leather Team Flare uniform. Her hair was dyed purple, and she wore purple tactical glasses. Even her lips were painted purple.
She looked thoroughly dissatisfied with the assignment.
"My mission is simply to disguise myself as an ordinary Trainer, challenge that kid to a battle, and collect the Mega Evolution Wave energy released when his Pidgeot undergoes Mega Evolution."
"The ridiculous part is that the representative even specifically told me to be polite."
Thinking about the mission she had been assigned by Team Flare's leader, Lysandre, the woman's expression became even more annoyed.
Yesterday, Lysandre had personally arranged the mission.
Then, this morning, just before she left Team Flare headquarters, she had received another special reminder:
Be polite.
She clicked her tongue.
"If the representative only wants me to collect the Mega Evolution Wave energy produced by Pidgeot's Mega Evolution, then naturally I won't disobey his orders and take the Pokémon or the Mega Evolution items for myself."
"As for being polite…"
She grinned coldly.
"Sorry about that, but this big sister has never liked brats."
"Even if I try my hardest to be polite, I can't exactly become pleasant overnight."
"The representative knows that perfectly well."