Chapter 6: Chapter 6: The Scarlet Book
"Hello, Mister. My name is Piper, and I'm ten years old."
On the way to the research lab inside the facility, the now-energetic Piper chattered nonstop in Luke's ear.
Luke felt a slight headache. Would this talkative kid really grow into the somewhat melancholic senior Piper from Scarlet and Violet?
What a drastic change!
In truth, Piper's chatter didn't bother Luke much. He was the type of person who could sit through a four-hour meeting after work without flinching—a mere verbal bombardment was nothing.
But there was one thing Luke simply couldn't tolerate.
After Piper called him "Mister" yet again, Luke placed a hand on Piper's shoulder, smiling as he said:
"Have you ever considered the possibility that I'm only about eight years older than you?"
"Be good—call me brother."
"L-Luke… brother," Piper muttered weakly.
Although Piper preferred calling him "Mister," the faint danger hidden in Luke's smile convinced him to obey.
Children's emotions come and go quickly, and Piper soon started chattering again, calling out "brother, brother" nonstop.
This time, even Orin couldn't bear listening to her son chant like a mantra. Half-annoyed, she scolded:
"Quiet! Go play in your room with Mabosstiff."
Piper, as if used to Orin's fiery temper, made a face at her before riding on Mabosstiff toward another hallway.
Orin could only watch helplessly as Piper dashed off, a trace of softness unconsciously surfacing in her eyes.
Witnessing it all, Luke suddenly pictured an older Piper, his expression clouded with sorrow.
Even though his parents had spent years in Area Zero researching the time machine, the moment he realized the two AI copies of his parents were reaching out to him instead of the real ones...
Perhaps, in that instant, Piper understood that the "parents" speaking to him had become strangers.
That was why the melancholy never left his face.
True emotion was too difficult for an AI to replicate. Even though the AI of Orin and Futu inherited all their memories and feelings, it wasn't until they observed the protagonists' grand adventure that they gradually began to understand human emotion.
Could Luke's presence change this tragedy?
Luke fell into deep thought.
---
Noticing the atmosphere grow heavy after Piper's departure, Orin, still feeling guilty for misunderstanding Luke earlier, decided to strike up a conversation.
"Luke, do you know why I was so tense earlier?"
Luke's thoughts were interrupted. He slowly raised his head, his expression puzzled.
That's right—he hadn't considered it before.
Paldea was a region with minimal activity from evil organizations, so the crime rate should have been low.
Yet Orin had reacted as though she was genuinely afraid of something.
Luke nodded and said, "I'm curious."
Orin spoke seriously:
"The police sent out a report. Recently, a group of criminals from another region seems to have fled into Paldea, and their specialty is abducting or trafficking children."
"If the parents are wealthy or influential, they extort ransom. Ordinary children are sold to evil organizations in other regions. That's why I reacted so strongly to you."
"I see."
Luke's eyes sharpened. He despised criminals who preyed on children.
Though he wasn't the type to seek trouble as a "hero of justice," if he encountered such criminals, they certainly wouldn't have a good time.
---
Soon, the research lab where Orin and the elusive Futu usually worked came into view.
Contrary to Luke's expectations of a sleek, high-tech facility filled with metal and machinery, the lab felt cozy and lived-in.
The research area naturally had advanced equipment scattered around, but there was also a large living space. Bookshelves overflowing with various texts were particularly prominent.
Catching Luke's curious gaze, Orin eagerly introduced her ongoing research projects:
"In addition to fulfilling commissions for crafting Tera Orbs, my husband and I study the ancient legends passed down in Paldea."
"The four ancient shrines scattered across the region, the ultimate mystery of the Great Crater of Paldea... Just thinking about it gets my blood pumping!"
Orin was undoubtedly a passionate researcher. When talking about her work, her entire demeanor seemed to glow.
She walked over to a bookshelf, pulled out a red-bound book, and caressed its cover as she continued passionately describing the lab's facilities.
But Luke didn't hear a word.
His gaze was fixed on the book in Orin's hands, his pupils contracting slightly.
It was The Scarlet Book!
He remembered it well—this book was written by the explorer Heath over a century ago after successfully reaching the bottom of the Great Crater of Paldea.
The book largely documented the mysterious Area Zero, a name Heath's expedition had given to the deepest part of the crater.
However, the contents of The Scarlet Book were so bizarre that most people in Paldea dismissed it as Heath's delusions.
The book had been relegated to the realm of supernatural literature, and Heath himself was branded a "fraud."
Worth noting was that The Violet Book was published shortly after The Scarlet Book, also by Heath.
Luke vaguely remembered the contents of both books and knew they were also stored in the library of Naranja Academy. If he forgot something, he could always revisit them after class.
But what shocked Luke wasn't the existence of the books—it was seeing Orin holding The Scarlet Book.
This implied that Orin and Futu might already be contemplating building a time machine and studying Pokémon from the past and future.
If that were true, the arrival of Paradox Pokémon—and even the legendary Pokémon from the books' covers—might not be far off.
Luke was silent for a long moment.
His dream was to live a peaceful and leisurely life, but he found it hard to stand by and watch a tragedy unfold.
After hesitating, Luke finally asked, "Dr. Orin, do you like The Scarlet Book?"
Orin was momentarily stunned, then broke into a bright smile.
"I'm fascinated by the ancient, ferocious Pokémon with wild instincts described in the book. It's what inspired me to pour my heart into researching Area Zero."
"You came at the perfect time! My husband and I are scheduled to restart the Paldea Crater's Tera Project this month. My husband is currently away negotiating funding with interested companies, and once things get busy, we might not even have time to craft your Tera Orb."
"Are you interested in The Scarlet Book too?" Orin asked, looking at Luke with hopeful eyes. Chairman Yechi had specifically mentioned that Luke was as capable as any Champion-level Trainer.
If she could persuade him to join her research team, the wild Pokémon in the Great Crater would no longer be a threat.
Luke thought for a moment, then humbly replied, "I've read it before and know a little about it."
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