บท 109: C109 - The professor's grand meeting

"What do you say? Impressive, right?" Lusamine asked as they stood at the highest point of the floating, man-made island of Aether Paradise, the Alolan headquarters of the Aether Foundation.

"Yeah, you really created a miracle with this place," Pete easily admitted with an impressed smile.

He had just been given a big tour of the place when the two had finished getting to know one another back on Ula'ula Island and teleported over with the help of a Clefable of all pokemon. It had been Lusamine's ace since she was a small girl, she explained.

"Well, we plan to recreate it!" Lusamine excitedly revealed and brought Pete back inside where the plans for an island were shown on a large screen. "You'll need an office if you want to be a respectable pokemon professor! And a lab for research! And, maybe, space to teach students! Space to raise pokemon! You'll have it all on this new masterpiece of the Aether Foundation: the Aether Institute of Higher Learning!"

"Oh... wow, are you sure that's necessary? The name's a little... grand."

"I'm sure! We can change the name before we finish the construction - but you can't just be based out of Johto or the league will not recognise your deserved place among the professors even if the other professors do. But if it's a ship like the Aether Foundation, you're based in inter-regional waters - even if you're usually docking close to your lovely home," Lusamine explained with a wide, almost unhinged grin.

She felt very strongly about this opportunity to have a pokemon professor affiliated with her foundation.

"Uh, sure. I could see myself working from such an island. Actually, I already had the idea of an artificial island called the Brain Island..."

As Pete and Lusamine started exchanging the most ludicrous of ideas that soldom resulted in something that Assistant Branch Chief Wicke - who more or less worked as Lusamine's personal assistant - was able to write down as she was taking minutes for this meeting.

The brunette with an even more outrageous haircut than Lusamine because of its sheer volume, at least in Pete's humble opinion, managed to crystallize some proposed changes out of the ramblings of the two 'geniuses' that included several different habitats for different kinds of pokemon that the Aether Foundation hadn't considered yet.

When they finally didn't find any more outlandish ideas, Wicke dragged the two towards the food court of Aether Paradise. There, Pete began to mingle with some of the employees and learned that Wicke was loved by absolutely everyone.

The branch chief patiently listened to everybody and took care of tens of concerns and requests by the time they finished eating alone. Pete was very impressed by her work ethic, social skills, and just plain likability.

If he was to run a giant floating research institute and school, Pete needed someone of her caliber to run things so he wouldn't have to.

After their dinner, the bubbly woman who wore a constant sweet smile was completely floored when she heard Pete's question to Lusamine as they were walking back toward's Lusamine's mansion on the far side of the floating headquarters.

"Do you think you could spare Wicke from this place? I'd like her to run the day to day of my institute, including becoming the eventual headmistress of the school on my island if enough people ask for it?"

Wicke's eyes immediately started watering at being considered for such a position, and she squirmed under the scrutinizing gaze of Lusamine, who looked her up and down.

"If that is her wish, I'll grant you yours. But you better treat her well, I'm quite fond of her," Lusamine eventually agreed and continued walking forward.

Pete stood still for a moment until he walked over to Wicke with a bright smile, and he held out his hand while asking, "I hope it wasn't too abrupt? Please consider working with me! You'd be amazing for the job I have in mind."

With a 'kyaaa', Wicke threw herself in Pete's arms and started crying tears of joy.

Eventually, Pete couldn't take it anymore and asked, "Uh, is that a yes?"

"Of course!" Wicke excitedly agreed and ran away to tell her friends here at Aether Paradise.

Now left alone, Pete looked around and wondered where he should go...

The next morning, Pete was brought to a spacious meeting room at the Aether Paradise after breakfast. And he was surprised to see a few old friends waiting for him there.

"Professor Oak! Professor Elm! Kukui!" Pete greeted warmly. The three turned around to see who it was and revealed two more people with them that Pete hadn't yet noticed as he entered the room.

With an excited smile, the old lady next to Oak stepped forward and shook Pete's hand, "Hey there, young genius. We finally meet!"

"Professor Magnolia! It's a pleasure to finally get to talk to you in person," Pete returned just as excited.

"Don't hog him all to your own," a smooth voice suddenly interrupted as an arm slung over Pete's shoulder. "Hiya, Petey. I brought some cider for you to try and judge!

"Augustine - you made it all the way to Alola?"

Professor Augustine Sycamore - one of the professors he called most often because of his specialization in Mega Evolutions - was from Kalos. One of the regions furthest from Alola, though technically just as far as Galar where Professor Magnolia was from, Galar had a coast that allowed immediate sea travel toward Alola. Kalos, on the other hand, needed you to leave the region via land as you cross Unova on the way, or you needed to get through Galar first.

In any case, out of all the professors present, Sycamore had the longest travel time for sure.

Before the Kalosian professor could answer, five faces appeared on the screens in the room and revealed even more pokemon professors.

Professor Rowan from Sinnoh, an old man wearing a three piece suit who specialized in evolution and form changes.

Professor Birch from Hoenn, a casually dressed middle-aged man who looked like he was tuning in from inside a tent - which was probably the case, as he specialized in habitat research and rarely stayed home.

Professor Juniper from Unova, a woman with light brown hair whom Elm told him used to be a model. This was his first time seeing her, but Pete could see how that was possible as the professor specializing in unearthing the mystery of pokemon origins leisurely fixed her hair - not realizing she was already broadcasting her image to the group.

Professor Willow, who at first came as a surprise to Pete, specialized in habitats like Birch, though he added a twist by documenting large scale migrations, and he has three very capable assistants with whom he researches breeding, evolutions, and training methods. The grey-haired man turned out to be the current professor of Paldea, the region of the Scarlet and Violet pokemon games. In the games, there existed Professor Sada and Professor Turo, who both did not exist in this world as of yet according to Pete's research into the matter. Sadly, his MC, when he wrote the novel in his last life, never reached Paldea, so he couldn't be sure.

Willow, on the other hand, was famous in Pete's last life for being the professor of the Pokemon Go game - so to Pete's knowledge, the professor technically shouldn't have been of this world. Pete hadn't yet had the chance to talk to the man sporting hiking gear in his video feed with a Pikachu sleeping on his shoulders.

And lastly, Professor Bellis from the Pasio region, which in itself was an artificial island, was next on the fifth screen. Like Pete and Professor Willow, she had a broad research portfolio. The pretty woman with two-toned black and white hair was formost known to most for her creation of egg incubators that Pete almost excessively helped gather data for in his time in this world. When she wasn't dabbling in pokemon breeding like Professor Elm, she researched what she called 'sync stones', a newly discovered mineral that strengthened the bond and affinity of a pokemon-trainer pair and granted them unique overpower moves.

Pete had regular contact with the Pasionan professor to discuss her original research direction: Affinities and bonds - without the sync stones put into the equation.

When even Professor Juniper realised that she was seen and heard, all the professors started jovially exchanging greetings, reminding their peers to answer a mail, discussing recent finds, and most left Pete standing there in awe.

Only the old Professor Magnolia didn't leave his side as even Sycamore went to the screen with Professor Bellis' face in it and started flirting the woman.

"Wondering why it takes so many of us to make a decision?" Magnolia whispered conspiratorially.

"Just overwhelmed that you all took so much time getting here and being available," Pete responded with a slightly forced smile.

"Heh, only Elm and little August are here for you. The rest just didn't want to miss out," the old professor admitted with a grin.

"Aww, you didn't come to see me? I thought I was your favorite for 'discovering' the fairy typing and bringing fresh air into the research community," Pete quipped in a low voice with a fake saddened expression. "You said so in that one inverview..."

"Heh, I came here mostly to see Burneys little bundle of sunshine. Did you know I was the one to finally beat some sense into that brat Kukui to make up his mind and marry Burnet?"

"Oh? He needed help with that decision? He looked to be head over heels for her whenever I saw the two together."

"You got that right. But he's a bit of a blockhead. Glad I don't have to do the same with you," Magnolia gloatingly responded.

"Did I hear you cursing me just now?" Kukui asked as he appeared next to the two.

Magnolia only scoffed, so Pete got the chance to ask, "How's little Lei?"

"My son's as strong as a Machamp and as loud as a wailing Exploud. Just as cute as a Torchic, too," Kukui jovially revealed with pride. "And thanks again for all those berries, Pete. Burney's already fit as a Taurus. She actually started deep cleaning the house when Lei wouldn't go to sleep and kept us up at night. Apparently, that's his trigger, though. Napped right through the entire thing."

"Huh, I should move my old bones to dust off some shelves too when I get home..." Magnolia mumbled to herself as Pete injected with a small smile, "Get some Cinccino to live with you. Never saw a speck of dust yet on my farm. You carry in some dirt from the fields, and they are hot on your heels, cleaning it up before you can turn around to see it."

"Oh? And the kitchen?"

"You're asking the wrong person there. One of my Miltank no longer really allows me to in there. Not without her supervision and a wet towel in hoof to clean up after me so her space is spotless," Pete described with a fond smile.

Before the two professors could ask more about his home dynamics, Lusamine entered the room as she sashayed to the front and got everybody's attention.

"Thank you. everyone, for coming and for tuning in. You already know why we're here, so I won't take up too much of your time. Professor Elm of Johto has formally filed for his own assistant to be recognized as a formal professor of the Pokemon League and Professors Bellis and Sycamore signed off, which means Pete Lang already has enough votes to be recognized as a professor, a peer among you. But Elm's goal - and my own - was to make Pete a true peer among you. A Pokemon Professor. But with no region lacking a professor running point, we want to do what Professor Rowan did for Professor Bellis when he made his assistant the professor of the artificial islands of Pasio," Lusamine explained and looked toward Elm.

"Thank you, President Lusamine. It is as she says. You all have read his works, I'm sure, but few of you are aware just how many little tidbits of wisdom are lost when you don't regularly talk to Pete. I encourage every one of you to reach out to him and discuss your specialization if you still feel it is too early to grant this opportunity to my genius. You'll be better for it, I assure you," Elm added with a warm smile toward Pete, and he saw both Oak and Kukui in the room give sagely nods.

Both of them felt like they talked to someone who had lived half a lifetime researching pokemon, not someone who appeared out of nowhere less than a thousand days ago.

Yes, most of them were aware of his 'dubious' identity, but none cared. The advancements he brought to humanity's understanding of pokemon were too much already. And people living outside league affilitied cities weren't all too rare either. There were plenty of old settlements with no contact to the outside world on the main continent of this planet.

"*Has the boy decided on a research direction yet?*" Professor Rowan asked from his screen as he brushed his beard with a sly smirk. "*I invite him to take over my field to allow me to retire from work in the near future. My two brilliant new assistants need someone smart to converse with once I'm gone. He's found plenty of hidden evolution requirements already, no?*"

"Heh, you're but a babe and think of retirement already?" Professor Magnolia mocked.

"*Maggy, you're two days older than me! AND you're pushing for your lovely granddaughter Sonia to take over your lab but haven't had any success... I won't hear this from you,*" Rowan shot back with an exasperated sigh.

"If anyone's retiring here, it's me! I'm four weeks older than the both of you," Oak chimed in and pretended to have a sore back with a laugh.

"Alright, then I guess we won't need to build a floating island for Pete, he can just take Kanto over," Elm decided with a serious expression - an expression he couldn't hold for long as he started to giggle.

Soon, the other professors joined in.