Consultation

"Steven?"

Jing He was somewhat surprised to see the person pushing open the door, but he quickly understood.

Steven Stone was not only the Young Master of the Devon Corporation and the future Champion of the Hoenn League, but also an avid rock enthusiast.

His greatest interest was exploring, learning about, and collecting all kinds of stones.

And since Dr. Solanus was a meteorite, rock, and archaeology expert who was also in Canalave City, it seemed inevitable that he would be connected to Steven.

"I didn't expect your office to be here, Teacher Jing He." Despite his surprise, Steven remained perfectly polite.

Jing He merely smiled and directed his gaze toward the sign outside the door that read "Pokémon Psychology Consulting Room."

Following his gaze, Steven showed a look of realization.

However, he had not forgotten why he had come. "Teacher Jing He, have you seen Dr. Solanus? The doctor told me yesterday that after the new student registration was over, I should visit his office. But I've already waited for an hour, and he still hasn't shown up."

Dr. Solanus's office was right next to the consulting room.

"I haven't seen him all day, either."

Leaning against his desk, Jing He rested his chin on his hand and rubbed it lightly as he answered honestly.

"All day?"

Steven looked surprised.

"Actually..." Jing He walked to the coffee machine and skillfully took out an electronic scale. As he scooped out coffee beans and weighed them, he seemed to remember something and turned to ask, "Want some?"

Steven froze for a moment, then nodded almost instinctively.

Seeing this, Jing He gave a slight nod. "How many shots?"

Only then did Steven realize what he meant.

But since he had already agreed, he did not hesitate. "Two, thank you, Teacher."

Jing He smiled faintly.

"Looks like we have similar tastes."

His practiced movements were orderly and unhurried as he continued.

"Actually, Dr. Solanus was originally supposed to handle today's new student reception. But since no one could find him, they pulled me in to take his place."

"So."

Amid the gurgling of the coffee machine, he said evenly:

"Dr. Solanus has been missing for a day."

Steven frowned upon hearing that.

"The doctor is a man of his word."

"Perhaps you should call him."

Jing He handed a cup of coffee to him.

Steven hurriedly accepted it with both hands. After thanking him, he smiled bitterly. "I already did, but he left his phone in his office."

"Koujie."

Gastly, hiding in the ceiling, suddenly understood.

So the sound it had heard earlier had come from next door. It had thought it was the computer.

"Then it seems Dr. Solanus must have run into something."

Jing He discreetly glanced at the ceiling. He had more or less formed some guesses regarding Gastly's destruction of the computer.

But clearly, this was not the time to focus on that. With a serious expression, he slowly sat down in his chair.

As he remembered it, Dr. Solanus really would get caught up in some trouble in the future.

But it should not have happened at this point in time. "Run into something?" Steven's expression changed slightly as he hurriedly asked, "Teacher Jing He, should we call the police?"

"Call the police?"

Jing He shook his head. "Dr. Solanus just can't be found for the moment. It isn't the first or second time he has suddenly disappeared. Maybe he made some new discovery and went digging for rocks."

"That's true."

Steven sighed helplessly.

At Jing He's gesture, he sat down across from the desk.

"Don't worry. Dr. Solanus is a grown man; nothing will happen to him. The academy teachers know he's gone, too. Maybe they're already looking for him," Jing He reassured him.

Steven's eyes lit up at those words.

They could not call the police, but that did not mean they could not send people to find him.

After apologizing to Jing He, he immediately took out his Pokémon phone and dialed a number.

The call was answered quickly.

The moment it connected, Steven's demeanor changed. He went from a gentle, humble, and courteous student to the Young Master of a major corporation, already carrying a measure of authority.

"This is Steven. Send people to help me find Dr. Solanus."

Watching Steven's change in demeanor, Jing He showed a thoughtful expression.

Click.

After decisively hanging up, Steven noticed Jing He's gaze. He smiled awkwardly and apologized again. "Sorry, Teacher."

Steven... doesn't have split personalities, does he?

Jing He waved dismissively, silently poking fun at him.

For a while, the consulting room fell silent.

Jing He took a sip of coffee and pulled out a paper to read, while Steven silently drank his own coffee, occasionally glancing at the paper.

After some time, perhaps because he found the atmosphere slightly awkward, or perhaps because he wanted to find a topic to discuss, Steven broke the silence.

"Teacher Jing He, could I trouble you to take a look at my Pokémon? Recently... it seems a little out of sorts."

"Oh?" Jing He stopped what he was doing and raised his head slightly. "Did you bring it?"

"I did."

"Let me see."

Steven did not hesitate. He removed a black-and-gold Luxury Ball from his waist.

With a flash of red light, a Pokémon appeared in the consulting room.

Its entire body was grayish white, gleaming with bright metallic luster. Its body was shaped like a saucer, with a pair of arms ending in massive iron claws. Its two eyes were red, and silver spikes protruded from its cheeks and back.

The second-stage pseudo-legendary Pokémon of the Hoenn Region: Metang! And it was a Shiny Metang! Clearly, it would one day become Steven's signature Pokémon, Shiny Metagross! "A Shiny Metang... that really is rare." Jing He could not help but sigh.

"Kuu..."

Hearing Jing He's remark, Metang's body stiffened slightly. Jing He noticed it all.

But he did not say anything, only asking:

"Tell me about its condition."

Steven looked hesitant. After deliberating for a moment, he finally said, "I don't know why, but I feel like Metang has been a little out of sorts recently. It's somewhat absent-minded. But whether it was Nurse Joy at the Pokémon Center or our family's equipment, every examination showed that Metang is very healthy and has no issues at all. So I thought..."

"Kuu—"

Metang moved closer to Steven, drawing a comforting smile from him. Steven naturally placed a hand on its head.

Metang was still very affectionate toward Steven.

Why can't I see Metang's information?

At that moment, doubt arose in Jing He's heart.

He had been able to see Gastly's Pokédex and information earlier, yet he could not see Steven's Metang's Pokédex.

Is it because Metang isn't my Pokémon? Or could it be...

"Could you use a move for me?" Jing He asked.

Steven nodded and said to Metang, "Metang, Confusion."

"Kuu!"

Metang immediately moved upon hearing the command. A pale blue glow appeared in its eye sockets, and the coffee cup on the desk slowly floated into the air, enveloped by blue light.

As Metang used its Psychic-type power, lines of text slowly appeared before Jing He's eyes.

Metang

Type: Steel-type, Psychic-type

Ability: Clear Body

Known moves: Confusion, Metal Claw, Magnet Rise, Take Down, Pursuit, Bullet Punch, Miracle Eye, Zen Headbutt, Scary Face, Psychic, Iron Defense, Thunder Punch, Hone Claws, Ice Punch, Spikes, Body Slam

Mood: Calm, dejected (perhaps it should be more confident)

Status: Excellent (excellent training has resulted in excellent condition; perhaps it should find an opponent)

Friendship: 0 (it does not know you)

So it isn't because Metang isn't my Pokémon. This ability can only see the Pokédex of Pokémon currently using moves?

Jing He looked thoughtfully at Metang's Pokédex.

Dejected?

Lacking confidence? He quickly found the source of Metang's abnormality, and his gaze fell on it again.

But a pseudo-legendary Pokémon, and a Shiny pseudo-legendary at that, was lacking confidence?

"Kuu..."

Sensing Jing He's gaze, Metang almost instinctively avoided eye contact.

Combining its earlier actions and reactions, Jing He smiled gently.

"Teacher?" Noticing his expression, Steven called out tentatively.

Jing He withdrew his gaze, took out a folder and a pen, and asked, "Your family has more than one Metang, right? Or, more accurately, perhaps... a group of them? Your Metang was originally one of them?"

Steven froze, then nodded. "Uh, yes. There aren't many, but it can barely be considered a group. Metang was indeed one of them."

"Where?"

"At the mine outside the city."

"Did you take Metang back recently?"

"Three days ago."

"..."

As Jing He asked and Steven answered, Jing He's pen scratched across the paper. Seeing how seriously occupied he looked, Steven's expression became solemn.

Could Metang really have psychological issues?

Unable to suppress his curiosity and concern, he could not help peeking at the folder.

When he saw the contents on the paper, Steven went blank.

Because Jing He was seriously drawing a Metang on the paper! It stood at an intersection that could, at best, be called a fork in the road.

And, well... "Does it look like one?" Noticing Steven's gaze, Jing He calmly looked up and asked.

"It's a little... abstract." Steven tried his best to restrain his expression.

But Jing He laughed. "Abstract? You're being too polite."

Scratch, scratch, scratch—

At last, his pen left a line of writing on the paper.

Due to being isolated for its Shiny coloration, it developed mild early-stage autism.

Huh? Autism? Steven had not expected that.

But upon thinking it over carefully, it did seem possible.

Aside from him, almost no one else could get close to Metang. And when he had first caught the little one, when it had still been a Beldum, it seemed unpopular among the other Beldum.

This was actually a common problem among many Shiny Pokémon.

Only the gamers from Jing He's previous life would chase after Shinies. In truth, for the Trainers and Pokémon of this world, being Shiny... was not entirely a good thing.

Shiny meant different, and those who were different would, one way or another, receive different treatment, even if it was only strange looks.

If not properly guided in time, it could gradually develop into some kind of psychological disorder.

Beep beep!

Just as Steven was about to ask what he should do next, his Pokémon phone suddenly rang.

After answering it, Steven's face lit up with joy. He hurriedly said to Jing He, "Teacher Jing He, Dr. Solanus has been found!"

"So quickly?" Jing He was somewhat surprised. "Looks like you mobilized quite a few people."

"No." Steven shook his head, his expression perfectly calm. "I just bought a few detective agencies."

Jing He: "..."

Very well. That was very Steven.