Paldean Batman

The next day.

In front of the Lighthouse Institute in South District 1, in the Paldea region, home to a famous married couple of Pokémon Professors.

Luo Mu, dressed casually, knocked on the institute's front door.

Knock, knock, knock.

His three quick taps were answered almost immediately. A voice came from behind the door.

"Coming!"

Luo Mu had pretty good hearing. He could tell it was probably a young boy's voice, and its owner was now hurrying toward the door.

Soon, the institute's front door opened, revealing a boy who looked about ten, with smooth, light brown hair.

Luo Mu raised an eyebrow. Information about the boy immediately surfaced in his mind.

Batman—the Paldean version (x)

One of the main characters in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet: Pepper!

"Welcome home, Dad?"

Pepper had opened the door with a delighted smile, but the moment he saw Luo Mu, his expression froze. A blush spread from his neck up to his face, and his ears turned bright red.

He'd been so excited that he'd mistaken the wrong person for someone else!

"Mm, mm."

Pepper let out a series of embarrassed nasal sounds.

Luo Mu, for his part, couldn't believe he'd suddenly become a dad. His calm expression gradually turned strange.

Before the two of them could recover from the awkward moment, another set of footsteps came from inside the institute.

Just a few breaths later, a short figure came rushing straight at Luo Mu, barking softly.

Luo Mu took a closer look. It was a Master Dogue glaring at him with hostility. It must have mistaken him for a bad person with ill intentions toward Pepper.

All of this flashed through Luo Mu's mind in an instant. Pepper had no time to stop Master Dogue from attacking him. He opened his mouth to shout, only to realize Master Dogue was already within arm's reach of Luo Mu.

Pepper could only close his eyes in guilt.

Luo Mu wasn't unfamiliar with sudden attacks. For a year, he'd often slept outdoors to save money and provide ample resources for his Pokémon. He'd lost count of how many times he'd been attacked from the shadows.

But this time was a little different. Luo Mu didn't even consider dodging. He simply said, "Don't hurt it, Mimikyu."

A sinister laugh suddenly sounded at Luo Mu's feet. A massive Shadow Claw, radiating dense Ghost-type energy as though it had risen from the depths of a gloomy abyss, shot upward and seized the protective Master Dogue in midair.

The aggressive Master Dogue froze for a moment. When had that Pokémon draped in rags appeared?

Master Dogue couldn't figure it out, but it knew it had to protect its young master. It started roaring and struggling with all its strength.

Yet no matter how hard Master Dogue struggled or what moves it used, Shadow Claw didn't budge. It was as if the Dark-type Master Dogue were the one being countered by a Ghost-type.

Master Dogue's furious barking made Pepper open his eyes.

After seeing what had happened, he quickly realized that Luo Mu was probably a Trainer, and that Master Dogue stood no chance against the Mimikyu that had appeared out of nowhere.

Pepper looked pleadingly at Luo Mu. "Mister, could you please not hurt Master Dogue? It—"

"What is all that commotion? What are you doing?" A woman with a commanding presence emerged from the institute, apparently having noticed the noise outside.

She had barely gotten halfway through her question when she saw Master Dogue held aloft and Pepper looking anxious. A mother's fury erupted at once. She pulled a Poké Ball from her lab coat and glared threateningly at Luo Mu.

Whoever this person was, Dr. Jacq wouldn't tolerate anyone bullying her son or Master Dogue.

She also remembered the unpleasant rumors that had been circulating lately.

With things having come to this, Luo Mu felt the misunderstanding would only grow if he let it continue.

And who knew what unexpected trouble might follow? It was best to clear things up as soon as possible.

For the record, he wasn't afraid of the Poké Ball in the hands of this fierce-looking woman who was clearly Dr. Jacq. He wouldn't be afraid even if there were a chance it could release a legendary Pokémon featured on a game cover.

"I mean no harm. This is all a misunderstanding."

As he spoke, Luo Mu had Mimikyu release Master Dogue to show his sincerity.

Then he looked at Dr. Jacq. Though she wore a lab coat, underneath it was an unfamiliar animal-hide outfit that seemed to accentuate her wild allure. Her gaze was stern.

Dr. Jacq gently touched the animal-fang necklace around her neck, and the wariness in her eyes eased a little.

As if shielding a chick, she moved in front of Pepper, who had been trying to say something, and the startled Master Dogue. Then she said slowly, "Would you mind explaining, young Trainer, why you attacked my son and his Pokémon outside my institute?"

Luo Mu didn't feel that Dr. Jacq's reaction was offensive. Any mother would have done the same. And when he thought of what this family would go through a few years from now, he couldn't bring himself to be harsh with her.

After taking a moment to gather his thoughts, Luo Mu said, "Chairwoman Poppy sent me here."

After hearing Luo Mu's explanation, Dr. Jacq was already seventy percent convinced. Still, she turned to Pepper, who had been trying to get her attention without success, and asked, "Pepper, is that right?"

Now that his mother was finally paying attention to him, Pepper nodded emphatically and explained that it had all been a misunderstanding caused by a series of coincidences.

"Honestly, you little brat—you scared the life out of me!" Dr. Jacq breathed a sigh of relief. Her manner turned boisterous, and she ruffled Pepper's smooth hair as punishment.

Pepper ended up crouching off to one side, sulking as he hugged Master Dogue.

After that, Dr. Jacq turned to Luo Mu and apologized. "I'm sorry. The three of us overreacted. Please let me apologize."

With that, Dr. Jacq immediately started to bow to Luo Mu.

"There's no need, really." Luo Mu hurriedly stopped her.

Since he'd stopped her, Dr. Jacq didn't insist. After all, she had always been efficient and magnanimous in the way she handled things.

Moving on smoothly, Dr. Jacq smiled and said, "Chairwoman Poppy has already told my husband and me about you. Leave making the Terastal Orb to us!"

"But my husband happens to have to go out on an errand, so with only me working on it, the usual seven or eight days might stretch to around half a month. Would that be a problem?"

Luo Mu shook his head to show that he didn't mind waiting. Since he was already here, he figured he should at least take a look around the institute of the two Professors who had never appeared in person throughout the game's story. He said frankly, "Could I take a look around your institute?"

He was curious about the everyday workplace of the two legendary Professors who would one day invent a time machine, and who had already researched Terastallization.

Dr. Jacq paused, then readily agreed. "Come with me."