Paldean Batman

The next day.

In front of the Lighthouse Institute in South District 1, belonging to the renowned Pokémon Professors of the Paldea region.

Luo Mu, dressed in casual wear, knocked on the institute's door.

Knock, knock, knock.

Luo Mu's three light knocks were quickly answered by a voice from behind the door.

"Coming!"

Luo Mu had good hearing and could tell it was the voice of a young boy. The owner of the voice was currently running towards the door.

Soon, the main entrance of the institute was opened by a boy who looked about ten years old, with soft, light brown hair.

Luo Mu's eyebrows twitched slightly, and information about this boy, who was around ten years old, instantly appeared in his mind.

Batman - Paldea version (x)

One of the protagonists in the Pokémon Scarlet and Violet game, Pepper!

"Welcome home. Dad?"

Pepper, who had opened the door with a joyful expression, froze the moment he saw Luo Mu. A blush instantly spread from his neck upwards, and his ears turned bright red.

He had mistaken him for someone else in his excitement!

"Mmmph."

Pepper let out muffled sounds out of embarrassment.

Luo Mu, on this side, couldn't believe he had suddenly become a father, and his calm expression gradually turned strange.

Before the two awkward figures, one large and one small, could recover, another sound of running came from inside the institute.

Within a few breaths, a small figure rushed straight at Luo Mu, barking.

Luo Mu focused his gaze. It was a Master Dogue, hostile towards him, likely mistaking him for a bad guy with ill intentions towards Pepper and showing aggression.

All thought happened in a flash. Pepper didn't have time to stop the Master Dogue from attacking Luo Mu. He tried to open his mouth to shout but found that the Master Dogue was only one body length away from Luo Mu.

Pepper could only close his eyes in guilt.

Luo Mu wasn't unaccustomed to sudden attacks. In the past year, to save money and provide ample resources for his Pokémon, he had often slept outdoors, and he had experienced countless ambushes from the dark.

However, this time was slightly different. Luo Mu didn't even consider dodging. He said softly, "Don't hurt it, Mimikyu."

A sinister laugh suddenly rang out from Luo Mu's feet. A giant Shadow Claw, emanating a dense Ghost-type energy, as if from the depths of a dark abyss, suddenly rose up and grabbed the protective Master Dogue in mid-air.

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

Master Dogue couldn't understand, but it knew it needed to protect its young master. It began to roar, struggling with all its might.

However, no matter how Master Dogue struggled or used its moves, Shadow Claw remained unmoved, as if the Dark-type Master Dogue was being countered by the Ghost-type.

Master Dogue's roar made Pepper open his eyes.

Seeing everything before him, he quickly understood that Luo Mu must be a Trainer, and Master Dogue was no match for the Mimikyu that had appeared out of nowhere.

Pepper looked pleadingly at Luo Mu. "Uncle, please don't hurt Master Dogue. It..."

"What's all the racket? What are you doing!" As if noticing the commotion outside, a woman with an imposing aura emerged from the research institute.

She had only spoken half her sentence when she saw Master Dogue suspended in mid-air and Pepper looking anxious. Her maternal rage instantly erupted. She took a Poké Ball from her white coat and pointed it threateningly at Luo Mu.

No matter who this person was, Dr. Jacq would not tolerate anyone daring to bully her son and Master Dogue.

Moreover, she recalled the recent unpleasant rumors.

With things escalating to this point, Luo Mu felt the misunderstanding would only deepen if this continued.

What's more, unexpected events might occur. It was best to explain things clearly as soon as possible.

To be clear, he wasn't afraid of the Poké Ball held by the heroic woman, who was clearly Dr. Jacq, even if there was a chance a legendary Pokémon might appear from it.

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

With that, Luo Mu had Mimikyu release Master Dogue as a show of sincerity.

He then looked at Dr. Jacq, who, despite wearing a white coat, had on an unknown animal hide outfit underneath that seemed to exude wild charm. Her gaze was stern.

Dr. Jacq lightly touched the animal tooth necklace around her neck, and the wariness in her eyes lessened slightly.

She shielded Pepper, who wanted to speak, and the startled Master Dogue behind her like a mother hen protecting her chicks. She slowly said, "Please, young Trainer, explain why you attacked my son and Pokémon at the entrance of my research institute."

Luo Mu didn't feel offended by Dr. Jacq's reaction. These were things a mother should do. And thinking about this family's experiences a few years later, he couldn't bring himself to be harsh.

Organizing his thoughts slightly, Luo Mu slowly said, "President Poppy introduced me here."

After hearing Luo Mu's explanation, although Dr. Jacq believed him by about seventy percent, she still looked at Pepper, who had been trying to speak but couldn't get her attention, and asked, "Pepper, is that true?"

Seeing that his mother had finally noticed him, Pepper nodded heavily and told Dr. Jacq that it was all a series of coincidental misunderstandings.

"Honestly, you scared me to death, you brat." Dr. Jacq breathed a sigh of relief, her actions becoming more casual. As a form of playful punishment, she ruffled Pepper's soft hair.

This caused Pepper to crouch to the side, hugging Master Dogue and sulking.

After doing all this, Dr. Jacq looked at Luo Mu and apologized. "I'm sorry. The three of us overreacted. Please allow me to apologize to you."

As the words fell, Dr. Jacq immediately prepared to bow and apologize to Luo Mu.

"No need, no need at all," Luo Mu quickly stopped her.

Since she was stopped, Dr. Jacq didn't insist further, as her style of action was always efficient and magnanimous.

Smoothly skipping over the topic, Dr. Jacq smiled and said, "President Poppy has already mentioned it to us. Leave the crafting of the Terastal Orb to us with peace of mind!"

"However, my husband needs to go out for something, so if it's just me, the original seven or eight days might be extended to about half a month. Do you mind?"

Luo Mu shook his head, indicating he didn't lack this amount of time. Thinking that since he was already here, he might as well see the research institute of these two professors who never truly appeared in the game's story. He directly asked, "May I tour your research institute?"

He was very curious about the daily work environment of these two legendary professors who would later research a time machine and had now researched Terastallization.

Dr. Jacq was taken aback for a moment, then readily agreed, "Please follow me."