"His goal is to become the strongest Pokémon Researcher? I knew it..."
Mu Yun grumbled to himself.
Pokémon Researchers and Pokémon Investigators were nothing alike.
For the latter, meeting the strength requirement was usually enough.
But the former needed real research achievements.
Anyone who had done research knew it wasn't just about ability. Luck played a huge part too.
Wait. Luck?
A cute face with bright, dewy eyes flashed through Mu Yun's mind.
When it came to luck, he wasn't doing too badly himself.
"Doctor Chen, may I ask what it takes to become a Full Researcher?"
Mu Yun posed the question.
"Oh?"
Chen He's eyes lit up.
Did that mean Mu Yun was genuinely interested in making his mark in research?
"Pokémon Researchers are divided into five ranks according to their achievements: Trainee Researcher, Assistant Researcher, Full Researcher, Senior Researcher, and Pokémon Professor. The first two have no requirements beyond joining a research team."
"To advance from Assistant Researcher to Full Researcher, you need research results. At a minimum, you must publish an A-Class paper on the Pokémon Knowledge Network as its first author or sole author."
"And no Full Researcher or higher can be listed as a coauthor."
That was Chen He's explanation.
An A-Class paper...
Mu Yun thought back over the papers he had read on the Pokémon Knowledge Network over the years.
The network classified papers as B-Class, A-Class, S-Class, or X-Class based on the importance and originality of their contents.
B-Class papers were mostly reviews that summarized existing work. They offered no original findings, but made information easier to find.
A-Class papers contained original research of independent value, though they weren't necessarily anything groundbreaking.
For example, if Chen He wrote up the Amplification Helmet he had just developed and published it, the result would be