"Serperior."
Dian gently stroked Serperior's cream-colored chest and belly. "Calm down. Control your emotions and your power. Don't let that power influence your heart."
His words carried strength—the Heart Power of a Pokémon Ranger and the unwavering resolve of a Trainer.
Whenever Pokémon evolved, ancient information within their genes was activated, and that information mostly concerned combat, reproduction, and survival.
That was why their personalities could change drastically, sometimes even causing them to lose themselves and attack their Trainers.
But he believed Serperior would not have that problem.
"Serperior~"
Under the influence of Dian's words and Serperior's own will, the tense serpentine body slowly relaxed. At last, Serperior released a fragrant Sweet Scent into the surroundings, lowered down, and peacefully drifted off to sleep.
"Get some rest."
Dian stroked Serperior's pale green forehead once more, then took out a Poké Ball and recalled Serperior.
Once he had finished, he turned toward the nearby bushes. "Who's there?"
"Phew... I never expected to witness a Servine evolving into a Serperior. It seems you also possess something that promotes Pokémon evolution~"
An older woman dressed in practical clothes crawled out of the bushes. Paying no attention to the twigs on her clothes or the dead leaves tangled in her short black hair, she scrutinized the man before her from head to toe. "If I'm not mistaken, you must be Scholar Yingyue?"
Kaoru Suzuki, the only newly appointed Professor in the past two or three years, extended her right hand. "This should be our first time meeting in person, shouldn't it?"
She gave it some careful thought. "Sorry, I'm generally not very good at remembering faces. Please forgive me if I've got that wrong."
Dian hurriedly straightened his clothes, then solemnly took her hand in both of his. After holding it loosely for a