"Well? This place has changed a lot, hasn't it?"
Sitting at the edge of a cliff, Yong and Kofu smiled as they looked down at the research institute and the Pokémon faintly visible below.
Kofu was immensely proud of it.
He had taken part in building the Rock Solid Research Institute from nothing, and watching his hard work gradually bear fruit gave him a profound sense of satisfaction and accomplishment.
Of course, although he had initially joined as a Pokémon Trainer, after the Dragon Village provided the Unova League with some resources, Kofu became a Junior Researcher with the Unova League. In that capacity, he became Yong's research assistant, securing an official position that allowed him to stay at the Rock Solid Research Institute.
The institute also had an assistant recommended by Professor Oak, Mr. Yutai, whose research focused on the effects of Pokémon colony migration on the ecological environment.
Another assistant, Miss Xiaoyue, had been recommended by Professor Carolina. Her research focused on whether Ground-type Pokémon optimized and altered the geological conditions of their habitats.
As for Kofu, who had entered research halfway through his career, with Yong's help, he had begun studying whether Ground-type Pokémon were completely immune to Electric-type moves...
Well, it had to be said that researching something so elementary was probably quite suitable for a "musclehead" like Kofu.
Hearing Kofu's words, which sounded rather like he was fishing for praise, Yong laughed heartily, patted his shoulder, and said with a smile,
"Thanks for all your hard work, Kofu! How about I give you a long vacation? You could go back to Unova and rest for a while."
"You..."
Kofu smiled and shook his head.
"I'm really interested in the Giant Onix colony right now. Maybe they have the same potential as your Steelix..."
"All right,