Quite a Lot Gained

"What 'back in the day'? You're a balding middle-aged man. What do you even have to say?

Besides, it's not like we met yesterday. Don't we know exactly what you used to be like?"

Asakawa Chinatsu sat nearby, mocking him in a sarcastic tone.

"Exactly. With that ugly mug of yours, you're still reminiscing about the past?"

Another man farther away laughed freely.

The uncle who had been interrupted and mocked before he could finish speaking did not get angry. He merely gave a disdainful snort. "A bunch of defeated losers. The barking of beaten dogs."

Tetsuya found their bickering rather amusing.

The energetic maidens playing in the swimming pool and water park in the distance would occasionally turn their gazes toward the strikingly handsome young man in the fishing area, then burst into laughter as they frolicked together.

"Whoosh—" Tetsuya reeled in his hooked fishing rod. It was a Qwilfish. Not bad—at least it was not a Magikarp.

At his signal, Pidgeot immediately flapped a wing and sent the inflated Qwilfish flying back into the sea with Whirlwind.

Tetsuya raised an eyebrow at the old man beside him. "Old man, this is already my first catch today. You haven't caught anything since I arrived."

"Hmph, I caught plenty before you came, you brat."

The old man, still dressed like a young man, replied as such.

Tetsuya chuckled. "Come to think of it, what was your name again, old man? I never asked yesterday."

"Rowan."

The old man—no, Professor Rowan—answered casually.

The two fell silent.

Professor Rowan was seriously fishing. He had no intention of being outdone by some child.

After hearing that name, Tetsuya carefully examined Professor Rowan's appearance and sank into thought.

That name, that face... he looked like the Pokemon Professor from Sinnoh Region in my Previous Life, only a little younger.

He then laughed silently. What did it matter? Before he knew the man's identity, had they not gotten along just fine?

He casually cast out his hook.

"Rowan... Professor Rowan, the one who researches evolution?" Tetsuya did not particularly care, but with an authoritative professor right in front of him, learning something would still be nice.

"Yes." Professor Rowan gave Tetsuya a curious look. "You know me?"

It was no wonder Professor Rowan was surprised. At this time, his reputation was still far from what it would become later.

Although he had already published many articles on Pokemon evolution and was Generally Recognized within the field as an authority on Pokemon evolution, only researchers understood the significance of his name.

To trainers who did not care about such matters, it only meant that some new research results had come out. They generally knew nothing about the authors.

Moreover, Professor Rowan was still affiliated with Oak Research Lab at the time. Every article was marked as originating from Oak Research Lab, so ordinary trainers were even less likely to remember who had written them.

For a young man like Tetsuya, who should have been more focused on training Pokemon strength, knowing anything about Research Scholars was all the more unbelievable.

"Yes, I've read your papers, old man—'On the Possibility of Eevee Evolution—Based On Genetic Instability,' 'The Interconnectedness of Pokemon Evolutionary Forms,' 'Conjecture on the Complete State of Pokemon Evolution,' and so on."

Tetsuya smoothly listed several of Professor Rowan's papers.

Professor Rowan nodded. He had originally thought Tetsuya merely knew of him, but it turned out the young man had genuine knowledge.

Of those papers, only the first had attracted widespread attention. While the latter two held great academic value, they did not help increase one's strength.

Therefore, most people who knew him only knew of the first paper and never paid attention to the latter two.

This showed that Tetsuya truly loved learning in his daily life.

"Oh? What did you think after reading them?" Professor Rowan naturally would not let the boy In Front Of him off so easily.

Although he felt Tetsuya was not merely putting on appearances, it was still necessary to test him just in case.

"I don't have any particular thoughts, only a few questions.

"Regarding the point raised in the Conjecture on the Complete State of Pokemon Evolution—that Pokemon will ultimately become legendary Pokemon like Ho-Oh and Lugia, reaching a conceptually perfect state, and that this can be used to infer that these legendary Pokemon may not have de-evolved forms—I don't really understand. If..."

Tetsuya temporarily set fishing aside. Opportunities to glean knowledge from a professor were rare, so he had to seize the chance and talk properly.

This was related to Zero's knowledge deduction.

Listening to Tetsuya's questions, Professor Rowan nodded in satisfaction.

Every question Tetsuya raised had come from his own consideration of the papers, and they possessed a distinct personal style. It was clear that he had put serious effort into studying.

Having finally encountered a young man who interested him and studied earnestly, Professor Rowan was not stingy with his knowledge. He answered Tetsuya's questions in great detail.

After all, professors in the Pokemon World were scholars in the truest sense. Most professors officially recognized by the League not only needed obvious research achievements, but also needed to possess good character.

Otherwise, the League would never feel at ease entrusting these professors with the task of distributing Starter Pokemon.

Naturally, most of the time, they were very willing to teach young people a lesson or two.

Thus, one old man and one young man began discussing research topics.

The elders nearby who were fishing for Pokemon were also chatting among themselves. Their gazes toward Tetsuya were all exceptionally kind. After all, no one would develop an unreasonable dislike for a handsome child who loved learning.

They talked for two or three hours. Even when their fishing rods moved during that time, there was no response, as they were completely immersed in the discussion.

After asking some of the questions he had thought of, Tetsuya took the initiative to stop.

After all, he could not keep asking forever. He already felt that he had gained a great deal.

They had not merely discussed evolution. Professor Rowan had spent so many years at Oak Research Lab that he was thoroughly familiar with all kinds of subjects, enough to clear up many doubts.

"No more questions?" Professor Rowan looked at him kindly. Over the past few hours of questions and answers, he had grown more and more fond of this Little Guy.

"Not for now. I need to digest it all. There was too much content," Tetsuya said honestly.

Professor Rowan nodded in satisfaction. Although he did not mind Tetsuya continuing to ask questions, he was very pleased with the young man's attitude.

Tetsuya clearly understood the limits of his own ability and had an excellent grasp of moderation. He stopped when continuing to ask questions would no longer bring much benefit.

Knowing when to stop was not something everyone could do. Greed was the norm.

"Then I'll head back for today. Sorry, uncles and Old Man Rowan. I'll come again tomorrow, tomorrow." Tetsuya stood up, eager to return and summarize what he had gained today.

Before leaving, he did not forget to add everyone as friends on his wristwatch. They all agreed with cheerful smiles.

Watching his departing figure, someone sighed, "There aren't many young people like that. Looks like Kanto is going to produce another commoner genius."

No one said anything, but they all agreed with the sentiment in their hearts.

Please invest, bookmark, recommend, and send Monthly Passes!!!

I'm asking for everything!!

Next chapter, the competition begins.

Thanks to Magic Dragon for the 100 Qidian Coin reward.

P.S. The update scheduled for nine tonight will be delayed until around eleven. I got back late after taking the CET-6 exam, so you can wait and read them together tomorrow morning.

Before Professor Rowan's storyline begins, he and Professor Oak were researching Pokemon together in the Kanto Region. He only returned to Sinnoh later.

Of course, the story does not seem to explain whether Professor Rowan and Professor Carolina are related. This is a fanfiction setting.

Because it also seems not to explain exactly who Cynthia's grandfather is.

But it does state that Cynthia was always helping Professor Rowan with things when she was little.

And Professor Carolina protected legendary Pokemon together with Professor Rowan at Lake Verity, so I think it is fairly reasonable.

Professor Rowan likes sweet food, is patient and kind, and looks stern!