Pokémon: The Genetic Researcher Just Wants to Slack Off

Chapter 1 This paper does not require any references.

Kanto, Yuhong University, Academic Auditorium.

Today's encouraging message is: "The mandibleed ant ate sand for ten years unnoticed, but one day it evolved into an earthworm and became known to the world."

Standing on the podium, Xia Ye took a deep breath. While adjusting the equipment, he secretly glanced at the audience, his handsome face showing a hint of trepidation.

The first row of seats was occupied by renowned PhDs from various regions, while the back was filled with researchers, some of the museum owners, top players, champions, and teachers and students from Hongda University.

If a legendary Pokémon that makes a comeback every year were to throw a meteorite here, human development would be set back at least thirty years.

Who wouldn't be nervous giving an academic presentation in front of such a lineup? Even Xia Ye, who transmigrated from Earth, was no exception.

Before conducting the final test, Natsuno glanced at the audience one last time.

Professor Oak, sitting on the far left of the first row, smiled and gave Natsuno a thumbs up.

Fourth from the right, Daiki saw the kind-looking Grandma Mustard Seed give Natsuno an approving look, which put Natsuno at ease.

Sitting behind Jie Zilan, Zhu Lan, unlike her usual black trench coat, was wearing a white lab coat and gold-rimmed glasses. Her academic style caught Xia Ye's eye.

When she saw Natsuno looking over, the blonde woman smiled and gently clenched her right fist in encouragement. This was a gesture she had learned from Natsuno when she was eight years old.

The familiar movements made Xia Ye's heart sink, and his nervousness vanished instantly.

With the final preparations complete, Natsuno opened his file, his voice calm and unhurried.

"Dear seniors, I am Natsuno, a trainee researcher. Today's report is: An Investigation into the Existence of Genetic Factors - An Experiment Based on Pea Breeding and Pokémon Genetic Moves."

"Four hundred years ago, our ancestors figured out that the essence of Pokémon moves is a way of using energy."

"For example, the ability to act cute doesn't become ineffective just because the other person closes their eyes. This is because the essence of the Pokémon is to mobilize the energy within its body through the act of acting cute, which then acts on the other person to reduce physical attacks."

"Two years ago, I was wondering why Pokémon are born with moves, while humans aren't?"

At this point, Xia Ye spread his palm and pointed to an elderly man with a receding hairline on the far right of the first row.

"Dr. Anthony determined through cell exploration that life is born from the fact that each parent gives a part of their offspring, thus creating life."

Dr. Anthony looked at Natsuno with an excited expression and raised his hand in response.

"According to the theory of matter, the apparent characteristics of a technique, as well as traits, gender, and even whether or not it is of a different color, all have a material basis."

"So what is this material basis? I have noticed that during the process of conceiving life, the genetic material that both parents give to their offspring, which I will call genetic factors for the time being."

"Is there a difference in Pokémon genetic material between humans and Pokémon? This would allow Pokémon to master moves independently, even though humans don't have it."

"Let's think about inherited moves again. By breeding with other Pokémon, the offspring can learn moves that the original Pokémon couldn't normally learn. Why is that?"

"The genetic hypothesis can perfectly explain inherited moves. Through reproduction, offspring acquire new genetic factors and thus learn corresponding new moves."

At this moment, the entire venue was completely silent. As Xia Ye's report progressed, everyone was frantically taking notes on their phones or tablets, and their eyes were filled with shock as they looked up at Xia Ye.

As Xia Ye paused briefly, whether it was the first row, the second row, or the back row, or perhaps it was everyone's unanimous thought, applause erupted and lasted for a long time.

Natsuno could hear the professors in the first row discussing and verifying some of the ideas in their minds.

Five minutes later, the applause gradually subsided.

"We have a hypothesis, but how do we verify it? Direct observation?"

"There is still a lot of room for development in the field of cell research. We only know about the cell nucleus now, but no one knows what is inside it."

"Whether genetic factors exist or not is still unknown. The only thing I can think of is to start from the epigenetics and verify it by observing traits—that is, the corresponding epigenetic states."

"Once, I had lunch with Professor Oak at the research institute. That day, I used my hometown's cooking skills to make an Eastern dish, peas stir-fried with Slowpoke tail meat. Professor Oak praised it highly."

Professor Oak, sitting in the audience, laughed and chatted with the other professors around him: "Natsuno is a great researcher, and his cooking is superb too. I've gained over ten pounds in the last two years."

Natsuno's expression turned into a smile as he continued his report.

"It suddenly occurred to me that plants have short reproductive cycles and some plant traits are very obvious. I found that the flower color, seeds, and plant height of peas are all very easy to distinguish."

"Then I started growing peas in the research institute. When I was bored, I also uploaded the videos to the Pokémon Audio app. The juniors at Hongda University should have seen my videos."

"It's that account with the ID 'Researcher Just Wants to Slack Off,' which posted a series of videos titled 'Shocking! Researcher Actually Did That in the Research Institute, Absolutely Horrible, Men Silent and Women Weeping.' Yes, that's my account."

The students from Yuhong University in the back row of the auditorium burst into laughter, and the boys even whistled: "Senior, you tricked me into reading this boring article with clickbait title, you have to take responsibility!"

Natsuno smiled but didn't reply, continuing his report.

"From day one to yesterday, all the experimental content has been fully recorded in the video. To save time, the following will be a report of the experimental results and analysis of the thought process, using screenshots."

...

"Through the above three experiments, we have ruled out the possibility of low-level Grass-type Pokémon using energy to accelerate the growth of Pea Seeds and the interference of plants on genetic factors. Subsequent experiments will all use the accelerated growth mode."

"Energy activation allows peas to grow from seed to maturity in just 20 days. The following is a summary and analysis of the results of the subsequent 20 experiments."

"The results and conclusions of the 100 experiments conducted during this period on the genetic process of genetic moves in 500 Pokémon will also be reported."

...

"In conclusion, the existence of hereditary factors has been confirmed. I've chosen a more fitting name: genes."

"Genes always exist in pairs in living organisms, but in reproductive cells, genes always exist singly. During the birth of genetic cells, paired genes separate from each other."

"This is the law of segregation of genes."

"The segregation and combination of genes that control different traits do not interfere with each other. During gamete formation, genes of the same trait separate from each other, while genes of different traits combine freely."

"This is the law of independent assortment of genes."

After casually recounting the two fundamental laws that laid the foundation for genetics, Natsuno paused for a moment.

I glanced at the time; it had been almost two hours. No one in the audience had lost focus, and no one had left halfway through.

"This paper does not require any references. That concludes my presentation."

The others were stunned by that last sentence and fell into a daze for a moment.

Professor Oak, who knew this, was the first to stand up and applaud.

Everyone else snapped out of their daze, stood up, and applause resounded throughout the sky.