Warning

Professor Oak, on the other hand, reacted differently.

The moment Mismagius emerged, he instinctively took out a magnifying glass and approached it with an enthusiastic grin.

There was an almost childlike excitement in his eyes.

He could sense the pure heart within Mismagius.

Just like the starter Pokémon he handed out to new trainers—each with their own unique personality—there was a gem-like clarity in its gaze that couldn't be imitated.

Only newborn Pokémon had that kind of purity.

So, the moment Aoki released Mismagius, Professor Oak immediately understood—this Pokémon was young, just as Aoki had said.

"A Mismagius… How rare. And this one is exceptionally well-developed," Oak mused, adjusting his magnifying glass. "Its level and potential are remarkable, meaning the Dusk Stone used for its evolution must have been of the highest quality."

As he slowly moved closer, smiling warmly, Mismagius flinched.

It quickly drifted behind Aoki, using him as a shield.

And just like that, Aoki became the center of a strange scene—a ghostly Pokémon cautiously circling him while Professor Oak chased after it with a magnifying glass.

"Whooo…"

Dragonite let out a deep sigh, clearly exasperated.

Watching its trainer act like this… it couldn't help but wonder—what kind of karma had it built up in a past life to end up with someone like this?

Hearing Dragonite's cry, Oak finally snapped out of it.

Realizing how he looked, he chuckled awkwardly.

"Ahem… Haha… Sorry about that. Just a habit of mine—couldn't help myself," he said, scratching his head.

Aoki patted Mismagius' head reassuringly, letting her know it was alright.

Then, Oak's eyes lit up.

"Well then, Aoki, how about leaving Mismagius with me for a while? I guarantee that the next time you see her, she'll be much stronger."

The one who reacted most violently?

Mismagius.

With a sharp cry, she dove straight back into Aoki's shadow—and refused to come out.

Aoki laughed awkwardly. "Uh… Professor Oak, I don't think she's interested."

"Ahem, well… worth a shot," Oak admitted, still a bit intrigued.

To be honest, he wasn't really trying to keep Mismagius—he was just deeply curious about where it came from.

But looking at it now, it was clear—Mismagius was like a child.

She only trusted Aoki.

That was good news—it meant there was no real danger.

Still, Oak knew that powerful Ghost-types often had mysterious abilities, and there had been cases of some draining human life force.

That was what worried him most.

Matsuda had been watching the whole interaction closely.

After seeing Oak's reaction, he finally let out a breath of relief.

Aoki wasn't just his apprentice—he was also an up-and-coming rising star in the League's Breeder Association. They couldn't afford for something to happen to him.

"Tell me," Matsuda said. "How did you meet this Mismagius?"

Aoki hesitated for only a second before speaking.

"Teacher, you remember when we were on the S.S. Anne? When I had to lure Team Aqua's people away, I jumped into the sea. By the time I made it back, the ship was long gone. I had to find a place to stay—so I ended up on a small island…"

He then recounted his encounter with Mismagius—mostly the truth, but with a few carefully placed omissions.

If there was something he couldn't explain, maybe these two could figure it out.

"So, you found Mismagius in an underground cave filled with Ghost energy?" Lance frowned. "And she wasn't the cause of it—just the beneficiary?"

Lance's expression turned serious.

He had never heard of such a place.

Professor Oak looked thoughtful as well, but he seemed less shaken.

"This world is vast," Oak said after a moment. "The areas the League has explored… they're only a fraction of what's really out there.

Places like this exist. Some are natural energy eruption points, where a specific type of elemental energy gathers. Others… could be remnants of something left behind by a legendary Pokémon.

Either way, Aoki, I wouldn't recommend going back to that cave until you're much stronger."

Aoki nodded. He already knew that.

For now, Trial Island wasn't a place he could return to. He'd check it out again only when he was truly ready.

Lance, however, had one more warning.

"And, Aoki," he said in a low voice. "You must not let anyone else know about Mismagius.

Professor Oak and I have no interest in taking her—but you need to understand, not every trainer in the League can be trusted."

"If word gets out that you have a Pokémon of Elite Four-level strength, it will bring you disaster.

There are powerful trainers who will try to take it from you.

Luckily, not everyone has Dragonite's senses. Even I wouldn't have been able to detect Mismagius.

But if someone stronger than me finds out…"

Matsuda didn't finish his sentence.

He didn't have to.

Aoki got the message loud and clear.

Keep Mismagius hidden.

No exceptions.

Aoki nodded firmly. "Understood."

Seeing that, Matsuda relaxed.

"Alright," he said. "Enough about that. Let's get to the real reason we're here."

Professor Oak smiled. "Yes, you said you needed my help with something, Matsuda. You don't ask for favors often, so it must be important."

Lance nodded, then turned to Aoki with a proud smile.

"It's about my apprentice," he said. "Aoki is a natural talent in Pokémon breeding—but his skills as a trainer are just as exceptional.

Recently, while traveling in Hoenn, he passed through a struggling town.

And suddenly, he told me—he wants to open a Gym there."