Pokemon: Rising From The Dark

Whitney took Aoki straight out of the building, apologizing repeatedly for her grandfather's actions. She had promised not to tell him anything, but her grandfather had directly questioned Aoki.

Aoki waved his hand dismissively, assuring her that he wasn't bothered by it. He had already expected such a situation, and he had prepared himself for this type of pressure. Fortunately, the identity that Shadow had given him was secure enough to keep his background hidden, even from Whitney's family, showing just how deep Team Rocket's influence ran in the League.

Getting a training manual for a Miltank was a fair trade, and Aoki, despite his apparent lack of funds, knew that he could always earn more over time. The risk he took by dealing with Whitney's family was calculated, and the exchange was beneficial.

After rejecting Whitney's offer to compensate him, Aoki went to his guest room alone. It was dinnertime, and his Pokémon were hungry.

As usual, Gastly thoroughly checked the room for any monitoring devices. Though the chances were slim, it was always better to stay vigilant.

"Come out, Slowpoke, Murkrow, Miltank!" After confirming the room was safe, Aoki summoned his Pokémon.

He prepared their meal, taking out some packaged food. The hungry Pokémon wasted no time and devoured the food in front of them. Over time, Miltank had fully integrated into the team, bonding especially well with the others through her milk. While eating, the Pokémon shared their food with each other, savoring the flavors and strengthening their camaraderie.

After dinner, it was time for their usual exercise. Instead of meditating, Aoki did some light physical training with his Pokémon. At 15 years old, his body was still developing, but the proper nutrition had allowed him to recover and thrive, a far cry from the malnourished state he had been in on the Trial Island.

The next morning, Aoki awoke early and left the large manor with his Pokémon, his internal clock guiding him. He knew he wouldn't be back for a long while. Despite not letting Miltank meet her relatives, Whitney had helped Miltank become more confident, especially in communicating with others. The mutual support among the Pokémon was making them stronger.

An hour later, Aoki arrived at the southernmost point of Goldenrod City, standing in front of the well-known Pokemon daycare in the region. Though the building appeared plain, the work done inside was highly regarded.

As Aoki entered, he saw an open class in session. The instructor was a young woman, about twenty years old, with thick glasses. She was speaking fluently about the basics of Pokémon breeding. Her explanations, once filled with questions, were now easy for the attendees to understand.

Aoki didn't make his presence known at first. He noticed that many of the attendees had notebooks in hand, diligently taking notes. The class was designed for beginners or trainers who had just acquired their first Pokémon.

"Okay, that's all for today. Remember to take good care of your Pokémon when you head home. If you have an egg, it's best to put it in an incubator to hatch. Don't take it out too often to ensure the best health for the Pokémon that hatches," the instructor said as she wrapped up the lesson.

Aoki waited until the crowd around her dispersed before approaching her.

"Hello, can I help you with something?" she asked, adjusting her glasses.

"I'm sorry to bother you, but I need to check some data on your computers. I've encountered a problem," Aoki said, explaining his purpose.

She hesitated for a moment before replying, "The computers here aren't open to the public. If you need help, I can assist you with any questions. If I don't know, I can ask my grandparents. They are the senior experts here."

Aoki nodded in understanding. The knowledge in Pokémon breeding houses was tightly controlled, especially in a prestigious one like this. They didn't share sensitive information with outsiders, although they did offer some public classes.

"Actually, I have a question. Have you ever encountered a situation where all the indicators of a Pokémon egg are normal, but the incubation time is listed as unknown?" Aoki asked.

The instructor pushed up her glasses and thought for a moment before apologizing, "I'm sorry, I haven't encountered that situation before. It's difficult to make a judgment without knowing more. If you have time, you can wait here. My grandparents are at a breeder's exchange right now and might be back soon."

Aoki's question referred to the situation with Lavitar's egg. He was a bit frustrated with the lack of progress.

"Then, I have one more request. Could you help me look up the data on the computer? I'll follow all the rules, and you can watch me. I won't do anything unnecessary. I'm willing to pay for your time," Aoki asked, hoping she might relent.

The instructor thought for a while, then smiled politely but firmly. "I'm afraid I can't do that, but if you're patient, my grandparents might be able to help once they return."

Aoki sighed, understanding the limitations, but he was still willing to wait for any possible assistance.