The following day, Owen and Siyu met at the subway station as planned.
The Aoki Research Institute is located in the southeastern part of Aurelia. It serves as one of the nation's primary hubs for studying Normal-type Pokémon.
Standing outside the facility, Owen noted the formidable security measures; he and Siyu had to pass through multiple layers of verification before being granted entry.
Ding-dong~ Siyu stepped up and pressed the doorbell. Moments later, the door swung open to reveal Professor Aoki. Despite his messy hair, he looked incredibly energetic.
"You've finally arrived."
Siyu had booked the appointment in advance, so the Professor had cleared his schedule of research tasks to host them.
"Professor Aoki, it's been a while," Siyu greeted him with a warm smile. Their last meeting had been back in November. "This is Owen, and this is his Eevee."
"Hello, Professor," Owen said politely. At Owen's nudge, Eevee raised a paw in a disciplined greeting.
"Vee-vui!"
"Welcome, both of you."
Professor Aoki appeared to be in his early forties. He carried himself with a youthful air, his face constantly brightened by a kind smile.
He led them inside, apologizing for the clutter. "The lab is a bit of a mess. We were working late into the night and haven't had a chance to tidy up yet."
Owen nodded. Entering the facility, Eevee wrinkled her nose; it was indeed chaotic.
Siyu whispered an explanation: "The Professor doesn't like hiring cleaning staff or having constant assistants. He prefers to handle the experiments, the cleaning, and the Pokémon care all by himself."
"I can manage for now," Aoki laughed, ushering them toward a seating area. "Sit, sit. What can I get you to drink?"
"Just plain water is fine," Owen replied. Siyu echoed the sentiment.
Professor Aoki then turned his gaze toward Eevee. His intense, analytical stare made Eevee's fur stand on end. "I actually have a special drink formulated specifically for Normal-types. Would she like to try some?"
"Vee..." Eevee instinctively wanted to decline, but out of politeness, she gave a small chirrup of thanks.
A moment later, a bottle of green liquid—resembling thick vegetable juice—was placed before Eevee. Eevee's eyelids twitched. Based on the color alone, this did not look appetizing.
However, after a cautious lick, she realized it was virtually tasteless, much like water. She quickly gulped it down.
Seeing her healthy appetite, Aoki's smile widened. "I'll call you Owen, if that's alright? Tell me, Owen, have you decided what you want your Eevee to evolve into?"
Owen had been asked this countless times and gave his standard rehearsed answer: "Probably a Jolteon. Electric-type resources are relatively accessible, and my Eevee excels in speed. Evolving into Jolteon would play to her natural strengths."
"I always thought Glaceon was the most elegant and cute," Siyu added wistfully. "And once she evolves into Jolteon, you can't really cuddle her anymore. It's a shame. But finding an Ice Rock... that's nearly impossible outside of Antarctica. Moss Rocks for Leafeon are just as rare."
"Indeed. Flareon, Vaporeon, and Jolteon remain the most practical choices due to the availability of stones," Professor Aoki agreed, shaking his head.
"Professor, since you're an expert on Eevee, do you have any unique insights on this?" Owen asked. It was more of a conversation starter than a genuine plea for help, but Aoki's response surprised him. He didn't focus on base stats or competitive viability.
"Beyond my recent work on Abilities, my primary focus—like many researchers—is evolution," Aoki began. "Specifically, I am fascinated by Eevee's unbalanced and unstable genetic structure."
Owen and Eevee both straightened up. A professor's lecture! Time to take mental notes.
"As we know, Eevee possesses a genetic makeup that is easily influenced by its environment. Some even say their physical appearance begins to shift to resemble their trainers," Aoki chuckled.
"Does that mean my Eevee will just keep getting more handsome?" Owen joked, drawing a laugh from Siyu and the Professor.
"Vee..." Eevee spared Owen a complex look. Shamelessness level +1.
"Genes are the blueprint of life," Aoki continued, his tone turning more academic. "They store all the information regarding a Pokémon's species, energy capacity, growth, and even its eventual end. A Pokémon's innate potential is, in many ways, dictated by its DNA."
He then offered his personal insight: "We still don't fully understand why only Eevee carries such volatile genes that allow for so many divergent paths.
Eevee's genome might be the key to unlocking the very mystery of evolution itself. However, genetic research is still in its infancy, so a complete answer is far off."
Owen and Siyu listened intently. Even if Siyu didn't have an Eevee now, she might one day.
"Evolution is an elevation of a life form's state—a rewrite of its genetic code. Eevee is the perfect stage for this drama," Aoki said.
"But have you ever considered that since no two individuals are identical, their genes aren't identical either? The 'best' evolution path shouldn't be decided by the trainer's whim, but by the Pokémon's own genetic predisposition."
"You are familiar with the move Hidden Power, aren't you?"
Owen's heart skipped a beat. Of course! His Magnemite relied heavily on its Psychic-type Hidden Power. The type of that move was determined by the unique individual differences between Pokémon.
Suddenly, Owen saw where the Professor was going. "You mean... the type of a Pokémon's Hidden Power might indicate its most genetically compatible evolution?"
"Exactly," Aoki smiled. "If an Eevee awakens an Electric-type Hidden Power, its affinity for electricity is naturally higher than its affinity for fire or water. In that case, Jolteon isn't just a choice—it's the biological 'correct' answer."
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