The other unconscious girl was named Yami. Gardenia recognized her, and Luther also remembered her from TV, as she had appeared on screen several times, making her hard to forget.
Yami was a descendant of a treasure hunter family, and she had been wandering around Hearthome Forest in search of a Mothim. Recently, with the help of Ash and Gardenia, she had finally fulfilled her wish and was preparing to leave when, as a rookie, she accidentally wandered into the mansion.
Dusknoir knew that Yami's survival had been due to the wild Gengar. Even if Dusknoir hadn't come that night, the wild Gengar would have found a way to help her.
Over the years, that wild Gengar had done this sort of thing countless times, and Dusknoir felt it was somewhat ungrateful to have beaten him after he had helped his master.
Last night's events had been quite hectic. Luther was still mulling over the nagging feeling that something was off, while Mai, Yami, and Gardenia excitedly gathered around the unusual Breloom, chatting away and playfully teasing it.
Breloom had no idea how it had been captured. It only remembered being drawn into the mansion by a pleasant scent, and after that... it seemed like everything had blurred together.
By the time they returned to Hearthome City, it was already nearing dawn, and all four of them were yawning with fatigue.
After Luther and Mai got back to the hotel, they were too tired to even think about taking a shower. They just turned on the air conditioning and collapsed onto the bed, immediately falling into a deep sleep.
When they finally woke up, it was already two in the afternoon. The time felt strange, and Luther didn't feel like having a proper meal. He simply wandered over to the local Cake Shop, buying some pastries from the shopkeeper to have as a quick afternoon snack.
When Luther returned to the hotel, Mai was still asleep.
He looked over at Mai, who was still holding the air conditioning remote in her hand. With a sigh, Luther raised the temperature slightly and covered her with the blanket she had kicked off in her sleep.
As Luther prepared Pokémon food for Mai's team, he turned to Dusknoir and asked, "Was everything that happened last night caused by Gengar? If yes, nod; if not, shake your head."
Dusknoir nodded without hesitation.
Satisfied with the answer, Luther patted Dusknoir and then made his way to Hearthome Gym.
After Luther left, Gengar, who was munching on some Pokémon food, glanced over at Dusknoir and quietly said, "Wouldn't it be easier to just tell them?"
"Eat your food and don't talk too much. Scary things will only upset Mai and Luther," Dusknoir said, extending a large hand to gently push Gengar's head into the feeding bowl.
When Luther arrived at Hearthome Gym, it was almost time for the gym to open for the afternoon.
Since Luther was on vacation today, the gym's backyard was unusually quiet. Gardenia, having tasted Luther's cooking the other day, couldn't help but agree with his earlier assessment, takeout food was as bad as he had said. It was hardly appetizing at all.
She was eating bland fish cakes when she spotted Luther walking in. She took the opportunity to vent a bit of frustration.
"If you'd come an hour earlier, I wouldn't have ordered takeout."
"Stop dreaming," Luther replied with a grin. "Cooking takes time. Just enjoy your fish cakes. Weren't you eating fish cakes every meal, just with a different sauce each time?"
"Doesn't that say something about your cooking skills?"
"Thanks for the compliment, but I can't take credit for much. I'm no great chef; I'm far from the mainstream. But anyway, how's Breloom doing?"
At the mention of her Pokémon, Gardenia's eyes lit up.
"Really well! I used it against some rookies today, and it was a total sweep. It's perfect for challengers who are decent but not too strong."
Luther could only feel a mix of envy and frustration. Gardenia could casually wake up from a nap and find an extraordinary Pokémon by her side. Meanwhile, he was still following Mai, the chosen one, and it seemed the lucky buff was never in his favor. Maybe there was some negative buff weighing him down.
"Mai's family must have a great breeder. Last night, Gengar and Dusknoir were both well taken care of. You could tell they were well-trained when they fought against the Gengar in the mansion."
Luther hadn't noticed these details, but he was surprised by how much Gardenia had picked up after just waking up.
"They must be quite wealthy. It's normal to have a breeder assist with that."
Suddenly, Luther remembered the mobile transfer records he had seen the night before, and how Mai had silently left the room. Gardenia finished eating and got ready to open the gym to wait for challengers, while Luther continued to lie in the shade of the Tropius, reading a book.
For some reason, Luther found it difficult to concentrate on his reading today. It felt as though something was blocking his thoughts.
Finally, as he reached the end of the book The Theory of Life Evolution, Luther found the content interesting, but not overly complex. Yet, he kept pausing to reflect, as the author's ideas were thought-provoking.
The author examined the existence of Pokémon as products of natural evolution, drawing comparisons to domesticated animals like cows and sheep as remnants of natural selection. He even speculated on the possibility of human intervention in the evolution of Pokémon.
He referenced Key Stones and Mega Evolution in the Kalos Region, suggesting that evolutionary forces also shape the environment of this world.
Although it was unclear whether the environment predated Pokémon evolution or if Pokémon's natural selection gradually altered the environment, the relationship between the two was certainly intriguing.
Luther had encountered similar ideas in other books, but none had the same intense focus on human intervention in evolution as the author of The Theory of Life Evolution.
What Luther knew, however, was that human interference with evolution and the manipulation of Pokémon had ultimately led to the creation of Mewtwo.
Mewtwo, born from multiple gene recombinations as part of a scientific experiment, was a clear result of human interference in Pokémon's natural evolution.
In earlier years, many regions had strictly forbidden such actions due to their unpredictable and uncontrollable nature.
No one wanted to be the one to unleash such a Pandora's box, except for those mad scientists who believed they could uncover the truth, often seeing themselves as pioneers of science.
The experiments involving Mewtwo were a secret hidden from the public, with the only person outside of Team Rocket likely to know this dark truth being Luther.
As a result, Luther understood all too well the terrifying consequences that the author's theories could lead to.
Objectively, Mewtwo harbored a deep contradiction: a hatred for humanity, mixed with an attraction to its better qualities. This internal struggle led him to avoid human society after destroying Team Rocket's research lab.
Fearing that he could not control his hatred for humans, yet loathing himself for being created by them, Mewtwo wandered the world, lost and uncertain, his own turmoil reflecting his complex, self-destructive nature.
What dissatisfaction could the author of this book have?
A world filled with abundant energy, plenty of food, no wars, pure and kind hearts, and Pokémon who served as a common bond, bringing people closer together.
The author likely didn't realize how rare such a world was and how many longed for it.
Luther, at least, had dreamed of living in this world since childhood, not just for the Pokémon, but for the peaceful environment it offered.
The material and spiritual wealth of the world allowed everyone to pursue their desires, almost to the point of having the freedom to do anything.
Imagine holding your Pokémon while watching the sunset, rolling in the grass with them, splashing in the sea, or traveling at a moment's notice, there would never be hunger for those who have hands and feet to work with.
This should be heaven, so why would anyone want to open a door to hell?
Luther closed the book, rarely checking the publication date at the end, but he did this time.
Published twenty-four years ago?
He hoped that the author's fervor had been buried along with the book's outdated ideas.
This world did not need ambitious dreamers or fanatical scientists.
What it needed was a cleaner world, one with fewer people like Luther, who carried darkness within their hearts.
(End of Chapter)
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