Chapter 81: Shadows in the Mind (Please vote for me!)

Chen Ou still accepted the notebook. Yet he had no intention of using it.

The technology to create Mewtwo ought to be destroyed…

That would be the proper course. But whether it was Professor Xebo, Dr. Fuji, or Team Rocket, everyone who had access to these materials unanimously chose to seal them away rather than destroy them.

A legend-level force that could be rapidly produced—who could bear to let go of such power, even with uncontrollable risks?

Everything was ready at hand; with just a sample of Mew’s genes, one could mass-produce Mewtwos…

Of course, that was just a jest. The cost of creating a Mewtwo was simply too high, and it couldn’t be reduced.

Yet for each faction to bear the expense of one or two Mewtwos was not out of the question.

But wasn’t that too unfair to Mewtwo? Pokémon are our partners, friends, even family. Mewtwo, however, was a tool, a weapon, a slave.

Chen Ou would never do such a thing. He was not above being shameless, but he had his own bottom line.

A bottom line that would never be crossed.

It was hard to imagine what kind of madness Chen Ou might unleash if he ever truly cast aside all scruples in this world—a man armed with the knowledge of so many legendary Pokémon.

Fortunately, the first person Chen Ou met in this world was Professor Oak, and fortunately, the education he had received on Earth had shaped his values. Otherwise, this world of Pokémon would have been in grave danger...

Yet as Chen Ou gazed at the notebook, he could not suppress the forbidden thoughts that arose within him…

He knew exactly where Dr. Fuji and the others had erred. He had enough samples of Mew’s genes. He had ample funds at his disposal.

Legendary-level power. The most potential-laden of all legendary Pokémon.

Are you not tempted?

Then Chen Ou set the notebook on fire.

In front of Dr. Fuji’s astonished eyes, Chen Ou invoked his ability and burned the notebook to ashes.

Dr. Fuji stared at Chen Ou in disbelief, as if he had witnessed something beyond imagination. He wanted to ask a question.

Why? What happened? By what right?

Why burn this notebook?

Why did I hand it to you?

What right do you have to destroy the fruits of my labor?

But not a single question left his lips.

He looked into Chen Ou’s eyes and saw regret, reluctance, and most of all… resolve.

Yes, isn’t this how it ought to be?

He asked himself.

Yes, this is how it should be.

He answered himself.

No matter how much he tried to dress it up, the existence of Mewtwo was, in the end, a tragic tale.

To prevent a tragedy that has already happened from repeating itself—isn’t that the true conviction a researcher should possess?

When he looked at Chen Ou again, there were no longer any doubts within his eyes, only admiration. Compared to this young man, both Xebo and himself had already lost a researcher’s bottom line—they had been blinded by the allure of legendary power.

To lose oneself before the power of legends—it is not shameful. Who does not yearn for the world’s greatest strength?

This young man, he thought, will become a new legend.

Dr. Fuji smiled with relief, glad that the research world still had successors such as this, glad that someone could resist the pull of greed.

Chen Ou, for his part, was deeply conflicted…

He knew he could recreate Mewtwo, and he truly wanted to have a Mewtwo of his own. But… he simply couldn’t do it!

Mewtwo was lost at the boundary between Pokémon and humans. Chen Ou was lost at the boundary between an Earthling and the world of Pokémon.

Mewtwo felt isolated, unable to find his own kind. Wasn’t Chen Ou, upon first arriving, also crushed by loneliness, weeping bitterly alone in his room?

Mewtwo searched everywhere for the meaning of his existence. When Chen Ou first arrived in this world, was he not equally bewildered by his inexplicable journey?

Chen Ou, create another Mewtwo?

Would he be creating another version of himself?

If I have already endured this pain, then I will never inflict it upon another.

Chen Ou told himself this deep in his heart.

This is… the bottom line.

Never before had Chen Ou so wanted to find Mewtwo.

Not to capture him, but to redeem him. Chen Ou himself had been redeemed by Professor Oak, Nanami, Green, Red, and Cynthia.

He was no longer lonely, no longer lost, no longer without purpose.

He was now the one most qualified to help Mewtwo find redemption.

Because they… were kindred spirits.

The notebook burned quickly to ash. Chen Ou casually tossed the remains into the trash.

He smiled at Dr. Fuji, who was also smiling, and said, “Grandpa Fuji, why don’t you tell me about the situation here? I’m fairly capable myself—perhaps I can help you handle this ghostly disturbance.”

Dr. Fuji, seeing Chen Ou had no intention of bringing up Mewtwo again, followed his lead and replied, “Are you familiar with the spirit world?”

Chen Ou nodded. The spirit world lay between the real world and the Reverse World, inhabited solely by ghost-type Pokémon. Other types could not stay there long, lest they be destroyed by the intense ghostly energy and soul power. Indeed, the places closest to the spirit world were this Pokémon Tower, Mount Pyre in Hoenn, the Lost Tower in Sinnoh, and the Celestial Tower in Unova. So it was not surprising that turmoil in the spirit world would affect this place.

“Recently, it seems the Ghost King has died in the spirit world, and now many ghost Pokémon vie for the throne and the remnants of souls left behind. That’s why all the ghost Pokémon here have sunk into a strange frenzy,” said Dr. Fuji serenely. Clearly, he was well aware of the situation and had the means to protect himself.

“We’ve already notified the League. It’s not a major incident, but it isn’t trivial either. Most likely, Agatha will be sent to deal with it.”

At the mention of the name “Agatha,” Chen Ou shuddered involuntarily.

Dr. Fuji asked in confusion, “What’s wrong? Are you cold?”

Chen Ou shook his head. “No, not at all…”

Though Dr. Fuji was puzzled, since Chen Ou said no more, he pressed no further.

Truth be told, Chen Ou was not exactly timid, but when it came to ghosts… he was absolutely terrified.

As a child, he’d mischievously tried to help set up Professor Oak with Granny Agatha, only to end up pleasing no one, and received a sound thrashing from Professor Oak.

Ever since then, whenever Granny Agatha greeted him, she would have her Gengar use Night Shade first, making him watch a banned horror film for half an hour as a “welcome”…

This had left a huge shadow on his young heart.

Thinking of this, Chen Ou shivered once again…