Pokémon: I picked up a reborn Eevee at the start of the game

To be honest, he had visited many research institutes, but the Zero Zone Research Institute was still quite special among them.

Not only were many of the facilities unfamiliar to Xia Chen, but another notable feature of this place was the unusually small number of people.

Along the way, Xia Chen only saw a few people wearing full protective suits.

It's probably because of the isolation and poor environment.

Following the robot to Lab 9, Xia Chen finally met Dr. Orin, who was wearing a white researcher's coat.

She was staring at a screen on the outside of an instrument, inside which lay an unconscious iron arm.

Perhaps because she was engrossed in the data on the screen, Xia Chen's arrival did not interrupt her attention until the robot came forward to remind her, at which point she turned her head to notice.

Dr. Orin gave a perfectly standard smile. "Welcome to Research Institute Zero, Dr. Xia Chen."

The title of "Doctor" seemed to be stuck with her, but Xia Chen replied nonchalantly, "It's an honor to meet you, Dr. Orin. If you're conducting an important experiment, I'll wait here for a while."

The other person shrugged. "It's no bother, please wait a moment."

As she spoke, Dr. Orin operated the screen for a while, and then the instrument stopped. She then inserted something that looked like a chip into the back of Iron Arm's head.

Then, this iron-clad, steel-bodied Iron Palm Warrior, a paradoxical being from the future, suddenly awoke and jumped out of the device, causing a considerable tremor in the ground.

Xia Chen watched in amazement. Rumor had it that Iron Arm was a bio-engineered elf created from disabled athletes in the future world, and now it seemed that it wasn't impossible.

With her recovered iron arm striding out of the research lab as if performing a procedure, Orin explained while saving the experimental data from just now: "The research on the future paradoxical species should have been conducted by my husband, Dr. Fortu, but he is currently at the fourth observation station on the lower level, so I will be taking his place for now."

Xia Chen nodded. It seemed that the couple had a clear division of labor, with their research on ancient and future topics distinctly separated.

After saving the data, Dr. Orin finally had time to properly entertain Xia Chen, this rare visitor.

…………

"You mentioned yesterday that you wanted to conduct research on paradoxes. What exactly are you referring to? That's a truly enormous topic."

Leading Xia Chen to the institute's reception room, Dr. Orin got straight to the point and asked.

"evolution."

Xia Chen answered without hesitation: "Evolution is the change and leap of elf life. Most elves in nature have the potential to evolve at least once, but so far no paradoxical elves have been found to have an evolutionary chain, while almost all of their modern species do. I think that breaking through from this direction can bring inspiration to discovering the truth about paradoxical species."

Although it was an excuse, he made up a very plausible reason.

From Milotic and Sylveon to the recent Mega Evolution, Xia Chen is seen by outsiders as a master of Pokémon evolution, so it is only natural that he would approach the study of Paradoxical Pokémon from the perspective of the evolutionary chain.

Dr. Orin did not doubt it; instead, she remained silent for a while, seemingly genuinely considering the feasibility of this approach.

The two walked in silence, the pristine white building resembling a Umbrella Corporation research institute, with only their footsteps making the silence eerily quiet.

Xia Chen suddenly noticed something strange: Dr. Orin's footsteps were very regular, as precise as a pendulum, something even well-trained soldiers would find difficult to do.

He recalled Aoki's parting words just an hour earlier: "Don't believe anything you see in Research Institute Zero," and a chill ran down his spine.

Something's really off here.

Without any spirits to protect him, Xia Chen could only use his aura to detect any danger in his surroundings.

But what Xia Chen found out was terrifying.

The environment seemed normal, but Dr. Orin had a serious problem—

Her body structure is completely different from that of humans!

In short, Dr. Orin is not human!

This chilling discovery left him paralyzed with fear, his limbs stiff as he followed behind, his mind racing with a myriad of thoughts.

No wonder Dr. Orin looks so young and has a strange expression; now everything makes sense.

So, Dr. Orin, like the Iron Arm elf, was also created using technology from the future?

Or is it some kind of conspiracy by the mysterious Third God of Padia?

Will Dr. Fortu be in the same situation?

Countless guesses and possibilities flashed through Xia Chen's mind.

…………

"We've arrived. Please come in, Dr. Xia Chen."

Orin's sudden voice interrupted Xia Chen's various speculations.

Before they knew it, they had arrived at the institute's reception room.

Xia Chen forced himself to remain calm and walked into the reception room to sit down with a normal expression.

He needs more information about Institute Zero now and cannot reveal the discovery that Dr. Orin is not human for the time being.

Dr. Orin seemed oblivious to Xia Chen's odd behavior. After sitting down on the other side, she pondered for a moment and said, "I have some thoughts on your question."

"The Paradoxical Species came from the ancient and future worlds through the time machine that Futu and I developed. Perhaps they also have a corresponding evolutionary chain in that world."

Xia Chen secretly curled his lip. A time machine?

You're kidding me!

If paradoxes originate from so-called time machines, how do we explain the paradoxes recorded in the Book of Zhu Zi?

The paradoxical species traveled back in time several hundred years to be seen and drawn by Heizhe.

This timeline is just too confusing!

Now, Xia Chen had almost no faith in Dr. Orin's words. He nodded in agreement on the surface, but in his heart he was thinking, "I don't believe you!"

He asked calmly, "Time machine...did you go in and capture the elves yourselves, or did the elves come to you on their own?"

These words startled Dr. Orin, who was momentarily at a loss for words. She could only reply vaguely, "I'm sorry, this involves the institute's secrets and is not convenient to disclose."

Xia Chen nodded to himself as expected. According to the theory that "if you didn't bring it, you didn't write it," if it was inconvenient to reveal it, then it was something he couldn't say.

As for why I can't say, it's because this time machine is fictional!

The logic is perfect, but reasoning without empirical evidence is just empty talk.

Before the truth is revealed, these are all Xia Chen's personal conclusions, which have no practical significance other than providing some help for his subsequent thinking.

After chatting with Dr. Orin for a while, Xia Chen suggested that he wanted to explore Zone Zero on his own. Dr. Orin did not object; instead, she said that he was always welcome to come again.

…………

Once outside Research Institute Zero, Xia Chen finally relaxed.

Ever since discovering Dr. Orlin's secret, he felt uneasy no matter where he was in the house, and only felt more at ease after going outside.

Xia Chen didn't linger on the lower level. He summoned Milotic from his Poké Ball and rode it to the lower level of Sector Zero.

Passing through the swirling clouds and mist, Xia Chen arrived at the lower level, which resembled a huge dark cave. He found a quiet place where no paradoxical elves lived, and released Gu Leton.

"I just discovered something strange, Dr. Orin isn't human!"

Xia Chen couldn't wait to share his discovery with Gu Leton.

The large lizard yawned and replied casually, "Oh, I know."

Xia Chen's eyes widened. "Why didn't you tell me about something this big sooner?"

Therefore, Leighton asked curiously, "What's wrong? Is this a big deal? Does it matter whether she's human or something else?"

Xia Chen was a little confused by these three questions, but after thinking about it carefully, he didn't have any words to refute them.

This is shocking as it may be, but the impact... is not yet visible.

So Xia Chen stopped dwelling on the outcome and instead asked about the reason, "Then what exactly happened? If she's not human, then what is she?"

So Leighton raised its head, as if recalling the past, and after a long silence, finally revealed a trace of its past.

"It was probably ten years ago, maybe longer. I'm sorry, I don't have a good sense of time. At that time, Orin and Futu were still alive, and Milton and I had only been in this world for a short time. Through the contents of the 'Book of Crimson and Purple' in your hand, and some speculations, we discovered the truth about our original worlds. Milton couldn't accept it, so he went berserk and went berserk. Orin and Futu died in that accident. After that, Milton and I broke up completely."

"As for those two people now, they are probably artificial intelligence or something that they prepared in advance to prevent such events from happening... I can't say more about the rest."

…………

The story abruptly ended, and Xia Chen fell into deep thought.

Therefore, Leighton's statement contains a great deal of information—

The paradoxical species seems to have indeed arrived in Zone Zero through some kind of passage...

Some content in "The Book of Zhu Zi" concerns the truth about the present, past, and future worlds...

Why is this so-called truth so unacceptable to Millerton...?

And that incredibly lifelike "person," almost indistinguishable from a real person, was actually artificial intelligence...

Is this something that current human technology can create?

Chapter 362 Milton, here I come!

There are too many doubts and too little information. Xia Chen's "prophetic information" from his previous life does not include the Padiya region.

Therefore, Xia Chen is completely unable to solve this problem right now.

But without exception, all the doubts point to the mysterious third god of Parthia!

Unable to figure it out, Xia Chen shook his head to clear his mind of the jumbled thoughts and said, "Forget it for now, let's go find Milton and help Doraki evolve first."

Therefore, Leighton nodded in agreement, "That's right, don't always think about those things that don't exist. Sometimes, knowing too much is harmful to your physical and mental health."

Xia Chen pursed his lips, ignoring its sarcastic tone, and asked instead, "So where should we go to look for Milton now?"

Therefore, after a moment's thought, Leighton said, "I've done some calculations, and it should be on the top level of Zone Zero right now."

Xia Chen: "......"

Is it really that mysterious to calculate it with your fingers?

Despite his complaints, Xia Chen did not doubt Gu Leton's judgment.

It was far more eager than I was to seek revenge on Millerton, and it wouldn't joke about something like that.

Having determined their final destination, Xia Chen and Gu Leton set off immediately.

The Paddy pit has a unique shape; the entrances connecting the four levels are not a single large hole running from top to bottom, but are distributed in different places.

This is another reason why this place is shrouded in mist and extremely mysterious.