Chapter 034

"Professor? What about you?" asked Alex.

"I myself went on a journey when I turned 14. My father's friends encouraged me to start when I was 10, but my father insisted that I should wait until I was 14 before I started" said Professor Oak. "I do not wish to discourage you or anyone else from going on a trip at the age of 10, but I highly recommend that you wait a while to confirm you are ready" he continued.

Alex nodded. He then asked, "Why were you surprised that I applied for the research internship?"

"Actually, the research I conduct is of some advanced topics. So even if someone with no experience gets an internship or job here, I would delegate them for smaller jobs and field tests at most. They would have to prove themselves beyond any doubt to participate in my core research. They could do nothing that could get their name on any paper or article I publish. Hence, those who work for me are either accomplished researchers or people who just want a job" admitted Professor Oak.

"Well, that sucks" thought Alex. Professor Oak all but admitted that his research internship is basically doing odd jobs and fieldwork. Not the best option for his plans of being a child prodigy who 'discovers' a lot of stuff.

"It's true that you can't participate in my core research immediately. But even then, it's not as if there is nothing else to do here" said Professor Oak.

After thinking for a moment, he looked at Alex and said, "Come with me" and walked out of the room.

Alex followed him across a few hallways, where he finally entered a room at the end with a red door. Professor Oak walked in and yelled, "Come here, little guys!"

Alex followed him into the room and saw four little orange bipedal lizard-like Pokemon.

"Charmander" he thought, immediately scanning the Charmander in the front.

Charmander

Gender - Male

Lvl - 5

Type - Fire

Held item - None

Ability - Blaze

Moves - Scratch, Growl, Ember

Nature - Impish

Training - 5%

Potential - Blue

"Wow! A blue grade Pokemon. Its talent is no match for the Crobat caught by Joseph, but it is the best potential I have so far besides far. I guess this is what the brochure meant when it said Oak Corall would give the best Imperial Starters. The Pokemon's potential would be very high" thought Alex. He looked at the other three Charmander. All of them had blue potential. But two of the Charmander's blue potential ratings in his cheat appeared significantly duller. The rest, except for their different natures, were identical.

"Now! Consider this an interview of sorts. Tell me, among these four, which Charmander is the strongest? And which is the weakest?"

"Alex did not know how to answer the question. He knew that a Charmander's strength could be measured by the glossiness of its skin and the intensity of the flame on its tail. But that was very subtle, and he didn't have any experience with differentiating a Charmader's colours.

"Maybe the two Charmander with a dull blue have less potential, and this less strength at the same stage. I can probably go with this, but I can't explain how I arrived at the answer" though Alex. He saw Professor Oak looking at him with a smile.

Alex then turned to one of his most prized skills of his previous life; his bullshitting skills.

"Uh-hmm. When you called the Charmander's forward, they all came in front of us. But they have stood in a way that subtly reflects their relationship. This Charmander, for example, is standing in the front. The other two Charmander are standing slightly behind it, on either side. So I would say the Charmander standing in the front is the strongest. This the other two Charmander, which are significantly weaker, stand behind it. The fourth Charmander, stood a little to the side, and stood in a straight line as the strongest Charmander. It did not stand behind the strongest Charmander, which implies that it does not accept being weaker than the strongest Charmander. But as it does not have any followers, it is not the strongest, and hence it is the second strongest Charmander" said Alex.

He then turned around to face Professor Oak.

Professor Oak stood there at a loss for words.

"Interesting. Though it is not even remotely scientific, you have arrived at the correct conclusion. Pokemon behaviour eh? Though I would like to point out that some Pokemon may just prefer to be low key, in this case everything you said makes sense. Since you gave me the correct answer, you passed the test. I see you weren't kidding about your good eye for detail. Hmm. Maybe there is something to do here for you after all" said Professor Oak.