Jerry's case held few surprises. According to Ethan's inquiries, the evidence against him was ironclad. Even though Jerry hired a lawyer for his defense, the impact was minimal.
With Jerry effectively "packed up," Ethan found his curiosity drawn to the organization lurking behind the two masked men. Unfortunately, beyond interrogating the pair, he saw no immediate way to dig further.
He did briefly suspect the Ice and Fire Alliance they had a track record of bold moves but it remained only a suspicion; those two captives might have zero connection to that group.
In the wake of the fiasco, James and the rest of the lab staff popped open a bottle of champagne to celebrate. When the incident first occurred, everyone felt a surge of indignation. Had Jerry not covered his tracks in the lab so thoroughly, leaving no immediate evidence, he would've been taken down much sooner. They were both relieved and curious about Ethan showing up right in the thick of it. If not for the undeniable proof, some might have suspected Ethan of orchestrating a trap.
Two Days Later Catterpie's official audit certificate arrived. The review went swiftly, Catterpie appeared harmless and minimally aggressive. After just three reviews, it was approved.
Yet Ethan was preparing a significant Pokémon price reduction, so he put a temporary halt on external sales. Despite that, Catterpie had already surfaced online, with Pokémon Biotech releasing its basic info.
"Big bug, cheap price, but I'm not interested…"
"Ew, insects gross me out!"
"I hate bugs the most!"
So read the bulk of initial netizen comments, especially from female users. However, a second wave of news followed: Catterpie could evolve rapidly, not once but twice, ending as a "beautiful big butterfly." That tidbit stirred a new round of chatter.
At first, even that drew limited interest. Then, Pokémon Biotech published a short video showing Catterpie's combat feats: Tackle and String Shot. That skill alone captured attention Catterpie could spew an astonishing volume of tough silk to bind targets. Furthermore, if it managed to evolve to its final stage, it would gain even more trainable abilities.
Suddenly, opinions Turned:
"Wow, if it's only a few thousand Dollars, I might buy one just to see it transform!"
"That worm-silk trick looks awesome. I'm definitely curious."
"Double evolution? That's huge. Imagine a worm that quickly becomes a butterfly it's kinda neat."
Some foreign and domestic bio-designers voiced intrigue. They noticed Catterpie likely formed a cocoon stage before its final form. Most suspected the "two evolutions" claim was partly marketing just "metapod to butterfly." Even so, they grudgingly admitted Pokémon Biotech remained a step ahead, cranking out new species with surprising traits each time.
As a result, the world's favorable view of Pokémon Biotech continued to rise. Many fans slammed the top-tier biotech giants like Northam and the polar-bear (I haven't a clue) group for their comparative sluggishness and high-priced products. It was common to see netizens "step on one, praise another," so Pokémon Biotech's stock soared in public esteem.
In Laboratory No. 2
James and the rest of the staff were swamped. Another batch of Pokémon eggs hatched: Happiny, Hoothoot, Growlithe, Audino… Meanwhile, an even newer group of eggs awaited in the incubator eight different species, including the precious Suicune egg. Their hatching day loomed near.
Ethan surveyed them, thinking, Time for more expansions. Once Laboratory No. 2 doubles its size, they'd need to double staff as well. After Jerry's sabotage, he resolved to screen new hires meticulously, suspecting shady groups might try infiltration.
Large corporations generally feared the "Biological Protection Act," but unscrupulous organizations like the Ice and Fire Alliance or the masked men's backers would likely cross any line. He thus planned heavier defenses and a proactive stance:
"After all," he thought, "I have the Pokémon Monitor. If anyone kidnaps a Pokémon for illegal research, believe me when I say, 'I'll hunt them to the ends of the earth.
..
While feeding Audino, James voiced a question. "Mr. Grave, we've got Happiny and Audino's review certificates too. Why aren't we announcing them publicly yet?"
Ethan gestured at Audino's droopy ears. "Because we'll need them in our planned Pokémon Centers later, worldwide if possible. Once that unfolds, we'll need plenty of Audino and Happiny to serve as medical support Pokémon. If we sold them now, we'd risk losing future staff for those centers."
James frowned thoughtfully. "Pokémon…Centers?"
Ethan nodded. "They're basically specialized hospitals for Pokémon: treating them medically, storing them short-term, providing after-sales support. Sure, a normal pet hospital can handle some minor cases, but advanced ones require Pokémon specialists. Audino and Happiny will be perfect assistants, each with unique healing or caretaking instincts."
James studied Audino's gentle demeanor and Happiny's habit of tucking round stones into its pouch. "So Audino has that caretaker vibe, using those ear-tentacles to sense conditions, while Happiny… I guess it might have some hidden abilities too?"
Ethan smirked. "Happiny's potential shouldn't be underestimated. That stone in its pouch? A sign of deep nurturing instincts. When they grow, they become capable of soothing or assisting in a medical capacity. Give it time, and it'll prove it."
James nodded, fully convinced. "Got it. So we'll keep them for a bigger plan."
"Exactly. Once the Pokémon Centers launch, folks worldwide can find proper healthcare for their Pokémon. For that, we'll need enough Audino, Happiny, and more." He patted James on the shoulder. "Focus on stable breeding for them. I have no doubt demand will skyrocket once people see their worth."
James grinned. "I'll handle it, Mr. Grave."