'Wheime es, I'll hand these photos over to my aunt for her research. With her brilliant mind, she might uncover some groundbreaking findings.'

  Of course, photos alone wouldn't be enough. Julian also measured Manaphy's weight a, then took a small cotton swab to gently collect a sample from inside Manaphy's mouth.

  The little one was sleeping so soundly that even after all of Julian's as, it showed no sign of waking up. Instead, it shifted into an even more fortable sleeping position.

  After finishing all this, Julian turned his attention to the secret room. A quice revealed that the space was about 300 square meters, filled with shelves.

  But instead of books, the shelves were lined with boxes of various sizes.

  The boxes themselves were exquisitely crafted, exuding an air of high value.

  Curious, Julian picked up one of the boxes and ope, finding a Hollow stone about the size of a fist.

  Opening another box, he discovered a top-grade Moon Stone inside.

  Looking at the shelves lined with over a hundred such boxes, Julian's eyes lit up with excitement.

  He had struck gold.

  It didn't matter who these boxes inally beloo—there was no one else alive in this secret room except him. So, these items now beloo him.

  With the help of his system ste, Julian packed all the boxes inside. He didn't bother opening the rest, deg to enjoy the thrill of unboxing them ter wheuro his vil after this i was over.

  Julia no stourned, sweeping the secret room . To ensure he didn't miss anything valuable, he even took out the Dowsing Mae.

  The Dowsing Mae showed some red dots, but they weren't signifit. Those were likely items in the massive mansion above ground.

  All the truly precious treasures had been hidden in this undergrou room.

  An hour ter, Julian decided it was time and instructed Metagross, "Take us to the West Coast."

  Using Teleport, Metagross brought Julian and the still-sleeping Manaphy out of the secret room.

  Ba the West Coast, Duke had been growing increasingly anxious. It had been an hour since Julian awo left, and they still hadn't returned. Could it be that even a first-css legendary like Mewtwo couldn't locate Manaphy?

  The sense of relief he had felt earlier quickly gave way to reension. Especially when he g John, who stood idly by without a care in the world, it only made his frustration boil over.

  "Call yrandson and ask if he's found it yet. If not, I'll send more people to search!"

  "If my grandson 't find it, do you really think your useless subordinates ?"

  Before Duke could explode with anger, John quickly added, "Rex. Haven't you noticed that Kyogre has already calmed down? That means my good grandson has definitely found Manaphy."

  Duke, who had been too focused on Juliawo, and Manaphy, hadn't paid much attention to Kyogre. Hearing John's words, he looked up and saw that Kyogre's mood had iabilized.

  Swish!

  Julian aagross appeared in front of the two men, with Julian holding a small, sleeping Pokémon in his arms.

  "Is that Manaphy?" Duke asked.

  Julian nodded and walked forward, carrying Manaphy to Kyogre. Kyogre's expression remained calm, but the tless Water-type Pokémon around it were visibly excited.

  After all the chaos, they had finally found Manaphy.

  Kyogre's gaze settled on Julian. It didn't sense Mewtwo's presenearby, nor its aura.

  'Has it already left?'

  "Wake up, your ride is here," Julian said, patting Manaphy gently.

  Manaphy let out a faint, displeased whine, puffing its cheeks. But after a few more soft pats, it finally opes eyes.

  After waking up, Manaphy appeared a little groggy, but its gaze soon nded on Kyogre and the swarm of Water-type Pokémon surrounding it.

  Despite being born only retly, Manaphy instinctively uood the significe of its preseo the o and its Pokémon.

  So it showed no signs of fear.

  Kyogre lowered its head slightly, and Julian took the cue, pg Manaphy on top of it.

  "You'd better take Manaphy back to the Sea Temple quickly," Julian said.

  "Thank you, human," Kyogre replied with a nod.

  "o thank me. Just promise to lend a hand if there's ever a major disaster in the seas near Drakoria."

  Julian was mildly surprised that Kyogre expressed gratitude. After all, it was humans who had imprisoned Manaphy in the first pce.

  The bme y with them, not Kyogre.

  Kyogre nodded once more and was about to leave with Manaphy whetle Pokémon suddenly called out.

  "Mana!~"

  Manaphy leapt off Kyogre's head and nded in front of Julian.

  A surge of excitement welled up in Julian's chest.

  'Could it be that Manaphy wants to follow me willingly? If so, I only agree'

  "Mana~" Manaphy said again.

  "You're asking if I have any Water-type Pokémon?" Julian asked, puzzled.

  Manaphy nodded.

  It seemed things weren't going the way Julian had imagined.

  Though a bit disappointed, he quickly released his only Water-type Pokémon: Slowking.

  "Slow!~"

  Slowking stood with its hands behind its back. When it sahy, its eyes lit up slightly. With a calm motion, it removed the from its head, pulled out a bag of walnuts hidden inside, and ha to Manaphy.

  Manaphy happily accepted the .

  Julian couldn't help but facepalm.

  'Slowking, don't overdo it! Manaphy has Kyogre bag it up, you know!'

  "Mana!~"

  Manaphy called out to Slowking, and a faint blue light began to radiate from its small body. The light coalesced into a walnut-shaped sphere, which then floated over and merged directly into Slowking's body.

  'You gave me a walnut; I'll give you ooo.'

  Julian immediately used his Probing Eyes to che Slowking. It wasn't out of fear that Manaphy might harm Slowking, but rather curiosity about what kind of ges would occur.

  Pokémon: Slowking (Water/Psychic)

  Level: 55

  Potential: Blue

  Ability: Oblivious

  Held Item: Twisted Spoender: Female

  Moves: Tackle, Curse, Water Gun, fusion, Yawn, Disable, Water Pulse, Pem, Swagger, Headbutt, Sck Off, Psychic, Psych Up, Rain Dance, Heal Pulse, Nasty Plot, Surf

  TMs: Mega Punch, Low Sweep, Pay Day, Hyper Beam, Thunder Wave, Light S, Protect, Icy Wind, Dive

  Egg Moves: Scald, Trick, Calm Mind, Psyshock

  Note: Blessed by Manaphy, the Child of the Sea. Water-type moves gain a 20% power increase.

  ---

  Julian froze for a moment, stuhe ges in Slowking were immes level had jumped from 45 to 55, but more importantly, its potential had risen from to Blue. On top of that, its Water-type moves now had ara 20% power boost.

  Clearly, all of this was thanks to Manaphy.

  However, after perf this act, Manaphy looked visibly drained. Its body wobbled as it nearly colpsed, but Slowking quickly steadied it with its arms.

  Seeing such generosity from Manaphy, Julian wasn't about to be stingy. He promptly purchased a Full Restore medie from the system shop.

  "Here, eat this. It'll help"

  Manaphy, trusting the one who had rescued it, didn't hesitate. It swallowed the medie in one gulp.