Looking at the strangers who were still ignoring him just like before, Pikachu called out with a soft but frustrated "Pika Pika" twice. Then, like a little child who had just been scolded, he crossed his arms over his chest, lowered his head, and started sulking.
Listening to May's words, Helbert glanced at the sulking Pikachu. Seeing its adorable little head bowed and tiny arms folded like a pouting child, he couldn't help but exclaim:
"This little guy doesn't look defective at all!"
As Helbert spoke, the others also looked at Pikachu, who was acting just like a child throwing a tantrum. His soft yellow fur puffed up slightly with emotion, and his cheek pouches glowed faintly. The sight was so endearing that everyone watching couldn't help but smile warmly.
Steven Stone, who had been silent for a while, shrugged and said casually, "Forget it. If we can't figure it out now, then let's just wait. Since this little guy is here, his owner must be nearby under normal circumstances. Once we find the owner, we can ask them directly. Everything will become clear."
Helbert, still staring at Pikachu, asked curiously, "But what if he was abandoned? Or maybe he was released into the wild?"
Before Helbert could finish, May gave him a gentle smack on the back of the head.
"You silly boy, don't you understand the law? Discarding genetically modified organisms or releasing them into the wild is strictly illegal. Anyone caught doing that can be sentenced to a fixed prison term—anywhere from three to ten years!"
Helbert rubbed the back of his head and looked aggrieved. "Why is it so severe? I didn't know it was that serious."
May rolled her eyes and scolded him, "You little rascal. That's because you don't understand the law at all!"
Helbert laughed awkwardly and scratched his head. "Well, I've never owned a genetically modified creature before, so I don't really know much about these things."
At this point, Teacher Red, who had been calmly listening, stepped in to provide a detailed explanation.
"Helbert, May is right. Abandoning or releasing genetically modified organisms into the wild is a serious crime. The reason is simple: genetically engineered creatures aren't natural. They're created by humans, which means they carry a degree of uncertainty."
He paused, letting that thought sink in before continuing.
"Genetic biology is still not mature enough. The potential instability in genetically modified organisms is high. If one gets discarded and it turns out to be dangerous or aggressive, it could pose a real threat to human life and the environment. Unlike normal creatures, many genetic organisms are enhanced—they're stronger, faster, and more resilient. That's what makes them so popular. People want powerful companions or tools, and biotech companies deliver that."
Red looked around at the group.
"But if these creatures are released into the wild, they could disrupt ecosystems, harm native species, or even lead to unpredictable genetic mutations. It could wreck the food chain or worse. That's why the law requires any unwanted GMO to be returned to its originating company. If a creature has visible defects or instability, it's often euthanized to prevent future risks."
Hearing this, Helbert suddenly understood. He scratched his head again and said, "Ah, so that's how it is! Then the harsh punishment does make sense."
Everyone nodded. It all sounded logical. Their concerns about Pikachu's origin eased slightly. At least now, they were less worried about whether he had been dumped irresponsibly.
At this moment, Tierno, who had been staring curiously at Pikachu the whole time, spoke up.
"Just now, it seemed like it wanted to talk to us. But I guess we didn't understand what it was trying to say."
May nodded. "It seems very familiar with this place. Every creature has a sense of territory—genetically modified or not. It probably considers this part of Pallet Town its home. When it saw strangers walk into its territory, maybe it just wanted to ask us what we were doing here."
Red added thoughtfully, "I had the same thought."
Encouraged by their words, Tierno took a cautious step forward. She wanted to approach the little creature and explain why they were here.
But just as she got closer, Pikachu, who had been sulking quietly, suddenly stepped back. He bared his tiny teeth and growled in warning. It wasn't a particularly scary sight—more like a pouty child trying to act fierce—but it was clearly a sign of alertness.
Instead of being scared, everyone watching burst into excitement.
"So cute! I want to hug it!"
Seeing the little yellow Pokémon acting so adorably, Tierno couldn't help but smile indulgently. But she also realized that Pikachu was still wary, so she stopped moving and spoke in a soft voice.
"Hey there, little guy. What's your name? We're from the Yearning program team, and we're here to film a show."
Hearing Tierno's gentle tone, Pikachu lowered his guard slightly. He could sense that this human meant no harm. When she asked for his name, Pikachu proudly puffed up and chirped:
"Pikachu~!"
However, as the conversation continued, Pikachu tilted his head in confusion. He didn't understand what "program crew" or "filming" meant. His world was limited to this peaceful little village, and he had never encountered such terms.
The yellow-furred Pokémon scratched his head with his tiny paw, clearly puzzled. Then he muttered again:
"Pikachu~? Pikachu~?"
His actions and confused expressions made everyone watching gush with admiration.
"He's so adorable!"
Meanwhile, Director Wang, who oversaw the Yearning for Life program, could barely contain his excitement. This little guy was perfect for the show. With such a charismatic and intelligent Pokémon on camera, the ratings would soar!
The only challenge now was to find the owner. If they could secure permission to let Pikachu appear regularly on the show, they'd hit a goldmine.
Red, observing Pikachu's puzzled expressions, commented:
"It seems like he can't understand human language very well, which makes sense. Even though he's a genetically engineered creature, their comprehension of complex language is limited. After all, they're still classified as lower-tier organisms."
At that moment, Pikachu froze.
He might not have known what "program" meant, but he definitely understood words like "low-tier" and "limited IQ." He understood exactly what Red had just said—and it made him furious.
With a sudden burst of energy, Pikachu raised one tiny yellow hand and pointed at Red.
"Pika! Pika! Pika! Pikachu!"
If someone had been able to translate that, it would have sounded something like:
"You damn human! You're the low-level creature! You have the limited IQ! I understand more than you ever will!"
Everyone was stunned by Pikachu's dramatic reaction.
Even though they didn't understand the words, Pikachu's emotion was loud and clear.