After saying goodbye to the Tarvok City Fire Department, Ethan returned to his office and opened the Pokémon Monitor to check on the first wave of Squirtle shipments.
A small number had already arrived at buyers' addresses in the city; the rest were still on their way. Meanwhile, the Fire Department posted triumphant pictures on Weibo, proudly unveiling the newly recruited Squirtle squad.
Their posts drew a mixture of fascination and doubt. Some cheered, seeing the squad as proof of a new age in firefighting, but others expressed caution, questioning whether a group of turtles could handle real emergencies.
Ethan took it all in with a quiet smile. He had expected these debates. "Human nature," he thought. "Anyone faced with such a new technology is going to have concerns." In time, he believed, people would come to accept Pokémon's usefulness.
Genetically engineered firefighting creatures had never been a reality; of course, there would be skeptics. Perhaps in a few years, there would be more specialized brigades of Squirtle, each using advanced skills or special moves like the Ice Beam that Wartortle had demonstrated that morning.
He recalled Henry's ongoing efforts to catalyze the synthesis of water molecules from hydrogen and oxygen. (The guy who asked about his research at the conference)
If Henry's project succeeded, water-based Pokémon could become even more flexible in emergency situations. Ethan had no doubt that competition would arise, but he believed that his own Pokémon would maintain an edge, endowed with special powers that standard genetic teams could not match. Wartortle's abilities, for example, went far beyond any typical hydrant or specialized equipment.
The footage captured by the park staff was intended to be a promotional clip for the upcoming launch of the liquid. Four Pokémon - two Squirtle, one Charmander, and one Pichu - evolved spectacularly.
He only had a small batch, but it would be enough to make waves. At the end of the day, Pokémon Biotech released a short video showing Pokémon in the park drinking Evolution Fluid and Evolving.
The video ended with glimpses of Wartortle, Charmeleon, and a fresh Pikachu standing proudly, providing visual proof of the fluid's success. As expected, social media caught fire, especially when fans realized that two of these evolved creatures had debuted just hours earlier.
"People can't get enough of this," Ethan muttered, watching the reaction on his computer. "They're even more excited than they were about the first Pichu evolution months ago." Netizens commented in droves:
" Amazing, I just bought a Pichu, and I want to try it right away!"
"Is there any chance that it will work on standard gene creatures? I have a lazy cat lion, but who knows?"
"So these new forms of Squirtle and Charmander are more powerful? We need details!"
Ethan even saw some humor: "If it can make me evolve into a Saiyan, sign me up."
Meanwhile, curiosity about the evolved states grew. Many asked if Wartortle or Charmeleon had gained new attacks or increased intelligence, citing rumors of ice beams and enhanced fire-type moves. The Tarvok City Fire Department had quietly shared their success with a few other stations, but had refrained from releasing official clips of Wartortle's ice ability. So the move remained a tantalizing rumor.
By midnight, the video had shot up the trending charts, and Pokémon Biotech launched the Evolution Fluid on a major e-commerce platform. They expected a modest response. After all, as the promotional materials clearly stated, the fluid only worked on Pokémon. The supply was 30,000 bottles, each priced at a hefty $1,888 for just 10 milliliters. The staff predicted a few hundred sales; most people didn't even own Pokémon, so why buy it?
But the results stunned them. In just over an hour, every single bottle sold out, bringing in more than $50 million. Phones rang throughout the office as employees scrambled to confirm shipping addresses and finalize payment checks. The frenzy was reminiscent of an online flash sale for highly sought-after appliances. Ethan's employees were stunned.
Sitting at his desk, Ethan listened as his senior marketing associate, Annie, explained the situation. "I don't get it," she said, shaking her head in disbelief. "We stressed that it only works with our Pokémon. Yet half the customers apparently have no Pokémon license or purchase record. That includes overseas labs and random labs." She spread her hands. "They're spending thousands on something that may be worthless."
Ethan leaned back in his chair with a subtle grin. "Curiosity, ambition, or just plain gambling. If some foreign scientists want to dissect or replicate the formula, they'll pay top dollar. Others may fantasize about using it on non-Pokémon creatures, ignoring the disclaimers."
Annie frowned. "Could they reverse-engineer the fluid?"
"We've tested it thoroughly," Ethan said, "and it's based on a unique blueprint that only interacts with the gene sequences in Pokémon. If they can break it down chemically, they'll find certain exotic markers from my design. Even if they discover the composition, that doesn't mean they can replicate the entire production pipeline or the underlying genetic technology. So let them try if they want."
She nodded, still unsure. "I suppose. Although I'm worried about copycats flooding the market."
Ethan rubbed his chin. "They can do whatever they want. All they'll do is waste money." Then he paused, revealing a mischievous grin. "But we can also use the hype. Suppose we quietly spread rumors that a random genetic creature, a non-Pokémon, evolved after drinking a single bottle. People might follow that rumor. Even if they fail, it's not our official stance."
Annie's eyes widened at his cunning. "You would push this story from a private source?"
"Exactly. Spread it around on some discussion boards or social media. The next wave of liquid might sell at an even higher rate. If people are clinging to hope, they'll pay to see for themselves."
Annie listened, half impressed, half stunned by his brazen approach. "That could cause a backlash when they realize it's wrong."
He shrugged. "We've already publicly denied it. The rumor is just a rumor. No legal risk to us."
---
Throughout the next day, the office buzzed with shipping tasks and restocking. People who'd managed to place orders clamored for same-day delivery in Tarvok City, sending the company's shipping department into a frenzy.
By late morning, calls were pouring in from all over the city: "Our lab just received the evolution fluid; we'll start testing," and "This is only 10 ml? That's so small, are you sure it's right?" The staff remained polite, reminding them of the posted disclaimers.
Still, the fervor continued to grow. And behind the scenes, Ethan was monitoring the orders of some notable individuals. One was Jason Hobbes of the Northam Group, a competitor with vast resources. Another was Lina Cobbs, connected to a powerful company rumored to be dabbling in advanced gene splicing. Both indicated they'd study the fluid for possible clues. But Ethan was not afraid. Pokémon biology was clear enough that non-Pokémon applications remained unlikely.
By the time lunch arrived, sales had topped fifty million dollars. Even if a fraction of the customers requested refunds after seeing no results on non-Pokémon creatures, the net profit would still be staggering. Annie delivered the sales update to Ethan, and he allowed himself a moment of satisfaction. "This was easier than I thought," he quipped.
With everything selling so quickly, the staff was asking if they should produce more liquid. Ethan thought about it. He recognized the risk of oversaturation. For now, the shortage was fueling the hype. "Let's wait a while," he said. "We'll see how the public reacts in the next two weeks. Then we can plan for a second batch."
This approach was consistent with the careful brand-building that had propelled Pokémon Biotech forward. In a matter of months, the Pokémon franchise had catapulted the company from a fringe gene lab to the talk of the gene-editing community. Now, with the success of Evolution Fluid, they were about to step onto an even bigger global stage.
As the day drew to a close, Ethan took a look at social media and watched as reactions ranged from fascination to skepticism. Some posted unboxing videos of the fluid, vowing to record if their Pokémon evolved on the spot. Others admitted they had no Pokémon but planned to test the fluid on random animals or even themselves, fueling comedic speculation.
Switching to Weibo, Ethan saw the mention of the fire department again. The public was still debating the Squirtle's preparedness for real disasters. He typed a short post praising the collaboration with the fire department: "Genetic engineering meets real-world application. We look forward to many success stories in the future," and then logged out. Satisfied, he got up to leave, hearing the staff cheer as they updated the sales ticker. The launch of Evolution Fluid had exceeded all expectations.
Before locking his office, Ethan mentally prepared for the next wave. "Let's see how the labs handle the fluid," he thought. "They'll find it's worthless to other creatures, but that might not stop them from trying new compounds." His gaze shifted to a sealed case on a side table that held more of the precious fluid.
He'd keep some in reserve to feed a second wave of evolutions in Pokémon Paradise, capturing fresh material as needed. That, and the rumor strategy, might keep the frenzy going for a while longer.
On the way home, he allowed himself a grin. The synergy among the Pokémon, the swirling attention around the Evolution Fluid, and even the cautious acceptance of the firefighting Squirtle suggested that his vision was coming to fruition.
Each success story built momentum for Pokémon Biotech, bringing it closer to an era where Pokémon could be a part of everyday life, from big city departments to private labs. It wasn't just about making money, though that was a pleasant byproduct, but about opening a new chapter in genetic science, guided by the whimsical, adventurous spirit at the heart of Pokémon design.