High on the mountain, Ethan quietly watched the scene, thinking that once Suicune was hatched, it could solve Japan's nuclear waste problem. Little did he know that the time to test this theory would come sooner than expected.
After Secretary Elijah hung up the phone from his conversation with Ethan, he could hardly believe what he'd heard. A genetic organism that could purify nuclear waste?
"It almost sounds like a bad joke," he muttered to himself. But if Ethan was telling the truth, the implications would be huge. Japan's plan to dump nuclear waste into the ocean may have been delayed by international outcry, but it remained a looming problem. If a single living organism could truly prevent radioactive pollution, the entire global community would be in Ethan's debt.
Though intrigued, Secretary Elijah maintained a healthy dose of skepticism. Nevertheless, he briefed his superior, who was equally stunned, and then agreed to a small, controlled experiment. If Pokémon Biotech could deliver on its promise, the government would gladly support Ethan's plan.
That afternoon, Secretary Elijah sent word for Ethan to meet him at a secure government facility. When Ethan pulled up, the officials and a few researchers were waiting. They instinctively glanced at Ethan's car, half expecting to see a large machine or device. Instead, Pikachu jumped out first, followed by a slender, elegant four-legged creature that was Suicune.
The onlookers let out a collective gasp. Suicune exuded a regal calm. Its sleek body and glossy fur seemed almost otherworldly, and its eyes scanned the environment with an intelligent, measured gaze.
One of the researchers leaned toward Elijah and whispered, "This is the creature they say can handle radioactivity?" Elijah just shrugged his shoulders. None of them expressed their doubts openly, but it was clear to Ethan that they had serious reservations.
Ethan just smiled. "Shall we start?"
...
Elijah led Ethan down corridors into a sealed lab area. A lead-lined chamber awaited, containing a massive, tightly sealed water tank. "We've extracted and prepared a small amount of nuclear waste from older rods," Elijah explained. "Enough to be dangerously radioactive, but still manageable in a lab environment."
The four scientists in hazmat suits nodded to the group from behind the protective glass. They opened the chamber door, unfastened the tank lid, then stepped out, sealing the room again.
"All right," one of the scientists announced. "Mr. Grave, we have your sample of nuclear-contaminated water in the blue tank. You can have your Pokémon try to 'clean' it now. If the water is truly purified, we'll take a sample and test it."
His tone was polite, but tinged with skepticism. Ethan could feel the tension: If Suicune failed, the fiasco would confirm their doubts. If it succeeded... it could change history.
Ethan patted Suicune's back and said quietly, "Get in there and clean the water, will you?" Over the past two days, Ethan had run basic tests on lightly polluted water, like sewage, and samples contaminated with heavy metals. Suicune had purified them in seconds, a feat that seemed almost magical to James and others who witnessed it.
With a soft, melodic cry, Suicune stepped through the heavy lab door into the sealed chamber. Everyone watched from a protected window or monitors, half expecting some grand display.
Inside the tank was a cloudy, greenish liquid. Suicune approached it, raised a slender foreleg and gently dipped it into the water. Then he withdrew his leg, turned and walked calmly back to the chamber door.
...
The observers looked puzzled. One researcher blurted out, "That's it? No brilliant light, no swirling vortex, not even an obvious reaction, just a quick dab of Suicune's hoof into the toxic water.
Ethan, however, remained calm. "It's done," he said. "We can open it now and test it."
"Seriously?" Secretary Elijah let out a small sigh, expecting disappointment. But the chief scientist signaled to enter the room again. The door was carefully opened and a figure walked up to the tank. Inside the container, the once cloudy liquid was now crystal clear, almost sparkling.
"Impossible..." The suit-wearing scientist stood frozen. Everyone crowded around the glass window, staring at the transparent water that looked pure enough to drink. Some whispered accusations of "exchanging the water", but they quickly checked the recorded footage. Every second from the time Suicune entered to the time he left, the camera showed no sign of switching.
The lab staff took new samples, sealed them, and rushed them off for testing. Meanwhile, others combed through the video. They saw Suicune place a single hoof in the water, linger for a split second, and then walk away. In that instant, the liquid lost its radioactive properties and became clear. Data from the monitors showed a rapid drop in radioactivity immediately after contact.
...
A stunned silence fell over the group. Even Secretary Elijah was momentarily speechless, his mind racing with the political implications. If Suicune could replicate this feat on a larger scale than the piles of nuclear waste Japan threatened to release, then the entire world's approach to nuclear disposal could be revolutionized.
One of the scientists pulled off his suit hood and faced Ethan. "How... how does it do that?" Ethan just shrugged. "It's in its genetic design, able to neutralize or dissolve radioactive contaminants. The details," he added with a slight grin, "are part of Pokémon Biotech's secret."
Minister Elijah cleared his throat. "Mr. Grave, this is beyond what anyone could have imagined. You'll have to come with me and speak to higher authorities. If we can show Japan that your Pokémon can purify these volumes, we may be able to avert a global environmental crisis."
Ethan tilted his head calmly. "That was my plan. I'll handle the negotiations, but I'd like the support of the state. Suicune is powerful, but we need official cooperation to handle large-scale operations safely."
Elijah nodded, still shaken by the demonstration. "Of course. This is no small matter. But you've convinced me. Now we just need to confirm the test results in detail, then get you that official support. The Japanese government needs to see this."
Ethan exhaled, relief and confidence mixed. He glanced at Suicune, who elegantly flicked her tail ribbons. A light breeze wafted around them, carrying away doubts as easily as it had cleared the water of toxins.