That morning, Ethan returned to the lab to drop off the gene seeds for Torchic, Treecko, and Mudkip.
Watching him, Jamissa shook her head in amazement. It wasn't just that Ethan was designing new Pokémon so quickly, it was that he was still putting in the work just hours before leaving on a long trip. Comparing notes, the lab staff joked that Ethan was a workaholic, still tinkering with biological designs on the eve of his departure.
By noon, Ethan, Annie, and the others boarded their private jet. Ethan carried about a dozen Poké Balls in his backpack, accompanied by Pikachu and Suicune. Several figures from the last official verification also joined them.
Once aboard, Conrad clicked his tongue in mild admiration. "Young people really know how to live it up these days, booking a private plane. Must have cost you a fortune, huh?"
"Not too much," Ethan replied, settling into his seat. "And it's not a big plane anyway."
Annie sat down in front of him, cradling Pikachu in her arms. Nearby, Suicune curled up to rest quietly.
"Any drinks? Coffee, tea, wine...?" a young flight attendant asked, glancing at Ethan and then at Pikachu and Suicune. Her gaze lingered on Suicune, an elegant, stag-like Pokémon she'd never seen before. After hearing about "Pokémon Biotech" on the news, she suspected that the creature's alleged ability to purify nuclear waste might be the key to solving Japan's crisis.
For three hours, they soared through the skies before finally landing at Scissor Seven Airport in Japan. Upon disembarking, they were met by a local pick-up team.
"Wow, traveling with you is so glamorous," Annie murmured near Ethan's ear as she cuddled Pikachu. Along with the private flight, the local Japanese government had even provided official vehicles.
They climbed into one of the cars and drove straight to the Prime Minister's office.
"Please wait here for a moment. The Prime Minister is finishing some business," said a man in his thirties who greeted them in the outer hall. An interpreter stood beside him.
"I am Inada Colby, assistant to the Prime Minister. If you need anything, please let me know." He scanned the group, his eyes settling on Ethan. "You must be Mr. Ethan Grave, yes?"
Ethan tilted his head. "Yes, I am."
"A genius, they say. We in Japan have heard a lot about Pokémon Biotech, especially your evolving genetic creatures."
Ethan laughed politely. "Mr. Inada, compliments will have no effect on the upcoming negotiations."
Inada smiled sheepishly; he'd hoped some early flattery might soften Ethan's stance on price. "No misunderstanding intended, of course."
The group chatted lightly about the city. Inada recommended local sights, cuisine, and other attractions to pass the time until the Prime Minister was ready. Everyone knew that Japan's nuclear crisis was an urgent matter, and neither side wanted to delay.
Moments later, Prime Minister Mugiwara Aizawa arrived. It was Ethan's first face-to-face meeting with Prime Minister Aizawa, though he'd seen glimpses of him on television. They exchanged brief pleasantries before Aizawa got down to business:
"Mr. Grave, what exactly is your plan? Will your... genetic creatures be able to handle the nuclear waste alone?" He gestured at Pikachu and Suicune.
Ethan pointed to Suicune. "Sir, Suicune is the main solution. Once you test it, you'll see. We've tested her extensively in the Alverez Kingdom; we wouldn't volunteer to betray an entire country. That would end badly for everyone."
Aizawa gave a small grunt, as if to acknowledge that Ethan wouldn't dare attempt an outright deception. "Fine. If Suicune can really solve our problem, let's be clear about your asking price."
Ethan smiled, radiating quiet confidence. "I guarantee that Suicune can end Japan's problems if Japan has enough money."
Aizawa frowned for a moment, not missing Ethan's emphasis on "enough money." Then he composed himself. "We're willing to pay well if it really works."
From the side, Conrad, representing the Alverez Kingdom's supervisory role, watched silently. Meanwhile, Ethan continued:
"I'll name a number... 80 billion."
The interpreter repeated "80 billion" to Aizawa, who pondered for a moment, his expression brightening. "80 billion? That's acceptable. Japan can sign a treaty with your company."
At this point, Conrad interjected firmly. "Mr. Prime Minister, the Alverez Kingdom will act as an overseer for Pokémon Biotech, which must be written into the treaty." That way, if Japan tried to default, Pokémon Biotech would have the formal backing of its home government.
Aizawa quickly agreed. "No problem." He assumed the cost would be 80 billion in Japanese currency. But Ethan's next words froze the room:
"You misunderstood. I meant 80 billion dollars."
Silence fell like a curtain. Even Conrad turned his head sharply. Until that moment, he'd assumed Ethan meant 80 billion in the local Japanese currency, not 80 billion dollars. He realized that Ethan's ambition was far greater than they'd expected, potentially amounting to tens of billions in local currency conversion.
Needless to say, the negotiations were just getting started.