Bottom-tier trainers in the Pokémon world

The black market in Golden City.

The scene was even more bustling than outside, except that the passersby with their varied faces were all shrouded in black cloaks, making them seem like "strangers."

The young man's purpose was clear: he went straight to the southern district of the black market, an illegal elf trading area.

I chose a small-looking elf shop.

The pungent, sour smell that the cloak couldn't mask made the shop staff wrinkle their noses and cover their mouths.

He asked in a muffled voice, "Is there anything you need?"

Several ordinary Poké Balls were placed on the counter.

"Calculate the price."

The staff member let out a long sigh of relief, picked up the Poké Ball, and walked to the instrument next to him to analyze and measure it.

Wild Pokémon are evaluated based on various factors, including their growth status, strength, characteristics, moves they have mastered, and difficulty of development, before a price is given.

Although this price is slightly lower than the market value, it can save trainers a lot of trouble.

"Oh? A Krabby with the Forced Ability? Its moves are decent too. It still has some potential for improvement at the Excellent level. This one is pretty good." The staff member couldn't help but sigh as he looked at the data displayed on the computer.

The young man slowly raised his head. Even though he looked extremely disheveled, he was still recognizable as Xia Yan, who had been missing for some time!

This forcibly captured Kingler was naturally a Water-type Pokémon that he caught with Fengluochuan and Weedle before the Zapdos incident.

After spending so much time in the wild, he returned to Goldenrod City and immediately exchanged his Pokémon for money.

With money, he could gradually realize his subsequent plans and arrangements.

"Two hundred and fifty thousand in total, are you selling or not?"

The most valuable item is undoubtedly the Giant Claw Crab, which possesses excellent-level strength. It is estimated that a large part of its value comes from this Giant Claw Crab.

There were also a variety of Water-type Pokémon, and I tried to catch some other Pokémon on the way back to Saffron City.

The price of 250,000 yuan did not meet Xia Yan's expectations, but it was still acceptable.

Adding to that the 50,000 Alliance Coins reward he received for completing the quest to capture the Vine Monster, and the various other money he earned while training at the club recently, he had a total of about 370,000 to 380,000.

This amount of money is far from enough to buy a Pokémon with excellent talent, high training value, and reasonable base stats.

But Xia Yan doesn't have that need yet.

Moreover, the Pokémon sold in these shops are usually subjected to brutal training before being sold, in order to make them easier for trainers to master. This forces them to fear humans and obey commands, but they lose their original personalities and characteristics.

Such sprites are easy to learn, but they are not worth training.

If you really want to buy a Pokémon, it's definitely more reliable to go to a breeding center with a professional operating license from the League.

Although the price may be much higher, the value of nurturing them is greater, and their growth potential is higher.

Furthermore, the breeding center will make reasonable combinations and builds for the breeding and inheritance of some Pokémon, and the Pokémon sold will have some good inherited moves and the characteristics of the Pokémon itself.

However, he no longer needs the Pokémon he's training, but he desperately wants some Pokémon that he can use as tools.

After a moment's hesitation, Xia Yan asked, "Do you have Ditto?"

"A Ditto?" The staff member looked him up and down and couldn't help but chuckle.

Ditto is a Pokémon with extremely ordinary combat power, but it is very popular in the black market because it can transform into any form it wants, if it so chooses.

Wild Ditto is difficult to catch, and finding them is not easy. However, places like the Black Market Pokémon Shop have breeding farms that professionally raise Ditto, which can continuously produce Ditto and earn resources.

Ditto is also a favorite among many trainers who operate between the black and white zones, as it can effectively conceal their identity.

"Yes, 20,000 for those who aren't good at transformation, and 50,000 for those who are good at transformation. Which one do you want?"

The price difference between those skilled in transformation and those not skilled in it is a full 30,000 Alliance Coins.

But what use is Xia Yan if he can't transform?

He may not need this Ditto now, but it will become a good tool for concealing his identity in the future.

It's better to be prepared.

"Fifty thousand."

There was no need to hesitate; it would save time on training transformations. "I also need a Flying-type Pokémon that can carry people."

boom.

The staff member tossed a thick book onto the counter.

"The front is the table of contents, and the back has detailed descriptions. You can choose for yourself." She covered her nose, seemingly unwilling to get close to Xia Yan.

Xia Yan didn't say anything.

I just quietly started flipping through the table of contents.

Most of the Pokémon are from the Kanto and Johto regions, with a small number from the Hoenn and Sinnoh regions, although the Pokémon from those two regions are a bit pricey.

There are quite a few Flying-type Pokémon, but not many Flying-type Pokémon can carry people. Xia Yan quickly found his target.

"This one, please."

Pointing to a page in the notebook.

Pokémon: Pidgeotto

Type: Normal + Flying

Characteristic: Sharp eyesight

Strength Assessment: Excellent

Mastered moves: Tackle, Sand Splash, Wind Rush, Lightning Flash, Blow Away, Feather Dance, Wing Attack, Perch, Noisy, Clear Fog

Not only can it serve as a Pokémon for carrying people in flight, but it can also be a great fighter for Xia Yan when he is training his own Pokémon.

"Good eye, 100,000."

Chapter Two: The Feast-Eating Monk

When leaving the black market.

Xia Yan only had 100,000 Alliance Coins left.

Besides buying two utility Pokémon, I also bought a lot of Pokémon food, such as high-level energy cubes and Moo Moo milk, to prepare some necessities for raising Pokémon.

Of course, besides these, books have always been his passion.

He rarely misses any of the Pokémon knowledge books or document copies that the League prohibits or discourages.

Finally, there are some basic communication devices, such as mobile phones.

This trip to the black market went without any unexpected incidents, and I wasn't targeted by any merchants.

Perhaps it was because his scent was too strong, or perhaps he hadn't fully transitioned from his wilderness survival state yet, exuding a chilling and ruthless aura. Others thought he was not an easy opponent, and without confidence, they didn't make a move.

In short, when he came out of the passageway inside 115 Kelsa Street again, he didn't encounter any problems.

However, when he arrived at the shop at 115 Kelsa Street, he saw the old man who was guarding the door chatting with someone.

into the eye.

A hint of surprise flickered in his eyes when he saw the person arguing with the old man.

It wasn't because Xia Yan knew this person, but simply because of his attire and demeanor.

He wore a somewhat disheveled gray monk's robe, with an orange bundle slung around his waist, a large string of prayer beads around his neck, and a string of small wooden prayer beads in his hand. His head was bald.

It's easy to tell from his attire that he's a monk.

The young monk, who looked to be about seventeen or eighteen years old, had rosy cheeks and his eyes were narrowed into slits as he smiled. As he shook his head, his huge earlobes swayed along with him.

From a distance, you can faintly smell the aroma of alcohol.

His voice was gentle and warm, with a unique tone and intonation.

A monk who drinks and eats meat?

"These prayer beads of mine are treasures from the Bell Tower. They are made from materials blessed by the divine fire of the Phoenix King, a mythical beast. Selling them for five hundred yuan is really a bargain." The little monk enthusiastically promoted the prayer beads in his hand, as if he wouldn't leave until you bought them.

The old man was stubborn; he refused to buy it no matter what.

"Heh, the legendary Pokémon Ho-Oh? I also said my shoes were blessed by the sea god Lugia. Do you want them? I'll sell them to you for 400!"

“A monk does not lie. What I am saying is the truth. How can it be compared to your filthy shoes?”

The little monk wasn't angry at all; he kept a smiling face.

"A monk? A monk wouldn't be drunk like you." The old man's beard almost bristled.

He had been arguing with the young monk for almost half an hour, but he couldn't get rid of him no matter what he did.

“You don’t understand. This wine is three parts sorrow and seven parts bitterness. What I’m drinking isn’t wine, but the suffering of the world,” the little monk said solemnly.

Xia Yan, who was walking by expressionlessly, couldn't help but pause when he heard the little monk say "three parts sorrow and seven parts bitterness".

This little monk has a Zen-like air about him.

But the old man was clearly not buying it, and glared at him, saying, "Then tell me, what are you planning to do with the money from selling these prayer beads?"

The young monk retracted his palm and made a Buddhist gesture of respect in front of him.

"One should savor the more human suffering that is known."

Old man: "..."

Xia Yan: "......"

Xia Yan shook his head with a slightly self-deprecating smile and strode away.

So, after all that, it all boils down to selling Buddhist beads to buy alcohol because they're broke?

Xia Yan thought to himself, "I was being a bit presumptuous..."

After Xia Yan left, the little monk suddenly stopped nagging, slowly turned his head, opened his squinted eyes slightly, and looked in the direction Xia Yan had left. His pure and bright eyes flickered with a glimmer of light and a hint of doubt.

"Hey, little monk, what are you looking at?" The old man, halfway through his argument, noticed that the little monk was distracted and couldn't help but call out.

"Oh, it's nothing. I just think that person... stinks."

Polite Xia Yan: You?