Roy rode his old bicycle down a different route back to the academy.
As he rode, Roy noticed a market up ahead that looked a lot like the one he'd seen at the foot of Mt. Pyre.
There were plenty of people coming and going through the market. A red banner hung at the entrance, bearing seven large white characters: [Pokémon Exchange Conference].
A Pokémon Exchange Conference?
Roy remembered that Ash had participated in an exchange conference in the anime. Back then, because he didn't quite understand what trading meant, he'd traded his Butterfree for a suited man's Raticate.
Although they traded back later, that episode had still made Roy feel awful in his previous life.
But back to the point—this wasn't some game-style exchange conference where you could trade a Weedle or Raticate to a mysterious old man for a Legendary Pokémon.
He remembered that an exchange conference had once been held at the foot of Mt. Pyre, but hardly anyone had attended.
Even if they did, no idiot would trade a rare Pokémon with high potential for your Caterpie, Weedle, Spearow, or something similar.
Though he understood the logic, maybe he could use this place to get rid of that Stunky.
Roy stopped his bicycle and entered the Pokémon Exchange Conference, officially organized by the Hoenn League, with Stunky's Poké Ball in hand.
A sign hung at the market entrance, stating that the exchange conference adhered to the principle of mutual consent. Everyone present had to show their ID Card to participate.
Luckily, they only had to show it. There was no need to register it.
This was actually an event the Pokémon League had prepared for civilian Trainers. Wealthy people just went straight to the Pokémon Day Care to buy high-quality Pokémon. Why would they come here?