Underground Market (Please Bookmark and Vote)

Apricot County's Underground Market was the only underground market in all of Auspicious City. It had become something of a distinctive local industry for Apricot County.

The Underground Market had originated from Mystery Realms. Whenever a Mystery Realm appeared, the state would take control of it immediately, eliminate any dangers, and explore its resources. Once most of the concentrated resources had been surveyed and extracted, a certain number of Professional Trainers would be allowed inside to explore. There were often resources hidden deep within, like treasures sealed inside layers of rock.

There were also many large and even super-large Mystery Realms that humanity had yet to fully conquer. Professional Trainers of a certain rank could apply to enter and explore them.

Professional Trainers would sell things discovered in Mystery Realms that could not be specifically appraised through the Underground Market, earning themselves an income.

The most popular items were stones brought back from Mystery Realms. They might contain all kinds of valuable materials—Evolution Stones, held items, Skill Secret Jades, and more had all been found inside stones before.

Thus, the stone-gambling industry had emerged, along with fake experts and thrill-seekers.

In one day, this grandfather-and-grandson pair would successfully gamble on a Pristine Thunder Stone in the Underground Market.

Time was of the essence. Shu Tong skipped his meal and headed straight for Apricot County's Underground Market.

The Underground Market was located in the old southern district of the city, converted from a large underground parking garage. Once inside, there were rows upon rows of small shops, with hawkers shouting nonstop.

"Come take a look! This shop is offering a heavyweight premium resource—the Dragon Horn! If a Magikarp carries a Dragon Horn during special training, it'll evolve into a Gyarados in no time!" A shop owner shouted at the top of his lungs from his doorway, successfully drawing a crowd.

Shu Tong snorted. If you said Dragon Scale or Dragon Fang, I might believe you. What the hell is a Dragon Horn?

"Come take a look! This shop has a top-secret treasure that can evolve a Caterpie into a powerful Dragon-type Pokémon! There's only one, first come, first served!" Another shop owner was loudly advertising.

"That's complete bullshit." It was not just Shu Tong; many passersby cursed the shop owner for advertising without even a shred of decency.

"Esteemed customer, come take a look at our fruit! They all come from Mystery Realms. See this apple-like thing? Its real name is Apple Wild Berry. Pokémon recover their stamina quickly after eating it, and regular consumption can even improve their physical potential! And look at this fruit that resembles dragon fruit. Its name is Dragonfire Berry. Pokémon that eat it will have their Special Attack improved. These are Berries found only in Mystery Realms! Originally one thousand each, but today we're giving back to new and returning customers—only one hundred each! And buy one, get one free! Yes, you heard that right!"

The farther Shu Tong walked, the less faith he had in this Underground Market. What kind of shops were these? They were openly scamming people.

"Honored customer, just look at how lively this Magikarp is!"

Up ahead, a vendor tossed a Magikarp into the arms of a blue-haired young man. The youth looked at a loss and held his arms straight out as the Magikarp bounced up and down between them.

"I'll let you in on a secret: this Magikarp produces gold! And Magikarp reproduce incredibly fast. One Magikarp produces ten, ten produce a hundred, and a hundred produce... well, that's an astronomical number! In just a few years, you'll be a billionaire!"

Light gleamed in the blue-haired youth's eyes.

Shu Tong was dumbfounded. Did James get reincarnated here? He actually believed that?

That was because this world had only been in contact with Pokémon for a little over a century. Many aspects of Pokémon remained unknown, and plenty of people took advantage of that mystery to exaggerate them into omnipotent beings.

This Magikarp's information appeared before Shu Tong's eyes.

[Name]: Magikarp

[Attribute]: Water

[Ability]: Swift Swim

[Skill]: Splash

[Individual Aptitude]: Mid-grade Attack; low-grade Stamina, Defense, Special Attack, Special Defense, Speed

[Recent Turning Point]: One year later, its Trainer drowned. Grateful for its Trainer's care, it forcibly broke through the limits of its species, evolved into a Gyarados, and saved its Trainer.

"I'll take it. How much?" the blue-haired youth asked eagerly.

Shu Tong shrugged. How come someone else got scammed yet still ended up buying a Pokémon with such a good story? I just wonder whether its Trainer will still be this blue-haired kid a year from now.

"Young man, you really have a good eye. How about this? I'll give you a discount—fifty thousand, and it's yours," the vendor said.

"Deal—" The blue-haired youth had barely gotten the word out.

"Wait." Shu Tong interrupted him. In a year, this could be a Trainer with a Gyarados. Getting acquainted with a future Trainer who might become powerful and building connections was certainly not a mistake. It was valuable experience he had gained in his previous life in the workplace.

The vendor immediately sensed trouble, while the blue-haired youth looked at Shu Tong in confusion.

"Boss, this is my classmate. You know Magikarp are extremely common. Out of a hundred thousand, there might not even be one that can evolve into a Gyarados. Outside, they sell for ten thousand at most. As for this gold-producing ability you mentioned, it has never been verified. Why should we believe you? There's risk involved here. Are you planning to make us shoulder all of it? Twenty thousand, not a cent more. Take it or leave it," Shu Tong said.

The vendor's heart skipped a beat. He had been completely making things up. Selling it for ten thousand would already be a huge profit, let alone twenty thousand. He immediately smiled. "Twenty thousand it is. I'll take a small loss, then."

The blue-haired youth swiped his card. The Magikarp was returned to its Poké Ball and handed over to him.

To keep the boss from noticing anything suspicious, Shu Tong grabbed the blue-haired youth's hand and pulled him away.

"We just met, but thank you for standing up for me. I'm Xiao Lang. What's your name?" the blue-haired youth asked.

"Shu Tong. You're from Apricot City too?"

"My hometown is Apricot City, but I attend high school in Jinling. I came to Apricot City this time because it's my grandfather's birthday. This Underground Market is really interesting. The advertisements these bosses make are even funnier than stand-up comedy," Xiao Lang said.

"I'll tell you this: Magikarp don't produce gold. But as long as you raise it well, it'll definitely repay you," Shu Tong said.

"I know."

"You know, and you still bought it?" Shu Tong asked in surprise.

"I thought this Magikarp was very lively, and it would make a good birthday present for my grandfather. Honestly, I didn't know Magikarp's exact price. Thanks to you. Can we exchange contact information?" As he spoke, Xiao Lang took out his phone and opened Piplup Chat.

"You dared to buy one without knowing the market price? You've got a lot of nerve. Suckers like you are exactly what those scammer vendors love," Shu Tong said, taking out his own phone as well.

The two added each other as friends. From Xiao Lang's words, Shu Tong could tell that he was definitely a rich second-generation heir. Casually spending fifty thousand on a birthday gift for his grandfather was proof enough that his family had money to burn.

"If you trust me, raise this Magikarp properly. Raise it for a year or so first. If it truly has no value after that, it won't be too late to give it to your grandfather," Shu Tong said.

"Come to think of it, when the little guy was bouncing around in my hands just now, I really did start to like it. Let me treat you to dinner tonight. I don't have many friends in Apricot City yet," Xiao Lang invited.

"Some other time. I still have something to do."

"Then be more straightforward next time. If you ever come to Jinling, make sure to contact me."

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