The Tycoon Game

Ever since joining the Sand Group, Cheng Hong and the others had been forced into a month-long training program.

What kind of training?

Its general contents were: [How to become a qualified Quicksand Team member, how to possess an unyielding will, how to accurately obey superior orders...]

In other words, a month of "military training." Only after it ended could they choose which boss to follow.

As a newcomer, Baimu should have attended as well, but he had been spared because of next week's match against the Hound Team. These days, his routine consisted of five places—

Home, restaurant, Pokémon Center, Underground City battle zone, literacy class.

As he appeared in the battle zone more often, the originally unfriendly looks gradually disappeared. Aside from Otsuka, that unlucky fool, he had gotten to know a few others and maintained a certain degree of friendly relations with them.

Their family situations were similar to Otsuka's. Their parents had been official members but retired after getting injured, leaving them to become the family's breadwinners, whether willingly or not.

After one battle.

Otsuka looked at the lightly panting, somewhat tired Aron and frowned. "Are you really planning to enter the competition with just one Pokémon?"

"I don't want to either. Who told me to compete right after becoming a Trainer?"

Baimu helplessly stroked Aron.

Both Cang Zhilang and Ayana had told him to compete, yet neither had explained the format to him. He did not figure out what the match against the Hound Team was about until the following day.

One-on-one in a proper arena, and whichever side won more matches would win?

How could it possibly be that orderly?

This match would throw thirty boys and girls under the age of eighteen from the two teams into a wilderness arena with a predetermined boundary.

At the start, each person would receive a wristband they could use to challenge others. Challenges could not be refused and were limited to one-on-one battles. Teaming up with others was forbidden, and surrender was not allowed.

Participants could run during the match. If the distance between both sides exceeded thirty meters for ten consecutive seconds, the challenge would end.

Each person could use no more than three Pokémon.

If all their Pokémon lost the ability to battle, they lost. If the Trainer lost the ability to fight, they also lost. Whether they used single, double, or triple battles during that time was not mandatory.

The time limit was six hours. Whichever team had more people remaining would win.

Why was it so complicated?

Because the match would be livestreamed for many wealthy people in Pyrite Town and Silicon Beryllium City. To them, it was like some thrilling reality show.

After hearing all that, Baimu did not even know how to describe his fucking mood.

As expected of people converted from Neon!

And without question, this livestream would bring the Quicksand Team a substantial profit. The winning side's earnings would be even more outrageous, so there was no way they would refuse.

This competition was also extremely important to all the participants.

Never mind the rewards for defeating someone—just surviving until the end would provide enough benefits to satisfy them.

Therefore, Baimu's earlier threats had happened to strike right at their weak point.

Still, it was a little strange that the higher-ups were letting them battle on their own. Shouldn't they send someone to teach them?

Were they not afraid of losing?

Well, this was not a school, nor was it some cultivation sect. Guidance was far too distant a concept here.

Three Pokémon... Where was he supposed to get three Pokémon in just a few days? The money in his pocket was nowhere near enough, let alone the effort needed afterward to build relationships with them and develop teamwork.

Should he just get two random ones to fill the slots?

Whether that would be a burden or help was a serious question.

"I'm poor. I can't afford Pokémon."

Baimu stretched and considered whether borrowing money might work, perhaps from the person who had guided him here or Liu Ge, who appreciated him.

Colleagues like Cheng Hong were even worse off than he was. Even if the whole bunch pooled their money, they probably could not scrape together fifty thousand.

Just as he was lost in thought, Otsuka's voice came over.

"I-I can lend you money! No interest!" He seemed to have made a huge decision. Even his speech came out haltingly, his cheeks clenched tight.

"Huh?" Baimu froze. "You're lending me money? You have that much money? And no interest? Are you trying to screw me over?"

Even blood brothers borrowing money in his previous life might charge each other interest. He had only known Otsuka for a few days, and they had once been hostile toward each other. Was Otsuka really that kindhearted?

Unprompted kindness meant either treachery or theft!

"Of course not!"

Otsuka's face turned red, and his voice lowered. "I've been saving money all along! And I wanted to thank you too, about the Trade Evolution thing..."

After looking into it, he learned that the Quicksand Team had a Trade Evolution machine. However, it had been forcibly monopolized by a relative of the Quicksand Team's boss, and anyone who wanted to use it had to pay that person.

There were machines outside too, but they were not much cheaper. More importantly, if he evolved elsewhere and that person found out, he might end up making an enemy of him.

So Otsuka had spent a sum of money to evolve Graveler into Golem.

Baimu knew all that. He was simply surprised at how dramatically this guy had changed.

A few days ago, he had worn the face of a standard school delinquent. Now he was already learning from Hisashi Mitsui's "Coach, I want to play basketball"?

Baimu looked at Otsuka suspiciously, while Otsuka continued, "After I went home that day, my sister told me about you."

"About me?"

"Yeah. You rescued four companions from the mine, then went back in to save the Pokémon that helped you. My sister said someone like you definitely wouldn't betray others so easily." Otsuka rubbed Donphan's back over and over.

Donphan merely thought its Trainer was scratching an itch and let out a comfortable grunt.

"And she said Lord Liu Ge thinks highly of you. You'll definitely have a bright future, so she told me to make friends with you if I could..."

What Otsuka said was extremely realistic. His improved attitude was not because Baimu was a good person, nor because Baimu's words had been particularly enlightening. It came more from the higher-ups' appreciation.

Though Baimu was curious about where Otsuka's sister had learned these things and how wildly they had spread, he believed seventy or eighty percent of what the big boy before him said.

Acting? It would be terrifying if someone his age had that kind of acting skill. That uniquely adolescent hesitation, the embarrassment of having to explain himself, the way his skin seemed to switch between thin and thick...

Looking at it that way, the change in attitude from the peers around him was probably because of this too.

"How much can you lend me?"

Baimu did not waste words. He really needed money.

"Uh, what Pokémon are you planning to buy? Pick one, and I'll pay for it directly." Otsuka seemed unwilling to reveal exactly how much money he had.

"...That works."

Baimu nodded. "Then we'll go after my literacy class ends."

At that, Otsuka hurriedly said, "No, if you're buying one, let's go now! To the Underground City next door! This is the perfect time!"

"How so?"

"Every month, Pyrite Town receives new Pokémon and sends out the old Pokémon that haven't sold. Today is the exchange day! If you go this afternoon, some of the good ones will already have been picked!"

"Fine, but you carry that much money with you? You started talking to me just now because of this?"

"...Hehehe."

Otsuka's foolish laugh left Baimu somewhat speechless.

The two recalled their Pokémon and headed outside together. Since they had spoken quietly just now, nobody else knew what they were going to do.

When someone asked, they only answered that they were leaving early to eat.

The Sand Group Underground City was connected to other Underground Cities by various tunnels.

Without exception, every one of those tunnels was guarded by Quicksand Team members leaning against motorcycles alongside all kinds of Pokémon.

The two wanted to go to the neutral Underground City next door, so they had to report to the guards. Their return time was strictly limited, and coming back late was forbidden, with fines for violators and the like.

They had barely finished filling out the forms when they looked up and saw a motorcycle speeding toward them.

Screech—

"Which one of you is Baimu?" shouted a man whose face was difficult to see beneath goggles and a helmet.

"Me."

Baimu raised his hand, only to see the man toss him a Great Ball. "Boss said you can borrow this one. Return it after the competition, and you'll have one less Pokémon to buy."

"...Lord Liu Ge?"

"Call him Boss! I seriously don't know whether you're smart or stupid!" The motorcycle rider did not waste another word. He turned around and left.

Baimu looked at the Great Ball in his hand, deeply surprised.

This was undoubtedly Liu Ge extending a helping hand. He had noticed Baimu was going to buy Pokémon and specifically sent one over so he would not have to spend too much money...

"What a great boss!"

Baimu only sighed that in his heart. It was Otsuka, his face full of envy, who said it aloud.