In the Chat Group.
Everyone knew Steven had recently gone to Paldea. After all, he often shared glimpses of the local sights and customs.
Steven had also shared the story of how he caught Kingambit with everyone in the group.
Lt. Surge: "Why are you suddenly attending an auction?"
Akin had finally found his chance to get one back.
Akin: "Idiot, can't you read the item list?"
Two lines away from the Water Scroll Li Wei wanted to bid on was the item Steven wanted.
It was a Mega Stone for an unidentified Pokémon. Even Li Wei couldn't tell from the picture alone.
He would have to wait until Steven won the Mega Stone and he could see it in person to identify it.
Akin asked curiously, "By the way, can you livestream the auction? I've never been to one. I want to see what it's like!"
Steven: "Sorry, they've explicitly forbidden livestreaming."
Porto Marinada's auctions were never livestreamed to the public.
The auctions in Porto Marinada were a long-standing tradition and already famous enough. They didn't need livestreams for publicity.
It was precisely because Steven had heard about this auction
that he had stayed in Porto Marinada to wait for it.
Two days later.
In Paldea,
at a private auction in Porto Marinada,
Steven sat neatly dressed in a suit and polished shoes.
Seated in the auction hall, Steven drew plenty of attention.
Even though Paldea had no diplomatic ties with the Pokémon League led by the Kanto Region, there was no way the people here wouldn't recognize Steven.
After all, the internet was so well developed.
Steven was extremely popular in Paldea, too, which was one reason he had been invited to this auction.
The auction proceeded smoothly.
When the mysterious, unidentified Mega Stone appeared, Steven's instincts