Black Market

In the living room of the Chen family villa.

Grandpa Chen asked his grandson how he wanted to handle the matter of the Fairy-type.

Chen Shi said casually, "The Fairy-type hasn't reawakened anywhere in the world yet. For now, it can only be awakened through my Pokéblocks."

"I plan to keep it under wraps for now and publish it once the Fairy-type has fully reawakened."

"By then, I should at least be able to land a Top Researcher title."

Grandma Chen wholeheartedly agreed with this approach, though she did find it a little regrettable.

"If Shi had more credentials under his belt, rather than having only published the evolved forms of three Pokémon, he might even be able to become a Doctor when he announces the Fairy-type."

Grandpa Chen felt the same way and couldn't help feeling sorry for his grandson.

But Chen Shi's expression turned a little odd. "Then what if we add Mega Evolution to that?"

The two elders froze, then grew excited.

Grandpa Chen slapped his thigh. "That's right! There's still Mega Evolution!"

"With Mega Evolution added to the mix, that would definitely be enough for Chen Shi to make a bid for the title of Doctor."

The two elders were very open-minded. Although they came from a family of breeders, they didn't restrict their grandson's development.

If Shi could become a Doctor, they would be just as happy and proud of him.

"Hahaha! Good, wonderful!" Grandpa Chen laughed heartily.

The last time he'd been this happy was when Chen Shi had demonstrated the abilities of an Intermediate Breeder at just eleven years old.

Grandma Chen looked at her grandson, brimming with pride. Everything about him pleased her.

Chen Shi suddenly asked, "Grandpa, speaking of Mega Evolution, how's the Mega Stone collection coming along?"

"Don't tell me you've forgotten!"

Grandpa Chen chuckled and scolded him. "You little brat. Don't worry, your grandpa remembers."

"But since I can only collect them discreetly, I've only found three so far."

As he spoke, he pulled a small cloth pouch from inside his clothes and tossed it to Chen Shi.

Chen Shi opened it excitedly, only to find that the three stones were for Mega Charizard X, Mawile, and Aggron.

The Metagross Mega Stone he'd been hoping for wasn't there.

Seeing Shi's disappointed expression, Grandpa Chen asked, "What's wrong? Are you not happy with these?"

Chen Shi shook his head. "It's not that. There just aren't any I can use."

"We'll collect them little by little. There's no rushing this."

Chen Shi understood that too. Without saying anything more, he stuffed the Mega Stones into his pocket.

He was just about to head upstairs to work on his paper when something else suddenly occurred to him.

"Grandpa, you still haven't told me whether we have a Metal Coat at home!"

Grandpa Chen thought carefully, then shook his head. "We really don't."

"Go buy one yourself. You only need an ordinary-quality one anyway."

"Take your grandma's Garchomp and buy it in Mauville City. I doubt they'll sell any in Verdanturf Town."

Hearing that, Grandma Chen took out a Poké Ball. "Here, take this. It'll do that fool some good to get out for a bit."

Chen Shi accepted the Poké Ball with a smile, went upstairs to grab a few things, then headed straight for the mountain behind the house.

In front of Salamence's cave, Salamence was still teaching Drakloak, while Garchomp basked leisurely in the sun nearby.

By now, Drakloak's Draco Meteor was taking shape. The meteors could burst in the sky and rain down.

Clearly, Drakloak had already learned Draco Meteor. All that remained was to improve its proficiency.

When Chen Shi came over, Drakloak excitedly pointed at the craters left by Draco Meteor, looking thoroughly pleased with itself.

"Kia~"

"Yes, yes, I know our Dreepy is the best. Make sure you learn properly from big sis Salamence."

Drakloak was beside itself with pride and patted its belly to show that it would work hard.

Chen Shi patted its head. "I'm going out to buy a few things today. I'll be back soon, so I won't be taking you this time."

Upon hearing that he was only going shopping, Drakloak immediately lost interest and flew back to Salamence to continue learning.

Next, Chen Shi walked over to the sunbathing Garchomp, took out a bottle of liquor, and opened it.

Garchomp rose as soon as he caught the scent.

"Gar~ Garchomp~"

"Want some?"

Garchomp nodded furiously.

"Come with me to Mauville City and I'll give you this. Once we're back, I'll give you another bottle."

Garchomp hesitated. Without his Trainer's orders, he couldn't exactly take Chen Shi along.

Chen Shi understood what he was hesitating over and took out a Poké Ball to show him.

Garchomp immediately got to his feet and turned his back to Chen Shi.

"Garchomp~"

(Little bro, hop on.)

Outside Mauville City, Garchomp landed with Chen Shi in an open area beyond the city limits, since riding Flying-type Pokémon wasn't allowed within the city.

After dismounting, Chen Shi recalled Garchomp into his Poké Ball.

Honestly, although Garchomp was fast, he wasn't particularly comfortable to ride.

Salamence was much better. Her back was broad enough that he could sit however he liked.

Soon afterward.

Once Chen Shi entered the city, he found a department store and asked a clerk directly:

"Where do you keep your Metal Coats?"

The clerk paused. "I'm sorry, sir. We've sold out of Metal Coats."

"Sold out?"

Chen Shi was dumbfounded. How could they be sold out?

"Yes, sir. You can place an order with us. A new shipment will arrive in two days."

Chen Shi waved a hand. "Never mind, never mind. I'll check somewhere else."

"I'm very sorry, sir."

"It's fine."

With that, Chen Shi tried two more shops that sold items, but unfortunately, neither had what he wanted.

Walking down a street in Mauville City, Chen Shi scratched his head. How could he not even find a Metal Coat?

Had he picked an unlucky day to go out or something?

Suddenly, Chen Shi remembered a place his grandpa had taken him to before.

He immediately turned around and, after winding through several streets, found a secluded bar.

Chen Shi went straight to the counter, found the bar's owner, and tossed him ten thousand League Coins.

"Take me downstairs."

The bar owner accepted the money and, without wasting words, led him into a small room.

When he opened the cabinet inside, a staircase leading downward appeared before Chen Shi.

The bar owner asked, "Do you need a black robe and a mask?"

"No."

The moment he finished speaking, Chen Shi headed straight down.

The bar owner shook his head, muttering something about a reckless rookie.

After descending the stairs, Chen Shi found himself looking at a vast underground space.

Both sides of the walkway were packed with stalls selling rare materials or items.

Most of the people around him wore black robes and masks, leaving Chen Shi looking distinctly out of place.

Ignoring the strange looks from those around him, Chen Shi examined the stalls one by one.

Most of the goods were fake, and some were convincing enough to pass for the real thing.

Without his system panel, even Chen Shi might not have been able to tell.

Soon, Chen Shi stopped in front of a stall run by someone in a black robe.

He picked up an item and asked, "How much for this stone?"

The stallholder glanced up and named a price.

"One hundred thousand."

"Deal." Chen Shi didn't waste any words either. He took out a hundred thousand in cash and tossed it onto the stall.

Then he left with the stone.

Glancing at the Lucario Mega Stone in his hand, Chen Shi suddenly felt that the shops selling out of Metal Coats wasn't such a bad thing.

Otherwise, how would he have stumbled upon this unexpected find?

Noivern