Examining the pitch-black stone in his hand, Jacob’s heart raced with excitement. No one would have guessed that an S-level Thunder Stone was concealed inside this unremarkable rock.

Now that he had obtained the S-level Thunder Stone, Jacob had no intention of selling it—he planned to keep it for his own use. Items of this caliber were incredibly rare, with market values exceeding 10 million Pokédollars. Miss an opportunity like this, and you might wait years before finding another.

Among all known Pokémon, only seven species could utilize the Thunder Stone:

Pikachu evolves into Raichu with a Thunder Stone.

Eevee evolves into Jolteon with a Thunder Stone.

Magneton evolves into Magnezone with a Thunder Stone.

Eelektrik evolves into Eelektross with a Thunder Stone.

Charjabug evolves into Vikavolt with a Thunder Stone.

Tadbulb evolves into Bellibolt with a Thunder Stone.

Yamper evolves into Boltund with a Thunder Stone.

All these Pokémon were remarkably powerful, each with its own unique strengths. Jacob wasn’t particular about which he might obtain—the key was simply encountering one. He made a mental note to pay special attention to these species from now on. If he ever encountered one with king-level qualifications, he would capture it without hesitation, as he desperately needed strong Pokémon for his journey.

Finding the S-level Thunder Stone seemed to have exhausted Jacob’s luck for the evening. Afterward, he didn’t come across any more bargains. Finally, when the auction began, Jacob followed the crowd into the venue.

Jacob had attended auctions before and knew the protocol—a one thousand Pokédollar entrance fee, plus a 10% commission on all purchased items.

After paying the entrance fee, Jacob was directed to his exclusive seat, where he waited quietly for the proceedings to begin.

The auction officially commenced when a woman in a red slit dress took the stage. She wore a shiny mask that concealed her face, leaving only her curvaceous figure visible to the audience.

“The August auction has officially begun. I am Madam Ruby, your host for this evening,” she announced. Her voice was somewhat cold yet undeniably charming—the quintessential voice of sophistication. “Our first item is a Pokémon of exceptionally high quality. Ladies and gentlemen, please observe.”

As Madam Ruby finished speaking, a transparent container was wheeled onto the stage. Inside was a blue and white Pokémon—a frog species extremely rare in this region.

Froakie had always enjoyed considerable popularity. Combined with its formidable battle capabilities and the unique Ash-Greninja form, it was deeply beloved by Pokémon enthusiasts worldwide.

Jacob was no exception. Who wouldn’t appreciate a Pokémon that was both stylish and powerful? However, he was disappointed to discover that this Froakie’s qualification was only Quasi-King level—below his minimum requirements.

“I’m sure you rarely encounter Pokémon like Froakie. This species is virtually nonexistent in the wild in our country. Each specimen commands an extraordinary price. We invested considerably to acquire this particular Froakie. It hatched less than a week ago, making it ideal for novice trainers. If you have children, Froakie will undoubtedly become their most loyal companion. The starting bid is 500,000 Pokédollars, with minimum increments of 50,000.”

“Ahem!” Jacob nearly choked on his own saliva. While he had dismissed the Froakie’s qualifications, his entire cash reserve wouldn’t even cover the starting bid. How humbling.

“Five hundred and fifty thousand.”

“Six hundred thousand.”

…

Jacob had clearly underestimated the wealth of the auction attendees. The bidding for Froakie quickly escalated from 500,000 to 1 million Pokédollars—approximately the standard price for a Quasi-Gym Leader level Pokémon. However, given Froakie’s rarity, the price would likely continue to rise.

Sure enough, after another round of intense bidding, the Froakie was finally purchased by a portly gentleman for 1.4 million Pokédollars.

“Congratulations to the successful bidder. You may continue participating in the auction, and your Froakie will be delivered upon your departure. Now, let’s proceed to our second item.”

Few of the subsequent auction items matched the Froakie’s caliber. The values were relatively standard, with starting prices ranging from a few thousand to tens of thousands Pokédollars—typical for the underground market. Truly exceptional items were usually reserved for official auctions. Rare specimens like Froakie, with questionable origins, remained the exception.

Throughout this period, Jacob refrained from bidding, as none of the items appealed to his specific needs. Only as the auction neared its conclusion did something truly valuable emerge.

“Our next items are three Pokémon eggs. These specimens are extraordinarily rare, but due to certain circumstances, all three have sustained damage, making them significantly more challenging to hatch successfully.”

Three boxes draped with red silk were placed on the auction table. Madam Ruby approached the first box and removed the covering, revealing a transparent glass container.

A cracked Pokémon egg!

“I cannot disclose this egg’s origin, but I can confirm that the Pokémon inside is Axew.”

Jacob’s attention immediately focused on the cracked egg, and he quickly analyzed its information.

[Pokémon Egg] Axew

Gender: Female

Type: Dragon

Qualification: Lord level (originally Gym Leader level, qualification damaged)

Ability: Rivalry

Moves: ???

Jacob was enticed by the Axew with Gym Leader-level potential! If not for his system’s limitations, he would definitely find a way to acquire this Axew. Even with its damaged qualifications, proper care would likely restore it.

Once fully grown, this Axew would evolve into a Gym Leader-level Haxorus—essentially equivalent to a Quasi-King level Pokémon! Jacob was amazed such a valuable specimen was available here. The underground market was surprisingly generous.

However, considering Madam Ruby’s careful wording, this egg must have come from an illegitimate source—otherwise, it wouldn’t be sold in an underground market.

“Is that an Axew egg?”

“A Dragon-type Pokémon—eventual evolution is Haxorus.”

“Wait, two months ago, wasn’t there an egg transport in Dragon Valley attacked by Team Dawn? All the eggs being transported vanished without a trace. This egg…”

…

The appearance of the Axew egg caused a stir among the audience, but Madam Ruby remained unfazed. She proceeded directly to the second and third eggs, removing their red coverings.

“The starting bid for the first egg is one million Pokédollars. Compared to the Axew, these two eggs are less valuable but still quite rare. If interested, seize this opportunity. The starting bid for each of these eggs is two hundred thousand.”

Jacob examined the remaining two Pokémon Eggs. The second was noticeably smaller, appearing underdeveloped. The third had a dull coloration, with black spots covering the shell—clear indications the Pokémon inside was ill.

[Pokémon Egg]

Cyndaquil

Gender: Male

Type: Fire

Qualification: Lord level (originally Gym leader level, underdeveloped)

Characteristic: Blaze

Moves: ???

[Pokémon Egg] Magikarp

Gender: Male

Type: Water

Qualification: Elite level (originally Quasi-King level, life threatened by viral infection)

Ability: Rattled

Moves: ???

When Jacob saw the Magikarp egg, his eyes momentarily brightened before disappointment set in. If only its potential were slightly better!

Quasi-King level Pokémon fell short of true King-level, preventing Jacob from capturing them under his system’s rules. In any case, this was all academic—given the nature of the auction, his limited funds couldn’t secure any of these three Pokémon.

Despite their defects and questionable origins, these eggs far exceeded Jacob’s financial capacity of a few hundred thousand Pokédollars.

The appearance of these three eggs immediately intensified the auction, particularly the Axew egg. The starting price of one million was quickly surpassed, soon exceeding two million and continuing to climb. The scene made Jacob’s blood pressure rise.

Nonetheless, Dragon-type Pokémon were rare, and this egg possessed extraordinary qualities. Even with a cracked shell, a price exceeding two million was understandable.

Jacob remained seated, watching the bidding frenzy like a spectator at a show, with no intention of participating. He had already scored a significant victory by obtaining the S-level Thunder Stone.

“Three million.”

Suddenly, Jacob noticed a man in a black cloak who called out a bid of three million in a hoarse voice.

Jacob observed this mysterious wealthy bidder with curiosity and was startled to discover a Houndoom lying beside him.

[Houndoom]

Gender: Male

Types: Dark, Fire

Qualification: Quasi-King level

Combat power: Quasi-King level

Ability: Flash Fire

Held item: B-grade Charcoal

Moves: Leer, Ember, Smog, Thunder Fang, Howl, Feint, Roar, Bite, Odor Sleuth, Beat Up, Fire Fang, Nasty Plot, Payback, Flamethrower, Crunch, Swagger, Dark Pulse, Inferno, Solar Beam, Fire Spin, Sucker Punch, Overheat, Heat Wave, Foul Play, Embargo, Sludge Bomb

Jacob was stunned by the impressive display of information. A Quasi-King level trainer had appeared at this underground auction—a potentially dangerous development. He decided it would be prudent to leave quickly.

Jacob no longer wished to remain. Despite having the protection of his father’s Scizor and Escavalier, he clearly stood no chance against this Houndoom.

A Quasi-King level Pokémon represented one of the most formidable combat forces in Starlight City. This mysterious man undoubtedly had ulterior motives for attending.

Jacob rose without hesitation and quietly exited the underground market. Simultaneously, he began searching for information about Quasi-King level Houndoom on his phone.

In this world of advanced technology, Quasi-King level Houndoom were exceedingly rare.

“Wanted criminal: Dante”

“Sex: Male”

“Age: 48 years old”

“Quasi-King level trainer”

“Signature Pokémon: Zoroark, Krookodile, and Houndoom”

“Dante is exceptionally dangerous. He achieved Quasi-King level status ten years ago and possesses three Quasi-King level Pokémon: Zoroark, Krookodile, and Houndoom. Due to lacking a King-level Pokémon, he has never advanced to King-level trainer. Three years ago, he murdered the entire Zhao family in Drakenshire City and simultaneously stole the egg of their Pseudo-Legendary Pokémon, Larvitar, before fleeing. His whereabouts remain unknown.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep