Disclaimer: I don't own Pokemon. It belongs to Nintendo and Game Freak.
Hi all,
Here's the next chapter. Lucas earns a huge amount of pokedollars, and visits the Silph Co.
Chapter 28
After further discussion of their business deal, Jasper led Lucas to a private box in the main auction hall. From there, he had a view of the stage and seating area below, which appeared spacious enough to seat hundreds of people. The luxuriously furnished box featured a liquor cabinet, a bar, and a pair of leather recliners.
"The auction will start in an hour," Jasper told him. He pointed to the console between the two recliners. "You can use this to bid on any of the items. When the auctioneer shows the item, they set the minimum bid, which you can increase at any time. If you find something you like, I will give you a hundred thousand pokedollars in credit, which you will repay with the proceeds from the potions you sell."
"Do you have that much confidence that they will sell?" Lucas asked.
"If I thought your potions wouldn't sell for at least this much, I wouldn't have bothered with you," Jasper said, chuckling. Please help yourself to the drinks at the bar; they are on the house. You can also use the console to contact an attendant if you require anything else."
After saying that, Jasper left the room. Meowth jumped down from his shoulder and settled into one of the recliners. Lucas summoned the rest of his team, as there was more than enough space to accommodate them.
Sapphira wrapped herself around him while the others explored the room. Max went straight for the bar, climbing it to reach the bottle of wine chilling in an ice bucket. He picked up the bottle and examined it closely.
"Be careful," Lucas warned.
Max ignored him and started twisting the cork, relying on his grip strength to pull it out.
"Kid!"
The cork exploded out of the bottle, startling Max so much that he tumbled to the floor. His teammates openly laughed at him, finding amusement in the situation. Lucas sighed and picked up the wine bottle, noticing that some of its contents had spilled onto the floor. Since the bottle was already open, he figured he might as well finish it. He grabbed a glass and took a seat on the second recliner.
"Half of the items aren't even listed," Meowth said, tossing the brochure in disgust.
Lucas picked up the brochure, which showed the items that were up for auction. The brochure only listed the first half of the items, none of which stood out as particularly special. The rest were a complete mystery. He was curious about where his potions were positioned in that lineup. Usually, the auction concluded with the most valuable items, but his potions were being sold separately, so they wouldn't be among those.
"People like to be surprised," Lucas said. "It is part of the excitement of attending the auction. "You never know when you will come across something rare."
A few minutes later, people started entering the auction hall and settling into their seats. He occupied himself by observing the bustling crowd, feeling like he was a tycoon looking down upon the common folk. With just fifty thousand Pokedollars to his name at the moment, that couldn't be further from the truth. Perhaps that will change after the auction has concluded.
The auctioneer stepped onto the stage, signalling the beginning of the auction. He was a fashionable middle-aged man, wearing a gold suit and flaunting a large, styled moustache. Introducing himself as Marco, he presented the first item to the audience, initiating the bidding process.
Lucas paid little attention in the first half because he already knew the items were up for auction. There wasn't anything he wanted, and he wanted to save his pokedollars for anything interesting that might appear in the second half.
Marco drew his attention by putting on some rubber gloves before removing the cloth covering the item. He revealed a dark yellow stone approximately the size of a football. The stone was electrified, with arcs of electricity sparking off its surface, which is why Marco had put on the gloves.
The item's appearance sparked an uproar in the hall.
"I am sure most of you with keen eyes already know what this item is." Marco smiled as he surveyed the crowd. "This is an unrefined thunder evolution stone. These are naturally occurring stones that remain unrefined. We typically only see refined stones in stores. Due to their destructive nature, they can only be sold to the government, which holds the method for refining them. So, why are we able to sell one at our auction house?
Lucas leaned forward in his seat, his curiosity piqued. He understood how evolution stones worked, but the refining process was a complete mystery. Only after discovering the mines did he conduct research and learn about evolution stones. This was part of the reason why he required special equipment to extract the stones. When they became oversaturated with energy, they became extremely volatile and capable of causing widespread destruction. He even imagined that the tremors he felt in the mine were the result of an exploding rock or ground-type evolution stone.
Marco continued. "We can sell it because the stone is an anomaly. It appears dangerous on the surface, but it contains very little electric-type energy. Even a refined evolution stone contains more than three times the energy of this one. It's not much use for your Pokemon, but it is a curiosity piece that you can display in your home. It's beautiful, isn't it? The bid will start at ten thousand pokedollars, with a minimum bid of a thousand."
The crowd calmed down after hearing that the stone was a dud, although some individuals were still interested in it. The bids quickly reached twenty thousand pokedollars before they started to slow down. By this point, Lucas was seriously considering buying the stone, as there was something about it that caught his attention, although he couldn't name it.
Max pressed his face up against the window, staring eagerly at the stone. He turned to Lucas and spoke in an urgent tone.
"Max wants the stone," Meowth translated for him. "He says it feels nice."
That was enough to convince Lucas. Even if it turned out to be a dud, it wouldn't cost him much. He pressed the button to increase the bid. Someone else challenged him but bowed out when the amount reached twenty-five thousand pokedollars.
"Sold to the individual in the private box," Marco announced.
"Kid!" Max raised his arms, cheering.
Despite a few items tempting him, Lucas sat back in his recliner and decided not to bid again. As the auction neared its conclusion, his potions finally made their appearance on stage.
Marco picked up one of the vials and displayed it for everyone to see. What couldn't be seen easily was the symbol that had been etched onto the glass. Jasper had suggested that Lucas design a symbol that represented his brand. It would be an advertisement for his potions, making them easier to sell in the future, as people would associate his symbol with the growth potion. It was something that many well-known alchemists did.
The symbol was something he created on the fly. It was an image of a person's head and shoulders covered in a hood, which obscured his features in the darkness and revealed only glowing red eyes. He even gave himself a moniker to go with the symbol, so everyone knew what to call him.
"This potion was concocted by an aspiring alchemist who goes by the name Enigma," Marco exclaimed. "Prepare to be astonished by the potion's effects. It's called the growth potion, a groundbreaking creation set to revolutionise the Pokémon universe."
"Get on with it," shouted a woman from the audience. "Describe what it does."
Marco smiled, not bothered by the woman's impatience. "It is well known that each Pokemon is unique and has a maximum size they can reach, depending on a variety of factors. The growth potion significantly increases a Pokemon's appetite, resulting in rapid growth that can push them beyond their natural limits. They also have a small chance of mutating and acquiring the giant strain when they evolve."
Marco's speech ignited a frenzy in the audience, filling the hall with deafening sounds as they expressed their amazement. Even though Marco tried to signal for silence by raising his hands, it took a full minute for the audience to quiet down.
Lucas grinned. The crowd's response indicated that he was on the verge of earning a substantial amount of pokedollars.
"Before we get to the bidding," Marco said. "I need to inform you about the potion's potential drawbacks. First of all, a Pokemon can only consume this once per evolution. Any more could have serious negative consequences. Second, be aware that feeding this potion to your Pokemon will cause their appetite to explode. If you don't prepare enough food, your Pokemon may become aggressive."
"Has this potion been verified?" Someone in the crowd inquired.
"Of course," Marco replied. "Our auction house's reputation for testing potions is unparalleled. Snorly has never been wrong about verifying a potion. The growth potion will start at twenty thousand pokedollars, with a five thousand minimum bid. Any takers?"
Lucas watched from his seat as the bids quickly reached forty thousand pokedollars, with no sign of slowing down. He gripped the armrest, feeling a sense of giddiness.
"We are going to be super rich!" Meowth exclaimed. "Maybe I should try making potions?"
Lucas gave him a derisive look, wondering where Meowth got the notion that making potions was so simple. Then he paused to think about it further. Perhaps it wasn't so far-fetched after all. If he could get a slave—ahem, an employee—to produce potions continuously, his profits would skyrocket even further.
"Why are you staring at me like that?" Meowth's hackles rose as he noticed Lucas' strange expression.
The first potion sold for sixty-five thousand pokedollars. None of the remaining pokedollars sold for less than that; the crowd's fear of missing out drove up the price. In the end, they all sold for a combined total of four hundred and forty thousand pokedollars. He earned three hundred and ninety-six thousand pokedollars after deducting the auction house's ten percent share.
"I'm rich!" Lucas let out a whoop of delight, overcome by the desire to get up and dance. At this point, he had drunk a significant amount of wine and was feeling pleasantly buzzed.
His infectious mood spread to all of his Pokémon, who joined in the celebration.
"Tini?" Saphira rubbed her head against Lucas with affection. She seemed more excited than the rest of the team.
"There's a word that describes Pokémon like you," Meowth said, giving Saphira a disdainful glance. "Such shamelessness."
Saphira struck Meowth on the head with a quick flick of her tail, sending him face-planting into the recliner. The impact was so severe that it reduced his condition by one stage.
"Yeowch!" Meowth cried, rubbing his forehead. "Aren't you going to say anything, partner?"
Lucas glanced his way. "That will teach you not to run your mouth."
After the auction, Lucas waited for the attendant to return with the stone he had purchased and the pokedollars he had earned. The attendant delivered the stone in an insulated bag to protect him from shock. He would investigate the stone later. Right now, it was just idle curiosity. Perhaps he'd give it to Max to play with and see what he discovers.
They led him down the corridor to a secret entrance once the majority of the crowd had dispersed. Walking through the tunnel, he came to a dead end, but there was a lever on the wall. When he pulled it, the stone wall moved, revealing a small basement room. He climbed the stairs, exited through the door, and ended up in an alleyway.
After gaining his bearings, he returned to his hotel. Even with his precautions, he felt paranoid, as if someone were watching him from the shadows. Perhaps the prospect of becoming wealthy in a single night made him feel this way.
It was safe to say he wouldn't be sleeping much tonight, thinking about how he could spend the pokedollars he earned.
Lucas groaned and opened his eyes when he heard a banging on the door. He shoved his head under the pillow, hoping the person would leave him alone to sleep. He didn't get much sleep after last night's excitement and didn't want to get up.
"Hey, Lucas!" Brock's muffled voice came through the door. "Hurry and get up. There's an awesome event happening at the Silph Company. It starts in an hour."
He raised his arm and squinted at his watch, which showed that it was past nine a.m. Sighing, he got out of bed. "Give me ten minutes to shower."
Brock replied in the affirmative, and Lucas headed for the bathroom. He felt more energised after showering and went downstairs to get some breakfast. Brock was sitting on the veranda, looking out at the street and feeding his Sandshrew, while he listened to a song on the radio. Sandshrew was Brock's third Pokemon, after Onix and Geodude, whom Lucas met last night.
Lucas summoned his Pokemon and sat down at the table. Unlike Brock, he planned to be lazy and buy some human food for his Pokemon. It wasn't particularly nutritious for them, but they could eat it on occasion.
"Have you ordered yet?" Lucas asked.
"I am feeding Sandshrew first."
"Order anything you'd like. I'll cover the bill," Lucas offered, feeling generous.
Brock's eyes lit up. "You're the one who said it. No take-backs."
The aspiring doctor wasn't exactly flush with pokedollars, and he spent the majority of it on his Pokemon. Onix and Geodude were both rock-type Pokemon and had different diet requirements compared to other types. When they did eat, they typically consumed minerals and ores. Feeding someone as massive as Onix was prohibitively expensive, even if it was infrequent.
Brock ordered a full breakfast consisting of bacon, eggs, mushrooms, and pancakes. Lucas ordered the same thing, and he treated his Pokemon to some human food. Because this was a rare occurrence for them, they didn't hold back and ate generous portions of food.
"So, what were you talking about before?" Lucas asked. "The Silph Company?"
Brock grinned. "They're holding an exhibition to show off some of their new products to the general public in order to gauge interest. These are usually fringe items for which the company is unsure whether they will have broad appeal. They usually have some unusual items at these events, which I would like to see."
Lucas nodded. It wasn't something he didn't want to miss out on. He dug into his meal while idly listening to Brock talk about a lady he met earlier that morning. He wondered how many times the boy would strike out before a woman responded to his advances. Perhaps he should try dating someone his own age.
He noticed Icarus and Icaria sharing a plate rather than eating on their own. It was kind of cute, and he was relieved that they were getting along. When Icaria raised her wing and slapped Icarus across the face, he grimaced and revised his previous thought. It would take some time.
Meowth, annoyed with the music, switched to another radio frequency. Upon landing on a news station, the topic immediately piqued Lucas' interest.
The introduction of a new potion at the Payday Auction House last night caused a stir. The effects of this potion are incredible, and it has some far-reaching implications."
"What is this about?" Brock asked, but Lucas shushed him.
"Are you talking about the growth potion, Mike?"
"That's right. Enigma, a mysterious newcomer to the alchemist scene, created it. Here's the gist of what it does…."
Lucas listened as the man described the potion, then went on to elaborate on the possible consequences of its existence. He was surprised that the news had spread so quickly, but he supposed he shouldn't be, given that there had been hundreds of people at the auction.
"When a Pokemon evolves, the potion has a slim chance of giving it a giant strain. Even without it, Pokemon can grow beyond their natural limits. Do you know how many organisations would want to get their hands on it?"
"Like the Alchemy Guild?"
"It's not just them. Enigma will also attract undesirable elements, such as Team Rocket. I hope the alchemist took some precautions to conceal his identity. But, given their name, I believe they are already aware of this. Calling themselves Enigma gives the impression that they are self-aware, and maybe poking fun at those who will try and uncover their identity."
"How do you think the government will react to this?"
"I expect they are already at the auction house, looking for the alchemist's identity like everybody else. Will old Jasper crumble under such pressure?"
"Mike, you don't know Jasper at all. There is no way he would jeopardise his business in that manner, and the government has no legal basis to demand the information."
The radio hosts then shifted their focus to the S.S. Anne incident, which was still under investigation and hasn't had any significant updates since yesterday. Lucas switched off the radio.
"Enigma must be an alchemy master!" Brock said. "Auctioning the potion from the beginning is a smart move because it will earn the most profit. However, it won't be sustainable for long. Imagine how many people will be watching the auction house for his return."
Lucas's brow furrowed. Brock's words echoed his thoughts on the matter. He knew that he couldn't keep auctioning his potions indefinitely because there would be too many interested parties trying to find out his identity. Even with the face-changing potion, he didn't have full confidence in remaining concealed.
Furthermore, there would be too much demand for his potion, and he would be unable to produce enough to meet it. Although their scarcity would mean he earned more pokedollars in the short term, he didn't know if the trouble was worth it. Manufacturing it in large quantities and selling it at a lower price would earn him more pokedollars, but it would take some time to set up. He didn't need to make a decision right away. For the time being, he would continue to sell it at the auction house.
"Come on," Lucas said, getting to his feet. "Let's go check out the demonstration. I hope there are some interesting things to see."
Lucas and Brock waded through the crowd of people standing outside the Silph Co. building. The demonstration would take up the entire first floor of the building, but given the size of the crowd, there might not be enough space.
As soon as the doors opened, the crowd surged into the building, taking the two of them along for the ride. Once inside, they split up and began walking around the various display booths to look at the products.
Meowth jumped off his shoulder and disappeared into the crowd before he could react.
Lucas sighed. "You better not get up to any mischief."
One item caught his attention, prompting him to walk up to the booth where an elderly woman in a white coat was stationed. On the table was an unusual headpiece that looked like binoculars but functioned as a face mask, and was secured by a head strap. The card next to it explained its function.
Silph Scope
It allows the user to see ghost-type Pokemon that are invisible. This is ideal for individuals who prioritise security and fear that a Pokemon might be spying on them.
"No way," Lucas breathed. This was a key item in the game, allowing the player to identify ghosts in the Pokemon Tower in Lavender Town.
"Hello, my name is Miranda. Would you like to try it out?" she asked. "Put it on and try to find the ghost-type Pokemon hiding in the area."
Lucas placed the Silph Scope over his eyes. Everything appeared to be the same, as if he wasn't wearing the scope at all. He carefully scanned his surroundings, and it took him a minute to find his target. A trail of purple smoke appeared in the corner of his eye, and he turned to follow it, only to find a Ghastly floating up near the ceiling. He was about to tell the woman he had found it when something else caught his attention.
"What the hell are you doing here, Salem?" Lucas muttered.
Salem was on the other side of the room, not looking in Lucas' direction. It could have been a coincidence that they were in the same building at the same time, but he wasn't convinced. Especially with a Pokemon that liked to follow him around and had no respect for boundaries. Did Sabrina send him to protect him again? He would have to ask her tonight.
"Is everything okay?" Miranda inquired, prompting him to remove the scope.
'I'm fine," Lucas replied. "This is a fantastic product. I wouldn't mind purchasing one just to keep a nosy ghost from spying on me."
Miranda smiled. "I designed it for my own personal use in mind. I have phasmophobia, which is a fear of ghosts. No matter how irrational it is, I can't seem to shake it. The scope gives me comfort. "
Lucas nodded. "That sounds like as good a reason as any to invent something. Can it also detect actual ghosts? Do you see dead people?"
Miranda leaned forward and whispered. "All the time."
Lucas' eyes widened. Miranda laughed, and he realised she was playing a joke on him.
"You're not the first person to ask me that question," Miranda said, wiping her eyes. "That joke never gets old."
"Hilarious," Lucas grumbled.
"So far, I haven't spotted any ghosts in it."
If it could, it would be incredible, but he was certain that the energy of a ghost-type Pokemon differed from that of a real ghost, assuming they existed at all.
Lucas looked around and thought of a question. "So, why is your product here at the exhibition? I imagine your product would be extremely popular."
"It's useful in specific situations," Miranda explained. "For instance, the Rangers could use the scope as a valuable tool to capture a ghost-type Pokemon. However, it is impractical for everyday use. What if you suspected a ghost-type Pokémon was watching you? Would you wear the scope all day, every day? Not only would it look strange, but the scope only lasts two hours before having to be recharged."
Lucas nodded. With his curiosity satisfied, he said goodbye and moved on. As he continued to browse the other booths, a thought occurred to him. He quietly returned to his menu and reactivated Itemfinder. He reasoned that because this location had such incredible technology, it might contain some valuable items.
Immediately, he heard a beeping sound in his head, indicating that a hidden item was nearby. He followed the sound until he discovered the shimmer on the floor, in the corner, next to a potted plant. He stepped on it, and the shimmer vanished. Opening his inventory, he looked for the new item he had just found.
Lucas frowned when he saw the item, as it wasn't what he had expected. He took it out of his inventory and examined it closely. It was a small silver key carved with the number "1/7." Did this mean that it was one of seven keys? Was he required to collect them all, and were they all located in the same building? What exactly did they unlock?
He wouldn't be able to search the other floors without encountering some resistance. The company had a wealth of valuable technology and probably a lot of secrets as well. Security would be tight, so he probably wouldn't make it off the elevator before he was apprehended.
For the time being, it was best to stop searching for the remaining keys. Perhaps there was a legitimate way for him to search the remaining floors. He decided to leave it for now and went in search of Brock. He discovered him at one of the booths, which was displaying a kitchen gadget of all things.
"I've had enough. I have some shopping to do," Lucas said. "Are you going to stay here?"
"You go on without me," Brock replied, waving him off. "I will see you back at the hotel. That's unless you stay over at your girlfriend's place."
"If only I could be so lucky,' Lucas snorted and said goodbye.
Before leaving, he searched for Meowth and found him next to the elevator bank.
"What are you doing?" Lucas asked.
"I can't get to any of the other floors, Meowth. It needs a keycard."
"That doesn't surprise me," Lucas said, grabbing Meowth and carrying him under his arm. "Even if you were to swipe a keycard from somewhere, do you really believe that is the only security measure they employ? There were probably security cameras monitoring you the entire time."
"Sneaky bastards."
"Be quiet." Lucas carried Meowth out of the building before he scrambled back onto Lucas' shoulder.
Lucas took out his map. The first thing that he wanted to purchase was an outfit for himself that offered a bit of protection. Although it would not protect him from most Pokemon attacks, it might save his life. Furthermore, he felt like spoiling himself by wearing something other than his usual jeans and shirts.
"The store must be at least a thirty-minute walk," Lucas sighed, feeling lazy. "Perhaps I should hire a carriage?"
"There's a bike store down the road," Meowth said. "Why don't you purchase one to ride?"
"That's a great idea," Lucas exclaimed. "I can get around easier, and I prefer it to taking a carriage."
If he bought a mountain bike, he could also travel along some of the routes. He wanted to get a Pokemon that he could ride at some point, or one that could haul a carriage. But he won't get another Pokemon for a while. Unless he finds another amazing Pokemon.
Lucas made his way down the street to the bike shop. One of the employees assisted him, showcasing a variety of mountain bikes for sale. He chose a red bike with the Acro brand on it solely out of nostalgia for the games. The bike was expensive, but it came with some essentials, such as a helmet and a bike chain.
As soon as he mounted his bike, Meowth climbed onto the handlebars, and they set out for the equipment store. Ten minutes later, they arrived, and he parked his bike. The display window caught his attention, showcasing a completely badass outfit.
"I want it so bad," Lucas murmured.
Starting from the bottom, there was a pair of black combat boots with thick and sturdy soles. The bottom half consisted of navy-blue cargo pants with plenty of pockets for storage. Upon closer inspection, he noticed that the fabric looked like it had a notably firmer texture compared to the typical cotton or polyester. The belt clip featured multiple notches for pokeballs and also had a pair of small compartments for storing miscellaneous items.
The top half showcased a navy-blue cargo vest, seemingly crafted from the same material as the pants. Underneath, a long-sleeved shirt in a dark orange hue contrasted nicely with the navy blue. A pair of orange gauntlets extending from the wrists to the elbows completed the outfit. They appeared rigid, and he imagined they were intended to help protect him from sharp claws and teeth.
"It will make you look like a dork," Meowth said, expressing his opinion.
Lucas had to agree that they looked like something straight out of a Shounen anime. The design of the gauntlets was a little over the top, but he still admired the overall aesthetic, and he didn't need to wear them all the time. He didn't hesitate and went into the store to purchase the outfit.
He spent forty-three thousand pokedollars on the outfit. The price was outrageous, but the store owner assured him that the outfit provided adequate protection and was effective at regulating body temperature. The outer material was stiff, made of some Pokemon hide he didn't recognise, but it had a soft underlayer that was comfortable to wear.
He used the store's changing rooms to change into his outfit and admired himself in the mirror. Now he looked like a proper adventurer. He continued shopping because he needed to prepare for his dinner with Sabrina tonight, and he was going to dress to impress. He brought a suit, along with a bouquet of flowers and wine.
After finishing his shopping, he returned to the hotel for preparations. He hired a carriage to take him to Sabrina's apartment and arrived ten minutes early.
Sabrina opened the door after he knocked, and he had to restrain himself from staring. She looked stunning in her dark green, shoulderless dress, which beautifully stood out against her fair complexion. The dress revealed more skin than he had ever seen, something he wholeheartedly appreciated.
"Banette."
Distracted, Lucas jumped when Salem materialised beside him. He glared at the offending Pokemon, who displayed a creepy grin.
"Come inside," Sabrina said, and he followed her into her apartment.
In the living room, a group of Pokemon greeted him. They looked up and down at him as if evaluating him. It looked more like an inquisition than a welcome party. He had met Gengar and Alakazam before, but the other Pokemon were new to him.
Lucas swallowed. It felt like he was meeting a girl's parents for the first time; only these parents were superpowered beings capable of crushing him like an ant.
Was it too late to leave?
So, what do you think? In the next chapter, Sabrina reveals her shocking secret, and Lucas gets some upgrades that are going to make his team stronger.
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Thanks for reading.