Around 8 PM, Sato retrieved his well-rested three Pokémon into their Poké Balls, gathered the "extra ine" he o deal with, and made his way toward the more remote outskirts of the city.

  By this point, Sato looked pletely different.

  His height was harder to alter, but his fad body shape had already ged drastically.

  With broad shoulders, a round belly, and a short stature, he now resembled nothing more than an ht, greasy middle-aged man.

  Sato was quite satisfied with the disguise—a child's frame was far too frail, making it easier to expose fws. He had no choice but to bulk himself up for better cealment.

  ---------

  The underground market wasn't actually underground—it was set up inside an abandoned factory in Cherrygrove City.

  At night, the area became lively, with nightclubs aertai venues booming, while the trading district itself remained retively quiet.

  Sato khat all the activity outside was just a smokes.

  After cheg the surrounding temporary stalls and reizing a specific marker, he headed straight into one of the shops.

  There was no o the front ter, and a half-closed door led to a dimly lit passageway at the back.

  After walking a little further down the dark corridor, Sato finally arrived at the true underground market.

  Despite the "underground" bel, the market was surprisingly —the bright neon lights illumihe entire venue, making it as clear as day.

  None of the shops had actual names, but Sato picked a more secluded one and walked in.

  The store's shelves were filled with various Pokémon-held items. At first gnce, he couldn't tell their quality, but the iory was massive.

  His eyes nded on an item of i.

  "Bck Gsses?"

  It was a held item simir in fun to the Spell Tag, boosting Dark-type moves.

  "Hey there, brother! That's Bck Gsses—it increases the power of Dark-type moves. Ied?"

  The store owner, a young man in his mid-twenties, was surprised—his er looked like an ht u spoke with surprising sharpness.

  "How much for it?"

  Sato put on his best 'sleazy mert' act, squinting as he closely examihe item, cheg for as.

  "Ft price: 500,000 Pokédolrs."

  The shopkeeper didn't hesitate, his tone firm and unwavering.

  "500,000? What, are you robbing me?!"

  Sato shouted exaggeratedly, his voice drawing attention.

  A potential er who had just stepped into the store hesitated for a moment, then turned away to find another shop.

  "You… Do you even know what you're looking at?!"

  The shopkeeper's voice rose with frustration.

  "Even the cheapest held items start at 500,000! This is a rare Bck Gsses! If Dark-types weren't so scar Johto, I wouldn't be selling it for such a low price!"

  Watg the shopkeeper's flustered rea, Sato remained calm.

  The price was indeed lower than expected—and that alone made it suspicious.

  From there, a heated round of bargaining ensued.

  Eventually, Sato noticed a slight defect—a small chip on the Bck Gsses.

  Using this as leverage, he successfully pushed the price down to 450,000 Pokédolrs—the absolute lowest he could go.

  " it up. Also… you guys here…"

  Sato preteo hesitate, ag as though he was pting something important.

  "What is it? Got some junk you want to get rid of?"

  The young shopkeeper caught on immediately.

  Most people who visited the underground market weren't here to buy—they were here to sell off goods.

  "Yeah, got some things I don't need anymore. Special Poké Balls, high-grade Pokémon supplements—you take those?"

  "Of course! We take everything!"

  Seeing that the moment was right, Sato gnced around, then subtly gestured to the backpa his back.

  Uanding the signal, the shopkeeper immediately led him to a private iation room.

  "Here, take a look. There's a lot inside—I didn't bother s it."

  "Got it! I'll handle everything here, you just sit bad rex."

  The young shopkeeper spoke casually as he started pulling items out of the backpack.

  A few mier, he quickly tapped away on a calcutor, then turo Sato with a final number.

  "730,000?"

  Sato rubbed his round belly, falling into momentary silence.

  He had roughly estimated that these items were worth around 1,000,000, but bck market rules dictated that sellers typically only received 70% of the actual value.

  "Fine, but I'll add two more things. Give me a full 1,000,000."

  Without hesitation, Sato produced two Pokédexes and pced them oable with a look that brooked nument.

  "Pokédexes?"

  The young shopkeeper's voice wavered slightly, suddenly avoiding eye tact with Sato.

  This was tricky.

  "What's the problem? You scared to take them?"

  "Take them? Of course, I'll take them! 1,000,000—cash or transfer?"

  Gritting his teeth, the shopkeeper scooped up the Pokédexes without hesitation.

  For ordinary people, a Pokédex was just another device, but for underground anizations and private research bs, they were highly valuable research tools.

  "Cash."

  Wire transfers were out of the question—they left too many tracks.

  With a spatial backpack, carrying even 1,000,000 in cash was no issue.

  After seg the money, Sato wasted no time lingering—he left immediately.

  -------------

  A forest uhe moonlight was the perfect pce for an ambush.

  Sure enough, the momeepped out of the marketpce, Sato immediately se least three different groups tailing him.

  Smirking disdainfully, he released Zorua and Haunter.

  Zorua transformed into his current disguised form and bolted in the opposite dire, sending a flock of Pidgey scattering into the night sky.

  Haunter, meanwhile, let out a creepy chuckle and vanished on the spot.

  Within seds, one of the groups unknowingly fell into a deep sleep under Hypnosis.

  That left only oeam still in pursuit. Sato had no i in dragging things out.

  His three Pokémon were still not strong enough to take unnecessary risks—he o y low for now.

  Besides, unless it was someone he absolutely had to eliminate, Sato had no desire to stain his hands with too much blood in this lifetime.

  A few quick turns, and he lost them easily. His escape skills were maxed out, after all.

  "Zor!"

  "Kehehehehe~"

  "Good job. I'll give you both extra snacks whe back."

  After retrieving his two Pokémon, Sato circled back to his hotel room.

  There, he anized his new earnings, fed his Pokémon a te-night meal, and thewo hours quietly meditating.

  By the time he opened his eyes, m had arrived.

  Switg to a neack he had purchased earlier, Sato now looked just like any other rookie traiarting their journey.

  After stog up in Cherrygrove City, he set off for the own.

  Upoering the forest, Sato pulled out the three Poké Balls he had taken from the underground hunter.

  He started by releasing the only peak Ordinary-level Pokémon—Sandssh.

  "Sandssh?"

  The moment Sandssh appeared, it immediately tensed up, growing wary as it found itself face-to-face with a stranger instead of its trainer.

  "Your trainer…"

  Sato didn't bother fabrig a story—he simply stated that its owner was dead.

  The reason why? Unimportant. He was just doing a good deed by setting it free.

  "Sandssh…"

  Though still fused, Sandssh instinctively looked toward its Poké Ball. Uanding the gesture, Sato tossed the ball toward it.

  "Crack!"

  With a single swipe, Sandssh split the Poké Ball in two.

  Sato found this odd—the underground hunter had been so ruthless, yet none of his Pokémon seemed to have been particurly loyal to him?

  , he released Victreebel.

  Without hesitation, it, too, shattered its Poké Ball a.

  Finally, Sato released Fearow—and this time, things took a turn.

  "Screeeech!"

  Fearow was far mgressive, lunging at Sato immediately, not even giving him a ce to expin.

  Then…

  He recalled it straight bato its Poké Ball. With a click, he locked it shut.

  A rideable Pokémon was always valuable. Even if Fearow wasn't particurly strong, it was still worth more than an average Pokémon of its level. He might as well sell it.