Chapter 17: The Mysterious Jewel
Higher up, there were stalls selling evolutionary stones. Compared to items for Pokémon that could be artificially manufactured, these stones, which couldn’t be mass-produced, fetched much higher prices. Even a single fire stone of ordinary quality could sell for a thousand currency units.
After wandering about for a while, Hu Yang managed to buy everything he needed: Spiny Berry, Bubble Rock, Giant Root, and Gleaming Fruit.
Just before heading downstairs, he suddenly noticed a crowd gathered in a nearby area.
“What’s that?” he asked.
A staff member explained, “That’s the free trading market established by our mall. Trainers can sell items they’ve collected on their journeys there, or exchange them with other trainers.”
Since returning to school early wouldn’t accomplish anything, Hu Yang carried his bag over to the market.
From a distance, he heard a loud hawker’s call: “Magikarp, Magikarp! High-potential Magikarps! Today, not 998, just 100 League Coins, and you can take one home!”
Hu Yang: …
Why was there a Magikarp-selling uncle here, too…
Magikarp after Magikarp swam aimlessly in water tanks, their eyes vacant; from their appearance, nothing suggested they were of particularly good quality.
“Hey, young man, want one?” The uncle had keen eyes, spotting Hu Yang as he approached and grinning broadly. “These are carefully selected. Take one home—no need to raise it, it'll quickly evolve into a powerful Gyarados!”
Hu Yang: …
Did he look like a naïve child?
Hu Yang was speechless. If he wanted to catch a Magikarp, he wouldn’t need to spend money. His silly bird could fetch several for him in a day, and all for free, not costing a single coin.
The Magikarp uncle was disappointed when Hu Yang showed no intention of buying.
Bypassing the uncle, Hu Yang continued to browse other stalls.
The vendors here spanned all ages—freshly embarked trainers, teenagers around fifteen or sixteen, and older men. The items for sale were equally diverse. Along the way, Hu Yang saw rare berries, evolutionary stones found in the wild, big pearls, and items shed from Pokémon.
For example, Gyarados’s Rage Scale, which was said to help Magikarp evolve into Gyarados more quickly if carried.
There were also a few stalls displaying pottery that looked distinctly ancient.
Hu Yang strolled leisurely, using his appraise ability to check the information on these items.
He stopped before a stall cluttered with all sorts of miscellaneous goods, his gaze drawn to a jewel the size of an adult’s fist.
The jewel was a deep purple, shining with an uncanny gleam under the mall’s fluorescent lights.
Hu Yang asked, “Uncle, what is this?”
The vendor wore a drab jacket, a ring of unkempt whiskers around his lips, and a weathered face that made him look like a construction worker.
“Who are you calling ‘uncle’?!” The vendor’s expression soured at the term—he was only eighteen!
“Huh?” Hu Yang blinked, a little confused, looking at the vendor’s aged face. This person… looked older than Hu Yang had been in his past life. He’d meant to call him ‘brother,’ but then realized that a ten-year-old calling a man who looked thirty ‘uncle’ was a bit off—he’d gotten the generation wrong.
“Eh, never mind, I won’t hold it against you!” The young man sighed, almost tearful, and explained, “That’s a treasure I brought out from a ruin. Want to buy it? Honest price—two thousand League Coins!”
“That’s expensive!” Hu Yang frowned. “Are you trying to scam kids just because you look older?”
The vendor was speechless. “I’m only eighteen! I just look old because I spend so much time exploring outdoors. As you can see, I’m a professional adventurer, specializing in excavating ancient ruins hidden in the wild.”
He pulled a certificate from his pocket.
Hu Yang glanced at it. “…Alright, but your price is too high. I don’t want it.”
“Wait, wait!” As Hu Yang turned to leave, the vendor hurriedly called out, extending a hand. “Honest price, one thousand one hundred League Coins!”
“You’re eager to sell?” Hu Yang was surprised.
The vendor’s face stiffened for a moment, then he smiled. “Of course not. I just see you’re interested.”
Hu Yang narrowed his eyes. “Two hundred League Coins.”
“Too low!” The vendor shook his head. “At least five hundred!”
“Then I don’t want it.” Hu Yang turned away. His interest stemmed from what his appraisal ability revealed:
[?? Jewel]: An ancient jewel imbued with mysterious power. It greatly attracts Ghost-type Pokémon. If a Ghost-type Pokémon lives closely with it, there’s a high chance it will learn powerful moves.
This was an item not found in the game. Although Hu Yang currently had no Ghost-type Pokémon, he might in the future, and when that happened, this item would surely prove useful.
The vendor probably didn’t know its true purpose, so Hu Yang decided to buy it if the price fell below a thousand.
After all, such things were rare and hard to come by.
But the vendor seemed anxious to sell, possibly hiding something, so Hu Yang deliberately pressed the price so low, testing him.
Sure enough, he hadn’t taken more than a few steps before the vendor grew desperate: “Fine! Two hundred, two hundred! Take it, take it!”
Hu Yang was even more surprised, taking the jewel and examining it. “This isn’t some fake made of glass, is it?”
The vendor choked, glancing nervously at the jewel, forcing a smile. “Of course not. I just think you look handsome.”
Hu Yang: “…You can compliment me all you like, but I won’t pay you extra.”
“Haha, consider it making friends!” the vendor joked.
Hu Yang twitched his lips, paid the two hundred coins, and left.
After he departed, the vendor looked visibly relieved, packed up his things, and fled into the night, not bothering to sell anything else.
Hu Yang returned to school, placed the jewel on his desk, and, following the instructions in his book, began preparing a nutritious meal for Bud Bulb.
He had lived alone in his previous life and had honed excellent culinary skills.
Judging by the blissful expression on Bud Bulb’s face, it was thoroughly satisfied with the meal.
“Tomorrow I can start the cultivation process,” Hu Yang said, writing the breeding plan step by step on paper.
Nutrients eaten must be followed by proper training and exercise to be perfectly absorbed, ensuring Bud Bulb’s health improves steadily.
With the plan set, it was already nine in the evening.
Classes awaited in the morning, so Hu Yang did a quick wash and lay down to rest.
Once he fell asleep, a dark purple mist slowly rose from the jewel, coalescing into a round, deep violet figure.
With its arrival, the room’s temperature dropped several degrees.
Bud Bulb, asleep, shivered and instinctively snuggled closer to Hu Yang.
Ancient Moon Bird, however, was unaffected, sprawled across the bed, snoring as usual.