At two in the afternoon, the ship docked at Mandarin Island North.
Naoki was waiting at the pier to pick them up, and he'd brought two people with him—both familiar faces.
One was Gai, who Reiji hadn't been away from for long.
The other was Daishi, the man who had shown up on Reiji's last night guarding the underground market in Trovitopolis, delivering a challenge on behalf of the Poison Gang. Reiji remembered Daishi as one of Naoki's trusted men, though Daishi wouldn't recognise him—Reiji had been disguised back then.
"Boss," Naoki said the moment he reached Reiji. "Everything's ready. Do we go to the hotel first, or eat first?"
"Food," Reiji said.
He glanced at Sou beside him. Sou's stomach was already growling. They'd only grabbed quick snacks on the ship because they'd been watching battles, and it hadn't been enough.
Naoki's eyes slid to the boy. "And he is…?"
"We'll talk while we walk," Reiji said, then nodded toward Daishi. "And who's that?"
Naoki's expression tightened. "My man from Trovitopolis. After that mess, I escaped. He got caught by Trovita Gym and hauled into the station for 'reform.' He only got out recently—escaped, actually. He's wanted right now."
So it really was that kind of story.
Reiji didn't show it, but the thought came fast: bait.
"Are you sure he's clean?" Reiji asked.
Naoki didn't hesitate. "Anyone else could betray me. Daishi won't. He's an orphan I raised. We were even in the same orphanage back then. I treat him like my little brother."
"Fine," Reiji said, and left it there.
It wasn't his business. As long as it didn't splash onto him, he didn't care. If it ever did, he'd just change identities again.
Naoki handed over three Poké Balls. "Daishi's Pokémon all died after that fight. I bought these from the underground market for him. Take a look—tell me if they're really 'shop treasure' material, or if that fat bastard scammed me."
Reiji checked the panels.
All three were Ground-types. All three had potential above fifty. True shop treasure stock.
Naoki hadn't been scammed.
"The potential's good," Reiji said, passing the Poké Balls back. "How much did you pay?"
"Just under thirty million," Naoki said, holding up three fingers. "Ground- and Rock-types aren't as expensive over here."
Then Reiji pointed to Sou. "By the way—this is Sou. He's from a fishing village. I want you to take him in for a while."
He kept it simple. "Find him a trainer job in the city. Teach him the basics. Let him grind on Mandarin Island North."
For a quasi–Elite Four–tier trainer like Naoki, bringing a raw beginner up to speed wasn't difficult.
"No problem," Naoki said. "How far do you want me to take it?"
He meant exactly what Reiji heard—did Reiji want Sou touching the underground side, or only clean League training?
"Let him see some of it," Reiji said. "He can't stay that innocent forever."
Naoki nodded. "Got it."
Reiji reached into his bag and tossed a Poké Ball across the table. They were already in a private room at a restaurant now. No one outside could see anything.
"Naoki, take a look," Reiji said. "This one fits your sandstorm team."
Naoki caught it, opened the panel, and froze.
"Kabuto?" His shock was written all over his face.
Kabuto wasn't the strongest Pokémon on paper, but its name carried weight. Anyone who ran sandstorm teams knew what Kabuto became—a reaper in the storm. Once it evolved, it could close the distance fast, carve prey apart with its sickle arms, and finish clean.
"Boss," Naoki said, hands trembling, "where did you even get this?"
"Sou's family fished it up," Reiji said. "Name your price."
Naoki looked at Sou, then back at Reiji. "Before I price it… what's the potential?"
"Solid," Reiji said. "Close to shop treasure. With proper investment, it can reach Elite Four tier."
That was the missing piece Naoki cared about. A 47% Kabuto wasn't low. With resources to push it above fifty, evolution would take it the rest of the way.
Naoki lowered his voice. "Kabuto with unknown potential usually sells for under fifty million. If it has inherited moves, it jumps—four or five times ten million isn't strange."
Reiji understood the logic. When you couldn't judge the parents, inherited moves became a shortcut. The rarer and more "high-end" the inherited moves, the better the odds the line was strong.
"It does have inherited moves," Reiji said. "Mega Drain, Leech Life, Dig, and Aurora Beam."
None of those were flashy finishers, but they mattered. They gave it a foundation across types and made future move learning easier. More importantly, the fact it had inherited moves at all was the point.
Naoki exhaled slowly. "Then it's worth at least twenty or thirty million."
He started reaching for his wallet.
Reiji stopped his hand. "Hold up."
Then he glanced at Sou. "There's no need to throw that much at him. Sou doesn't understand money yet. Too much cash can ruin a kid faster than poverty."
Naoki frowned. "He's one of us. If he figures it out later, won't he think we cheated him?"
"Sou," Reiji called.
Sou hurried over, still a little stiff around strangers.
"Sou, this is the buyer," Reiji said, nodding toward Naoki. "You'll also be learning from him from here on out. Call him Naoki-nii."
"Naoki-nii," Sou said obediently.
Reiji kept his voice even. "Naoki wants to buy Kabuto for twenty million. How do you feel about that? Are you satisfied with the price?"
Sou blinked, then started counting on his fingers.
"Two… two… how many zeros is that?" he muttered.
He hit eight fingers and stopped, eyes widening.
"Eight digits… that's insane," he breathed.
Reiji didn't let him float on the shock. "Sou, I'm leaving Mandarin Island North tomorrow."
Sou's face snapped up.
"Naoki is a real expert," Reiji continued. "A quasi–Elite Four–tier trainer. You'll stay here and learn from him. He'll teach you properly."
"Rai-nii… I'm not going with you?" Sou asked, panic creeping in.
"No," Reiji said. "I'm heading to Kanto. That's too far. You stay here, train, and only travel alone once you can stand on your own."
Naoki's expression shifted. "Boss, you're going to Kanto?"
"Gym Leader's task," Reiji said, and left it at that.
He wasn't about to say "Indigo Plateau Conference" out loud. If Naoki realised an Elite Four–tier trainer was going to a beginner tournament to "fish," he'd start smirking and making it weird.
Sou swallowed hard, then steadied himself. "Twenty million is too much. I…"
Reiji watched him closely. "If you want it, you can take all twenty million right now."
Sou looked at Reiji, then at Naoki, then down at the table.
After a long breath, he said, "Rai-nii… I'll take half."
He wasn't stupid. He was thinking ahead.
He'd be living under Naoki's roof, learning from him, relying on him. Sou didn't know Naoki's temperament yet, and Naoki wasn't Reiji. Sou chose to leave room on purpose—buying goodwill for the days ahead.
Reiji nodded once and turned to Naoki. "Give him one million now. The rest can come slowly."
Then he added, "If you hand a kid ten million in a lump and he loses it, he'll be drinking wind. Once he has the ability to manage money, you can give him the rest."
He looked back at Sou. "If you want the full amount later, you can ask. Anytime."
Sou stared at the bundles of cash on the table. Ten stacks, one million each.
He swallowed, then reached out and took one stack.
"One million already feels like too much," he admitted quietly. "I'd be scared to carry it."
He pushed the other nine stacks back and nodded to Naoki. "Naoki-nii… hold it for me. I trust you."
Naoki laughed once, then leaned forward. "Sou, right? You're my brother now. If you need anything, come find me."
Reiji watched them, silent.
Sou wasn't pretending. He really didn't grasp money yet. Even ten million felt unreal to him.
But that didn't make him foolish.
Reiji had hinted twice that Sou would be studying under Naoki. Sou understood what that meant. He asked for half, then accepted only one million in hand.
That wasn't weakness. It was strategy.
Ten million for a teacher who wouldn't hold back was a bargain, even if the teaching itself cost Naoki almost nothing. Without the teacher, though, Sou's road would collapse before it began.
And now Naoki had two reasons to take Sou seriously—Reiji's personal request, and the favour Sou had just handed him by leaving money on the table.
Naoki didn't need to "accept" Sou. The situation forced it. A Kabuto plus a ten-million favour wasn't something you ignored.
Reiji had once helped Naoki without sparing effort. This was Naoki paying it back—by taking care of a decent kid who needed a hand.
Reiji leaned back and looked at Naoki. "Sou's new to everything. First time travelling, first time in a city. Look after him."
"Don't worry, Boss," Naoki said, glancing at Sou again. "I'll take care of him."
The server arrived with dishes, and Naoki waved the topic away. "Food's here. We'll eat first."
He nodded toward Daishi. "After that, Daishi can take Sou around and help him learn the area."
[End of chapter]
[100 Power Stones = Extra Chapter]
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