The so-called Black Market isn't a fixed marketplace, but an underground network born from countless illicit transactions, parasitically intertwined in the city's shadows.
It is a harbor for outlaws to fence stolen goods and a gambling table where low-level Trainers seek a sliver of hope for survival.
The cultivation of Pokémon requires resources at every step, and resources equate to money. The Black Market is a meat grinder that can make an outlaw wealthy overnight or leave them without even a grave.
The League is well aware of this, yet they choose to turn a blind eye.
Water that is too clear has no fish. Completely cutting off this path would only give rise to more extreme unrest.
Rather than that, it's better to tacitly allow its existence, even secretly planting their own tentacles to get a piece of the pie.
Of course, on the surface, the League's attitude toward the Black Market is always one of severe crackdowns, conducting periodic 'cleanups' as both a warning and a show.
Jiang Han practicedly fished out a perfectly ordinary black mask from his pocket and fastened it onto his face.
The cool touch isolated the warmth of his face and also isolated his identity as the 'ordinary Trainer Jiang Han.'
The moment the mask was on, the last trace of disguise in his eyes faded, replaced only by the coldness and scrutiny belonging to a member of Team Rockets.
Here, everyone hides behind a mask.
Identity is the most precious thing.
Following the guidance of the Team Rockets icon on his pokédex, he turned into a narrow alleyway that only one person could pass through at a time.
At the end of the alley was an inconspicuous fishing tackle shop. Several strings of shriveled sea fish hung at the entrance, emitting a thick, salty fishy smell.
This was a Team Rockets shop.
In fact, it wasn't just Team Rockets; many evil organizations would open their own shops in the Black Market to help their subordinates process resources or gather intelligence.
The light inside the shop was dim. A white-haired old man sat behind the counter, slowly wiping a scratch-covered fishing rod, not even bothering to lift his eyelids.
The shop was empty, so desolate it looked like it could go out of business at any moment.
But Jiang Han knew that the more a place was like this, the safer it was.
He walked to the counter and lightly tapped three times on the thin layer of dust covering the wood: one long and two short.
The old man's movements paused for a split second before he finally lifted his cloudy eyes to look at Jiang Han's mask.
"Buying something?"
His voice was as raspy as if it had been rubbed with sandpaper.
"Selling."
Jiang Han was concise.
The old man didn't say anything else. He just fished out a grease-stained remote from under the counter and pressed it. The wall behind him emitted a faint mechanical sound as a secret door slid open silently.
Behind the door were steps leading downward, deep and dark, without even a hint of the sea breeze.
Without hesitation, Jiang Han walked straight in.
This was the real shop.
The space wasn't large. Various contraband items not seen on the market hung on the walls, while rare Pokémon Eggs were displayed in glass cabinets, their prices frighteningly high.
"What goods do you have?"
The old man followed him in and closed the secret door behind him. The air here instantly became heavy.
Jiang Han didn't waste words either, placing three Poké Balls directly on the counter.
The old man picked one up. A red light flashed, and a Goldeen appeared in the narrow space, swaying its tail fin uneasily.
"Goldeen, primary aptitude, looks decent enough, no hidden injuries. Seventy thousand."
The old man gave a price after a single glance.
Jiang Han nodded.
The second one was a Zubat.
"Oh? This one is good. It looks like it has plenty of Poison-type energy. Eighty thousand."
Finally, it was the Corphish.
When its orange-red figure appeared, the old man's eyes finally lit up.
He put on a pair of specialized glasses and scrutinized it carefully for a long time.
"advanced aptitude, not bad, not bad at all. It's just a pity..."
The old man clicked his tongue.
"It's been caught before. It still carries the scent of its previous owner, which makes it troublesome to handle. Five hundred thousand, I can't go any higher."
This price was within Jiang Han's expectations.
For a Pokémon that had already been caught, loyalty was a major issue. The new owner would need to spend a lot of time and energy to rebuild trust.
Furthermore, the origin of this Corphish wasn't clean, so the buyer would have to bear a certain amount of risk.
However, because its level was still low and its plasticity was high, there would always be someone willing to take it over.
It's just that... in Jiang Han's mind, the scene of the first time he saw this Corphish on the pirate ship involuntarily surfaced.
It had been using those massive pincers to relishly crush the flesh of a tourist's corpse.
If its future new owner discovered their beloved pokémon had such a special dietary habit on some dark and windy night... that scene would surely be interesting.
The corners of Jiang Han's mouth curled up silently beneath the mask. Of course, none of this had anything to do with him anymore.
"Deal."
He said curtly.
Six hundred and fifty thousand league coins soon arrived in his account.
Jiang Han looked at the long string of numbers added to his pokédex, his heart not wavering in the slightest.
Money only has meaning when it is converted into strength.
"I need some things."
He turned the pokédex screen toward the old man.
"Ten bottles of ordinary Potion and fifty grams of Soft Sand for training."
"Easy enough."
The old man began rummaging through the shelves.
"In addition, I need this."
Jiang Han's finger slid across the screen, selecting a specific icon.
It was a purple Berry covered in thorns.
"A bitter berry?" The old man glanced at it, somewhat surprised. "This stuff isn't cheap. It can greatly stimulate the ferocity of Dark-type Pokémon, but it's easy for them to lose control if used too much. Are you sure you want it?"
"I'm sure."
"One hundred and fifty thousand for one."
"I want two." Jiang Han's tone didn't change at all.
The old man's movements paused, and he gave him a deep look.
"Fine. Anything else?"
"A detailed sea chart of the waters surrounding Dewford Town. The more detailed the better, including shipping routes and islands not registered with the League."
This was one of the primary purposes of Jiang Han's trip.
The old man fell silent for a moment before speaking raspily, "The origin of that thing is not simple. Two hundred thousand league coins, no bargaining."
"Accepted."
The ten bottles of Potion were practically thrown in for free.
The Soft Sand was fifty thousand.
Two bitter berries were three hundred thousand.
The sea chart was two hundred thousand.
The six hundred and fifty thousand league coins he had just received were spent in an instant, leaving only one hundred thousand.
Holding the sea chart in his hand, Jiang Han was lost in thought.
"Do you have a surfboard? The best quality kind."
"I do."
The old man chuckled; he had really encountered a big customer this time.
He then brought out a black surfboard and said,
"Something young people like to play with. If it weren't for the fact that many people in Dewford Town love to Surf, I wouldn't have spent a fortune buying this surfboard. This one costs 100,000 as well."
Scrutinizing the surfboard before him, Jiang Han nodded.
"I'll take it."
However, he wasn't buying this thing for play.
Jiang Han looked at his balance, which had become pitiful once again, his face still showing no expression.
Money can be earned again if it's gone, but if chances and opportunities to become stronger are missed, they are gone forever.
With the transaction complete, Jiang Han packed up all the supplies and, without a single wasted word, turned and left.
"Kid," the old man behind him suddenly spoke, "the heat has been high lately. The League's dogs have very sharp noses. Be careful."
"Thanks."
Jiang Han left the secret room without looking back.
Stepping out of the fishing tackle shop and returning to that dark, narrow alley, he left the Black Market after confirming he wasn't being followed.
Ãdvåñçé çhàptêr àvàilàble óñ pàtreøn luffy1898