Chapter 55: Gold? Is That Supposed to Be Valuable?
2024-05-15 Author: Samsung Charmander (Author Name)
After the competition, the four of them began to exchange notes on their results.
Needless to say, Brock, despite having the worst luck, had managed to fish up two living fossils. This was an act so outrageous it warranted a firing squad, an existence that would infuriate both men and gods.
One had to know that in the Kanto Region, Kabuto and Omanyte were, on paper, still completely undocumented Pokémon.
Meanwhile, Blue had picked up a Feebas for free, and Ash had traded for a special Eevee Exchange Coupon. It was a win-win for the friendly folk of Pallet Town.
All in all, the three of them could be said to have had a bountiful harvest.
"So, this is all you managed to catch in the high-roller zone?"
Ash, Brock, and Blue looked at Misty, their eyes glinting with cunning smiles.
She, who had been so cheerful in the morning, was now in a completely different state of mind.
Because the water in the high-roller zone was too clear, the Pokémon there were mostly Tentacool and Tentacruel, and the upper-class folks were having a blast fishing for them.
Even with her skills as a Three Star Fishing Master, Misty couldn't make something out of nothing. In the end, she had only managed to reel in a single pink Pokémon creature.
This Pokémon was pink all over, with a pair of swirling ears on its head and a long, thick pink tail. It looked quite delicious.
"Pokedex Beep. Slowpoke, a viral Pokémon. Its tail is edible and commands a high price as a top-tier delicacy, but eating it is illegal."
"Pokedex Beep. Slowpoke, the Dopey Pokémon. It has only a single nerve in its head, making its reactions sluggish. No one knows what it is thinking."
The Pokedexes of both Ash and Blue reported at the same time.
Seeing the three of them staring at it, the Slowpoke sat on the deck, delayed for a good while, and finally tilted its head and made a sound.
"Poke?"
The three of them: "..."
The next second, the three burst out laughing, all agreeing that this Slowpoke was a perfect match for Misty.
Amid the laughter, Misty could only blush as she recalled the Slowpoke, wanting to just toss it away but unable to bear doing so.
It was a bit dopey, but it was undeniably cute. In the end, she could only stomp her foot on the floorboards and furiously make a solemn vow before the three of them.
"Hmph! You're making me so mad! If I ever Catch another Pokémon this dumb, I'll quit being a Water Type Trainer!!"
Night fell.
The four of them wandered together, eating street food and browsing the surrounding shops and stalls. As soon as dinnertime hit, all sorts of strange and curious shops opened for business.
An Octillery was selling takoyaki.
A Jynx was performing the feat of breaking a large stone on its chest.
A Cloyster was putting on a show of clamping down on a water jet.
Ash and his group were overwhelmed by the sights, walking and stopping, greatly broadening their horizons.
"Hey, you, the rich kid over there!"
Just then, a low shout caught the attention of the four.
They stopped and looked toward the source of the voice, discovering that the speaker was a middle-aged man.
He was short and stocky, with a Momentum Sash tied around his bald head. His face was kind; at a glance, he looked like a proper businessman.
Following the direction of his gaze, Ash subconsciously pointed at himself.
"That's right, that's right, you, Young Master Rich Kid!" the middle-aged man flattered with a wide smile.
Hearing this, Ash's face instantly flushed bright red. He took several deep breaths, then patted Brock on the shoulder and ruffled Blue's hair.
"Haha… Ah, I've hidden it for so long, and today, I've finally been recognized!"
He placed his hands on his hips and laughed up at the sky.
However, Blue pursed her lips and said doubtfully, "That's not right. Our ancestors for three generations have been dirt-poor farmers. When did you become a rich kid?"
"You don't get it, little girl. I'm also inheriting two acres of land in Pallet Town. How does that not make me a rich kid?"
Ash pouted, then turned his head back to the middle-aged man.
"Hehe, uncle with the discerning eye, what can I do for you?"
"Oh, oh, a young master's eye for quality is naturally higher than mine! Let me tell you a secret, I have a massive deal here that I wouldn't even mention to anyone who wasn't a rich kid!"
The middle-aged man leaned in, speaking conspiratorially, then whipped out a glittering gold Poké Ball.
"See this? This is a Gold Poké Ball, and inside is an incomparably precious Golden Magikarp!"
The golden light dazzled the four of them, and Ash's gaze was instantly and deeply captivated by this Poké Ball.
"Gold..." he muttered under his breath.
Golden, luxurious, elegant, and regal...
Seeing the country Youth's entranced expression, the middle-aged man smiled inwardly with satisfaction, but he continued to fan the flames.
"Do you know what a Golden Magikarp is? It can produce Gold! One ton a month, 50 tons a year! In less than five years, you'll be the richest person in the entire Kanto Region!!"
"Gold..." Ash was still repeating dumbly.
Finally, the middle-aged man got to the point, shouting, "What a coincidence, my dear rich kid! Right now, there's a discount on top of a discount! The Golden Magikarp was originally a hundred million, but now for just 3 million, you can become the richest person in the World!"
Ash was clearly completely conquered. With a look of yearning, he gripped the Gaudy Gold Poké Ball in his hand, his face rapturous.
"..."
The other three said nothing.
It was an obvious scam, and probably only a greenhorn like Ash would fall for it.
But since he couldn't afford it anyway, there was no need to point it out.
Why would someone with nothing be afraid of getting robbed?
"It produces 1 ton a month, so it should be 12 tons a year. Can't he even spot such an obvious scam? He's a disgrace to Pallet Town!" Blue scoffed and gave Ash the middle finger.
"So... Young Master, would you like to buy it?" the middle-aged man asked with a grin.
Ash suddenly snapped back to his senses, clutching the Gold Poké Ball tightly as he asked anxiously, "Oh, oh, you said the Golden Magikarp is 3 million, which means if I pay 3 million, I can take this Poké Ball?"
The middle-aged man was startled. Could this kid really be a rich kid?
He had been planning to keep swindling him, figuring he'd be lucky to get 100,000. He hadn't expected to hit the jackpot in one go.
He quickly rubbed his hands together and smiled kindly. "That's right, that's right. For just 3 million, you can take home the one-of-a-kind Golden Magikarp and become the richest person in the World."
"Oh, I get it now."
With that, Ash suddenly lifted the Gold Poké Ball and pressed the button. With a "pop," a shimmering golden Magikarp began to flop around on the ground.
However, he simply ignored the Golden Magikarp using Splash on the ground and pocketed the empty Gold Poké Ball.
"In that case, I'll be taking this Gold Poké Ball. Bye-bye."
Saying this, Ash made a move to leave.
The middle-aged man: "???"
He grabbed Ash's wrist, his expression baffled.
"Is there a problem? The Golden Magikarp is 3 million, and the Golden Magikarp plus the Gold Poké Ball is also 3 million. Rounding off, this Gold Poké Ball is free, right?"
Ash looked even more innocent than him as he placed the Gold Poké Ball next to himself on his shoulder, in Pikachu's hands.
There was no way he was giving it back.
The moment he saw this Noble Poké Ball: Gaudy Gold Limited Edition, he had decided to get Pikachu a new home.
The middle-aged man: "?"
The other three: "?"
How was this logic so brain-melting?
"Oh, so I can't just take it even if it's free?"
Ash reconsidered. That did seem to make sense; there's no such thing as a free lunch. So, he flipped out a small coin.
"Then I'll use all my assets to buy a free item. No problem, right? You're making a killing. Bye-bye."
With that, he quickly led the other three away from the stall.
The middle-aged man: "???"
The man stared blankly at the coin in his hand.
After the three had left, the middle-aged man's brow furrowed deeply.
But then he pulled out another Gold Poké Ball and recaptured the gold-painted Magikarp.
Damn it, are all the youngsters these days so scheming?
A 10-yen coin had conned him out of a gold-plated Poké Ball. How was he, a dishonest merchant, supposed to make a living?
No, even if his legs got broken today, he had to swindle some other idiot into buying his gold-plated Magikarp!
The Momentum Sash on his head was for when his enemies came knocking, to give him an extra second to escape with his life.
Hmph, from the day he became a con man, he had long since learned to be indifferent to life and death.
"If I hear the Way in the morning, I can die in the evening without regret."
He was a man of great resolve.
Just then, a man with seaweed-blue hair, wearing floral beach trunks and flip-flops, passed by the stall.
"Humm~~"
His expression was relaxed, and he was even whistling.
"Hey, you, rich kid!"
The still-strolling James jolted as the keyword sent a shiver through his entire body.
Damn it!
Have I been caught by my family?!
His gaze shot over, spotting the middle-aged man pointing right at him.
"Crap, how does he know I'm actually a rich kid!? Could he really be someone from my Hometown?!"
Sweat started pouring down James's face, and his body could only move forward stiffly, like a robot.
Seeing this, the middle-aged man's face lit up. He quickly leaned in and said conspiratorially, "Hee hee, I don't tell just anyone... I have a Golden Magikarp here. Do you know what a Golden Magikarp is? It can produce Gold! Ten tons a month, 100 tons a year! In less than five years, you'll be the richest man in our Kanto Region!!"
Hearing this, James's brow relaxed. It seemed this wasn't someone from his Hometown.
But Gold?
That's nothing.
The bed he slept on as a child was built from Gold.
Even when a table leg was wobbly, they used a gold brick to prop it up.
And he could become the richest man with this thing?
"Get lost, don't bother me!"
James waved his hand dismissively, his face full of scorn.
A mysterious, lordly Aura of a true Superior rich person hit the middle-aged man in the face, nearly suffocating him. It made him want to kneel and bow before this blue-haired youth...
(end of chapter)
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