Chapter 29: The Golden Magikarp

After finally managing to escape the "heated" gazes surrounding him at the Pokémon Center, N instinctively pulled down the brim of his cap. With his reclusive and quiet personality, he couldn't stand the passionate "public gaze" of so many people.

"Alright, both little guys are enjoying their rest at the Center. Maybe I should find a café and have some tea?"

N walked with one hand in his pocket, his gaze drifting aimlessly across his surroundings, searching for something of interest. Suddenly, his pace slowed, and his eyes locked onto the entrance of a nearby trade market.

Now, this was interesting. He hadn't spent much time browsing such places before.

As soon as he stepped into the market, the non-stop shouting of vendors and the persistent noise of haggling filled his ears. Many Trainers were wandering about, hoping to spot something useful.

The stalls were cluttered with items: some sold held items, others displayed piles of strange-looking antiques, and some even held up common pebbles, claiming they were freshly unearthed from ancient ruins and were definitely fossils of prehistoric Pokémon...

"Young man! Hey, young man! You're a Trainer, aren't you? I could tell the moment I saw you, you've got an aura like no other!"

"Me?"

N wore a professional smile as he turned to look at the middle-aged man who had called out to him. The man had an air of forced familiarity, trying to act like they were old friends. He even made a show of scanning the area, putting on a mysterious front.

"My, my, so young and yet so accomplished! You must be a very talented Trainer! It just so happens I like your face, so I'm going to let you in on a big! secret!"

"What kind of secret?"

"This Magikarp I have here... it's a Shiny~"

The balding man grinned, introducing his wares with a look of immense pride.

Young Trainers like N were the easiest to swindle. People this age were suckers for praise; a little flattery, and they'd be walking on air. Furthermore, those who became Trainers at such a young age were usually from wealthy families. To the vendor, a "rich and gullible" mark was the ultimate customer.

"Oh...?"

N looked with mild curiosity at the water tank beneath the vendor's cloth cover. Inside lay a Magikarp shimmering with a brilliant golden light. The owner had even gone as far as to install spotlights at the bottom of the tank, making the Magikarp's "golden scales" almost blinding.

It was bright, certainly...

However, the Magikarp's dull, dead-fish stare was far too prominent. N slowly closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, he used his Viridian Power to scan the Magikarp's aptitude.

[Magikarp]

Strength: Mid Normal

Potential: Low Grade

Yep, it was definitely just a "salted fish" caught randomly from some river.

As for the so-called "Shiny" status, upon closer inspection, it looked like waterproof gold paint dusted with a bit of fluorescent powder to make it shine. It was a complete sham.

"How about it? Impressive, right? This is a one-in-a-million Shiny Pokémon. If you evolve it into a Gyarados... it'll become a Golden Gyarados! Think of how majestic you'll look taking that out for a spin!?"

"Young man, since I like your style, I'll give you a discount. Just 98,000 Pokédollars! You can take it home right now!"

As he spoke, the balding boss put on an expression of extreme internal conflict, acting as if he were parting with his own soul. If he were any more dramatic, he'd probably be weeping with regret.

If it were a genuine Shiny Magikarp, even a million Pokédollars might not buy it. To get a Shiny for 98,000... a hot-headed idiot might actually think they'd stumbled upon the bargain of a lifetime.

"Hmm, it truly is a rare opportunity. However, a poor Trainer like me doesn't have the means to raise such a precious Pokémon. You should probably keep it and train it yourself, boss."

N smiled and waved his hand, turning to leave immediately.

His swift and casual dismissal left the balding boss stunned. The kid looked like he was being sucked in just a second ago, how did he walk away so easily?!

"Hey, wait! Eighty thousand! I'll take fifty-five!"

"I'm just a commoner Trainer. I'm not worthy of such a luxury~ I'll just browse through these little trinkets you have here instead."

N adopted a "I'm broke" stance, shrugging as if he truly couldn't spare a single cent.

It was only then that the boss noticed N's clothes weren't actually designer brands. He had been completely fooled by N's "wealthy young master" face.

He's just a kid with nothing going for him but his looks!

"Tch, broke brat..."

The boss grumbled unhappily as he threw the cover back over his "rare treasure" Magikarp, leaving N to browse the accessories on the stall. Since there was no big money to be made, there was no need for the flattering act anymore.

"Hmm?"

N maintained a calm, gentle smile as he idly scanned the small accessories. Suddenly, amongst a pile of low-quality trinkets, he spotted something unique.

It was a headband printed with a red pattern, lying quietly among other common bandanas.

The moment he saw it, a faint, imperceptible glint flashed in N's eyes. However, his formidable poker face remained intact, his expression staying soft and unreadable.

This thing... was it a Muscle Band?