Chapter 30: The Muscle Band

The pale yellow headband featured bold, crimson triangular stripes. Though it looked ordinary, it was a rare and specialized held item! It possessed the capability to boost the power of a Pokémon's physical moves by 10%.

In a heated battle, that small margin could shift the entire tide of the match.

One must never underestimate a ten percent increase in power. While the effect might be subtle on a weak Pokémon, imagine it in the hands, or paws, of an Elite Four level Pokémon. That tiny boost could result in an earth-shattering difference.

While such items likely had a performance ceiling, Champion-level Pokémon would probably see diminishing returns, for a Pokémon that hadn't yet reached the pinnacle of strength, its utility was immense.

N was pleasantly surprised to find such a treasure at a lowly street stall. This item was practically tailor-made for his Timburr; it would elevate the Pokémon's raw power to an entirely new level!

"Perfect. My little sister has been pestering me for some gifts lately. I'll take this necklace and these few bandanas together. What's your price, boss?"

"Huh?"

The balding vendor gave a dismissive glance at the handful of trinkets N was holding. He looked annoyed; the total value of these items was barely ten Pokédollars. He wasn't making a profit here at all.

"Fifty! That necklace is a popular item. Not a cent lower!"

"Deal."

N paid the amount with a brisk, friendly smile. Having made a tiny "profit," the balding boss couldn't help but crack a satisfied grin, and his view of this "broke brat" improved slightly.

Without lingering, N took his accessories and left the stall.

The value of this Muscle Band was significant. If Bruno, the Fighting-type specialist of the Kanto Elite Four, saw this, he'd be green with envy. Items capable of boosting an Elite-level Pokémon's strength could easily sell for hundreds of thousands of Pokédollars.

This was far more valuable than the "Golden Magikarp" the boss used to swindle people.

The successful find put N in an excellent mood, leading him to be a bit more extravagant with his next stops. He made a trip to a blue-roofed Pokémon Mart to stock up heavily on Pokémon food and high-grade Pokéblocks, then hit a supermarket for some discounted survival rations.

After that, nothing else in the trade market caught his eye. Even the "Egg Gacha" stall surrounded by a crowd seemed dull. While N's Viridian Power allowed him to see the radiant potential of a Pokémon Egg, rare eggs simply didn't appear in places like this, let alone a pseudo-legendary.

A quick scan revealed eggs with mostly Low Grade aptitude used to fill space; he saw a few Middle Grade ones, but not a single High Grade. Truly high-potential eggs were usually funneled to specialized facilities long before they hit the street markets.

Since a Pokémon's potential is tied to the strength of its parents, the offspring of powerful Pokémon are claimed the moment they are laid. The probability of one slipping into a flea market like this was perhaps one in ten thousand.

"Hmm?"

As he wandered, N inadvertently looped back to the first stall. This time, the balding boss was mysteriously whispering to a young girl, pitching his "Super Shiny Golden Magikarp."

The girl looked fairly sharp; N figured she wouldn't fall for such a simple trick. He gave a casual glance and prepared to move on, only to hear a gasp behind him.

"Wow!! I-I can't believe I found a Shiny Magikarp in a place like this! This is incredible!"

"Right, little lady? I like your vibe, so I'm willing to part with this Shiny Magikarp even if it hurts. Only 98,000!"

"Wow, that's so cheap!!"

The balding man's Academy-Award-winning performance made N's lip twitch.

But what surprised N more was the girl's reaction. She looked genuinely amazed and quickly pulled a wallet with a Piplup pattern from her skirt pocket.

"Do you take cards!?"

The girl solemnly drew a shimmering Gold Card from her wallet. The brilliance of the card nearly blinded the vendor. Such a card was the universal symbol of a "rich but clueless" target. The boss's eyes literally began to glow.

"Ah, actually, selling it for that much is a bit of a loss for me... I've got a family to feed, after all! If we adjust the price a bit, say, 500,000, it's yours!"

"No problem!"

The girl agreed instantly. In her eyes, there was probably little difference between 98,000 and 500,000. A Shiny Pokémon was a priceless rarity; if it could be bought with money, it was a steal!

"I'd advise you not to buy that."

"Huh?"

The girl blinked her large, confused eyes. It was only then she noticed a boy in a green-haired ponytail and a cap standing beside her. Because of his height, she looked up and saw his face clearly from beneath his brim.

His soft, vibrant emerald eyes met hers for a fleeting second. He stood with one hand in his pocket, a confident smile playing on his lips that instinctively commanded trust.

"Look closely. The light reflecting off that Magikarp's scales is scattered. That means it's just fluorescent powder. The golden color is just waterproof paint. It's actually just an ordinary Magikarp."

"Don't you talk trash, kid!! This is a genuine Shiny!"

"I've already dialed Officer Jenny's number, you know? If she catches you for fraud, you'll be spending a few days drinking tea at the station."

N gestured toward the Pokégear in his right hand, which indeed showed Officer Jenny's contact info.

The balding boss's face paled instantly. He spat on the ground in annoyance, packed up his stall, and bolted.

"There you go. Keep your eyes sharp next time. Shiny Pokémon are almost never found for sale like this."

With a wave and a smile, N turned to leave. He needed to head back to the Pokémon Center to pick up Zorua and Timburr.

The girl stood frozen in place. By the time she realized she should say something, the crowd was too thick to call him back. She could only burn his face into her memory.