Incredible!
This time it's truly spectacular!
With the Alola Diglett King's auction coming to an end, the highlight of this auction has just about concluded.
It's hard to say if the final few items will surpass this price, but the excitement definitely won't be higher than this.
And with money in hand, Natsuhiko officially began his spree.
As long as it had any relation to Fairy-type Pokémon, he waved his hand and bought them all.
There was somewhat of a premium.
But once the Fairy type awakens, this small premium will quickly be offset.
So he didn't hesitate at all.
Altogether, he bought three Clefairies, two Jigglypuffs, three Marills, a Snubbull, a Mr. Mime, and six Cottonees.
Sixteen Pokémon in total.
Since each Pokémon's strength, technique mastery, and potential differed, each had a different price.
However, because not a single one reached the Elite Level, these Pokémon were treated more like pets in the auction, so the premium wasn't too severe.
A total of 6.4 million League Coins were spent.
On average, that's about 400,000 League Coins per Pokémon.
A Senior Level Pokémon at an average price of 400,000 represents a premium.
This is mainly because the six Cottonees, which are more common in the Unova Region, pulled the average price down; otherwise, it would have been even higher.
One has to admit, the Pokémon Realm is still full of wealthy families.
Counting the four acquired previously at the Hunter Guild, Natsuhiko amassed a total of twenty potential Fairy-type Pokémon.
This was just the start of his stockpiling.
He felt no pain spending the 6.4 million.
When sold in the future, the price would triple or quadruple, the profit immense and the risk minimal.
If not for wanting to save some money for his Pokémon to replace Energy Blocks, buy techniques, and purchase items, he might have spent all his money, as long as someone was selling.
The auction continued.
But the excitement could no longer reach the level of the Alola Diglett King.
Yet the elder maintained his diligence, working to control the rhythm.
"The next lot is very strange, as even we can't fully determine what it is. We've consulted many expert appraisers, but none could provide the answer we sought. We only know our team acquired it during an expedition."
As he spoke.
Staff members brought up a tray.
This time, no mystery was preserved.
On the red tray sat a withered twig, about the length of a palm.
Around a finger's thickness, maybe a bit more.
The twig's surface was covered in wrinkles, dull yellow in color, and its unremarkable appearance made it seem like just a twig.
The only highlight might be its placement in an exquisite tray.
"A twig?"
"Is your auction house kidding us? Bringing a piece of twig as a lot, do you think earning our money is this easy?"
"Haha—without being told, I'd have thought the tray itself was the lot."
"..."
Insults, mockery, and disdain arose in succession.
The elder's face flickered with a hint of embarrassment.
But his professionalism wouldn't let him compromise, so he explained.
"Don't judge it as just a twig. Although it looks like one, its core contains an energy we can't yet identify. It's obscure yet truly present. We've tried many methods to stimulate its power, but the effects are mostly unsatisfactory.
I can only assure you all that this is definitely not an ordinary twig. I'll demonstrate for you."
Saying this, several staff carried up a pot filled with soil.
Then the elder fetched a seed.
It's just a common type of Tree Fruit seed; with some simple processing, planting it in suitable soil with fitting fertilizer, it grows into a fruit tree.
Of course.
This takes time.
Then the elder, without any further treatment, planted the seed into the soil before everyone.
Finally.
With a solemn expression, he placed the twig into the pot.
As everyone grew impatient, thinking he was just putting on a show.
A sprout slowly emerged from the flowerpot.
It grew to about three or four centimeters before the growth halted.
"This..."
Upon witnessing this, everyone realized this ordinary-looking twig was different.
But the question was....
"So, what's the benefit to us?"
Someone voiced the common thought.
Indeed.
It's magical.
But aren't there enough magical things in the Pokémon Realm?
It doesn't aid in raising Pokémon or enhancing strength at all.
Perhaps it might help some Breeders a little.
Reducing some time spent processing seeds and waiting for them to sprout.
Still, this sapling, clearly, stopped growing at three to four centimeters.
Do Breeders lack processing time for seeds?
No, they lack time waiting for the sapling to become a tree!
So, even in the eyes of the Breeders, this is rather useless.
"Cough, cough, I wasn't trying to say it has a huge impact; I just wanted to demonstrate this isn't an ordinary twig; it must have more significant special effects, but we haven't discovered them yet."
Simply put.
This item has potential. Maybe someone bold and willing to gamble will purchase it and test its utility.
Honestly.
Such individuals exist.
And quite a number.
If they manage to discover its function, it's a rare find.
If not, then they made a poor investment.
But most people remain rational when buying.
Including Natsuhiko sitting in the booth.
When he saw it was a twig, his thoughts were like most people's.
Is this a trick?
Yet one Pokémon's reaction slowly changed Natsuhiko's mind.
"Chaka-ee?"
Playing with Eevee and Latios, Togekiss suddenly sensed something and gazed out the window at the auction stage.
It seemed momentarily entranced.
Ignoring Eevee and Latios's urgings and confusion.
It flew to the window, staring intently at the twig on the tray.
"What's the matter, Togekiss?"
Seeing Togekiss's absentmindedness, Natsuhiko stood and asked.
His gaze also fell on the stage.
The elder was placing it into the pot.
"Chaka-duee~~" Togekiss, upon hearing Natsuhiko, snapped back to reality.
Returning to its senses.
Its expression showed hesitation and conflict.
It couldn't articulate why, but felt the twig was curious.
"Can a seed be accelerated to a sapling? Life Energy?"
Natsuhiko observed the ongoing events, raising his eyebrows.
This is Life Energy at work.
Having witnessed Life Crystals and Life Energy, Natsuhiko could speak to it with some authority.
"Chaka-duee?" Togekiss tilted its head.
Knowing Natsuhiko was correct, yet feeling something was amiss with the twig!
With Togekiss emphasizing this, Natsuhiko had to pay serious attention.
Various items and rare materials flashed through his mind.
But none matched.
He asked, "Togekiss, what's your feeling?"
"Chaka-duee!" Togekiss nodded.
Hesitantly, intermittently, it began explaining.
Uncertainly, it found the twig strangely attractive, this pull significant.
Making the energy within it restless.
On hearing this, Natsuhiko's expression shifted, asking, "Which energy? Fairy-type energy?"
As Natsuhiko's first Fairy-type awakened Pokémon, Togekiss was earliest exposed to Fairy-type energy.
If it's Fairy-type energy....
Then it narrows it down considerably.
"Chaka-duee!"
This time, Togekiss was certain, nodding vigorously.
"Fairy type... twig...." Natsuhiko murmured.
Repeating it, eyes slowly widening.
Revealing disbelief and... joy.
"Twig... could it be, Xerneas?!"