Xerneas?
It's not impossible.
After all, Xerneas turns into a tree when it's asleep.
Possible.
It might be sleeping in an unknown forest in the Kalos Region right now.
Natsuhiko doesn't know if the current lack of Fairy Energy in the Pokemon Realm is directly related to Xerneas's slumber.
After all, there isn't only one pure Fairy-type Divine Beast. Isn't Zacian from the Galar Region also one?
Only when Zacian reveals its true form, it's a Fairy Type and Steel Type Divine Beast.
But Natsuhiko thinks that the shortage of Fairy Energy is definitely related to Xerneas, even if not directly.
If this branch is indeed a body part shed by Xerneas, it's quite normal for it to attract Togekiss, who is currently perceiving Fairy-type Pokémon.
He gently patted Togekiss on the head.
Indicating it should have a proper mindset.
"Whether it is or not, we'll know if we bid for it and try," said Natsuhiko.
"Chako-y~~" Togekiss nodded.
Then.
The bidding for this branch began.
"That's all for the introduction. If you find it interesting, why not bid for it and see?
The starting bid is fifty thousand League Coins, and each increase must be no less than one thousand. Start!"
Dong!
As the hammer fell, the audience fell into a momentary silence again.
It was quiet due to the price, but the reasons were obviously different from the auction of Sandslash.
"That's hilarious, bidding fifty thousand for a branch, do you think others are fools?"
"Just pass on this one, I want to see the next item."
The sarcastic voices grew louder.
"Fifty thousand."
Suddenly.
A voice came from a corner, not old, but quite magnetic.
Someone placed a bid!
Natsuhiko in the booth was about to bid but couldn't help glancing in that direction.
"A gamble? Or do they know its value?"
Natsuhiko wasn't sure.
So he wanted to wait and watch, not to seem too hasty.
"Someone actually bids for a branch, what are they thinking?"
"Who knows, maybe they've got too much money."
"A fool...."
But the old man on stage secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Thankfully, it wasn't a no-sale.
Though the price wasn't high, it's good enough to sell it.
They've researched this item at the auction house for too long, spent a lot of money, but couldn't get satisfactory results. Selling it early recovers some costs.
The old man looked around, "Anyone else want to bid?"
Silently waiting for over ten seconds, no one else placed a bid.
He prepared to start the countdown.
"Fifty-one thousand." Natsuhiko deliberately disguised his raspy voice.
The minimum increase was one thousand, and Natsuhiko increased by one thousand.
If he bid too much, he worried others might become suspicious.
"Fifty-two thousand."
"Fifty-three thousand."
"..."
The two continued to bid by one thousand, making the other bidders drowsy.
If Natsuhiko weren't a guest in the booth, most people dared not offend easily.
Perhaps someone might say.
Why don't you take a room and bid slowly?
"One hundred thousand." Natsuhiko wasn't in a rush, sitting in the booth chewing fruit from the fruit plate.
Good things aren't afraid of being late.
If it's really Xerneas's branch, forget one hundred thousand, even a million, he'd take it.
Things related to Divine Beasts can't be measured by price.
Even if it's not related to Xerneas, something causing Togekiss's Fairy Energy to act strangely is surely not simple, spending a few hundred thousand doesn't count as gambling.
"One hundred twenty thousand!"
The opponent finally seemed impatient, starting to increase the bid by larger amounts.
"One hundred twenty-one thousand."
"One hundred fifty thousand!"
"One hundred fifty-one thousand."
But Natsuhiko remained calm, still increasing by one thousand.
Actually, this was sending a signal.
No matter how much you increase, I'll always increase by one thousand.
Challenge accepted.
But this time.
The opponent's voice didn't sound again.
Not knowing if they thought it exceeded their estimated price, didn't want to compete with Natsuhiko anymore, or...
The old man on stage almost yawned.
Never seen such a tedious auction.
Completely made the whole venue dull.
He felt a bit like crying without tears.
Next, to make the venue lively again, who knows how much effort he'll have to spend.
But then.
This has nothing to do with Natsuhiko.
As the small hammer fell, Natsuhiko breathed a sigh of relief, and at the same time, everyone in the venue also sighed in relief.
It was finally over.
This was so boring.
Not a bit of enthusiasm.
"Haha—finally over, ahem, congratulations to the seller! Now let's take a look at the next auction item, without keeping everyone in suspense, it's Munchlax!"
The auction continued.
The old man on stage continued to put in effort to stir up the atmosphere.
Natsuhiko dusted off his clothes, picked up the hat from the coat rack by the door, and put away his Pokémon as he walked out with large strides.
The auction was nearing its end, and the upcoming items were bound to be more expensive, but they weren't much use to him, as he pretty much already bought what he wanted.
He went to the reception room.
Collected the Pokémon he had bid on, along with the tree branch, and the money from the Pokémon he sold.
A total of 57.2 million Alliance coins were obtained from the sales, minus the ten percent service fee, he received 51.48 million, and after deducting the expenses for bidding on the Pokémon and the branch, totaling 7.91 million.
In the end, the amount actually transferred to Natsuhiko's bank account was 43.57 million Alliance coins.
Not bad.
Even after buying some Pokémon and items, the final amount he received was significantly more than Natsuhiko had anticipated.
The only thing he found somewhat insufferable was the auction house's service fee.
But fortunately, the auction was all about making money, and they were sold at a premium, so he still made a considerable profit.
No wonder so many people think of selling things at the auction house.
Put away the Pokeballs.
Held the tree branch in his palm.
The feel when holding it was quite nice; unlike real tree branches, which have cracked surfaces and feel very rough.
Natsuhiko actually felt it was somewhat smooth.
Within it, there seemed to be a certain hidden obscure power lying dormant, and with his psychic abilities, he couldn't peer into what kind of energy it contained.
After leaving the auction house.
Natsuhiko didn't leave the black market directly.
Instead, he took the money and started sweeping through the market again.
All Fairy-type related Pokémon, items, and materials were his targets.
However, there weren't many Pokémon; he finally bought only two Cottonee, totaling 700,000.
He spent more on Tree Fruits than on buying Pokémon.
In fact, Natsuhiko had already acquired quite a few Tree Fruits in the Alola Region, with various types at least a little.
But this time, he mainly focused on two kinds.
The "Luomai Fruit," related to the Fairy-type and whose effects haven't been discovered by others yet.
The "Inkberry Fruit," which can increase a Pokémon's beauty, is now just used as a flavoring or additive in Pokémon's food.
A blue fruit with a somewhat bitter taste, but it's a flavor some Pokémon like.
The prices of these Tree Fruits were all very cheap.
Luomai Fruits were easy to talk about since their quantity was already limited.
However, the number of Inkberry Fruits was plentiful, though Natsuhiko still spent a large sum to buy them all.
This even caused the price of Inkberry Fruits on the Hearthome City black market to rarely rise.
Luomai Fruits are Tree Fruits Fairy-type Pokémon can eat; Natsuhiko plans to use them to make food for Togekiss and the Nine-tailed Mother and Daughter.
Once the Fairy-type awakens, the price of this Tree Fruit will also soar.
Buying more, even if just to stockpile, won't hurt.
And Inkberry Fruits can enhance a Pokémon's beauty, which coincides perfectly with Natsuhiko's recent thesis on Feebas evolving into Milotic.
When his thesis gets published, it's estimated that the price of this Tree Fruit will also rise.
But Natsuhiko didn't buy them to sell later.
It's to continue delving into research on the beauty topic.
Taking advantage of the Alliance's heavy promotion of the Gorgeous Competition.
Introducing the concept of beauty.
To reap benefits from the Alliance again!
Buying these Tree Fruits cost him a total of 1.47 million Alliance coins.
He filled several space backpacks.
Finally, he went to buy some equipment needed for Pokémon training and manuals usable by certain Pokémon.
These were the real major expenses.
A total of 7.89 million Alliance coins were spent.
Some of the manuals he wanted were not for sale, otherwise, he might have spent even more money.
After doing all this, Natsuhiko finally left Hearthome City's black market, with 33.51 million Alliance coins left in hand.
It should be enough to customize top-level Energy Blocks for one or two Pokémon.
Or to acquire some more Fairy-type Pokémon.
Anyway.
There's never enough money.
After Natsuhiko left the black market.
A young monk, around eighteen or nineteen years old, came out from the entrance of the Hearthome City black market, wearing a grayish-white robe and sporting a head that reflected moonlight.
With palms together.
His eyes were half-open and half-closed, appearing somewhat dazed, his fair face flushed with a red tint, exuding a sense of compassion and tranquility.
But if someone got closer, they'd find this monk reeked heavily of alcohol.
"Hic—there are indeed some who understand, this life energy is so rich...." the little monk muttered to himself, "Oh well, saving money is good too, I can experience more of the human world's suffering. Hic—"
He stumbled towards the neon lights of Hearthome City at night.
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PS: 12k votes for monthly tickets~~