"Rowlet, come on out!"
Feng Che pressed the button on the Poké Ball. The Rowlet materialized and immediately tumbled onto the floor, snoring loudly.
It was a round, avian Pokémon with a white face shaped like a heart. Its body was covered in brown feathers, save for its green tail. It had a half-white, half-orange beak and two green leaves on its chest arranged like a bowtie. Despite its small, orange talons and sleepy appearance, Feng Che knew this species was a silent hunter. In Alola, they are incredibly rare, usually dwelling in the deepest, oldest forests. They can rotate their heads 180 degrees and see perfectly in total darkness.
"I'll take the Rowlet. But let me see the other two treasures first," Feng Che said, looking up at Lt. Surge.
"Deal." Surge waved a hand dismissively.
The two items were a Fire Crystal (Sea-blue in this context, possibly a Water Crystal given the description of the blue gem earlier, or a high-grade variant) and a top-quality Mystic Water. Feng Che nodded, satisfied, and produced the Magnezone's Poké Ball.
"My office has a built-in trade machine. No need to go elsewhere," Surge noted.
The exchange was completed instantly. Surge looked like a kid at Christmas. He immediately put Magnezone into a scanning device. A moment later, the results flashed on the screen: Potential: Green (Outstanding).
Surge chuckled to himself. Green potential! Even with that owl's 23-hour sleeping habit, I definitely came out on top in this deal. He figured a Pokémon that could only stay awake for one hour—half of which would be spent eating—was practically useless for combat.
"I have another proposal, Lord Surge. It's about Magneton," Feng Che said, watching Surge's satisfied grin.
Surge sat on his sofa, lit a cigar, and pulled a chilled whiskey from a nearby mini-fridge. "I'm listening. If the price is right, I'm always interested."
"I have mastered a method to evolve Magneton into Magnezone without requiring an Ultra-Pure Thunder Stone."
Surge nearly choked on his drink. He coughed, ignoring the whiskey splashing onto his uniform. "What? Say that again."
"No high-grade stones needed. Standard ones will suffice," Feng Che stated calmly.
Surge leaned in, eyes blazing. He owned a Thunder Stone mine; while Ultra-Pure stones were rare, high-grade ones were plentiful. If he could mass-evolve his Magneton units, his military strength would skyrocket. "What's the price for this knowledge?"
"I don't want money or items. I want one unconditional promise from you," Feng Che said slowly. "A promise to help me with one task in the future, provided it doesn't put your life in immediate danger."
Surge paused. "An unconditional promise... that's a heavy weight. But you're a man after my own heart. Fine. I, Lt. Surge, accept."
Feng Che handed over a sheet of paper detailing the high-voltage magnetic field requirements.
"So that's the trick..." Surge smiled playfully. "I'm curious, Alchemist... who are you really? To have the ear of the Boss and this kind of knowledge..."
Feng Che remained silent. Surge laughed it off. "Keep your secrets. If you ever need me, remember I owe you one."
As Feng Che left Surge's office, he headed straight for Giovanni's quarters. Surge, watching from the hallway, was baffled. The Boss is seeing him personally? This 'Alchemist' must be more than just an Elite member. Is he a General in disguise?
Inside the office, Giovanni greeted him with a rare smile. "Dr. Fuji told me everything. You saved 013. Without your nutrient solution, our first successful Mew-clone would have perished."
Giovanni's expression turned stern. "Feng Che, I have an urgent mission for you. Within ten days, you must reach the Lake of Rage Base in Johto. We've lost contact. Several elites were sent to investigate, but none returned. It's a vital site for our 'Project R'."
The Lake of Rage? Feng Che's heart sank. That means Pryce might be nearby. Pryce—the "Man of Masks"—was a trainer on par with Giovanni, capable of battling Ho-Oh and Lugia. Feng Che wasn't ready to cross paths with that legend yet.
"I understand, Leader. I'll leave immediately."
Before leaving, Feng Che stopped by the appraisal center. A representative named Hanada handed him a card containing 50 million Dollars—his share of various alchemical commissions.
"Time to buy the Celadon Breeding Center," Feng Che muttered.
Celadon City
The famous Celadon Breeding Center was being auctioned off by the Pokémon Bank due to massive debt. A crowd had gathered, led by a bank representative named Yuji.
"Starting bid is 10 million Dollars," Yuji announced. "This includes the facilities, thousands of eggs, and most importantly, the exclusive operating license."
The bidding climbed quickly as "shills" planted by the bank pushed the price up to ensure the debt was covered.
"40 million! Going once!" Yuji shouted, sweating. If it didn't go higher, the bank wouldn't clear the full debt.
Feng Che raised his hand. "40.2 million."
"40.2 million! Going once... twice... sold!"
As the hammer fell, a flashy woman in expensive perfume pushed through the crowd. "Wait! I'll give you 60 million for the deed right now!"
Feng Che shook his head. "The auction is over. It's not for sale."
"Do you have any idea who you're talking to?" the woman shrieked. "I am Chiyo Yuki, daughter of the owners of the Skyland Breeding Centers! We are the largest chain in Kanto!"
The crowd whispered. "A Skyland heiress? She's an Elite Eight finalist from the League! That kid is a country bumpkin if he hasn't heard of them."
Feng Che shrugged indifferently. "Skyland? Never heard of it. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a base to reach in Johto."
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