Chapter 19: Picking Up a Bargain
Pewter City, a town in the northwest of the Kanto region, was named after the Pewter Gym. However, that was decades ago. Nowadays, people believe the Pewter Gym was named after being located in Pewter City. There's no other reason; the Pewter Gym is one of the bottom-ranked Gyms in the Kanto region, weak in strength, with a simple Gym, and they even skimp on lighting.
"Ash, are you planning to challenge the Gym directly, or go to the Pokémon Center first?" Misty asked.
"There's still time, let's go to the Gym first."
Ash was already impatient for his first gym badge.
"Hey, young man, you're stepping on my merchandise!" At this moment, a squinty-eyed uncle said to Ash, who was stepping on a rock.
"Ah? My apologies, Uncle," Ash apologized.
"Merchandise? Uncle, these rocks are all over the roadside. How did they become your merchandise?" Misty was displeased.
"What do you mean roadside rocks? These rocks were bought by me from regions like Sinnoh, Kalos, and others, and they all have a chance to yield fossils," Flint said indignantly.
These rocks were indeed obtained by him from other regions, but they were not bought with money. After all, as someone who could run a Gym at a loss, how could he have spare money for this?
Upon hearing this, Ash became interested. He immediately asked, "Oh! So, Uncle, your stall is for rock gambling?"
"Rock gambling? What does that mean?" Flint was a bit confused.
"Rock gambling refers to a high-value item being wrapped in an opaque object. No one can know its quality, and it must be cut open or the wrapping removed to reveal the contents before its value can be determined..."
Ash briefly described the concept of rock gambling. People in this world focus on researching Pokemon. Some high-value ornaments, such as diamonds and jade, are mined and excavated by specially trained Pokemon. In the original work, someone trained a Donphan to find agates, so there was no opportunity for a rock gambling industry to form in this world.
Listening to Ash's explanation, Flint's eyes lit up. He seemed to have found a goal for his life's endeavors.
So he immediately rubbed his hands, intending to trick Ash: "Young man, since you understand rock gambling so well, would you like to try your hand at it?"
It's foolish not to make money, isn't it? Flint had been setting up his stall in this desolate place for who knows how long, and he hadn't closed a single deal. Now, Ash, in his eyes, was a big fat sheep.
"It's still early, so playing around is fine."
Ash, of course, knew who this squinty-eyed person was. Wasn't it Brock's father?
The squinty eyes passed down through the lineage, along with seventy to eighty percent similar facial features, made it obvious without even a paternity test.
"Ash, these are just roadside rocks; they have no value at all. Don't let this person trick you," Misty hurriedly reminded him.
Ash didn't speak. He gave Misty a reassuring look, then turned his gaze to the rocks.
Before each rock, he would pretend to examine it, but in reality, he was using his Aura to sense what was inside.
Because Ash acted so convincingly, Flint had already identified Ash as an expert with some skill. He silently removed the rocks that Ash rejected from his merchandise list.
Just as Ash had explored half of the rocks, a special Aura caught his attention.
It was a pitted rock with cracks on its surface.
"This fluctuation, could it be... a Mega Evolution key stone?"
Ash could feel that this special Aura was the same as the key stone he had obtained earlier with Gardevoir's evolution set.
Having confirmed there was something, he didn't alarm Flint. Instead, he feigned ignorance, even showing a look of disdain when he looked at the rock containing the key stone.
Then, his gaze shifted to another row of rocks.
Now Ash somewhat believed Flint's claim that these rocks came from other regions.
Finally, besides the key stone, Ash also sensed the fluctuations of two Mega Evolution Evolution Stones. As for which Pokemon they belonged to, he would need to break open the outer rock to find out.
However, he guessed that one of them was very likely a Steelix's Mega Evolution Evolution Stone.
After a moment's thought, Ash decided to acquire all three special rocks. But to avoid suspicion, he looked at the rock he had previously sensed contained a fossil.
"Uncle, how much is that half-meter-tall rock over there?" Ash asked.
Flint's eyes darted around, and he began to act, saying, "Young man, I see you also have some knowledge of rocks. Uncle won't take advantage of you; you can have it for 100,000."
"100,000 is too expensive, it's not worth it."
Ash feigned an appearance of being unable to afford it.
"100,000 isn't much, young man. You don't know the origin of that rock. I dug it out of a ruin. The probability of finding a fossil is extremely high, and even if you don't find a fossil, there's a chance to find jade..."
Having played with rocks for many years, Flint couldn't remember where he had gotten that particular rock.
"Really? But I only have a little over 100,000 in my entire savings. If I buy this and don't get anything, I'll be begging on the streets," Ash said pitifully.
"This..."
Upon hearing this, Flint thought of his own children and, for a moment, felt a little reluctant to trick Ash.
"Uncle, how about you see if you can add a few other small rocks? If you can, I might grit my teeth and buy it."
Ash asked tentatively.
Flint pondered for a moment and said, "It's not impossible, but I need you, young man, to point out the small rocks you're interested in, and I'll decide after I've seen them."
Ash mixed the rocks containing the key stone and the Mega Evolution Evolution Stones among a few worthless small rocks and pointed them out to Flint.
"No, that's too many to give away."
"Of course, seeing how eager you are, young man, you can have that rock for 80,000, and you can also pick three more from these small rocks."
"Really?" Ash showed an expression of disbelief.
...
After getting the rocks, Ash didn't rush to take out what was inside. Instead, he borrowed a cart from Flint and headed towards Pewter City with the rocks.
"Ash, are these rocks really worth 80,000 League Coins?" Misty asked curiously.
"The large one is certainly not worth it, but these three small ones, if placed in other regions, let alone 80,000, people would fight over them for 8 million."
Mega Evolution can no longer be measured by money. This is one of the main super-limit combat methods in the future. Any one of them can greatly enhance one's strength. Mega Evolution, Z-Move, Gigantamax, Terastallization—if one doesn't master one of these in the future, even if they become an Elite, they will be at the bottom.
"Ah!"
Misty was extremely shocked. She now understood that Ash had just been acting for the squinty-eyed uncle.
"Misty, don't tell that uncle about this."
Ash was a little afraid that Flint might faint if he found out about this.
"Ash, don't worry, this is our little secret, and I won't reveal a single word to anyone else."
Upon entering Pewter City, Ash first took Misty to the most luxurious hotel, then, in a soundproof room, he took out the contents of the rocks.
One of the two Mega Evolution Evolution Stones was indeed for Steelix, likely the one Brock later obtained in the original story. As for the other, it was for the Dragon-type traitor Altaria.
...
After dealing with the rocks, Ash impatiently took Misty to the entrance of the Pewter Gym.
Loving Book So Far Check Out 80+ Chapters In Advanced At Pa Treon:
patreon.com/FicTonic1