Aurelia has been a city that reveres culture and education since ancient times, and the dawn of the Pokémon era did nothing to change that.
The city boasts a staggering number of universities offering Pokémon-related majors, with Aurelia University standing as a prestigious institution recognized nationwide.
At Aurelia University, Owen was currently walking toward the main gates. Walking just ahead of him was a young woman in her early twenties, dressed in casual attire.
"Siyu, thanks a lot for today."
"Don't mention it," she replied with a light wave of her hand.
Siyu was a graduate student and intern researcher under Professor Aoki. She had once reached out to Owen to collaborate on his research into Anticipation. When she heard Owen was visiting Aurelia University, Siyu—a local—immediately volunteered to be his guide.
Under her lead, Owen, Eevee, and Magnemite had spent the day sampling the university's various training facilities. However, Owen felt a bit let down.
While the facilities were top-notch, Eevee and Magnemite hadn't experienced any "eureka" moments or substantial breakthroughs like they had in Magic City.
"Owen, when are you planning to head back?" Siyu asked, checking the date on her phone.
"Hard to say, but I probably won't stay in Aurelia for too long," Owen replied.
Siyu nodded. "If you're not in a rush, how about visiting Professor Aoki's research institute the day after tomorrow? He mentioned you recently, and I think he'd be more than happy to host you."
"Oh?" Owen's interest piqued. "If possible, I'd love to take a look. I've heard Professor Aoki is an expert on Eevee; maybe I can pick up a few tips."
"Definitely. To further the research on Anticipation, the Professor recently applied for several more Eevee from the breeding centers," Siyu laughed. "A whole room full of Eevee... just imagine how cute that is."
"Vee..."
On Owen's shoulder, the "Eevee God" waved a dismissive paw. To her, those were just a bunch of cute but soulless fluff-balls. A real Eevee should be at home playing on a smartphone. In short: she didn't want to go.
"Protest denied," Owen said, patting the restless Eevee down.
He couldn't help but envy famous researchers. If they wanted to study a Pokémon, they could just submit an application and have them delivered.
It showed just how much the state valued Pokémon research; after all, trainers and their partners were now the backbone of national strength.
Since the institute visit was two days away, Owen asked Siyu if there were any interesting local spots to check out. He hadn't traveled all this way just to sit in a hotel room.
"Interesting spots... do you have plans for tonight?"
"None."
"Street 19 should be pretty lively tonight. Want me to show you around?"
"What's Street 19?"
"Well... you could call it a 'Ghost Market' for Pokémon enthusiasts. It's a bit more down-to-earth."
"Some call it the 'Bargain Bin Market.' The shops and stalls there often sell items that have trickled out from the Secret Realms."
"Most of these items have been appraised as having zero energy fluctuations—just useless trinkets. But you often hear stories of people finding rare treasures hidden in the junk. Plus, many shops hold small Pokémon-related mini-games."
Owen's eyes lit up instantly. His mind immediately drafted a plot for a web novel: a crowd of people fails to recognize a masterpiece, allowing him—the "transmigrator"—to swoop in and snag a legendary treasure for pennies. Just thinking about it felt exhilarating.
By the time they arrived at the market that evening, Owen realized he had over-imagined things. While the items did come from Secret Realms, 99% of them were literal garbage.
He had come prepared to "find a leak" in the market, but he couldn't find a single thing that looked remotely special.
Amidst the sea of people and brilliant neon lights, a slightly disheveled-looking man called out to them.
"Hey, students! Want to see this? Special mushrooms that only grow in Secret Realms! Dry them out and make tea—it's great for your health!
The man held up a transparent bag filled with dried fungi. Siyu didn't even stop; she just grabbed Owen's arm and pulled him away.
"So... finding a treasure here requires two things: a sharp eye and luck. Mostly luck. A lot of luck."
Owen sighed. "I get that, but what's with the dried mushrooms?" It reminded him of the infamous Magikarp salesman from the anime. Total scam.
"A mushroom from a Secret Realm is still just a mushroom," Siyu explained. "It won't give you powers, but it won't make you sick either.
Because they look weird, people sell them at high prices to suckers. The only fungus from a Secret Realm worth anything is the Tiny Mushroom or Big Mushroom used for aromatics."
The aromatic mushrooms were rare and could fill a whole area with fragrance. Their nutritional value was average, but the taste was divine.
Since they couldn't be farmed, they were considered "fantasy-tier" ingredients in the hands of top chefs.
Owen was starting to think that the "hidden treasure" stories were just rumors spread to lure in tourists. A moment later, he stopped in front of a shop to look at some pearls on display. Eevee leaned against the glass, her eyes fixed on the shiny objects.
"You're an Eevee, not a Dragon!" Owen teased.
"Vee..." Eevee pouted. She was just marveling at how high the price was, not because she actually liked flashy jewelry.
"Shellder pearls aren't very useful, but they're expensive. Some shops mix in regular pearls and sell them at a 'discount'... if you really want one, we should go to a real jewelry store," Siyu said, clearly familiar with the traps here.
Generally, the market only saw common Shellder pearls. Museums usually snatched up high-quality ones with energy fluctuations.
As for Clamperl pearls, those were even rarer; a Clamperl only produces one in its lifetime, and they are said to boost psychic power. They were worth hundreds of times more than a Shellder pearl.
The more he saw, the more bored Owen became. He was starting to regret coming to this tourist trap. Since there were no treasures to be found, they shifted their attention to the mini-games.
"Water Gun target practice! Hit them all for a 10% discount!" "Pass. No Water-types."
"Buy something and get a free Pokémon massage voucher!" "Pass. I'm already a pro at massaging my team."
Owen continued down the street, passing shop after shop. Suddenly, Siyu pulled his sleeve and pointed toward a dim alleyway.
In the shadows of the alley, a raggedy old man who looked like a drifter had set up a small stall. He had drawn quite a crowd. Standing beside him was a Grumpig, its purple pearls glinting in the low light...
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