"This place is so secluded; it doesn't look like an official stall..."
Siyu looked deep into the alley, her expression filled with doubt. "Was this here before?"
Despite the location, a fair crowd had gathered around the stall, listening to an old man's boisterous shouting. It was unexpectedly livelier than the more prominent stalls on the main street.
Though the old man was dressed in tattered, grimy clothes, a Grumpig stood faithfully by his side. Its presence alone commanded respect; no one dared look down on a trainer with a fully evolved Psychic-type.
As Owen and Siyu drew closer, they spotted a sign hanging at the front:
CHALLENGE FEE: 500 Aurels (QR Code accepted).If your Pokémon can withstand Grumpig's hypnosis, you may pick any one item from the stall for free.If they fall asleep, the challenge is a failure. No refunds.
Owen's eyes widened as he scanned the items on display. They weren't junk—they were treasures.
There were Heart Scales shimmering with a faint iridescent light. These scales, shed by Luvdisc, could be processed into luxury jewelry worth a hundred times the challenge fee.
He saw a weathered Sharp Beak, a held item that could potentially boost the power of Flying-type moves. There were even various types of Incense.
It was no wonder so many university students were hovering around, staring wistfully at their phone balances.
"Are those... Move Manuals?" Siyu gasped.
On the corner of the table lay several handwritten booklets. In this world, these were "Secret Techniques"—systematic methods for teaching a Pokémon new moves.
They weren't high-level or rare elemental moves, but to a trainer, more options were always better. Even if you didn't need the move, a manual was a high-value trade item.
Sand Attack
Fury Swipes
Quick Attack
Double Team
Rapid Spin...
Most were basic, and they didn't come with the necessary physical resources (like specific berries or TMs), but the methodology was what mattered.
Owen was particularly drawn to the Rapid Spin manual. While Eevee didn't need it, the manual likely contained techniques for overcoming dizziness—something that could be vital for Magnemite when it eventually tried to learn Gyro Ball.
This old man has a Grumpig and a hoard of Move Manuals... he's definitely a hidden master, Owen thought, convinced by the classic "mysterious elder" tropes.
"500 Aurels... that's enough for a nice hotpot dinner," Siyu muttered, her eyes fixed on a glittering Heart Scale. Even as a researcher, she wasn't immune to the allure of something so beautiful.
Soon, a challenger stepped forward. He looked like a university student and, after a moment of deliberation, released a Pinsir.
"Old man, I'll give it a shot. Do I scan the code first or...?"
"No rush, no rush!" The stall owner sat cross-legged on the ground, laughing as he patted his Grumpig's round belly.
"I recognize that guy," Siyu whispered. "He's on the battle team of a neighboring university. I've seen him compete against Aurelia University."
A battle team member? So his strength is legit... Owen observed the Pinsir. It looked physically imposing, its eyes filled with steely determination.
However, what happened next made Owen and Siyu frown. The Grumpig simply wagged a finger in front of the Pinsir. Within moments, the beetle Pokémon's eyes began to swirl, and it slumped into the dirt, fast asleep.
Siyu's expression turned grim. "That owner... he might be an incredibly experienced veteran trainer."
"Yeah, and a veteran trainer coming here to scam kids out of their dinner money is pretty low-class," Owen twitched. It was a total wipeout. If a varsity-level trainer couldn't last a few seconds, what chance did anyone else have?
Two more challengers stepped up. Both were put to sleep almost instantly.
"I'll try," Siyu said suddenly, pulling out a Pokéball. She had set her heart on that scale. "Grumpig have the unique ability to manipulate the hearts and minds of others.
They use the black pearls on their bodies to amplify their hypnosis. If a Pokémon's mental power is weaker than that Grumpig's, it's nearly impossible to resist. But..."
"But what?" Owen asked.
"I think the owner is holding back. He's adjusting the Grumpig's power based on the challenger. Did you notice? All three challengers collapsed at exactly the four-second mark, even though their Pokémon were at different levels and used different resistance methods."
"Uh, yeah... I totally noticed that too," Owen lied smoothly.
Siyu stepped forward and released her Pokémon: a Wigglytuff.
"Sir, I'm challenging. The rules allow the trainer to speak to the Pokémon, and the Pokémon can use non-attacking moves to resist, right?" Siyu asked.
"Correct, correct," the old man grinned, digging into his ear with a pinky finger. "Code or cash?"
Siyu began. "Wigglytuff, use Heal Bell!"
Heal Bell is a move that can clear status conditions. Siyu's strategy was to have Wigglytuff hum a soothing melody to keep its own mind clear and snap itself out of the encroaching drowsiness.
But...
1... 2... 3... 4... Owen counted silently. At the four-second mark, the melody faltered. Wigglytuff swayed and keeled over, deep in slumber.
It seemed impossible.
Owen watched as a dejected Siyu rubbed her forehead and withdrew her Pokémon, paying the fee while the old man cackled.
"It's a trap," Siyu sighed as she walked back. "No one has won a single thing tonight."
"Maybe... I should give it a go?" Owen suggested.
He had an idea. If the Grumpig used its full strength, he and Eevee would be finished. But if the old man truly adjusted the intensity to the challenger's level, they might just have a opening.
"With Eevee?" Siyu blinked. She couldn't imagine how a Normal-type Eevee could resist a high-level hypnosis.
"Let's see what we can do." Owen squeezed his hands into fists and stared at the Move Manuals. He walked up to the stall with Eevee.
"Kid, you want to try too? If you're just a rookie, I wouldn't recommend it," the old man said, looking up at Owen. Compared to the other university students, Owen's high-school "rookie" aura was practically glowing.
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