"Welcome aboard. Please, come in!"
Red and the others arrived at the ticket checkpoint of the S.S. Anne. The inspector glanced at their tickets and gestured for them to enter, warmly welcoming their arrival.
A luxurious grand hall came into view. A Pokémon Trainers' exchange party was being held, with numerous trainers sharing stories from their journeys. Naturally, Pokémon battles were also part of the event. Ash was immediately drawn to a battle taking place not far away and squeezed his way into the center of the crowd.
A young boy using Starmie was competing against a gentleman using Raticate. However, it was clear that the boy with Starmie was at a disadvantage.
"Raticate, use Jump Kick!"
"Starmie, use Tackle!"
The two Pokémon charged at each other and engaged in close combat, but soon cautiously retreated to their original positions, awaiting further commands.
"Raticate, use Hyper Fang!" the gentleman ordered.
At the command, Raticate bared its sharp incisors and clamped down tightly on Starmie's core gem. Before the boy could give another order, a crisp shattering sound echoed through the hall. Starmie's gem had been bitten apart, and it instantly shrank down onto the floor.
Raticate defeated Starmie. The sign above the gentleman lit up with the word "Victory." The boy hugged his injured Starmie with heartache, while the gentleman, clearly accustomed to such moments, began putting on a show.
"It was only a small simulation battle. I suppose the Goddess of Victory simply favors me a little more," the gentleman said "modestly," immediately drawing everyone's attention. He clearly enjoyed the stares, occasionally revealing a proud expression.
A gorgeously made-up noblewoman stepped forward and wrapped her arm around his shoulder.
"You're so strong~"
"Thank you, Madame Medelle," the gentleman replied, then turned to the boy. "You should train your Starmie a bit more."
"Well then, is there any other brave challenger willing to face my Raticate?"
Having won the noblewoman's favor, the gentleman decided to show off further to completely capture her heart.
"I'm fired up!" Ash's eyes blazed with fighting spirit as he rushed in front of the gentleman and threw out a Poké Ball. "My Butterfree will be your opponent!"
"Very well," the gentleman agreed. Seeing Ash's reckless demeanor, he assumed this would be easy prey.
"Seriously, he gets worked up so fast!" Misty complained.
"This guy can't beat Ash," Red said calmly. "But to save reputation, he'll probably declare a draw when Raticate is about to lose."
"No way. That shameless?" Leaf asked in surprise. Still, she trusted Red's judgment completely.
"Raticate, use Jump Kick!"
"Butterfree, use Tackle!"
It was once again the familiar close-combat exchange. The two Pokémon collided repeatedly, trying to wear each other down physically. Soon after, the gentleman commanded Raticate to use Hyper Fang to finish Butterfree off. Unfortunately for him, Butterfree had the advantage of flight and easily avoided the attack.
"Butterfree, use Stun Spore!"
Already exhausted, Raticate couldn't evade in time and inhaled a large amount of the paralyzing powder.
"That's enough! We'll call it a draw!"
Just as Ash was about to have Butterfree finish Raticate, the gentleman suddenly stepped forward, scooped up Raticate, and declared the match a draw before hurriedly leaving—completely ignoring Ash's frustrated expression.
"What the heck? I obviously won!"
"So shameless!" Leaf said indignantly. As a Pokémon Trainer herself, she clearly knew who the true winner was. Most of the people present were discussing the incident and criticizing the gentleman's behavior. Fortunately for him, he had already left with the noblewoman; otherwise, she might have reprimanded him and stormed off in anger.
"Hey, young man—yes, you! Come over here!"
The trainer party had been organized so well that it attracted many merchants willing to pay for booths. James, who was wandering around, was stopped by a man selling Magikarp. James looked at him in confusion, completely unaware of the fate awaiting him.
"Take a look at this Pokémon of mine!"
Seeing James respond, the Magikarp salesman inwardly celebrated as though a fish had taken the bait. He quickly pointed mysteriously at the Magikarp in the water tank, boasting about its miraculous qualities.
"What about it? Isn't it just an ordinary Magikarp?" James asked, puzzled.
"Ah, you don't understand. This is the king among carp—the King of Carp, Magikarp!" the salesman bragged.
"It doesn't look like much to me."
Clearly, James wasn't so easily fooled—but that was all part of the salesman's plan.
"Look at how healthy it is! See?"
The salesman handed the Magikarp to James. Since James wasn't its caretaker, the Magikarp immediately used a harmless Splash. Seeing this, James exclaimed that it was full of vitality.
"Let me tell you a secret! This Magikarp produces gold!" the salesman whispered conspiratorially, gesturing for James to keep his voice down.
"Gold?!" James trembled with excitement as he looked at the Magikarp in his arms.
"That's right! A Magikarp lays a thousand eggs at once. A thousand Magikarp each lay a thousand eggs—that's a million! And if that million lay eggs again, we're talking astronomical numbers!"
Seeing that James had taken the bait, the salesman continued exaggerating.
"This Magikarp normally sells for ten thousand. If it lays eggs just three times, you'll earn over a hundred million! Over a hundred million!"
"Over a hundred million!" James shouted excitedly.
"You'll be incredibly rich! You can buy as many Pokémon as you want!"
At that, James's mind filled with fantasies of becoming wealthy—truly wealthy on his own, free from his parents.
"This Magikarp is ten thousand normally. Add the egg-production kit, breeding kit, and nursery kit, and I'll give you everything for thirty thousand. How about it?!"
"I'll take it! I'll take it!" James shouted, refusing to even let go of the Magikarp in his arms.
"Oh, dear customer~ I can already see golden light shining behind you!" The salesman smiled blissfully, secretly delighted at having fooled another gullible victim. Another profitable day.
Money in one hand, goods in the other. James received a Poké Ball for the Magikarp—a "golden" Poké Ball painted with cheap dye. The salesman pocketed the thirty thousand James handed over. Since he didn't have enough funds, James even advanced Jessie's salary, successfully saddling their trio with another debt.
"Unexpectedly naive~"
After watching James leave, the salesman locked onto the owner of that voice—approaching slowly not far away, the red-capped boy: Red.
"Young man, would you like to get rich? Actually, the Magikarp I just sold that fellow was second-rate. But since fate has brought us together, I'll sell you this first-rate Magikarp instead!"
The salesman repeated his old routine, vividly describing the glorious future Red would have after obtaining Magikarp—looking even happier than if he were making money himself. Red found it utterly ridiculous.
"Oh? If it's really as you say, why don't you raise it yourself? Why kindly sell such a 'precious' Magikarp to us instead?"
Realizing Red wasn't as foolish as James, the salesman prepared to pack up and find a new target.
"Sir~ no need to rush off. I believe you'd very much like this footage deleted. I wonder what kind of punishment Officer Jenny would give you if she received it?" Red casually played with his Pokédex. On the screen was clear footage of the salesman deceiving James earlier.
From the beginning, Red had been quietly watching the entire scene. He hadn't expected James to be fooled so easily. Truly worthy of being a rich second-generation heir.
"Young man, I don't know what you're talking about..."
Cold sweat poured down the salesman's forehead. He hadn't expected to run into someone like Red today. Knowing he was about to be fleeced, he quickly brought up his hardships, claiming he had six children to support and had no choice but to resort to such dirty tricks.
Red wasn't interested in his excuses. If you fleece others, you should be prepared to be fleeced yourself. As a Pokémon assistant and honorary professor, Red wasn't lacking in funds. There was no need to take the money the man had "earned" through deception.
Seeing that Red had no intention of taking his money, the salesman hurriedly promoted his merchandise instead, hoping to satisfy Red and leave quickly before he changed his mind.
"You're sure this thing is a Magikarp?"
Red pointed helplessly at a "Magikarp" hiding in the corner of the tank. This peculiar "Magikarp" was clearly different in size from the others. Even its red skin had been painted on with cheap dye by the salesman, and it was already beginning to fade, gradually revealing its true appearance.
Red took out the Pokédex, revealing its true identity.
"Feebas, the Fish Pokémon. Because its fins are naturally ragged and unattractive, it's a Pokémon that no one pays attention to. It can live in both oceans and rivers!"
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