"Where can I offload black market goods?" Reiji asked in a hushed tone, careful not to let anyone overhear.

"Black market goods? There's a hidden door behind the bar that leads down to the underground market. I can take you there," the old man replied. Deep down, he thought: I knew it—someone this ruthless must have blood on his hands.

So that's what the ID was really for. The true goal was getting rid of illegal goods. And where there are illegal goods, there are bodies. Who knows how many people this guy has killed.

Now the old man truly understood that the cold, dangerous air Reiji carried wasn't for show—it was the mark of someone who had taken lives.

"Old man, see? That wasn't so hard. You really didn't need to make it so unpleasant," Reiji said, quietly relieved that the black market was accessible from here.

He finally let go of the old man's collar and even helped straighten it. The old man was caught off guard by the sudden courtesy.

Now that he'd confirmed the location, Reiji's mission was essentially complete. It had been a rough process, but the outcome was what he wanted.

If the old man had just cooperated from the beginning and not tried to scam him, things wouldn't have escalated. Business should be based on trust.

"You're right, young man. Cooperation benefits everyone. Want to head there now, or wait until tomorrow?"

The lewd grin was gone from the old man's face, replaced by friendly charm. He now looked like a harmless grandpa from the neighborhood, saying only the nicest things, doing his best to please Reiji—terrified the boy might still blow everything sky-high.

"Of course we're going now." Reiji released the collar and stowed Electrode and Gyarados's Poké Balls back into his bag.

But he didn't let go of the "detonator." The act had to be played through to the end. This wasn't the moment to relax.

The old man didn't waste a second. He stepped out from behind the bar and led the way. All he wanted was to get this lunatic out of his tavern as fast as possible.

"Wait," Reiji stopped him, holding the detonator as he turned back toward the drunken crowd—the ones who had mocked and laughed at him earlier.

He was the vengeful type. Facing the group of shirtless, muscled men, he asked, "So... who laughed the loudest just now?"

"What's wrong? You can laugh but not admit it? Guess you're not even men—nothing but spineless worms." With no one stepping forward, Reiji threw their taunts right back at them.

At the same time, he grabbed a Poké Ball from his belt and released Poliwhirl.

"Watch your mouth, punk! You got guts, how about a battle?" A muscular man stepped forward, veins bulging on his forehead. A Mankey stood at his feet.

Judging by the expression on his face, the guy was clearly enraged. The veins on his forehead throbbed like they were about to burst.

As he came forward, the crowd instinctively backed away.

They all knew this kid wasn't one to mess with. That's why even when he was being mocked, no one dared act.

Even the Captain had folded to him. What chance did they have?

They were just here to drink. They knew their limits.

This guy was cocky for a reason. If even the Captain backed down, there was no point in stepping up. If they did and crumbled under the pressure, they'd only become the butt of the joke.

Smart people don't act rashly—they observe, wait, and strike at the right moment.

"Poliwhirl, waste that Mankey," Reiji ordered. If this guy wanted to be the warning example, then so be it.

"Yoh-bo!" Poliwhirl had been waiting for this. It dropped its stance, bent its legs, and launched forward like a bullet.

Before Mankey or its trainer could even react, a gleaming white punch slammed into the Mankey, sending it and its trainer flying through the bar wall and into the alley outside.

"That's it?" Reiji stepped out of the bar, planting his foot on the man's chest. His scornful voice echoed in the man's ears.

Just like how this guy mocked him earlier—now it was his turn. And this coward dared step up? Did he not know the meaning of the word "death"?

"Spinarak, search him." Reiji saw the man was done resisting and ordered the Spinarak on his shoulder to frisk him. They found some money and a few Poké Balls.

Not much cash—barely 20,000 Pokédollars. A few empty balls. The Mankey was his only Pokémon.

"Spinarak, back. Poliwhirl, let's go." Reiji recalled the unconscious Mankey, summoned Spinarak and Poliwhirl, and prepared to reenter the tavern to follow the old man to the black market.

The man tried to say something, but could only wheeze raggedly. Clearly, his lungs were injured—he was struggling to breathe. Without treatment, he might die right there.

He spat at Reiji, desperate to make him stop. He couldn't let Reiji take his Mankey.

He couldn't speak, but the spit made Reiji stop. That sound alone was enough to ignite his fury.

Reiji turned back and looked down on the man like a stray dog.

He hadn't planned to kill anyone, but—"I don't like that look in your eyes. Spinarak, blind him."

"Yi-toh," Spinarak readied itself, preparing to leap onto the man and stab out his eyes.

But just before it could move, someone stepped in front of Reiji, blocking its path.

"Young man, don't go that far…"

It was the old man. He had stepped in, not wanting a murder outside his bar—especially since this brute had a brother who was a veteran trainer.

Seeing the old man intervene, Reiji didn't press the order. He simply said, "Old man. 100,000 Pokédollars. That mutt's life isn't worth much."

"Fine," the old man agreed without hesitation.

His immediate answer surprised Reiji.

Sensing Reiji's change in expression, the old man waved to one of the tavern girls to fetch the cash. Then he explained, "This started because of me. Let's end it here."

"Heh. If you put it that way, then it's not that simple anymore," Reiji smirked coldly. He wasn't dumb. The old man had his reasons for saving this brute. There had to be value in him.

Why would he pay 100,000 Pokédollars to save such trash?

First, the situation started with him. If the brute died, the old man would share the blame—and the hate.

Second, he was shifting the narrative. If the brute lived, he could tell his side of the story. The old man could wash his hands of it and let Reiji take the fall.

Third, he saved a life and earned a favor—from the brute and his family.

Fourth...

"What exactly do you want, then? Spit it out."

With that, the old man suddenly looked ten years older. He was committed to saving the man and had already ordered basic treatment. As long as the guy didn't die, that was enough.

As for Reiji—if it could be resolved with money, there was no need to fight.

"It's not about what I want. It's about whether I can trust you," Reiji replied. He knew full well: unless he was ready to blow everything up, the brute wouldn't die today.

To kill the man anyway would mean breaking the deal he just made with the old man—turning a fragile partnership into open hostility.

"Don't worry. Follow me." The old man walked ahead. He understood Reiji's concerns. As long as he kept quiet, he'd save himself a fortune. Why wouldn't he?

Reiji followed a few steps, then was stopped by the tavern girl.

"Sir—your money…" she stammered, terrified when Reiji looked her way. She stumbled back several steps, legs trembling.

Reiji sighed and took two steps back to grab the 100,000 Pokédollars from her, then grumbled to the old man, "Your staff sucks. Can't even stand straight."

"Well, depending on who they're facing. Even I got fooled by you—how could a little girl stand firm?" the old man laughed bitterly. He finally realized: this kid had been bluffing him from the start—and it worked.

He really had grown old. Lost his edge. In his youth, he would've gone all-in, no fear.

Now? Too many attachments. Too many fears.

He envied young people and their recklessness.

"If you know that, why are you still leading me somewhere? Got an ambush waiting?" Reiji suddenly stopped. He looked suspiciously at the old man, who was visibly uncomfortable.

"Come on, kid. You think I'd risk my neck again after already giving you 100k? What could I possibly gain now?"

"Heh, who knows? Old men are crafty. Can't be too careful." Reiji took a few steps back. Despite having Poliwhirl and Spinarak with him, he still didn't feel safe.

The old man noticed his hesitation and laid it all out.

"Alright, kid. I'll be honest. You take the fall for this, and I swear your fake ID info stays buried. It's probably fake anyway…"

"Heh. Of course it was me. Any revenge that comes, I'll take it. Don't concern yourself," Reiji said with a cold laugh. He never trusted anyone—only his Pokémon.

Who knew what kind of trap this guy had prepared up ahead?

"Good. That's all I needed to hear," the old man replied, then opened a hidden passage leading down into the black market and disappeared inside.

Reiji didn't follow immediately. He stood at the entrance and watched for a while until the old man's voice echoed from below:

"Kid, come on down. There's no ambush…"

"Spinarak, go check it out," Reiji ordered, still unwilling to go himself.

"Yi-toh, yi-toh!" Spinarak jumped from his shoulder and bounded down the dimly lit tunnel.

A couple minutes later, it returned and hopped back onto Reiji's shoulder, shaking its head—no ambush, at least not for Spinarak.

Reiji said nothing. In the end, he had to go.

He called Poliwhirl over. "You take the lead. Anything moves, hit first. No need to wait for orders."

"Yoh-bo!" Poliwhirl immediately entered the tunnel. It would've volunteered even if Reiji hadn't asked.

It wanted to help. Reiji wasn't as tough as it was—it had to protect him.

They all descended into the tunnel. No idea how long they walked.

Finally, a beam of light appeared, and they stepped into a brightly lit underground plaza, as bright as daylight.

What greeted them was a massive underground battle arena.

Different from standard Pokémon arenas, this one was a square platform—like a fighting ring.

Reiji was drawn in by the sheer scale, the heat, and the deafening roar of the crowd.

He only looked for a moment before spotting the scrawny old man waiting by the railing. No ambush.

"Kid, this is the black market. Follow the signs for the exit. Being cautious isn't a bad thing—it can save your life. Same time tomorrow. We'll meet at the usual place."

With that, the old man turned and left the way he came. He really just wanted this lunatic gone. But Reiji's paranoia was no joke.

He'd even expected the kid to back out, but he'd still come down—just used Poliwhirl to scout ahead.

The old man had a Poliwhirl too, but never found a good Water Stone, so it hadn't evolved.

He wondered if this kid's Poliwhirl might evolve down here. The one Reiji raised was well-trained—stronger and bulkier than his own.

That kind of explosive power? He'd never seen it before. No idea how the kid had managed it.

Maybe he could buy that training method—for his grandson.

Back at the bar, the old man shut the hidden door to the market.

Actually, this wasn't the only entrance. Every Midnight Lounge had one.

Multiple exits. Multiple entrances. His wasn't special.

[End of Chapter]

[100 Power Stones = Extra Chapter]

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