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Sure enough, just as Sato placed the pseudo Elite-Four level Yanmega on display and flipped up the signboard, several Team Rocket veterans—reeked with the stench of blood—immediately came over to inquire about the price.
Though these Rocket veterans were thugs to the core, notorious for their foul temperaments, they ironically adhered most strictly to the rule of strength above all else.
That Sato had the ability to capture a pseudo Elite-Four level Yanmega meant one thing—he was powerful.
After all, while the veterans stationed at this Team Rocket base engaged in battles almost daily, their average strength only hovered around Elite level. A trainer with a pseudo Elite-Four level Pokémon still carried significant weight here.
So, after these Team Rocket veterans confirmed the Yanmega's data through their scanners, even if they could tell at a glance that Sato was a fresh-faced recruit, none dared act unruly in front of him. Each of them asked about the price with an unusually polite tone.
"Brother, you're really something else. That Yanmega from the mysterious island is downright vicious—several of my comrades were killed by ones just like it. So, tell me, how do you want to trade?"
One of the veterans who had his eye on the Yanmega first complimented Sato, then smiled as he asked for the terms of the trade.
Hearing that, Sato frowned slightly. Though it sounded like flattery on the surface, it was actually a veiled attempt to bargain down the price.
This Yanmega was a bloodthirsty brute with an extremely nasty disposition. Capturing it hadn't been easy—very likely it really had killed others as the veteran claimed.
"They deserved to die if they didn't have the skill to handle it. This Yanmega is at the pseudo Elite-Four level and possesses the extremely powerful Speed Boost ability. I don't need to spell out how useful that is in a chaotic battlefield, do I? My ask isn't high—just two units of basic Revival Serum, and this pseudo Elite-Four level Yanmega is theirs."
Sato's eyes gleamed as he calmly blocked the Team Rocket veteran's attempt to haggle and took the opportunity to hype up his product while clearly naming his price.
Sure enough, after Sato's pitch, more Team Rocket veterans began gathering around his stall. One after another, they eyed the black PokeBall containing the Yanmega with undisguised greed.
In chaotic battles, fast Pokémon always held the upper hand. Speed could help one avoid being mobbed and taken down quickly.
So a Yanmega with Speed Boost was without question an exceptional choice for battlefield combat. If one could successfully tame it, it would greatly enhance both survivability and spoils of war in any skirmish.
In a Rocket base like this—constantly under threat of mass wild Pokémon attacks from the mysterious island—only true strength could ensure continued growth and survival.
Most trainers would inevitably lose a Pokémon or two in these chaotic clashes. Only a rare few could walk away without casualties.
If you didn't have at least one Pokémon that could keep you alive in the chaos, even if you survived one encounter, the next could still be your last.
On the battlefield, the strong got stronger and the weak kept falling. If you didn't bet your life, you'd end up dead eventually.
To many Rocket veterans here who were still teetering on the edge of survival, this pseudo Elite-Four level Yanmega was a golden key—one that could lift them above that line.
"You speak the truth, brother, but asking for two basic Revival Serums? That's steep. You know how it is here—no one's guaranteed tomorrow. A single Revival Serum is a life-saver. How about just one? If you agree, I'll hand it over right now."
The veteran who first asked stiffened slightly at Sato's response. Then, seeing Sato's cold glare, he chuckled awkwardly and backpedaled.
"Yeah, two is too much…"
"Exactly. One Revival Serum equals one life. Who can afford to waste that? Brother, you're being greedy…"
"Come on, man, have a heart. My ace Pokémon died just tonight—I'm desperate for a powerhouse. I'll trade everything I have, but I seriously don't have two Revival Serums."
At that moment, a few other veterans who were interested in buying the Yanmega but unwilling to pay two Revival Serums joined in, trying to pressure Sato into lowering the price.
Unfortunately for them, Sato was no newbie. He was an equally shrewd and ruthless merchant. No matter how much noise they made, as long as they didn't try to force him, he remained unmoved—utterly unyielding.
The Team Rocket veterans here truly did live on borrowed time. As a result, most didn't value material wealth much.
What they valued was the ability to quickly grow stronger in this hellish environment and eventually escape it alive. They were willing to pay any price for that.
These thugs were already openly selling overpriced intel and maps. Knowing this, Sato was naturally eager to squeeze out every last drop of value from them. He owed himself that much.
After another ten minutes or so, a buyer who seemed genuinely serious finally appeared at Sato's stall. He was a bald, burly man with a face full of scars and eyes like a tiger's. Just his presence radiated danger—clearly not someone to mess with.
The bald man obviously commanded respect in the Team Rocket base. As he approached, nearby veterans all lowered their heads and stepped aside to make way for him.
"Move it, move it. You really think you can buy a pseudo Elite-Four tier Speed Boost Yanmega for just one Revival Serum? Shameless. But listen, brother, even I think two is a bit steep. I just want to boost my strength so I don't end up dead myself. But that Yanmega won't be easy to tame. It'll take time—and time's something we don't have here. The longer it drags on, the more danger we're in. So, how about one Revival Serum and a map? I drew this myself after returning from the island. The coverage is huge—way better than the ones they sell at these stalls."
Despite Sato's formidable capture feat, the bald man stayed courteous. He grinned and spoke while pulling out a vial of Revival Serum and a hand-drawn parchment map.
"Let me take a look at the map first. Deal?"
Sato narrowed his eyes slightly, giving the map a side glance before speaking in a probing tone.
"No problem. Have a look."
Hearing that, the bald man knew he had a shot. He didn't believe Sato had a photographic memory anyway, so he cheerfully tossed the map over.
He'd only just returned from the island not long ago, barely escaping with his life—his strength had taken a major hit. He urgently needed a strong Pokémon to reinforce his lineup, and this Speed Boost Yanmega was exactly what he was looking for.
From the appearance and wear of the map, it was clearly a recently made partial map—an abridged version.
But after a few careful glances, Sato could immediately tell that this map, even in its cut-down form, was far more detailed and expansive than the one he had just bought earlier.
More importantly, it even included part of the mysterious island's interior zone.
If the bald man wasn't bluffing, then he must've spent a significant amount of time on the island—which, in turn, spoke volumes about his strength.
"Deal. It's yours."
After reviewing the parchment map, Sato made up his mind. He tucked the map into his storage gear and handed over the PokeBall from the stall.
"Hahaha! Then I wish you a safe return from the island, brother."
The bald man laughed heartily, taking the PokeBall from Sato while handing over the Revival Serum with his other hand.