Special Level Energy Blocks are a grade higher than Advanced Energy Blocks in Pokémon food.
Natsuhiko originally had three Pokémon, and to maintain Advanced Energy Blocks, he had to spend hundreds of thousands of Alliance Coins each month.
But the price of Special Level Energy Blocks is not just one or two times higher than that.
Because Special Level Energy Blocks are rarer and more targeted for Pokémon, they aren't something you can buy from just any store. Sometimes, you even need to find a specialized breeder to customize them.
Fortunately, Natsuhiko is currently in Kanaz City's black market, said to be the largest black market in the entire Hoenn region, with the widest selection of things available.
After visiting dozens of Pokémon food stores, he barely managed to gather a month's supply for a few Pokémon.
This was after nearly sweeping through most of the black market's inventory.
In total, he spent 1.5 million Alliance Coins, apart from the Energy Blocks for Togetic. On average, he spent about 500,000 Alliance Coins on Energy Blocks for each Pokémon.
"This is definitely not a sustainable way. Most Special Level Energy Blocks are customized, and although what I bought can be considered Special Level Energy Blocks, they are not targeted enough, and their quality is not top-tier among Special Level Energy Blocks."
Natsuhiko shook his head.
To be honest, spending 1.5 million was even less than he expected. He thought it would cost at least 2 million.
"I must figure out a way to find someone to customize them. Or maybe I can try to make them myself, but the chances of success are too low."
However, getting someone to customize them comes with a drawback for Natsuhiko: he must display his Pokémon in front of others, allowing them to observe and study them thoroughly inside and out.
This essentially means exposing all his Pokémon's information to the other party.
Yet, if he tinkers with it himself, he lacks the skill and knowledge he needs at the moment.
So, he finds himself in a rather awkward situation.
Having money but unable to spend it, unable to buy what he wants.
"Maybe Sakuragi can help me with this..."
The first person who came to Natsuhiko's mind was Sakuragi, who was about to become a Doctor. With his network, finding a breeder capable of customizing Special Level Energy Blocks should not be difficult.
"But I have to start trying to make them myself in the future. It looks like my next goal is to urgently study breeder knowledge."
However, when it comes to the extent of Advanced Energy Blocks and especially Special Level Energy Blocks, learning resources in this area are not easily obtainable.
"This is the black market; if you can't find it here, it's even less likely to be found elsewhere."
Knowledge related to such topics tends to be extremely expensive, possibly surpassing the cost of the Special Level Energy Blocks themselves.
After all, teaching someone to fish is better than giving them a fish.
Knowledge is the most valuable asset in any world.
After buying Energy Blocks, Natsuhiko went on a spree through several Pokémon book stores in the black market, picking up a lot of books related to breeder knowledge.
Altogether, this cost him exactly 2 million Alliance Coins.
Especially those books that cover the making of Advanced and Special Level Energy Blocks.
Naturally, the reason for the high cost is that he also purchased two recipes for Advanced Energy Blocks for practice, which is what truly requires a huge investment.
These two Advanced Energy Block recipes alone, even though they are among the simpler ones with relatively single functions, totaled over 1.5 million Alliance Coins.
The upside is, if Natsuhiko can successfully create Energy Blocks using these recipes in the future, he could start a lucrative business selling them.
It's an investment in himself.
Since he bought the books and recipes, he also had to get the matching tools, as well as Tree Fruit and various materials.
The toolset he previously bought was rather cheap and basic; he needed a more precise set capable of supporting the creation of Advanced and even Special Level Energy Blocks.
Thus.
The purchase of a nearly top-tier set of precision equipment cost him nearly another 1 million Alliance Coins.
Thankfully, this set of equipment can last a long time. Even when Natsuhiko is able to produce Special Level Energy Blocks in the future, it would suffice, essentially achieving his goal in one step.
Following that, he spent an additional 640,000 Alliance Coins to buy a large amount of Tree Fruit and matching materials.
He was prepared to waste a lot of raw materials to accumulate experience, having prepared himself for countless failures.
The reason for rounding it to 640,000 was a small compulsive habit.
Adding up all the small expenses, he spent a total of 5.14 million.
He still had 6 million Alliance Coins left.
A few hours ago, he had just become a millionaire, and in a few hours, he was left with only 6 million.
"Money really doesn't last long."
Fortunately, there's space equipment in this world, otherwise it would have been difficult to carry away so much.
After completing his purchases, Natsuhiko was drenched in sweat as he left the last black market store.
He felt utterly exhausted.
And just after he stepped out of the last shop, the Honedge on his back trembled once more.
"I know, I know. I didn't want to deal with them, but since I spent so much, getting some blood back from them isn't a bad option. Even small things add up," Natsuhiko said a bit helplessly.
He turned into an alley in the black market.
The maze of buildings and shops made these alleys a place to resolve many issues in the black market.
Like right now.
Just as Natsuhiko entered the alley, a dark figure quickly followed behind.
And then.
Several more silhouettes followed.
Before long.
In the alley.
There were a few nameless bodies that no one cared about lying on the ground.
Yet, Natsuhiko, who handled them, didn't leave. Instead, he called out to a dark corner of the alley:
"Come out. The person who has been following me since I left the auction... Miss, can I call you... Miss Number 15?"
As his voice fell, the crisp sound of heels echoed through the alley.
A person in a black cloak, wearing a fox mask, slowly appeared within his sight.
Peering through the holes in the mask, a pair of eyes, both dark and chilling, scanned across the scattered bodies before finally landing on Natsuhiko.
Beside her was a yellow Pokémon following closely, holding a shiny spoon in its hand.
Yujira!
Upon seeing her, Natsuhiko's eyes flickered with realization.
No wonder she showed interest in the spoon; it turned out she had a Yujira, and its strength didn't seem weak.
"I'm willing to offer 1.7 million Alliance Coins to buy that item," the woman's sharp, cold voice rang out.
Natsuhiko slowly narrowed his eyes.
It seemed he had underestimated the importance of that spoon.
He shrugged, "Sorry."
The woman remained silent, seemingly not surprised by Natsuhiko's answer.
"Then it can't be helped... I must get this item," she said.
However, Natsuhiko was no longer looking at her.
His gaze fell on the timid and frightened Honedge beside him.
Muttering to himself: "Just right, I also happen to need a decent opponent to help me test the limits of my new companion."
He lightly caressed the hilt of the Honedge.
The other reason Natsuhiko chose it, or even the main reason.
Honedge.
Senior Level!
Close to Elite Level!