"Sir Bai Chen," Yoomlana began softly, "we've actually observed you and your Nergigante partner in the Ancient Tree Forest several times. We wanted to reach out before… but there was never an opportunity."
No surprise there.
Bai Chen's missions were always the same — quick, efficient, invisible.
He finished one and vanished before anyone could blink.
Staying in one place too long was never his style.
Still, her words told him enough about their intentions.
So they want me to teach them how to tame monsters… but how exactly are they planning to copy what I do?
His way of taming wasn't something that could be reproduced.
The Bond Stone, the Monster Ball, and his own overwhelming strength — those were what made his control possible.
Unless Yoomlana herself takes the field, they'll never pull it off.
He folded his arms, thinking.
I could share the Monster Ball technology… but that's just a stopgap.
The thought wasn't without merit.
He had already planned to share that knowledge someday — giving it to the Wyverians wouldn't be an issue.
But even if they learned to craft the balls, that wouldn't guarantee obedience.
Catching something and earning its loyalty are two very different things.
Zinogre was the perfect example — Bai Chen had to beat the creature half to death, seven or eight times, before it finally accepted him as its master.
Monster Balls are tools — containers, not shortcuts.
If they want a true partnership, that comes from will, not capture.
Two other options came to mind.
He could either grant the Wyverians a communication gift through his golden-finger system —
Or he could go back to the Old Continent and bring them a large batch of Bond Stones.
The second option was a logistical nightmare. He dismissed it instantly.
The first was possible — he could justify it as "awakening potential."
But still, the cost wasn't small.
And for what? A single lead on a Valstrax egg? That's not nearly enough.
Yoomlana's voice cut through his thoughts — still graceful, still measured.
But Bai Chen lifted a hand, stopping her mid-sentence.
"Grand Elder," he said evenly, "I'm more than willing to share my knowledge — even to spend time teaching your people how to communicate with monsters."
Yoomlana's expression didn't change. No delight, no surprise.
She knew a "but" was coming.
"However," Bai Chen continued, "everything comes with a price.
So… what can you offer me in return?"
The Grand Elder exhaled — not with irritation, but relief.
Of all the scenarios she had imagined, this was the one she preferred most.
A man who asked for terms was a man she could negotiate with.
A threat, a saint, a fool — those were dangerous.
But a realist? That was safe.
"We can grant you the title of Honorary Elder," she said.
"It would place you second only to me in our hierarchy.
You would be recognized as a permanent friend of the Wyvernians, and any of our settlements across the continent would offer you aid and resources."
It was a fair offer — to most people.
But Bai Chen only shook his head.
"Titles don't mean much to me.
And as for resources — the Survey Corps already handles my logistics.
I don't need a second supplier."
Yoomlana blinked, then tried again.
"Then perhaps gold… or other forms of wealth?"
She knew humans valued currency. The Survey Corps had been proof of that for decades.
But Bai Chen only smiled faintly.
"I already raised a basarios.
Its tears are worth more than gold."
That ended that line of negotiation.
Yoomlana hesitated — it wasn't often someone dismissed both status and fortune so easily.
She thought quickly, then offered another path.
"Information, then. We could share our knowledge of the continent.
No one knows the New World better than us."
"Apologies," Bai Chen said simply. "That doesn't hold much value for me either."
"Then… what about information on other Elder Dragons? Surely that would interest you?"
"Do you have anything besides the Valstrax egg?"
"Regrettably, no," Yoomlana admitted.
"Then it's not enough."
"We could provide future discoveries once they arise."
Bai Chen's lips curved faintly.
"When you have them, then we can talk again."
The council chamber fell silent.
For the first time, Yoomlana found herself at a loss.
Moments ago, she had thought negotiation was progress —
Now she realized she had nothing that could move him.
She sighed, then asked quietly:
"Then what do you desire, Sir Bai Chen?
If it's within our power, we will make it happen."
Bai Chen shook his head.
"Nothing in particular.
It depends on what you can bring to the table."
That kind of answer made her head ache.
There was nothing harder to satisfy than a man who claimed to want nothing.
Still, Bai Chen wasn't unreasonable.
"If this were a long-term partnership," he said, "then yes — the Valstrax information alone wouldn't be enough.
But that doesn't mean we can't work together at all."
He reached for his belt, withdrew a small sphere, and held it out between his fingers.
A flash of red light — Nergigante vanished into the orb.
Another flash — she emerged again.
Yoomlana's eyes widened.
"This is a Monster Ball," Bai Chen explained.
"It allows me to store monsters safely, carry them anywhere,
and most importantly — it greatly suppresses their aggression toward humans."
He smiled faintly.
"I'll give you ten of them in exchange for your Valstrax information.
How does that sound?"
"Are you serious?" Yoomlana asked, startled.
To her, those spheres were beyond rare — closer to sacred artifacts than tools.
She had assumed Bai Chen would never part with even one.
"I am," Bai Chen said calmly. "But it'll take me about a month to prepare them."
A month to Wyverians, that was nothing.
Yoomlana nodded slowly.
"That's acceptable.
However, I'll only hand over the Valstrax information when the trade is complete."
Prudent. Bai Chen almost smiled.
"That's fine.
I just need your word that the information is genuine — and that the egg will remain unhatched for at least another month."
"Elder Dragon eggs take far longer than that to hatch," Yoomlana assured him.
"Within a month, the young one will still be sleeping."
Bai Chen nodded once, satisfied.
"Good. Then we have a deal."
Inside, he was already thinking ahead —
One more week in this world before returning to the Pokémon realm.
By the time he came back, the Monster Balls would be ready…
And the Valstrax egg would still be waiting.
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