The newcomer half-price benefit came with more than just the restriction of "only the first item."
There was another condition: from the day a Trainer registered at the City Arena, the discount was only valid for six months. Once those six months passed, the newcomer's first-item half-price privilege would be gone for good!!
To squeeze the maximum value out of that "newcomer's first-item half-price" benefit, ever since he started competing at the City Arena, Ash had deliberately held back and never used it.
Among the three items—Light Ball, Quick Claw, and Sharp Beak—he planned to choose one as the target for his precious "first-item half-price coupon."
In order to earn the required 500,000 Poké Dollars within six months, Ash didn't rush into ranked matches. Instead, wielding the strength of a high-level Trainer (above LV.30), he lingered long-term in the 9th and 10th sub-arenas, farming weaker opponents and steadily grinding money.
After all, spectators had to buy tickets to watch matches at the City Arena. As long as a Trainer stepped onto the field and provided entertainment value, they would earn prize money.
Even losing a match still yielded some prize money—though very little. Sometimes, the reward from a single loss wasn't even enough to buy a Potion. But money was money, and it added up.
To make farming easier and faster in low-tier matches, Ash would occasionally send out Spearow in singles, or team up with Gary in doubles, deliberately lowering his win-rate data.
In short, his short-term goal at the City Arena was simple: earn 500,000 within six months. For ordinary people, this wouldn't be easy—but for Ash, the odds were very much in his favor.
[Singles]
1v1 (Win: 1,000 Poké Dollars | Loss: 1,001)
2v2… 2,000
3v3… 3,000
6v6… 6,000
[Doubles]
"1·2" (Win: 3,000 | Loss: 5,000)
"2·1" (Win: 4,000 | Loss: 6,001)
At first, Ash mainly played 3v3 singles, but after Gary started coming to the City Arena with him, Ash realized that doubles were far more cost-effective.
So he adjusted his plan. When alone, he entered "1·2" matches; when Gary was around, they teamed up for "2·1."
In "1·2," Ash played five matches a day, deliberately controlling his win rate—usually winning three to four matches and losing one to two—netting about 10,000–12,500 Poké Dollars per day.
In "2·1," the prize money had to be split with Gary. Each win earned 2,000, each loss 3,001. With the same five matches per day and a similar win–loss ratio, that came out to 6,600–8,300 per day.
By alternating between the two modes, Ash averaged around 10,000 Poké Dollars daily.
Five hundred thousand over six months? At this pace, he wouldn't even need two months to earn enough to buy a Pokémon item using the newcomer half-price discount.
He might even manage to get one for Gary as well.
As Professor Oak's grandson, Gary carried a dazzling—and heavy—halo. Yet in reality, his family gave him surprisingly little direct assistance. One could say Gary had no "rich young master" privileges at all.
As a grandfather, Oak would assign a few of his Champion-level Pokémon to protect Gary and Daisy—but beyond that, whether Pokémon or money, there were no special perks.
Of course, even true rich heirs couldn't casually obtain Pokémon items. Outside, even with money, they were impossible to buy. For slightly smaller families, a single Pokémon item was a priceless heirloom passed down through generations.
Only the City Arena, an official League institution, had the wealth and authority to sell them openly.
And precisely because Pokémon items were so rare and unattainable elsewhere, Ash swallowed his pride. Even if it meant manipulating his win rate and farming low-tier matches, he was determined to seize the newcomer half-price opportunity and secure one item!
Inside the players' waiting hall, Ash and Gary chatted about the previous match and the newcomer discount while matches outside continued nonstop.
One match ended. Another began almost immediately.
After waiting nearly ten more minutes, a staff member finally called out.
"Trainer Ash, Trainer Anon—your match is next. Please prepare to enter the field."
"Got it—"
A square-faced, muscular young man in a tank top rose from his seat.
Ash didn't hesitate either, standing up at once.
"Ash, good luck!!" Gary cheered from the side.
"Relax. I won't lose," Ash replied confidently. As he spoke, he recalled Pikachu into its Poké Ball and headed toward the exit of the waiting hall.
Ash's opponent—the muscular, square-faced youth—was a quiet, taciturn guy who looked honest and steady. When they crossed paths in the corridor, the other Trainer nodded at him politely.
Unlike many others here, this man didn't talk trash.
That alone left Ash with a good impression of the Trainer named Anon.
They exchanged no further words. After the nod, both entered their respective tunnels.
—
"Roar—!!"
"Ladies and gentlemen! The next Trainers to enter the arena are our very own 'Light of Kanto,' Ash, and challenger Anon from Pewter Town!
"Ash needs no introduction. As for Anon—this may be his first time competing at the Viridian City Arena, but prior to this, he already earned a One-Star Professional Rank at the Pewter City Arena.
"In other words, both competitors stepping onto the field today are Trainers of considerable strength. What kind of spectacular battle will they bring us? Let's find out together!"
"Waaah—!!"
"Ash—Ash—!!"
"A-Ash!!"
As soon as the commentator finished, the spectator stands erupted into thunderous cheers.
Anon was competing here for the first time and had little fame, so 99% of the crowd was cheering for Ash.
When Ash emerged from the tunnel, the first thing he saw was a sea of fans in the stands, many of them holding glowing support signs high above their heads.
—
--------------
T/N:
Access Advance Chapters on my
P@treon: [email protected]/PokePals