Underground Auction Hall — Black Market
The auction hall buzzed with suppressed excitement.
Dim lights. Private booths. VIP seats hidden behind enchanted glass.
Alex entered silently, Yaksha mask still on.
His gaze swept across the room—
And then he saw him.
"…Leon Ashford."
Leon sat proudly in a VIP seat, chest puffed out, pretending he belonged there.
Beside him sat an elderly man—
And next to the old man, a young man with sharp features and an arrogant smile.
Cassian Ironvale.
Alex's eyes narrowed slightly.
"So that's the Ironvale young master."
In the novel, Cassian Ironvale would later become one of Leon's strongest supporters—financially and politically.
And also—
One of the families that would betray the Runcandels in the future.
Alex scoffed internally.
"Doesn't matter."
"I'll strip you clean later."
Auction Begins
The auctioneer's voice echoed.
"Welcome, honored guests. Let the auction begin!"
Alex activated the system silently.
Identify — ON
Items Alex Purchased Quietly
Without drawing attention, Alex casually bid and obtained:
High-Purity Life Orb Fragment (boosts Pokémon vitality) Ancient TM: Dragon Pulse (Incomplete but Repairable) Spirit Binding Rope (useful for Pokémon taming) Elite-grade Evolution Catalyst
Each item vanished smoothly into Alex's system backpack.
No one noticed.
Just how he liked it.
The Mysterious Egg
The auctioneer clapped.
"Next item—an unidentified Pokémon egg!"
A covered crystal box was rolled out.
The egg inside was pitch black with faint silver lines.
The auctioneer shrugged.
"We do not know the species. Found in a collapsed dungeon."
Silence.
No one bid.
Risky items like unknown eggs were often scams.
Alex frowned slightly.
His system reacted faintly—
But before he could speak—
A voice rang out.
"One million dollars."
Leon Ashford.
Alex turned his head slightly.
"So you noticed too."
Alex raised his hand calmly.
"Two million."
Leon stiffened.
"Five million!"
Alex chuckled behind the mask.
"Ten million."
Leon turned around angrily.
"I need that egg! If you let it go, you'll owe me a favor!"
Alex laughed out loud.
"A favor?"
"Who wants a favor from you, idiot?"
"If you don't have money, step aside. This isn't your playground."
The room went silent.
Leon's face turned red.
"Twenty million!"
Alex didn't even hesitate.
"Fifty million."
Leon slammed the armrest.
"ONE HUNDRED MILLION!"
The room erupted.
Whispers exploded everywhere.
Cassian Ironvale leaned over, pale.
"Brother Leon… I don't have that much money with me."
Leon froze.
"…What?"
Cassian swallowed.
"Our combined funds… don't reach that."
Leon's heart dropped.
He glanced around—
Waiting.
Praying.
Someone else would bid.
The Countdown of Death
"100 million—once!"
Leon clenched his fists.
"…Bid! Someone bid!"
"100 million—twice!"
Cold sweat poured down Leon's back.
"Please… someone…"
"100 million—THRICE!"
"Congratulations to Box No. 3!"
The hammer slammed.
Leon stood up abruptly.
"I— I don't have the money."
Dead silence.
Then—
Outrage.
"You don't have the money?!"
"Do you think this is a joke?!"
"You wasted everyone's time!"
The auctioneer's voice turned icy.
"Leon Ashford and Cassian Ironvale."
"You will pay half the amount — 50 million dollars as penalty."
"You will be blacklisted from this auction."
"And your families will be informed."
Security moved in.
Leon shouted.
"This is unfair!"
Cassian's face was pale as death.
He paid the 50 million with trembling hands.
Both were escorted out, humiliated, insulted, and laughed at.
Alex watched calmly.
"…Pathetic."
The Real Winner
The auctioneer sighed.
"Does anyone wish to take the egg for 50 million?"
Alex raised his hand.
"I'll take it."
The room fell silent again.
The auctioneer nodded gratefully.
"Sold."
Alex paid smoothly.
Just as he turned to leave—
"One final item!"
A small, cracked statue was placed on the stage.
"Ancient relic. No known use."
Alex paused.
Identify.
Item: Ancient Statue
Hidden Content: High-Level Pokémon Breeding Recipe (Legendary Grade)
Alex's eyes gleamed.
"I'll bid."
"Ten million."
No one competed.
The hammer fell.
Alex paid everything calmly.
Then he left the auction hall—
With:
A mysterious egg A legendary recipe Leon's pride crushed Ironvale's reputation stained
Ironvale Mansion — Later That Night
A furious roar echoed.
"CASSIAN!"
Cassian Ironvale knelt on the floor, trembling.
His father held a report from the black market.
"Blacklisted?!"
"Fifty million penalty?!"
"Do you know how much face you've lost the Ironvale family?!"
Cassian clenched his fists.
"…It was Leon."
The room went silent.
His father's eyes narrowed.
"Leon Ashford…"
Meanwhile — Alex Runcandel
Alex sat calmly at home.
He looked at the egg in his system space.
"…Another future stolen."
He smiled.
"This is getting fun."