Pokemon: Rising From The Dark

After Aoki sat down, Ishida smiled and said, "This gentleman, we can accept the price you mentioned."

Ishida quickly agreed to Aoki's offer without hesitation.

Of course, Ishida knew the market well. He recognized that the price was slightly higher than the usual offer, but the profit was still substantial. Time wasn't a concern for them, and they were more than willing to make the deal.

He also instructed the appraiser to handle the relevant paperwork right away.

When Aoki heard Ishida's quick acceptance, he couldn't help but furrow his brow. It felt too easy.

"Hehe, we have no other intention, sir. We just wanted to ask if you happen to have more Earth Core Milk. We'd be willing to purchase it at an even higher price," Ishida said with a smile.

Aoki remained cautious and slightly sarcastic, "Do you think Earth Core Milk grows on trees? This is all I have."

Ishida's smile didn't waver, even though Aoki's sarcasm didn't go unnoticed. He was too seasoned to be bothered by it. After all, his position as both the Rocket Squad's captain and manager of a major store in the black market meant he could handle a little snark.

"Haha, it's no problem, no problem at all. I was just curious. If you ever want to sell more in the future, don't hesitate to come to us," Ishida added, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a silver-white card with the Rocket logo on it. "This is our VIP card. You'll get a 5% discount on all purchases."

Aoki's eyebrows lifted in interest. A concrete benefit like this was more useful than any flowery words. He took the card and slipped it into his pocket without further discussion.

The 5% discount wasn't massive, but it added up over time. If Aoki ever needed to spend a large amount of Alliance Coins, this card would certainly save him a decent amount, possibly even tens of thousands of coins.

Ishida smiled and continued, "This card is just a small gesture. If you have anything to sell, we're always happy to help."

Aoki nodded, acknowledging the offer without committing to anything. He preferred to keep his options open.

At that moment, the appraiser returned, this time accompanied by a guard holding a large tray filled with small, delicate tools.

"Sir, this is the best medium configuration energy block making tool we have. It's worth 1.2 million Union Coins, but with your 5% discount, it comes to 1.14 million. Here is your card. You now have 2.46 million remaining in your account," Ishida explained as he slid the tray and the black bank card toward Aoki.

Aoki was familiar with energy block-making tools, having crafted them in his previous life. When he saw the tools, he immediately knew that Ishida wasn't deceiving him. The quality was excellent, and the configuration was top-notch.

It seemed that Ishida was truly sincere about his business.

With a quick wave of his hand, Aoki placed the items into his storage belt and stood up to leave the VIP room without a word.

As Aoki left, Ishida's smile slowly faded, and his brow furrowed slightly.

"Sir, would you like us to send someone to follow him?" the appraiser asked carefully. Though their shop appeared formal, being part of the Rockets meant they often dealt with shady dealings in the black market. But there were certain rules—if the person wasn't a threat, they wouldn't follow.

Ishida hesitated for a moment before shaking his head. "No. I can't gauge this man's strength, and I don't want to risk exposing ourselves. If we follow him and something goes wrong, we might lose more than we gain."

The appraiser nodded respectfully.

"But keep an eye out for any unusual activity in the black market," Ishida added, his eyes narrowing coldly. "If we see any, we'll deal with it—no matter who it is."

"Understood," the appraiser replied.

Ishida knew that while 200 drops of Earth Core Milk might not be enough to offend a powerful breeder, acquiring more could change the situation. He wasn't willing to take unnecessary risks with someone whose strength or true intentions were unclear.

Aoki, for his part, was already aware of the attention he had attracted. Despite not showing his wealth directly, his introduction into the VIP room was enough to make him noticeable. As he left, a few people began tailing him.

However, Aoki had planned for such situations. In the maze-like black market, he took a few twists and turns, skillfully losing the tails that had followed him.