The auctioneer adjusted her microphone with a practiced smile, her voice carrying across the silent hall. "This is indeed a damaged Pokémon egg, but that does not mean it cannot hatch. Our Team Rocket experts have confirmed residual activity within it. With the right breeder, this egg can still yield a healthy Pokémon."
Her tone was polished, confident—almost convincing. Yet the unspoken truth lingered: Team Rocket offered no guarantees. Success depended entirely on the buyer's resources. Her words were a carefully crafted suggestion—if one found an exceptional breeder, if the egg responded. But what constituted "exceptional"? And why hadn't Team Rocket simply hired such a breeder themselves?
The crowd's murmurs dwindled as skepticism took hold. Aoki, initially disinterested, straightened in his seat. Something about the egg tugged at his awareness—a faint, familiar resonance.
"Let me emphasize," the auctioneer continued, "the Pokémon inside is a Riolu. Despite its compromised state, its genetic potential ranks among the highest."
Riolu.
Aoki's breath hitched. The connection made sense now—Lucario's Aura, bestowed upon him during his time on Dream Island, must have attuned him to its pre-evolved form. He activated his upgraded system, scanning the egg from a distance.
Pokémon: Riolu (Dark Teal) - Damaged
Gender: Male
Level: 1
Attribute: Fighting
Ability: Steadfast
Held Item: None
Inherited Moves: Cross Chop, High Jump Kick, Blaze Kick, Meteor Mash
Basic Moves: Foresight, Quick Attack, Endure
TM Moves: None
The data crystallized Aoki's dilemma. A Dark Teal Riolu was rarer than most pseudo-legendaries, and while pseudo-legendaries often had crippling flaws, Lucario's Fighting/Steel typing offered resistances to Normal, Rock, Grass, Ice, Dragon, and Dark-type moves, alongside immunity to Poison. Its Mega Evolution potential and capacity to wield Aura further elevated its worth.
Yet the egg's damage was undeniable. Could it even hatch?
"Starting bid: 30 million Pokédollars. Minimum increments of 1 million. Begin!"
The auctioneer's smile faltered as silence stretched. Sweat beaded on her brow—a failed auction would mean repercussions.
Then, from a third-floor booth, a voice cut through the tension: "Thirty million."
All eyes turned upward. The bidder, youthful by their tone, had remained silent until now. Relief flooded the auctioneer's face.
Aoki weighed his options. If it hatches, it's a bargain. If not… He exhaled sharply. "Thirty-five million."
The auctioneer seized the momentum. "We have thirty-five million! Remember, our experts believe proper care could—"
"Forty million," the third-floor bidder interrupted.
Aoki clenched his fists. Fifty million. That's my limit. "Forty-five million."
A pause. Then, hesitantly: "Forty-eight million."
"Fifty million." Aoki leaned back, sipping his tea. The number hung in the air—his final offer.
The auctioneer's gavel trembled. "Going once… twice… sold to the gentleman below!"
As the crowd buzzed, Aoki allowed himself a grim smile. The pearl he'd acquired earlier—worth ten times this gamble—made the risk tolerable. Either I gain a Dark Teal Lucario, he mused, or a very expensive paperweight.