https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-258-The-Court-of-the-Hero-King-The-Palace-Gate-Market/12537315/
Chapter 259: The Galar Region, Realizing the Commercialization of Pokemon Battles
Chapter 259: The Galar Region, Realizing the Commercialization of Pokemon Battles
"Corviknight Cab Company..."
Naoki, along with his Golurk and Dragapult, strolled through the streets of Turffield, following the signs towards the city center and their intended destination.
Pedestrians bustled about, and nearly everyone had one or two Pokemon by their side. Some were casually window shopping, while others were wide-eyed Pokemon trainers experiencing the city for the first time.
In this world, walking alongside your Pokemon was an everyday occurrence, so even Golurk and Dragapult failed to cause much of a stir. This was mostly because these two Pokemon were incredibly rare, and no one could identify them.
Occasionally, a spirited young trainer would lock eyes with Naoki, then rush over to block his path, eagerly inviting him to a Pokemon battle.
And so it happened again.
A youth wearing a red and white cap, with a Scorbunny trailing behind him, stood in their way, his eyes sparkling with excitement as he gazed at Golurk and Dragapult.
"I've never seen these Pokemon before! You're a trainer too, right? Let's have a Pokemon battle!"
Naoki glanced down at the adorable little bunny and couldn't help but ask, "You've only just become a trainer, haven't you?"
The boy proudly held up three fingers. "For three months now!"
A polite smile spread across Naoki's face. "This might be a bit unfair for you. Why don't you challenge me again when you've gained more experience?"
The boy persisted. "No, we already have three Gym badges!"
"Three?" Naoki was a bit surprised, but after considering Golurk and Dragapult's strength, he shook his head. "That's still not enough. Well, good luck on your journey, and see you later!"
With that, he walked past the novice trainer.
But after taking only a few steps, another trainer approached him, eager for a Pokemon battle.
Naoki: "..."
As expected of a bustling metropolis with a thriving trainer culture!
He glanced at the boy's Dewott, thinking that he seemed much stronger than the previous trainer.
However, Naoki hadn't come here to battle this time. Facing the boy's invitation, he shook his head. "Sorry, I'm not a Pokemon trainer, so I can't accept your challenge."
The boy froze, looking a bit older than the last, perhaps around fifteen or sixteen years old.
"How can that be? You're obviously a trainer... This Pokemon of yours is so strong, it must have fought in many battles!"
Naoki maintained his polite smile. "But we really aren't trainers."
The boy was perceptive enough to take the hint, and he finally stopped inviting Naoki to battle.
Only then did Naoki breathe a sigh of relief. He dared not stroll casually through the city, so he hopped onto Golurk, riding at a speed no ordinary person could match. They raced through several streets until they finally arrived at the Corviknight Cab Company.
It was a towering skyscraper, over a hundred feet tall.
The first floor was a lobby with a ticket counter and a waiting area. Several attendants stood at the reception desk, and as Naoki entered, a few customers who had just purchased tickets were preparing to board the flying taxis.
"That'll be 1,500 League dollars. Please keep your ticket safe and take the elevator to the rooftop for boarding. Our Corviknight taxis are docked there." The attendant handed the tickets to the customers with a smile.
As the customers turned to leave, the attendant turned her attention to Naoki, offering a polite smile. "Welcome! How may I assist you?"
"Hello, I was wondering if you sell Corviknight feathers here?" Naoki inquired.
The attendant was taken aback for a moment. "You want to purchase Corviknight feathers?"
Naoki nodded.
The attendant looked hesitant. "As far as I know, our company has an agreement with the Steel Factory. All the feathers shed by the Corviknight that work here are sent to the factory for smelting and turned into various iron products sold elsewhere. We've never sold them individually..."
"Steel Factory?" Naoki pondered for a moment, then realized that Corviknight feathers were a valuable resource in this world.
Seeing his keen interest, the attendant thought for a moment and then suggested, "How about this: I'll ask our company's boss."
Naoki had assumed he wouldn't be able to buy any, but now he saw a glimmer of hope. "Thank you, I appreciate it."
The attendant smiled gently. "No problem. I'm happy to help trainers like yourself."
Influenced by him, everyone in this region was willing to help passing trainers.
After all, these traveling trainers brought tangible benefits to the region, whether through consumption or Pokemon battles.
Indeed, the Galar region thrived on the attraction of Pokemon battles.
Naoki wasn't entirely clear on this aspect.
The receptionist didn't explain either. She picked up the phone on the front desk and dialed a number.
Soon, the call was connected.
The receptionist reported the situation honestly.
"Hello, boss! There's a trainer here at the company who wants to buy some Corviknight feathers..."
"Hmm, I see he has two very strong Pokemon with him, ones I've never seen before."
"What? You want to come here yourself?"
"Oh, alright, I understand. I'll take care of it!"
After hanging up, the receptionist gave an embarrassed smile.
"I'm sorry, but after hearing about this, our boss wants to meet you. Please wait over there, and he'll be here soon."
Naoki was bewildered.
What was going on? Wasn't he just trying to buy some Corviknight feathers? Why was it necessary to make such a fuss over him?
After a brief moment of thought, he decided to wait in the nearby resting area.
Golurk curiously looked around, while Dragapult remained indifferent, exuding an air of elegance and an intangible aura of authority in its eyes.
Soon, an elevator descended from above and reached the first floor.
A middle-aged man with a sturdy build and casual attire stepped out.
He held an old-fashioned cell phone in his hand and spoke loudly:
"What? That guy dares to say in public that my judgment is inferior to his? And it's affecting our company's stock price?"
"Damn! This is too much! Tell him to wait for me. Our Galar Racing Team will definitely win this Star Tournament!"
The man angrily hung up and then dialed another number.
"Where has that kid, Komatsu, gone? Why haven't we heard from him yet? The Star Tournament is about to start, and as the company-sponsored trainer, doesn't he realize the importance?"
The person on the other end said something unknown.
The man angrily replied, "Forget it, I'm not counting on him anymore. Let me see if I can find another trainer to help. We must not lose to the other companies this time!"
After hanging up, the man walked towards the reception desk.
The receptionist pointed towards the resting area.
Then, Naoki saw the man walking towards him.
The man scrutinized the young man before him and then turned his gaze to the two Pokemon by his side.
The one on the left was huge, muscular, and had a fierce look in its eyes—obviously not an ordinary Pokemon.
As for the one on the right...
The man widened his eyes in surprise. Why was that Pokemon's head so big?!
Seeming to sense the man's impolite stare, Dragapult lifted its gaze. The regal aura of a king it once was permeated its entire being, compelling one to submit.
The man was startled. Had that Pokemon seen through his thoughts?
Although he didn't know what kind of Pokemon it was, its gaze and the aura it exuded made it clear that it was no ordinary creature.
The man's eyes lit up with enthusiasm.
Fortunately, help arrived without any effort on their part. Just as their sponsored trainer failed to return, heaven sent them a powerful trainer.
It seemed that luck was on their side, and this time, the championship of the Star Tournament would surely be theirs!
The man cleared his throat to sound more polite. "So, you want to buy Corviknight feathers?"
Naoki replied calmly, "Yes."
"That can be easily arranged. You don't even need to buy them; I can just give them to you!" the man said generously.
"?" Naoki was taken aback.
"As long as you're willing to do me a favor." The man smiled.
"What kind of favor?" Naoki asked, curious about his intentions.
"Represent our company in the upcoming regional Star Tournament!" the man exclaimed.
Participate... in a tournament? Naoki was slightly taken aback.
As he looked on in confusion, the man cheerfully explained, "Don't worry; it's just an ordinary Pokemon competition. You're a trainer from another region, right?
"Here, Pokemon trainer battles have become a commercialized endeavor. Initially, some companies would spend large sums to invite famous trainers to endorse their products and promote them to their fans."
"Later on, some companies began sponsoring gifted trainers, nurturing them from scratch. If they performed well in the Championships, it would bring enormous profits to the company."
"But the Championships only happen once a year, and some fans crave more action. Thus, the region's Star Tournament was born, attracting many well-known trainers who represent their sponsoring companies."
Hearing this, Naoki began to understand.
It was similar to an All-Star game, where companies invested funds and became sponsors, leveraging the trainers' fame and fan base for their own gains.
An outrageous idea suddenly popped into Naoki's mind. "You don't expect me to represent your company in the tournament, do you?"
The man grinned. "Smart!"
He continued, "Indeed, our company has been sponsoring a trainer who made it to the top four in the previous Championship, but he ultimately lost to Leon."
"He left to train last month and hasn't been heard from since. We can't get in touch with him, and it seems he won't make it back in time for this Star Tournament."
"The neighboring company that sells woolen sweaters has been mocking us, saying we're cowardly and will be the first to be eliminated. Some of our sponsors have pulled out, causing our company's stock price to take a hit!"
The man was fuming. "That despicable scoundrel, he's just a clothes salesman, isn't he?!
Naoki asked, "What ranking did the trainer they sponsored achieve in the previous Championship?"
The man recalled, "Third place, I believe? Hmph, so what if he's the runner-up? It's not that impressive!"
Third place was still better than the top four, Naoki thought to himself.
The man noticed his reaction and said, "If you're willing to represent our company in the tournament, I'm not asking for a championship. Just defeat that trainer they're sponsoring, and I won't just get you Corviknight feathers. I can even get you a genuine set of Raihan and Bruspot tea ware, free of charge!"
Naoki's interest was piqued.
A genuine set of Raihan and Bruspot tea ware was an extremely rare commodity, and he quite enjoyed a good cup of tea.
Seeing the expression on Naoki's face, the man knew he had him hooked.
He flashed a mischievous smile. "Well, what do you say?"
Naoki: Intrigued.
Although he wasn't a trainer, he could become one if the situation called for it.
After all, Golurk was incredibly strong, and he could easily coast to victory in its shadow.
However, Naoki had one more question. "Why are you so confident that I can beat that trainer?"
"Because your Pokemon are clearly not ordinary!" the man exclaimed.
He had his own logic: "These rare Pokemon are hard to come by in the wild, and even I've never seen them before."
"They give off an air of mystery and power, and their gaze tells me they wouldn't easily submit to humans like those Pikachu you see everywhere."
"The fact that you've tamed them speaks volumes about your strength. You can't be telling me you're not a trainer but a farmer from the countryside, can you?"
Naoki: "...Well, actually..."
"So, there you have it!" The man shrugged. "There are only two possibilities: the first is what I just mentioned, and the second is that you come from an ancient and influential family, and these Pokemon were passed down to you by your elders."
"But since you're looking to buy Corviknight feathers instead of obtaining them from your family, we can rule out the second possibility, leaving us with the first."
The man struck a pose, mimicking a famous detective. "And so, the truth is clear! You are an exceptionally skilled trainer!"
Naoki: "...Um..."
The man scratched his head sheepishly. "Heh, sorry about that. I've been watching too much 'Great Detective Pikachu' lately."
"So, what do you say? Are you willing to do me this favor?" the man asked.
(End of Chapter)
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