Chen Shi had already spent a fortune—one million on two Metal Coats—yet he still wandered leisurely through the underground black market.
The League knew these places existed.
They could crush one black market…
but two more would sprout the next day.
Light creates shadows, after all.
As long as nothing crossed major moral lines, the League simply looked away.
Chen Shi was about to leave when something made him stop.
Inside a rusted iron cage sat a small, malnourished Charmander.
Pokémon: Charmander
Level: 34 (High Tier – Mid)
Potential:Quasi-Champion (currently deteriorating)
Ability: Blaze
Sex: Male
Moves: Scratch, Ember, Smokescreen, Dragon Breath, Slash, Dragon Claw, Outrage, Ancient Power, Dragon Tail
Chen Shi's eyes sharpened.
A quasi-Champion-potential Charmander.
Level 34, still unevolved.
And three inherited Dragon-type egg moves.
Its father must've been a monster.
Possibly a pureblood Dragon of rare lineage.
The Charmander sat quietly, eyes empty and hopeless.
The vendor—a hook-nosed man—immediately swooped in.
"Young man, you like this Charmander?"
"Kanto fire starter! Rare goods! Interested?"
Chen Shi didn't respond. He only stared into Charmander's eyes.
Inside the cage, Charmander lifted its head weakly… then looked away.
It had been bought.
Sold.
Returned.
Abandoned.
Over and over.
Every owner came excited…
until they discovered the same two flaws:
It couldn't evolve
It couldn't breathe fire
Then they'd sell it off again.
Charmander's gaze dimmed completely.
Why can't I breathe fire?
Why can't I evolve?
Why?
It had tried—tried until it fainted—but nothing changed.
But the tiny flame on its tail flickered with one last stubborn ember.
As if refusing to die.
Chen Shi suddenly smiled.
He didn't fear Pokémon with issues.
He feared Pokémon with no spirit.
And this little one still had a spark.
He turned to the vendor.
"I'll take this Charmander."
The vendor immediately lit up with greed.
"One million."
"Done."
Chen Shi didn't even blink.
A quasi-Champion Charmander for a million?
He'd pay ten.
But the moment Chen Shi agreed too easily, greed devoured the vendor whole.
"A-Actually… that one million was a mistake."
"This Charmander cost us a lot—our men died bringing it from Kanto."
"It has to be two million."
Chen Shi paused.
Then he laughed.
"…Where's the Poké Ball?"
Thinking he'd succeeded, the vendor hurriedly handed it over.
Chen Shi recalled the Charmander quietly.
Then he took out another Poké Ball…
And released Garchomp.
"GARCHOMP!!"
Garchomp unleashed a full-force Champion-tier aura.
The entire black market froze.
Buyers stiffened.
Some collapsed.
Two or three outright wet themselves.
The vendor turned as pale as chalk.
Chen Shi stepped forward, expression calm and cold.
"I'll give you one chance."
"Reorganize your mouth."
"Now—what is the price?"
The vendor shook violently.
"O-One million! One million is fine! One million is perfect!"
Chen Shi shook his head.
He placed a single 100-credit bill on the table.
"Sorry."
"You should've taken the million while you had the chance."
"Now all I'm willing to give you… is a hundred."
He recalled Garchomp and left the booth without looking back.
The black market exhaled in collective relief the moment Garchomp's aura vanished.
A vendor nearby snorted:
"Serves him right. Only idiots raise the price after a buyer agrees."
"Yeah, the kid agreed instantly, and the fool tried to double it."
"Now he lost the money AND the Charmander."
"Pfft—one hundred credits! Hahaha!"
The hook-nosed vendor fled the market in humiliation.
Back at the Chen Farm Entrance
Chen Shi recalled Garchomp and began walking toward the house.
But Garchomp held onto his shirt.
"Garchaaa?"
(Where's my second bottle? You promised one for going, one for returning. Don't play dumb.)
Chen Shi winced.
"…Fine."
He handed over three bottles.
Garchomp sparkled with joy.
Not one bottle.
Not two.
Three.
Truly, overtime pay.
Garchomp patted Chen Shi proudly on the shoulder.
"GARCHOMP!"
(Call me anytime, brother! Anytime.)
Chen Shi groaned.
"Yeah yeah… I'm busy."
He rushed upstairs while the elders downstairs exchanged confused looks.
That boy… what trouble is he bringing back this time?
In His Room
Chen Shi opened a Poké Ball.
"Charmander?"
The little fire lizard materialized quietly.
Chen Shi knelt and held out his hand.
"Hello, Charmander. I'm Chen Shi."
"And from today on… I'm your Trainer."
Charmander hesitated—
then gently reached out and shook his hand.
Then it lifted its tail, showing the tiny, sickly flame.
Charmander inhaled deep—
trying desperately to breathe fire—
Pfffft—
Only a few wisps of black smoke seeped out.
Chen Shi nodded softly.
"You're saying… you can't use fire-type moves?"
Charmander looked down.
"And it bothers you?"
"Do you want to become strong?"
"In this world, nothing good falls from the sky."
"You must take it with strength."
"Do you really want to remain the Charmander everyone calls useless?"
Charmander trembled.
It wanted to be strong.
It wanted to evolve.
It wanted to breathe fire more than anything.
But reality had crushed it again and again.
A warm hand rested gently on its head.
"Charmander."
"You are not inferior to anyone."
"And I'll prove it."
"I'll find your illness. I'll fix it."
"I'll make you strong."
"So strong that the world will remember your name."
"And the people who laughed at you—will one day look up to you."
He placed his hand over its tiny claws.
"So tell me—will you be my partner?"
Charmander's breath hitched.
Tears poured down its cheeks.
Then it roared with all the strength it had:
"CHAAAAAR!!"
(I will!!)
It wasn't a weak cry.
It wasn't hopeless anymore.
It was a vow.
Advance Chapters available on P@treon
patreon.com/lucarioTL