"Sir, I want to buy this item," Axel's tone was firm.
Seeing Axel take an interest in something here, the man was a bit surprised, but also quite pleased, and quickly agreed.
"No problem."
Zapapico Town's culture revolved around auctions. Everyone had a very open attitude toward trade.
Although staff like them didn't get direct commissions, if the unit performed well, their year-end bonuses would be higher.
"Young man, the thing you want isn't anything important. Just go through a simple approval process, and it should be cleared by this afternoon."
"I can take you to look at other things first. Then you can just come back tonight to attend the auction."
At this point, the man added a reminder.
"You don't look like a local, so I'll say a bit more. Auction culture is very popular in Zapapico Town."
"Even though the items in Hall No. 10 are all things with unknown uses, the starting bid is usually around 100,000."
"If you want to secure it safely, you should prepare 200,000."
"Thanks," Axel smiled kindly, just about to tell the man the numbers of the other items.
Suddenly, a lazy yet somewhat domineering voice came from nearby.
"Hey, this ancient gauze dress looks pretty good. Help this young master apply for the auction, I'll buy it tonight."
"And these matching bracelets, jade hairpins... they all look decent too. Apply for those together for me."
Axel glanced over. A tall trainer with an Umbreon was ordering the staff around arrogantly.
The man was dressed luxuriously. Judging from the material, it was probably made from the silk of some Pokémon. He also wore a Naranja Academy badge on his chest.
The staff member beside him saw that he wanted to buy so many items, and didn't mind his tone at all, quickly putting on a flattering smile.
"Young Master Vale, why are you interested in so many items this time? Are they for your girlfriend?"
Young Master Vale curled his lips, "Tch! What kind of woman is worth me giving this many things to."
"Lately, I don't know what's going on at the academy. It's all Poison-types, Ghost-types, and Dark-types everywhere."
"And their training methods are all so dirty. One by one, they've become ridiculously strong. I can't even find a target to practice on anymore."
"Now I've started raising a Dark-type again, trying to get its strength up quickly, so I can go beat up those Ghost-type trash later."
"Tch?", Axel, who hadn't taken it to heart that this guy had his eyes on Diao Chan's belongings, suddenly felt personally attacked when he heard this.
'What do you mean "dirty"?'
'That's a refined strategy.'
Favorability toward this Vale guy: minus one. Once they got outside, he was definitely going to knock him out cold from behind.
———
[At the same time, at the League Headquarters]
Inside the chairman's office, the atmosphere was completely silent, even the air felt thick.
Several high-ranking officials in suits, aged between forty and sixty, stood in front of Geeta's desk, their expressions dark.
Geeta sat in her chair, her eyes slightly lowered, as if she hadn't even noticed them, continuing to work at her computer.
Finally, an old man with a white beard couldn't hold back and spoke first.
"Chairwoman Geeta, can you give us an explanation?"
Geeta didn't stop what she was doing. She glanced at the white-bearded elder and said calmly,
"What explanation?"
The old man sneered, "At this point, you're still pretending not to understand?"
"The rules of the League were set by you. You said no one was allowed to go to the Zapapico Town Museum."
"But today, my people discovered that someone used your connection to cheat and obtained graduation qualifications from the Naranja Academy history department."
"In other words... this rule has been broken by you!"
"Exactly!", The others immediately chimed in.
"That person just entered Zapapico Town and immediately found an item, wanting to buy it directly."
"Isn't this exactly what you said, someone coveting a certain item in Zapapico Town?"
"You've been acting like you're guarding against us this whole time, but in the end, you're the real insider!"
"Are you finished?", Geeta slightly raised her head and glanced at them.
"The fact that he can pass the Naranja Academy history exam is his own ability. If you want someone to pass, you can send them to take it as well."
"This...", The group fell silent. That was Naranja Academy, a massive institution that had existed for hundreds of years.
Its internal structure was deeply entrenched. Even when facing the League, it showed no fear.
And Michael, who commanded a Metagross, was extremely powerful. Almost no one could cheat under his watch.
"Nothing more to say?", Geeta put down her work and leaned back in her chair.
"I know there are people among you who are informants for the Explorers, but I can ignore that."
"After all, the Explorers are currently only searching for Lucius's Pokémon and haven't directly attacked or harmed the League."
"But!", Geeta's voice suddenly turned sharp, her long hair whipping wildly.
Around her, several Pokémon instantly appeared, surrounding the others.
"You and I are both high-ranking members of the League. I won't betray it from within, and neither are you allowed to do so."
With the pressure from the Pokémon, Geeta's tone was sharp and decisive, almost making the other officials unable to breathe.
After a long while, the white-bearded elder who had spoken first finally spoke again.
"Y-you say that nicely, but didn't you still let someone take the orb?"
"When that treasure was stored in the Zapapico Town Museum, it only went through the simplest review process, so nothing unusual was found."
"But my people reviewed it again today and discovered that it's clearly something related to a deity."
Geeta glanced at the white-bearded elder, and the sharpness in her eyes softened slightly.
"It seems you're quite responsible. I misunderstood you."
"Then I'll be direct. The divine object I mentioned is something else, not that orb."
"The owner of the orb is Giratina, and at the same time, a friend of Axel."
As she spoke, Geeta swept her gaze across everyone and said each word clearly, "Do you think our League can defeat Giratina, or afford to provoke Axel?"
"What?", Hearing Geeta's last sentence, everyone present was stunned.
"You're saying the person who went in today is Axel, the hero who saved Sinnoh?"
"But... I'm responsible for monitoring legendary Pokémon."
"Aside from those four Ruinous Pokémon, there haven't been any signs of other Pokémon emerging."
"And Pokémon from outside couldn't possibly have come here before!"
Geeta let out a mocking laugh, just about to point at the man's nose and question where his confidence came from.
Suddenly, a chilling aura appeared.
Giratina, who had returned to the Paldea region upon receiving Axel's command and happened to pass by the League, heard someone calling its name.
So it poked its head out from the Distortion World and looked at everyone in confusion.
["Someone's looking for me?"]
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