"Cousin…?"
Jason didn't know what to say anymore.
Was Lucas really going to buy it?
That was a quasi-legendary Pokémon, according to the shop owner.
From Jason's perspective, Ren didn't seem like the type to lie. Everything he'd said so far felt calm, confident—convincing.
But sixty million.
That wasn't a small amount by any measure. With that kind of money, you could easily buy a top-tier supercar. And now it was being used to purchase a Pokémon—one that hadn't even evolved yet.
A quasi-legendary Pokémon…
"Wait—boss."
Jason suddenly stared at the front counter, his eyes widening.
"Your Diancie…"
He looked from the illustrated book to the Pokémon standing beside Ren.
"Isn't Diancie a Legendary Pokémon?"
If he remembered correctly, Diancie was classified as a Mythical Pokémon in the illustrated book they'd seen earlier.
Ren was briefly surprised, then nodded openly.
"You noticed? Yes, Diancie does fall under the category of Legendary Pokémon."
Although Mythical Pokémon were technically a subcategory, calling them Legendary wasn't wrong.
Lucas also looked over in shock.
"Diancie lives in the legendary Diamond Domain," Ren explained with a smile.
"She can create diamonds and form the most beautiful and eternal sacred gems."
Then he turned slightly.
"Diancie, say hello to our guests."
Say hello?
Before Jason and Lucas could react—
"Hello, honored guests. I'm Diancie."
A gentle, elegant female voice echoed through the shop.
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Jason's eyes went wide. Lucas' pupils shrank sharply.
The air itself seemed to freeze.
Ren watched their reactions calmly, while Diancie tilted her head in confusion.
Why weren't they responding?
How rude.
Diancie turned her head away slightly, clearly displeased.
"This… this… this—!"
After a long pause, Jason finally snapped back to reality. He pointed at Diancie with a trembling finger, stammering so hard he couldn't finish a sentence.
She spoke.
She actually spoke.
In human language.
What the hell?!
"Sir," Diancie said calmly, "it is very impolite to point at a lady like that."
"H-huh?! I'm so sorry! I didn't mean—this isn't—"
Jason hurriedly lowered his hand, only then realizing—
She spoke again.
Lucas said nothing, but sweat had already formed on his forehead.
This was year 2202.
Humans had long ruled Earth and even ventured beyond it. There were no natural enemies left.
And yet—
No creature had ever communicated like this.
Humanity's greatest pride was intelligence.
And now…
"Don't be too surprised," Ren said with a chuckle.
"Diancie isn't speaking human language."
"But—" Jason forced himself to calm down.
"Some Pokémon—especially Psychic-types and Legendary Pokémon—use telepathy."
"It's a form of mental communication that transcends language and species. That's why we understand her."
"She isn't speaking our language—we're simply receiving her thoughts."
"That's why this isn't unusual among Legendary Pokémon."
"Incredible…" Lucas muttered.
When Diancie had spoken earlier, her mouth hadn't moved at all.
"Boss," Lucas asked after a moment of thought,
"Then if someone draws a Legendary Pokémon… what would its price be?"
Ren smiled and shook his head.
"Even the lowest-tier Legendary Pokémon wouldn't sell for less than five hundred million."
"And those worshiped as gods?"
"They can't be measured in money at all."
Five hundred million…
And that was the minimum.
"Boss," Lucas finally said, firm and serious,
"Give me a moment. I want the Larvitar."
After witnessing Diancie's abilities, he understood something clearly—
Pokémon were far beyond human imagination.
"This will be the wisest decision of your life," Ren said sincerely.
"I believe that too," Lucas replied with a faint smile.
He nodded apologetically, took out his phone, and called his father.
Sixty million was something he couldn't casually pay himself.
While waiting, Ren went to the inner room—and soon returned with a small Pokémon following behind him.
"Is that Larvitar?" Jason stared in awe.
That was a walking sixty million.
"Yoo~"
Larvitar raised its head and let out a soft, childish cry.
After finishing the call, Lucas walked over.
It would still take some time for the money to be transferred.
"Boss… may I touch it?"
Lucas looked at the adorable Larvitar, his voice unconsciously softening.
"Of course," Ren said with a smile.
"Though it'll become extremely domineering in the future, Larvitar is very cute as a child."
He gently rubbed Larvitar's small face.
Larvitar's final evolution—Tyranitar—was one of the most fearsome Pokémon in existence.
But right now?
It was just unbelievably cute.
With permission, Lucas carefully approached.
Larvitar wasn't afraid at all.
"Hello, little one," Lucas whispered, slowly reaching out.
His hand trembled slightly.
But Larvitar didn't resist.
It allowed him to gently pat the small horn on its head, staring back at him with curious eyes.
Lucas couldn't help but smile.
So cute.