Comfey, the Posy Picker Pokémon, weaves the flowers it collects into wreaths and offers them to those it takes a liking to.
Clearly, this Comfey had fallen for Joseph at first sight!
"You a doctor, kid?"
The old man suddenly asked curiously. It was his first time seeing Comfey show such open affection toward anyone.
Joseph stopped playing with Comfey and shook his head at the old man.
"I'm a Pokémon Breeder. Most of my partners are support-type Pokémon. Maybe Comfey felt their aura on me and found it comforting, that's probably why it approached me."
The old man nodded and quietly looked again at the cheerful Comfey spinning circles around Joseph.
"Comfey really likes you… If… if you're willing, take it with you."
Suddenly, the old man said softly, his tone carrying unmistakable reluctance.
Comfey also heard his words. It immediately floated back toward him, its eyes full of dependence and panic, as if afraid of being abandoned!
"Com~Fey~Fey!"
Comfey spun skillfully around the old man, releasing several tiny pink flowers made of pure energy that gently floated out and merged into his body.
Comfey's signature move: Floral Healing!
Instantly, the old man's pale, lifeless complexion flushed with healthy color again, and even his once-clouded eyes seemed clearer and brighter.
"That's enough, Comfey… My body's as good as it'll get. I'm at peace now that I've found you a good Trainer."
"Com… sob… Com… Fey! (í_ì)"
The old man gently patted the teary-eyed Comfey, then firmly pushed it toward Joseph.
"…We had an agreement, didn't we?"
At those words, Comfey's tears began streaming down like a waterfall, but it obediently stopped by Joseph's side.
"Sir…" Joseph tried to say something, but the old man waved his hand casually to stop him.
"I don't need to know who you are, nor do I need anything from you. Comfey chose you, so please take good care of it.
Give me one Pokédollar, and it's yours!"
As he spoke, the old man placed Comfey's Poké Ball on the counter, insistent on completing the transaction properly; money in one hand, Pokémon in the other.
Joseph hesitated several times, but in the end, he silently took a one Pokécoin from his pocket and gently set it on the counter.
"Transaction complete. Comfey is now your Pokémon. That's that."
The old man numbly picked up the small coin, but before he could react, Comfey looked ready to fly toward him again!
His lips moved slightly, as if muttering a command…
The next second, a small Elgyem suddenly appeared on his shoulder. With a flash of white light, both man and Pokémon vanished from the spot.
"COOOOM!"
Comfey clearly missed, and when it realized the old man had truly gone, it burst into uncontrollable sobs; yet still instinctively circled the place where he had been moments ago.
Joseph gently held the heartbroken Comfey in his arms, quietly channeling a bit of Viridian Power into its body.
After crying for quite some time, Comfey's sobs gradually weakened. Under the soothing effect of the Viridian Power, it soon drifted into a deep sleep.
Joseph softly returned it to its Poké Ball. Letting out a quiet sigh of relief, he looked around the small shop once more.
There really was nothing left behind…
"Joseph… that Comfey has incredibly high potential," Sato thought for a moment and said proactively.
"Yeah. Once we get back, I'll ask my uncle to help me track down that old man. I'm sure Comfey doesn't want to part ways with him so suddenly."
The three of them fell silent again, and the mood grew noticeably heavy.
The old man had accepted the Pokédocoin; clearly signaling to Joseph that their deal was complete. The message was loud and clear: the foster care was done.
Joseph also noticed multiple old injection scars on the man's arm -likely from long-term IV treatments- when he reached for the coin.
"Alright, let's not stay down like this! We actually got a lot out of today. As for the old man, Joseph, just do your best to live without regret."
Fitzwilliam offered comfort, then urged the other two to keep moving forward. But after what happened with Comfey, Joseph clearly didn't feel like exploring anymore.
He didn't say anything, and didn't make it obvious, but Sato could still see the daze in his eyes.
"It's about time. Fitz, help us find Mark and head back to the hotel."
Fitzwilliam glanced at Joseph, then nodded in agreement and called a Mismagius.
"Mismagius, I sent your brother to watch over a friend. Lead us to him."
"Mis~ma!"
Mismagius clearly wasn't doing this for the first time. After a small nod, it closed its eyes and began sensing its twin's location.
"Mis~ma!"
Mismagius quickly opened its eyes, let out a soft cry, and floated ahead to lead the way.
In under ten minutes, the three of them found Mark in the Free Trading Zone, enthusiastically haggling.
When they spotted him, he was pointing at something on a vendor's stall, criticizing it so passionately he was practically spitting!
But upon closer listening, the three could only twitch their mouths in speechless disbelief…
"This fossil is so ugly! No way anyone's buying it. You should really polish it and carve the shape into something nice~ Then maybe someone will want it!"
"Are you buying it or not?" The vendor looked down his nose at Mark.
"Oh… No."
"THEN SCRAM! Blabbing on for so long won't change the fact that you're a broke-ass loser!"
The Free Trading Zone was where Trainers could trade freely in person.
It was a mixed bag. Most of the people here came hoping to snag a rare find.
After all, everyone here was ranked level 3 or higher in the League. Who wouldn't have confidence in their own eye and luck?
"Where do I look broke, huh? Do I look like someone who can't afford a fossil?" Mark shot back immediately, clearly not having it.
"Fine then! This Fossil's clearly marked at 200,000. But for you, I'll do 100,000. Can you even afford that?"
The vendor pointed at the sign hanging over the fossil; it really was clearly labeled.
"I... I-I-I..." Mark started rummaging through his pockets, seriously considering buying it out of spite. After all, he was one of the Shadownight Gym's Big Three! He had some money!
He checked his left, then right pocket, front and back… but his wallet was nowhere to be found.
Oh no… he forgot it!
Surrounded by the vendor's mocking laughter and a crowd of eager onlookers relishing the drama, Mark broke into a cold sweat.
'CRAAAAP!' This is how you lose face!
Just then, Sato and the other two arrived at Mark's side, surrounding him from left, right, and behind.
Without a word, Sato calmly pulled out a Kalos-wide debit card.
"Swipe the card. I don't carry cash."
"BOOOOOSS!! (ノ≧≦)ノ"