"Three, a total of four million."
Flop sat down and named the price. Seeing that Baimu was silently pouring water without responding, he continued, "This price is already quite good. Although they have all evolved, their combat power looks impressive, they have undergone treatment after all..."
"So their value is fundamentally discounted, I understand."
Baimu nodded, sighing softly in his heart.
Trading Pokémon is common in other regions, but when he heard the specific "value" of a Pokémon, he still felt somewhat uncomfortable.
"Forget it, please thank that person for their kindness for me, keeping them is better for me." He said earnestly.
"Someone has already reserved them?"
"No, I just don't want to sell them myself."
"..."
Flop stared at his face, carefully discerning whether the latter was raising the price and realized this wasn't the case. He tapped his knuckles on the table, "I understand, you may think you don't lack money right now, but honestly, one million isn't much.
At first glance, it seems like a lot, but it won't last long. And you've taken out their Trainer, making them accept you won't be easy. Are you planning on keeping them indefinitely? This isn't a small amount!"
Just as said, when he first got it, he felt one million was a lot, but using it made it feel truly little.
Living rich and living poor are two different states, Baimu aspired to step into the rich state.
He still had at least two mouths to feed.
"Moreover, I heard you haven't chosen a third Pokémon yet. This four million is enough for you to select some strong and potential Pokémon."
Flop again persuaded, "Pokémon that have undergone treatment have unstable mental conditions. Even if you successfully tame them, they will disappoint you. Additionally, adding three at once is difficult to handle."
To be fair, what this person said was tempting, but regrettably, he really didn't want to sell those three poor Pokémon.
And so Baimu shook his head again.
Flop was silent, took a sip from his water cup, "..."
Originally thinking at this point, if they couldn't agree, it was time to leave. Unexpectedly, the other party paused briefly and asked:
"Can I listen to your plan for handling them?"
"Of course." Baimu knew there was no need to cover it up, even if not said, eventually word would spread, "I plan to find a few reliable ones among the subordinates in the future and have them adopt."
"...Adopt?"
"Hmm, you could also consider it an internal benefit? Forget about selling them."
"..."
Flop looked at Baimu quite peculiarly, "My client offered four million and you won't sell, yet give them away for free adoption?"
"You could understand it that way."
He accepted the gaze before him calmly, whether mocking his senselessness or criticizing his hypocrisy, it didn't matter.
Flop stood up, his expression momentarily intricately complex, followed by a deep sigh.
"Forgive, just pretend I never came."
"Don't say that, I know you mean well, it's hard chasing me around." Baimu saw him off until the door was closed, and exhaled a foul breath.
Four million, to be honest, was really tempting.
Almost budged a bit.
Money really can change a person drastically.
He shook his head, waking Lairon and Chansey, prepared to start moving.
During this time, Cheng Hong, along with a bunch of old brothers from Cyan Iridium Street, came to help him.
"Once we finish our training here, we plan on joining you, what do you think?"
Cheng Hong carried a box, eagerly watching Baimu.
Upon hearing this, others also instinctively turned their gaze or perked up their ears to listen.
"What do you mean, who else would I choose besides you?" The latter replied with a smile, "Don't look at me so pitifully, it's quite gross, alright, we grew up together, wouldn't turn my back even if I made it."
Having no parents or family, relying on neighborhood aid to grow before age ten, counted as one of life's few rays, and everyone had initially banded together against despotism, had a certain understanding.
Baimu felt none would be more reliable in terms of loyalty and trust.
Though wealth could corrupt, would strangers be any different? It made no difference for anyone present, each having attempted to be bribed and divided by Chaitian, had some experience resisting corrosion.
Hearing his words, Cheng Hong and others subconsciously relaxed, showing bright smiles.
Baimu was really too swift, instantly turning into someone they must look up to, leaving them inevitably anxious during interactions.
But thankfully.
He remained the same, speaking few but laden with emotion.
The group began chatting noisily.
"It would be great if Baimu's domain extended to Cyan Iridium Street, it would lessen hardship for the moms."
"Idiot! Our family is too poor, of course, it should be allocated to juicy places! Collecting from those dance halls, Pachinko Shops for a day would fatten you! Bring money home and your mom wouldn't be working hard same!
"Hahahaha!"
No older than their twenties, the young people laughed heartily, words full of hope for the future.
——
New house.
A square two-story building with pale yellow outer walls.
Filled with the style of self-built houses in rural or small town settings from a past life, but with a rather sizable backyard, not only containing a crude arena.
Even a tree.
This was some sort of surprise for Baimu and Lairon.
Its location was not far from Sand Group's egg-shaped base, yet with few people around, houses spaced enough to ensure private space for residents.
No wonder being promoted to Squad Leader was described as Fish Leaping the Dragon Gate.
The improvement in living standards was immense.
Baimu criticized inwardly, further discovering the two-story building appeared rustic and simplistic externally, yet quite decently furnished inside.
Presumably the hard work of the previous owner.
Reflecting, he and a bunch of colleagues celebrated a bit in the new house.
When Cheng Hong and others went for course training, the long-awaited saplings and potted plants for Lairon arrived.
The delivery person brought a Sandshrew, confirmed where to plant them with Baimu, instructed it to dig into the ground, transplanting the saplings.
Lairon excitedly attempted to help, stopped only after being tapped on the head by the Trainer.
"Here's the cultivation manual, hope you visit us again!"
The delivery person left.
"Cultivation manual... should be able to maintain it right? This one was successful." Baimu flipped through it – couldn't understand, but glanced at the originally present large tree.
Feeling it was possible still.
But.
Would these two trees compete for nutrients?
He looked worriedly at the trees ten meters apart, it truly was his first time raising such, couldn't manage it.
"Fertilize, enrich soil… ah, calm down, alright? Don't snort like a pig!"
Baimu pushed Lairon's big head aside, puckering, "Can you understand just by looking, I can't! Pokémon text is too hard."
Lairon didn't care about the Trainer's thoughts, started circling the backyard, releasing its energy excitedly.
Grunting while running.
"Gudu! Gu!"
Chansey was confused by its antics.
Baimu couldn't comprehend what was going on until someone's voice sounded.
"Oh? Looks like your Lairon considers your backyard its territory."
The person was again Flop.
"Uh… what do you mean."
Baimu sensed something peculiar about the person, wandering to him day and night, unless a hidden agenda…
"Lairon is a Pokémon accustomed to marking territory, having a strong territorial sense. Usually, in the wild, they choose iron ore-rich and delicious spring mountains, but Pyrite Town lacks these conditions, so it lowered its requirements."
Flop noticed the guard in Baimu's eyes, sighed, "Brother, I'm still here because of this morning's matter. No choice, destined for hard labor, daily hired for running errands and relaying messages."
"…You are a Squad Leader after all."
"What about being a Squad Leader, we're nothing in the big shots' eyes, they require me personally, what can I do." Flop displayed slight pleading, "Could you allow a chance to negotiate?"
Baimu: "..."
He always felt something off about the person, uncertain exactly what, but considering testing intentions decided to agree.
Otherwise one irritated, inverting roles would be troublesome if they secretly did things.