Team Rocket Officer

This is the largest number that Aoki had decided upon after careful consideration.

Earth core milk is extremely precious and rare. If Aoki sold too much at once, it could lead to unnecessary complications. But if he sold too little, he wouldn't get enough Alliance Coins to buy what he needed.

The appraisal staff, usually indifferent and stiff, showed a slight change in expression upon seeing what Aoki had brought.

Without looking at Aoki, the appraiser focused entirely on the bottle of milky liquid. Although he had an inkling of its value, he wasn't entirely sure—such things weren't commonly traded.

He carefully removed the stopper from the bottle. A faint mist rose from the mouth, accompanied by a delicate fragrance. The appraiser's face showed surprise.

He took a silver needle from his kit, lightly dipped it in the liquid, and brought it to his nose to sniff it. Then, he moved the needle to his mouth and licked it. His eyes widened, and after lowering the silver needle, he replaced the stopper on the bottle and returned it to Aoki.

"Excuse me, do you intend to sell, or is this simply for identification?" The appraiser's voice was hoarse, as if it was a question he hadn't asked in a long time.

His work was tedious, and most people simply came for appraisals, so the process was automatic. However, when a valuable item came in, his tone would shift. His commission depended on the value of the items, and selling valuable items would yield a much higher reward than his basic salary.

When Aoki placed the Earth Core Milk on the counter, the appraiser immediately realized its value. If this transaction went through, his commission would be substantial.

"Mm," Aoki responded, his voice dry and hoarse, a clear attempt to disguise his identity.

The appraiser, now aware of Aoki's seriousness, nodded in understanding. "This is Earth Core Milk, and I presume you're aware of its value. The current market purchase price is 10,000 Alliance Coins per drop, and your bottle contains about 200 drops. Our chamber of commerce is willing to buy it at market value, totaling 20 million Union Coins."

Although the market price was indeed around 10,000 Alliance Coins per drop, that was often the price offered to those who didn't understand its true worth. Experts would only part with it at around 20,000 per drop. The appraiser was testing to see if Aoki knew the market.

"If you're not serious, I can sell it to others. I'm sure there are plenty of buyers willing to pay more," Aoki said calmly.

The appraiser realized Aoki wasn't someone who could be easily deceived. A little embarrassment flashed across his face but was quickly concealed.

He'd been an appraiser for over a decade, and he knew that such items were often priced low by those who didn't understand the true market value. But Aoki seemed different—he wasn't easily fooled.

"Cough...sir, how about 15,000 Alliance Coins per drop? This is the highest price I can offer within my authority." The appraiser cleared his throat, his tone professional.

The offer was closer to the market price, but still much lower than what Aoki knew it could be worth. Aoki, however, wasn't just negotiating; he was testing how far he could push.

"18,000," Aoki countered without hesitation.

The appraiser's face remained neutral. He wasn't upset by the higher price; in fact, he welcomed it. Negotiation was a natural part of business.

If Aoki had settled at the original price, it would have been too easy, and the transaction would have been quick. But now that Aoki had raised the price, the appraiser knew that this was a serious negotiation.

"I'll need to check with my supervisor. This price is beyond my authority," the appraiser said reluctantly.

"Of course, hurry up," Aoki responded, waving his hand dismissively.

The appraiser nodded and hurried off toward another room.

Aoki sat back in his chair, closing his eyes. Murkrow perched on his shoulder, keeping a low profile. In a place like the black market, discretion was key.

After a long silence, the appraiser returned, but this time, he brought along a middle-aged, overweight man with a large belly. Aoki glanced at him briefly, noting the distinctive Rocket medal on his chest—a gold-bordered Rocket Squad medal, with faint "R" engravings, signifying his rank.

"Sir, this is the manager of our store, Captain of the Rockets, Master Ishida!" the appraiser introduced respectfully.

Aoki raised an eyebrow. This was the first person he had encountered with the title of "Captain" since leaving the trial island. Given Ishida's position as both the Rocket Squad captain and manager of a leading store in the black market, his influence was certainly significant.

The middle-aged man, Ishida, smiled widely, though he didn't carry the usual authority of a captain. His demeanor was warm, almost excessively so.

"So, you're the gentleman who wishes to sell this Earth Core Milk?" Ishida said, gesturing toward the VIP room. "Please, let's discuss this in private."

Aoki nodded, motioning for them to lead the way.

Ishida smiled, leading the way to the VIP room, with the appraiser trailing behind. The VIP room, though decorated with leather sofas and a coffee table, was no more luxurious than the rest of the black market. It was just a more private space.

Once inside, a maid quickly brought tea, and the three of them sat down to continue the discussion.