Family

The arrival of Aoki did not attract much attention. It was like a drop of water falling into the sea—creating ripples that only he could feel, yet having no impact on the vast ocean around him.

People drifted through the world of gambling and indulgence, their focus solely on their own games, while Aoki quietly observed the scene before him.

There was little difference from his past life. The lights in the Game Corner were dazzling, so bright that even though night had fallen outside, the interior remained as bright as day. Every evening marked the true beginning of the Game Corner's peak business hours.

In every corner and along every aisle, staff members in black suits patrolled the area. Wireless earpieces in their ears and sharp eyes hidden behind dark sunglasses, they carefully monitored everything around them. Anyone attempting to cheat had little chance of escaping their watchful eyes.

But despite the strict security, there were always those who sought high rewards through high risks. The outcome, however, was always the same. Those caught were swiftly dragged into the back rooms.

And it wasn't just the staff keeping watch. Cameras—both visible and hidden—covered the Game Corner, ensuring that every action was under constant surveillance.

Ignoring the watchful gazes of the staff, Aoki approached the counter and sat in front of an exchange terminal. The receptionist at the counter forced a tired smile, but the people around him shot him looks of disdain.

There were about twenty computers in a row, all available for exchanging game coins for items. Despite the thousands of people gambling inside, only a handful were actually using the exchange machines.

It was a clear sign of how few people managed to walk away with enough game coins to redeem anything. Even those who did come to exchange usually had only a modest amount.

Shaking his head slightly, Aoki turned his attention to the screen.

Now under League control, the Game Corner had an impressive selection of exchangeable Pokémon and rare items. However, the prices were enough to make even Aoki pause, despite having seen them many times before.

The top three items were particularly rare, but the first one was especially shocking—an available exchange for a Larvitar, a pseudo-legendary Pokémon from the Johto region.

The price? A staggering fifty million game coins.

And that was just in-game currency. Converted to Pokecoins, it amounted to five billion.

Even Team Rocket's black market offered pseudo-legendaries at a lower cost. If their points system was equated to Pokecoins, obtaining a similar Pokémon there would cost around three or four billion. As ruthless as Team Rocket's pricing was, the Game Corner was even worse.

It was clear that some of these rewards were merely for show, meant to attract hopeful gamblers. Most ordinary people couldn't afford such outrageous prices, and there was no guarantee of the Pokémon's potential or battle-readiness.

Regardless, all of the top hundred rewards were incredibly rare, with starting prices in the millions of game coins. Most people could only stare at them longingly, knowing they were out of reach.

Though Aoki had complained about this exchange system many times in his past life, seeing it again still made him shake his head at the sheer absurdity of it all. The Game Corner was truly a gold mine.

Scrolling through the list, Aoki wasn't here to make any exchanges today—only to familiarize himself with the inventory and ensure that the items he wanted were still available.

Today was just reconnaissance. Tomorrow would be the real start.

Leaving the Game Corner, he felt the sudden quietness of the outside world. The air was fresh, and his ears finally free from the endless noise of machines and chatter.

He headed straight to a small restaurant nearby. Under the delighted gaze of the restaurant owner, he ordered enough food for ten people.

With Miltank now part of the team, the title of "biggest eater" had shifted from Slowpoke to Miltank.

While Pokeblocks provided the necessary nutrients, Pokémon still found great joy in eating different types of food. Aoki had no reason to deny them that pleasure.

At times, it felt as if his Pokémon had two stomachs—one for Pokeblocks and another just for various treats.

After packing all the food into his storage ring, he hailed a taxi back to Whitney's family manor.

The taxi driver gave him a surprised look as he stepped out in front of the grand estate, but Aoki remained calm as he walked inside.

Almost as if he had been expecting him, the family butler, Li Bo, greeted him at the entrance.

"Young Master Aoki, you've returned. The master wishes to see you—he has been waiting for quite some time," Li Bo informed him.

Aoki paused. The master of the manor? One of the most powerful figures in Goldenrod City?

Nodding in acknowledgment, he followed Li Bo into the grand estate.

He didn't particularly want to meet this man. A high-ranking figure in the League, someone deeply influential—Aoki preferred to avoid such people. But since the man had been waiting specifically for him, he had no choice but to comply.

Through the lavish hallways, decorated as grandly as a castle, Aoki followed Li Bo from the east wing to the west. Eventually, they stopped before a simple wooden door, standing in stark contrast to the rest of the manor's opulence.

Li Bo knocked lightly. "Master, Young Master Aoki has returned."

"Come in..." An elderly voice responded from within. Despite his age, the man's voice was strong and full of vigor.

Li Bo pushed the door open and gestured for Aoki to enter. Once Aoki stepped inside, the butler quietly closed the door behind him, remaining outside.

Inside, the room was starkly different from the rest of the manor. It was simple, with only a desk and a few chairs.

Whitney sat on one of the chairs, idly swinging her feet. Upon noticing Aoki, she stuck out her tongue, her eyes filled with apology.

"Haha! So this young man is Aoki? Young and promising indeed."

Behind the desk sat an elderly man, his white hair and beard neatly groomed. He smiled warmly and gestured for Aoki to take a seat.

Aoki remained silent, offering only a slight nod before sitting down next to Whitney.

The moment he did, Whitney leaned over and whispered, "Aoki, I'm sorry… My grandfather found out about that order I placed."

So that was it.

As the head of a powerful family, it would be a failure on his part not to know where his heir was spending her money—especially when that heir was his granddaughter and future successor.

These elite families paid close attention to their descendants' relationships. Every friend they made was carefully investigated.

Aoki's background had been thoroughly concealed by Team Rocket, so nothing suspicious had been discovered about him. However, there was a glaring gap—his ability to create intermediate-level Pokeblocks.

His past records painted him as an ordinary civilian, yet there was no mention of where or how he had learned to craft Pokeblocks at such a high level. No prestigious mentorship, no history of training in well-known facilities. It was an obvious inconsistency.

Aoki gave Whitney a small shake of his head, signaling that it was fine.

A moment of silence settled in the room before the old man finally broke it.

"Young man, while Whitney has already told me her side of things, I'd like to hear it from you." His sharp gaze locked onto Aoki. "Where did you learn the recipe for intermediate Pokeblocks?"