Chapter 876 - Identification

When the appraiser saw the Poké Ball placed before him, his expression remained blank.

The auction and appraisal had begun several days prior, with nearly a third of attendees coming to have their Pokémon evaluated. Auctions of this scale often included Pokémon as part of their offerings, though very few actually met the stringent requirements for qualification.

The appraiser gestured for the Poké Ball to be placed on the scanning device beside him. This machine provided a rough assessment of a Pokémon's potential and level. If the initial results met the auction's standards, further testing would determine its exact value. Even rare Pokémon would be rejected if their potential or level fell short.

The scan completed in three seconds.

Upon seeing the results, the appraiser's previously indifferent expression shifted.

"Please wait a moment," he said, his tone suddenly deferential. "This Pokémon requires confirmation from our supervisor."

With that, he hurried into a back room.

Aoki didn't have to wait long. Within a minute, a middle-aged man in Team Rocket attire emerged, followed by the flustered appraiser. The supervisor wore a practiced, amicable smile and, after a few polite exchanges, escorted Aoki to the VIP lounge.

"Sir," the man began carefully, "are you certain you wish to auction this Pokémon?"

Aoki suppressed the urge to roll his eyes. Why else would he be here?

He gave a simple nod. "Yes."

The Poké Ball contained a champion-level Cofagrigus—one Aoki had defeated and captured in the tomb inside the Team Magma secret space in Mount Chimney.

When the scanner had detected a champion-level Pokémon, the appraiser had panicked, immediately summoning his superior.

Champion-level Pokémon were rare in auctions. Even those with sufficient potential seldom reached such heights in training. Most auctioned Pokémon were at the Pseudo-champion level, making this a significant exception. 

This auction, however, had seen an unusual number of high-level Pokémon offered, creating unprecedented excitement among buyers.

For many trainers, purchasing a fully trained Champion-level Pokémon was far preferable to the arduous process of raising one themselves. Though Aoki valued the bonds he formed with his own team, he understood the appeal of bypassing years of effort.

The staff treated him with clear respect—anyone capable of capturing or commanding a Champion-level Pokémon was not someone to offend.

"And these," Aoki added, his voice distorted slightly by his hood, "will also be auctioned."

He produced several more Poké Balls, containing the Pseudo-King-level Cofagrigus and a Pseudo-Champion Chandelure, both captured during the same expedition.

The supervisor accepted them eagerly before retrieving a token from his pocket.

"Sir, this is your auction seat number. As you may know, all private rooms were reserved in advance, but we have reserved seating on the second floor with an excellent view. You'll be able to observe the bidding for your Pokémon."

Aoki took the token without comment.

He knew how these auctions worked. Private rooms were reserved for the highest-profile clients, and while his offerings were impressive, they weren't enough to warrant one—not unless he revealed something even more extraordinary.

If he had presented a veteran Champion-level Pokémon, perhaps the higher-ups of Team Rocket would have taken notice. But for now, this was sufficient.

"One more thing," Aoki said, retrieving several containers from his storage. "I'd rather not make extra trips. See if these are acceptable."

The boxes contained pearls of varying sizes—harvested from Clamperl, including one massive pearl from the Champion level one. Another held a collection of poison barbs, all extracted from Qwilfish.

Aoki needed funds. While his earlier ventures had been profitable, high-tier auction items could easily drain his reserves.

The supervisor's eyes widened. "These pearls… Is this from a Champion-level Clamperl?"

His expertise allowed him to recognize the rarity immediately. Clamperl were notoriously difficult to train to such a level—their weak combat capabilities made them easy prey in the wild, and few trainers bothered raising them.

The value of this pearl was incalculable.

And the poison barbs? Team Rocket always had a demand for them. A box of this quantity—hundreds, at least—was a windfall.

This client was no ordinary seller.

"Sir," the supervisor said, his smile now ingratiating, "allow me to inquire about a private room for you. It's possible one has become available."

Aoki nearly laughed. The shift in attitude was almost comical.

But he simply nodded.

The supervisor had no idea who he was dealing with. A Champion-level Clamperl's pearl was unheard of in Team Rocket's auctions—largely because no sane person would dedicate the time to raising one.