Chapter 877 - Dragon Scale

Aoki waved his hand calmly, his expression unreadable. The dim lighting of the appraisal office cast long shadows across the polished wooden floor, reflecting the faint glow of the holographic displays lining the walls. Team Rocket attendants stood at attention, their uniforms crisp, their Pokémon—mostly Arbok and Weezing—poised beside them, ready to intervene if necessary.

"No need for formalities," Aoki said, his voice measured. "However, I wish to include my items in today's auction. Is that possible?"

The auction, a grand event hosted by Team Rocket, spanned seven days, with one session held daily. While all auctions attracted attention, the first and last days were the most prestigious, drawing the wealthiest Trainers and collectors from across the regions. Aoki had no intention of waiting until the final day—today was ideal.

The Rocket representative, a sharp-eyed man with a neatly trimmed beard, nodded eagerly. "Of course! Consider it done." He thumped his chest in assurance, the silver insignia on his lapel glinting under the overhead lights.

Aoki gave a curt nod before turning away, the auction token secure in his palm. The thought that Team Rocket might swindle him never crossed his mind. The organization's reputation was built on power and prestige—embezzling from participants would be beneath them. After all, the most sought-after auction pieces were always Team Rocket's own, curated to lure high-profile buyers. A few personal items from a private guest were insignificant in comparison.

Exiting the appraisal office, Aoki strode toward the auction hall's entrance. A line of eager participants stretched before the main gate, their credentials being scrutinized by stern-faced Rocket grunts. Aoki bypassed the crowd entirely, slipping into the exclusive passage reserved for private room holders.

Had he flashed his Team Rocket Captain ID, he could've walked in unchallenged—but anonymity suited him better.

The auction hall was a spectacle of opulence. Crystal chandeliers hung from the vaulted ceiling, their light refracting across the marble floors. At every entrance and along the aisles, Rocket operatives stood guard, their Pokémon—mostly Houndoom and Honchkrow—scanning the crowd for trouble. Security was paramount; auctions like these attracted both legitimate buyers and those with less honorable intentions.

Aoki located his seat on the second-floor balcony, a plush chair with an unobstructed view of the central stage. The private room was sparsely occupied, with only a few other guests scattered nearby, their faces obscured by the dim lighting. A small table before him held an assortment of refreshments—pecha berries steeped in tea, a plate of oran-berry infused pastries—and a sleek control panel embedded in the armrest for bidding.

Dominating the hall was a massive screen, ready to display detailed images and descriptions of each auction item. Team Rocket made no guarantees about authenticity—buyers relied on their own judgment. Those who failed to pay, however, faced dire consequences.

Leaning back, Aoki closed his eyes, slipping into meditation. The auction wouldn't start for another hour—plenty of time to hone his psychic abilities.

The Unown hovering near him had been his constant companions for months. With their influence, he'd broken through to the intermediate level of psychic mastery. Though his progress was slow, it was steady—a marked improvement from his earlier stagnation.

At this level, his capabilities had expanded far beyond basic Telepathy. Techniques like Secret Power, which he'd recently mastered, were invaluable. Another useful skill was facial obscurement—a subtle psychic veil that blurred his features, perfect for maintaining anonymity.

Other techniques required finer control, something he practiced diligently. Mastery wouldn't come overnight, but patience was a virtue.

An hour later, the auction's commencement snapped him from his trance.

The stage lights flared, illuminating a woman in a sleek, form-fitting dress, her microphone glinting as she addressed the crowd.

"Ladies and gentlemen," she purred, her voice dripping with allure, "welcome to Team Rocket's premier auction." A few audible gulps rose from the audience below.

Aoki ignored the theatrics. Serious bidders focused only on the merchandise.

"Without further delay," the hostess continued, "let's begin with our first item!"

A holographic projection flickered to life above the stage, showcasing a glimmering Dragon Scale.

"This," she announced, "is a reverse scale shed by a Champion-level Dragonite from Kanto. Its draconic energy is unparalleled—perfect for enhancing Dragon-type moves. Were it not for the recent rise of Fairy-types, such a treasure would never be up for auction!"

The woman has been hosting auction for a long time and is very experienced in auctions, so much that she can praise even a bad thing to the sky, let alone a Dragonite's reverse scale that is already very valuable.

Aoki's interest sharpened. His Horsea, once it evolved into Seadra, would require a high-quality Dragon Scale. The purer the scale, the stronger the resulting evolution. And nothing surpassed a Dragonite's reverse scale—the epicenter of its draconic power.

"Starting bid: two million Pokédollars. Increments of one hundred thousand. Begin!"

The room erupted.

"Two and a half million!"

"Three million!"

"Four!"

Bids skyrocketed, soon hitting ten million—the scale's approximate market value. While useful, Dragon Scales weren't miracle workers. Their primary function was evolution, not power amplification—that required a Dragon Fang.

"One million and a half for the first time!"

"10.5 million the second time!"

"Is there anyone else who wants to bid? If not, this precious Dragon Scale will belong to this gentleman." The host was making her last struggle to raise the price.

Although this Dragon Scale is not that valuable and has now exceeded its true value, it is the first item to be auctioned after all, so it must get off to a good start.