Black Market

The morning sun was barely visible behind the thick clouds, casting a dull glow over the dirt path. Rei walked with his hands in his pockets, Staraptor soaring above him. It had been a few weeks since he had registered as an official Pokémon Trainer, and the steady flow of tasks and battles had strengthened both him and his team.

But he still need more meney. Pokémon training wasn't cheap, especially not at his level of ambition. Stronger Pokémon needed higher-quality food, medicine, and training equipment.

That was why today's job—hunting down a rogue Krookodile that had been attacking travelers near the village—was an important one.

However, before he could reach his destination, something caught his attention.

The sounds of a struggle.

Rei stopped, narrowing his eyes as he focused on the distant noise. It came from beyond the treeline. Not wild Pokémon fighting—it was something else.

Stepping lightly, Rei moved through the undergrowth until he spotted the source.

In a clearing, a broad-shouldered man in a black coat stood over a weakened Krookodile. The Pokémon's rough red skin was covered in scratches, and it let out a low, guttural snarl despite its injuries.

The man held a modified capture rifle, its barrel still glowing from the shock charge it had fired.

Rei's expression remained neutral.

He had read about them before, pokemon hunters. They captured, subdued, and sold pokemon to the highest bidder. Actually most of the powerfull trainers that scream to protect and love all pokemon like Lance the Joth Champion are from very rich families. After all raising pokemon is expensive so if anyone wants to be a powerfull trainer they have to have a lot of money or adventure. Most trainers have side jobs like being a celebrity or just do task in the pokemon center. But some trainer, usually from poor families, will do something else. They would go to the black market and sell pokemon items there. In the black market anything goes and anything can be sold.

The hunter pressed a button on his rifle, sending another surge of electricity into the struggling Krookodile.

"Give up already," he muttered.

Krookodile tried to lash out with its claws, but its movements were sluggish.

The hunter sighed before throwing a reinforced net over it.

Rei watched as the net tightened, locking the Pokémon in place.

Then, without looking up, the hunter spoke.

"You've been watching for a while now."

Rei didn't move.

The man finally turned, locking eyes with him.

"Most trainers would've jumped in to stop me by now."

"I'm not most trainers," Rei replied coolly.

The hunter smirked.

"Good answer." He hoisted the captured Krookodile over his shoulder.

"Name's Mikhail. And you?"

"Rei. Tell me what will you do to it ?"

Mikhail studied him for a moment before nodding. "Well I will sell it in the black market. After all pokemon like these fetch quite a good price."

"I see can you bring me there please. I'll give you a gift if you do" said Rei as he take out some cash from his pocket.

Mikhail chuckled. "Okay, Come with me kid!"

Mikhail led Rei down an old dirt road until they reached a run-down warehouse.

Inside, hidden beneath layers of security and secrecy, was something far bigger. The underground Pokémon market.

Rei's sharp eyes analyzed everything instantly.

Caged Pokémon lined the walls—some common, others rare.

Merchants auctioned off battle-ready Pokémon to trainers willing to pay.

Tables displayed body parts—feathers, claws, even Pokémon fangs.

Illicit Pokéblock vendors sold high-performance performance-enhancing food.

It was a place where the strong thrived, and the weak were nothing more than commodities.

Mikhail leaned toward him.

"This is the real world. Trainers think everything works through Pokéballs and Gym Badges. But here? Power and money rule."

Rei remained quiet, taking in every detail.

He wasn't disgusted.

He wasn't impressed.

He was calculating.

How could he use this place to his advantage?

While walking past one of the trading booths, something caught Rei's attention.

A Pokéblock stall.

Unlike the standard Pokéblocks sold in stores, these were custom-made. Specialized for performance boosts beyond what the Pokémon League allowed.

Rei's eyes narrowed.

The Pokéblocks he had been making for Staraptor were even better than these.

An idea formed in his mind.

Approaching the vendor, Rei pulled out a small blue Pokéblock encased in a sealed container.

The vendor—a short man with shifty eyes—looked up.

"You buying or selling, kid?"

Rei smirked. "Selling."

He tossed the container onto the counter.

The vendor opened it, sniffing the contents. His eyes widened.

"This is… high quality. Where'd you get this?"

"I made it."

"Bullshit."

Rei simply crossed his arms. "Test it."

The vendor hesitated but then grabbed a small Pidgeotto from a cage, tossing it a piece of the Pokéblock.

The results were immediate.

The Pidgeotto's wings gleamed with energy, and it suddenly flapped hard enough to send a gust of wind through the market stall.

The vendor cursed, barely keeping his balance.

A slow grin spread across his face.

"Kid… we might have a deal."

With this, Rei has entered the black market—not as a buyer, but as a seller.

He will start refining and selling high-quality Pokéblocks.

As Rei continued his dealings in the underground market, his reputation started to grow. His unique Pokéblocks caught the attention of various trainers, breeders, and even criminals.

One day, while finalizing a trade, he noticed a man in a dark coat watching him from a distance.

Eventually, the man approached.

"You're Rei, right?"

Rei tensed slightly. "Who's asking?"

The man smirked. "My name is Cedric. I work for someone who's very interested in your talents."

Rei's eyes narrowed. "And who would that be?"

Cedric stepped closer. "A branch of the Pendragon Family, the family of Lance the Jotho champion. My family have sent me and some of my brothers here to the Malayu region to create another branch of the family. Recently the main family have sent us a group of Goomy to become the foundation for my branch of the family. We would like you to help us make a pokeblocks perfect for them".

"Why me ?" Rei asked.

"Who said you were the only one ?" Answered Cedric.