109. Underground Black Market

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After lunch, Raya asked her driver and bodyguard to take Jacob back to the Secret Realm.

"Jacob, please visit often when you're free. Consider my partnership offer first, and we can discuss other matters later. By the way, please give my regards to Mr. Scott."

"Alright, Ms. Raya. I'll discuss it with Grandpa," Jacob replied. He waved goodbye to Julia and her daughter before getting into the car.

Looking at the slowly departing vehicle, Julia raised the corners of her mouth, took Raya's arm, and said softly, "Mom, I told you Jacob wouldn't agree."

Raya remained silent with a smile on her face, but her mind was full of thoughts: "That's because the offer I made wasn't enticing enough. After all, this was our first official meeting, so it's natural for him to be wary. He wouldn't agree to such terms. He's quite popular now, with close ties to the Long family(Nina and Maximus's family). He was even accepted as an apprentice by Maximus himself. Maximus is one of the Four Heavenly Kings most likely to become Champion. With his support, Jacob will prioritize the Long family if he wants to establish any partnerships. It's unrealistic to expect him to abandon the Long family and work with us instead."

"Mom, you knew Jacob wouldn't agree, yet you still discussed cooperation with him," Julia questioned.

"I was simply giving him something to consider. We don't have to choose between options. We could collaborate with both the Long family and Jacob," Raya smiled. "We only need to speak with the Long family first. Once we have an agreement with them, negotiating with Jacob will become easier. But we must demonstrate genuine sincerity."

"Mom, why do you treat everything like a business transaction?" Julia pouted. "Jacob and I are friends."

"Even friendships require aligned interests to maintain a lasting relationship."

...

It was already past three in the afternoon when Jacob returned to the restricted area. He didn't see Nina in the area, but he wasn't concerned. He released his four Pokémon and had Grovyle supervise the training of the other three. Jacob essentially became a hands-off trainer.

At the same time, his uncle Aris called to inform Jacob that their negotiations with the European Pokémon Association weren't progressing smoothly, especially regarding the Duralodon issue. The European Pokémon Association was even more determined not to yield, offering the Chinese Pokémon Association a choice of one starter Pokémon—Grass, Water, or Fire—rather than providing a breeding pair of Duralodon.

Indeed, this time China's Pokémon Association, leveraging the capture of one of the Four Heavenly Kings, had made a substantial request, asking Europe for a pair of Duralodon. With this breeding pair, China could begin raising its own Duralodon population.

Duralodon had always been a specialty Pokémon in Europe. The local Pokémon Association had completely restricted female Duralodon, registering every female specimen to prevent them from being distributed to other regions.

Only through monopoly could they maintain higher prices, so Europe was resolute in refusing, but the Chinese Pokémon Association wasn't rushing either. After all, they had one of the Four Heavenly Kings in custody. At worst, they could use all of that Heavenly King's Pokémon for breeding purposes and generate significant revenue.

Jacob's expression darkened. Negotiations at this level could never be resolved quickly. At this rate, he wouldn't receive his reward for months.

It seemed everything was going wrong today. First, Raya had targeted him, and now there was an issue with Duralodon.

Jacob couldn't help feeling a growing sense of urgency. He needed to acquire his fifth Dragon-type Pokémon as soon as possible. The reward of six A-level Dragon Scales was too tempting to pass up. If he missed this golden opportunity, the scales' growth acceleration effect would diminish over time.

Now was the ideal moment. With Chase's accelerated growth, Jacob would have a better chance of reaching the national finals.

However, no Pokémon in the Dragon Secret Realm met his requirements. Although there were Pokémon with King-level potential, Jacob had higher standards. He still wanted Pokémon with at least Champion qualifications, unwilling to settle for just any King-level Dragon Pokémon to make up the numbers.

After much consideration, Jacob finally made up his mind and decided to visit the underground black market in the capital that night! To obtain the five-Dragon-Pokémon reward as quickly as possible, Jacob could only place his hopes on the capital's underground black market—the largest in the country. With his system's assistance, Jacob believed his gains would be substantial.

However, he faced two problems: safety and funding. The funding issue was relatively easy to solve—he could ask his grandfather, parents, or brother. The more difficult challenge was ensuring his own safety.

Perhaps he should call Teacher Nina? With her quasi-King-level Kommo-o and the Alakazam he carried, his safety shouldn't be a concern. It seemed Teacher Nina had become his exclusive bodyguard.

With this thought, Jacob immediately picked up his phone and called Teacher Nina.

"Ring, ring, ring!"

The phone rang for a long time, and just as Jacob was about to give up, she finally answered.

"Hello..." Teacher Nina's voice was slightly hoarse and disoriented. "Ugh!"

What's happening? Did she feel nauseated just from answering his call?

The sound of vomiting came from the other end of the line. Jacob knew without guessing that Teacher Nina must have been drinking heavily again. With her usual alcohol tolerance, she wouldn't be vomiting this much unless she'd consumed an extraordinary amount.

"You are... Jacob? Jacob... who? What do you want to talk about?" Teacher Nina on the other end sounded confused and couldn't even speak coherently.

Jacob's expression turned exasperated. In Teacher Nina's current state, forget about protecting him—she could barely look after herself. "Teacher Nina, where are you right now?"

"I'm... in my dormitory..." Teacher Nina mumbled her location, then tossed the phone aside. The sound of more vomiting followed.

Jacob was truly impressed by Nina's behavior. She wasn't even training her Pokémon in broad daylight but was instead drinking herself into oblivion. She really was a complete alcoholic.

Fortunately, Nina's dormitory wasn't far from the restricted area. Jacob went to the cafeteria to purchase some yogurt and honey, both of which could help with sobering up. He decided to visit Teacher Nina and help her recover, heading directly to the guard station at the teachers' residential complex.

When Jacob arrived at the dormitory entrance, he encountered another problem. To facilitate Dragon-type Secret Realm teachers in training their Pokémon, all instructors lived in individual villas. The houses themselves weren't particularly large, but each came equipped with training grounds and spacious accommodations for Pokémon.

Looking at the vast complex of villas behind him, Jacob had no idea which one belonged to Teacher Nina.

"Sir, which building does Teacher Nina live in?" Jacob approached the guard station to ask the attendant on duty.

"Nina?" The elderly man looked at Jacob warily. He suddenly realized Jacob seemed familiar. After closer inspection, he recognized him as the young man who had returned in Nina's car after six in the morning on a previous occasion. The two of them must have spent the night out together.

The gossipy old man also noticed the items Jacob had purchased—yogurt and honey—which further convinced him that Jacob was indeed going to visit Nina.

"She lives in Villa 5-2, Area 2. Go straight ahead to the second intersection, turn right, and you'll see it," the old man instructed.

"Thank you, sir."

"No need for thanks. Sign the visitor log first."

"Of course."

...

"Teacher Nina, open the door, it's me!"

Arriving outside Nina's villa, Jacob rang the doorbell, but received no response from inside. Clearly, Teacher Nina was completely intoxicated. Jacob shook his head and was about to leave his purchases at the guard station.

"Click!"

The door suddenly opened, revealing a dragon's head.

"Kommo-o?"

What a good dragon, knowing how to open the door for visitors.