Alex looked at the unconscious Lunatone lying on the ground and considered for a moment whether he should kill it or heal it and attempt to establish a long-term trade relationship.
The corpse of a Super Slate (low) Champion-level Pokémon was worth approximately 25 to 50 million Poké Dollars.
Even for Alex, that was an excellent return.
Even if he chose not to sell it, the remains could be used to slightly increase Larvitar's potential. With luck, it might even be enough to push it into Shallow Diamond territory.
In the end, Alex decided to kill it.
He could have justified the decision by saying that Lunatone had attacked him and his Pokémon aggressively and without hesitation, but that was not the full truth.
Although Alex had a soft spot for peaceful Pokémon, he did not kill every Pokémon that attacked him. Survival battles were one thing; execution was another.
The main reason was simple: he considered the probability of establishing a stable, long-term trade arrangement with Lunatone to be extremely low. A Champion-level territorial leader with Psychic abilities was not a reliable business partner, especially after losing a direct confrontation.
Alex gave Scizor a small nod.
Mega Scizor understood immediately.
He stepped forward and used Metal Claw, ending Lunatone's life quickly and without unnecessary suffering.
Gardevoir felt a slight disappointment at Alex's decision, but she rationalized it almost instantly.
Father is only doing this because it attacked us, she thought. Lunatone was prepared to kill us. It should not be surprised that it dies instead.
Alex activated his TRH device and began collecting Lunatone's body efficiently, storing each valuable component with mechanical precision.
With the battle concluded and the threat eliminated, the Mega energy surrounding Scizor began to fade.
His enhanced armor receded, his aura stabilized, and he gradually returned to his normal form.
Area 31 felt different after the fall of Lunatone.
The constant psychic pressure that had weighed on the cavern like an invisible ceiling slowly dissipated, leaving behind a quieter, more neutral atmosphere. The faint silver glow filtering down from cracks in the ceiling reflected off mineral-rich stone, giving the entire area a subdued lunar sheen.
Alex deactivated his TRH device after finishing the collection and looked across the wide expanse of exposed rock.
"Search formation," he said calmly.
Scizor, now back in his normal form, took the forward position. Crobat flew overhead in slow, controlled circles. Gardevoir expanded her psychic perception across the terrain, while Larvitar and Ditto moved toward deeper fissures where mineral density felt highest.
Area 31 was known for lunar-aligned mineralization. If the records were correct, Moon Stones formed here in clusters, especially in locations saturated with prolonged psychic radiation.
They did not have to search long.
The first cluster was embedded in a wall of pale stone, faintly glowing with internal light. Scizor carefully cut around the formation while Alex monitored structural stability. Within minutes, the first batch was extracted.
A High Grade Moon Stone.
Then another.
And another.
As the team spread out, the discoveries accelerated. Gardevoir located several deposits buried beneath thin layers of rock, while Kingdra used controlled bursts of water pressure to reveal hidden seams without damaging the stones themselves.
Ditto proved useful like alwaly. He transformed back into Golem which he saw and he began searching for moon stones and mega/key stones.
Over the next several hours, Alex and his Pokémon systematically combed through Area 31. By the time they regrouped near the central basin, the results were significant.
33 Moon Stones.
21 High Grade.
12 Top Grade.
The Thirty-three Moon Stones alone justified the risk of entering a Red zone.
But Area 31 was not finished rewarding them.
Ditto located the first Star Piece cluster along a raised stone ridge, where crystalline fragments shimmered faintly like scattered starlight. Once identified, more began appearing everywhere—wedged into cracks, embedded in the cavern floor, partially hidden beneath mineral dust.
Star Pieces were far more common than Top Grade evolution stones, but in this quantity they were still impressive.
They collected them methodically.
Pile after pile.
By the time Alex performed a final count through his storage system, the total stood at roughly three hundred Star Pieces.
Even by conservative estimates, this single expedition into Area 31 would generate an enormous return.
Just as Alex was about to conclude the search, Ditto signaled again.
The stone Ditto found embedded there did not glow like a Moon Stone, nor did it reflect like a Star Piece.
Instead, it emitted a faint but distinct resonance.
Alex walked closer, narrowing his eyes slightly as he removed the surrounding stone carefully. What emerged was unmistakable.
A Mega Stone.
The internal energy signature and looks matched the unique frequency required for Mega Evolution.
Alex showed a small smile.
Thirty-three Moon Stones, including twelve Top Grade.
Around three hundred Star Pieces.
And a Mega Stone.
Area 31 had exceeded expectations.
With resources secured and no remaining territorial threats, Alex gave the order to withdraw.
...
Lilycove City,
Alex stood in front of the towering Lilycove Department Store, its glass façade reflecting the afternoon sun and the steady flow of trainers entering and leaving. The automatic doors slid open and shut without pause.
One of the largest commercial centers in Hoenn.
And the ideal place to convert rare materials into capital.
Alex adjusted his cap slightly before stepping inside. The interior was bright and orderly, with polished floors, escalators connecting multiple levels, and clearly separated sections for TMs, evolution stones, battle items, and luxury trainer equipment.
His presence did not draw much attention. He wasn't wearing anything flashy, and experienced and Famous trainers in Lilycove were not uncommon.
Alex walked directly toward the specialized appraisal and acquisition counter located near the back of the first floor. Behind it stood a well-dressed employee in a formal uniform, likely trained specifically to handle high-value transactions.
The employee looked up with a professional smile.
"Welcome to Lilycove Department Store. How may I assist you today?"
Alex met his gaze calmly.
"I'd like to sell several high-grade evolutionary materials and rare mineral fragments," he said evenly. "The quantity is significant."
The employee's smile did not fade, but his posture straightened slightly.
"Of course, sir. For high-value items, we offer private evaluation rooms to ensure discretion and accurate pricing. May I ask what general category your items fall under?"
"Moon Stones," Alex replied. "High and Top Grade. As well as a large number of Star Pieces."
There was a brief pause.
Then the employee nodded, now fully attentive.
"Understood. Please follow me."
Alex stepped away from the public floor and followed the employee toward a secured corridor, the sound of the marketplace fading behind him.
The private evaluation room was quiet and insulated from the noise of the main sales floor. Soft lighting illuminated a polished stone table in the center, and a scanning device for mineral appraisal was already embedded into its surface.
Alex stood calmly while the employee stepped aside and activated a communication panel.
"Miss Ivy will handle this transaction personally," the employee said politely before leaving the room.
A few seconds later, the door opened again.
A woman in her late twenties entered, dressed in an elegant but practical business outfit. Her posture was confident, her movements measured. Unlike the other staff members, she carried herself like someone who owned the building rather than worked in it.
"I didn't expect you to return to Hoenn so soon and even plan to stay here permanently," she said with a faint smile.
Ivy was not just a manager—she was one of the shareholders of Lilycove Department Store and had the authority to approve or reject large-scale acquisitions without consultation.
She already knew who Alex was.
News traveled quickly in Hoenn's upper trade circles, especially when a young trainer as famous a Alex planed to move to Hoenn.
"Why not? Hoenn is a nice place." Alex replied evenly.
"True." Ivy said as she stepped closer to the table. "When my staff says 'significant quantity,' it usually means 5 or 10 Top-grade stones. With you, I hope that means something else entirely."
Alex activated his TRH device that look like a Pokedex.
Countless evolution stones appeared one after another on the reinforced surface of the table. The Low-Mid-High Grade stones formed a neat row. Then the Top Grade stones followed.
Even Ivy's composed expression shifted slightly at the sight of countless evolution stones
"Impressive," she said quietly.
"And Star Pieces," Alex added.
He transferred container after container onto the table until the number became unmistakable.
"I also have Stardust," Alex added again.
Ivy folded her arms lightly, studying him rather than the items for a moment.
she said. "You continue to surprise me, most trainers your age like chase badges and reputation. "
Alex did not deny it.
"Resources determine options," he answered simply.
Ivy smiled faintly. "Spoken like someone who intends to stay in Hoenn's upper circle."
She walked around the table, picking up one of the Top Grade Moon Stones and holding it under the scanner. The device emitted a soft tone of confirmation.
"You understand," she continued, "that selling everything at once will influence market pricing."
*******
if the story gets 150 powerstones in 24 hours, I will upload 1 bonus chapter tomorrow.
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