Many people were already selling unneeded treasures to the Treasure Bureau.
From the sales, you could roughly tell how well everyone had done in the Secret Realm.
Some were overjoyed; others stayed silent.
"Top-grade Heat-Clearing Grass, removes burn effects — 500 each…"
"Pecha Berry… average quality, 300 each…"
Lin Yu leaned closer and saw several students from his school.
Han Feng and his group were also there.
"Hey, Lin Yu! Wanna race?
Let's see who got more valuable treasure!"
The group crowded around.
Han Feng was fired up.
He'd lost their battle, but his competitive streak made him eager to beat Lin Yu at this.
He was a Trainer with Viridian Power!
He couldn't lose!
As soon as he entered the Secret Realm, he had his Butterfree charm a wild one into leading him straight to treasure spots.
The two were definitely rivals who'd grown to know each other through battle.
Most people around them clearly recognized the pair, so they cheered for a showdown.
Lin Yu said:
"Sure, let's go."
Some people even started taking bets.
But most put their money on Han Feng.
The teachers nearby didn't stop them — they just watched the kids with amused smiles.
"Haha, Lin Yu from Third High is strong, but I don't think he can beat Han Feng at treasure-hunting."
"Han Feng's got Viridian Power! Sounds broken."
"Old Luo, who do you think will win?"
Beside Luo Xing stood the Second High coach —
an elegant, mature woman with glasses, a loose white shirt, and golden wavy hair.
Stunning.
"Obviously Lin Yu, from our school."
Luo Xing answered without hesitation.
Please. He'd seen exactly how much Lin Yu had collected.
The two had served in the same unit; she'd just been in administration.
"Wanna bet?" The golden-haired woman's eyes lit up.
Luo Xing didn't back down.
"What for?"
"If Han Feng from my school wins, you treat me to meals for a month.
If Lin Yu from yours wins… I'll treat you for a month."
A mischievous glint flashed in her eyes.
Luo Xing agreed instantly.
"You're already paying for the month, then."
"Oh?"
She raised an eyebrow and fixed her gaze on Lin Yu.
She wanted to see just what made this student so trustworthy to Luo Xing.
But it didn't really matter to her either way.
Lin Yu had no idea his little competition with Han Feng had accidentally sparked a romance.
Not everyone bet against him, though.
Cha Wanwan, for one.
She was barely holding back a grin.
She alone knew just how much Lin Yu had hauled back.
Xue Nai too.
"Total value… around 800,000!"
When the Treasure Bureau appraiser finished going through Han Feng's pile, he announced the number.
The crowd was stunned.
Some had been proud of getting 20,000–30,000 worth of treasure.
Then they saw this.
One trip — 800,000.
Even the appraiser stared at Han Feng in shock.
Lin Yu smirked.
That's it?
THAT'S IT?!
He started pulling out his treasures.
First item…
A‑rank Water Stone.
The dense Water-type energy made it obvious it was freshly taken from the Secret Realm.
Everyone fell dead silent.
One-shot again?
A single A‑rank Water Stone, on the market, easily cleared a million.
"Dammit! No fair!"
Han Feng was completely tilted.
He'd laid out a huge pile, only to get outshone by one item.
"Spring of the Forest… top quality, 5,000… 10,000…
Whatever, just keep going."
Watching Lin Yu pull out bottle after bottle, the appraiser gave up.
The onlookers weren't faring any better.
"348 Light Water Stones… total 200,000… plus…"
"3,340,000."
The final number was terrifying.
And that was with Lin Yu holding some things back.
Everyone was numb.
The bookie who took bets cried, losing all his Secret Realm loot and then some.
Lin Yu won big.
A millionaire overnight.
Luo Xing looked triumphantly at the golden-haired woman.
She sighed and stepped close, almost face-to-face.
"Fine, you win.
Next month, I'll cook for you at my place."
"Deal!"
He turned back to the Third High students.
"The school also gave you all permission to catch one Pokémon each during the expedition.
If you caught any, you can register them with the Pokémon League…
or give them to the school.
We'll compensate you fairly based on their strength!
This opportunity was earned by Lin Yu and Ye Qingxue!"
"YU-SHEN IS OP!"
"Comparing myself to them actually hurts… but they're the best!"
This chance existed entirely because the two had taken first place in the tournament.
"I caught a Marowak, teacher! Look!"
A student sent out his new Pokémon.
Luo Xing checked.
"Mm, Normal mid-stage Marowak. You keeping it?"
"No, teacher. I wanna give it to the school."
"Alright… the school will pay you at least 50,000. We'll finalize the exact amount later."
"Me, me! I got a Muk!"
"…"
The moment Muk appeared, everyone backed away into a clear circle.
One by one, the students showed off the Pokémon they'd caught.
The other schools' students watched with burning envy.
Someone turned to Lin Yu.
"Yu-shen! You must've caught one too, right?!"
Lin Yu cringed a little at the nickname "Yu-shen".
But he had no intention of keeping Gyarados.
Its talent was only Gym-tier, and it was wildly feral.
It wasn't that Gym-tier was bad…
but Ralts and Charmeleon were both Elite-tier now.
His standards had risen.
And it was too unruly.
Taming it would take forever.
Might as well give it to the school as a favor.
"Stand back. The Pokémon I caught is pretty big."
Everyone cleared a circle 10 meters across.
"Wider, please."
Lin Yu looked helplessly at Luo Xing.
"Teacher, call out Pidgeot. I don't want accidents."
Luo Xing didn't hesitate — he already knew what Lin Yu had.
The imposing Pidgeot landed at once.
All this preparation only made everyone more curious.
Lin Yu held up his Poké Ball.
A blue Gyarados crashed onto the scene.
Every eye went wide with shock.