"Money in one hand, goods in the other..."
Ariel reminded him again, his tone as flat as if he were discussing today's weather.
The fanaticism on Soro's face faded instantly, replaced by a look of shock and annoyance at being seen through.
He hadn't expected this young man's mind to be so firm, completely refusing to buy into the pipe dreams he was painting.
The muscles on his face twitched a few times as he forced out a strained, ugly smile:
"Brother, listen to me, I..."
"Six million," Ariel interrupted him.
Soro's smile froze on his face, doubting if he had heard correctly:
"What?"
"I said, six million league coins,"
Ariel repeated, every word crystal clear,
"the payment for this job."
"You're crazy!"
Soro finally snapped, his voice suddenly rising in pitch,
"We agreed on three million! You're trying to hike the price on the spot?"
He was like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, his fur standing on end. He couldn't even produce three million; six million was practically asking for his life!
"During this operation, I encountered people from Team Magma."
Ariel's expression didn't change at all, merely stating a fact,
"I nearly died on that mountain! To get this thing, I even lost a Pokémon I'd spent every day with."
As he said this, a perfectly timed hint of sorrow appeared in his eyes, as if he truly felt heartbroken for that "dead" Pokémon.
Of course, this was all a fabrication.
But to Soro, these words were like a bucket of cold water being poured over him.
Looking at Ariel's face, which didn't seem to be faking, his suspicion and uncertainty grew.
If it was as he said, the risk of this mission had indeed far exceeded expectations. A price increase... didn't seem entirely incomprehensible.
Soro's eyes darted around; this old fox was rapidly weighing the pros and cons.
He had nothing now; his only hope for a comeback was that mysterious ore.
Compared to a future worth billions, what was six million?
The problem was, he couldn't produce it right now.
Furthermore, how could he be sure Ariel actually got the item and wasn't just bluffing?
"Fine,"
Soro pondered for a long time before finally gritting his teeth, as if making a massive concession,
"Six million it is! However, I must inspect the goods first. Show me the ore. Once I confirm it's the real thing, I'll pay the balance immediately."
He stared intently at Ariel, trying to catch even the slightest hint of a guilty conscience on the other's face.
The room fell into silence once more.
Faint light from the window shone in at an angle, outlining the dust motes dancing in the air.
Ariel didn't move.
He knew perfectly well that Soro was performing a final test. If he really couldn't produce the item, the deal would collapse completely.
But similarly, Ariel was also testing Soro.
His gaze seemingly casually swept over the Poké Ball tucked at Soro's waist.
To have escaped the encirclement of Team Rockets, this old fellow definitely had a trump card for survival.
Even if it was just one Poké Ball, it was enough for Ariel to take him seriously.
It likely contained a high-level, extremely dangerous Pokémon.
Before having absolute certainty, Ariel would not easily reveal his motives.
He needed to confirm Soro's current state—whether he was at the end of his rope or still a tiger with the strength to fight.
Minutes and seconds ticked by, and the air seemed to solidify.
Looking at the motionless Ariel, a sneer gradually rose in Soro's heart.
He was almost certain this kid was lying.
He hadn't gotten the ore at all; everything before, including the price hike, was just a bluff!
"Heh."
Soro let out a dry laugh, breaking the silence. He leaned back on the sofa, assuming a posture of total confidence.
"Young man, do you know who the people who came to the casino were?"
Ariel cooperatively lifted his eyelids slightly:
"Weren't they League investigators?"
"The League?"
Soro's laughter was full of disdain and a trace of lingering fear,
"If it were those useless League fools, why would I be in such a pathetic state?"
He leaned forward and lowered his voice, saying word by word:
"It was Team Rockets!"
Boom!
The name seemed to carry an invisible force of impact.
Ariel's pupils contracted slightly, and a perfectly appropriate look of shock appeared on his face.
This acting was so good that Oscar owed him a golden statuette.
"Team Rockets?!"
"Exactly!"
Seeing Ariel's reaction, Soro felt even more smug.
He thought this shocking secret was enough to intimidate the young man and throw him into a panic,
"Think about it, can the value of something even Team Rockets has their eyes on be measured by your measly six million?"
He thought that by dropping this bombshell, Ariel would either compromise out of fear or give himself away out of greed.
But Ariel was only shocked for a moment before regaining his composure.
He still didn't move.
Soro's patience finally ran out.
The last spark of hope in his eyes vanished, replaced by contempt and disappointment.
He waved his hand and said with waning interest:
"Forget it. Since you didn't get the item, there's nothing left for us to discuss. You can leave."
He was showing him the door.
In his view, Ariel no longer had any utility value.
Ariel looked at him and suddenly smiled.
Under Soro's bewildered gaze, he unhurriedly raised his hand, and a space ring flashed with a faint light on his finger.
The next second, an ore the size of a thumb, entirely a weird purplish-red color, appeared in his palm.
As soon as the ore appeared, the surrounding light seemed to be absorbed by it, emitting a heart-palpitating, sinister aura.
"You mean this?"
Ariel weighed the ore in his hand, his tone relaxed,
"This thing is too creepy; I didn't dare carry all of it on me. However, using this small piece to prove I completed the mission should be enough, right?"
Ariel toyed with the small purplish-red ore. Its surface swirled with an eerie luster, as if it were breathing with a life of its own. He tossed the ore lightly and caught it steadily.
"This thing is too creepy; I didn't dare carry all of it on me."
His voice was flat, as if he were stating a trivial matter.
"However, this piece should be enough to prove I succeeded."
These words were like an invisible rope, instantly tightening around Soro's neck.
Ariel's words not only made Soro afraid to kill him—after all, if he killed him, the rest of the ore would never be found—
but also proved his own value and expressed that he was indeed trading with Soro.
Soro's Adam's apple bobbed up and down, and his facial muscles twitched before he finally squeezed out an ugly smile:
"Good, very good. You are very clever."
In his heart, however, he was roaring: A mere brat dares to negotiate terms with me! Once I make my comeback, the first thing I'll do is crush you to death!
"I'll be right back. Wait for me here."
Ariel put the small ore back into his space ring and turned to leave.
"Wait!"
Soro called out to him, distrust flickering in his eyes,
"You'd better not play any tricks."
Ariel looked back and smiled:
"Play tricks? Lord Soro, right now you're the one begging me, not the other way around. Get the situation straight."
Soro's face turned pale and flushed by turns, but he finally squeezed out a word from between his teeth: "Hurry!"
Ariel ignored him and made a move toward the depths of the woods.
Just then!
"Roar!"
"Roar—!"
Two muffled roars exploded from the bushes to the side! The ground vibrated slightly in response.
Two Camerupts suddenly lunged out, the volcano-like humps on their backs emitting black smoke. Their crimson eyes were dead-set on the two people in the clearing, and hot breath snorted from their nostrils.
The temperature of the air rose abruptly.