Chapter 67

After filling their stomachs, the children then proceeded to check out the stalls. Ally couldn't contain her excitement any longer and not wanting the best goods to be taken first, she rushed her two friends to finish their meals so they can finally start exploring. As they went from stall to stall, Jax didn't find anything that he desperately wanted. Although there were some pretty rare things, they were all useless for the current Jax. Passing by a merchant's wagon, Jax noticed a ball of red yarn that stopped him in his tracks. 'Eureka!'

"Excuse me, sir. How much are you selling this for?" Jax couldn't believe his luck! After spending such a long time and even cashing in the favor Steven Stone owed him, Jax still couldn't find the item he was looking for. Who knew it would just be sitting in a wagon with other yarn and fabrics, treated like some mundane crafting material!

"Hmmm? You sure have a good eye for yarn, boy. Are your parents talented tailors or seamstresses? I've tried selling this same bundle to others, but they couldn't work with the material either. Also giving up, I decided to try my luck in the Empire to see if anyone passing by knew how to work with the darn thing. Guess it's your luck day. 500 Pokedollars and you can take it home with you today!"

'Heh! Obviously the tailors and seamstresses couldn't use the bundle of yarn to craft clothing. It's supposed to be used on pokemons! Do I bargain with this merchant? He clearly doesn't know its value.' Thinking so, Jax decided to buy the yarn as is since it was already a fourth of the price someone who knew its uses would sell it for. 'What a steal!'

Continuing their shopping spree, Jax found other miscellaneous items that although didn't raise his or his pokemons combat power, provided more utility. Haggling with a stall owner who made trinkets for a living, Jax was able to buy a Shiny Charm, Hard Charm, Big Charm, Oval Charm, Exp Charm, and Catching Charm for a hefty price of 1.4 million Pokedollars!

The girls just thought Jax found the pretty trinkets pleasing to the eye so they judged that he was just a spendthrift. Jax also bought a regular trinket that he gifted to Ally which brought out a beautifully shy smile from the girl. Continuing their journey until well into the night, the trio didn't find anything else that they wanted. Ally and Evelyn bought things that only girls would find interest in while the boy checked out the trainer's and their pokemons walking through the streets.

Finally exhausted after a long day of walking, Jax and Ally followed Evelyn to her estate to wash up and spend the night. While the two children were in the Empire's capital, they would be spending the next couple of days with Count Freiders' family. Saying good night to each other, the three children retreated back to their own separate rooms. No way Evelyn was going to let Jax spend the night in the same bed as Ally!

Going over his haul for the day, Jax stepped into his sub-space and wrapped the Destiny Knot around Lairons he had caught during one of his excursions at Yulti Mountain. He also pinned the recently bought Shiny Charm and Oval Charm onto the two pokemon to ensure that the eventual egg would have the best possible chance of being the best.

Waking up the next day, the children set off exploring the city again after a light breakfast with the Count's family. Although they had checked out several stalls and wagons yesterday, even more were still piling into the city. As a three-day long event, the first day didn't have anything planned so many of the guests did their own things. For the second day, the earlier mentioned pokemon tournament was the highlight of the day.

Jax, Ally and Evelyn all signed up to try their luck at winning the tournament. Since this was the Empire's 100th anniversary, trainers from all around the world flocked to celebrate it with the royal family. From the Kanto region all the way from the newly discovered Paldea region, the three young children were amazed at all the new pokemons they had never seen before.

Jax was especially excited to see the Paldean pokemons that he had no clue about. In his previous life, Jax died before generation 9 of the pokemon games came out. Although he saw the leaks, he couldn't trust everything on the internet. Seeing a blue duck that swayed with every step, a little family of mouse pokemon and even a bicycle pokemon!? Jax was beyond shocked at all these new discoveries.

"Ladies and Gentlemen! I would like to express my gratitude to all whom have traveled far and wide to come to our esteemed Empire to celebrate its 100th year since its founding day. As your MC, it is my honor to introduce to you, THE ROYALLL FAMILY!"

With that introduction, a man, woman and two children stepped from beyond the curtain up on the balcony and sat down in their spots. Emperor Augustus Borden III was a middle-aged man with sleek brown hair and a well-groomed beard. As an emperor, he had a majestic air around him and demanded respect and obedience. A strong trainer in his own right, he protected his empire from the invasion of neighboring empires and kingdoms.

His wife, Empress Astrid Borden was a beautiful woman with long dirty-blonde hair that had a calm demeanor. Also a strong trainer, she came from one of the two Duke's family and entered a political marriage with the emperor. They were childhood sweethearts back at the academy and she played her role as matriarch very well so that the emperor could do his job with no worries.

The young crown prince, Nicholas Borden had his father's brown hair and looked to be about the same age as Kyle Freiders. In fact, the two were classmates, friends, and rivals when they used to attend Pokemon Academy. As a trainer, he preferred more cunning tactics that led his opponents into well thought out traps and strategies than pure physical might. Over the past couple of years, he had been under the care of the Empire's strongest general to learn more about strategies and even started operating with the military.

Next was the youngest of the family, the jewel of the Empire, Princess Charlotte. Taking after her mother, Princess Charlotte had the same dirty-blonde hair as her mother. A year older than Jax, she had a bratty personality and was very demanding. Pampered even more than Evelyn, Princess Charlotte didn't lack much in life and whatever she wanted, her doting father would provide on end.