Chapter 88:

Cain's arrival went unnoticed, like a lone raindrop lost in the vast ocean. Though he felt the ripples that spread from his every step, the world around him remained unchanged.

As he walked through the bustling crowds of the drunken life and gambling world, he took in the spectacle of the entire game corner. It was no different from his previous life, with its dazzling lights that shone brighter than the stars above. Though outside it was the dead of night, inside it was always daylight, every moment a chance to make a fortune.

All around him, men in black suits with wireless headsets kept watch with sharp eyes hidden behind dark shades. From every corner and walkway, they monitored the flow, never once letting their guard down. The cheaters and the crooks, they thought they could slip by unnoticed, but there was always someone watching, and they always got caught.

But it wasn't just the men in black. Cameras of every shape and size adorned every inch of the game corner. From the brightest lights to the darkest shadows, there was no place to hide, no escape from the all-seeing eyes.

When Cain reached the counter, he paid no mind to the greasy smile of the receptionist and went straight to the exchange computer. The looks of disdain that followed him were like arrows aimed at his back, but he ignored them all.

The row of twenty computers was filled with people who wanted to exchange game coins for items, but they were few and far between. Most of the players were content to play and lose, never realizing how much more they could gain if they only looked up from their screens.

It was clear to Cain that few had the courage to break out of the game corner's routines. Even those who wanted to exchange their coins had precious little to spend.

Cain shook his head in disbelief as he stared at the computer screen, his eyes fixed on the endless list of exchange items. The game corner, now under the Association's control, was bursting with an abundance of resources. Rare Pokemons and precious items glimmered before his eyes, taunting him with their unattainable prices.

Even though he had seen the exchange prices countless times before, he still couldn't help feeling speechless. The first three items on the list were especially rare, the first one being the Pseudo-legendary Larvitar from the Johto region. But the exchange price was enough to make even Cain flinch. A full 50 million game coins, and that was only the starting price. If converted to Pokédollars, it would be worth a staggering 5 billion!

It was more ridiculous than the price of exchanging for a Pseudo-legendary from Team Rocket. If the points and Pokédollars were equivalent, the value of a Pseudo-legendary would be equivalent to three or four billion Pokédollars. Team Rocket was already a scam, but this place was even worse.

The items in the top 100 were all extremely rare and precious, but with a starting exchange price of one million game coins, most people could only dream of getting their hands on them.

Cain couldn't help but complain about this game corner. It was obvious that the exchange list was just a decoration to attract customers. Who would choose a Pseudo-legendary without knowing their aptitude? And who had that much money to spare? If they did, they wouldn't need to come here to exchange for a Pseudo-legendary.

In his previous life, Cain had complained about this exchange list more times than he could count. But seeing it again, he couldn't help feeling disgusted at how the game corner knew exactly how to make money off people's dreams.

Cain scrolled down the exchange list, his eyes scanning each item with a keen sense of curiosity. He wanted to understand this place, to see if there were any differences between this game corner and his previous life. He also wanted to see the items available for exchange.

Today was just a reconnaissance mission. Tomorrow would be the real start.

Leaving the game corner, Cain felt a sense of relief wash over him, his ears finally free from the deafening noise of the slot machines. He walked straight to a small restaurant nearby, where the owner's happy gaze followed him as he packed enough food for ten people.

With the addition of Miltank to the team, the position of the biggest glutton had shifted from Slowpoke to Miltank. Though the Pokéblock could provide enough energy, the Pokemon were always eager to try new foods. And Cain was more than happy to indulge them, feeling like his Pokemon had two stomachs, one for Pokéblocks and one for everything else.

After packing all the food into his ring, he called a taxi and headed towards Whitney's family's manor.

As the taxi driver watched in surprise, Cain calmly walked into the estate, where Uncle Li greeted him with a smile. "Young Master Cain, you're finally back. Master has been waiting for you."

Cain's heart skipped a beat. Master? The owner of this manor? One of the most powerful people in all of Goldenrod City?

With a nod, he followed Uncle Li to the hall, his nerves on edge. He didn't want to see this old man, who was quite famous in the Association. But if he had been waiting for him until now, he had no choice but to go and see him.

After wandering through the opulent castle-like corridor, they finally stopped at a simple door. Uncle Li gently knocked on the door with his hand and announced, "Master, Mr. Cain is back."

"Come in…" The old voice that came from inside was full of vitality, making it clear that the old man was in excellent health.

Uncle Li opened the door and gestured for Cain to enter. Once Cain was inside, Uncle Li closed the door and stood outside silently.

Cain stepped into the room and was immediately struck by how different it was from the lavish decorations outside. The room was sparsely furnished, with only a desk and a few chairs. Whitney was sitting on one of the chairs, playing with her feet. When she saw Cain, she stuck out her tongue and gave him an apologetic look.

"Haha, young man, you must be Cain. You're quite promising for your age," chuckled the old man with the white hair and beard, sitting behind the desk. He gestured for Cain to sit down.

Cain nodded but said nothing, taking a seat next to Whitney.

Seeing Cain sit down, Whitney leaned in close and whispered, "Cain, I'm sorry. I… I told my grandfather about the order."

As expected.

As the head of the family, the old man would be incompetent if he didn't know where his subordinates were spending their money. And since Whitney was his granddaughter and the future heir of the family, it was only natural that she would be found out.

The great families of Goldenrod City were always watching their heirs closely, investigating every friend they made. Luckily Team Rocket was skilled at subterfuge, so Cain's association with the group was not easily found out. But this was both a blessing and a curse, as it left him with a murky past that raised suspicions.

The old man behind the desk regarded Cain with a scrutinizing gaze, his eyes betraying a shrewdness that came with years of experience. After a long moment of silence, he spoke up. "Young man, although Whitney told me everything, I still want to hear it from you. Where did you get the formula for making intermediate Pokéblocks?"

Cain frowned as he listened to the old man's rude question. It was true that his past record only listed him as a commoner with no exceptional experience or background. And yet, he had managed to create a formula for intermediate Pokéblocks, a feat that was nearly impossible without proper training or knowledge.

But such a blatant invasion of privacy was unacceptable, especially among breeders. Every breeder had their own experiments and techniques, and creating unique formulas was a crucial part of their training. To question someone's formula was a serious offense, and if the breeder was powerful or influential, it could easily escalate into a fight.

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A/N:

A big shout-out to our new patrons Nick and Zain! Keep being awesome, and know that your support is truly appreciated! ( ＾◡＾)っ ♡