Pokemon: Rising From The Dark

"Are you sure?" The exchange staff asked incredulously, glancing at Aoki as if he were a fool.

Aoki nodded without further explanation.

Pokémon eggs found in the wild are rare, yet they are often overlooked rather than redeemed for points. This is because their potential cannot be assessed until they hatch. While Pokémon that bond with trainers from birth can form strong and reliable partnerships, the uncertainty of their abilities makes wild Pokémon eggs a gamble.

Advanced instruments can measure Pokémon qualifications, but these are expensive and require valuable resources to operate. For checking eggs, the technology is even more resource-intensive and not portable. Only when the parent Pokémon are known to be of high quality will anyone consider testing an egg.

Even an orange qualification Pokémon egg is valuable, and higher qualifications are exceedingly rare.

So, when Aoki requested to redeem points using a Pokémon egg, the staff thought him foolish.

However, Aoki knew the egg's value, and explaining his method could draw unnecessary attention—even from higher-ups like Viper.

"Are you aware that testing a Pokémon egg's qualifications costs one hundred points? If the qualifications are low, you're risking a lot," the exchange staff warned, implying the cost of failure.

Aoki nodded again, determined. He couldn't proceed without testing, so he accepted the risk.

With Aoki's confirmation, the staff began the process. Placing the egg into the testing device, they poured in the analysis liquid—an expensive substance that justified the high testing cost. The machine hummed to life.

The first light, indicating minimum red qualifications, lit up as expected. Then, the second light—orange qualification—followed quickly.

"You're lucky; it's at least an orange qualification," the staff said, relieved that the testing fee wouldn't be wasted.

But Aoki remained indifferent, knowing the test wasn't over.

After a brief wait, the yellow qualification light began to flash. The staff's perception of Aoki shifted—this was no longer a foolish gamble. A yellow qualification Pokémon egg could secure Aoki thousands of points, a significant advantage in any trial.

As the device continued, the yellow light grew brighter. Soon, the green qualification light flickered on.

"Green qualification!" The staff exclaimed, astonished. They quickly covered their mouth, but the shock was evident.

Green qualification Pokémon eggs were incredibly rare and valuable, worth tens of thousands of points. Such points could change Aoki's standing dramatically, attracting the attention of powerful members within the organization.

Aoki frowned at the staff's outburst, aware of the dangers posed by others knowing about his points. In such a competitive environment, secrecy was essential to survival.

Realizing their error, the staff quickly assured Aoki they would handle the matter discreetly. They stepped into a hidden room to report the findings.

Moments later, a figure cloaked in a black robe emerged, exuding a formidable presence. Aoki's instincts screamed danger; this man was of extraordinary strength—perhaps an elite or higher.

The man's slow approach amplified the pressure on Aoki, making it almost unbearable. He clenched his fists, nails digging into his palms as sweat beaded on his forehead.

"Good," the man rasped, acknowledging Aoki's resilience under such intense pressure.

With the pressure lifted, Aoki nearly collapsed. The man, clearly a high-ranking member, was someone even Aoki, in his previous life, would have feared.

In the end, the encounter underscored the Pokémon egg's significance—and the risks Aoki faced in pursuing its potential.