Chapter 222: The Yao Family’s Excuse For War
Hearing this, Yao Yifei smiled awkwardly, then hurriedly explained, “The order doesn’t matter, you should understand what I mean.”
“Don’t worry, I’ve definitely saved high qualification Pokémon eggs that match your attribute and preferences.” Lu Li smiled and guaranteed.
Only then did Yao Yifei nod in satisfaction.
Next, Lu Li arrived at the next stall.
A Gym Level qualification Meowth, this qualification was actually decent, so Lu Li had no intention of letting it go.
Even if it couldn’t be used now, keeping it at home wouldn’t be a problem, and it could add to the family’s foundation later.
Next was the time for a big shopping spree.
Using nearly an hour and a half, Lu Li collected a total of 26 high qualification Pokémon eggs, with the lowest qualification being Gym Level and the highest even reaching Heavenly King Level.
As for Champion…
Champion Level Pokémon eggs could be said to be as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns; even though the Deep Blue Black Market was the largest black market in the Southern Region, no Pokémon eggs of that qualification were found.
“Next, let’s go to the shops. You should still be able to snag something there.” Yao Yifei suggested eagerly.
The reason Yao Yifei was so excited was that Lu Li had found her a Gym Level qualification Skiploom.
Skiploom wasn’t considered an excellent Pokémon, with a base stat total of 250. Even with three stages of evolution, its final form Jumpluff wasn’t outstanding.
A base stat total of 460, and that was after two evolutions.
In terms of positioning, Jumpluff wasn’t even suitable as a battle Pokémon.
But Yao Yifei just liked this type.
It was cute and Flying Type, so Yao Yifei instantly fell in love, and most importantly, the qualification was so high.
Lu Li advised, “Jumpluff doesn’t have high nurturing value. Even if it reaches Champion Level after two evolutions, it would still be at the bottom among Champion Level Pokémon.”
Yao Yifei rolled her eyes at Lu Li.
Do you even hear what you’re saying?
It’s Champion Level qualification, and you’re still concerned about its base stat total? Do you know what Champion Level means?
“Do you even hear what you’re saying? Looking down on Champions? You know, even the weakest Champion is still a Champion, just like the Korean Region’s Bug Type Champion—can you say he’s not a Champion?” Yao Yifei retorted unconvinced.
Lu Li: “…”
If you’re going to compare like that, then I really have nothing to say.
Lu Li directly shut up and stopped talking, letting Yao Yifei revel in her satisfaction.
But is qualification really that important?
Lu Li thought of Yao Yifei’s Pokémon, all uniformly Gym Level qualification.
The reason Yao Yifei was stuck at Gym Level and couldn’t advance was partly due to messy attributes, but more so because of qualification issues.
Trainers without background were basically dragged down like this.
Take Yao Yifei as a typical case.
A Gym Level trainer under 26 years old—this talent could crush 99.999% of trainers worldwide, but because her first tier Pokémon’s qualifications weren’t enough, Yao Yifei was stuck there.
Yao Yifei, who had already reached Gym Level, could certainly seek higher qualification Pokémon, but what about nurturing time?
Even with her strength, retraining a Gym Level Pokémon would take her at least 5 years—and that’s under the condition of her good talent. For an ordinary person, it might be 10 or even 20 years.
Stepping back, even if Yao Yifei finally broke through to Heavenly King Level by nurturing higher qualification Pokémon, that would be 5 years later.
She would be 31 then, a 31-year-old Heavenly King Level trainer—this prestige was certainly there, and this talent could still crush 99.999% of trainers worldwide.
But comparing to Ekaterina made it clear.
Yao Yifei’s talent was even better than Ekaterina’s, yet the result was that Yao Yifei broke through to Heavenly King Level 5 years later than Ekaterina.
As the saying goes, one step slow means every step slow: 5 years delayed from Gym to Heavenly King, then another 10 years from Heavenly King to Champion—that’s a 15-year gap.
And that’s in the most ideal situation.
Starter Pokémon, or rather first tier Pokémon, were really too important.
So Lu Li had been racking his brains to help his subordinates raise their starting line.
The Pokémon eggs sold in the shops were overall better than those outside, but they were also more expensive.
Because most of the Pokémon eggs in this shop had origins—you know the strength of the Pokémon egg’s parents?
Take this Charmander Pokémon egg in front of him, for example.
Both mother and father were Heavenly King Level Charizard, yet its qualification was only Normal Level.
This highlighted outrageousness.
Most fatally, this Pokémon egg was priced as if it were a Heavenly King Level qualification egg.
Yao Yifei asked, “What’s wrong? Want to buy this egg? A Pokémon egg laid by Heavenly King Level Charizard costs 8 million, but it’s actually not expensive.
Lu Li: “…”
He had just been wondering which sucker would buy this egg, and unexpectedly, he almost became that sucker himself.
“No need, let’s look at others.”
Lu Li hurriedly pulled Yao Yifei to look at Pokémon eggs elsewhere.
Soon, Lu Li stopped in front of a Volbeat Pokémon egg.
The label said this Pokémon egg’s parents were Elite Level Volbeat, but this Pokémon egg’s qualification was Heavenly King Level.
Volbeat only has one evolution stage; it might create a miracle.
Not far away, the boss who was tidying up at the counter glanced at Lu Li and casually said, “You can take this one for 100,000.”
“Pack it up.”
Lu Li decisively took this Pokémon egg.
Even if Yao Yifei wasn’t interested in this Pokémon egg, a Heavenly King Level qualification Pokémon egg was still worth taking.
In one shop, only this one egg was a bargain; the others were either traps or priced equal to their value.
The two went from shop to shop. Although each shop had bargains, most didn’t match attributes well or had poor base stat totals.
“Found it.”
After searching for another hour or so, Lu Li finally found the target at the last shop.
A Gym Level qualification Ralts, marked as female, with parents being Gallade and Gardevoir, both Elite Level strength.
The price was the same as the Ralts Pokémon egg he bought before.
Lu Li didn’t dare hesitate—there were others in the shop. As Lu Li was about to take this Pokémon egg, a masked man about his height called out to him.
“Wait.”
For this sudden shout, Lu Li directly ignored it and took the Pokémon egg from the shelf.
Holding the Pokémon egg, Lu Li turned and asked, “Mister, do you need something from me?”
“Handsome, I’m also interested in this egg. Could you…”
Before the other could finish, Lu Li directly refused, “No.”
Hearing Lu Li’s decisive refusal, the masked man narrowed his eyes and threatened, “You dare not give me face?”
Hearing this, Lu Li deliberately looked at the other’s hair—it was the same color, blue hair. Lu Li curled his lip.
Without a head of red hair, who gave you the courage to demand face from others outside?
“Who are you? Why should I give you face?” Lu Li asked, tilting his head.
Yao Yifei next to Lu Li didn’t speak but stared fixedly at the other’s hair color.
“He’s a Psychic.” Espeon’s voice sounded in Yao Yifei’s mind.
“Hmph~”
Realizing he was wearing a mask, the masked man snorted coldly, then called over the boss at the counter.
“I want this Pokémon egg. I’ll pay 20 million.” The masked man directly pointed at the Pokémon egg in Lu Li’s arms.
“This…”
The shop boss hesitated and glanced at the Pokémon egg in Lu Li’s arms.
It was clear Lu Li had picked it first, but the problem was this bidder offered more.
The boss, unwilling to let money slip away, was about to speak when Yao Yifei warned coldly, “If you deliberately raise the price, be careful—I might report you to the black market.”
Hearing this, the boss jolted awake, instantly sobering up.
Their shops differed from the outside stalls, emphasizing fixed prices—no haggling or deliberate price hikes.
If this got to black market management, his losses might exceed his gains.
Reason overcoming greed, the shop boss hurriedly said, “Sorry, this guest picked it first. No matter how high you bid, it won’t work.”
“I’ll add 1 million, 21 million.” The masked man persisted.
His Psychic intuition told him this Pokémon egg was perfect for him; he really didn’t want to miss it.
The struggling shop boss denied, “Guest, please don’t make things difficult for me.”
Every time the masked man raised the bid now, the boss felt like he was losing money.
Arms crossed, Yao Yifei said coldly, “The black market has its rules. Even if you bid 100 million, it won’t work.”
“Hmph~”
The masked man snorted coldly, then threatened icily, “Dare to leave your name?”
“Do you dare?” Lu Li sneered.
The masked man raised his chin, his tone carrying a disdainful arrogance: “What’s there to fear? Yao Family’s Yao Tianxing!”
“Yao Tianxing? Yao…”
Hearing this name, Lu Li couldn’t help turning to look at Yao Yifei.
This should be the first time he encountered someone from the Yao Family. Strictly speaking, Yao Yifei wasn’t really from the Yao Family—just carrying her father’s surname.
Back then, Yao Yifei kept the surname at her mother’s request, to fox borrow tiger’s might and avoid unnecessary trouble.
This world also had unspoken rules, not just for trainers but even for their Pokémon.
Hmm.
When Lu Li first heard this common sense, he was completely dumbfounded.
Tell me more about unspoken rules for Pokémon!
He had a friend who wanted to know the details.
“Yao Family?”
The shop boss nearby looked at Yao Tianxing with a strange gaze.
Lu Li could sense a blatant malice.
Wait.
Lu Li deliberately glanced at the shop sign at the door.
Clefairy Egg Shop?
This naming style basically confirmed it—this was another Qu Family industry.
However.
“Is it really okay for a Yao Family prodigy to be so arrogant on Qu Family territory? Aren’t you afraid you can’t go back?” Lu Li instantly felt sorry for his previous self.
Getting angry over such a fool was truly unnecessary.
With his mood much better, Lu Li finally spoke to remind, “Boss, checkout.”
The reacting shop boss nodded hurriedly, while Yao Tianxing stared deadly at Lu Li.
“What? Scared, don’t dare give your family name?” Yao Tianxing mocked.
“Ah, yes, yes.”
Lu Li responded in a tone as if agreeing with everything.
Yao Tianxing raised his chin smugly: “Scared after all? Then hand over the Pokémon egg.”
“No.”
Lu Li refused decisively.
Yao Tianxing instantly felt Lu Li had been played.
“You…” Yao Tianxing glared at Lu Li as if his eyes were burning, but Lu Li directly ignored him.
After checking out, Lu Li put the Pokémon egg into his space backpack.
Yao Tianxing originally wanted to throw more threats, but he suddenly realized he really couldn’t do much to these two since he didn’t even know their identities.
“Don’t think I can’t do anything to you.” The unwilling Yao Tianxing came up with another idea.
The two left the Pokémon shop one after the other. After confirming no one was at the door, the shop boss hurriedly picked up the phone on the counter to report the new intelligence to his superiors.
“Interesting…”
Yao Yifei’s lips curved slightly, a playful expression flashing across her face.
“What’s up?” Lu Li looked at Yao Yifei curiously.
Yao Yifei smiled and explained, “That fool left a mental imprint on your space backpack. Espeon asked if I should help you erase it.”
Mental imprint?
Lu Li raised his eyebrows.
He really hadn’t noticed Yao Tianxing’s little trick, as he was focused on checking out and hadn’t paid attention to the psychic fluctuations.
“Do you know this guy called Yao Tianxing?” Lu Li asked curiously.
Yao Yifei shook her head: “Never heard of him. He should just be from the Yao Family’s collateral branch.”
“Then how dare he be so arrogant?” Lu Li was shocked.
Yao Yifei said, “No idea. Maybe he’s just a fool the Yao Family pushed here.”
Sensing gossip, Lu Li pressed, “How so?”
“The Deep Blue Black Market is famous worldwide, and many covet it, with the Yao Family being the biggest contender.
The Yao Family has long wanted a piece of the pie, even to swallow the Deep Blue Black Market, but unfortunately, the Fairy Heavenly King defends it too well, so the Yao Family hasn’t succeeded all these years.”
Lu Li suddenly understood: “So the Yao and Qu families’ conflict isn’t just political, but in all aspects.”
“Very normal. The Asian Alliance has regional conflicts, the Jiuzhou Alliance has class conflicts, noble families have family conflicts, and commoners have benefit conflicts. You’ll get used to it after seeing more.”
Yao Yifei spoke in a tone as if she had seen through the world’s vicissitudes.
“Wait.”
Lu Li’s expression suddenly changed.
Isn’t this the playbook from the Marco Polo Bridge Incident, the excuse Little Japan used?
A missing soldier…
Thinking carefully now, this possibility was quite high.
But the problem was, the Qu Family wasn’t weaker than the Yao Family. Though the Qu Family’s foundation was inferior, Qu Suxin was a genuine Champion Level trainer.
Wasn’t the Yao Family afraid of capsizing playing like this?
