章 74: Chapter 073

After that rather disastrous loss due to a mistake on his part, Alex healed all the Pokemon involved in the battle.

He realized that he still had work to do. He had been winning all the one vs one battles with higher level Pokemon and had thus been a little complacent. After this, he realized that there were factors outside his control that could influence the outcome of the battle. He had to either be super super calculating about everything, or he could hone his instincts for battle and on the fly reaction instead.

After some more training, Alex felt his Pokedex vibrating.

Professor Oak was back and asked him to come to his office. Alex went back to his room, picked up the reports he had written and walked towards the Professor's office.

So you managed to evolve Poliwhirl into Politoed eh?" asked the Professor.

"Yes sir. I also managed to evolve a Slowbro into a Slowking" replied Alex.

"Interesting ideas you have. Your powers of association are a mystery to me even now. How you even got the right answer from what can only be considered wild guessed baffles me" said Professor Oak.

He then paused and asked, "Do we have Poliwhirl, Slowbro, Shellder and 2 King's Rock remaining? I would like to see the two evolutions for myself" said Professor Oak.

Alex nodded, and they walked towards the ranch.

"Impressive" sighed the Professor after witnessing both the evolutions. "Who would have known that King's Rock thought to be just another low level prop would also have such a hidden use?"

"Yes Professor. Maybe the currently cheap King's Rock will shoot up in price after this fact gets released?" hinted Alex.

"That is inevitable. Anything to do with evolution, however obscure, has a large value" said the Professor, seemingly not catching the hint.

Alex decided to say it out loud, "Professor, King's Rock are very cheap now, and them skyrocketing in value in the near future is an eventuality, right? So why don't we keep a stockpile and make a fortune?" asked Alex.

"That would certainly not be possible" said Professor Oak with certainty.

"Why not?" asked Alex in confusion.

The Professor was about to reply, but he suddenly stopped and looked at Alex. He then looked to be in deep thought as he was scratching his chin.

"Yes. That may work. Even though I don't urgently require money, I can never know when I may run out of funds for some research. Plus, some top grade King's Rock can be a valuable trade asset to have when some rich trainer or an offspring of one seeks to use them for evolution" said Professor Oak.

He then looked at Alex and said, "That is a great idea. Let's do that. I will provide the funds and channels for the mass acquisition of King's Rock, and we can stockpile them in the underground warehouse of the laboratory. We will split half the profits. I will compensate you in other ways as we cannot immediately convert the haul into money" said Professor Oak.

"Half? Professor, it's entirely your capital. Why would you give me half?" asked Alex? He has made some rough calculations. The price for a regular King's Rock could go as low as 2,000 Poke. It would probably shoot up to around 200,000 Poke in value after its use was revealed, especially if its stock was low after they had cleaned it out. Afterwards, it may decline, but the value of the best top grade King's Rock would never decline. The conservative estimate of the profits from this venture was upwards of 500,000,000 Poke. Even Alex felt it was ridiculous to share half of that with him.

"There is a reason I am splitting half with you. It is the reason I have been favouring you. I will tell you the reason after the King's Rock matter is taken care of. I will soon give you instructions on how to purchase and gather large amounts of King's Rock, and how to transport them here. Also, I will have an anonymous bank card with the necessary fund ready soon. You will have to perform the transactions and the acceptance by yourself. I will send Alakazam to assist you with its teleports" said Professor Oak.

"I have to do everything in person?" asked Alex.

"Yes" came the answer.

"You cannot do it, or can not have someone else do it?" he asked again.

"I'm afraid not. You are required to do everything in person. I can give you the help you need, that's all" said the Professor.

"Professor, can you tell me the reason?" asked Alex.

"I promise I will explain everything to you after this is taken care of. But for now, I can tell you you are special" said Professor Oak. "Because you are Dark"