Evolutionary stones were in high demand, so selling them was quite easy.
However, this time wasn't like his previous rush in Sinnoh, where Ace sold everything for cheap.
Now, with ample time, he compared prices at several Pokémon item shops. In the end, the Thunder Stone, which wasn't in great condition, sold for six thousand League currency, while the perfectly conditioned Fire Stone fetched a high price of thirteen thousand.
Selling the evolutionary stones also taught Ace a little-known fact.
Evolutionary stones also had different qualities.
Pokémon that evolved using evolutionary stones needed to be careful about their choice of stone.
Even a fragmented evolutionary stone could cause them to evolve, but it went without saying that between two Pokémon of similar strength, one evolving with a fragment and the other with a complete, high-quality stone, the latter would naturally overpower the former.
It was realistic, yet perfectly reasonable.
And precisely because of this, the two evolutionary stones sold for different prices.
Adding the money he already had, Ace, now carrying a "fortune" of twenty thousand, contentedly made his way to Pewter City's Fossil Museum.
Ten minutes later, Ace emerged from the Fossil Museum with an exceptionally grim expression.
"Pah! Those jerks!"
Looking back at the Fossil Museum, Ace cursed fiercely.
He had originally thought he could sell his fossil fragments for more money and perhaps see if the Fossil Museum had a fossil revival machine.
But when Ace walked in and stated he wanted to sell fossils, he was immediately restrained by security personnel.
Afterward, all the fossil fragments in Ace's backpack were confiscated, and he was symbolically given one thousand League currency as compensation.
Ancient fossil Pokémon were generally strong, so the Pokémon League strictly controlled such items.
Selling them was absolutely forbidden.
And all of Ace's fossil fragments were confiscated.
It was infuriating, but he was helpless.
Especially when he was being held by several muscular Machoke, Ace didn't even dare to entertain thoughts of resistance.
"Strength..."
At this moment, Ace had never yearned for strength so strongly. He wanted to become powerful, powerful enough to at least have some say, and not be treated like this wherever he went!
Touching the tooth fossil he had kept close to him, Ace left the Fossil Museum.
He coldly glanced back at the museum. He knew that those arrogant guys wouldn't be arrogant for much longer.
Once the plot began, this Fossil Museum would eventually be burned down by two wild Magmar, which would indirectly serve as some revenge for Ace.
"Get stronger, get much stronger!"
Ace silently clenched his fist. Then, without even buying supplies, he directly left Pewter City and headed towards Viridian Forest.
After walking all afternoon, Ace arrived at Viridian Forest in the evening.
This was one of the larger forests in the Kanto region, and also a highly renowned one.
Ace released Zubat. As soon as Zubat appeared, it sensed the forest's atmosphere, and its previously relaxed nerves instantly tensed up.
"If this truly is the manga world, then Viridian Forest right now is a place where Giovanni raises Pokémon," Ace thought silently. "It could be said that with good luck, you might even encounter a Dratini."
But as soon as this thought arose, Ace immediately suppressed it.
Since it was Giovanni's Pokémon-raising ground, regular Pokémon were one thing, but daring to touch a rare Pokémon like Dratini?
Ace would probably be surrounded by Team Rocket members the moment he tried to catch it, forced to hand over everything, and then his bones would be buried in the forest as fertilizer.
Of course, Ace could gamble. After all, Giovanni couldn't keep an eye on the forest at all times.
Win the gamble and maybe get a pseudo-legendary. Lose the gamble and be buried in the forest.
Thinking this, Ace shook his head. While gaining strength was important, there was no need to risk his life for it.
Rustle...
The bushes not far away began to shake. Ace's nerves instantly tensed. He quickly waved his hand, and Zubat immediately used Supersonic, charging towards the bushes.
Supersonic successfully hit the bushes. A Tangela that had been planning an ambush stumbled out, swaying.
"Absorb!"
Seizing the moment Tangela emerged, Zubat quickly rushed to its side, opened its mouth, and bit fiercely into Tangela's vine-covered body.
Green sap oozed out, which Zubat eagerly sucked into its belly.
The intense pain caused Tangela's vines to writhe like tentacles. Even in its confused state, these tentacles accurately wrapped around Zubat, then began to tighten.
A powerful force struck, and Zubat almost spat out the sap it had absorbed. A strong sense of suffocation set in, and Zubat's body gradually went limp.
"Zubat! Poison Fang!"
Seeing many vines wrapped around Zubat's neck, Ace panicked and quickly shouted at Zubat.
Venom was injected into Tangela's body through the hollow fangs. Tangela immediately felt a wave of weakness, and the vines that had been tightly constricting Zubat gradually loosened.
Seizing this opportunity, Zubat quickly took a breath, then accelerated its Absorb. Its fierce demeanor startled not only Tangela but even Ace.
As a large amount of sap was absorbed, Tangela gradually weakened, and the vines that had bound Zubat slowly loosened.
Zubat spread its wings, shaking off the scattered vines. With a flap, Zubat contentedly flew up. After circling for a bit, it landed on Ace's shoulder.
Ace felt Zubat's heavy weight, then frowned and walked over to Tangela.
Tangela was now motionless. Ace picked up a branch and poked Tangela. As Ace poked it, Tangela rolled over, revealing a pair of lifeless eyes.
"Tangela, deceased."
Looking at the text that appeared above Tangela, Ace's heart sank.
But then, the text that appeared before Ace's eyes once again shattered Ace's perception.
"Side Quest (Face Death): A fresh Pokémon corpse lies before you. You can bury it with a sense of guilt, or you can allow it to be reborn in your hands. Dissect it, understand its structure, and gain a deeper understanding of a Pokémon's body. Task Reward: 8000 gold coins, task points given based on task completion evaluation."
"Side Quest (Pokémon on the Plate): Cook Tangela and make it into a delicious dish. Reward: 2000 gold coins, task points given based on task completion evaluation."
Looking at the two sudden side quests, Ace hesitated...