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"Exchange counter, do you accept item exchanges for points?" Qing Wu asked a Team Rocket grunt who was playing with his phone.
Seeing that there was business, the grunt put down his phone with interest. "That depends on what kind of item it is," the grunt's raspy voice responded.
"It's Arbok's Poison Barb." Qing Wu took out the collected Arbok's Poison Barbs. The Arbok's Poison Barbs were well-preserved by Qing Wu, with a purple hue and some black luster, indicating excellent quality.
"Arbok's Poison Barbs, I've never seen such good quality before," the Team Rocket grunt said after taking a look.
"May I see them?" the Team Rocket grunt asked Qing Wu.
"Of course, no problem," Qing Wu gestured with his hand.
The Team Rocket grunt immediately put on gloves and carefully picked up the Arbok's Poison Barbs. Although Arbok's venom was not particularly potent, if it seeped into the skin, it could still be troublesome. The grunt looked at the Poison Barbs with fascination.
"These truly are perfect, top-grade Arbok's Poison Barbs," the grunt murmured. "I'll take these Arbok's Poison Barbs. Name your price."
"Oh, and I'm the Team Rocket Captain in charge of this exchange counter. My name is Dazuo." "In the future, if you have items to exchange, I can give you more favorable permissions," Dazuo said, winking at Qing Wu.
Dazuo's implication was, I'm in charge here, so you should curry favor with me. Otherwise, when you come to exchange in the future, you'll be charged the normal price.
"Excuse me, what are these Poison Barbs for? Are you cultivating your Poison-type Pokémon?" Qing Wu tentatively asked.
"To be honest, my Spinarak is in an advanced state and requires a large amount of Poison-type materials. The Arbok's Poison Barbs you have are the best quality Poison-type materials I've ever seen," Dazuo said honestly. "I once obtained a secret recipe, and perfect quality Arbok's Poison Barbs are the most important raw material for this recipe. I've searched many places and was about to lose hope when I unexpectedly got lucky and found them." Dazuo said somewhat excitedly.
"May I see this secret recipe? I am a breeder," Qing Wu said calmly.
"What do you want?" Dazuo's eyes showed hostility, glaring fiercely at Qing Wu. But Qing Wu remained unfazed by Dazuo's fierce gaze.
"Captain Dazuo, as far as I know, there's no secret recipe that can make Poison-type Pokémon break through directly." "The so-called secret recipe is likely a trick used by an enemy force to frame you." "If I'm not mistaken, your Spinarak initially seemed energetic after consuming the poison. But as the Poison-type materials increased, your Spinarak should now be listless," Qing Wu said calmly.
Qing Wu instantly exposed Dazuo's Spinarak's biggest secret.
"How did you know?" Dazuo asked with a surprised look, immediately feeling that Qing Wu was quite capable. In fact, this Spinarak did not belong to Dazuo, but to a high-ranking Team Rocket official of Dazuo's level. He, who specialized in Poison-type Pokémon, had encountered a setback: his Spinarak simply couldn't evolve into Ariados. Dazuo could only apply to hide out on the Trial Island and secretly find a solution.
Dazuo took out a piece of paper filled with writing from his pocket and respectfully handed it to Qing Wu: "Please take a look." Dazuo didn't even notice that he was using honorifics towards Qing Wu. An superior using honorifics towards a subordinate was a great disrespect in Team Rocket.
"Indeed, this secret recipe is problematic," Qing Wu said calmly. "This person truly wants to meticulously plot your demise. From your appearance, you must have stopped giving Spinarak the medicine for some time." "Otherwise, this Spinarak would have died long ago. My Arbok's Poison Barbs won't be of much help to this Spinarak."
"On the contrary, I have a formula here that can help your Spinarak. It's up to you, Captain Dazuo, to discern this formula," Qing Wu said. Qing Wu took the pen and swiftly wrote a bunch of berries and herbs on the paper, clearly indicating the steps for preparation.
"This is a potion that Poison-type Pokémon can take. Follow the steps to make it. After three days of consumption, it will neutralize the toxins in Spinarak and also promote its evolution." "Oh, and this can also increase Spinarak's stamina." Qing Wu took out the remaining few Energy Cubes.
These were just basic Energy Cubes, relatively common in Team Rocket. Most breeders could make them, but the quality varied. "Give Spinarak three of these Energy Cubes every day." Qing Wu placed them on the table as a favor to Dazuo. Dazuo, who controlled the exchange, could provide Qing Wu with significant assistance.
"This, these are flawless-grade Energy Cubes." Upon seeing the Energy Cubes, Dazuo was exceptionally excited. He had never seen flawless-grade Energy Cubes before.
"They're truly beautiful. Each Energy Cube is crystal clear, like a flawless gem," Dazuo looked at the Energy Cubes as if they were precious treasures.
"I made these, but the success rate isn't very high; it took a lot of effort," Qing Wu deliberately understated the success rate. As long as he wanted, Qing Wu could ensure that all Energy Cubes were like these and had a 100% production rate.
"The production rate for this kind of Energy Cube isn't high, about 20%," Qing Wu stated a number.
"A 20% production rate, that's double that of an average Pokémon breeder!" Dazuo was stunned by Qing Wu's humblebrag.
"Damn it, I was careless, I said too high." Qing Wu secretly cursed himself, forgetting that the success rate of Energy Cubes for ordinary people was very low.
"Little brother, I'll consider you my little brother," Dazuo suddenly said. "Little brother's life-saving grace, your big brother has nothing to repay you with. As long as little brother has a need, big brother will fulfill it." Dazuo was filled with gratitude towards Qing Wu for his guidance and generous help.
"I need a large amount of berries, the more the better. And I'd like to ask Big Brother to help me sell Energy Cubes within Team Rocket. Can Big Brother help me earn points and exchange for items?" Qing Wu thought for a while and then put forward his request.
"Of course, no problem. Leave it to me," Dazuo patted his chest.
"The split for Energy Cubes will be nine for you, one for me. It's settled like that, or Big Brother will think you look down on me," Dazuo said loudly and straightforwardly.
"Big Brother!"
"Little Brother!"
Dazuo and Qing Wu clasped hands tightly. How much sincerity was in that, Qing Wu didn't know. But it didn't matter. After all, Team Rocket was most filled with betrayal and mutual exploitation, and Qing Wu was already used to it.
"Oh, right, little brother, I haven't even asked your name yet?" Dazuo realized after a long time that he didn't know Qing Wu's name, which was quite awkward.
"My name is Qing Wu. Big Brother, if you encounter any Pokémon breeding problems, you can directly consult me." Qing Wu revealed that he was an expert breeder, adding leverage for himself.
"Alright." Dazuo directly took out the best berries and herbs from the warehouse, as well as a dark alloy ore. "Big Brother, my five hundred points can't exchange for so many berries," Qing Wu said subconsciously, looking at the small mountain of berries.
"It's fine. Consider the extra berries as a sponsorship from your big brother. After all, you also wrote me a formula, so consider it payment for your formula." Qing Wu politely declined several times but eventually accepted, promising to provide Dazuo with a batch of Energy Cubes at the end of the trial.
Qing Wu's Team Rocket armband was stuffed full, containing many rare berries, such as Salac Berry. Then Dazuo also took out some outdoor essentials that he didn't need, such as a small tent, a windproof lighter, and a good fishing rod. Dazuo also took out a spatial backpack that could hold three cubic meters of items, truly investing heavily, just to curry favor with Qing Wu.