Sieg sat quietly in a chair, his gaze fixed on the investment contract laid before him, alongside a gleaming medal.
The contract, of course, was the one he had signed with Miss Joy. Its terms were more than generous, even Sieg couldn't help but inwardly marvel at the boldness and wealth of the Joy family.
As for the medal, it was the family crest of the Joys. With this in hand, Sieg would receive preferential treatment whenever he presented it before any member of the Joy family.
"Marriage, huh? The offer is tempting, no doubt about it. But I have no interest in spending my life shackled by others."
He he muttered under his breath.
Indeed, marrying into the Joy family meant being raised and supported by one of the most powerful lineages in the region. On the surface, it sounded like a dream offer, but it came with a heavy price. To accept meant surrendering his freedom.
His future would be entirely dictated by them. He would be groomed to become a breeder, not because he chose that path, but because they had decided it for him.
More importantly, it meant accepting the Joy family's spiritual control!
Though it didn't affect one's thoughts directly, this kind of control allowed the Joys to determine life or death in crucial moments.
Most people didn't know this. It was too well-hidden.
After all, how could the Joys ever feel at ease raising someone from outside their bloodline?
Sieg had discovered this dark truth while poring over ancient records in the Rustboro Gym's archives. He had come across the Joy family's origin history and learned of a past outsider who had married into the clan and had been nurtured into a champion.
But once that man reached a certain height, he broke free. No longer willing to be restrained or live beneath them, he turned against the Joys and publicly severed ties. The resulting scandal dealt a heavy blow to the family's reputation and power.
From that day on, the Joys began implementing control measures on every outsider they took in as a disciple or spouse.
Rumor had it they collaborated with the Psychic Association to develop a device that could control a person's very life. Once a special imprint was planted into the mind, life and death would be at their command.
Naturally, Sieg would never accept having a ticking time bomb planted in his head. As such, he had flatly rejected the marriage proposal without a second thought.
…
In the days that followed, word of Sieg's residence spread, and more and more families and powers came knocking.
Some merely sought to hire him as a specialist breeder, asking him to craft Pokéblocks for their store's Pokémon.
Others, like the Joys, tried to recruit him into their families through marriage.
There were even those who wanted to turn him into a celebrity, wrapping him up in media appearances to capitalize on his genius as a breeder. With his talent, they could make a fortune.
The relentless disturbances wore on Sieg's patience. Eventually, he moved out of the Pokémon Center and checked into a hotel instead.
"Hello sir, your package has arrived!"
Sieg opened the hotel door slowly, carefully took the parcel, then quickly closed the door again.
He sighed in relief and looked down at the package in his hands.
"At last… the official breeder house voucher!"
With quick hands, Sieg tore open the package and pulled out a single card. Holding it up to his Pokédex and scanned it.
The code was immediately transferred and stored.
This voucher was part of the Joy's investment. With it, he could claim a Pokémon from any official breeder house across the regions and cities.
Excluding pseudo-legendaries and starters, he could pick whatever he wished!
"As my team's levels increase, they're all reaching the 30s now… Spearow's progress has clearly slowed. Its potential just isn't enough."
All of Sieg's current Pokémon had been caught in the wild. Among them, only Crawdaunt had decent natural potential, and Sharpedo was viable purely thanks to its rare ability.
But Spearow… its only real use was for flying and scouting.
Now that it had reached level 30, even with high-quality Pokéblocks and rare resources poured in daily, its growth had become sluggish.
"It's time to retire it. Let it rest in peace."
Sieg had already arranged for Spearow's future. He had secured a spot in Rustboro Gym's indoor simulated climate facility. After asking Spearow's opinion, he had received its gentle nod of approval.
"Then my next partner shall be Murkrow!" Sieg declared without hesitation, and immediately headed for the Pokécenter.
The official breeder house was located on the city's far west side, nestled in the heart of the most luxurious commercial district.
Sieg stepped into the grand establishment. The moment he passed through the doors, two receptionists greeted him from either side.
"Welcome, sir!"
Their tailored uniforms highlighted their figures, and their faces glowed with the signature welcoming smile of professional hosts.
Sieg nodded politely and walked in. The interior was surprisingly calm, with only a few customers browsing the selections.
"Seems like not many people can afford to buy Pokémon from official breeder houses," Sieg mused to himself.
Most trainers acquired their first Pokémon in the wild or, more discreetly, from the black market.
The first-floor showroom was lavish, with pure white marble floors stretching wall to wall. Rows of sparkling display cases showcased pristine Pokémon eggs.
"Good day, sir. How may I assist you today?" a sales associate approached with a soft voice.
Sieg looked around briefly, then said in a low tone, "I'm here to purchase a Dark-type Pokémon."
"Very well, sir. Are there any other criteria you're looking for? And what's your budget?"
"I want the highest potential possible. As for budget, there is no limit," Sieg answered plainly, turning his head toward the associate.
She blinked, stunned by his reply. Her eyes scanned him from head to toe. His expression was too calm to be joking.
"Please follow me, sir!"
Her voice suddenly grew even gentler, her demeanor markedly more enthusiastic. She led him deeper into the building, her smile never fading.
Sieg followed her through a corridor, passing several rooms, until they finally arrived at one marked with the symbol for Dark-types.
"Please be careful, sir. Dark-types are generally more aggressive. Some may have violent tendencies and could lash out."
With this kind warning, she slowly opened the door.
Inside, the room was completely different from the showroom.
Dark brown walls created an atmosphere fitting for the sinister nature of Dark-types. The furnishings were minimal, but there were a few specialized training instruments placed around.
"Smells a bit like Dark-type Pokéblocks," Sieg muttered, sniffing the air.
But oddly, he saw no Pokémon.
The associate retrieved a special whistle from a cabinet and blew into it.
Fweeeeeee!
The sharp sound echoed through the room.
Then, from the corners, behind decorations, and even from training machines, small heads and bodies began to emerge.
Mightyena, Poochyena, Nuzleaf…
One by one, various Dark-type Pokémon revealed themselves. Sieg's eyes lit up with anticipation.
"Too bad there's no Absol or Zoroark," he murmured, clearly disappointed.
The associate glanced at him and silently wondered to herself, Is he some rich young master? But… he doesn't really look the part…