Chapter 48: Frantic Spending

The moment the giant fried egg entered his mouth, Baimu understood why this thing was so popular.

It was genuinely delicious!

He nearly swallowed the fork along with it.

He had assumed a basin-sized fried egg would turn cloying after two bites, but after eating the whole thing he still felt unsatisfied and wanted another.

"It clearly only has a little salt sprinkled on it…"

Baimu glanced at the plate, forcibly suppressed the urge to lick up the remaining bits, and turned to look at the Kadabra and Chansey beside him.

He hadn't expected those two had already polished off their fried eggs, and Kadabra's plate was so clean it could reflect light—might not even need washing.

"Kadabra~"

Kadabra laughed innocently, guilelessly.

Chansey glanced at her empty plate, bashfully rubbing her two little hands, looking a bit embarrassed. When she had seen Kadabra wolf down the egg, she had planned to eat less herself so she could give the rest to him.

But after just one bite, she couldn't stop.

How greedy am I, really?

Chansey thought, ashamed.

"Haha…"

The latter smiled faintly, set the plate in his hand on the ground, and reached out to stroke the slightly downy round head of Chansey.

The difference in their personalities was quite clearly displayed at this moment.

Kadabra was steady and mild in temperament, good-natured and clever, like a loyal guard, and had never let Baimu down;

while Chansey was rather timid and introverted, yet gentle and kind, with an innate interest in caring for others—unfortunately, she lacked confidence.

After petting her for a while, he went to pet Kadabra's head too.

"Kadabra~"

Kadabra showed a comfortable expression. Although the steel armor covering his body slightly dulled his physical sensation, he always liked and cherished these moments.

Pokémon can live without their trainers, but when they lean on each other, that brief warmth is like the most precious thing in the world, making them reluctant to part.

"Let's set off."

Baimu hadn't forgotten he still had some money to collect.

"Kadabra!" "Lucky~"

The two Pokémon softly assented.

——

In the Quicksand Team, the squad leader rank was undoubtedly a middle-tier position that could be called elite.

Both status and income far exceeded those of ordinary members.

Setting aside the guaranteed annual salary of around five million, each squad leader would have a portion of the district assigned by their direct superior as territory to watch over.

The "protection fees" from all shops and facilities within the territory were collected by the squad leader—extra income came from here. As long as one wasn't so greedy as to have no sense at all, engaging in sustainable drain-the-pond fishing, the higher-ups basically wouldn't bother with it.

Then there were mission bounties, tribute fees from subordinates below, and certain unsavory bribes.

With all these overt and covert incomes piling up, they were enough to instantly transform a pauper into someone on top.

Of course, expenses weren't low either. Squad leaders had to pay tribute to their direct superiors and the top brass—various membership fees, holiday gifts, gathering red packets, and so on, all adding up to a considerable sum.

So it was that the big fish ate the small fish, and the small fish ate the shrimp.

Yet many people wanted to be such a small fish but couldn't.

Therefore, when Baimu arrived at the headquarters building to collect his bounty, officer insignia, new team uniform, and other miscellaneous items, those respectful administrative staff were green with envy.

Jealousy and resentment weren't absent—they just didn't dare show it. These people's status was even lower than ordinary members; how would they dare offend anyone?

Baimu didn't care about their thoughts, carefully counting the money.

What he received this time was: two million nine hundred seventy thousand from livestream tips—the zeros had been rounded down directly; four hundred thousand for defeating enemies; six hundred thousand for wiping out opponents; and one million for the bounty on killing an important member of the Houndoom Gang!

Totaling four million nine hundred seventy thousand, plus the three million three hundred thousand in his pocket, exactly eight million whole!

That part was settled.

Next, the Pokémon collected on commission and recovered.

Six Pokémon collected on commission—their trainers were lying in hospital beds and probably wouldn't wake up anytime soon. Baimu charged them two hundred thousand each.

Three Pokémon recovered—their trainers had unfortunately died. The Quicksand Team forcibly recovered them at one hundred thousand each, and they might later be exchanged to the trainers' families.

Otsuka's Pokémon…

"One hundred thousand each."

Baimu felt he was still a bit soft-hearted, because if he charged nothing, Otsuka might just write off that one-million debt—he felt this kid was capable of doing that.

To follow the principle of clear accounts even between close brothers, the base money had to be collected.

And so.

His wallet had bulged considerably again, totaling nine million eight hundred thousand—just twenty thousand short of joining the ten-millionaire ranks.

Though in terms of purchasing power, it was far from reaching the level of a rich man.

Thinking this, Baimu shifted his gaze elsewhere—

Part of the squad leader's basic benefits: one latest-model hover motorcycle, one standalone two-story house on the surface, one standalone underground house, and a certificate to open a large-scale business on the surface or in the underground city.

Setting aside the surface, the underground city under the faction's control was certainly vast, but not many could open shops inside.

Behind every booming business stood a squad leader or higher. The Quicksand Team was accustomed to giving this as one of the benefits to squad leaders.

With this certificate, they could legitimately make money.

But squad leaders with this kind of business sense were few, so this certificate was usually attached to someone else, earning a bit of extra income.

Overall, the Quicksand Team's upper echelons were quite generous, but human nature was inherently greedy—especially in such a filthy environment, the more given, the less satisfied.

Baimu packed these items away one by one, thinking that in less than a week, he was moving again.

He wondered whether Roggenrola and Boldore could get used to it.

Mm.

Might as well go on a spending spree.

——

The Neutral Dungeon.

This was his second time here, and the impression was different from before.

Back then, in order to get familiar with his Pokémon as quickly as possible, he hadn't really browsed around carefully; now was a perfect time to look around.

Honestly speaking.

The dungeon was almost no different from the various commercial streets and pedestrian streets of his previous life — besides all kinds of shops, there were also street stalls and itinerant vendors like at a night market.

Perhaps because nightlife was about to begin, the Neutral Dungeon was bustling at this hour.

Baimu took a quick spin around, picked out a digital electronics store, and walked in.

Five minutes later.

He walked out holding a black phone.

According to the clerk, this gadget was the latest cutting-edge tech, with many fun and varied functions; if one could buy a Rotom and let it enter the device, it could grant the phone even greater intelligence and practicality.

The pitch was utterly over the top, and the price was absurdly expensive — eighty thousand!

And that was the discounted price; the clerk went on about how phones in other regions started at a hundred thousand, leaving Baimu dumbfounded.

"That's another expense added to the bill every month from now on."

He sighed — the phone carrier in the Ohra region was undoubtedly based in Silphi City, and the monthly fee was just as steep.

But to better connect with the outside world, this money had to be spent.

Afterwards.

Baimu bought a bunch of miscellaneous things, stood at the end of an alley and thought for a moment, "Next… let me ask Roggenrola and the others what they want?"

Pop!

The Poké Ball opened, Roggenrola landed on the ground, drawing glances from a few passersby — glances that quickly vanished.

"Is there anything you want?"

He asked in a low voice, "Like wanting to eat some kind of precious metal, or wanting to do something."

Roggenrola carefully considered its trainer's words, looked around left and right, then headed off in a certain direction.

Baimu hurried after it.