Staring at the three Fire Stones and one Sun Stone laid out before him, Su Feng offered a total of 300 Flame Coins after some hesitation. Whether evolution stones had quality tiers required further research—he refused to let his Growlithe or Alolan Vulpix settle for anything less than the best.
Comparing the Ice Stone in his backpack to the largest Fire Stone, he grimaced. The Ice Stone was noticeably smaller. Not the worst, but far from premium. He sighed in relief—good thing he hadn't used it recklessly.
With 600 Flame Coins left, Su Feng scanned the crowd of Pokémon. Most held nothing he needed. Maybe next time.
"Fwoof! (Wait! There's more!)" Flareon interrupted his thoughts, tapping the pouch.
Su Feng reached inside and froze. A Mega Stone—larger than Gengar's, swirling with red-and-yellow hues reminiscent of Blaziken's colors—rolled into his palm.
"Blaziken! Feel anything?" he asked eagerly, handing it over.
"Bla? (Huh?)" The fire chicken blinked blankly.
Not its stone. Disappointed but undeterred, Su Feng haggled with Magmortar and turned to Flareon. "200 Flame Coins for this Mega Stone?"
"Fwoof!? (200!?)" Flareon's eyes bulged before it hastily agreed. The shiny rock it had kept as a trinket was suddenly a goldmine!
"Any more like this? Same price!" Su Feng pressed.
Flareon shook its head, but a timid Cyndaquil piped up: "Squeak… (I… have one?)"
"Bring it! I'll wait!"
The tiny fire mouse scrambled home, returning with a Mega Stone nearly the size of a human palm—blue-and-white stripes swirling inside. Though not Blaziken's, Su Feng paid 200 coins without hesitation. Cyndaquil nearly drowned in the pile, its small frame struggling to haul the fortune.
"Couldn't you use higher denominations?" Su Feng muttered, watching the mouse make multiple trips.
Magmortar shot him a withering look. "Grrr. (Tried that. Issued 100-coin bills once.)"
"Grrr. (Then a Pansear lost one.)"
Su Feng winced. Imagine losing three months' wages in cash. Magmortar had scrapped the idea, realizing small transactions suited the town's economy better.
With 200 coins left and no worthwhile items in sight, Magmortar suddenly produced a crimson, diamond-shaped crystal.
"A… Z-Crystal?" Su Feng's eyes widened.
"Grrr. (Yours.)" Magmortar tossed it over. Useless to him, but a goodwill gesture.
Su Feng stashed it reluctantly. While Mega Evolution and Dynamaxing thrilled him, Z-Moves' flamboyant dance routines made him cringe. Imagine busting a move live for 100 million viewers… He shuddered.