Pokemon: The Legendary Trainer

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Sato left the Battle Dome at 4:12 a.m. the next day. This was after achieving an impressive 13-win streak, only stopping because of sheer exhaustion. 

Overnight, he had become famous.

The power of fans is formidable. As Sato stepped off the battlefield, many enthusiastic spectators rushed down from the stands, holding notebooks and colorful pens, asking for his autograph. 

Some even demanded he remove his mask for a photo.

Naturally, Sato refused to take off his mask. After finding a plausible excuse to escape, he quickly changed into a different jacket in a secluded spot. He then had Ditto transform his mask into an ordinary face, blending in with the crowd and casually walking away from the Battle Dome.

This Battle Dome experience earned Sato not only a legion of fans under the alias "Trainer 2569" but also a significant sum of money through strategically betting on his own victories during the matches.

Truthfully, after leaving the underground black market in Saffron City, Sato's wallet had taken a heavy hit.

He spent over 32 million PokeDollars acquiring ingredients for the food required by Swampert and his shiny Pelipper, leaving him with less than 5 million PokeDollars.

However, it was money well spent. If managed carefully, the purchased ingredients could sustain Swampert and shiny Pelipper for six months.

That said, Sato was slightly nervous about Swampert's appetite. After its evolution, it became an even more voracious eater, and there was no guarantee its consumption wouldn't increase as it leveled up.

In terms of proportion, only 20% of the purchased ingredients were for shiny Pelipper, while the remaining 80% were for Swampert.

Initially, Sato worried that Swampert might bankrupt him with its eating habits. However, he no longer felt that way.

While Swampert eats a lot, it also performs exceptionally well in battles. Thanks to Swampert and his other Pokémon's outstanding performances in the Battle Dome, Sato had already recouped his investment through winnings.

Starting with a 3 million PokeDollar bet on himself, Sato managed to turn it into 46 million PokeDollars after 13 matches.

Had his dominance not skewed the odds in the later matches, leading to severely unbalanced payouts, he could have earned even more.

Gambling indeed yields quick returns, and the thrill of winning can be addictive.

It's no wonder the Battle Dome attracts so many spectators daily. Much like soccer fans, these people are both enthusiasts and fervent gamblers.

For trainers, raising Pokémon, earning wealth through battles, and reinvesting in their Pokémon form a virtuous cycle.

Unfortunately, not many trainers can achieve this ideal cycle. Sato, however, had reached that point.

After battling 13 high level trainers in the Battle Dome, Sato gained a solid understanding of their skill levels.

While he might not yet be the absolute best, he was undoubtedly beyond the reach of ordinary elite trainers. 

He was fully capable of earning resources to train his Pokémon through these gambling matches.

"Improving my strength and earning money at the same time—this place is just like the Battle Tower, an amazing opportunity. Of course, only if you're strong enough," Sato thought as he glanced back at the still-bustling Battle Dome.

He also noted the disappointed faces of some spectators and trainers leaving the venue, reflecting on how the Battle Dome capitalized on trainer battles to attract audiences and profited through ticket sales and betting fees.

Victorious trainers and winning bettors got a share of the spoils, forming a complete chain of interests.

In this chain, the League ensured safety and order, profiting from service fees. Trainers provided the entertainment, earning performance fees. 

Spectators willingly paid for the show and gambled for a thrill, often ending up on the losing side.

Everyone got what they wanted in a well-rounded transaction.

However, the defeated trainers and losing bettors bore the brunt of the costs, gaining nothing while losing their investments.

The rule in the Battle Dome was clear: winners take all, and losers walk away empty-handed.

Beyond monetary rewards, Sato also gained a substantial amount of battle points from his 13-match winning streak.

According to Battle Dome rules, each elite-level match awards 100 points. After a 10-win streak, the points earned per match double.

Sato's streak earned him 1,600 points. Combined with 1,000 points from Palot's compensation, he had 2,600 battle points in total.

These points could be exchanged for various Pokémon-related items or converted into PokeDollars.

Currently, each battle point was worth 1,020 PokeDollars. This meant a victorious trainer could earn at least 100,000 PokeDollars per match.

Of course, no trainer would waste their points converting them into money, especially at the official rate.

Battle points were highly valuable and transferable, with prices far exceeding the official exchange rate. Wealthy trainers often purchased points at a premium to acquire rare Pokémon items.

Sato had his eyes on one such item: a Damp Rock listed in the Battle Dome's exchange catalog.

This stone could extend the duration of rain effects in battles. If his shiny Pelipper held it, the rain created by its Drizzle ability would last significantly longer.

The downside? The Damp Rock required 50,000 battle points to exchange, meaning it would take at least a month for Sato to earn enough at his current pace.

Still, Sato wasn't discouraged. Having a clear goal was motivating.

The Damp Rock was far more valuable and rare than items that boosted specific move types. Aside from the Battle Dome catalog, Sato hadn't seen it available elsewhere.

For his future rain team, the Damp Rock was a crucial item, with more always being better.

The Battle Dome catalog limited trainers to two Damp Rocks per person, a restriction that highlighted the League's vast resources.

With these two Damp Rocks, Sato's future rain team would gain significant weather control. Even if shiny Pelipper were knocked out, other Pokémon could use Rain Dance to sustain prolonged rain.