Gladion looked directly into the elder's eyes. The old man flinched at the cold gaze.
"Are you done?" Gladion asked, "That was a long speech. If I am not wrong, that was a threat. To think that you, a respectable elder of one of the strongest clans in the league, would be threatening someone who runs a business enterprise simply because you did not get the item you wanted. You spoke as if the Blackthorn Clan still rules everything with fear and blood. But this is not the old days."
He leaned forward slightly, never breaking eye contact. "You insulted my grandfather. You spoke of his Nidoking being killed and eaten in front of him. You tried to use fear to make me submit to your request. Did you really believe that would work? Did you think I would hand over a Salamencite out of terror? You sit here in my auction house, under my roof, and threaten me. That takes a special kind of arrogance. Or perhaps it is simply that you have grown so used to power that you forgot how the world has changed around you."
Gladion paused, letting his words settle. "I have listened to every word. Now you will listen to me."
Before the elder could speak again, Gladion calmly opened his Pokedex. He turned the screen toward them. The recording played clearly, the elder's voice and what he had just said to Gladion.
The elder's eyes widened. Clair's face went pale. They watched themselves being recorded in real time.
"Really," Gladion said, "have you gone senile at your old age to threaten the owner of this auction house where we are currently meeting? It seems that your clan's arrogance has got to you. You need to understand that you are not the alphas now. I am."
A visible shiver ran down both Blackthorns' spines.
"Now I wonder what would happen if I leak this video to the entire region," Gladion continued. "What would become of your reputation? What would become of your clan's reputation? Would the Champion side with his clan who are clearly in the wrong, or with the gym leader who is in the right? What would the public do when they hear an elder of Blackthorn threatening a respected businessman and gym leader? What would the other clan elders do? Would they give you up as scapegoats to protect the clan's image?"
His eyes sharpened as he decided to give the ultimatum, "Now here is the deal. You will be paying me five hundred million Pokedollars in compensation for threatening me."
Gladion said with a small smile, "And please do not tell me you do not have the funds. You were bidding for the Salamencite until two point eight billion Pokedollars. You clearly have deep pockets when you want something badly enough. Five hundred million is a small price to pay for the mistake you just made. It covers the disrespect, the threats, and my time you have wasted here tonight. Consider it a lesson fee."
The elder's face turned red with anger, but he stayed silent for the moment. Clair looked between them, her fists clenched at her sides.
"As for the mega evolution stone," Gladion went on, "go back to your clan and tell them the price is now four billion Pokedollars."
Clair's eyes widened in shock. "You cannot do this. This is unfair and preposterous. You are punishing the entire clan for one elder's words. We came here in good faith to negotiate. You are using a private conversation to extort us. This is not how business is done. You speak of respect, but you show none to us."
"The Blackthorn Clan has protected Indigo for decades now. We deserve better than this kind of treatment. Four billion is robbery. The league will hear about this. The public will see it as bullying from a gym leader who thinks he is above everyone else."
She continued, voice rising with frustration. "You recorded us without permission. You are using that recording as leverage. That is underhanded. You cannot just raise the price because your feelings were hurt. You are damaging your own reputation as much as ours."
Gladion listened without interrupting. When she finished, he spoke again with some mockery in his voice.
"I can do this. And I am very well doing this. This is my property, my mega stone, my business. You can very well not buy the mega stone. I would be glad to have other dragon-type trainers have the Salamencite who would be willing to pay and who are more respectful. But that way I would not be able to guarantee the that Blackthorn Clan will still be supreme with dragons."
"Now if you would excuse me, I have more important things to do. If you decide you still want to buy the stone, send my assistant a message."
Gladion stood up and took a couple of steps toward the door. Then he stopped. His psychic aura suddenly blanketed the entire room.
The pressure was immense. It pushed down on both the elder and Clair, forcing them to brace themselves. They tried to push back with their own dragon auras, but it was like trying to hold back the tide. Their knees buckled slightly. Sweat appeared on their foreheads.
"And next time, be respectful," Gladion said, his voice low and filled with clear anger. "Keep your arrogance in check. Or I would have to visit your Blackthorn estate in the future. It would be a pity for it to be destroyed. And do not you dare tarnish the name of my grandpa and his team again. I. Don't. Like. It."
-----Author Notes------
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