Leaving the secret garden, John didn't abandon his treasure-hunting aspirations. He adjusted the Dowsing Machine, setting it to block Soul Dew signals temporarily. A treasure as significant as the Soul Dew couldn't be the only thing hidden in this area.
Sure enough, once the shielding was activated, the Dowsing Machine picked up another strong signal. Although not as powerful as the Soul Dew, the reading suggested something of great value—possibly a secret treasure-level item. John's interest piqued. If he couldn't secure the Soul Dew, obtaining another high-value artifact would be a satisfying consolation.
With Gardevoir assisting him through Teleport, John soon arrived at the heart of Alto Mare, greeted by two landmarks: the Sun Tower and the Sanctuary. The Dowsing Machine directed him straight to the Sanctuary, which appeared to be his next destination.
After paying a modest entry fee of 50 Pokedollars, John stepped inside, following the device's guidance. His eyes widened in surprise when he saw the target: a complete, well-preserved fossil of an Aerodactyl. Not only that, but right next to it was a set of equally pristine Kabutops fossils.
"Two treasures at once?" John muttered, taking a deep breath. The condition of these fossils was remarkable. In the Pokemon world, the better the fossils, the stronger the potential of the Pokemon resurrected from them. These specimens were in such excellent shape that John guessed they could yield Pokemon with perfect stats—or close to it.
"This is a jackpot," he mused, a grin spreading across his face. Aerodactyl had been on his wish list for ages. However, his excitement was tempered by the reality of the situation. These fossils were on display in a museum, which meant they were far from easy to claim.
"If only this were like a video game," John muttered under his breath. In a game, he could simply collect such items as unowned treasures. Here, though, museum security and ethics posed significant obstacles.
As he pondered his next move, a stout, bald man with a white beard approached. His demeanor radiated authority, and his name tag read "Ben Grey, Museum Director."
"Hello there," the man greeted warmly. "I'm Ben Grey, the museum director. Is there something I can help you with?"
"Actually, yes." John decided to cut to the chase. "I'd like to buy the Aerodactyl fossil. How much would it cost?"
Ben blinked in surprise. It wasn't every day someone walked into his museum asking to purchase such a significant artifact. "May I ask why you're interested in it?" he inquired cautiously.
"I want to have it resurrected into a Pokemon and train it," John replied honestly.
The museum director nodded thoughtfully. "I see. Resurrecting fossils into Pokemon isn't unheard of. However, this particular Aerodactyl fossil has historical significance. It's said to belong to one of the evil Pokemon defeated by Latios and Latias during their defense of Alto Mare over a thousand years ago."
John frowned. "Wait a second. How many years ago did Latios and Latias battle these so-called evil Pokemon?"
Ben answered confidently, "One thousand one hundred and thirty-two years ago, to be exact."
John arched an eyebrow. "Interesting. But how long does it take for bones to fossilize?"
The question caught Ben off guard. It wasn't something he'd considered before. However, John's point was clear: if these fossils were supposedly from the battle over a millennium ago, they couldn't possibly have fossilized in that time.
"By your own logic," John concluded, "this Aerodactyl fossil isn't from the battle. It's just an ordinary specimen."
Ben seemed momentarily flustered but couldn't refute John's reasoning. Finally, he sighed. "You're right. It's not directly tied to the legend. Still, it's a valuable piece."
"So, can it be sold?" John pressed.
Ben hesitated. "I'm not exactly short on funds," he admitted.
That response gave John pause. Recognition dawned on him—Ben Grey wasn't just an ordinary museum director. He was a descendant of the family who had aided Latios and Latias all those years ago. The family's legacy and wealth likely made selling such artifacts unnecessary.
Still, after a moment of contemplation, Ben continued, "However, since this is just a regular Aerodactyl fossil, I'd rather see it soaring in the skies once more than collecting dust here. If you're serious, I'd sell it to you for 30 million."
John's heart leaped. "Deal!"
Thirty million dollars might seem steep to some, but for a fossil of this caliber, it was a bargain. A complete Aerodactyl fossil would fetch a much higher price on the open market. Not to mention, once resurrected, its value as a living Pokemon would skyrocket.
John's original budget for this venture had been significantly higher. Paying 30 million felt like walking away with a steal.
"What about the Kabutops fossil?"