"Hello, Kiawe, I'm Naoki. I just bought this ranch not too long ago. It's nice to meet you," Naoki said with a warm smile.
"Yeah!" Kiawe nodded enthusiastically. "From now on, we're neighbors! Akala Island is a great place for running a ranch. If you ever need anything, just head over to Paniola Town—they have everything you might need!"
Naoki observed the boy standing before him—Kiawe seemed a little different from the one he remembered. Judging by his appearance, he looked a bit younger than in the Pokémon Sun & Moon anime, meaning he wasn't as mature yet. Maybe that was why.
Thinking about it, Naoki smiled and nodded. "Got it. If I need anything, I'll head to Paniola Town."
"Uh-huh!"
At that moment, Kiawe's gaze shifted toward the Pokémon in the ranch.
His eyes lit up as he noticed a strong and sturdy Pokémon with firm eyes and thick brown fur—a Gogoat. Then, he spotted a group of towering Pokémon with rocky, crystalline bodies.
"Whoa! Those Pokémon aren't native to Alola, are they?" Kiawe asked in excitement.
"That's right," Naoki confirmed. "This is Gogoat. You might find a few in Alola, but they aren't commonly raised here. And those Pokémon beside them are Garganacl, Rock-type Pokémon from the Paldea region."
"Garganacl…" Kiawe's eyes widened slightly. "Wait, Mr. Naoki, are you from Paldea?"
"That's right!" Naoki replied.
"The Paldea region seems like such a cool place!" Kiawe's eyes gleamed with excitement.
"Huh? You've heard about Paldea?" Naoki was a little surprised.
Kiawe nodded. The Paldea region has been trending on the Internet lately!
The famous Naranja Academy, the Terastal phenomenon, rare Pokémon species, and all kinds of fascinating urban legends.
Excited, Kiawe pulled out his Rotom Phone and showed Naoki a Paldea Travel Guide he had compiled.
"It'd be amazing if I could visit there someday!" Kiawe said dreamily.
Naoki took one glance and immediately understood.
So even Kiawe is interested in Paldea?
It seemed like Geeta's talent recruitment plan was working well. Even trainers from Alola were getting drawn in.
Maybe if they introduced events like Pokémon Contests, they could attract people like Dawn or Serena in the future.
That was a suggestion Naoki could pass on to Geeta later.
Out of curiosity, Naoki searched the latest online rankings and found that Paldea was currently the most popular tourist destination worldwide.
In second place was the Galar region, thanks to its Dynamax battles and strong battle culture.
After that came Alola, which benefited from its tropical environment and exotic atmosphere.
Regions like Kanto and Johto, however, were ranked lower—not because they weren't great, but because they retained a traditional charm, which some tourists found less exciting compared to newer regions.
That said, Johto remained a beloved destination for those who appreciated history and culture.
Ecruteak City and Violet City preserved deep Buddhist and Shinto influences. Azalea Town was known for its Slowpoke lore and connection to ancient traditions. Cianwood City was home to martial arts legends and seaside tranquility. Blackthorn City carried on the ancient art of dragon taming.
For those who loved traditional aesthetics, Johto was still one of the best places to visit.
After finishing his visit, Kiawe prepared to leave.
Before stepping out, he turned to Naoki. "By the way, Mr. Naoki, are you planning to stay here permanently? I noticed you don't have any Miltank on your ranch. If you ever need fresh MooMoo Milk, just let me know!"
Since his family ran Paniola Ranch, Kiawe often helped deliver MooMoo Milk to customers.
"No, I'll be here during the day for the time being, but I might leave later," Naoki explained. "Then, when winter comes, I plan to stay here for a while."
"Huh?" Kiawe looked puzzled. "But aren't you opening a ranch here?"
"That's because I also own a ranch in the Paldea region," Naoki clarified. "Winters there can be really cold, so I thought about getting a place in Alola where I can bring my Pokémon to escape the cold and relax."
Kiawe suddenly understood. "Oh! That makes sense!"
"By the way, Kiawe, do you know if there's anyone nearby who works as a housekeeper? I won't be around here all the time, and I'd like to hire someone to clean and maintain the house regularly," Naoki asked casually.
"A housekeeper?" Kiawe blinked for a moment before his eyes lit up. "I can do it!"
"Huh?" Naoki was taken aback.
Kiawe explained eagerly, "I've been looking for a part-time job to save up money for my journey to Paldea. I do chores all the time at home, so I'm already experienced! You don't have to worry about me not being able to handle it."
Naoki stared at Kiawe's toned, muscular frame—clearly the result of all his hard work.
This kid's physique is unreal.
But then a more pressing question came to mind—was it even legal to hire a child in the Pokémon world?
When Naoki asked, Kiawe simply shook his head and replied,
"Oh, don't worry! The Pokémon League hasn't been officially established in Alola yet, so the League's rules don't really apply here."
Naoki: "…"
"Besides, adults in Alola actually encourage kids like us to work part-time in shops and restaurants!" Kiawe continued. "They believe that training through real-life experiences makes us stronger trainers!"
Still unconvinced, Naoki pulled out his Rotom Phone and searched online. Sure enough, in the Alola region, it was common for kids to take on part-time jobs in local businesses.
"Well, I guess that's fine," Naoki said, thinking it over. At the very least, he already knew Kiawe, and the boy had a great personality. "But let's do a trial run first. If you can meet my expectations, I'll hire you officially."
"No problem!" Kiawe agreed enthusiastically.
"Alright, head home for now," Naoki instructed. "I'll be here tomorrow, and we'll go over the work then."
"Got it!"
Kiawe was thrilled to have found a new part-time job. He grabbed a Poké Ball, released his Charizard, and hopped onto its back.
However, just as he was about to take off, Naoki called out to him again.
"One more thing!"
Kiawe turned around.
Wanting to take this opportunity to clarify something, Naoki asked,
"By the way, Kiawe, do you know how to obtain a Z-Ring and Z-Crystals? I'm really interested in the Z-Moves unique to the Alola region and would love to learn more about them."
"Huh?" Kiawe looked a little surprised.
"Is this some kind of secret of the Alola region?" Naoki asked playfully.
Kiawe immediately shook his head. "No, trainers from other regions can obtain Z-Rings and Z-Crystals too!"
"Normally, the Island Kahuna and the guardian deity of each island will grant them to trainers who earn their recognition."
"In addition, outsiders can also take part in Alola's unique grand challenge—the Island Challenge. By participating, they have the opportunity to earn Z-Crystals from the Totem Pokémon that guard the trial sites."
Hearing this, Naoki nodded thoughtfully.
He didn't personally know any Island Kahunas yet, nor had he encountered any of the guardian deities—Tapu Koko and its kin. Given that, his best option seemed to be taking on the Island Challenge.
"Would someone like me be allowed to participate in the Island Challenge?" Naoki asked.
"Of course..." Kiawe hesitated for a moment, then added with a slightly awkward expression, "But for outsiders to take part in the Island Challenge, they need to obtain an Island Challenge Certificate first."
"Normally, the Kahuna issues the certificate to Alolans, but for outsiders, it's much more difficult to obtain one..."
Naoki felt a slight sense of unease. "How difficult are we talking?"
Kiawe nodded solemnly. "Well, outsiders have to compete in the Battle Royal at the Royal Dome. Only the champion of the event can earn an Island Challenge Certificate."
Kiawe couldn't help but glance at Naoki. He's just a rancher. He might not be at the same level as the professional trainers who compete there.
Especially considering some of the legendary figures at the Royal Dome—trainers like the Masked Royal, who had defeated countless challengers in battle.
"..."
Naoki, who had initially thought this would be an incredibly difficult task, was momentarily speechless.
So that's how it is.
"I see. Thanks for the information, Kiawe," Naoki said with a small smile.
Just then, Kiawe's Rotom Phone rang.
He answered the call, and a girl who bore a striking resemblance to him appeared on the screen.
"Brother, you're still not back? A new customer just placed an order for fresh Moomoo Milk!" the girl said, urging him to hurry home.
"I got it! I'll head back right away. Wait for me at home, Mimo!"
His affection for his sister was evident in his voice. Kiwawe urged Charizard forward, turning back briefly to wave goodbye to Naoki before soaring into the sky, swiftly departing from the ranch.
As he flew, Kiwawe excitedly shared the details of his encounter with his sister.
"Mimo, I met the new owner of the ranch! But guess what? He told me he won't be living here permanently. He only plans to stay here during the winter!"
...
To get a Z-Ring, one must take on the Island Challenge.
To participate in the Island Challenge, one must first obtain an Island Challenge Amulet.
And to obtain an Island Challenge Amulet, outsiders need to win the Royal Dome Championship.
Tsk. That's a lot of hoops to jump through.
Naoki sighed as he leaned back on the couch.
While he was lost in thought, Koraidon, Eeveelutions, and the others had already finished their lunch.
Some of the Pokémon had run off to explore the ranch and familiarize themselves with their new surroundings, while Naoki took it upon himself to clean up the dishes.
Once everything was tidied up, he settled on the sofa, pulled out his Rotom Phone, and began looking up information on the Royal Dome.
Royal Dome, located along Royal Avenue on Akala Island, is the premier venue for Battle Royals—a battle format where four trainers compete in a free-for-all match.
According to legend, the four guardian deities of Alola once used this battle format to determine who among them was the strongest.
"A four-way battle royale, huh…" Naoki muttered.
In a Battle Royal, there were no allies—only competitors. The last one standing won it all. It was a battle of endurance, tactics, and sheer power.
Each trainer could only use one Pokémon, and the match would end when three Pokémon were knocked out, leaving the last one as the victor.
With this in mind, Naoki continued his research, specifically looking for details on how to register for the tournament.
As he scrolled, his screen showed an image of the Royal Dome's undefeated star—The Masked Royal.
It was a snapshot from a recent battle.
The Masked Royal, wearing his signature mask and leaving his muscular upper body exposed, sat on a resting bench beside his Incineroar, seemingly deep in conversation with his Pokémon.
Naoki: "…"
He had to admit—seeing Professor Kukui like this still felt surreal.
As expected in the modern digital age, the Royal Dome had its own official website, allowing trainers to register online.
The sign-up process seemed simple enough. It required just a few details:
Real Name, Gender, Age, A unique Player Code for competition entry.
"That's easy enough," Naoki mused as he swiftly entered his details.
However, as he reached the Player Code field, he hesitated.
"What should my codename be this time?"
Cyclizar Mask? Dragon's Herald? Or maybe... Gold King?
But those all sounded a little too obvious.
Then again, Alola is relatively isolated from the rest of the world. Even if he called himself Gold King, no one here would immediately associate it with Koraidon, right?
After all, Professor Sada hadn't officially announced Koraidon to the public yet.
In that case, this name should work!
Gold King. The Royal Gold King.
With that settled, now came the next big decision—choosing which Pokémon to battle with.
Koraidon? Dragonite? Pawmot? Gogoat? Ogerpon?
Wait.
All of them were way too recognizable.
If anyone in the audience snapped a photo and uploaded it online, his true identity would be exposed immediately.
To avoid that, Naoki decided not to use any Pokémon from his ranch.
But that left him with very few viable options.
Hmm… Maybe he could use the Pokémon from the World Tree?
Aside from the Legendary Pokémon like Mewtwo and Rayquaza, there were also others—like Arboliva, Jirachi, and another Dragonites—all of whom resided at the World Tree.
Arboliva might not seem like much, but Naoki knew better.
It had grown up eating the same premium food as Gogoat—whether it was Grass-Type dumplings, herbal cakes, or the World Tree's legendary pastries.
After a moment of thought, Naoki decided to ask Mewtwo to check if Arboliva was available.
He immediately tagged Mew in the Legendary Pokémon Chat Group.
[Gold King: @Mewtwo. Can you ask Arboliva what it's up to?]
Mewtwo's reply was almost instant.
[Mewtwo: Sure, give me a moment.]
While waiting, other Legendary Pokémon started chiming in.
After all, Naoki rarely asked for help. Now that he had, both Giratina and Rayquaza were curious.
Giratina was the first to ask.
[Giratina: Need a hand with something?]
Naoki explained the situation briefly.
[Gold King: I need a strong but uncommon Pokémon to battle with—something that won't give away my identity. It can't be a Pokémon from my ranch or one that stays with me all the time. Otherwise, people might figure out who I really am.]
The moment he finished typing, the chat exploded with excitement.
Giratina, who had long dreamed of becoming a viral internet sensation, was the first to volunteer.
[Giratina: Let me do it!]
[Farmer: I don't think I qualify.]
[Rayquaza: I can help if you need me.]
[Ho-Oh: That's right. The World Tree has always been good to us. We should repay that kindness. If necessary, I can even send my own guardians to assist you.]
[Kyogre: I just finished training my beloved disciple in the ways of the ocean. If you need me, say the word.]
[Mewtwo: I can help too.]
Meanwhile, Groudon remained silent—probably too focused on mentoring its apprentice to get involved in the conversation.
Naoki: "…"
He was just trying to enter a Battle Royal, not start an all-out Legendary Pokémon war in Alola!
If all of these powerhouses showed up at the Royal Dome, the locals might think Alola was being invaded by an army of Legendaries trying to take over their unfederated region!
...
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