Kai carried the Pokémon psychology books borrowed from Nurse Joy as he returned to the farm under the dimming evening sky.
By coincidence, Zack's delivery truck arrived at that moment, carrying saplings, seeds, and fertilizer.
After unloading the supplies, Zack drove off, and Kai immediately called over the Pokémon capable of helping with the transport.
Luxray carried a large sack of seeds on its back, while Dragonite and Swampert walked side by side, each holding multiple saplings in their powerful arms. Serperior used its vines to lift a bag of fertilizer with ease.
Mimikyu, however, had the most impressive technique.
Using Shadow Claw, it clutched a bag of fertilizer, then activated Phantom Force—vanishing along with the load and reappearing dozens of meters away in an instant.
Ceruledge, on the other hand, was somewhat frustrated.
Its body structure made it difficult to assist in this kind of work. Even when it wasn't in battle mode and its fiery blade was retracted, the sharp edges, pointed tip, and the ever-burning flames still made handling such tasks nearly impossible.
At Kai's suggestion, Ceruledge reluctantly returned to the kitchen to help prepare dinner instead.
With the Pokémon's combined efforts, the entire job was completed in just a few trips.
After storing the saplings and seeds in the warehouse near the farmland, Kai did a quick inventory check. Once he confirmed everything was accounted for, he left, planning to plant them all in two days when he had more time.
After all, tomorrow's schedule was already packed.
The Next Morning
Kai woke up to the damp sensation of something licking his face and the weight pressing against his chest.
As he blinked awake, the first thing he saw was an excited Growlithe, its every movement filled with enthusiasm.
"Morning, Growlithe," Kai mumbled, yawning. A small smile tugged at the corners of his lips as he stretched out from under the covers, reaching toward the bedside table.
His hand brushed past a bookmarked copy of Pokémon Psychology before finding his phone. Checking the time, he saw it was already 8:30 AM.
No wonder Serperior, Mimikyu, and the others—who often squeezed into his bed overnight—were nowhere to be found. He must've slept in for the first time in a while after staying up late reading.
Remembering the tight schedule he had planned for today, any thoughts of staying in bed vanished instantly.
Before getting up, he gave in to temptation—grabbing Growlithe and ruffling its uniquely textured fur for a while. Only after absorbing enough "fluff energy" did Kai finally get out of bed.
After a quick wash-up, he prepared breakfast for his hungry Pokémon, who were already waiting eagerly.
By the time everything was ready, it was nearly 10 AM.
Kai left behind a ready-to-heat lunch for later, assigned a few Pokémon to watch over the farm, then hopped onto Dragonite's back and took off toward Mesagoza.
As usual, the flight took only about fifteen minutes before the cityscape came into view. Kai stroked the nearly imperceptible fine scales on Dragonite's back, feeling a sense of admiration.
With Dragonite, traveling between cities in Paldea was effortless. Even crossing entire regions wouldn't be too difficult with some time and planning.
It was a true feeling of boundless freedom—the whole world open to explore.
And once Growlithe evolved into Arcanine, he could try land travel as well. According to records, modern Arcanine have been known to run up to 10,000 kilometers in a single day and night.
If modern Arcanine were already that impressive, then what about the ancient Hisuian Arcanine from the distant past?
Kai could hardly wait to see it for himself.
Instead of heading straight into the heart of Mesagoza, Dragonite landed just outside Naranja Academy.
Since battle studies wouldn't start until the afternoon, Kai had come to the city early for another reason—to visit a Pokémon ranch on the outskirts of Mesagoza.
Dragonite's landing was controlled and gentle, showing off the refined manners Kai had trained into it. At this hour, most visitors had likely gone into the city for lunch, leaving the area around the ranch relatively quiet.
After recalling Dragonite into its Poké Ball, Kai glanced at the ranch's signboard to confirm he was in the right place before stepping inside.
The ranch was called Elias Ranch, named after its owner, and specialized in selling Pokémon products as well as Pokémon suited for farm and ranch life.
As Kai entered the main building, he spotted an elderly man wearing a hat, looking sharp and energetic. He was sipping hot tea while reading a newspaper.
"Hmm? A customer?" The old man folded the newspaper and looked toward Kai. After taking a second glance, he added, "Wait... Are you a student from Naranja Academy?"
His tone carried some hesitation. Kai looked young enough to be a student, but he wasn't wearing the school uniform.
"I'm not a student," Kai replied, shaking his head. After a brief pause, he added, "I run a farm in Los Platos and came to purchase some Pokémon suited for farm and ranch work."
"From Los Platos, huh?" Elias set down his newspaper neatly and took a sip of tea before asking, "I recall there's a Pokémon ranch in Porto Marinada as well. Why come all the way to Mesagoza?"
Kai smiled. "I'm also a part-time teacher at Naranja Academy. While at the school, I heard great things about your ranch—how the Pokémon here are healthy, strong, and have excellent temperaments."
"A teacher, huh...!" Elias raised an eyebrow in brief surprise before his expression softened into one of pride. He chuckled and said, "Then you've come to the right place! It's not just farmers—plenty of students from the academy have picked out their Pokémon here as well."
"My name's Elias. Come on, I'll show you around the ranch!"
"Thank you, Mr. Elias," Kai said, following him.
Since it was located on the outskirts of Mesagoza, Elias Ranch was quite large—larger than Kai's own farm.
Having been in business for years, the ranch simulated a natural environment, providing its Pokémon with optimal conditions to grow and thrive.
There were many Pokémon here, most of which were useful for farming or ranch work.
Looking around, Kai spotted a group of Fidough playing together, a herd of Skiddo leisurely strolling through the grass, and a cluster of Miltank basking in the sunlight.
Nearby, Mudbray happily rolled around in the dirt, while in a separate enclosed area, three different forms of Tauros were charging around—Combat Brûlée d, Blaze Brûlée d, and Aqua Brûlée d, all present.
These were exactly the kinds of Pokémon that could be valuable for a farm or ranch.
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