Treasure Hunt
The drizzle continued to fall gently from the sky, turning into nutrients that slowly nourished the crops in the soil. Once the watering was complete, the Dragonite paused, sat down on the grass, and began to rest.
Suddenly, the dark clouds above started to disperse, revealing a clear and sunny sky. The golden sunlight shone down, forming a gorgeous rainbow over the farmland.
Max stood there, staring in awe at the scene.
'A Dragonite is a rare Pokemon! How could there be a Dragonite here? Was it kept by someone? If so, who was the owner? Could it be the farmer who owned this ranch'?
Max couldn't believe that an ordinary country farmer could capture such a powerful and rare Pokémon like Dragonite. Maybe it was the farmer's son or daughter who had caught it elsewhere?
And to think that this Dragonite was actually being used to water the plants! Max's mind was blown. "Oh my god! Using a rare Pokémon like Dragonite for farm work, Isn't this a waste of its incredible potential?!"
Fury simmered in Max's heart, but he quickly remembered the real reason he had come here.
He looked up at the roof, where the Fletchling was still perched, calmly preening its feathers. Max wanted to capture it right away, but his good manners stopped him from trespassing on someone else's property.
At that moment, a Butterfree, perched under the eaves, noticed the human boy outside.
"Mmm?"
At first, Butterfree was a little puzzled. Then it flapped its wings, flew in front of the boy, and asked, "Mee-yi?"
Seeing Butterfree approach him, Max realized that it might be another Pokémon living on the ranch. He politely asked, "Excuse me, I'm a Pokémon Trainer. Is the owner of this ranch at home?"
"Mmmmm..." Butterfree shook its head slightly, then glanced toward the town and said to the boy, "Mmmmm!"
Max turned around and looked in the direction Butterfree indicated, guessing, "You mean, the rancher went to town and won't be back for a while?"
Butterfree nodded: "Mmmmm!"
"Okay." Max thought for a moment. Since the rancher had gone to town, they should be back soon. The Fletchling hadn't left yet, so he decided he could wait here for a bit.
…
Meanwhile, in the town, outside Kora's carpentry shop, Naoki was standing in front of Kora.
Today, Kora was wearing a light green shirt and a pair of work shorts, which, paired with her long pink hair, made her look fresh and lively.
She looked at Naoki and asked, "An automatic milking machine?"
Naoki nodded eagerly. "Yes, do you sell them here?"
"I'm sorry, no," Kora replied with a shake of her head. "But you might find one at the store in town that sells various equipment and tools."
"All right," Naoki said with a hint of disappointment. He thanked Kora and headed into town.
After wandering around for a while, he finally found the shop on a quiet street.
The shop owner was a middle-aged man sitting in a wheelchair. Beside him was a Pokémon that resembled a large bell with a bronze body.
When Naoki explained why he was there, the old man pointed to a shelf and said, "That's the Bronzong. Please help me get it for this customer."
The Bronzong emitted a slightly dull humming sound, and a soft blue light glowed from its body. Using its telekinetic powers, it carefully lifted a box from the shelf and brought it over to Naoki.
Naoki opened the box and peered inside, finding a rather unusual-looking device nestled within. It resembled a hula hoop in shape, with a cylindrical attachment at the front and four suction cup-like objects inside.
The man explained, "This is it. It's very easy to use. You just fit it around the waist of a Miltank, and the machine at the front automatically squeezes the milk and collects it inside."
It seemed incredibly convenient, so Naoki asked, "How much does it cost?"
The man replied, "4,000 Poké Dollars."
"Alright." Naoki thought for a moment and said, "I'll come back to buy it in a few days."
He had recently purchased a Miltank, but his funds were running low.
The man nodded and then asked, "Are you a rancher nearby? I haven't seen you around before!"
Naoki grinned, "I just moved here not long ago."
At that moment, the man seemed to recall something and quickly asked, "Is it Naoki Ranch?"
"Huh? How did you know?" Naoki was a bit surprised.
When the man realized his guess was correct, his demeanor became much friendlier. He smiled warmly, "I've bought goat milk from your ranch before!"
"My Bronzong was seriously injured in a battle a while back and has never fully recovered. But after drinking your goat milk for a few days, it told me that those old injuries have gradually healed, and its spirits have greatly improved."
"I asked Zack, and he said the goat milk came from your ranch. I owe it all to your goat milk! In fact, I'd like to give you this automatic milking machine for free as a token of my gratitude."
"Hmm?" Naoki was taken aback, "Isn't that a bit much?"
"Nonsense!" The man insisted sincerely, "Bronzong has been with me since I was ten years old. Nothing is more important than its health. You must accept it!"
Hearing this, Bronzong let out a slightly cheerful chiming sound.
Naoki stood there for a moment, touched by the gesture, before smiling gratefully. "Thank you, then."
With the large box in hand, Naoki climbed onto Koraidon.
The shopkeeper and Bronzong came outside to see them off.
"By the way, besides milking machines, I also sell cheese processors, jam makers, wood processing machines, stone cutting machines, and other equipment. If you ever need any of these, just come by, and I'll give you a discount!"
Naoki smiled and nodded, "I will."
The shopkeeper returned the smile and waved, "Goodbye!"
Naoki echoed the farewell, "Goodbye!"
As he watched Naoki and Koraidon walk away, the shopkeeper let out a slow, relieved breath. "That's great," he murmured to himself.
Bronzong had been injured because of him. That incident was the reason he gave up being a Pokémon Trainer and returned to his hometown, burdened with guilt.
Decades ago, medical technology wasn't as advanced as it is now, and Bronzong's injuries couldn't be treated in time. Over the years, the damage had become permanent.
For the shopkeeper, nothing mattered more than Bronzong's well-being.
He glanced at Bronzong beside him, and at that moment, Bronzong looked back at him.
On the quiet, worn-down street, the man frowned slightly and reached out to gently touch Bronzong's body. "I'm sorry... I'm sorry, old friend," he said softly, his voice full of regret.
"Buzz~" Bronzong vibrated gently, as if to say, "It's okay."
It had never blamed its trainer.
...
Koraidon moved swiftly, and before long, they had returned to the ranch.
As they approached, Naoki noticed a boy standing at the ranch gate, wearing the Naranja Academy uniform. The boy was staring inside with a look of shock on his face.
Naoki raised an eyebrow slightly, curious about what had caught the boy's attention.