Chapter 91: Treasure Hunting Leads to the Ranch?
Chapter 91: Treasure Hunting Leads to the Ranch?
A light drizzle fell from the sky, nourishing the crops in the fields.
Seemingly finished with its task, the Aerodactyl landed and perched on the grass to rest.
The dark clouds above gradually dissipated, revealing a clear blue sky. Golden sunlight shone through, forming a vibrant rainbow over the farmlands.
Mou Ping stared at this spectacle, dumbfounded.
Aerodactyl... That's a Pokemon a hundred times rarer than Spearow!
How could there be an Aerodactyl here? Who could have trained it? And who might that trainer be? The owner of this ranch?
Mou Ping couldn't imagine a simple country farmer being able to capture and train such a powerful and rare Pokemon.
Unless it was their son or daughter who had captured it elsewhere?
And look at it! It was watering the fields!
Good grief! Who would use an Aerodactyl, such a rare Pokemon, for something as mundane as irrigation? What a waste of talent!
Mou Ping's mind raced with these thoughts.
However, he didn't forget the real reason he had come here.
Mou Ping looked up at the roof. The Spearow was still there, perched and preening its feathers with its beak.
He wanted to go ahead and capture it, but his good manners told him it wasn't right to trespass on someone else's private property.
Just then, the Butterfree under the eaves noticed the human boy outside.
"Uhhh?"
The Butterfree looked confused at first, but then it flapped its wings and flew over to the boy, asking, "Uhhh?"
Facing the Butterfree, Mou Ping realized it might also be a Pokemon that lived on this ranch.
So he asked, "Excuse me, I'm a trainer. May I ask if the owner of this ranch is at home?"
"Uhh..." The Butterfree shook its head gently, then looked toward the town and said to the boy, "Uhh!"
Mou Ping turned to look in that direction and guessed, "You mean the ranch owner went to town and will be back later?"
The Butterfree nodded, "Uhh!"
"Okay," Mou Ping thought. "If they went to town, they should be back soon. The Spearow hasn't left yet, so I'll just wait here for a bit!"
...
Meanwhile, in Zhibin Town, in front of Keri's carpentry shop.
Today, Keri was wearing a light mint green shirt and a pair of work shorts, her pink hair completing a fresh and vibrant look.
She looked at Naoki in front of her and asked, "An automatic milking machine?"
Naoki nodded eagerly. "Yes, do you sell them here?"
"Sorry, we don't," Keri shook her head. "But you might want to try the store in town that sells various equipment and tools."
"Alright," Naoki said.
And so, Naoki bade Keri farewell and set off for the town.
After wandering around, he finally found the store in a secluded alley.
The owner of the store was a middle-aged man in a wheelchair, with a Pokemon floating by his side—a bronze-bodied, clock-shaped Pokemon resembling a large bell.
After Naoki expressed his intention, the elderly man pointed to a shelf and said, "That's it right there, Bronzong. Get it for this customer."
The Bronzong let out a slightly dull buzz, its body glowing blue as it used telekinetic powers to lift the box and bring it to Naoki.
Naoki opened the box and peered inside, revealing a peculiarly shaped device lying quietly within.
It resembled a hula hoop, with a tubular object attached to the front end, inside of which were four suction cup-like protrusions.
The man replied, "4,000 Pokedollars."
"Alright," Naoki acknowledged, getting a sense of the price: "Then I'll come back to buy it in a few days."
Having just purchased Miltank, he was a bit short on funds.
The man nodded and then asked curiously, "Are you a nearby ranch owner? I don't think I've seen you around before!"
Naoki grinned and explained, "I've only recently moved here."
Suddenly, the man seemed to recall something and hastily asked, "The Naoki Ranch?"
"Huh? How did you know?" Naoki was taken aback.
Seeing his guess confirmed, the man's attitude warmed considerably, and he smiled as he said, "I've bought sheep milk from your ranch before!"
"My Bronzong, it was badly injured in a battle a long time ago, and its wounds never fully healed. But after drinking your sheep's milk for a few days, it told me that its old wounds were gradually recovering, and it felt much more energetic."
"I asked Zack, and he said the sheep milk came from your ranch. I owe it all to your milk! Oh, and please accept this automatic milking machine as a gift from me!"
"Hmm?" Naoki was slightly taken aback: "That doesn't seem right..."
"There's nothing wrong with it," the man sincerely expressed his gratitude: "Bronzong has been my friend since I was ten years old, and there's nothing more important to me than its health. Please, you must accept it!"
Hearing these words, Bronzong beside him let out a crisp buzz.
Naoki paused for a moment, then smiled in understanding: "In that case, thank you."
Carrying the large box, Naoki mounted his Golurk.
The shop owner and Bronzong also came out to see him off.
"By the way, besides the milking machine, I also have cheese processors, jam makers, wood processors, stone cutters, and other machines for sale. If you need anything in the future, feel free to come by, and I'll give you a discount!"
Naoki nodded with a smile: "I will."
The owner's face lit up with a smile, and he waved goodbye to Naoki: "See you!"
"See you!" Naoki replied.
"How wonderful!" the owner exclaimed as he watched Naoki and Golurk's departing figures, slowly exhaling a breath.
Years ago, Bronzong had been injured because of him, and it was also the reason he had given up being a trainer and returned to his hometown filled with guilt.
Decades ago, when medical technology was still underdeveloped, Bronzong's injuries hadn't been treated in time, and over the years, it had ended up in its current state.
To him, nothing was more important than Bronzong's health.
The owner gazed at Bronzong by his side, and coincidentally, Bronzong was also looking at him.
On the desolate, rundown street, the man furrowed his brow and reached out to touch Bronzong's body, his voice filled with apology as he said, "I'm sorry... I'm so sorry, old friend."
"Bong~"
Bronzong swayed slightly, as if to say it was alright.
It had never blamed its trainer.
---
Golurk's speed was impressive, and soon they arrived back at the ranch.
Naoki raised an eyebrow, intrigued by the sight of a boy standing in front of the ranch gate, wearing an Orange League uniform and peering inside with a shocked expression.
Huh? Had he come to the ranch in search of treasure?
(There are 3 more chapters, which will be released in the afternoon, one by one.)
(End of Chapter)
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