Chapter 99: The Traveling Bear
Chapter 99: The Traveling Bear
In the gentle breeze, Mayor Thomas stood at the judging platform, holding a microphone and smiling at the townspeople and ranchers gathered below.
His warm voice, amplified by the microphone, reached everyone present.
"I'm delighted that you could all make time to attend this Spring Cattle and Sheep Competition."
"And I'm equally pleased that our ranchers and farmers have nurtured such excellent Pokemon."
"Now, I declare the 21st Spring Cattle and Sheep Competition officially open!"
"First, let's welcome the renowned Master Breeder, Mr. Eric! Mr. Eric will be our esteemed judge for this competition!"
A hearty round of applause erupted from the crowd.
Soon after, a man in his thirties, wearing glasses and casual attire, with a gentle demeanor, stepped onto the stage.
His presence caused a stir among the onlookers.
"It's actually Mr. Eric!"
"He's such a famous breeder! I've heard that the Pokemon he raises are all exceptional."
"I never expected the town to invite him to be a judge."
Breeder was a profession similar to that of a trainer, yet distinct.
Trainers focused on instructing Pokemon in battle.
Breeders, on the other hand, paid more attention to the Pokemon themselves, caring for them meticulously and employing professional breeding methods to help them grow strong and healthy, with sleek and shiny fur.
While there were no barriers to becoming a trainer, aspiring to be an excellent breeder required not only a love for Pokemon but also a vast array of knowledge.
Knowledge such as nutrition, mathematics, herbology, medicine, and basic chemistry.
Not only the townspeople but also many ranchers were engaged in lively discussions.
Naoki, too, directed a curious gaze at the man. Since arriving in this world, he had encountered many trainers, but this was his first encounter with a breeder.
"I wonder how Pokemon raised by a breeder differ from my riding Pokemon."
Naoki glanced down at the three Riding Santrees by his side before turning his attention to the neighboring rancher's Wooloo.
Hmm... They seemed pretty much the same.
Not being an expert himself, he supposed that only a professional breeder could spot the differences.
Eric walked onto the stage and, after a brief self-introduction, handed the microphone back to Mayor Thomas.
The two men nodded to each other, and then Mayor Thomas made the official announcement. "Now, let the competition begin! First, we invite Mr. Lei from Thunder Ranch!"
Soon, Naoki saw a young man lead a Miltank onto the stage.
Eric approached and began examining the Miltank closely, using touch and observation as part of his professional assessment.
"Indeed, a very robust Miltank. One can tell it has been well cared for."
"Its mental state is also healthy; it looks happy and well-nourished."
As he spoke, he squeezed one of Miltank's teats, and a stream of milk gushed out.
Eric caught the milk with a prepared cup, first smelling it and then taking a sip, savoring the flavor.
"Hmm... The fresh milk has a rich aroma and a smooth taste. It appears the grass at Thunder Ranch is of superior quality. Excellent!"
Mayor Thomas inquired, "So, what score will Mr. Eric give Miltank?"
Without hesitation, Eric replied, "96 points!"
The crowd gasped at his words, and murmurs spread below the stage.
"96 points! If I'm not mistaken, wasn't last year's champion also given 96 points?"
"Yes, it seems Thunder Ranch has a strong chance of winning the championship this year!"
"But speaking of which, Shallow Green Ranch is also participating this year. I wonder what score they'll get."
The first ranch had already scored 96 points, and the young man happily led the Miltank off the stage.
Next, the second rancher led a Wooloo onto the platform.
Eric carefully observed the Pokemon and then frankly gave his assessment.
"Its fleece is incredibly smooth and fluffy, and it feels very soft to the touch, making it an excellent material for clothing. However, the fleece is quite disheveled and messy, affecting its overall appearance. For this, I can only give it 93 points."
Eric's scores for them mostly hovered between 87 and 91 points.
Then, a green-haired girl with a Bounsweet took to the stage.
"Shallow Green Ranch, this must be last year's champion!" Naoki considered the girl his rival.
In the past year, the Meruly had evolved into a Steenee, and judging by its energetic spirit, it had been well taken care of.
As expected, Eric's eyes lit up as soon as he saw the Steenee.
The Steenee had a lively temperament and greeted Eric with a happy smile, even waving its small arms enthusiastically.
"Wow! This Steenee certainly has a cheerful disposition!" Eric began his evaluation.
"Its wool is incredibly soft and smooth, and its body is very healthy and energetic. This Steenee has been exceptionally well cared for!"
"Now, let me see your control over electric currents. Come on, don't be nervous. Give me a little shock and try using Tackle on me."
The Steenee obediently released a small electric current.
Eric touched it with his palm, carefully feeling it before commenting, "It's tingly, and its control over energy is also excellent! Once it evolves into a Tapu Bulu, it should become very powerful!"
"Well done, I give it 97 points!"
97 points was the highest score so far, and barring any surprises, the girl would be the champion of this evaluation competition.
The green-haired girl beamed with joy upon hearing this score and patted Steenee's head affectionately before leaving the stage.
The competition was now reaching its climax.
Mayor Thomas, holding the microphone, addressed the crowd, "What an intense and exciting competition! Shallow Green Ranch has achieved an impressive 97 points, showing improvement from last year."
"So, will Shallow Green Ranch be able to win the championship this year? Now, let's welcome the last participant, Naoki Ranch!"
Naoki: "..."
Well, they certainly saved the best for last, didn't they?
He took a deep breath and said to his Riding Santrees, "Let's go!"
The Riding Santrees felt the primal power within them surging, their eyes filled with determination.
"Meeaahh!" Charge!
Mayor Thomas continued to introduce the newly managed ranch to the audience.
"I believe you've all heard of Naoki Ranch, and the magical sheep milk sold exclusively at Zhi Qin Market is produced by the Riding Santrees of Naoki Ranch!"
"Now, let's see what score Naoki Ranch will achieve. Let's wait and see!"
As he spoke, Naoki stepped onto the stage.
Mayor Thomas gave him a gentle nod before yielding the stage to Eric.
Eric adjusted his glasses and carefully observed the Riding Santrees' condition.
"Amazing!" he exclaimed as he reached out to touch them. "The smoothness of their fur, the sturdy build of these goats, and the determined look in their eyes—they're even more perfect than Pokemon raised by professional breeders!"
After finishing the external inspection, Eric said, "Now, release some Grass-type energy for me to see!"
At his words, the Riding Santrees sprang into action.
"Meeaahh!"
They unleashed a powerful Grass-type energy that instantly spread in all directions, enveloping Celebration Square in just a few seconds.
It was as if countless grasses, glowing with a faint light, were swaying gently in the breeze.
This spectacle stunned the entire audience, leaving them gaping in astonishment.
Even the mysterious Pokemon in the tree was surprised, causing the tree fruit it held to drop to the ground with a thud.
"Miu?"
(End of Chapter)
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