Dragonite was impressively effit aurned with its catch before su.

  It held two lobsters in each of its arms, a rge squid cmped in its mouth, and a piece of tangled seaweed draped over the small horn on its head. Despite its slightly disheveled appearance, Dragonite was clearly proud and tent.

  When Naoki came out to greet it in the pasture, Drago out a jubint cry, dropped the lobsters and squid onto the grass, and embraaoki in its rge, seawater-sted arms.

  "Awoo!"

  Naoki excimed, pyfully scolding, "You big goof."

  Gently, he removed the seaweed fronite's horn, then picked up the lobsters and squid from the ground and headed toward the kit.

  Dragonite plopped down on the grass with a satisfied hum, watg Naoki walk away.

  "Stay put," Naoki called over his shoulder. "I'll give you a bath ter!"

  Dragonite waved oubby arm in agreement. "Awoo!"

  As the sun dipped lower in the sky, the other w Dragonites fiheir day, s off into the distah their boxes of treasures.

  Dragoill lounging in the golden rays of the su, waved enthusiastically at its departing kin.

  Alder watched the se with amusement. "Your Dragonite really loves you," he remarked.

  Naoki chuckled as he rihe lobsters and squid in a basin. The creatures were still alive, wriggling slightly—a testament tonite's speed and effi bringing them back fresh.

  Naoki shared an old story with Alder, expining, "Once, Drago jealous of the gifts the other Dragonites were bringi wao outdo them, so it ran off without a word to catething even bigger aer."

  Alder ughed, his curiosity piqued. "What happened ?"

  "Dragonite entered a powerful Pokémon in the sea," Naoki tinued, smiling at the memory. "It was outmatched aurned home defeated."

  "Poor thing," Alder sympathized.

  "Yeah," Naoki said, patting the basin fondly. "But it's the thought that ts. For a trainer, having their Pokémon by their side is the greatest gift of all."

  Alder's expression softened as he thought of his own Vola. "You're absolutely right," he agreed.

  Nearby, Koraidon and Cyclizar were listening. Koraidon's usually fierce expression softened, while Cyclizar's eyes sparkled with longing.

  Naoki noticed and reached out to pat Cyclizar's head. "You too," he said warmly.

  Though Cyclizar's role on the ranch wasn't as promi as some others, its tributions were invaluable. As the first Pokémon to join Naoki's ranch, it had set the tone for the harmonious envirohat followed.

  Feeling inspired, Naoki asked Cyclizar to go and py while he prepared dinner.

  "Raao!" Cyclizar chirped happily, bounding off.

  Koraidon, watg the iion, seemed lost in thought.

  With dinner in mind, Naoki turned his attention to the lobsters. He decided to steam one and prepare the other with garlic sauce. The squid, being too small to divide among everyone, was set aside for another use.

  Naoki lit the fire and carefully pced the prepared lobsters into the steamer. While waiting for them to cook, his thoughts drifted to Cyclizar.

  pared to the other Pokémon on the ranch, Cyclizar's strength wasn't particurly notable. Aside from the birthday cake that had boosted its base stats and its self-initiated training, it cked any special means of being stronger.

  As a rancher, Naoki wasn't overly ied in Pokémon battles. He didn't push his Pokémon to pete uhey wao. Instead, he focused on supp them in pursuing what made them happy—whether it was lounging all day in peaceful retirement or w hard and training diligently.

  This world wasn't harsh for most Pokémon that lived alongside humans. Here, Pokémon and trainers shared a reciprocal retionship. Pokémon protected their trainers with their strength, while trainers used their knowledge and tools to ensure Pokémon could live safe and tented lives.

  And Naoki was itted to proteg Cyclizar.

  Naoki turo g Cyclizar lying tentedly by the firepce, the flickering Slugma. A smile crept onto his face.

  The steam began to rise from the pot, signaling that the lobsters were nearly ready. Naoki opehe lid and carefully retrieved the lobsters, their vibrant red shells glistening with steam.

  Out of habit, he ied the dish, and what he saw left him momentarily stunned.

  [Steamed Lobster (A+): A special dish made fre lobsters sourced from the o depths. This dish retains the natural freshness and fragrance of the seafood. It is a top-tier delicacy, prized by seafood enthusiasts. The emotions infused into the cooking process have resulted in a unique effect.

  Cooking Effebsp;"Prote of the Sea" (Exclusive to Cyclizar). A Pokémon that es this dish gains a protective aura. If the Pokémon enters a life-threatening situation, this effect will automatically activate, ing all ining damage from a siack.

  ent: Wheions and food e together, they create unparalleled ary masterpieces.]

  Naoki blinked, staring at the description.

  "Exclusive to Cyclizar?" he murmured in disbelief. "How...?"

  He thought back to his earlier musings while preparing the dish. Could it be that his thoughts about Cyclizar had somehow influehe oute?

  The effect of "Prote of the Sea" seemed like an enhanced defensive ability, capable of pletely nullifying an atta a critical moment. While incredibly valuable, he couldn't help but chuckle at how unnecessary it felt for a Pokémon like Cyclizar, who rarely faced any danger on the ranch.

  Naoki's gaze shifted to the other pot, where the garlic lobster was steaming. He checked it, and another description appeared.

  [Garlic Lobster (B+): A fvorful dish prepared with garlid fresh lobster.

  Cooking Effebsp;"Lobster Specialization." ing this dish slightly increases the defense and attack stats of lobster type Pokémon for 30 minutes.

  Naoki couldn't help but ugh nervously at the absurdity of the situation. "Making lobsters eat lobsters... This is some kind of ary nightmare," he muttered, shaking his head.

  Standing up, he brought the day's dio the table and called out to the Pokémon pying outside, summoning them back for their meal.

  At the diable, Naoki observed Cyclizar eatiily. A question lingered in his mind, and he finally voiced it. "Mr. Alder, for Pokémon, emotions be sidered a form of power?"

  "Of course!" Alder nodded fidently. He leaned back slightly and began expining. "Some Pokémon academies even teach this cept. Beyond the elemental attributes we're familiar with, emotions be transformed into energy."

  "For example," Alder tinued, "there are Normal-type moves like Return and Frustration, host-type moves like Spite. These moves are often fueled by emotional energy, but they're typically limited to specifion."

  He leaned forward slightly, adding, "Take Eevee as an example. When novice trainers raise ohey often work to build a close bond with it. This bond amplifies the power of Return, allowing them to take on stronger oppos."

  Hearing this, Naoki's thoughts shifted to Frustration.

  Frustration: A Pokémos its anger on an oppo. The lower its affe for its traihe more powerful the move.

  He furrowed his brow. "But doesn't Frustration affect the retionship between Pokémon and trainer? It seems terintuitive."

  Alder chuckled. "You're right. A move like Frustration ily damages the boween a trainer and their Pokémon. And because of that, it's rarely used in practice. After being captured by humans, most Pokémon have difficulty using this move effectively. Evehey do, it cks power and rarely inflicts signifit harm."

  Naoki houghtfully. The expnation resonated with him. Could it be that the emotions he'd infused into the meal while thinking about Cyclizar had resulted in the Sea's Prote effe the steamed lobster? The thought made sense. His desire to shield Cyclizar and es safety had been transted into the dish.

  But the effect had strict ditions—it would only activate in a true life-or-death crisis. Naoki hoped such a moment would never arise for Cyclizar.

  After dinner, Alder leaned ba the sofa with a satisfied sigh, patting his stomach tentedly. "Ah, that hit the spot! Your cooking is incredible, Naoki. I think I've gai least a few pounds during my stay here."

  One of the Indeedee siblings, the younger sister, approached with a cup of tea in hand. "Ai Ai~" she said cheerfully, pg the cup oable before stepping aside with a polite smile.

  "Ah, thank you!" Alder excimed, quickly sitting upright to accept the tea.

  As he took a sip, Alder g Naoki. "So, is everything here ed up? When are you pnning to leave for Unova?"

  Naoki nodded, refleg on the ret events. With the horse rag petition cluded, there wasn't much left to do on the ranch. The crops in the fields still ime to mature, and the development of the new nd oher side of the river could wait until he returned.

  March 25th marked the start of Naoki's pns for the ing week. Alder had mentiohat the dinner would take p April 1st. He also promised to introduaoki to a Pokémon breeder who would teach him the art of making Pokeblocks, something that would likely require a good amount of time.

  sidering this, Naoki thought it best to leave as soon as possible to ehey could return promptly. He voiced his decision: "Let's leave tomorrow!"

  Alder grinned broadly, his enthusiasm apparent. "Perfeo problem for me. You've helped me so much—I'll make sure you're treated like royalty whe to Unova!"

  The way Alder spoke made it seem as though he nning a grand tour of all the most iic locations and sic spots across the Union. While Naoki appreciated the se, he found the idea a bit unnecessary.

  Still, he asked tactfully, "Mr. Alder, don't you have important responsibilities with the Unova League? From what I've heard, The Elite Four are busy every single day."

  Alder's face flushed a deep red. Memories of his time ing his duties to search for a cure for his injured Vola surfaced in his mind. Back then, he had been so preoccupied that he had left the League's affairs entirely in the hands of the Elite Four.

  But could he admit to such irresponsibility? Absolutely not.

  Clearing his throat and straightening his posture, Alder spoke with forced vi, his dark plexioraying a hint of embarrassment. "The Elite Four are currently managing the League's affairs. Once I return, I'll resume my championship duties in full."

  Naoki looked at him knowingly but chose not to press further, letting Alder's words stand unchallenged. Alder, notig the look in Naoki's eyes, quickly shifted the topic.

  "There will be many notable figures and famous trainers attending this dinner," Alder said. "It's possible that Lance might be there too."

  "Lance…?" Naoki repeated the name softly, his curiosity piqued. "I'd really like to meet him."

  Alder's eyes narrowed slightly. "Oh? Are you a fan of Lance?"

  Naoki shook his head and crified, "Not quite. I've just heard of his aplishments aation for a long time."

  "Ah, I see." Alder nodded, his griurning. "There will even be a sparring arena at the ba. You could challenge him to a friendly battle. Oh, and you could bring along all your Dragooo."

  Alder chuckled at the thought, clearly eained by the idea of Lance seeing a ranch teeming with Dragonites. It was a sight that would surely leave the Dragon Master stunned.

  Naoki hesitated, briefly sidering the proposal. However, practicality quickly won out. "The Dragonites have work to do," he expined. "They o stay behind to make deliveries to the townspeople."

  Alder looked visibly disappointed.

  "Then..." Naoki paused thoughtfully before asking, "Will Steven, the Champion of the Hoenn region, attend?"

  "Steven?" Alder sidered the question for a moment before shaking his head. "Probably not. He's not the type to show up at these kinds of events."

  Naoki nodded, having suspected as much. Steven was either out searg for rare stones or on another jouro find more rare stones.

  "But even if Steve attend, President Stone of the Devon Corporation will be there," Alder added. "And there's also Giovanni, a promi entrepreneur from the Kantion."

  The mention of Giovanni's name caused Naoki to stiffen slightly.

  "Giovanni?" Naoki repeated a flicker of surprise in his voice.

  Could it be the Giovanni he was thinking of?

  The leader of the Viridian Gym. The mastermind behind Team Rocket, a notorious criminal anization. The man who orchestrated the creation of Mewtwo. A figure who cimed to be the stro of all...

  "Huh? You've heard of Giovanni?" Alder asked, clearly surprised by Naoki's rea. "The Kantion and Paldea are quite far apart."

  "Yes," Naoki replied with a brief nod. "Before settling here, I traveled extehrough ions."

  "Ah, that expins it!" Alder said, nodding in uanding. "I don't know Giovanni personally, but he's widely known in Kanto as a successful businessman. He's also the Gym Leader of Viridian City, so he must be quite skilled in battles."

  For a moment, Naoki was at a loss for words.

  "Well-knowrepreneur" wasn't an inaccurate description of Giovanni, but it certainly didn't capture the full picture. While he was indeed a promi businessman, his darker, hiddey loomed rge in Naoki's mind.

  Fortunately, the Paldea region was far removed from Kanto. Team Rocket's influence had no reach here, so Naoki could at least set his worries aside for now.