Upon hearing this, Zack smiled and said, "Yes! We'll get through this challenge together as a team!"
He handed today's milk money to Naoki, waved his hand, and turned to leave the ranch.
After seeing Zack off, Naoki felt a deep exhaustion spreading through his body.
From early morning until now, he had not rested for a moment. Immediately after extinguishing the fire, he took the Pokémon from the ranch to the back mountain, and once back, he started building wooden shelters for them.
Naoki yawned. Although he was tired, he persevered to help his sister, Indeedee, prepare dinner.
After finishing dinner, he filled the water troughs for Miltank and Gogoat and herded the chickens back into the Chicken House, finally able to rest for a while.
The Indeedee siblings were also exhausted. Seeing their condition, Naoki simply hung a closed sign on the tavern to allow them to rest well, too.
That night, the ranch turned off the lights early, and Naoki, along with a group of Pokémon, quickly drifted into dreamland.
*
The next morning brought a brand-new day.
The weather was quite nice today, with temperatures slightly warmer than before.
Early in the morning, Naoki started mowing the grass with a lawnmower, planning to collect some grass to make new Grassy Seed dishes for Gogoat.
It's worth noting that, to ensure Gogoat had access to fresh Grassy Seed throughout winter, Naoki had amassed an entire warehouse full of fresh grass.
All this grass was sealed within clear, glistening ice blocks, stored in Glaceon's ice cellar.
This way, whenever needed, it can be thawed to make the Grassy Seed.
While Naoki was busy on the pasture, a new visitor arrived outside the ranch.
Geeta, the leading Champion of the Paldea League, was standing on the country path, gazing at the bustling ranch ahead.
"Is this the reclusive Champion-level Trainer that Jenny mentioned?" Geeta murmured to herself.
As she stepped in, she saw three Dragonite flying over her head, each with a small satchel.
Geeta showed surprise, wondering if this person specialized in Dragon Types as a Champion-level Trainer.
She turned to look at the direction the Dragonite were flying—towards Porto Marinada Town.
Last night, she'd heard some rumors about this ranch from Jenny.
Seeing those Dragonite now, she thought they must be the ones Jenny mentioned to be working as delivery carriers for the ranch.
"Luxurious," Geeta commented softly, "But Dragonite are indeed suitable for the job."
They must be the primary Pokémon of this ranch's owner, Geeta thought.
However, when she turned her head, she spotted a Pokémon stretching its limbs on the nearby grass.
It was a tall and robust Pokémon, entirely crimson, adorned with magnificent head feathers and a pair of golden eyes.
The Pokémon seemed to sense something, lifting its eyes to look in her direction.
Their gazes met in midair, and Geeta was momentarily stunned.
Isn't that… the paradox Pokémon that Professor Sada and Professor Turo are researching?
The entity called Koraidon mentioned in the Book of Scarlet and Violet?
As the chief of the Paldea League, Geeta was aware of the existence of Zone Zero and the paradox Pokémon.
To enter Zone Zero, outsiders must first apply to the Paldea League and receive her approval as the chief before they can gain access.
"No, Koraidon can't be here," Geeta subconsciously denied.
To her knowledge, Professor Sada and Professor Turo had only summoned two powerful and ferocious paradox Pokémon to this place.
If Koraidon was here, then what was the Pokémon at the deepest part of Zone Zero's research facility?
Yet the look from Koraidon's eyes was undeniable.
Even if she didn't believe it, the Koraidon in front of her wasn't an illusion but reality.
So, who exactly is this rancher?
To be able to tame the fierce and aggressive Koraidon?
Just then, Naoki received a notification from Butterfree that someone had intruded into the ranch.
He paused his work to check it out. From afar, he saw Geeta, dressed in a black and blue Champion's uniform, looking at Koraidon in astonishment.
Naoki raised an eyebrow, approaching to greet, "Champion?"
Geeta came to her senses and turned her head, seeing a rather familiar face,
Geeta frowned slightly, then politely asked, "Have we met somewhere before?"
Naoki: "..."
He thought carefully. Compared to before, he had become much darker and stronger, and he had changed his hairstyle. It was natural Geeta didn't recognize him.
Naoki explained concisely, "Yes, it was when that giant Dragonite visited the Paldea Region before."
With that, Geeta immediately remembered.
She opened her eyes wide in disbelief, "Was it you?"
Naoki: "It was me."
"No wonder…" Geeta muttered, "No wonder you could manage that giant Dragonite; it makes sense since you're a Champion-level Trainer."
Hearing this, Naoki was momentarily stunned; his head filled with confusion, he asked, "What Champion?"
Geeta looked at him puzzled, "Weren't you the Champion-level Trainer who handled yesterday's fire?"