In the evening, Zack arrived at the ranch to collect the goods. Naoki presented him with the goat milk, rock salt, and a few small mushrooms that had grown in the cave.

  "hat a bountiful harvest today!" Zack excimed, his eyes wide with surprise. "It seems your ranch is finally ba track."

  Naoki smiled, looking at Cyclizar and Koraidon in the distance. "Yes, it's all thanks to everyone's hard work!"

  "That's how it should be!" Zack sighed. "Unfortunately, few young people these days are willing to stay in the tryside and run a ranch or bee farmers."

  Unlike before, being a Pokémon Trainer was the popur aspiration now. Almost every child dreamed of getting their own Pokémon, traveling the world with them, peting in battles, and being the stro Pokémon Trainer.

  "All the nearby farms and ranches are run by older folks. You're the only young person around," Zack remarked.

  Naoki houghtfully. If he calcuted based on the aimelihis was just after Ash had left home. Although the Trainer profession hadn't yet reached the peak it would in "Pokémon Journeys," it was steadily gaining popurity worldwide.

  "Okay, let's see, five kilograms of rock salt, six liters of goat milk, and six small mushrooms. Hmm, a total of thirty-two thousand three hundred Pokédolrs."

  Zack handed over the moheuro his trud said goodbye to Naoki. "I'm off. I have to work overtime to deliver these goods to the Mesagoza market."

  "See you tomorrow!" Naoki waved.

  Zack drove away, and Naoki went back to the , pulled out his ledger, and recorded the day's ine and expenses.

  January 31st, Spring, Year 198

  Ine: Rock Salt +16,800, Goat Milk +13,000, Small Mushrooms +2,500

  Expenses: Berries -600, Food -5,000, Fertilizer -10,000

  Remaining Funds: 33,680

  "Thirty-three thousand." Looking at the numbers in his ledger, Naoki fell into deep thought.

  He had asked Kora specifically about expanding his house and adding amenities like a kit, bathroom, living room, dining room, bedroom, and celr. The cost would be around two million Pokédolrs.

  But Kora had also mentiowo other types e vils: a beach vil by the seaside and a mountain vil led in the mountains. She had shown him the blueprints. They were luxurious vils with plete facilities, including various rooms, swimming pools, high-end furniture, and even an amusement park for Pokémon. Naoki was very excited at the prospect.

  However, the price was exorbitant. Including the he total cost was a staggering 15 million Pokédolrs, far beyond his current means.

  Chi coops and Pokémoers were minor expenses pared to this kind of vil.

  As, there was still a long way to go!

  Fortunately, Kora also offered the option of expanding his current house, which could serve as a temporary solution.

  Naoki took a deep breath ahe beach vil and the mountain vil as his ultimate goals.

  Tomorrow, time would officially enter February, and the crops in the fields would be ready for harvest oer another. Life was about to get busy again.

  Naoki y on the bed and fell into a deep sleep.

  ...

  The m, after breakfast, Naoki gave the goat milk tonite and asked it to deliver it to Mrs. Dantes.

  Watg Dragonite fly off, Naoki began his daily work. At that moment, a young man riding a Cyclizar suddenly rushed into the ranch.

  He was dressed in blue overalls and a blue baseball cap, with a brown waist bag slung across his body. The man and his Cyclizar stopped not far away, looked at Naoki, and greeted him politely: "Hello, may I ask, is this Naoki Ranch?"

  "Yes," Naoki replied, a bit surprised. "And you are?"

  The young man hopped off his Cyclizar. He had a sunny disposition and fshed two small fangs when he smiled.

  "Hello, Mr. Naoki. My name is Alven. I'm the town's postman, responsible for mailiers and delivering packages. I have a letter for you. Could you please sign for it?"

  "A letter?" Naoki was taken aback. Who would send him a letter? He didn't knoeople in this world, and the inal Naoki had no close ties or friends.

  With this in mind, Naoki reached out and took the letter. He opehe envelope, pulled out the letter, and read:

  [To Naoki Ranch:

  Hello, Naoki! Mayor Thomas Cvell told me a while ago that you have ied this ranch. I'm very happy to hear this news!

  Spring is here, and it's the seasohe cherry blossoms are in full bloom. We will be holding a Cherry Blossom Festival in the cherry orchard on February 7th.

  At that time, people from the town, Trainers, and farmers from nearby ranches will gather here to enjoy the cherry wine brewed st year while admiring the flowers. We will also exge specialties from our respective farms a up stalls to sell to the attendees.

  You're wele t crops and specialties from your ranch, or any delicacies you make with them, ahem at a stall.

  Looking forward to seeing you there.

  From the Cherry Blossom Orchard]

  Naoki raised his eyebrows. A Cherry Blossom Festival, a local celebration? It sounded quite iing.

  He nodded and said to Alven, "Thank you very much. I uand."

  The postman, Alven, nodded iurn. "Okay, I'll be on my way then. See you ter!"

  With that, he rode off on his Cyclizar.

  After a moment, he shook his head with a smile and tinued his work on the ranch.

  Meanwhile, in Mesagoza, on Lanhai Street.

  Dragonite arrived at No. 308 as usual aly knocked on the door with its rge paws.

  Soon, footsteps approached from inside, and Mrs. Dantes opehe door. Seeing Dragonite, a kind ale smile spread across her face.

  "It's Dragonite!"

  "Roar~" Dragonite handed over the goat milk.

  Mrs. Dantes accepted it and, after paying, said tonite, "Please wait a moment. I have something I'd like you to take to Naoki."

  "Roar?" Dragoilted its head in fusion.

  Mrs. Daurned around, retrieved a package and a letter from ihe house, and hahem toh a smile. "These are some cookies I baked myself. Take them back for Naoki to try!"

  "Roar!" Dragonite nodded obediently, took the letter and cookies, and flew back to the ranch.

  Mrs. Dantes watched it depart, theuro the house. Seeing her husband looking much better, she felt more rexed than ever. "How are you feeling today?"

  "I feel much better," he replied. "Some of my strength has returned."

  Hearing this, Mrs. Dantes sighed in relief. "This is all thanks to Naoki's goat milk!"

  ...

  "Mrs. Dantes gave these to me?" Back at the ranaoki was surprised to see the cookies and a letter that Dragonite handed him.

  "Roar!" Dragonite nodded happily.

  Naoki reached out and took them, opening the letter from Mrs. Dahe letter expressed her gratitude for the goat milk, mentioning that her husband's health had improved signifitly. She had also included some cookies and wished Naoki good health and success with the ranch.