Elias moved with surprising agility, completely at odds with his gray hair and aged appearance.
He led Kai through the ranch with practiced ease, pausing whenever they passed a group of Pokémon to warmly introduce their traits.
"These Skiddo have gentle and affectionate temperaments. They can sustain themselves using just water and sunlight, generating energy to stay active. As Grass-type Pokémon, they not only produce milk but can also help promote the growth of crops on a farm."
Elias gestured toward a group of Skiddo grazing leisurely nearby as he spoke.
Kai nodded in understanding. With Elias's approval, he stepped closer to the Skiddo.
Just as Elias had said, the Skiddo were friendly and docile. They curiously observed Kai at first, and after confirming he posed no threat, a few of the more playful ones trotted over and affectionately rubbed their heads against him.
Elias chuckled. "See? I told you—Skiddo are perfect for farms and ranches."
Kai nodded in agreement, stroking one of the Skiddo's heads as he asked curiously, "How much do they cost?"
Elias smiled. "I personally raised and trained these Skiddo. They're healthy, well-behaved, and extremely sociable, so they're a bit more expensive than usual…"
Kai swallowed. He was seriously tempted by these Skiddo. "How much exactly?"
Elias glanced at him before replying with a smile, "Honest pricing—20,000 Pokédollars each."
Kai: "…"
I only have 30,000 Pokédollars in total, and you want 20,000 for a single Skiddo?!
To be fair, Skiddo were absolutely worth that price. As Grass-types, they could support plant growth while also producing milk. Their diet mainly consisted of grass, water, and sunlight, making them easy to maintain and a quick return on investment.
Still, the price made Kai hesitate. Instead of buying one from the ranch, he might as well head out into the wild a few times and capture one himself.
Most farm and ranch owners didn't have the ability to catch wild Pokémon, but for Kai, it was an easy task.
Forcing out a couple of awkward laughs, he quickly changed the topic. "I'd like to take a look at some other Pokémon first…"
Elias, experienced and perceptive, didn't call him out on it. He simply turned and led the way to the next area.
At the same time, he silently speculated—Kai's farm must still be in its early stages. Otherwise, he wouldn't struggle to afford a single Skiddo.
Now aware of the price range, Kai figured that Pokémon capable of producing valuable resources—like Skiddo, Miltank, and Nacli—would all be expensive.
Since Miltank were rarely found in the wilds of Paldea, that wasn't an option. However, Skiddo and Nacli could easily be captured in the wild.
With that in mind, Kai adjusted his approach. Instead of looking at high-cost Pokémon, he focused on those that were more widely available and reasonably priced.
"These Fidough aren't just great for guarding a farm—they also produce a high-quality yeast that's excellent for cooking and baking," Elias explained.
"Their evolved form, Dachsbun, emits a delightful aroma that enhances the growth of wheat. It's said that flour milled from wheat grown in the presence of Dachsbun's scent produces premium-quality bread."
"As for the price… 2,000 Pokédollars each."
"This here is a Smoliv. Its evolution, Dolliv, produces top-tier olive oil… 2,500 Pokédollars each."
…
Elias continued introducing different Pokémon, detailing nearly ten species in total.
There were Smoliv, which produced olive oil; Fidough, which created yeast; Combee, which collected honey; Noibat, which used ultrasonic waves to gather Berries; and Nacli, which produced salt with special properties, among others.
After considering his options, Kai had a shortlist of Pokémon that suited his needs.
Eventually, Elias led him to a small room and opened the door, revealing the contents inside.
The room wasn't large—only about ten square meters—and was lined with shelves.
Instead of Pokémon, however, the shelves were filled with an assortment of decorative bowls and dishes.
Kai glanced at Elias in confusion. Was there a Pokémon in here?
Or was Elias about to offer him lunch?
Elias merely smiled and said nothing. He walked over to one of the shelves, opened a cabinet, and carefully took out a round bowl decorated with tiny strawberry patterns before handing it to Kai.
The moment Kai took the bowl, he felt something shift in the air.
He sniffed instinctively. "Something smells… really good."
Looking down into the bowl, he spotted a soft, cream-like mass nestled inside.
Kai leaned in closer, confirming that the sweet aroma was coming from this cream… and that the cream was moving!
A realization struck him, and his eyes widened in recognition. He murmured, "This is… Milcery?"
Milcery, a Fairy-type Pokémon from the Galar region, was composed entirely of cream. Its evolved form, Alcremie, was renowned for producing rich, flavorful cream that filled people with happiness.
"I thought this one might stump you," Elias mused, stroking his chin. Then, he nodded approvingly. "You really are a teacher. No matter which Pokémon I introduce, you recognize them right away. Quite knowledgeable for someone so young!"
Kai gave a modest smile. "You're too kind. So this Milcery…?"
Anticipating his question, Elias replied, "Yes, this little one is also for sale—3,000 Pokédollars."
"This room is where we store desserts, and every now and then, a Milcery appears out of thin air, drawn by the sweet aroma. It's a fascinating phenomenon. Currently, this is the only Milcery on the ranch."
The only one…?
Kai blinked, looking down at the tiny, adorable Milcery in his hands. A decision formed in his mind.
Alcremie's cream was both delicious and comforting, and with its help, he could make wonderful treats to boost the happiness of the Pokémon on his farm.
At 3,000 Pokédollars, the price was more than reasonable.
After a brief moment of thought, Kai made up his mind. "I'd like to buy one Smoliv, one Fidough, one Mudbray, and this Milcery."
He had already calculated—2,000 Pokédollars for Fidough, 2,500 for Smoliv, 2,400 for Mudbray, and 3,000 for Milcery came to a total of 9,900 Pokédollars. That would still leave him with 20,000 Pokédollars to maintain his current standard of living.
As for Pokémon like Skiddo, Mareep, or Wooloo, he could always capture them himself in the wilds of Paldea, Johto, or Galar.
----
Don't forget to drop some Power Stones!💎💎💎
Read more chapters ahead of everyone else on my Patreon
Patreon/ Nyxal
---
Advance chapters are available at free of cost on Patreon...Way ahead than Web Novel