Pokemon: A New Path

Chapter 412: The Ranch store opens

Chapter 412: The Ranch store opens

Looking at the information on the screen, Naoki couldn't help but chuckle to himself. Geeta had adapted to this new technology remarkably quickly.

Thinking about it, he casually commented on her swift adoption.

Not long after, Geeta replied with a smile.

[Geeta: Of course, as the Champion of the Paldea League, I must stay ahead of the times. Otherwise, how would I connect with you young trainers?]

Naoki: "…"

After ending the call with Geeta, Naoki was surprised to receive several more calls from familiar names, all requesting to add him as a friend.

Among them were Alder, Champion of the Unova League; Leon, Champion of the Galar League; and Iono, Gym Leader of the Levincia Gym.

Alder's profile picture was a cheerful shot of him alongside Volcarona, his trusted partner. He looked full of vitality and warmth in the photo.

[Alder: Is this the phone you mentioned back then? It's incredible! I can't imagine life without it now!]

Leon's profile picture captured him mid-battle, illuminated by vibrant lights as he directed his Pokémon.

[Leon: You're at the ranch, right? I'll be on vacation soon and plan to visit. Are you free?]

Iono, ever true to her bubbly personality, used a photo of herself beaming into the camera with bright, electric-colored filters.

[Iono: Finally added you! Hehe, I knew you'd have a Rotom Phone too, Naoki!]

Seeing the messages, Naoki smiled and replied to each one in turn.

[Naoki: Is it useful?]

[Naoki: Yes, I'm here. I'll have time, and you're always welcome to visit!]

[Naoki: Compared to older communicators, the Rotom Phone is so much more convenient. I think no one can resist its charm.]

Alder and Leon exchanged a few pleasantries before going quiet, but Iono stuck around to chat a bit longer.

[Iono: What are you up to now?]

[Naoki: I'm heading into town to link my bank card to the online banking app. Are you on vacation?]

Naoki knew that at the end of each year, the Gym Leaders in Paldea were granted some time off to relax and move around freely, without needing to accept challenges from trainers.

Sure enough, Iono confirmed it.

[Iono: That's right! I went back to my hometown recently, and now I'm helping my mom make lunch!]

She sent a photo shortly after.

In the image, Iono's hands were covered in flour, and next to her stood a kind-looking woman with a gentle smile—likely Iono's mother.

Gym Leaders' families rarely appeared in the games, Naoki mused, but it made sense. A family capable of raising someone as cheerful and lively as Iono must be warm and supportive.

After a pleasant exchange, Naoki got up and made his way towards Koraidon, to head toward Kosaji Town and handle his online banking business.

Meanwhile, in a mansion in Levincia City, Iono's mother noticed the silly smile on her daughter's face and couldn't help but tease her. She raised an eyebrow playfully and asked, "You've got a boyfriend?"

Iono quickly shook her head, flustered. "What? No way! He's just a friend I met a while ago!"

The woman, well-acquainted with her daughter's nature, smiled knowingly and said, "I don't think so! But I've noticed you often travel across the entire Paldea region to visit someone in Kosaji Town."

Kosaji Town and Levincia City were thousands of miles apart. Knowing her daughter, it was unlikely she'd make such a journey without a significant reason.

Iono immediately scrambled to defend herself. "That's part of my job as a Gym Leader! The Champion assigns us tasks like that!"

Her mother raised an eyebrow, her expression clearly saying, Go on, I'm listening.

Seeing that she was caught, Iono sighed. "Okay, fine. I admit I have… a little affection for him."

Satisfied, her mother turned to inform her husband during dinner.

As the family gathered, the couple looked at their daughter with a mixture of nostalgia and amusement.

"Time flies," her father continued. "It feels like just yesterday she was running around in pigtails, and now she's all grown up!"

Iono: "…"

She buried her face in her hands, feeling increasingly flustered.

Then, her father leaned in mischievously. "So, was it love at first sight?"

Iono groaned, her cheeks turning pink. "No…"

She paused, thinking back.

When they first met, she'd thought Naoki was an older uncle type. But when they met again, he had cut his hair and shaved his beard, and he'd asked her, jokingly, if he looked younger now.

At that moment, she found Naoki intriguing and his personality endearing.

Her feelings had grown from there. She wasn't lying earlier—she truly did have a small crush on him.

Her parents exchanged a glance and then smiled at her encouragingly.

"Go for it, sweetheart!" her father said. "If you like him, take the initiative! That's what your mother and I did back in the day."

Iono stared at her parents in exasperation, feeling utterly defeated by their overenthusiastic meddling.

That evening, she decided to retreat to her home with her team to escape their teasing.

.....

After finishing his online banking business in Kosaji Town, Naoki hopped onto Koraidon and headed back to the ranch.

As he reviewed his updated account balance on the way home, he was surprised to see how much it had grown.

Somehow, without even realizing it, he'd become a millionaire.

"Strange… I don't feel any different," Naoki murmured to himself.

Life at the ranch continued in the same peaceful way. Though quiet and uneventful, Naoki found that such simplicity was precious.

He shook his head, a small smile on his lips. "Life goes on."

Now that the Rotom Phone was officially released, his next big task was to fully launch the Dragonite Express business!

Dragonite Express had always been part of his plan, but its success would hinge on another project: Pokémon Online, a shopping platform similar to Amazon Business.

The app's design concept was based on Naoki's earlier suggestions to Rotom Technology. He had insisted that Pokémon Online include all the necessary functions of a modern e-commerce platform.

Even though the Rotom Phone had only been on the market for a week, Rotom Technology's preparation had been meticulous. Many businesses had already uploaded their products to the Pokémon Online app, and several had even begun operations.

Naoki quickly browsed through the Pokémon Online app and found various items for sale: Moo Moo Milk, berries, plush toys, and Poké Balls.

Curious, he opened the shopping interface, linked his online banking account, and placed an order for twenty standard red-and-white Poké Balls.

After confirming his purchase, two delivery options appeared on the screen:

Toucannon/Squawkabilly Express: The delivery fee varied based on the distance. According to the description, merchants used Pokémon like Toucannon and Squawkabilly to deliver goods. These Pokémon, trained extensively beforehand, excelled in navigation and could deliver packages promptly and accurately, even across vast distances.

Standard Delivery: This method relied on human delivery workers driving large trucks between major cities. While slower, it was also more cost-effective than the Pokémon-based service.

Naoki nodded thoughtfully as he read through the details.

Next, he accessed his own online store, which he had created earlier. He renamed it Naoki Ranch and began uploading a selection of the ranch's goods.

Alongside standard fruits, vegetables, and Moo Moo Milk, Naoki included a special, limited-quantity item: Life Goat Milk. He highlighted its unique restorative effects in the description, hoping it would attract trainers and Pokémon who needed its benefits.

When it came to choosing a delivery method for his store, Naoki noticed an intriguing option: he could create a custom delivery service.

Without hesitation, he typed Dragonite Express into the field. He proudly detailed that Dragonite would personally deliver all orders, ensuring a faster and more reliable service than both Toucannon and truck deliveries.

Of course, such premium service came with a higher delivery fee, but Naoki wasn't planning to keep the money. Instead, he decided the fee would go directly to the Dragonites, allowing them to visit the town with Rotom and buy their favorite treats.

With everything set up, all that remained was for the Dragonites to pair up with their respective Rotom partners. However, this process would have to wait a few more days since Naoki had granted the hardworking Dragonites a well-deserved weeklong holiday.

But as the saying goes, "plans often can't keep up with change."

Though Naoki had given the Dragonites time off, they had their own plans.

The very next day, the sun broke through the clouds, casting a warm light over the frost-covered landscape. Compared to the previous days, the weather was noticeably milder.

Early in the morning, the Dragonites, feeling restless and bored on Dragonite Island, took to the skies. In a flurry of wings, they made their way to Naoki Ranch.

When Naoki saw the group of Dragonites landing at the ranch, he was surprised. "Why are you all here? Didn't I say you could take a few days off?"

The Dragonites responded with enthusiastic roars.

They all insisted that they were too bored on the island and wanted to return to the ranch to work!

Naoki blinked in disbelief. "..." He had never seen such eager workers before.

Meanwhile, his own Dragonite stood to the side, watching the scene unfold with an expression of exasperation. To it, these Dragonites weren't here to work—they were clearly here for the food!

Naoki didn't dwell on it for too long. Since the Dragonites were already at the ranch, he decided it was the perfect opportunity to distribute the Rotom Phones he had prepared for them.

Counting his own Dragonite, there were now 12 Dragonites on the ranch.

Naoki headed to the living room and retrieved twelve Rotom Phones. He set them out and allowed the Dragonites to interact with the Rotoms, encouraging them to choose their own partners.

Once every Dragonite had selected its Rotom partner, Naoki began explaining the phone's functions and their new responsibilities.

The Dragonites listened intently, their eyes fixed on the floating Rotom Phones. Despite their focused expressions, their faces betrayed some confusion.

Naoki smiled patiently. "To put it simply, starting today, I'll need your help delivering goods from the ranch to faraway places."

He explained the detailed system he had put in place.

Whenever a customer places an order through Naoki's online store, the Rotom Phone automatically collects the customer's information and forwards it to the Dragonite's partner Rotom.

Rotom would then use satellite maps to pinpoint the customer's location and guide the Dragonite there for the delivery.

If any problems arose during the journey, Rotom would automatically contact the ranch to inform Naoki.

As Naoki finished his explanation, the Dragonites' faces lit up with understanding.

"Awoo, awoo, awoo!" ("No problem! Leave it to us!") they roared in unison, nodding enthusiastically.

The Dragonites puffed out their chests proudly, their determination palpable.

Naoki chuckled, satisfied with their response. "Alright, I'll leave it to you!"

With the New Year just around the corner, Naoki decided to delay officially launching Dragonite Express until spring when the snow would melt. For now, he asked the Dragonites to spend some time at the ranch getting familiar with their new Rotom partners.

As the Dragonites began to bond with their Rotoms, Naoki prepared to head to Kosaji Town to purchase supplies for the New Year celebrations.

The 199th year of the Alliance Calendar marked Naoki's second year in this world.

In that time, the ranch had grown into a vibrant haven, home to a diverse array of Pokémon.

Naoki thought about the preferences of each Pokémon in his mind and selected the food they liked.

After finishing the shopping, Naoki loaded the food into his pickup truck and drove back to the ranch.

As soon as he arrived, Naoki called over Koraidon and Cyclizar to help unload and move the supplies.

With their assistance, the task was quickly completed. Naoki headed back to the living room for a well-deserved glass of water.

However, when he arrived, he noticed something odd—Calyrex, who had been lounging on the sofa watching TV, was nowhere to be seen.

In his place were a few sleepy Eevees, curled up together on the sofa.

Naoki glanced around the room and turned to brother Indeedee, asking, "Where's Calyrex?"

Indeedee responded, "Aiyee-!" while gesturing toward the glass greenhouse.

Following the direction indicated, Naoki made his way to the greenhouse.

Pushing open the glass door, he found Calyrex sitting atop a flower stand surrounded by blooming flowers. The King of Bountiful Harvests was engrossed in its Rotom Phone.

Naoki sighed. "…"

It seemed the King had moved on from his TV addiction to becoming thoroughly absorbed in his phone.

Calyrex, noticing Naoki's arrival, looked up and spoke with a touch of melancholy. "If I'd had a Rotom Phone to keep me company back then, perhaps I wouldn't have felt so lonely wandering across the Crown Tundra."

Naoki paused, his heart softening at the words. Looking at Calyrex, he was reminded of the elderly from his previous life who struggled with loneliness.

The sight was bittersweet.

Not wanting to disturb Calyrex, Naoki quietly stepped out of the greenhouse and returned to the main house.

.....

Later that evening, after dinner, Indeedee siblings and Gholdengo left to open the Pokémon Tavern for the night's business.

Meanwhile, Naoki retreated to his room, laying on his bed with a fluffy little Eevee nestled in his arms as he scrolled through his Rotom Phone.

A few Eevees snuggled together on his belly, fast asleep in a warm pile.

Pawmot rested comfortably at the foot of the bed, while Koraidon dozed on a soft rug nearby.

The peaceful moment was interrupted by a knock at the door.

Naoki set down his phone and got up to answer, surprised to find Indeedee standing there, looking unusually urgent.

"What's wrong?" Naoki asked, munching on a couple of translated seeds.

Indeedee flailed its arms, clearly excited, and exclaimed, "Indee-dee!" (There's news about the guests at the tavern! They found a lead on Pawmot's parents!)

"Huh?"

Pawmot, who had been dozing at the foot of the bed, suddenly sat up, ears perked, and asked excitedly, "Pawmot! Pawmot?" (Really?)

Indeedee nodded gently, confirming with a soft "Indee-dee!" (Yes, it was a Squawkabilly who told me!)

Three minutes later, Naoki and Pawmot arrived at the Pokémon Tavern.

Inside, a blue-feathered Squawkabilly was perched at the bar, sipping juice from a small cup held delicately in its wings while chattering animatedly.

"Squaww!" (Let me tell you, when I was out there, I even defeated a fierce Tauros!)

The other Pokémon seated around the bar were listening intently, clearly captivated by the Squawkabilly's boasting.

Halfway through its tale, the Squawkabilly noticed Naoki and Pawmot walking in. Pawmot immediately ran over, its tail wagging in excitement, and asked, "Pawmot! Pawmot?" (Have you really seen my parents?)

The Squawkabilly tilted its head, its eyes scrutinizing Pawmot for a moment. It seemed confused. "Squaww?" (You're Pawmot? Why do you look a little different from the ones I've seen before?)

Pawmot nodded earnestly, replying, "Pawmot!" (Yes! It's me, for sure!)

Although still a bit puzzled, the Squawkabilly began recounting its discovery.

It explained that about a year ago, while it was flying with its flock above a dense forest, it had spotted two Pawmots desperately searching for their child.

The two Pawmots had even climbed a very tall tree, calling out to the flock of birds above and asking if they'd seen their lost little one.

The Squawkabilly had replied that it hadn't seen anything at the time, and it watched as the pair of Pawmots left, visibly disheartened.

When Pawmot heard about the very tall tree, its eyes lit up with recognition.

"Pawmot" "That's it!" Pawmot exclaimed, bouncing with excitement.

"Pawmot". "I remember there was a very tall tree where I used to live!"

Naoki, who had been quietly listening, finally spoke. "Do you remember where this place is?" he asked calmly.

The Squawkabilly puffed out its chest with pride. "Squaww!" (Of course! We Squawkabillys are the most talented Pokémon when it comes to memory. Once we've seen something, we never forget it!)