Lance imdiately recognized the trainer on the screen.
Wasn't that the sa person he had battled during the Unova League banquet?
What's going on here?
After thinking for a mont, he dialed Clair's number. When she picked up, he got straight to the point.
"What happened?"
Clair's tone was casual yet intrigued. "In short, a retired Champion decided to run a ranch. So people online didn't believe in his strength, so they went to challenge him… and they couldn't even beat the dairy pokemon."
Lance: "…"
A few seconds of silence passed before he admitted, "That trainer is indeed very strong."
Clair blinked in surprise. "Huh? You know him?"
Lance let out a hum of acknowledgnt. "We t once. Had a sparring match by chance."
Clair's eyes glead with interest. "Who won?"
Lance: "I lost."
"Ohhh~" Clair dragged the sound out, clearly amused. "So all those rumors online are probably true, huh?"
Lance raised an eyebrow. "What rumors?"
Clair looked genuinely surprised. "You don't know?"
"I've been on a mission. I had to go undercover and barely had ti to check online," Lance replied.
Clair instantly understood and then, with a grin, began explaining in a dramatic voice.
"That man is the most mysterious trainer in the Paldea region. It's said that years ago, he traveled the world and reached the pinnacle of strength."
"Then, one day, he retired. Instead of continuing as a Champion, he moved to Paldea and built a ranch with his Pokémon."
"There's even a saying among trainers: Even if you pass the Gym Challenge, collect all eight Badges, and defeat the Paldea League Champion;"
"It doesn't an you're the strongest. The only way to truly claim that title is by defeating the rancher known as Naoki."
Lance was montarily stunned.
'He really walked away from it all just to live peacefully with his Pokémon?'
Johto Region – Blackthorn City
Clair suddenly straightened up, her eyes flashing with excitent. "Alright! I've decided! I'm going to Paldea and hosting a Dragon-type Pokémon exchange with the trainers there!"
Simply staying in the Dragon's Den for training wasn't enough anymore.
She had grown up in this sanctuary, knew every Pokémon, every tree, and every battle technique used by the Blackthorn lineage. If she wanted to grow, she needed a new battlefield.
Lance thought for a mont before nodding. "That's not a bad idea. He's incredibly strong. If you battle him, you might learn sothing new."
Hearing that, Clair imdiately pulled out her Rotom Phone and booked a flight to Paldea.
March 17 – Alliance Calendar, Year 201
A passenger plane soared through the skies, departing from Blackthorn City's airport and heading straight for Paldea.
anwhile, on the ranch, Naoki was on a video call with Geeta.
Geeta's usual composed expression carried a rare hint of amusent.
"My, my… I saw the live broadcast of that visit a few days ago! Thanks to you, more and more trainers are flocking to Paldea."
Naoki sighed. "Yeah… I've noticed."
The enthusiasm of online netizens was truly sothing else. Ever since the live stream, a wave of foreign trainers had begun showing up at his ranch every day.
So were challengers. Others were just influencers trying to check in for content.
That last part had been particularly annoying.
In fact, just the day before, a social dia strear had co up to him—not for a battle, but just to film a "Pokémon Ranch Experience" video.
That was when Naoki had drawn a line.
"If you're just here to film content and check in, then you are not welco here. Only trainers who truly want to battle Pokémon are welco here."
Thankfully, the situation had improved after that.
"Oh?" Hearing this, Geeta's eyes glead with an idea. "I have a suggestion. Want to hear it?"
Naoki raised an eyebrow. "What?"
Geeta smirked before explaining, "Work with the Paldea League to set so restrictions for challenging the ranch."
"For example, if an outsider wants to challenge you, they must first obtain all eight Gym Badges from the Paldea region or be recognized as a Champion-level trainer by the Paldea League. Only then would they qualify to battle at the ranch."
"This way, the Paldea League can help you filter out challengers and reduce the number of casual trainers showing up just to test their luck."
Naoki: "..."
He imdiately saw through Geeta's sche.
She was subtly using this as a way to scout and recruit talent for the Paldea region!
First, the Gym Challenge would filter out only the most exceptional trainers. Then, by tempting them with the prestige of the ranch challenge, the Paldea League could offer lucrative opportunities to keep them in the region.
It was a clever plan—especially for Naoki. It would help screen out challengers who weren't serious, leaving only those who were truly strong and dedicated.
After thinking it over, Naoki nodded in agreent.
However, after a brief pause, he added, "This rule won't apply to Paldean trainers. As before, I'll accept them based on their skill and character."
Before his Kubfu evolved, it still needed battle experience—practical training, exposure to different Pokémon types, and sparring against diverse opponents.
Hearing this, Geeta couldn't help but praise him:
"Why didn't I think of that? Oh! If we do this, we might even encourage so foreign trainers to settle in Paldea. It's a brilliant plan! Let's make it official!"
Naoki: "..." Well, that was fast.
After the call ended, Geeta imdiately got to work.
Naoki wasn't sure exactly what arrangents she made, but it didn't take long for him to notice the results.
The visitors to the ranch had returned to being serious challengers rather than re influencers looking for content.
Naoki was satisfied with this.
However, at the sa ti, across Paldea—from Cascaraffa, Levincia, Glaseado Gym, dali, and more—every Gym had suddenly been flooded with a wave of eager challengers.
Looking at the wave of challengers gathering outside his gym, Larry felt a headache coming on.
"What exactly is the Chairwoman planning this ti.?"
He sighed, tilting his head up toward the sky. The crisp mountain air brushed against his face, ruffling his bangs.
When challengers arrive, we battle.
When the tide rises, we stand firm.
For soone like him—a Gym Leader and an Elite Four mber—there was no escaping these responsibilities.
With a resigned sigh, Larry picked up his briefcase, adjusted his tie, and made his way through the crowd into his gym.
anwhile, a plane from the Johto region touched down at Levincia Airport in Paldea.
As the cabin doors opened, Clair stepped onto the tarmac, her long blue hair swaying in the breeze. She pulled out her Rotom Phone and skimd through the Paldea League's latest official notice:
"If you wish to challenge the strongest and most mysterious trainer in Paldea, you must et one of the following requirents:
Obtain all eight Gym Badges in the Paldea region and complete the Champion Assessnt. Defeat the Elite Four and battle a recognized Champion-level trainer to earn your own Champion title."
"Huh?" Clair raised an eyebrow in surprise.
But soon, her lips curled into a confident smirk.
"So, I just need to beat eight Gym Leaders? Or take down the Elite Four?"
As a Dragon-type specialist, Clair was no stranger to battle.
Back in Johto, she had fought through the Silver Conference, conquered the Elite Four, and faced countless challengers at the Blackthorn Gym.
The only ti she had ever lost... was to Lance.
"Interesting." Her fingers tightened around the Poké Ball at her waist.
Battling a Champion-level trainer like Naoki wasn't an opportunity she could pass up.
A nostalgic sense of excitent bubbled up inside her.
"Taking on Gyms to collect badges, huh?" She let out a small chuckle. "It's been a while."
She had already walked this path before—facing Gym Leaders, fighting in tournants, and even challenging Johto's strongest trainers.
But this ti, she wanted to see how far she had truly co.
With a decisive nod, Clair turned toward the city.
...
Iono has suddenly beco very busy recently.
Every ti Naoki called her for a video call, he could see the exhaustion on her face—a second Larry in the making.
At first, Naoki didn't understand what was going on.
But soon, Iono let out an exasperated sigh and muttered resentfully:
"I don't know who ca up with this 'brilliant' recruitnt thod, but I swear I'm going to strangle them."
Naoki suddenly felt a pang of guilt.
Seeing his expression, Iono narrowed her eyes.
"Oh? You wouldn't happen to know anything about this, would you...?"
Naoki awkwardly averted his gaze.
"Haha."
Iono let out a long groan and collapsed onto her couch.
She lazily raised a few fingers in the air and mumbled:
"Haaah. Today, and my Bellibolt faced over a dozen challengers. I don't think I can even move anymore."
Naoki smiled. "Drink a bottle of Gogoat milk, get a good night's sleep, and you'll be back to normal by tomorrow."
As he spoke, Bellibolt waddled over, carrying a cup of fresh Gogoat milk in its short, stubby hands.
Iono took the cup and downed it in one go. The mont she finished drinking, she felt a surge of energy rushing through her body, washing away all fatigue in an instant.
"Whoa! That really hit the spot!" she exclaid.
Then, as if rembering sothing, Iono narrowed her eyes at Naoki suspiciously. "Wait a minute. The Chief didn't, like, buy this goat milk from you, did she?"
Naoki smirked. "She asked, but I turned her down."
Iono blinked. "Huh? Why?"
"There's no way I'd sell it to her," Naoki said, shaking his head. "If the Paldéa League got its hands on this, I just know the Chief would start forcing all the staff to chug thirteen cups a day just to keep up with overti."
Iono: "…"
The two exchanged glances—then burst into laughter.
anwhile, at the Paldéa League headquarters, Geeta suddenly sneezed.
"Strange," she muttered, rubbing her nose. "I'm not coming down with anything. Am I?"
...
"Oh, right," Naoki said, shifting the topic. "I might be heading to the Alola region in a few days."
Iono perked up. "Oh? What for?"
"I bought a ranch on Akala Island," Naoki explained. "When winter rolls around, we'll take Koraidon and the others there for a vacation. I heard Alola has warm weather all year round—it sounds like the perfect place to relax."
Iono's eyes sparkled. "Whoa! I've never been to Alola before!"
Naoki chuckled. "Then we should go together. Beautiful beaches, blue oceans, swaying palm trees. And, of course, all the Alolan Pokémon."
He had already decided—tomorrow morning, he'd take Koraidon and check out the new ranch, then return in the evening.
Though the idea of moving to Alola full-ti was tempting, he knew he couldn't leave Paldéa behind. The ranch still had a lot to take care of, and his Pokémon relied on him. For now, it would just be a vacation ho.
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