"Excuse me, Brother Lin... Ice Queen."
Just as Lin Feng was calling Pidgeot over and preparing to leave with Reika, Liam finally gathered his courage and had Aegislash fly over.
"Hmm?"
"You got frostbite?"
With a single glance, Lin Feng noticed the layer of frost covering Aegislash's body.
It seemed that during the blizzard, the Pokémon had flown too close and been caught by the lingering effects of the storm.
"Y-Yes... that's right."
Liam's eyes instantly turned red with tears.
He was on the verge of crying.
If he had known this would happen, he never would have listened to those viewers encouraging him to get closer.
The money he'd earned had nearly cost him his life.
"It's fine."
Lin Feng reached for a Storage Ball at his waist.
After opening it, he took out a Pokéblock and a spray-type medicine.
Although he wasn't a traveling trainer, he naturally carried Pokéblocks capable of treating various status conditions.
This particular Pokéblock had been made from specially selected berries.
After eating it, a Pokémon could quickly recover from freezing and frost-related injuries while also gaining a slight resistance to Ice-type attacks.
Originally, Lin Feng had prepared it for Dragonite and Salamence.
As everyone watched, Lin Feng fed the Pokéblock to Aegislash.
Almost immediately, steam began rising from the Steel/Ghost Pokémon's body.
The frost rapidly melted away.
Then Lin Feng sprayed medicine over the affected areas.
The icy red discoloration faded at once, and Aegislash soon returned to normal.
Liam finally let out a long sigh of relief.
"Thank you, Brother Lin!"
"It's nothing."
"It's not just your Pokémon. You don't look too good either."
"You should eat something."
Lin Feng took out another Pokéblock and handed it to him.
"T-Thank you... thank you..."
Liam was so touched he nearly cried again.
"Haha."
"When you think about it, we're practically acquaintances already."
Lin Feng smiled.
Even though this was technically their first proper meeting.
Then he asked curiously,
"Still, it's strange."
"How did you even find this place?"
"We're dozens of kilometers from shore."
"Aegislash couldn't possibly have flown this far in such a short time."
"Well..."
Liam awkwardly raised his phone and explained everything that had happened.
The livestream.
The viewers.
The gifts.
The relentless pressure urging him to chase after the battle.
Everything.
Lin Feng glanced at the livestream screen and couldn't help laughing.
The chat was completely flooded with requests.
Everyone wanted him and Reika to fight another round.
Lin Feng pretended not to see any of it.
"Got it."
"So you can't find your cruise ship anymore?"
"Yeah..."
Liam looked embarrassed.
"That's not a big problem."
Lin Feng casually took out another Poké Ball.
With a flash of light, Salamence appeared on the ice.
The moment Salamence emerged, Liam instinctively took two steps backward.
The dragon's face was covered in old battle scars.
Combined with its fierce expression, it looked terrifying.
"Let Salamence give you a ride."
"He's fast."
This was something Lin Feng had discovered earlier.
After eating certain special dishes, both Salamence and Dragonite had developed an incredible ability to sense activity across nearby waters.
Finding a ship wouldn't be difficult.
"Umm..."
Liam stared nervously at Salamence.
Meanwhile, Salamence stared back.
"Grah?"
The dragon tilted its head.
Its expression clearly seemed to say:
"What's wrong, kid? You don't want to ride?"
"O-Okay! Okay! Okay!"
Before Liam could even finish speaking, Salamence grabbed him by the back of his clothes.
The next second, he was tossed onto its back.
Then Salamence shot into the sky.
Thankfully, Liam managed to recall Aegislash into its Poké Ball at the last possible moment.
"Find a nearby ship, alright?"
"Don't fly in the wrong direction."
Lin Feng called out one final reminder.
Then he turned away.
Pidgeot carried Reika.
Lin Feng mounted Dragonite.
Together, they flew back toward Horizon Ranch.
When they returned to the ranch and Pidgeot landed, Lin Feng said:
"Reika, please wait a moment."
"I'm going to prepare the reward for clearing the Sky Challenge."
"The reward?"
Reika blinked.
She was about to refuse.
Then she remembered something Lin Feng had said earlier.
Eat well.
And considering how many people were obsessed with the Sky Challenge, she hesitated briefly before nodding.
The battle between the two had attracted enormous attention.
Not only had the ranch customers not left during their absence, there were now even more people than before.
Meanwhile, Lin Feng entered the ranch and headed toward the orchard.
As he walked, he began seriously considering what kind of reward he should create.
Outside, Reika stood quietly.
Many visitors were secretly stealing glances at her.
At the same time, she found herself observing the ranch as well.
She had already researched the birth dates and capture dates of most of Lin Feng's Pokémon.
As a result, she knew roughly when this ranch had begun operating.
Only half a year.
Just six short months.
Yet within that time, this young trainer had transformed the place into a thriving destination.
That alone was impressive.
"I remember..."
"Every city is required to have at least three stores selling Pokéblocks, correct?"
Reika suddenly asked.
This was a League regulation.
The purpose was simple:
Traveling trainers should never have to worry about food for their Pokémon.
Every city was required to maintain stores selling Pokéblocks.
Even Pokémon Centers provided free lodging during emergencies, along with complimentary meals on the first day.
"So why do people choose to come all the way to a remote place like Wutong Town just to buy Pokéblocks?"
Wutong Town was genuinely isolated.
Nearby was only Wutong Forest.
Beyond the forest, there weren't any major towns.
In the past, very few traveling trainers came here.
Only recently had visitor numbers begun increasing dramatically.
And every so often, someone would even clear the first stage of Lin Feng's Sky Challenge.
After hearing Reika's question, everyone in the ranch exchanged looks.
Finally, a young trainer stepped forward.
"Because Brother Lin's Pokéblocks taste amazing."
"Our Pokémon love them."
"And the effects are really good."
"That's right!"
Another trainer immediately chimed in.
"I can clearly feel my Pokémon growing stronger much faster than before."
The surrounding trainers quickly gathered around.
They were curious too.
Take the reward from the first stage of the Sky Challenge, for example.
The premium Pokéblock.
Everyone who had received one could feel its effects immediately.
It noticeably boosted a Pokémon's agility.
And it was far better than the standard Pokéblocks sold at the ranch.
That was when everyone realized something.
Not all of Brother Lin's creations were equal.
Different dishes had different effects.
If you wanted the really good stuff, you had two options.
Clear the challenge yourself.
Or place a special order.
Actually...
That wasn't entirely true.
Some of the best Pokéblocks couldn't be purchased at all.
Not even with money.
Because whenever certain rare batches appeared on the shelves...
They sold out instantly.
Gone.
Completely gone.
Impossible to buy.
As a result, everyone was extremely curious.
What reward would Lin Feng prepare for the final stage of the Sky Challenge?
"The effects are really that good?"
Reika's confusion deepened.
At that moment, Indeedee walked over.
The helpful little Pokémon carried a Storage Ball in its hands.
With a cheerful smile, it offered the ball to Reika.
"Indeedee! Indeedee~"
This was one of the rewards given to challengers who cleared the earlier stages of the Sky Challenge.
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