"These grasses are incredible…"
Hudders bent down, pulled up a thick blade of revitalized grass, and chewed it thoughtfully. His eyes widened almost immediately.
"The texture, the moisture, the life in it… If all the pastures on Fantasy Island are like this, the milk produced by the Miltank will surpass anything in Jhoto."
Having worked ranchland his entire life, Hudders could tell quality with a single bite. This was no ordinary grass—it was saturated with vitality.
Ash smiled faintly.
"So, Grandpa Hudders… what do you think? If you relocate to Fantasy Island, I'm willing to allocate a section of the Dream Forest specifically for your Miltank."
He paused before continuing.
"Of course, production would need to increase. I'll arrange for additional Miltank to be purchased from other regions and send staff to assist with expansion. In return, the milk produced will be supplied exclusively to Fantasy Island."
Hudders didn't hesitate long.
"That's not a problem. We raise Miltank to sell milk. It doesn't matter who we sell it to."
He looked toward Whitney, who was watching the grazing herd with shining eyes.
"With pasture like this… even if I'm gone one day, Whitney will never struggle."
Then his expression hardened slightly.
"But the Jhoto League… they may not make things easy."
Ash's expression remained calm.
"Don't worry. The Jhoto League won't trouble you."
His tone carried quiet certainty.
"They're already too busy worrying about themselves."
He didn't elaborate further, but his ambition extended far beyond a single region. Kanto was only the beginning. With the strength he possessed—and the influence steadily growing around Fantasy Island—his path would not stop here.
The revitalized grassland shimmered under the sunlight as the Miltank continued eating contentedly, their coats growing noticeably glossier.
The decision had already been made.
Ash stepped aside and made a call.
Within the hour, three helicopters descended onto Hudders' ranch. The powerful gusts of wind stirred the hay as several uniformed Pokémon breeders stepped out.
Leading them was a young man in a white coat.
"Young Master," he greeted respectfully.
His name was Leo, the head of one of Fantasy Island's breeder teams. Since joining, he had felt the difference immediately—the environment, the resources, the vision. It was nothing like working elsewhere. He had already decided to build his future here.
Ash nodded.
"This is Hudders, the owner of the ranch. You'll oversee the transfer of all Miltank. Make sure there are no mistakes."
"Yes, Young Master."
Leo's voice was confident.
"We'll handle the relocation carefully. The Miltank won't suffer any stress during transport."
As a professional Pokémon breeder, he understood how sensitive Miltank could be during environmental shifts. Proper feeding schedules, calm surroundings, and gradual adjustment periods would be critical.
Whitney watched as the staff began preparing specialized transport containers designed for livestock Pokémon.
Her ranch… was really moving.
Ash stood quietly beside her.
"With Mokuton-enhanced pasture and proper breeding methods," he said, "the milk produced on Fantasy Island will become famous across regions."
It wasn't just about dairy.
It was about building an ecosystem—one that sustained both Pokémon and humans.
Fantasy Island was still developing. There was room to expand, room to grow stronger.
The battle against powerful forces—like the Legendary Pokémon incident at Shamouti Island—had shown him something clearly:
Strength alone wasn't enough.
If not for Mewtwo's intervention back then, things might not have ended so cleanly.
Fantasy Island needed stability, resources, and influence.
And today—
A Miltank ranch had just become part of that foundation.
Afterward, Leo led his team and, with Hudders' cooperation, began gathering all the Miltank into temporary holding pens. Specialized transport trucks were already on their way.
Since Fantasy Island was surrounded by sea, the Miltank would first be moved by truck to the nearest port, then transferred onto cargo ships capable of safely transporting large Pokémon across open waters.
The relocation was proceeding smoothly.
Whitney stayed close to her grandfather, helping calm the herd whenever necessary. The Miltank, having just eaten the Mokuton-enhanced grass, were unusually docile.
Sabrina walked over to Ash while Hudders remained busy overseeing the preparations.
"I didn't expect you to invite them to Fantasy Island," she said quietly.
Ash kept his gaze on the bustling ranch.
"It's nothing unusual," he replied calmly. "You know that sooner or later, the Jhoto League and I will clash."
His tone was flat—almost indifferent.
"If conflict is inevitable, then we should begin consolidating every favorable resource now. When the time comes, Jhoto should be left with no strategic value."
Sabrina felt it again—that cold, decisive aura Ash only showed when discussing enemies.
This was not the carefree Trainer people saw on the surface.
This was someone preparing for territorial restructuring.
"Jhoto's guardian deity—Lugia—will eventually stand on Fantasy Island's side," Ash continued. "Once that happens, Kanto and Jhoto will no longer be separate spheres of influence."
He spoke as if discussing a natural progression of events.
"Besides, Jhoto's Pokémon ecosystem is nearly identical to Kanto's. If administrative authority changes, ordinary citizens won't lose much. The two regions are adjacent. Population migration would be simple."
In his mind, this wasn't destruction for chaos' sake.
It was restructuring.
He had already seen enough corruption within the Jhoto League during his journey. For an ideal society—one where humans and Pokémon truly coexisted peacefully—certain forces could not be allowed to remain.
Appeasement was not an option.
At that moment—
Ring. Ring.
Ash's phone suddenly rang.
He glanced at the screen.
A faint smile curved at the corner of his lips.
Sabrina noticed the shift immediately.
The caller ID displayed: Kojiro.
James.
One-third of the former Team Rocket trio.
Or rather—
Now, Ash's subordinates.
He accepted the call.
"James," Ash said lazily, leaning slightly against the ranch fence. "It's been over a year. I was beginning to think something happened to you. No reports, no updates."
His tone carried a hint of teasing—but beneath it was calculation.
If James was calling now—
Then something significant must have happened.
(End of Chapter)
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