"..."
After a long while, the man standing dazedly in front of the screen slowly turned around.
Normally, according to the speech Mr. Qi had prepared, he should have praised this farmer who had gone through countless hardships to finally find most of the Golden Walnuts on the island.
But, the prerequisite was "countless hardships."
He silently met Ron's gaze for a moment, quickly searched his mind, cut out the long-winded praise he had originally prepared, and dryly pointed to a bulletin board at his side.
"To your left, there's a bulletin board— hmm, if you can complete the tasks on it, you can earn a special currency." As he spoke, Mr. Qi pointed to another board and said: "That one. I call them Qi Gems. By the way, these things are different from diamonds; that stuff is highly radioactive, don't put it in your mouth."
Seeing Ron walk up to the bulletin board, he continued, "With Qi Gems, you can trade with me for many good things, like the seasoning Sailor took, and other things."
Mr. Qi had no desire to elaborate. Although Ron's actions were completely within the rules, and it wasn't he who had sent the Rattata to forcefully snatch from places like the tents.
He just felt that something was a little off.
Mr. Qi couldn't quite put his finger on it himself. According to his vision, this young man should have been like his grandfather, leading a group of powerful Pokémon on adventures everywhere, finally collecting all the Golden Walnuts on the island one by one.
However, having said that, being able to unlock the potential of these weak Pokémon, making their work efficiency surpass that of powerful Pokémon, could also be considered one of Ron's strengths.
So, thinking this, Mr. Qi walked over to Ron's side, preparing to give him a detailed introduction, only to see that Ron was already about to take his leave.
"—You're done looking already?" Mr. Qi couldn't help but ask.
Seeing Ron nod, he slowly turned away.
"Well then, I still have more important things to do—" He paused, and before he could ask Ron to leave as he had expected, he saw Ron's departing back on the screen: "—So rude."
But thinking of his own performance just now, Mr. Qi didn't chide Ron.
This, however, taught him a small lesson.
Some things don't necessarily require great strength to obtain his favor.
After leaving Mr. Qi's Walnut Room, Ron immediately and without pause began recalling his Pokémon one by one.
Aside from the Rattata and Dugtrio who were staying here to handle the future planting and tilling, the rest were all to be brought back to Pelican Town.
After returning this time, the next trip would be to bring Bellossom and Shaymin over. With that, the farm's work could be considered fully on the right track.
As for the first batch of crops to be sown, Ron planned to go to the desert, buy a batch of Starfruit seeds from Sandy, and plant them. After planting at most two batches of starfruit, the seeds made from the Ancient Fruit produced in the Greenhouse would be enough to cover the farmland here.
Besides that, he also needed to get a Teleport Totem set up on the farm from the Wizard.
Although Willy had agreed to let Ron ride his boat for free, in comparison, the totem's back-and-forth teleportation was a bit faster.
This included the Pokémon; if they finished their work on the farm and wanted to vacation on Ginger Island, it would be perfectly fine.
Thinking this, Ron took a quick inventory of the Poké Balls in his hand, then walked to the Totem. Following a flash of light, Ron suddenly appeared in front of the statue on the farm.
"Aaaaaah—" Meowth, who was squatting by the statue, its paws wrapped in bandages and seemingly lost in thought, screamed in terror.
After confirming the person before him was Ron, it let out a long sigh: "It's you, meow— you know magic too, meow."
Since he didn't quite understand the principle behind it himself, Ron didn't explain it to Meowth, just telling it that this was a form of transportation in Pelican Town.
"Oh, I see, meow." Meowth tilted its head and thought for a moment. It figured it wasn't surprising for people in Pelican Town to be able to teleport, so with that in mind, it didn't dwell on the matter any further.
Meowth, for its part, was thinking about Pelican Town.
It really did like it here a little, which was different from the situation before. Although back then, with James, they had indeed considered the possibility of leaving Team Rocket, but because of so many years of memories, and also because they still wanted to be with Jessie, they ultimately chose to continue snatching the twerp's Pikachu.
But now, it seemed both Jessie and James had found like-minded friends here.
Although Meowth itself was a bit behind, it also got along well with Maru and Bellossom.
Even the Rattata were very fond of it.
It felt that if a decision had to be made, it was best to make it sooner rather than later.
If they were planning to leave, they should do so before they got too close to everyone, go back and tell Boss Giovanni that there was nothing here. As for those local specialties and Pokémon—
Meowth and the others knew nothing about them.
After all, their previous missions had never gone very smoothly anyway, so it wouldn't matter even if Boss Giovanni had some complaints.
But if they really did as James thought and stayed until next fall to repay the hazelnuts and dried fruit they owed—
Would they really be able to bear leaving then?
Thinking this, Meowth let out a long sigh.
Ron wasn't quite sure what Meowth was thinking, but because without his permission, none of them could leave Pelican Town, Ron wasn't worried at all that they would leak any of Pelican Town's secrets.
So he didn't pay it any mind. After casually handing Meowth a roasted taro he'd brought back from Ginger Island, he headed to the desert to buy seeds.
On the other side, Jessie.
After failing a few more rounds, Jessie finally made a Stuffing that she was satisfied with.
Although Leah's recipe was good too! But for a birthday gift, you should definitely give something you're most proud of!
Thinking this, Jessie hugged her improved Stuffing and knocked on Evelyn's door.
"Coming!" Evelyn arrived at the door and opened it.
Inside the house, a tulip was now in the vase.
—
It was one Alex had specially ordered from Pierre's shop. Evelyn glanced at Jessie and said with a smile, "What is it, dear? Come to see Granny?"
"Today, I think, is your birthday." Jessie said, shifting her gaze uncomfortably and handing the Stuffing in her hands to Evelyn.
"Stuffing, how did you know I like this?" Evelyn smiled. She could see Jessie's awkwardness and immediately took a bite of the bread in front of her.
"The flavor—" Evelyn's words caught in her throat.
What a strange flavor—
Evelyn thought, chewed, and said to Jessie, "It tastes really good. Thank you, dear."
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