On the side of the ranch closest to the lake, Silas used wooden stakes to fence off an area.
He planned to build a donkey shed here, which would serve as the Mudbrays' future residence.
Under normal circumstances, Silas should have gone to a carpentry shop to build the shed.
But his ranch was simply too remote—there wasn't even a properly leveled road connecting it to the outside world. Many materials couldn't be transported in at all, leaving him no choice but to do it himself.
Fortunately, he had his golden finger, which saved him ninety-nine percent of the time and effort.
As Silas gave the command, a semi-transparent construction interface slowly unfolded before his eyes.
Building: Donkey Shed
Required Materials:
League Coins: 6000
Wood: 350
Stone: 150
Overall, it was still within Silas's means.
He had already asked Kangaskhan to help with logging, which would also allow him to reclaim another patch of farmland in the process.
Minccino and Chatot weren't idle either; they helped however they could.
Minccino assisted in cleaning up the donkey pen, pulling out unnecessary weeds so that sweet, tender pasture grass could be planted later.
That way, whenever the Mudbrays got hungry, they could replenish their energy anytime.
Chatot took over Silas's field-patrolling duties, circling above each plot of farmland. From time to time, it would dive down, extend its sharp hooked claws, and snatch up insects.
Whether berry trees or crops, once the seedlings had just sprouted, they absolutely couldn't be ravaged by pests.
With the Pokémon's help, the speed of material collection skyrocketed.
From time to time, Silas lifted his head to look toward the ranch gate, yet he still didn't see Pyroar or the others.
Weren't they supposed to visit in the morning? Could something have happened on the way?
That shouldn't be possible! Pyroar was the Totem Pokémon of this region.
Its strength was unmatched—ordinary wild Pokémon wouldn't even survive a single exchange with it.
Most Trainers from Shalour City and Coumarine City recognized the Lion King active on the grasslands and wouldn't dare lay a hand on it.
Moreover, the League had issued laws strictly prohibiting Trainers from capturing Totem Pokémon. Once discovered, it would be deemed poaching.
Not only would the offender be wanted by the League, they would also be pursued by the International Police.
Time passed minute by minute, and the sun quietly reached the zenith overhead.
Looking at the empty plot of land before him, Silas silently thought, "Begin construction of the donkey shed."
[Construction materials deducted. Please wait patiently, Host.]
"What are you all doing?"
Coming back to his senses, Silas noticed Minccino and the others covering their eyes at his feet.
"Min!" We're waiting for Silas to perform magic—Chatot hasn't seen it before.
Peeking through a narrow gap, Minccino answered in a soft, sticky voice.
"The magic will take a long time. Let me rinse you all off first."
Silas picked up Minccino and patted Kangaskhan lightly.
"Min~"
Minccino immediately understood and proactively took over the cleaning task.
In a flash, it jumped onto Kangaskhan's body, swinging its fluffy tail up and down, sweeping away grime without missing a single corner.
Chatot, on the other hand, flew over to the lake, rolled its body in the water twice, then shook itself dry.
"Alright then, I'll leave it to you, Minccino," Silas said, patting Minccino in praise. "I'll go make lunch. Minccino, do you want some glutinous rice cakes?"
"Min!"
Minccino nodded furiously. Glutinous rice cakes were her absolute favorite—nothing else even came close.
"And what about you, big guy? How about boiled spicy pork slices today?"
Kangaskhan: -(≧▽≦)ノ Sure, sure! As long as it's made by Silas, I like it.
Silas then shouted toward the lake, "Chatot, I'll make you a vegetable salad for lunch!"
The Pokémon had been busy all morning helping build the donkey shed, so naturally Silas wanted to reward them. A lunch tailored to their tastes was the best way to do so.
While Silas was preparing lunch, four guests arrived at the ranch gate—it was none other than the Pyroar and the Mudbrays he had been eagerly awaiting.
It was their first visit, and Pyroar had to look after the Mudbrays along the way, so even though they had set out early, they only arrived now.
Before even entering the ranch, Pyroar caught a whiff of an extraordinary aroma. It couldn't help but look over, saliva beginning to pool in its mouth.
"Huh? Pyroar, you're here already," Silas said as he walked out carrying a plate of boiled spicy pork slices. Seeing the figures at the gate, he waved. "Your timing is perfect—come eat together."
"Roar~"
Standing by the dining table, Pyroar let out a low growl of inquiry.
As it approached, Pyroar sensed an even denser concentration of Fire-type energy. Bright red chilies coated the meat slices, causing its saliva to flow even faster.
"This is boiled spicy pork slices, a dish that's especially suitable for Fire-type Pokémon," Silas explained with a smile. Even he couldn't help swallowing as the dish's information surfaced before his eyes.
[Boiled Spicy Pork Slices (B): A delicious dish where spiciness and numbing heat intertwine, fresh, hot, and irresistible. Has special effects on Fire-type Pokémon.
Dish Effect: Spicy Burst: For a short time, increases the Fire-type energy within a Pokémon's body, with a certain chance for the Pokémon to comprehend a Fire-type move. (Effect doubled for Fire-type Pokémon.)]
"Dig in! Pyroar, hurry and try it," Silas urged.
Among all the Pokémon present, Pyroar was the only Fire-type.
Its probability of triggering the dish's effect was the highest.
"Mudbrays, don't be shy—eat together," Silas called out to them, though his attention never left Pyroar.
Pyroar bit into a slice of meat drenched in red oil and chili, cautiously placing it into its mouth.
The very next moment, after chewing for a bit, its crimson beastly eyes erupted with blazing flames, like two burning fireballs.
The flamboyant mane around its neck billowed upward, its surface temperature skyrocketing as its fur shifted from red to a blazing gold. Fire-type energy within its body surged like a volcanic eruption.
Gradually, Pyroar reached its limit.
Leaping backward to distance itself from everyone, it stopped restraining itself.
"PYROOOAR—!"
Accompanied by a majestic lion's roar that echoed through the mountains and forests, startling flocks of birds into flight, a pillar of fire shot straight into the sky, lasting a full thirty seconds before finally dissipating.
Looking again at Pyroar, it appeared brimming with vigor.
As if that prolonged burst of flames hadn't affected it in the slightest.
And indeed, that was the case—the Pyroar had simply vented the excess, unstable Fire-type energy within its body.
Not only did it feel no discomfort, its condition was better than ever, as if it had returned to peak form.
The kind of state where battling a female Pyroar for three hundred rounds straight wouldn't be a problem at all.
"So? Pyroar, how do you feel? Any obvious changes? Did you comprehend a new move or something?" Silas asked curiously once Pyroar calmed down.
Pyroar carefully examined itself, then shook its head.
It didn't sense any discomfort. On the contrary, its entire body felt refreshed and full of drive.
It even felt an urge to head back immediately and let its mate witness its renewed masculine prowess.
At the same time, its favorability toward Silas soared.
Letting the Mudbrays follow a human like this was clearly a good thing.
Pyroar looked seriously at the Mudbrays, then shifted its gaze to Silas.
"Py! Roar~!"
(End of Chapter)