After finishing his call with Beach, Rex took Chimchar and Bagon for a leisurely stroll around the farm.
Of course, the two little troublemakers weren't content to just walk quietly. Every now and then, they would start play-fighting or dart around Rex in circles.
Rex didn't mind their antics. In fact, he thought this playful behavior helped build their bond. While they were rivals, Rex still hoped that Bagon and Chimchar could become good friends.
"Ah, that's so tingly!"
"Flaaffy, how have you been lately?"
It had been a while since Rex last interacted with the shiny Flaaffy. The moment it saw him, the energetic Pokémon hopped over excitedly and threw itself into his arms, giving him a big hug.
However, the Flaaffy seemed to forget about the static electricity stored in its wool. As soon as it touched Rex, his hair stood straight up, and his entire body tingled from the shock.
Despite the jolt, Rex just smiled and patted the Flaaffy on the head, greeting it warmly without any sign of annoyance.
"Baaa! Baaa!"
Realizing a little too late about the static charge in its wool, the shiny Flaaffy sheepishly stepped back. But when it heard Rex asking about its well-being, it happily bleated in response, expressing its joy.
"Haha, it's fine. As long as you and your flock are doing well, that's all that matters. You know, our farm's success wouldn't have been possible without your contribution!"
After confirming that the Flaaffy and its flock were doing fine, Rex felt relieved.
The wool produced by these Flaaffy had been the farm's first big success. Their contribution was vital in helping the farm thrive as it did today.
The Flaaffy flock on the farm had grown to over 20 Pokémon after the most recent additions.
However, Rex didn't plan to expand the flock further for the time being. Shearing their wool required manpower, and with only four people working on the farm—including Rex—they were already stretched thin.
As for hiring more help, Rex wasn't planning to do that anytime soon either. He was cautious about who he allowed onto the farm. Unless it was someone he trusted, like Yuli and the other orphans, he wouldn't risk exposing the farm's secrets.
After all, the farm had its fair share of valuable assets: the Gracidea flower field that housed Shaymin, the unusually effective berries, and Rex's unique abilities. These were all secrets worth protecting.
Yuli and the other orphans weren't very knowledgeable about these things initially, but by the time they learned more, they had already grown attached to the farm and chosen to protect its secrets.
What's more, Rex treated them with respect and trust, offering them a level of freedom and comfort they likely wouldn't find working elsewhere.
Though they called him "boss," Rex didn't see them as employees. To him, they were like family.
And Rex believed they felt the same way.
They were a group of people finding warmth and security together in a world that hadn't been kind to them. None of them wanted to disrupt the harmony they'd built.
After spending some time with the shiny Flaaffy and its flock, Rex prepared to leave. He wasn't planning to go on any trips soon, so there would be plenty of chances to visit them again.
But just as he was about to head back, Linoone appeared, accompanied by Roselia and Nuzleaf. The trio blocked Rex's path.
"Linoone, is there something you need?"
Rex crouched down and patted Linoone's head, gently asking what was going on.
Hearing Rex's question, Linoone momentarily forgot how much it enjoyed being patted. It let out a few growls, then began walking in a particular direction, glancing back frequently to make sure Rex was following.
Meanwhile, Roselia and Nuzleaf stood on either side of Rex, gently nudging him forward, urging him to follow Linoone. It was clear they wanted to take him somewhere.
"Alright, alright, I get it. I'll follow you—just stop pushing me!"
Understanding their intent, Rex relented and agreed to follow.
Satisfied, Roselia and Nuzleaf stopped pushing and fell in line behind their "boss" Linoone, looking quite dignified.
Seeing the amusing scene, Chimchar and Bagon joined in, one on each side, as if mimicking Roselia and Nuzleaf. Together, they formed a unique procession.
Rex couldn't help but chuckle as he followed. Though he didn't know where Linoone was taking him, he trusted that it was something important.
After walking for about ten minutes, they arrived at a wooded area.
Once inside, Linoone led Rex to the base of a large tree. Using its sharp claws, it began digging at the soil, revealing a dark tree hollow. The opening was small—Linoone had to squeeze to fit inside.
Without hesitation, Linoone crawled into the hollow. Moments later, it emerged with an Evolution Stone in its mouth, placing it on the ground in front of Rex.
But Linoone wasn't done yet. It went back into the hollow several times, each time bringing out another item it had collected. Clearly, these were treasures it had found over time.
When Linoone finally finished, it sat down, tongue out and tail wagging, clearly expecting praise.
"Good job, Linoone—and thank you, Roselia and Nuzleaf! These gifts mean a lot to me."
Rex praised them generously, grateful for their thoughtfulness. He then pulled out a few plates and poured Sweet Honey onto each one as a reward for Linoone and its friends.
No matter the value of the items they'd brought, the fact that they thought of their trainer first when finding something good deeply moved Rex.
Chimchar and Bagon looked on enviously as Linoone and the others enjoyed their Sweet Honey. However, they didn't ask Rex for any themselves. They understood that this was a reward for Linoone and its team.
Even so, Chimchar and Bagon silently vowed to start collecting treasures of their own to impress their trainer.
While Linoone and its team ate, Rex began sorting through the items they had brought.
The Evolution Stone turned out to be a Thunder Stone. Its quality was average—not too bad, not exceptional. Rex decided to keep it for now and sell it later if he needed funds.
The other items included an Arbok fang, a Marowak's bone club, a broken Poké Ball, and some other odds and ends.
Among these, the Thunder Stone and the bone club were the most valuable. Unfortunately, Rex didn't have a Marowak, nor did he plan to catch one in the future. For now, the bone club would go into his collection until he needed to sell it.
After storing the useful items in his bag, Rex returned to the farm with his Pokémon entourage following close behind.
(Chapter End)