Having delivered the battered Hunter J to the International Police and visited Tront's wife Mela, Lucas prepared to leave Montenevera.
Anabel asked, "You're leaving already?"
The blizzard had passed, Glaseado Mountain basked in rare sunshine, and the snow at the foothills was melting.
Reporters, eager for a scoop after the capture of Hunter J's gang, were already assembled in Montenevera Town.
A press conference was about to start, and as the hero of the operation, Lucas was about to slip away.
Facing away, Lucas held up two fingers. "First, I just accepted the commission from Chairwoman Geeta—the reward will come from her. I'm not interested in fame like this; I'm just an ordinary farmer."
"Second, all I did was shoot down their invisible airship and catch Hunter J. The rest were caught by you police—you don't need to single me out."
"So, this was a joint operation of the Paldea League and International Police. You should emphasize the team, not me."
With that, Lucas didn't wait for a reply, mounting Dragonite and flying toward Los Platos.
Anabel was stunned for a while, muttering, "What kind of farmer can blast a hole through a hundred-meter ship? There's a limit to humility!"
…
A week later.
All over Paldea, TV programs broadcast a news report at Geeta's behest:
["Recently, the notorious transnational poaching gang and its leader, Hunter J, were captured in a joint operation by the Paldea League and International Police. Hunter J and 385 members—386 in total—will be sent to court, and Hunter J will face trial at International Police headquarters."]
["This cooperation proves…"]
Lounging in a chair, Lucas turned off his phone, petting Growlithe and muttering, "Geeta really wants everyone to know about this—it's been on all the channels for three days, and even other regions are reporting it…"
Yesterday at Naranja Academy, almost every student was talking about it—even battle maniac Nemona whispered about it with Arven and Eri during battle class. The impact was obvious.
Lucas felt Geeta wanted to use this to advertise Paldea and attract talented trainers. They even asked Lucas if he'd act as the hero who single-handedly took down Hunter J's gang.
Of course, Lucas firmly refused—too much trouble.
He preferred peaceful farm life.
"Mudsdale~!"
A sound behind him, then a thick, long tongue smeared his face—Lucas, startled by the sticky feel, jumped up from his chair.
Wiping off Mudsdale's drool, Lucas asked, "Mudsdale? Why are you here? How's the mill?"
"Woof woof!"
Growlithe greeted Mudsdale.
"Mudsdale~!"
Mudsdale licked Growlithe, then gestured for Lucas to get on its back—it wanted to take him to the mill.
Lucas's eyes brightened. Was the first batch of wheat ready?
He folded his chair, slung it by the house, hopped on Mudsdale, and called Growlithe.
After returning from Glaseado Mountain, Lucas had started harvesting wheat and had Machoke's construction crew build a mill and storage barn nearby.
The mill used old-fashioned grinding, with Pokémon like Growlithe running laps for energy.
But Mudsdale was the main force, loving the work. Apparently, grinding laps gave it clarity and insight into its moves.
Lucas didn't quite get it. He planned to build a creek and convert the mill to water power, but since Mudsdale liked grinding, he'd leave a stone wheel for it.
On the way to the mill, Lucas was excited.
Soon, he'd have flour for all kinds of dishes!
New foods were calling!
…
Far away in Kanto, near Old Shore Wharf.
Delibird flew aimlessly. After leaving a cruise ship, it had headed inland.
It had helped a lost Kangaskhan baby find its mother, broken up a fight between Nidoking with a Blizzard freeze, and shrugged off trainers trying to catch it—it was still Lucas's Pokémon, after all.
It was drawn to a battle between two humans near the shore.
A boy in a cap and a bandana-wearing, brown-skinned man were in a full-on Pokémon battle.
The man said the boy had all eight badges.
After a heated fight, the boy's Pikachu used electric moves to defeat the man's three Pokémon after he lost his temper and broke the rules.
This reminded Delibird of Lucas's Luxray's lightning, and it lingered to watch.
Then the boy spotted Delibird and shouted, "A Pokémon I've never seen! I'm gonna catch you!"
"Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!"
A golden bolt shot toward Delibird, but Pikachu's Thunderbolt was nothing compared to real lightning.
Dodging easily, Delibird squinted down at the boy, thinking, "Kid, you're out of your League."