Inside the Breeding House, Gary looked at the broad smile on Victor's face.
He asked, "Owner, as far as I know, that amount of money isn't enough to buy a Pokémon, is it?"
Victor handed the money to Gengar and then slowly explained, "That's the referral fee. We charge it for helping a Pokémon find a suitable trainer or person. It's not the price for selling them."
Victor patted Shana's small head and continued, "Like I said, they don't belong to the Breeding House. They're free."
With that, he turned and headed towards the backyard.
"But the referral fee—"
Before Gary could finish, he saw the smile on Victor's face.
He suddenly understood.
A referral fee could be very expensive, or it could be very cheap.
It all depended on the situation.
Gary couldn't help but smile.
"Owner, you really are..." He shook his head, then followed Victor.
Victor left the front counter in the care of Gothita, Mime Jr., and the Petilil.
He then took Gary and Shana on a walk through the backyard.
He was planning to add some more recreational facilities.
This would give the Pokémon and Shana more places to play.
For example, he could build a small diving platform by the lake. The Marill and Psyduck could climb up and practice their dives.
And under the swing set tree, he could add a seesaw.
Victor took a quick look around and got a general idea.
He would start construction in a few days.
Then he turned to Gary.
"You're very curious about the forest, aren't you?"
Gary hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
"Alright then. Let's have dinner in the forest lake tonight."
"Huh?!"
While Gary was still processing this, Shana, Gengar, and the others were already running towards the kitchen.
After everything was prepared, he had Dali and the others carry the items, and the whole group of people and Pokémon marched grandly towards the forest.
As Gary walked, he noticed that the forest Pokémon here were different from those in other forests. Instead of fleeing at the sight of humans, they would stop and watch.
Some Pokémon even ran over and joined the group, walking along with them.
They arrived at the forest lake. Victor spread out the picnic blankets. The surrounding trees and grass were filled with Pokémon.
He took out the food, set it all up, and was the first to start eating.
Shana, Gengar, and the others quickly followed suit.
Victor ate his dinner with great satisfaction. Ever since that first visit, he had fallen in love with this atmosphere.
Eating dinner in the forest with the people and Pokémon he cherished, surrounded by a crowd of adorable wild Pokémon, with no one bothering anyone else, just coexisting peacefully.
It was too comfortable.
Gary picked up a roujiamo (meat bun), took a bite, and the juices that burst into his mouth made him close his eyes in pleasure.
He then looked at the wild Pokémon playing and eating around them. They weren't afraid of his group at all. Although a few Aipom were being mischievous, this was the first time he had ever experienced such a peaceful coexistence.
In other forests, some Pokémon might gather, but never this many. Most would watch from a distance with wariness, or just ignore you. That was the norm.
But in this forest, was this kind of interaction between humans and Pokémon the normal way?
Gary couldn't figure it out.
Indeed, I still have much to learn.
About how to properly manage relationships with Pokémon, Gary said to himself.
"Do you know why it's like this? Why they aren't afraid of us?"
Victor swallowed the food in his mouth and asked.
Gary shook his head.
"Because we saved this forest together."
Victor recounted the events of that night. Gary's eyes filled with shock.
"So you see, Pokémon are creatures that rarely betray the kindness shown to them."
"Therefore, if you want to research Pokémon, why not start by offering them your love? They will return that love to you. That might be a good approach for your research."
Gary lowered his head and thought in silence for a while, then looked up.
"I understand. Thank you, Owner."
Victor smiled and didn't say any more.
He focused on enjoying his dinner.
Shana and the Breeding House's Pokémon also seemed to love this atmosphere. They ate their dinner quietly with Victor, no one speaking.
Occasionally, Shana would share some of her food with the forest Pokémon. The Vulpix, Petilil, and Roselia went to play with them, and the sound of pleasant laughter would drift over from time to time.
And then there was Mime Jr., who was curiously gathering a large pile of things, asking Victor to teach it which ones were edible. Gothita watched over it, letting it run back and forth.
Just like an older sister, caring for her little brother.
The Vespiquen had finished its dinner early and flown back to its hive. The Staravia was, as usual, preening its feathers.
After finishing his meal, Victor watched them play, then reached out and snatched a nearby Pachirisu.
Pachirisu: ?!
He then gently stroked its soft fur.
He held the Pachirisu up, buried his face in its fur, and took a deep breath.
Pachirisu: Mom, there's a creep here!!!
He set the Pachirisu down. It immediately scrambled up a tree, still clutching a half-eaten berry, and warily watched the man sitting below.
This was why Victor loved this forest so much. Fluffy creatures were everywhere. After a meal, he could just grab one for a cuddle.
The group packed up and, under the moonlight, headed back towards the Breeding House. Volbeat and Illumise lit the way for them.
Pachirisu, Budew, Oddish, Aipom, Bidoof, and other Pokémon walked with them to the edge of the forest.
Standing at the entrance, they watched the group's departing figures stretch long in the moonlight.
Only then did they turn and disperse, each heading in their own direction.
Shana was being carried on Victor's back, already fast asleep.
Gary walked beside Victor, neither of them speaking.
In silence, they returned to the Breeding House. Victor placed Shana on her bed, and tucked her, Tinkerbell, and the others in.
It was worth noting that the Roselia seemed to have taken to Shana, as it was also sleeping in her room now.
Mime Jr. and Gothita had also moved their small beds into her room, placing them right next to hers.
As Victor left Shana's room, he scooped up the Vulpix and turned off her light.
"Goodnight, Shana. Goodnight, everyone."
"Goth~" Gothita's soft voice replied, assuring Victor that it would take good care of them.
Victor went downstairs and found Gary sitting in the lounge area, organizing something.
Victor went to the kitchen and made two cups of honey water.
He walked over to the lounge, sat down, and handed one cup to Gary as they began to discuss the tournament.
Afterward, Gary, from the perspective of a trainer, gave Victor a lot of good advice.
Victor nodded and then patted his shoulder.
"Get some rest."
With that, he went upstairs.
Gary looked at his Umbreon, which was lying at his feet, then at Victor's retreating back, and then at the honey water in his hand.
"Strange. Why does this not taste as sweet as the one the Vespiquen gave me?"
"Huh? What did you say?"
"Nothing, nothing!"
Seeing Victor suddenly turn around, Gary shook his head frantically.
"Oh." Victor turned back and continued up the stairs.
"That was close. He almost found out," Gary said, patting his chest. He looked at his Umbreon and let out a sigh of relief.
...
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