Upon hearing this, Naoki couldn't help but sigh.
So be it!
If Arven is destined to have such a tragic fate in the future, then let him create some memorable childhood moments for Arven now!
He didn't say much more, simply agreeing silently to Professor Sada's request.
"Thank you very much," Professor Sada said gratefully. "In a week, the lab will be on break, and then Turo and I will return to the Paldea Region to pick up Arven."
"Okay," Naoki nodded.
After hanging up the phone, Naoki stood there thinking for a while, then went up to the second floor to prepare the guest room.
"In the next couple of days, there will be a guest coming to the ranch," Naoki said as he made the bed, speaking to the Indeedee Sibling behind him. "He's the son of the two professors, named Arven."
"Indeedee~"
The younger Indeedee nodded happily, ensuring to take good care of the guest!
Naoki smiled; he had met Arven before. Arven wasn't a brat; on the contrary, he was very well-behaved and sensible.
According to the professors, Arven should arrive at the ranch by tomorrow afternoon, taking the Squawkabilly Flying Taxi from Cabo Poco Town.
During this time, Naoki meticulously cleaned the rooms on the second floor and then waited with a group of Pokémon for Arven's arrival.
The following afternoon at three, Naoki was in the wine cellar pouring fruit wine when a commotion suddenly erupted in the ranch.
Naoki initially thought Arven had arrived, so he stopped what he was doing, preparing to go out and greet him.
But when he went outside, he discovered it wasn't Arven; instead, a low-key but luxurious black car had arrived.
Naoki: "?"
The car stopped in front of the ranch.
In Naoki's bewildered gaze, two individuals emerged from the car.
One was an elderly man with graying hair, dressed in a black suit with a white shirt underneath, looking like a butler.
And a short girl with a ponytail and bright, spirited eyes.
As soon as the little girl got out of the car, her gaze locked onto Naoki from a distance.
Then, she pulled out a red and white Poke Ball from her pocket, energetically saying, "Let's battle!"
Naoki: "???"
The old butler beside the girl said helplessly, "Miss Nemona, you're too eager."
Ni... Nemona?!
Naoki was a bit shocked. Was this little girl really Nemona? No, that couldn't be right. How could Nemona be here?!
At this moment, the old butler stepped forward and politely said to Naoki:
"Sorry to intrude, Mr. Rancher. This is Miss Nemona. We came from Cabo Poco Town. Miss Nemona saw you with those Dragonites on TV and rushed over to challenge you to a Pokémon battle."
Upon hearing this, Naoki instantly realized what was going on.
He looked at the little girl, thinking it was typical of Nemona's "anything goes" personality!
But...
Naoki opened his mouth, about to explain he wasn't a trainer, when a pink figure suddenly flew over the ranch.
The pink figure, adorned in a majestic red cape, descended from the sky holding a hammer, the wind making its cape rustle loudly.
That Pokémon was...
Nemona's gaze was instantly captured.
The old butler beside her was even more shocked, his mouth agape.
A flying Pawmot?!
Could it be that his old eyes were failing him?
And it was a shiny Pawmot!
Pawmot was so excited to stop in front of Naoki.
"Pawmo!"
It had already learned how to use the hammer!
With that, Pawmot eagerly demonstrated to Naoki.
A surge of blue lightning erupted from its body, enveloping it entirely, even turning its eyes a pale blue.
A terrifying amount of Electric Type Energy surged madly into Pawmot's hammer.
Pawmot swung the hammer with great force, flying high into the sky; the hammer's spinning speed increased until it burst with terrifying lightning and sparks.
At a certain height, with an emphatic "Pawmo," Pawmot's pink figure descended from the sky, delivering a lightning hammer strike to the ground.
Suddenly, intense sparks scattered everywhere, and the previously flat ground was even smashed into a large pit.
Naoki widened his eyes, staring in disbelief at the scene.
What was that move, and why was it so powerful?!
This exceeded all his expectations...
Across, the old butler's face mirrored astonishment; he was stunned, unable to say a word, just staring blankly at the extraordinary Pawmot.
That move... what move was that? He had never seen it before!
What kind of Pokémon was this? Was this pink, girlish Pokémon really the Pawmot he was familiar with?!
Beside him, Nemona's eyes sparkled as she gazed at Pawmot in the distance.
She clenched her fists excitedly, her eyes shining with a fierce light: "Amazing!"
"Pawmo?"
Pawmot finally noticed the visitors, turning to look at the old butler and Nemona behind.
Nemona had already pressed the button on her red and white ball.
With a flash of white light, a tiny, fluffy Pawmi appeared before Pawmot.
Nemona's desire to battle was burning hot: "Mr. Rancher, please have a Pokémon battle with me!"
Hearing this, Naoki instinctively lowered his head to look at the young Pawmi.
Pawmot also looked down at the Pawmi, so much smaller than itself.
Nemona's Pawmi also looked up at Pawmot, amazed as her fluffy face showed surprise at Pawmot's flight.
"Pawmo?"
Pawmot was a bit unsure, turning to Naoki for guidance.
Naoki looked at Nemona: "...This doesn't seem appropriate, right?"
Nemona was momentarily taken aback.
Naoki continued: "If the power difference is too big, forcing a Pokémon to battle won't yield results and might even put the Pokémon in danger. That's not what a competent trainer should do."
Nemona, although passionate about Pokémon battles, didn't want to see this happen. She glanced at the Pawmi before her and at the Poke Ball in her hand, ultimately returning Pawmi to the ball.
The old butler finally snapped back to reality, noticing other Pokémon drawn by the commotion and realizing this wasn't an ordinary ranch.
Nor was the man before him an ordinary person; he was likely a powerful trainer hiding in seclusion.
His long-standing butler training allowed him to remain calm even in this situation.
Seeing Nemona abandon the idea of battling, the old butler first spoke to her:
"Miss Nemona can wait until she grows up to have a Pokémon battle with this trainer."
Upon hearing this, Nemona's eyes lit up, no longer as disappointed as she was earlier.
Seeing this, the old butler smiled slightly, then stepped forward, politely inquiring:
"Mr. Rancher, may we tour your ranch? We've never seen so many Dragonites. Miss Nemona and I are willing to pay the appropriate entrance fee."
Naoki was slightly taken aback, then understood their purpose for coming.
They wanted Nemona to learn about Dragonite through personal exposure, providing her the best educational environment.
As expected of a young lady from a wealthy family!
Since it was no big deal, Naoki shook his head, saying, "No need for the entrance fee; if you'd like to visit, then follow me."
The old butler responded courteously, "Thank you very much."
With that, Naoki prepared to show Nemona and the old butler around the ranch.
Just then, a voice sounded from behind them.
"Uh... Excuse me!"
Naoki turned to see Arven, who had somehow arrived at the ranch, standing shyly nearby, raising his right hand towards the group.
Whoa!
Seeing this, Naoki raised an eyebrow.
What a coincidence! Nemona had come, and now Arven had arrived too.
All that's missing is Penny, and the trio of childhood friends would be complete.