Yoshino carefully packed the Hard Stones into a burlap sack and placed them in the truck's cargo bed. Then, from his wallet, he drew out a thick stack of bills.
"That makes nineteen thousand five hundred Poké Dollars in total," he said with a smile.
"Got it." Marzillo counted through the money twice to be sure. It matched perfectly.
This was his first real income since taking over the farm—and it was enough to make a difference. He could finally repair the old wooden cabin, maybe buy proper furniture, and make this place feel a little more like home.
Suppressing his excitement, he looked back at the merchant.
"By the way, Yoshino-san, do you sell supplies as well?"
"Of course," Yoshino replied cheerfully. "Can't just collect goods without selling anything in return, right? What do you need?"
"I'll take thirty bags of Quick-Grow Fertilizer, ten of Sticky Fertilizer, and five of Strong Fertilizer," Marzillo said after a short thought.
Yoshino thumped his chest confidently. "No problem at all! I've got just those in the truck."
With a nod to his Machamp, the pair began unloading the sacks one after another.
As an experienced trader who'd seen countless farms rise and fall, Yoshino knew exactly what each fertilizer could do:
Quick-Grow sped up plant growth dramatically.
Sticky Fertilizer allowed withered crops a chance to regrow.
Strong Fertilizer boosted overall yield when mixed with enough water.
"Just remember," Yoshino added, watching Marzillo's eyes shine with ambition, "too much fertilizer can hurt the soil. Always water well after using it—or your crops might dry out."
"I'll keep that in mind," Marzillo said earnestly.
Once the last bag was stacked in the warehouse, Yoshino checked his pocket watch. He still had other farms to visit before sunset. But as he turned to leave, he suddenly snapped his fingers.
"Ah! Almost forgot. Take these too."
He tossed over a small pouch.
Marzillo caught it, opening it curiously. Inside were several oddly shaped mushrooms and fungi—black, purple, and pale gold.
"What are these?"
"Crafting ingredients," Yoshino explained enthusiastically. "Swordcap Mushrooms, Ironwall Fungus, Shadow Spores, and Sweet Truffles. All valuable! For example, Swordcaps are the key ingredient in Power Tonics."
Marzillo listened attentively as Yoshino went on, "While your crops are still growing, try cultivating these under shade. They grow fast and sell well—could be your next source of profit!"
Yoshino then pointed toward the nearby lake, where sunlight shimmered over calm water.
"Or, if you're looking for something quicker, try fishing. I pay good prices for fresh catch too."
"Fishing, huh…" Marzillo paused. He hadn't even considered that before.
In this world, while Pokémon dominated the ecosystem, many normal animals—like fish and livestock—still existed. And this farm's lake… it was practically an untouched treasure.
A new plan began forming in his mind.
"Thank you, Yoshino-san. I really appreciate your advice."
The merchant waved off the gratitude with a hearty laugh, climbed into the truck, and revved the engine.
"Keep it up, young farmer! You've got a good head on your shoulders!"
The blue truck rumbled away, its silhouette disappearing down the dirt road.
Marzillo exhaled softly, feeling both satisfied and hopeful. He turned toward the cabin—only to be met by a soft, familiar voice.
"Master~"
Before he could react, a faint fragrance drifted by his neck, and something warm and gentle pressed against his back.
Gardevoir.
She rested her cheek against his shoulder, eyes half-lidded with playful affection. "You said… you'd help me wash up, remember?"
Marzillo froze for half a heartbeat, then laughed helplessly. "You really don't forget anything, do you?"
She tilted her head, smiling, and tugged him toward the bath. Steam began to rise as the shower hissed to life, filling the air with a soft haze.
They stayed like that for a long while—not saying much, just letting the warmth of the moment wash away the tiredness of the day.
When they finally stepped out, Gardevoir's expression was calm and content, her green hair slightly damp, eyes glowing faintly with trust.
Marzillo gently wrapped her in a towel and lifted her up. "Alright, time for bed."
As he stepped into the hallway carrying her, another figure appeared at the door—Lopunny, frozen mid-step, face turning scarlet.
"Ah—M-Master!" she squeaked, eyes darting everywhere except at him.
Marzillo couldn't help but chuckle. "Were you… waiting outside all this time?"
"I-I just wanted to ask if you needed tea!" she stammered, ears twitching furiously.
He gave her a teasing look. "Next time, just knock, okay?"
Her face turned an even deeper shade of red, and she mumbled something incoherent before scurrying away down the hall.
Marzillo watched her go, amused. Between Gardevoir's affection and Lopunny's bashfulness, his quiet little farm was becoming anything but peaceful.
Still, as he laid Gardevoir gently on her bed and stepped out into the cool night air, he found himself smiling.
This—this warmth, this gentle chaos—was exactly the kind of life he had once dreamed of.
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