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After some back-and-forth from the two Pokémon, Kael finally figured out what was going on.
The imposing Herdier in front of him wasn't backing up the stronger Mareep it was the ranch's security.
Raised by the ranch owner Bali since it was a pup, this Herdier was tasked with guarding the ranch and protecting its Pokémon. After all, both Mareep and Miltank were critical to the ranch's income, and every one of them mattered.
"So… you're asking why we were fighting?"
"Woof!"
The Herdier huffed and nodded firmly.
Kael studied the sturdy canine. It wasn't just tough it was smart. Herdier were famous for their sharp observation and deduction skills. In the wider Pokémon world, they were often assigned to Officer Jenny as partners for crime-solving.
If he lied, there was a good chance it'd be seen through instantly and cause even more trouble.
"I…"
Just as Kael opened his mouth to explain, the Herdier barked again.
It tilted its head, eyeing Kael with visible suspicion.
"Woof! Woof!"
"Okay, okay! Boss, No disturbing the peace got it!"
Kael responded hastily.
Satisfied it had handled the situation, Herdier trotted off with a spring in its step, looking quite pleased with itself.
Kael watched it go and chuckled to himself.
"Pokémon really are too pure… It looks all serious and proud, but it's surprisingly easy to deal with. Kinda cute in a dumb way."
He made a mental note to check Herdier's location before trying to level up again.
The stronger Mareep from earlier gave a final annoyed "baa" and strutted off with its sidekick in tow.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, golden light spilled across the pasture, painting the green fields with streaks of orange.
"Ahhh…"
Kael yawned, thoroughly exhausted from the day's grind.
"Better get back to the pen. If Bali notices a Mareep missing during the nightly count, it could cause trouble."
The sheepfold was a simple wooden barn. Iron railings separated the interior into sections, each lined with large mats of straw for the Mareep to sleep on.
Kael found a clean corner and flopped down.
"Moo!"
A loud bellow rang out from nearby. Kael winced.
"Seriously?"
He sighed, glancing toward the nearby pens.
It must've been mating season, because the Tauros designated for breeding had been going wild every night each trying to prove their virility to the Miltank.
In the Pokémon world, Miltank were always female, while Tauros were their designated male counterpart. Due to their strength and stamina, Tauros were once prized as mounts and beasts of burden.
While their use had diminished with modern technology, ranches still raised elite Tauros for breeding stock.
"They've got way too much energy…"
Kael muttered, trying to ignore them.
The day's exhaustion caught up to him quickly, and the moment he closed his eyes, sleep took him.
---
The Next Morning
Kael was the first to step out of the barn. He took a deep breath, savoring the crisp morning air and the scent of dew-covered grass.
"Man… a brand-new day!"
Behind him, the other Mareep began spilling out of the barn in a bleating crowd. Kael scanned the flock, eyes hunting for another "soft target" for training.
"Yesterday's session got interrupted… Today, I'm definitely hitting level 3!"
He was just about to make his move when he spotted Herdier patrolling nearby, its gaze locking briefly with his.
"Ugh… fine."
Kael sighed and blended into the flock. He'd wait until the others dispersed before starting his training.
Soon enough, the opportunity came.
While Herdier was busy wagging its tail and trying to get credit for "protecting the flock" from Bali, Kael slipped away unnoticed.
Once outside the watchdog's range, he took off sprinting, not slowing until he was completely in the clear.
From there, he launched a guerilla campaign dodging Herdier and grinding EXP on unsuspecting fellow Mareep.
By late afternoon, his efforts paid off.
[Level Up! Current Level: 3 (32/100)]
Kael beamed as he checked his [Status Menu] for the tenth time, mentally celebrating the progress of his grand development plan.
He even hummed a little tune on his way back to the pen, ready to end the day on a high note.
But then—
"Whimper… woof!"
A faint, distressed cry reached his ears, and Kael froze.
"Did I imagine that?"
"Woof!"
This time it was louder. Fierce. Urgent.
Kael's expression turned serious.
"That's… Herdier?"
He was confused. Herdier was, as far as Kael knew, the strongest Pokémon on the ranch. What could've gone wrong?
"Should I check it out?"
"No… bad idea!"
He shook his head.
At level 3, he wouldn't be much help and he might even become a liability, distracting Herdier at a critical moment.
"So what do I do then?"
He paced, thoughts racing. If he wasted too much time, it might be too late to help at all.
---
Meanwhile, inside the house…
Bali stepped out of his boots and shook the grass from his work jacket before hanging it on the rack.
"You're back!"
His wife's soft voice called from the kitchen.
"Yeah, not much work today, so I thought I'd come home early for dinner."
"Daddy! Daddy!"
A little boy, no older than eight or nine, ran down the stairs, his black hair bouncing as he leapt into Bali's arms.
"Can we watch the Pokémon League Championship together tonight?"
Bali smiled and scooped him up.
"Of course. Just let me finish the books for the day and I'm all yours."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
The cozy warmth of home surrounded him. The smell of dinner filled the room. Bali grabbed a cold beer from the fridge, dropped into his favorite armchair, and turned on the TV.
But his mind drifted back to the ranch and its future.
Knock.
Knock!
A sudden, sharp knocking broke his thoughts.
"That's strange… who'd be visiting this late?"
He held his son back with one hand and quietly pulled a Poké Ball from his belt as he moved toward the door.
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~Support with 200 PowerStones = 1 Bonus Chapter
Thank you so much for reading!