The two arrived at the farmland area. Keri squatted down to inspect the surroundings and then said, "The soil here is very good, quite suitable for planting crops."
Naoki recalled a ranch game he had played before and asked, "Miss Keri, do you have any automatic watering machines? The kind you just stick into the ground, and it automatically waters?"
Like an automatic sprinkler. As the ranch grows bigger and more crops are planted, there's a chance he might not be able to handle it all by himself.
At such times, having an automatic sprinkler would be great. It would water the nearby plots every morning, saving both effort and worry.
However, the ideal is full, but reality is quite skinny.
Keri was somewhat helpless: "Where would you find such a thing!"
Naoki: "..." As expected, a game is just a game.
Keri: "But there is another type of automated device."
"Hmm?"
Keri: "Lay underground pipes in advance, set up a faucet, and then use precise instruments to time it. At the designated time, it will automatically spray water around for irrigation.
The kind where you plant it in the ground and it produces water out of nowhere simply doesn't exist in our era."
Hearing this, Naoki had a thought: "Can your shop make it?"
"Of course," Keri raised her eyebrows and said, "but the price is quite high! A set that covers the entire farmland costs around thirty to forty thousand League coins. The pipes laid underground, the water pump, and timing instruments aren't very expensive individually, but if the number is excessive..."
Naoki understood.
Thirty to forty thousand League coins isn't much, but it's clearly more than he can afford right now.
Realizing his predicament, Keri added, "Of course, there's another method for watering."
"What?" Naoki was slightly taken aback.
Keri smiled: "Water-type Pokémon can use their Water-type moves to help with watering."
"In the city, some wild Pokémon also collaborate with humans, being hired for work like delivering letters with Pelipper, construction work with Conkeldurr, and moving with Machamp. I suppose you've seen them?"
Naoki hadn't seen them, but the original owner had.
He nodded.
Keri continued: "Pokémon have simple needs. As long as we can provide enough food and snacks, they are willing to help us work. This is why the relationship between humans and Pokémon has grown increasingly harmonious over the years."
No need to search for food in the wild anymore or fight other Pokémon for Berries, and they get a shelter against the wind and rain.
For Pokémon, what could be more delightful?
As the saying goes, Ogres shall never be slaves, unless they are provided food and lodging.
Compared to the former, this method of watering is clearly much cheaper.
He only needed to pay a Berry, a bottle of milk, a bit of food, and he could have a free and obedient labor force...
Naoki was very tempted.
Wouldn't this mean he could hire hundreds of Pokémon to help manage the ranch, and he could just comfortably sit on the couch waiting for the money to roll in?
Damn, this is such capitalist behavior!
Naoki quickly shook his head to get rid of such a frightening thought.
He couldn't help but ask: "Wouldn't that lead to some people forcing Pokémon to work?"
Keri: "Regarding that, it depends on the person hiring the Pokémon. If they treat Pokémon as tools, the Pokémon will sense it, feel angry and upset, and either attack the employer or refuse to work and return to the wild."
"If the employer uses force to suppress the Pokémon and makes them work—well, that's strictly prohibited by the League. If such a thing occurs, Miss Jenny would immediately arrest them."
"If someone treats Pokémon as partners, friends, or even family, working and living together, I think, even if the work is difficult, the Pokémon would strive to complete it together with them."
Naoki understood.
He nodded thoughtfully.
Seeing this, Keri smiled slightly and continued to stroll through the ranch.
The ranch, other than the farmland, was empty. Oh, not quite right.
Behind the log cabin was a small cave.
The cave wasn't large, and its environment was dark and damp, quite cool. It's a good place to cool off in the summer.
Keri walked into the cave, looked at the scene inside, and then said, "This place is quite suitable for growing mushrooms!"
Naoki also thought so; indeed, great minds think alike.
Keri: "Coincidentally, I have mushroom cultivation trays at my place. Placed in such a damp and dark environment, you can harvest different edible mushrooms daily. Do you need some? They're not expensive, only 5000 League coins."
5000...
The price really isn't high.
If he can grow mushrooms himself, he wouldn't need to buy them in town.
Naoki nodded, indicating he'd buy them!
Seeing this, Keri smiled: "Alright, I'll bring the mushroom cultivation trays along with the construction crew tomorrow."
"Then I'll be waiting here!" Naoki said.
Keri gently nodded. Seeing that it was getting late, she didn't stay longer. She rode her Cyclizar back to town.
The next morning, as Naoki was making breakfast, he heard the sound of a truck starting outside.
Stepping out, he saw a truck loaded with tools parked at the ranch.
Keri alighted from the truck along with several Machamp and Conkeldurr.
Seeing Naoki, Keri greeted, "Good morning, Naoki!"
Naoki also nodded lightly, "Good morning, Miss Keri!"
Keri laughed and said, "The construction work starts today. It will take about three days to complete, so you don't need to worry about us until then."
"Alright."
Though she said so, Naoki couldn't contain his curiosity.
He took a sandwich and, with Koraidon and Cyclizar, sat under the eaves watching the construction team work.
Under Keri's direction, Machamp and Conkeldurr went to the back to haul out all the wood and stones Naoki had prepared.
During this, Keri moved a few wooden boxes filled with soil into the cave behind the log cabin: "These are the mushroom cultivation trays. Put them in the cave, and the mushrooms will grow on their own. I'm moving them in now!"
"Alright, thank you!" Naoki said.
Keri smiled. After all the wooden boxes were moved, she began to work with Machamp and Conkeldurr again.
Some were sawing and chiseling the wood and stones, while others mixed a slurry resembling cement.
Keri took out measuring tools and some white powder, using them to mark the area for the Chicken House on the ground.
The crops were growing, and there was almost no work to handle at the ranch, so Naoki, with nothing else to do, brought a small stool to the riverside, fishing while watching the construction team work.
Seeing him fishing, Koraidon wanted to use Collision Course to help but was stopped.
Uncomprehendingly, Koraidon looked over.
Naoki said leisurely, "No rush, I'm just here to pass the time."
Once the Chicken House is built, he would have new tasks to do.