"Chief, you know," Naoki began thoughtfully, "what you said reminds me of a dragon that grant wishes."

  Geeta raised an eyebrow in mild surprise. "A wish-granting dragon? Is it also a Pokémon?"

  "Maybe," Naoki replied with a pyful grin. "It's just a legend."

  Geeta nodded slightly, her curiosity piqued but choosing not to pursue the topic further. Instead, she moved on. "So, tell me, is there any reward you'd like?"

  Naoki paused, pting her question. After a moment, he shook his head with a wry smile. "Holy, I don't really need anything. The ranch has everything I could ask for, thanks to my Pokémon."

  Hearing this, Geeta leaned back slightly, her expression thoughtful. "How about this: the Paldea League could help you build a professional gym on the ranch. I’ve heard trainers often e by to challenge you, and your ranch is being quite well-known among students at Naranja Academy."

  "If you had an official gym, it would make these battles more structured—like the ones Iono and Grusha oversee."

  Naoki sighed inwardly, as though he'd anticipated this suggestion. Formalizing his ranch as a gym would mean he’d have to stick to strict rules, regurly i with the Paldea League, and lose the freedom he currently enjoyed.

  Shaking his head, Naoki politely deed. "Thanks for the offer, but I like things the way they are."

  Geeta seemed a little disappointed but respected his decision. "Fair enough," she said, though a trace ret lingered ione. She then brightened slightly. "If not that, then we’ll arrange something else for you. The League has protocols fnizing tributions, and we’ll provide a reward accly."

  Naoki rubbed the back of his neck, sensing he couldn’t talk his way out of this.

  Geeta chuckled at his resigned face. "sider it a gesture of appreciation. You’ve been a tremendous help to us by supp trainers like Iono and Grusha." She added, "By the way, you should expect mym leaders to visit the ranch for trials iure."

  Naoki nodded in uanding. It made sehat Geeta wao see gym leaders grow strohrough these experiences. After all, a stronger league bes everyone. But now that the versation was steering toward rewards, an idea crossed his mind.

  “If it’s alright,” Naoki begaantly, “could the League provide me with at least a thousand Gimmighoul gold s?”

  Geeta blinked, momentarily caught off guard. “Gimmighoul gold s?”

  Naoki expined, “I retly captured a Gimmighoul, and I want to see how many gold s it takes to evolve it into Gholdengo.”

  Geeta’s eyes lit up in uanding. As Champion of the Paldea League, she was familiar with Gimmighoul and its unique evolutiohod. “I see,” she said with a nod. “We’ll do our best to gather the s for you, though I ’t guarantee we’ll collect that many.”

  “That’s fine,” Naoki replied with a smile. “I’m already colleg s here as well, so every little bit helps.”

  Geeta gave him a satisfied nod, clearly impressed by his modesty. “Alright. We’ll start the colle effort immediately.” She added with a pyful grin, “And if you ever ge your mind about the gym certificatio me know.”

  Before Naoki could respond, Geeta’s unicator beeped with an ining notification. “Looks like I have another issue to deal with,” she said, her tone shifting to one of businesslike efficy. “Thanks again, Naoki. We’ll be in touch soon.”

  With that, the call ended, leaving Naoki staring at the bnk s. He chuckled softly to himself. “Guess I’ll have to find a way to thank the League iurn.”

  ...

  Later that day, Geeta tacted Larry, a League staff member currently stationed in Medali. Larry was enjoying his lunch at the Treasure Eatery when his unicator buzzed. Gng at the s, he sighed wearily and put down his chopsticks.

  “Work calls,” he muttered, grabbing his briefcase and stepping outside to answer.

  “Hello?” he greeted, his tone professional but tinged with fatigue.

  Geeta’s voice came through the line. “Larry, I need your help with something. The League is gathering Gimmighoul gold s for Naoki at Kosaji Ranch. you assist with the colle?”

  Larry's tired expression softened slightly at the mention of Naoki. “Uood. I’ll begin the collemediately.”

  Satisfied, Geeta tinued, “Ohe task is plete, the League will grant you a week-long vacation. You could even visit Naoki’s rand experiehe tryside.”

  A week-long vacation. The thought alone was enough thten Larry's spirits. For someone as overworked as him, the promise of rest was a reward beyond gold.

  With this thought in mind, Larry's voice steadied, though a hint of determination seeped into his tone. “Uood. I’ll get started right away.”

  Geeta replied with a satisfied nod, her voice carrying authority. “Good. I’ll leave it in your capable hands.”

  After hanging up, Geeta leaned ba her chair, massagiemples to ease the tension that had built up throughout the day. As the leader of the Paldea League, her responsibilities seemed endless.

  A moment ter, she made another call—this time to the Gseado Mountain Gym.

  The ph briefly befrusha’s voiswered oher end.

  “Chief?” Grusha asked, his tone calm as usual.

  Geeta wasted no time. “Grusha, when you visited Naoki’s ranch, did you notiything in particur that he seemed fond of?”

  She had realized that the gold s Naoki requested weren’t so much a reward he desired but rather something he o evolve his Gimmighoul. Beyond fulfilling that request, Geeta wao offer Naoki a personal gift. Not only as a token of gratitude but also as a means to foodwill.

  Naoki was a rare talent, aa couldn’t risk him being lured away by other Pokémon Leagues. She was well aware of his es to Leon, the Champion of the Gar region, and Alder, the former Champion of Unova. If either of them decided to woo Naoki to their regions, it could leave Paldea at a signifit disadvantage.

  Oher end of the call, Grusha paused, thinking carefully. Then, his tone brightened slightly as he answered, “What Naoki likes… well, does Pokémon t?”

  Geeta wasn’t surprised by the response. “Pokémon?” she echoed, her curiosity piqued.

  “Yeah,” Grusha firmed. “Specifically, Eevee. Naoki seems to have a particur fondness for them. When I visited the ranch with Iono, we noticed two Eeveelutions there.”

  He paused, a hint of amusement in his voice as he tinued. “Naoki told us his dream was to collect all of Eevee’s evolutions and create an Eevee paradise on the ranch.”

  “Eevee…” Geeta repeated, a smile tugging at her lips. She could practically envision Naoki surrounded by a herd of adorable Eevee and their evolutions. It seemed fitting for someone as nurturing and kied as him. “I see. Thank you for sharing that, Grusha.”

  Grusha’s voice softened. “You’re wele, Chief.”

  After ending the call, Geeta stood with newfound resolve. Her destination was clear—the Pokémon Breedier operated by the Paldea League.

  This facility was designed for the care and breeding of Pokémon, providing them with a safe, pyful enviro. Pokémon of all kinds lived there, freely iing and sometimes even produg eggs.

  After Pokémon hatch from their eggs, they are given special training before beio childreen and older in variions to be cared for and raised.

  This system ensures a tinuous influx of trainers in the Paldea League, f the geion of Pokémohusiasts.

  At the Pokémon Breedier, there happeo be Eevee eggs among the colle of eggs being nurtured.

  Whea arrived at the ter via Flying Taxi, she learned from the Pokémon caretaker that the Eevee egg had not yet hatched.

  As Geeta stood there, gazing thoughtfully at the Eevee egg, the caretaker spoke up cautiously, sensing the Chief’s intense focus. “It’ll be more than half a month before these eggs are ready to hatch. If it’s nent, you could wait a little longer.”

  Geeta nodded absentmindedly, her thoughts already drifting elsewhere. She recalled a well-known fact: Pokémon that hatch from eggs form a strong bond with the first human they see.

  That realization solidified her decision.

  “Leave these eggs to me,” Geeta said with authority. “I’ll ehey are given to trainers who take excellent care of them.”

  “Yes, of course!” the caretaker replied, quickly nodding. He began carefully pg the eggs into a specially designed protective bag to eheir safety during transport.

  Soon, the eggs were securely loaded onto the Flying Taxi.

  Initially, Geeta sidered calliher Larry or Rika to help deliver the eggs. However, just as she reached for her unicator, she remembered that both were already occupied with other tasks she had assigned.

  Her brow furrowed slightly before an alternative idea came to mind. Without hesitation, she tacted arusted individual.

  The call ected after a brief moment.

  Geeta’s tone softened, a faint smile pying on her lips. “Hello, Hassel. Do you have some time? Could you e to the League Headquarters? I have an important favor to ask of you.”