Looking at the information on the s, Naoki couldn't help but chuckle to himself. Geeta had adapted to this eology remarkably quickly.

  Thinking about it, he casually ented on her swift adoption.

  Not long after, Geeta replied with a smile.

  [Geeta: Of course, as the Champion of the Paldea League, I must stay ahead of the times. Otherwise, how would I ect with you young trainers?]

  Naoki: "…"

  After ending the call with Geeta, Naoki was surprised to receive several more calls from familiar names, all requesting to add him as a friend.

  Among them were Alder, Champion of the Unova League; Leon, Champion of the Gar League; and Iono, Gym Leader of the Levincia Gym.

  Alder's profile picture was a cheerful shot of him alongside Vola, his trusted partner. He looked full of vitality and warmth in the photo.

  [Alder: Is this the phone you mentioned back then? It's incredible! I 't imagine life without it now!]

  Leon's profile picture captured him mid-battle, illuminated by vibrant lights as he directed his Pokémon.

  [Leon: You're at the ranch, right? I'll be on vacation soon and pn to visit. Are you free?]

  Iono, ever true to her bubbly personality, used a photo of herself beaming into the camera with bright, electric-colored filters.

  [Iono: Finally added you! Hehe, I knew you'd have a Rotom Phooo, Naoki!]

  Seeing the messages, Naoki smiled and replied to eae in turn.

  [Naoki: Is it useful?]

  [Naoki: Yes, I'm here. I'll have time, and you're always wele to visit!]

  [Naoki: pared to older unicators, the Rotom Phone is so much more ve. I think no one resist its charm.]

  Alder and Leon exged a few pleasantries befoing quiet, but Iono stuck around to chat a bit longer.

  [Iono: What are you up to now?]

  [Naoki: I'm heading into town to link my bank card to the online banking app. Are you on vacation?]

  Naoki khat at the end of each year, the Gym Leaders in Paldea were granted some time off to rex and move around freely, without needing to accept challenges from trainers.

  Sure enough, Iono firmed it.

  [Iono: That's right! I went bay hometowly, and now I'm helping my mom make lunch!]

  She sent a photo shortly after.

  In the image, Iono's hands were covered in flour, ao her stood a kind-looking woman with a gentle smile—likely Iono's mother.

  Gym Leaders' families rarely appeared in the games, Naoki mused, but it made sense. A family capable of raising someone as cheerful and lively as Iono must be warm and supportive.

  After a pleasant exge, Naoki got up and made his way towards Koraidon, to head toward Kosaji Town and handle his online banking business.

  Meanwhile, in a mansion in Levincia City, Iono's mother noticed the silly smile on her daughter's fad couldn't help but tease her. She raised an eyebrow pyfully and asked, "You've got a boyfriend?"

  Iono quickly shook her head, flustered. "What? No way! He's just a friend I met a while ago!"

  The woman, well-acquainted with her daughter's nature, smiled knowingly and said, "I don't think so! But I've noticed you often travel across the entire Paldea region to visit someone in Kosaji Town."

  Kosaji Town and Levincia City were thousands of miles apart. Knowing her daughter, it was unlikely she'd make such a journey without a signifit reason.

  Iono immediately scrambled to defend herself. "That's part of my job as a Gym Leader! The Champion assigns us tasks like that!"

  Her mother raised an eyebrow, her expression clearly saying, Go on, I'm listening.

  Seeing that she was caught, Iono sighed. "Okay, fine. I admit I have… a little affe for him."

  Satisfied, her mother turo inform her husband during dinner.

  As the family gathered, the couple looked at their daughter with a mixture of nostalgia and amusement.

  "Time flies," her father tinued. "It feels like just yesterday she was running around in pigtails, and now she's all grown up!"

  Iono: "…"

  She buried her fa her hands, feeling increasingly flustered.

  Then, her father leaned in mischievously. "So, was it love at first sight?"

  Iono groaned, her cheeks turning pink. "No…"

  She paused, thinking back.

  When they first met, she'd thought Naoki was an older uype. But when they met again, he had cut his hair and shaved his beard, and he'd asked her, jokingly, if he looked younger now.

  At that moment, she found Naoki intriguing and his personality endearing.

  Her feelings had grown from there. She wasn't lying earlier—she truly did have a small crush on him.

  Her parents exged a gnd then smiled at her encingly.

  "Go for it, sweetheart!" her father said. "If you like him, take the initiative! That's what your mother and I did ba the day."

  Iono stared at her parents in exasperation, feeling utterly defeated by their overenthusiastic meddling.

  That evening, she decided to retreat to her home with her team to escape their teasing.

  .....

  After finishing his online banking business in Kosaji Town, Naoki hopped onto Koraidon and headed back to the ranch.

  As he reviewed his updated at ban the way home, he was surprised to see how much it had grown.

  Somehow, without even realizing it, he'd bee a millionaire.

  "Strange… I don't feel any different," Naoki murmured to himself.

  Life at the ranch tinued in the same peaceful way. Though quiet and uful, Naoki found that such simplicity recious.

  He shook his head, a small smile on his lips. "Life goes on."

  Now that the Rotom Phone was officially released, his big task was to fully unch the Dragonite Express business!

  Dragonite Express had always been part of his pn, but its success would hinge on another project: Pokémon Online, a shopping ptform simir to Amazon Business.

  The app's design cept was based on Naoki's earlier suggestions to Rotom Teology. He had insisted that Pokémon Online include all the necessary funs of a modern e-erce ptform.

  Even though the Rotom Phone had only been on the market for a week, Rotom Teology's preparation had beeiculous. Many businesses had already uploaded their products to the Pokémon Online app, and several had even beguions.

  Naoki quickly browsed through the Pokémon Online app and found various items for sale: Moo Moo Milk, berries, plush toys, and Poké Balls.

  Curious, he opehe shopping interface, linked his online banking at, and pced an order for twenty standard red-and-white Poké Balls.

  After firming his purchase, two delivery options appeared on the s:

  Touon/Squawkabilly Express: The delivery fee varied based on the distance. Acc to the description, merts used Pokémon like Touon and Squawkabilly to deliver goods. These Pokémon, traiensively beforehand, excelled in navigation and could deliver packages promptly and accurately, even across vast distances.

  Standard Delivery: This method relied on human delivery workers driving rge trucks between major cities. While slower, it was also more cost-effective than the Pokémon-based service.

  Naoki houghtfully as he read through the details.

  , he accessed his own oore, which he had created earlier. He re Naoki Ranbsp;and began uploading a sele of the ranch's goods.

  Alongside standard fruits, vegetables, and Moo Moo Milk, Naoki included a special, limited-quantity item: Life Goat Milk. He highlighted its unique restorative effects in the description, hoping it would attract trainers and Pokémon who s bes.

  When it came to choosing a delivery method for his store, Naoki noticed an intriguing option: he could create a delivery service.

  Without hesitatioyped Dragonite Express into the field. He proudly detailed that Dragonite would personally deliver all orders, ensuring a faster and more reliable service than both Touon and truck deliveries.

  Of course, such premium service came with a higher delivery fee, but Naoki wasn't pnning to keep the money. Instead, he decided the fee would go directly to the Dragonites, allowing them to visit the town with Rotom and buy their favorite treats.

  With everythi up, all that remained was for the Dragoo pair up with their respective Rotom partners. However, this process would have to wait a few more days sinaoki had grahe hardw Dragonites a well-deserved weeklong holiday.

  But as the saying goes, "pns often 't keep up with ge."

  Though Naoki had given the Dragoime off, they had their own pns.

  The very day, the sun broke through the clouds, casting a warm light over the frost-covered ndscape. pared to the previous days, the weather was noticeably milder.

  Early in the m, the Dragonites, feeliless and bored onite Isnd, took to the skies. In a flurry of wings, they made their way to Naoki Ranch.

  When Naoki saw the group onites nding at the ranch, he was surprised. "Why are you all here? Didn't I say you could take a few days off?"

  The Dragonites responded with enthusiastic roars.

  They all insisted that they were too bored on the isnd and wao return to the ranch to work!

  Naoki blinked in disbelief. "..." He had never seen such eager workers before.

  Meanwhile, his own Dragoood to the side, watg the se unfold with an expression of exasperation. To it, these Dragonites weren't here to work—they were clearly here for the food!

  Naoki didn't dwell on it for too long. Sihe Dragonites were already at the ranch, he decided it was the perfect opportunity to distribute the Rotom Phones he had prepared for them.

  ting his own Dragohere were now 12 Dragonites on the ranch.

  Naoki headed to the living room arieved twelve Rotom Phones. He set them out and allowed the Dragoo i with the Rotoms, encing them to choose their own partners.

  Once every Dragonite had selected its Rotom partner, Naoki began expining the phone's funs and their new responsibilities.

  The Dragonites listened ily, their eyes fixed on the floating Rotom Phones. Despite their focused expressions, their faces betrayed some fusion.

  Naoki smiled patiently. "To put it simply, starting today, I'll need your help delivering goods from the ranch to faraces."

  He expihe detailed system he had put in pce.

  Whenever a er pces an order through Naoki's oore, the Rotom Phoomatically collects the er's information and forwards it to the Dragonite's partner Rotom.

  Rotom would theellite maps to pinpoint the er's location and guide the Dragohere for the delivery.

  If any problems arose during the journey, Rotom would automatically tact the ranch to inform Naoki.

  As Naoki finished his expnation, the Dragonites' faces lit up with uanding.

  "Awoo, awoo, awoo!" ("No problem! Leave it to us!") they roared in unison, noddihusiastically.

  The Dragonites puffed out their chests proudly, their determination palpable.

  Naoki chuckled, satisfied with their response. "Alright, I'll leave it to you!"

  With the New Year just around the er, Naoki decided to dey officially ung Dragonite Express until spring when the snow would melt. For now, he asked the Dragoo spend some time at the ranch getting familiar with their new Rotom partners.

  As the Dragonites began to bond with their Rotoms, Naoki prepared to head to Kosaji Town to purchase supplies for the New Year celebrations.

  The 199th year of the Alliance dar marked Naoki's sed year in this world.

  In that time, the ranch had grown into a vibrant haven, home to a diverse array of Pokémon.

  Naoki thought about the preferences of eaon in his mind aed the food they liked.

  After finishing the shopping, Naoki loaded the food into his pickup trud drove back to the ranch.

  As soon as he arrived, Naoki called over Koraidon and Cyclizar to help unload and move the supplies.

  With their assistahe task was quickly pleted. Naoki headed back to the living room for a well-deserved gss of water.

  However, when he arrived, he noticed something odd—Calyrex, who had been lounging on the sofa watg TV, was o be seen.

  In his pce were a few sleepy Eevees, curled up together on the sofa.

  Naoki gnced around the room and turo brother Indeedee, asking, "Where's Calyrex?"

  Indeedee responded, "Aiyee-!" while gesturing toward the gss greenhouse.

  Following the dire indicated, Naoki made his way to the greenhouse.

  Pushing open the gss door, he found Calyrex sitting atop a flower stand surrounded by blooming flowers. The King of Bountiful Harvests was engrossed in its Rotom Phone.

  Naoki sighed. "…"

  It seemed the King had moved on from his TV addi to being thhly absorbed in his phone.

  Calyrex, notig Naoki's arrival, looked up and spoke with a touencholy. "If I'd had a Rotom Phoo keep me pany back then, perhaps I wouldn't have felt so lonely wandering across the Tundra."

  Naoki paused, his heart softening at the words. Looking at Calyrex, he was reminded of the elderly from his previous life whled with loneliness.

  The sight was bittersweet.

  Not wanting to disturb Calyrex, Naoki quietly stepped out of the greenhouse auro the main house.

  .....

  Later that evening, after dinner, Indeedee siblings and Gholdengo left to open the Pokémon Tavern for the night's business.

  Meanwhile, Naoki retreated to his room, ying on his bed with a fluffy little Eevee led in his arms as he scrolled through his Rotom Phone.

  A few Eevees snuggled together on his belly, fast asleep in a ile.

  Pawmot rested fortably at the foot of the bed, while Koraidon dozed on a s nearby.

  The peaceful moment was interrupted by a knock at the door.

  Naoki set down his phone and got up to answer, surprised to find Indeedee standing there, looking unusually urgent.

  "What's wrong?" Naoki asked, mung on a couple of transted seeds.

  Indeedee filed its arms, clearly excited, and excimed, "Indee-dee!" (There's news about the guests at the tavern! They found a lead on Pawmot's parents!)

  "Huh?"

  Pawmot, who had been dozing at the foot of the bed, suddenly sat up, ears perked, and asked excitedly, "Pawmot! Pawmot?" (Really?)

  Indeedee nodded gently, firming with a soft "Indee-dee!" (Yes, it was a Squawkabilly who told me!)

  Three mier, Naoki and Pawmot arrived at the Pokémon Tavern.

  Inside, a blue-feathered Squawkabilly erched at the bar, sipping juice from a small cup held delicately in its wings while chattering animatedly.

  "Squaww!" (Let me tell you, when I was out there, I eveed a fierce Tauros!)

  The other Pokémoed around the bar were listening ily, clearly captivated by the Squawkabilly's boasting.

  Halfway through its tale, the Squawkabilly notiaoki and Pawmot walking in. Pawmot immediately ran over, its tail wagging iement, and asked, "Pawmot! Pawmot?" (Have you really seen my parents?)

  The Squawkabilly tilted its head, its eyes scrutinizing Pawmot for a moment. It seemed fused. "Squaww?" (You're Pawmot? Why do you look a little different from the ones I've seen before?)

  Pawmot nodded early, replying, "Pawmot!" (Yes! It's me, for sure!)

  Although still a bit puzzled, the Squawkabilly began reting its discovery.

  It expihat about a year ago, while it was flying with its flock above a dense forest, it had spotted two Pawmots desperately searg for their child.

  The two Pawmots had even climbed a very tall tree, calling out to the flock of birds above and asking if they'd seen their lost little one.

  The Squawkabilly had replied that it hadn't seen anything at the time, and it watched as the pair of Pawmots left, visibly disheartened.

  When Pawmot heard about the very tall tree, its eyes lit up with reition.

  "Pawmot" "That's it!" Pawmot excimed, boung with excitement.

  "Pawmot". "I remember there was a very tall tree where I used to live!"

  Naoki, who had been quietly listening, finally spoke. "Do you remember where this pce is?" he asked calmly.

  The Squawkabilly puffed out its chest with pride. "Squaww!" (Of course! We Squawkabillys are the most talented Pokémo es to memory. Once we've seen something, we never fet it!)