Pokémon: Starting with a Pokémon Ranch.

Chapter 189 Squirtle leaves, a family of mice saves money to buy a house

"I'm leaving them both in your care."

After handing the Poké Balls of Squirtle and Caterpie to Steven, Su Yu said this.

"Don't worry, follow me, and I guarantee they'll eat and drink well every day."

"When it comes to spending money, can you really not trust me?"

Daigo replied with a smile.

As he beckoned Squirtle and the others to climb onto Metagross's head, Steven prepared to leave.

However, at that moment, Gladio ran over, accompanied by the Attribute Void.

"Master Squirtle, are you leaving already?"

After rescuing Type Sora, Gladion has frequently consulted Squirtle and Caterpie to help Sora train, which has led to Sora's rapid progress in the past few days.

In this way, Gladion and Squirtle also developed a relationship similar to that of Zheng Ya.

Upon hearing the call, Squirtle turned around, patted Gladion on the shoulder, and said earnestly:

"Jenny, Jenny~"

I'm leaving. From now on, you two will have to figure out the training on your own.

After saying goodbye to Su Yu and the others, Squirtle and Caterpie climbed onto Metagross's head and left with Steven.

Su Yu watched them until Metagross disappeared from sight. Then, he patted Gladion on the shoulder and said:

"Keep it up. Even without Squirtle and the others' guidance, you can't slack off in your training."

Although Su Yu knew that Gladion had been working very hard these past few days, even his Eevee had successfully evolved into Umbreon, just like in the anime.

Upon hearing this, Gladion nodded to Su Yu. After watching the direction Metagross had gone for a while, he also returned to training with his Attribute: Void.

After all the other guests on the ranch had left, Su Yu gathered all the Pokémon on the ranch and addressed them:

"Squirtle and the others have left. While they're gone, the watering problem at the ranch still needs to be solved. Do you have any ideas?"

"Croak~!"

Upon hearing this, the Screw Mole immediately raised its hand. It indicated that it could dig a burrow from the Moon Lake to bring in water for irrigation.

After listening, Su Yu thought for a moment and then nodded:

"Then I'll leave this matter to you and Big Tooth Fox."

"In a few days, I'll have to take Growlithe back to Officer Jenny's house. You'll need to stay on the ranch and guard the house then, and don't run around like you did last time."

Su Yu remembered that the Pokémon had followed him when he last entered Mt. Chimney, so he reiterated it.

Growlithe, upon hearing this, wagged its tail excitedly. After waiting so long, was it finally... time for it to evolve?

"Mama?" Can't you take me with you?

Su Yu shook his head and said:

"No. This time, I only plan to bring Tropius and Growlithe."

"As for you... after Squirtle left, you became the most reliable Pokémon on the ranch. I still need you to help me take care of the ranch, understand?"

Upon hearing this, Alcremie's expression immediately turned serious. She waved her little fist and nodded solemnly, indicating that she understood.

So, Su Yu trusted it that much!

In that case, it must not betray Su Yu's trust.

After explaining a series of matters concerning the ranch, Su Yu went up to the high platform on the second floor to look at the scenery.

His gaze unconsciously drifted to the Sky Tree in the distance and the nearby farmland. For a moment, he felt a strange unease at the absence of two Pokémon on the ranch.

At this moment, Ke Rui, carrying his backpack, walked downstairs. He had come to say goodbye to Su Yu; after staying at this ranch for so long, he was also planning to continue his journey.

"Why don't you stay here a few more days?" Su Yu urged.

Ke Rui shook his head:

"No, I've lingered here long enough. Next, I plan to go to the mountains in the southwest of our alliance. There, I might find many beautiful sights that I've never seen before."

Hearing this, Su Yu nodded. That made sense; as a traveler, Ke Rui had spent more time on the ranch than in many other places he had visited.

"Alright then, have a safe journey," Su Yu said. Another old friend was leaving, and all he could do was offer his blessings.

At that moment, a roar came from the sky not far away. It was seen to unleash an air slash attack in mid-air, slashing towards the flock of Fiery Sparrows not far away.

It was obvious without asking that these birds were bird-like Pokémon that had followed the tracks of the Caterpie family. Seeing this, Su Yu, chin in hand, leaned against the railing and said listlessly:

"Squirtle and the others are all gone. It seems only these birds are still haunting us. To be honest, they're really persistent..."

……

……

For the next few days, Su Yu stayed at the ranch, living the same life as usual.

The only difference is that there are fewer Pokémon on the ranch. Besides that, you have to water the crops yourself now.

While displaying the clay family portrait given to him by Squirtle, Su Yu even pulled out an envelope from the round clay base underneath.

Upon seeing the envelope, Su Yu curiously opened it and took a look. Inside was a drawing of Su Yu with Squirtle and Caterpie, and behind them was a Sky Tree.

It's clear that this drawing is mainly dominated by Squirtle; it's just a simple sketch.

In the drawing, Su Yu is holding the hands of two Pokémon, his expression rough and funny, with sausage lips and salty eyes. However, Squirtle's sunglasses are drawn quite well, and they look pretty realistic.

In the upper left corner of the painting, there is a passage written by Squirtle in its crooked handwriting.

The general idea is that this is a surprise they prepared for Su Yu, which can only be found by turning over the mud platform.

"These two guys actually do this." Su Yu shook his head and chuckled.

After framing the painting and hanging it in the living room, Su Yu finally noticed the large characters "Squirtle" on the back of the painting.

"Please don't forget us, huh...?"

Su Yu read the words aloud. He smiled. They'd only been gone for less than two months, and these two Pokémon were already worried about this?

However, upon closer reflection, the relationship between trainers and Pokémon—the act of "loving" and "being loved"—is inherently unfair. Perhaps for a Pokémon, its trainer is its only companion. But for a trainer, even if they lose a Pokémon, they can always catch another.

Ash and Pikachu, their relationship is close enough, right? But even Ash eventually has to catch other Pokémon to form his team. Pikachu, on the other hand, has always stayed with Ash.

Thinking about this, Su Yu fell silent. He realized that this topic was indeed quite heavy. Because he couldn't reciprocate the same level of affection he felt for every Pokémon.

In the end, Su Yu gave up. Because he was just a rancher who adhered to the idea of ​​"giving every Pokémon a home".

For him, as long as the Pokémon are happy on the ranch and he treats each one with care... that's enough. Why would he need to ponder such profound philosophical questions?

After hanging up the painting of Squirtle and Caterpie, Su Yu stared at it for a while before finally turning his head away.

"Seeing this picture is like us still being on the pasture (a simple turtle drawing)."

These were also words left on the drawing by Squirtle and the others. Perhaps they were worried that Su Yu would miss them later, so they left these words.

"You think too much," Su Yu said, pursing his lips.

With such meticulous attention to detail, Su Yu had no idea how long the caterpillars and the others had been thinking about this painting.

……

After the painting was hung up, news also came from the Pokémon House that Su Yu had ordered a long time ago.

After so many days, the cabins were finally completed. Upon receiving the news, Su Yu immediately rode his tropical dragon to retrieve the cabins.

These little houses come in all shapes and sizes, but they all have one thing in common: they are all custom-made for the corresponding Pokémon, taking into account the habits of each Pokémon.

The little mouse's house is divided into two floors, and inside there is a small wheel and a water bottle.

If the mouse wants to drink water, it only needs to come to this bottle, and the bottle will automatically drip water. It can even be connected to a tap.

In addition, the hamster wheel is connected to a power generator, which is connected to a small TV inside the cabin. This allows the hamster to watch the same programs through the signal shared by Su Yu, even when it is inside the cabin.

"A Pokémon-themed villa, right?"

The design of this little house is quite ingenious; Su Yu even saw a place inside where Pokémon could take a bath.

—Was this money actually well spent?

"Next time, we can order some more cabins to put in the convenience store as a reward for outstanding employees of the ranch."

Su Yu thought to himself.

The hut was placed opposite Su Yu's house, so that it would be convenient for Dongdong the mice to come and visit.

Upon seeing these little houses, the Drummers were overjoyed and moved in. Even the other mice, who already had their own little houses, looked on with envy when they saw these new ones.

"Do you also want a house like this?"

Seeing this, Su Yu smiled and said, "Then you can continue working at the barbecue restaurant. Once you've saved up enough money, I'll order a small house for you too."

Could this be considered the Pokémon world's way of making money to buy a house?

And it seems quite reasonable for a family of rats to buy a house. Su Yu wasn't surprised at all by this.

(End of this chapter)