To Lin Feng, Owner of Wutong Town's Plantation:

Hello, Lin Feng. I'm Shufen, the owner of the Poguo Vineyard in Grapevine Town. I heard you're interested in acquiring a Combee to produce honey?

If that's the case, please bring along the flowers you cultivate when you come I need to see if they're suitable for Combee to make honey with.

Also, on August 28th, Grapevine Town will be hosting the first sale of our seasonal wine. Many plantation owners will be gathering to exchange their crops, and we've also invited several renowned local Trainers to hold a friendly tournament. The prizes will be specialty produce from each plantation. If you're interested, you're welcome to participate.

If you're planning to visit, I suggest coming around that time. It's harvest season for Honeygrape, so I may not be available to host you outside of that window.

I look forward to meeting such a promising young plantation owner.

Shufen, Owner of Poguo Vineyard

After reading the letter, Lin Feng's expression shifted to one of mild surprise.

Uncle Mu already told the plantation owners in Grapevine Town about his plans?

But on second thought, that might be a good thing. At least it would make his visit less abrupt.

And with her setting expectations in advance, he wouldn't be caught off guard or unprepared.

Lin Feng turned to Tranquill and asked, "Did you bring this letter from Grapevine Town?"

"Coo?"

Tranquill shook its head and looked toward Wutong City, indicating it had flown in from there.

It was a designated postal Pokémon used in Wutong City, mostly delivering letters for elderly folks who didn't use smartphones. It was rare for it to deliver to someone young.

Lin Feng nodded, acknowledged receipt of the letter, then handed the bird a PokéBlock before letting it leave. Once alone, he fell into thought.

Looks like he'd need to grow flowers before heading to Grapevine Town?

"But maybe the blossoms from the Dragonfire Tree would work too?"

He thought of the tree's budding flowers but quickly dismissed the idea.

Each bud might eventually yield a Dragonfire Fruit those were incredibly rare and expensive. He couldn't risk wasting one.

"Alright, flowers it is."

He had already been planning to grow some anyway.

Shaking his head with a light smile, Lin Feng returned to the breeding house and casually asked Rotom, "How much revenue did we make today?"

"Roto~ Calculating now~"

Rotom quickly gave him the result. "Today's revenue: 375,200 credits. Current balance: 6,450,000 credits~"

"Okay."

Lin Feng simply nodded, calm and composed.

He wasn't the same young man who had just opened his shop. Seeing this kind of money no longer fazed him. He was now more concerned with whether this amount could fund the construction of a 20-kilometer road.

At least something decent.

"Roto? Master, today's PokéBlock sales don't seem to match the revenue?"

Rotom's voice turned a little puzzled.

"Hm?"

Lin Feng blinked. "Mismatch? By how much?"

"Roto? Looks like we're short by about 3,000 credits?"

Rotom hesitated.

Each morning when the PokéBlocks were placed on the counter, it would do an inventory and estimate how much revenue they'd make if all were sold. These days, most of the stock sold out daily.

"Three thousand?"

Lin Feng frowned slightly.

It wasn't that 3,000 credits was a huge loss but had someone managed to steal from the shop right under his and Gardevoir's noses?

Or maybe Gardevoir was too busy training Pidgeotto and Pidgey to notice?

"No worries. Just pull up the surveillance footage tomorrow morning someone might've just forgotten to pay."

Lin Feng waved it off, deciding to have Rotom keep a closer eye the next day.

If it happened again and Rotom couldn't find anything suspicious...

Then it'd be time to ask Gardevoir or Uncle Liang's Lucario to step in.

"Roto~ Got it!"

Rotom dropped the issue at Lin Feng's word.

The next morning came quickly.

Lin Feng, up early as usual, was surprised to find a stone sitting on the counter.

"Huh?"

Controlling Alcremie, he floated over to the counter and picked it up.

Everstone – A mysterious stone that suppresses a Pokémon's genetic evolution when held.

"Gardevoir's doing?"

That was Lin Feng's first guess, but he shook his head soon after.

If Gardevoir had left it, she would've waited until daylight to tell him.

But it was still just dawn, and most of the townspeople were still asleep.

No use guessing he'd just ask Gardevoir later.

He stored the Everstone and headed to the plantation after Qin Shu arrived for her shift. As he was feeding the Miltank, Gardevoir appeared.

She was just about to begin training Pidgeotto and Pidgey again when Lin Feng called her over.

"Garde?"

She looked at him with slight exasperation.

She knew her psychic powers were useful on the plantation, but did he really have to "exploit" her so much?

She was just a powerful Pokémon not a plow ox!

"Ahem… not asking you to do anything this time," Lin Feng said awkwardly, pulling out the Everstone. "I just want to ask did you bring this?"

Gardevoir had certainly been busy these past few days.

"Garde?" She floated over, inspected the stone, and shook her head.

"Not you? That's strange… could a Pokémon really sneak in without us noticing?"

Lin Feng explained the missing PokéBlocks and the mystery gift to her.

"Garde?" (It just appeared this morning?)

Gardevoir looked genuinely surprised.

She had been standing watch last night near the road connecting Wutong City and the town if anything strange had passed through, she should've noticed.

They stared at each other in confusion.

In the end, Gardevoir sighed and nodded, "Garde…" (I understand. I'll keep a closer watch.)

"You're the best!" Lin Feng said, genuinely moved.

Just a few PokéBlocks and one top-grade Rare Candy, and he had a Pokémon like her by his side.

It might be the smartest decision he'd ever made.

Gardevoir floated over him, gently placing her hand on his head and rubbing it. A warm and thoughtful voice echoed in his mind.

"Garde…" (When I first adopted the three baby Pokémon, I thought they were the ones who needed care. But looking at you now… it's clear you've taken on even more burdens. You're the one who really needs someone to lean on.)

Lin Feng's expression froze.

No wonder she liked to ruffle his hair.

Did she see him as a child?

Still, he could support so many Pokémon now, and he was a full-fledged plantation owner. Comparing him to Torchic didn't feel quite fair.

He couldn't help but grumble, "It's not quite the same though."

Gardevoir looked at him, her tone softer than ever, like she was gently reassuring him:

"Garde…" (It's a little different, yes… but you're someone I can depend on.)

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