"This tree produces small blossoms with naturally sweet nectar in the center. Except during winter, it blooms year-round, making it perfect for Combee to make honey."

"As for other flowers, they're more or less the same to Combee maybe the taste differs slightly. But you, handsome boy, can choose a variety of flowers that bloom in different seasons. That way, your Combee can produce honey continuously."

"Because to some extent, they're incredibly hardworking Pokémon. They'll gladly collect honey for you every day so long as you treat them well."

The woman, warm and enthusiastic, led Lin Feng into the flower shop and picked up a potted plant. Inside the pot was a small tree with orange-yellow leaves.

"This is the Sweetnectar Tree. It's a very interesting plant. It won't grow large in a pot, but if planted in soil with enough nutrients, it'll grow into a tree several meters tall within three to six months and begin flowering."

Lin Feng looked surprised. "You sure know a lot."

For a simple flower shop, not only did she understand Combee habits in detail, but she also had saplings of the Sweetnectar Tree ready for sale.

Pleased by the compliment, the woman lifted her chin proudly. "Hehe~ of course! I majored in Pokémon–Botany Compatibility in university… Let me tell you more—"

Lin Feng cut her off. "How much?"

"Three thousand!"

"I'll take two."

The shopkeeper was certainly passionate, but Lin Feng was in a hurry. He wanted to get back and have Rotom start surveillance in the store to see if what happened yesterday would repeat.

After buying a few more flower seeds, he quickly returned home.

Rotom resumed its duties.

Meanwhile, Lin Feng received good news from the town mayor: nearly all residents agreed to let him plant flowers along both sides of the cobblestone path.

So

Lin Feng borrowed a Sandshrew from Old Man Qin and called out his Snivy to help clear the weeds along the path. Together, they tilled the soil and sowed seeds, sprinkling in a bit of special golden fertilizer.

Just like that, the afternoon flew by.

He patted Sandshrew on the head. "Thanks a lot~ Be sure to come by for dinner later I'll make you some spicy tomato noodles!"

"Shree-shree~" (R-really?)

Sandshrew thought about the tangy, spicy flavor and secretly swallowed a mouthful of drool. But in the end, it nodded with restraint.

"You little rascal..."

Lin Feng chuckled. Sandshrew had spent quite a bit of time with Old Man Qin and had picked up all his habits of modesty and politeness.

"Alright, head back now and thank Grandpa Qin for me."

Sandshrew gave a respectful bow and cheerfully scampered home. Feeling it wasn't fast enough, it suddenly curled into a ball and rolled down the path, making Lin Feng laugh out loud.

"Snivy?" (What are we planting?)

Snivy, who had been working hard all afternoon, couldn't help but ask.

"Flowers! Give it ten days or so, and they should bloom. When that happens, both sides of this road will be covered in blossoms."

He had bought every kind of summer-blooming flower he could find roses, chrysanthemums, lilies…

Each type had its designated spot.

As for the two Sweetnectar Trees, he chose to plant them in the grassy field behind the cowshed.

"Snivy?" (Will they be pretty?)

Lin Feng paused to think. "Uh… how should I put it? Some Pokémon will really like them. Others... might not care. For example, if you give these flowers to a Tauros, it might just think it's food."

"But a Pokémon like Flabébé will treasure every single bloom."

"Snivy…"

Snivy nodded thoughtfully.

"Come on, let's head home."

After a long afternoon of work, dinner had to be something special.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, Lin Feng tried once again to pat Snivy on the head. The little Pokémon dodged but when he reached out a second time, Snivy simply gave him a helpless look and slowly leaned toward him.

Meanwhile, high above them, the air shimmered as if something unseen was swimming through it, rippling the atmosphere like water.

"Yooo-yoo…"

There came a faint, playful giggle…

The rippling air passed over the sky and finally stopped on a tall pine tree just outside the orchard.

In the next second

The flock of Pidgey resting in the branches quietly increased from ten to eleven.

None of the other Pidgey noticed anything strange…

———

"What? We're short another three thousand today?"

Back home, Lin Feng stared in disbelief at Rotom. "Is the surveillance faulty?"

Rotom shook its head, clearly frustrated. "Roto… no issues. I didn't see anyone taking anything without paying. But we're still missing three thousand."

"Gardevoir?"

Gardevoir, having just finished training the Pidgey and Spearow, frowned slightly.

She hadn't noticed anything unusual either.

"It's okay, don't blame yourself."

Lin Feng reassured Rotom and began to think. "...Did it happen this morning?"

He'd been out buying flower seeds with Rotom. Neither had been in the shop.

"Forget it. It's just three thousand. We'll keep an eye on the store tomorrow and see what happens."

He couldn't figure it out just yet. If something strange happened again, he'd go to Wutong Forest and ask Uncle Liang to lend him Lucario.

August 14th...

Early the next morning, Lin Feng noticed a Water Stone placed on the shop's counter.

He fell silent.

[Grade B Water Stone — A stone filled with pure Water-type energy. Some Pokémon can absorb this energy to trigger genetic evolution.]

Whoever this invisible Pokémon was, it kept leaving rare evolutionary items in exchange for 3,000 Pokécoins' worth of energy cubes.

Lin Feng had a new idea.

If this Pokémon was going to make a fair trade every time… did it really matter if he never uncovered its identity?

After all, both the Everstone and this Grade B Water Stone would sell for six figures on the market.

But still… Lin Feng couldn't help but feel curious.

Could it be an invisible Pokémon?

Victini? Latias?

His imagination began to run wild...

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