Chương 291: The Milk of Life
With Mew and Teddiursa off on their journey, life on the ranch had returned to its usual peaceful rhythm.
But this morning, Glaceon came running over, clearly panicked. "Booey!" it cried, eyes wide with terror.
Naoki was surprised to see his typically aloof Glaceon so distressed.
"What could have frightened Glaceon like this?" he wondered aloud as he popped a translation seed crisp into his mouth. "Take a deep breath and tell me what happened."
Glaceon took a moment to steady itself, swallowing hard before describing the eerie events of the previous night. Its voice was shaky as it recounted, "Booey, booey! Buey…" (There was… a ghost in the cave! I was asleep on my favorite ice rock, but around midnight, I heard a horrible, sinister laugh echoing from the wall…)
Even recalling the incident seemed to make Glaceon shiver, and it glanced back toward the ice cave in dread. "Booey, booey!" (The cave walls are solid rock—there's no way a person or Pokémon could hide there… It has to be a ghost!)
"A ghost?" Naoki was genuinely startled. He had lived on the ranch for over a year and, apart from the occasional mischievous Gastly or playful Misdreavus, hadn't encountered any true ghostly presences.
"Could it be a Ghost-type Pokémon?" Naoki asked, trying to calm his anxious Glaceon.
Glaceon shook its head fervently. "Booey!" (No, this was different! The laughter was sharp, chilling—it didn't sound like any Pokémon or person.)
Seeing Naoki's hesitation, Glaceon pressed urgently, "Booey!" (It's real! The laughter is still coming from the cave!)
Deciding he couldn't ignore the situation, Naoki gathered Koraidon and a few other Pokémon to investigate. They followed Glaceon back to the ice cave nestled behind the old house.
As they approached, a faint, high-pitched laughter echoed from within the stone walls. Indeedee hid behind Naoki, nervously whispering, "Ai yi…" (There really is laughing…)
Glaceon shivered, giving Naoki a look that seemed to say, "See? I told you!"
Naoki, however, was more curious than frightened. Something about the laughter didn't seem to match the usual traits of Ghost-type Pokémon.
"Let's check it out," Naoki said, calming his team. He led them into the cave, following the direction of the laughter until he reached a spot in the wall where the sound was the clearest. He pressed his ear against the cold stone, trying to pinpoint the source.
Koraidon stood nearby, watching him closely. After a few moments, Naoki straightened up. "This doesn't seem like a ghost," he murmured thoughtfully.
Stepping outside, he scanned the area, listening closely to track down the sound. After a few minutes, he pinpointed a spot on the outer wall of the cave.
"Right here," he said, gesturing to Koraidon. "Give it a good punch!"
Koraidon nodded and raised its fist, ready to strike the wall just as Naoki instructed.
Koraidon clenched its fist and delivered a solid punch to the wall. With a loud crash, a hole opened in the rock face, revealing a small hidden space inside.
Curious, Naoki stepped forward, brushed aside the rubble, and peered into the opening. To his surprise, instead of finding solid stone, he discovered a cozy little nook filled with various toys—plush dolls, plastic Pidgeot figures, and tiny toy race cars.
The eerie laughter that had frightened Glaceon was coming from a fluffy bear toy nestled among the collection.
Naoki was momentarily puzzled. "Who could have made this little hideaway?"
Reaching in, he pulled out the bear, examining it closely. Unzipping its back, he found a sound module inside. It seemed the battery was almost drained, which made the toy's laughter sound distorted and eerie—just enough to resemble a ghostly wail.
"It's not a ghost; it's just a toy," Naoki reassured Glaceon and Indeedee, showing them the toy. As soon as he removed the battery, the laughter stopped completely.
Glaceon, realizing it had mistaken a toy for a ghost, froze for a second, then blushed in embarrassment. It had really overreacted!
"Boo…ey…" it muttered sheepishly, pawing at the ground in slight embarrassment. 'I really had made a fool of myself!'
Indeedee also breathed a sigh of relief, though it raised another question. "Indeedee?" (But… who put all these toys here?)
Koraidon thought for a moment before offering an idea. "Ah-ga!" (Could it have been Mew? I remember seeing it around here, using its powers on this wall…)
Naoki immediately connected the dots. He recalled Mew's fondness for toys and its habit of collecting them.
Then it hit him—it must be 'Secret Power! This move, known for creating hidden bases in trees, caves, and other spots, was perfect for Mew's playful nature. Clearly, Mew had created this cozy little den as its personal hideaway, filling it with its cherished toys.
Mew must have accidentally left the bear toy on, and with the battery slowly draining, the laughter had become distorted, leading Glaceon to think it was haunted.
Naoki chuckled. "So it's all just a misunderstanding!"
After the mystery was revealed, Naoki explained his theory to Glaceon, then placed the laughing teddy bear toy back in the small hidden space and covered the hole Koraidon had made with a stone.
"When Mew and Teddiursa return, I'll explain everything to Mew."
"Alright, everyone, you can go back now!" he announced.
---
Meanwhile, in Kosaji Town, at the headquarters of Kosaji Market.
Zack had brought the two bottles of high-quality Gogoat milk from Naoki's ranch to the market's headquarters for thorough testing.
The milk produced by Pokémon is unique. Similar to the fruits found in nature, it has special properties that can restore the physical strength of injured Pokémon. For humans, prolonged consumption of this milk can also have benefits, strengthening the body over time. Studies have shown that children who consume Miltank's Moo Moo Milk from a young age tend to grow healthier and stronger than those who don't.
A single Miltank can produce up to twenty liters of nutritious milk a day, making Moo Moo Milk as essential to people as staple foods like rice or flour.
Compared to Miltank, although Gogoats can produce milk, the quantity they produce is much smaller, and the nutrients aren't usually as rich. This limited the appeal of Gogoat's milk in the past, with most consumers favoring the richer Moo Moo Milk.
Zack had always held this view until he began sampling Gogoat milk from Naoki's ranch.
The high-quality Gogoat milk from Naoki's ranch had proven far superior to the typical Moo Moo Milk in nutritional content, even supporting frail seniors in regaining energy and vitality. And now, after another year of Naoki's careful cultivation, the quality seemed to have reached an even higher level.
Reflecting on this, Zack handed one of the bottles to the inspector at the Kosaji Market headquarters for testing.
Because Kosaji Market is surrounded by several nearby ranches and farms, it is equipped with advanced testing equipment specifically designed for assessing fresh milk quality.
The inspector took the bottle of milk, poured it into the machine, and asked casually, "Which ranch did you get this milk from?"
"It's not Moomoo's milk," Zack explained with a grin. "It's Gogoat's milk from Naoki Ranch."
The inspector's eyes lit up. "Oh, you mean the famous magical goat milk everyone's been talking about?"
"Exactly!" Zack replied, still smiling.
"Well, I'm definitely going to have to check the nutritional content in this thoroughly!" The inspector was intrigued. She had heard the stories about Naoki's goat milk.
Rumor had it that Madame Dantes's husband, who had been bedridden and weak, had regained his strength after consuming dishes made from this goat's milk. He was now seen jogging around town every morning, full of life.
The machine powered up, and the computer began analyzing the nutrients and properties in the goat milk. As the test progressed, the data graph on the screen shot upwards, representing the milk's exceptional quality.
"It's maxing out!" The inspector gasped. "The scale is full—this is goat milk of superlative quality!"
Hearing this, Zack leaned over to look at the screen. A second later, the graph not only maxed out but actually broke the chart boundaries.
Both of them stared at the screen in shock.
The data was off the charts!
This meant that the nutrients in this bottle of goat milk exceeded even the machine's measurement capacity.
"More than 800 types of nutrients beneficial to the human body!" the inspector exclaimed, typing furiously at the keyboard as new results emerged. She suddenly paused, eyes wide.
"There's a very unusual type of energy in this goat milk!"
"What kind of energy?" Zack asked, curiosity piqued.
"I'm not entirely sure," the inspector admitted, shaking her head. "But I can guarantee it's completely safe for humans. Wait…this milk contains an extraordinary level of active elements!"
The inspector looked at the bottle of goat milk in amazement, then turned back to Zack, her voice hushed with awe. "If my analysis is correct, this milk has astonishing healing properties!"
"Like Moo Moo Milk?" Zack asked, eyes wide with wonder.
The inspector nodded enthusiastically. "Yes, but its healing power is dozens, maybe even hundreds of times stronger than Moo Moo Milk! I need to run a specific test to confirm its full potential."
The two shared a determined look, and they knew exactly where to go.
---
Fifteen minutes later, they arrived at the Pokémon Center in Kosaji Town, clutching the remaining bottle of goat's milk.
They were in luck; just as they walked in, a young trainer burst through the doors, carrying a severely injured and unconscious Wattrel.
"Ms. Joy, Ms. Joy! Please, help my Wattrel!" he cried.
Ms. Joy examined the Pokémon's condition and frowned deeply. "This is serious! How did it get hurt so badly?"
The trainer's voice cracked as he explained, "It's my fault… I shouldn't have gone to such a dangerous place. Wattrel tried to protect me and was attacked by a Pokemon. Ms. Joy, please, you have to save it!"
Zack quickly stepped forward, saying, "I might have a way to help."
Ms. Joy blinked, surprised to see him there. "Mr. Zack?"
Without further explanation, Zack approached the injured Wattrel and carefully poured some of the goat milk into its beak.
What happened next left everyone stunned. As Wattrel swallowed the goat milk, its injuries began to heal, visibly mending at an astonishing rate.
Within moments, the once-ailing Wattrel opened its eyes, stretched its wings, and took flight, looking as if it had never been injured at all.
The trainer hugged Wattrel, tears streaming down his face. "You're okay… you're really okay! Thank you, Wattrel!"
Ms. Joy stared in shock at the scene before her, hardly able to believe what she had just witnessed. "What… what just happened?" she asked, turning to Zack. In her experience, Wattrel's condition was critical—it should have taken weeks to recover if it even survived.
But here it was, completely healed in seconds.
Zack and the inspector were just as astounded. "Its healing power is incredible!" the inspector whispered.
Ms. Joy looked back at Zack, recognizing him as the deliveryman from the Kosaji Market. "Mr. Zack… what was that milk you used?"
Zack was still reeling from the shock. "It's… the Milk of Life!"
"Milk of Life?" Nurse Joy echoed, slightly taken aback.
Zack nodded. "This milk can instantly restore a Pokémon's health, even from the brink of death, healing all injuries. I can't think of a better name."
The inspector, equally astonished, agreed. "Yes, it's truly life-giving goat milk… capable of bringing seriously injured Pokémon back to full health!"
The young trainer, now calm, turned to Zack, bowing in gratitude. "Thank you, sir!"
Zack shook his head, smiling. "No need to thank me. If you're grateful, you should thank Naoki Ranch and its owner."
Nurse Joy perked up in surprise. "Naoki Ranch? What does Mr. Naoki have to do with this?"
The boy looked equally puzzled. "Naoki Ranch?"
Zack chuckled. "That goat milk that saved your Wattrel was produced by a Gogoat raised by Naoki himself, using a special method."
"So that's it!" Nurse Joy recalled the joyful goats she'd seen frolicking at Naoki's ranch.
"Mr. Naoki?" The young trainer, looking thoughtful, nodded seriously. "I'll remember it."
Eager to confirm the milk's effects, Zack asked Nurse Joy, "Could you give Wattrel a thorough examination?"
"Of course!" Nurse Joy responded with a smile.
After a short while, she returned with the Wattrel, its trainer looking anxious while Zack waited with anticipation. Nurse Joy reassured them gently, "Rest assured, Wattrel's injuries have fully healed, and even some older wounds from past battles have disappeared. The Milk of Life works wonders!"
Impressed, Nurse Joy thought about Mr. Naoki and his talent with Pokémon. Even the Pokémon League Chief had tried to recruit him personally, but he had declined. Perhaps such a gifted individual, capable of taming even the King of Bountiful Harvests, didn't need a position in the Paldea League.
Hearing Nurse Joy's report, Zack was satisfied. He thanked her, then left to finalize matters.
The last hurdle was setting a price for this extraordinary goat milk. But with its unprecedented healing properties, figuring out a fair price was tricky.
Should it be ten thousand Pokédollars? Twenty? Thirty? Even fifty thousand?
...
No way—we're actually sitting at 2nd in the rankings! 😱
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