By the time Lucas left the research institute, the sun had already begun its slow descent toward the west, though it was still well before noon.
Following the same route back, he arrived at the Pokémon Center just as lunchtime began.
The lobby was much quieter than it had been that morning.
A few Trainers sat on the benches eating boxed lunches while their Pokémon rested patiently at their feet.
As Lucas stepped inside, he noticed the reception desk was empty except for Nurse Joy, who was busy organizing some paperwork.
Hearing the door open, she looked up.
Her eyes first landed on Lucas’ empty hands, then on the single Poké Ball attached to his belt—the same one that held Ralts.
There were no additional Poké Balls or the portable carrying case usually provided for a starter Pokémon.
She immediately stopped what she was doing.
A trace of concern appeared on her face.
“What happened?” she asked anxiously.
“Did something go wrong with Professor Birch?”
Lucas quickly walked over to the counter and gently lifted Ralts from his shoulder, placing the sleepy little Pokémon on the countertop.
Ralts lazily shook its head before curling up and closing its eyes again.
“No, nothing like that,” Lucas said with a smile, waving his hands.
“Professor Birch agreed to give me a Bulbasaur.”
“It just has to be transferred from the Kanto region first.”
“It’ll take about two days.”
The concern on Nurse Joy’s face immediately disappeared.
“Bulbasaur?”
She looked genuinely surprised.
“You certainly have good taste.”
“Kanto starters aren’t easy to obtain around here.”
“If Professor Birch agreed to arrange one for you, then today must be your lucky day.”
Lucas grinned.
“I think so too.”
“The professor also told me to come and see you.”
“He said you know a lot of people.”
“I wanted to ask if you know of any farms that are for sale.”
Nurse Joy set the documents aside and leaned slightly over the counter.
“A farm?”
“You want to buy a farm?”
“Yes.”
Lucas answered without hesitation.
“I want to become a farmer.”
Although he spoke quietly, there wasn’t the slightest hint of uncertainty in his voice.
Nurse Joy studied him for several seconds.
Finally, she nodded.
“You’re serious.”
It wasn’t a question.
It was a statement.
Lucas smiled.
“I am.”
Without another word, Nurse Joy pulled out a tablet from beneath the counter.
Her fingers quickly swiped across the screen as she browsed through a long list of properties.
Every so often, her brows furrowed before relaxing again as she filtered through the available listings.
After about half a minute, she finally stopped.
“I found one.”
“I think it’ll suit you perfectly.”
She turned the tablet around.
Displayed on the screen was a photograph of a farm.
The picture had clearly been taken by an amateur.
The angle was crooked.
The lighting was overexposed.
Even so, Lucas could immediately tell it was a beautiful property.
At the foot of a mountain lay a large, flat piece of land enclosed by a sturdy wooden fence.
Gentle hills stretched into the distance, covered with neat rows of fruit trees.
Standing in the middle of the farm was a two-story farmhouse with weathered gray walls.
Despite its age, it looked solid.
Nurse Joy looked down at the listing.
“Let’s see…”
“The owner’s surname is Teng.”
“His name is Fujiyama.”
“He’s been running this farm for over thirty years.”
“This year, his son bought a house in Petalburg City and wants him to move in.”
“So he’s decided to sell the farm.”
Lucas carefully examined the photograph.
His eyes moved from the farmhouse…
To the open fields…
Then to the distant orchard on the hillside.
“How much is he asking?”
“Three million League Credits.”
Lucas nodded.
“Can I go see it today?”
Nurse Joy had already picked up the phone.
“I’ll call him for you.”
After a brief conversation, she hung up and smiled.
“You can head over this afternoon.”
“He’ll be there until three o’clock.”
Lucas glanced at the clock.
It had only just passed noon.
There was plenty of time.
“I’ll grab some lunch first.”
“Then I’ll head over.”
Nurse Joy nodded.
She watched Lucas walk toward the exit before calling after him.
“Lucas.”
He turned around.
“I’ve met Mr.
Fujiyama several times.”
“He’s a kind man.”
“When you meet him…”
“Take the time to listen to his story.”
Lucas smiled.
“Thank you.”
Lucas ate lunch at a small restaurant across the street from the Pokémon Center.
Ralts sat beside him on the table, happily eating the same meal.
Its cheeks puffed out adorably with every bite.
At exactly 2:30 in the afternoon…
Lucas arrived at Teng Farm.
Tall weeds lined both sides of the dirt road leading inside.
Their tops swayed gently in the breeze.
Loose gravel crunched softly beneath his feet.
After walking for about five minutes…
The landscape suddenly opened before him.
A broad mountain stretched across the horizon.
It wasn’t particularly tall.
Instead, it had gentle, rolling slopes.
Rows of fruit trees covered the hillside.
Although some branches had become overgrown recently, it was obvious they had once been meticulously cared for.
At the foot of the mountain lay a wide, level field surrounded by a wooden fence.
The rich soil looked soft and fertile.
In the center stood the gray two-story farmhouse from the photograph.
Its walls glowed warmly beneath the afternoon sunlight.
The roof tiles varied slightly in color, showing where repairs had been made over the years.
Everything matched the picture.
Yet standing here in person felt completely different.
Photographs were lifeless.
This place…
Had warmth.
The breeze carried the scent of earth…
Fresh grass…
And the bittersweet fragrance of fruit tree leaves.
Lucas quietly took it all in.
Then he noticed something unexpected.
Two modern off-road vehicles were parked beside the farmhouse.
One black.
One white.
Both were spotless.
They looked strangely out of place beside the aging farmhouse.
Curious, Lucas continued walking.
Just as he reached the yard…
The farmhouse door opened.
Three people stepped outside.
Leading them was an elderly man with graying hair.
He wore a thin gray jacket.
Although his back was slightly bent with age, his steps remained steady.
Behind him walked two middle-aged men.
One wore a dark blue jacket.
The other wore a white short-sleeved shirt.
Both looked to be in their forties.
The old man paused upon seeing Lucas.
Clearly, he hadn’t expected another visitor.
Lucas stepped forward politely.
“Hello.”
“Are you Mr.
Fujiyama?”
“Nurse Joy sent me.”
“I’d like to take a look at the farm.”
Recognition immediately appeared in the old man’s eyes.
He nodded.
Before he could answer…
The man wearing the blue jacket spoke first.
“You’re here to buy the farm?”
He looked Lucas up and down before stopping at the Poké Ball on his belt.
“By yourself?”
“Yes.”
The two middle-aged men exchanged glances.
The man in the white shirt didn’t say anything.
He merely curled his lips into a faint smile.
Lucas understood exactly what that expression meant.
Neither of them believed a seventeen-year-old boy had come alone to purchase a farm.
To them…
He probably looked like a rich teenager acting on impulse.
Someone who would lose interest after only a few days.
Unlike them…
The old man simply observed Lucas calmly.
“Nurse Joy told me about you.”
“She said you’re a sincere young man.”
Lucas simply nodded.
The old man gestured toward the two visitors.
“They’re also here to look at the farm.”
“You arrived at the same time.”
The man in blue gave Lucas a polite nod.
The other simply shoved his hands into his pockets and continued inspecting the property.
Lucas paid them little attention.
The old man began leading everyone around the farm.
As they walked, he calmly explained everything.
The flat fields had originally been used to grow Berries before being converted into a Pokémon activity area.
The wooden fence had been replaced five years earlier.
Although it looked old now…
It remained sturdy.
The orchard on the hillside had been planted entirely by his own hands over thirty years ago.
Most of the trees produced Sitrus Berries and Pecha Berries.
Several other berry varieties were scattered throughout.
The mountain spring provided an abundant water supply.
Pipes carried fresh water directly to the farmhouse, ensuring there would never be shortages—even during dry seasons.
The farmhouse itself had both electricity and running water.
Although the facilities were old…
Everything still functioned perfectly.
The old man’s voice remained calm throughout.
He wasn’t trying to sell the farm.
He simply explained the facts.
Whether someone bought it or not…
Didn’t seem particularly important to him.
The two businessmen quietly whispered to each other while walking.
Lucas remained at the back of the group.
Ralts rested comfortably on his shoulder, curiously watching several Rattata dart through the grass outside the fence.
When they reached the orchard…
The man in the blue jacket finally spoke.
“Mr.
Fujiyama.”
“We’ve discussed your asking price.”
“We think three million is a little too expensive.”
“A nearby farm sold last month for only 2.7 million.”
“It’s about the same size.”
“Your farm is farther away.”
“So logically…”
“It should cost even less.”
The old man didn’t stop walking.
Only after several more steps did he answer.
“That farm doesn’t have a mountain.”
“Mine does.”
“And this mountain holds a thirty-year-old orchard with stable harvests.”
“You think the location is remote.”
“I think it’s peaceful.”
The man in the white shirt finally joined the conversation.
“Buying a farm for three million…”
“Then investing another million into repairs…”
“The return takes too long.”
“Mr.
Fujiyama.”
“How about 2.5 million?”
“I can sign the contract today.”
The old man remained silent.
They continued walking until they reached a row of mature Sitrus Berry trees.
Several large berries still hung from the branches.
Each was nearly the size of a fist, glowing softly beneath the sunlight.
The old man gently reached out and touched one.
His movements were incredibly careful.
As though he were greeting an old friend.
“I planted every one of these trees…”
“…from seeds.”
Silence followed.
The man in blue changed his approach.
“Mr.
Fujiyama.”
“Let’s be honest.”
“Whoever buys this farm will spend a fortune renovating it.”
“At three million…”
“Most buyers won’t even consider it.”
“The fact that we’re standing here today proves we’re serious.”
“If you’re willing to lower the price…”
“We can complete the paperwork immediately.”
The old man slowly turned around.
Lucas noticed his eyes pass over the two businessmen…
Before briefly resting on him.
“The price…”
“…is three million.”
“It won’t change.”
Silence filled the orchard.
The man in the white shirt frowned.
Just as he was about to argue…
The old man spoke again.
“But…”
“I have one condition.”
Everyone looked toward him.
His gaze slowly moved across all three visitors.
Finally, he looked at the businessmen.
“When this farm is sold…”
“Whoever buys it…”
“…must continue running it as a farm.”
The man in the blue jacket laughed awkwardly.
“Mr.
Fujiyama…”
“Once we buy it…”
“What we do with it is our decision.”
“You can’t put something like that into a contract.”
The old man simply stared back.
His expression remained as calm as still water.
The man in the white shirt quietly pulled his companion aside.
The two whispered together for several moments.
When they returned…
The man in blue forced another smile.
“We’ll discuss it further.”
“We’ll contact you later.”
The old man merely nodded.
The two businessmen climbed into their black SUV.
Moments later…
The vehicle disappeared down the dirt road in a cloud of dust.
Lucas quietly watched it leave.
Then he turned back.
The old man was already looking at him.
“And you?”
he asked.
“Do you also need time to discuss it?”
Lucas shook his head.
“No.”
“I’ll buy it.”
The old man’s eyes narrowed slightly.
He carefully studied Lucas for several moments before asking,
“How old are you?”
“Seventeen.”
The old man fell silent.
Finally, he asked,
“Where did a seventeen-year-old get three million League Credits?”
Lucas answered calmly.
“My parents saved it.”
“They’ve both passed away.”
The old man simply nodded.
He didn’t offer empty sympathy.
Instead, he asked another question.
“Do you know anything about farming?”
Lucas smiled honestly.
“Not much.”
“But…”
“I’m willing to learn.”
Another brief silence followed.
“Three million.”
“No bargaining.”
“I understand.”
“And after you buy this place…”
“It must always remain a farm.”
Lucas met the old man’s eyes without hesitation.
“I understand.”
The old man slowly extended his hand.
His palm was rough like old tree bark.
His fingers were thick.
Even traces of dirt remained beneath his fingernails.
Lucas firmly shook his hand.
The old man’s grip was dry…
Strong…
And unwavering.