"So, I can take care of you, feed you delicious food, or help you become stronger and learn moves, but I can't keep you in a Poke Ball."
Dratini listened, half-understanding.
The other Dragonair's eyes lit up: "Woo?" (Do you mean that even if we're not in a Poke Ball, we can still live with Uncle Dragonite like you?)
Naoki smiled, a bit surprised: "Smart, but you guessed that yourself. I never said that."
"Woo~"
The Translation Nuts were all eaten, and Naoki couldn't understand Dratini and Dragonair's words anymore.
He stood up and glanced at the distant sunset, taking a deep breath: "Alright, you guys play here for now. I need to prepare dinner for your Uncle Dragonite."
Naoki didn't start cooking right away but instead found Pawmo, who could fly, and gave it a new task.
"Pawmo, for a while, help me watch over those Dragonair and Dratini. Make sure they don't leave the ranch's boundaries."
"Bamo!" Pawmo patted its chest in agreement.
Only then did Naoki feel relieved to prepare dinner.
Tonight's dinner was once again Secret Sandwiches and grilled meat, paired with a few Berries and milk, with dessert being aromatic Poffins and cream smoothies.
The preparation method for these foods was simple and quick. After finishing them, Dragonite hadn't returned yet. Using this time, Naoki stir-fried a whole pot of Translation Nuts.
Looking at the steaming, caramel-scented nuts, Naoki murmured: "Seems like I need to buy an automatic shell opener."
Cracking nuts one by one during translation is too troublesome. It would be much easier if shelled nuts were available, allowing for a big handful of nut kernels to be shoved into the mouth.
Or if there were Psychic Type Pokemon, that would work too. They could use Psychic to crack open a bunch of nut shells at once.
Thinking of this, Naoki's mind flashed to the Indeedee siblings in that manor.
The manor owner said it would take another two months to send them over. Now nearly a month had passed, so it would still take some time.
But that's just right.
Naoki checked his finances, and with all the Nacli evolving into Naclstack, the yield of Rock Salt from the ranch increased significantly.
He initially thought it would take until the month's end to save enough, but he was unexpectedly nearing his goal.
Once the ripe crops in the field are sold mid-month, he would have enough to reach two million.
Then he could ask Keri to come over and expand the house, which would take about one to two months.
By the time the house is built, the Indeedee siblings would arrive just in time.
At 7 PM, Dragonite finally returned to the ranch from Dragon Island.
It landed in the ranch, and Naoki approached, asking: "What did the Dragonites on the island say?"
Dragonite: "Awoo!"
Naoki blinked. From its expression, the Dragonites on the island seemed to agree to let the Dratini and Dragonair play here for a while.
He smiled and said: "Come in for dinner!"
Dragonite hurriedly ran inside and grabbed a sandwich to eat.
There was actually another thing it hadn't mentioned.
When it went to the island, some mischievous Dragonites, upon hearing about the Dratini and Dragonair, also wanted to come over and play, even stealthily following it.
Those were the same two persistent Dragonites that wanted to come back with Naoki initially.
Luckily, it noticed in time and managed to chase them away.