Two days later, the trees and rocks in the western part of the ranch had been completely cleared, leaving only patches of uneven grass.
Cyclizar was playing in the grass, while Koraidon stood by Leo's side.
For the past few days, the two had maintained a state of non-interference.
Since Koraidon didn't know how to face its past self, it kept a certain distance.
Cyclizar, confused by Koraidon's occasional looks of disdain and jealousy, as well as the terrifying aura it emitted, didn't dare to approach it actively either.
Leo was unaware of the dynamic between the two Pokémon. He had been extremely busy these past few days, devoting himself entirely to ranch work.
At this moment, Leo stood under the eaves, looking at the ranch he had worked so hard to organize.
Without the obstruction of trees, the view of the ranch was much more open. Standing at the cabin, he could take in the entire ranch at a glance.
It's finally time!
Leo clicked his tongue in admiration. He went behind the cabin to count the lumber. Seeing there was enough, he prepared to head to Porto Marinada to commission Robin from the carpenter's shop to build the Coop.
Climbing onto Cyclizar, Leo looked at Koraidon beside him and said, "I'm counting on you to guard the house!"
"Agias..."
Koraidon looked pitiful, casting a jealous glance at Cyclizar.
Leo: "..."
He reached out and rubbed Koraidon's head. "Be good. I'll take you out next time!"
"Agias!"
Koraidon cheered up immediately, licking Leo's hand like a big dog.
Leaving Koraidon to guard the ranch, Leo patted Cyclizar's shoulder gently, and Cyclizar began to run.
Koraidon and the ranch slowly disappeared behind them. Once they were out of sight, Leo retracted his gaze, thinking:
"Not having Poké Balls is indeed a bit troublesome. I can't take my Pokémon with me at all times."
Although he could take Koraidon along, it would attract too much attention. Leo preferred to keep a low profile.
Poké Balls weren't expensive. He planned to buy a few standard ones in town today as backups. Usually, Koraidon and the others could run freely on the ranch, but if they needed to go out, he could recall them into the balls for easy transport.
So, immediately upon arriving in Porto Marinada, Leo went to a shop specializing in trainer supplies and bought several standard Poké Balls.
After that, he went to the market to buy ingredients for the next few days before finally heading to the carpenter's shop.
From a distance, Leo saw the shop owner, Robin.
Today she wore khaki work overalls over a pink shirt. Her pink hair was tied up high, and her bangs were held back by a headband, revealing a smooth forehead.
Robin had a standard oval face. Perhaps due to years of carpentry work, her physique appeared strong, giving her a bold and efficient vibe.
She was sawing a plank on the stump outside the door.
Hearing footsteps, she turned around and instantly recognized the young rancher.
"It's you! The weather is great today. How's the work at the ranch going?" Robin asked with a smile.
"It's mostly done, Miss Robin." Leo explained his purpose. "I'd like to hire you to build a Coop."
A look of surprise appeared on Robin's face. "So fast? It's been less than a week since we last met, right? You've already saved enough funds for expansion?"
Leo nodded with a smile. "With Cyclizar and the others helping, progress was much faster."
Robin glanced at Cyclizar and understood. "I see. Please wait a moment!"
She put down the saw and went inside. Soon, she came out carrying specialized measuring tools and leading an adult Cyclizar.
"Let's go! Take me to your ranch. I need to inspect the site. Once you confirm the location for the Coop, I'll come over with the construction team tomorrow morning to start work."
"Okay."
Leo nodded and led the way on his Cyclizar. Robin followed behind. About half an hour later, they arrived at the ranch.
From a distance, Leo saw Koraidon waiting at the entrance for his return.
Koraidon, who had been lying on the grass bored, jumped up excitedly when it saw Leo.
Robin also saw the Pokémon—a species she had never seen before.
"Is that your Pokémon too?"
Robin wasn't a trainer. Her knowledge of Pokémon was limited to those living around Porto Marinada and those she occasionally saw on TV.
So, Koraidon was just an unfamiliar Pokémon to her. She didn't show too much surprise.
"Yes. Thanks to its help, I was able to gather the materials so quickly." Leo nodded with a smile.
Hearing this, Robin didn't ask further.
They dismounted at the entrance. Leo patted Koraidon's head reassuringly, then walked through the ranch side-by-side with Robin.
Cyclizar and Koraidon followed slowly behind them.
Looking at the scene before her, Robin praised, "You've managed this place very well!"
She fell into thought. "I came here once when I was little. My parents brought me to experience milking cows. The owner back then was a very kind old man who welcomed us warmly."
"That was my grandfather," Leo said, reciting the original owner's memories. "Because my parents had a special illness that required recuperation in a good environment, we moved to the Hoenn region when I was very young."
"I see. No wonder I didn't see you back then." Robin nodded gently, then asked, "Have you chosen a location for the Coop?"
Leo pointed to an empty plot of land west of the farmland. "There."
That spot was close to the river. Once the Coop was built, he could fence off a nearby area so the chickens could range freely on sunny days.
Robin took a look. From a carpenter's perspective, the location was indeed excellent.
"Great choice. Besides the Coop, you could also build a Water Mill by the river. You can put harvested wheat and corn in there to grind them using wind and water power. The flour and cornmeal can be used for cooking or chicken feed."
Leo's heart skipped a beat. "A Water Mill?" Free of charge?
Robin saw through his thoughts and couldn't help laughing. "That's an additional cost. Once you have enough funds, I'll come help you build it."
Leo: "..."
With the site confirmed, Robin took out her tools to measure. After collecting the data, she toured the rest of the ranch under Leo's guidance.
Since they would be working together in the future, inspecting the ranch in advance was necessary to help with future planning.