That evening, everyone at the saloon made Pierre bleed heavily.
Surprisingly, Pierre didn't react much. He just sat quietly in the corner, his gaze always fixed on Abigail's match replay.
"What's wrong with Pierre?"
Pam looked at Pierre in confusion, asking Robin who had just finished working nearby.
"Mm——maybe he had an epiphany?" Robin thought and said.
Time passed to the 27th of Fall, three days after the Pokémon Contest.
This day was Pelican Town's Spirit's Eve. Ron had received a letter from Lewis early that morning, reminding him not to forget to go to the square for the festival that evening.
The farm work had mostly wrapped up. If there was anything, it was that Ron had been busy collecting hay these past few days.
He had also planted quite a bit of grass in Kalos, but he wouldn't be able to return until the 15th of Winter, so he still needed to prepare food for the animals until that day.
To avoid running short of hay by then, Ron had also set aside some money to give to Shane when the time came. If it wasn't enough, he would ask him to buy some from Marnie.
Additionally, there was the brewing work.
The Hops would probably last until late winter. Ron planned to go to the Desert to buy some Honey when he had the chance.
Mead was also quite profitable, though compared to pale ale, it required somewhat more capital investment.
Finally, there was the Greenhouse. The Greenhouse was still missing one evolution stone. Ron had specifically found a photo of the evolution stone and had Nacli search for the missing piece.
If the greenhouse could be unlocked before winter, he could plant ancient fruit in the greenhouse.
Whether for brewing or making dried fruit, it was good. Because it could be planted across seasons, next year he wouldn't have to worry about what to plant—just satisfying normal vegetable supply would be enough.
Thinking this, Ron walked straight toward the pasture not far away.
"Good morning." Ron greeted Leah, then petted Deerling who was burying its head eating grass.
Leah returned the greeting. "Oh right, you're going to Kalos in winter, right?"
Seeing Ron nod, Leah thought and asked again: "When are you departing?"
"The 8th of Winter," Ron said. "Probably after the Festival of Ice."
At these words, Leah seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. Seeing Ron looking at her, she couldn't help but shyly smooth her hair, then said: "I just—I mean…"
She paused and said: "No, I mean, before that, can I come to the farm to hang out with you?"
"Of course." Ron took out his sickle and said: "I'm planning to take them to have fun in Pelican Town during winter. We can go together then."
If not for the purpose of earning money, everywhere in Pelican Town during winter was interesting—whether having snowball fights at the farm, digging up snow yams buried in the snow in the forest, or going to the hot springs in the back mountains.
"I see!" Leah instantly became happy upon hearing this. In previous winters, she also tried her best to find some fun for herself. If she could go with everyone from the farm, it would surely be very lively.
Thinking this, Leah also pulled out a sickle and buried her head in cutting grass.
Meanwhile, in Pelican Town.
They were already preparing for Spirit's Eve at this moment. Lewis was currently directing Clint, setting up cages in the corners of town, waiting for the Wizard to come and put some monsters from the mines inside.
In previous years, Abigail was the most active on this day—not just her, but also her Gengar.
They were the main force for scaring people in the maze every year.
Thinking this, Lewis somewhat missed Abigail. But compared to Abigail staying in Pelican Town, Lewis still hoped she could find what she wanted to do in Kalos.
Not to say becoming famous, just hoping she would get better and better.
Thinking this, he looked at Maru who was busy working on the maze nearby, and Demetrius helping beside her.
Because they needed to finish building Penny and her mother's house before tomorrow, she really couldn't spare her hands for the maze that day, so Maru, Demetrius, and Sebastian took on this task.
This also surprised Lewis somewhat. What surprised him even more was that Demetrius and Sebastian didn't seem to be in conflict like before.
Even the two of them faintly had something of the feeling that father and son should have.
He couldn't quite put it into words—anyway, the two weren't so confrontational anymore.
Even occasionally, Demetrius could help out when Sebastian couldn't move something.
But anyway, everything was getting better and better!
Lewis nodded in satisfaction, then glanced at Penny's family's new house being finished up not far away.
"Everything is getting better and better!"
Over there at the new house, construction was roughly complete. It just needed furniture to be placed, plus flooring and wallpaper and such.
Robin clapped her hands, placing the huge bookshelf in the corner of the house.
"How is it?"
"Wonderful———" Penny covered her face, looking at this bookshelf. "I don't even have enough books to fill it up."
"You will fill it up sooner or later," Robin said with a smile. She then pulled beside the bookshelf, and a portable ladder was drawn out: "Books placed on top are also convenient to reach. Besides this, there's also the lounge chair you wanted."
She pointed at the lounge chair nearby and said: "The blanket on top is even specially made from Marnie's wool—lying on it is especially comfortable!"
Robin had also specially designed a very large floor-to-ceiling window. There were no trees or buildings blocking in front of the house, so the sun could shine in just right.
Penny could sit by the window reading books.
"And the desk lamp, look at this." Robin introduced with a proud face the bits and pieces she had carefully designed for this home.
"My goodness, thank you, Robin. This is like a dream."
Seeing Penny's excited expression, she patted Penny's head and said with a smile: "Being able to see your life getting better and better is better than anything."
Then, she walked somewhat mysteriously to Pam nearby.
"Pam, guess what I prepared for you?"
"What?" Pam asked.
Pam didn't really want anything, so she couldn't guess what surprise Robin had prepared for her.
"Ta-da." Robin said, pulling up a wooden board not far away, revealing a small cellar beneath.
Inside the cellar was a keg.
"What is that?" Pam looked at Robin in disbelief. She then waved her hands repeatedly: "No no no, this this this——"
"This is nothing, dear." Robin said, covering the floor and then putting a lock on it: "Only when you've paid off your loan will I give you the key."
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