The Shadow People and the Dwarves had always been mortal enemies because they both lived in the mines, to the point of being irreconcilable.
"Nobody," the Wizard said, staring to the side uncomfortably. "A slip of the tongue."
Any discerning person could tell he was hiding something.
But obviously, the one facing him wasn't a discerning person, so the simple-minded Shadow Person believed him on the spot.
Krobus continued rummaging, then found what the Wizard wanted and handed it to him.
"Thanks, I'll be going then. My cauldron is waiting at home."
Saying this, another flash of light, and the Wizard disappeared from the spot.
"So this is—a hatching day gift?"
Krobus stared at the pumpkin in Ron's hand and asked: "How did you know I like this?"
"Guessed," Ron smiled, handing the pumpkin to Krobus.
"Thank you, I love this!" Krobus hugged the pumpkin, remembered something, and pointed at the chest nearby: "Oh right, want to buy something? The things here can't be bought outside."
Ron stepped forward to look upon hearing this. At first glance, he saw a Stardrop.
"How much is this?"
"20,000g," Krobus was still hugging the pumpkin. He then plopped down on a rug nearby: "But since you gave me a gift, I'll sell it to you for 15,000!"
Ron could afford this amount. He immediately bought this Stardrop.
Counting the one bought at the Stardew Valley Fair last time, the farm now had two Stardrops.
Plus one Stardrop Tree currently being planted.
That tree was now as tall as an ordinary fruit tree, but it seemed the tree hadn't reached the time to mature and bear fruit yet.
Because he wasn't sure exactly when it would bear fruit, and whether the product after fruiting would actually be Stardrop, Ron hadn't used the remaining fruit for experiments.
Now with one extra, Ron prepared to plant another one, then give the other one to the Pokémon to share, to see if it had any effect on their strength or such.
Thinking this, Ron hugged the Stardrop and left the sewers.
Meanwhile, Sailor had just finished a day's work. He waved his claw at Geoduge heading home, then jogged to the bus stop.
After feeling around in the seafood all day, his claws were a bit frozen. Sailor rubbed his claws, holding crocuses in his mouth, just about to board the bus when suddenly, a paper package was handed before him.
Because he was holding crocuses in his mouth, he called out indistinctly: "Rattata——Rattata?"
"Ron brought this for you," Pam paused, then added: "Only you have this, as a reward for your hard work."
"Rattata?!" Sailor quickly placed the crocuses in his mouth on the seat nearby, then hugged the paper package Pam handed over.
Sitting in his seat hugging the paper package, Sailor solemnly opened it.
Immediately, the aroma of roasted yams filled the bus.
"Nacl?" Nacli stared blankly at the roasted yam in Sailor's claws.
"Rattata?"
Want some?
Sailor asked.
Nacli had similar habits to Geodude, not very interested in food other than minerals, so Nacli shook his head, then turned his gaze to the side, waiting for the bus to drive toward the Desert.
Winter at the farm was somewhat difficult for Nacli.
Although the Desert nights were also cold, the ground wouldn't be covered with thick snow. Because its body was covered with salt, the snow would quickly melt upon touching it, along with making the salt on its body become loose and damp.
"We're here!" Pam stepped on the brake, opened the door, and heat waves came in through the door.
Nacli was the first to rush off the bus. Sailor hugged the roasted yams and crocuses, stood upright, and slowly wriggled toward the Oasis on his hind legs.
"Cacnea~ look who's here?"
"Nea?" A round cactus climbed onto a nearby window, staring intently at Sailor wriggling toward the Oasis.
Cacnea was the Pokémon Sandy had caught.
Originally, Sandy had planned to catch a Pokémon similar to Ron's Bellossom, and she searched in the forest with that as her standard.
Even if not Bellossom, it should at least be related to flowers somehow.
But while wandering around, she saw a weak Cacnea in a corner——this child clearly belonged in the Desert.
Although she didn't know why it was in the forest, its condition looked just like Nacli's when he first came to the Desert, extremely weak.
She caught it without hesitation.
She even lost the desire to continue searching for other Pokémon in the forest, bringing it back immediately.
After returning to the dry Desert, Cacnea's condition quickly improved. These past few days, following Sandy to bask in the desert sun, it had become much more energetic.
Sandy avoided the spines on Cacnea's body and patted its head, then left the Oasis, taking what Sailor brought from his claws.
Sailor, still plodding forward with his head down, only felt his claws become empty and couldn't help looking up.
"Good morning~ ah, Crocuses! Did you bring these for me?" She smelled the Crocuses and asked.
"Rattata!"
"Thank you." Sandy then picked up Sailor in one motion and strode into the shop.
"What about this? What is this?" Sandy examined the slightly warm paper package in her hand and handed it back to Sailor.
"Rattata rattata~" Sailor solemnly opened the paper package with his claws, took out the intact roasted yam inside, then broke it with force. After comparing it before him, he handed the larger piece to Sandy.
"Roasted yams, did you bring these from the farm?"
"Rattata!"
Sailor straightened his waist upon hearing this, calling out with a proud face.
This was proof of his hard work!
Although she couldn't guess what he was saying, Sailor's proud appearance truly amused Sandy, so she reached out and patted Sailor's head, then took out a jar of honey from nearby and handed it to Sailor: "You can add a bit of this too."
"Rattata——" Sailor sniffed at the yam in his claws for a moment, then sniffed at the Honey, so he held up the yam and let Sandy pour some honey on it.
"What about you, Cacnea, want to try?" Sandy turned to ask the chubby cactus.
"Nea." Cacnea sat down, so Sandy broke off another piece, poured some honey, and handed it to Cacnea's mouth.
"Nea~"
Cacnea ate a piece.
This thing was truly mediocre for Cacnea. Compared to this, it preferred the bugs in the dungeon not far away, so when Sandy fed it a second piece, it solemnly shook its head.
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