Early the next morning, just as Silas and his Pokémon were having breakfast, an unfamiliar visitor arrived at the ranch.
Standing beyond the fence, Silas observed the young man carefully, a hint of surprise flickering in his eyes.
The boy's skin was slightly tanned, carrying the healthy sheen of someone who exercised year-round. He wore a fitted athletic outfit that outlined his lean build. Most striking of all was his hairstyle—his hair had been coiled and arranged into a shape resembling a small mountain, secured with a gemstone-shaped hair clip. Beside him stood an off-road mountain bike, its tires still caked with dirt and bits of stone.
Could it be that he had actually ridden that mountain bike all the way to the ranch?
Whatever he thought in his heart, Silas asked directly.
The boy scratched his head and laughed heartily, looking as though it were the most natural thing in the world.
Extreme sports were his passion. Conquering mountain roads that others dared not attempt filled him with an incomparable sense of satisfaction.
"Oh right! I almost forgot to introduce myself." The young man hurriedly rummaged through his backpack and pulled out the task certificate issued by Nurse Joy.
"I saw this job posted at the Pokémon Center. I just happen to have an Onix."
"Hello, hello. My name is Silas. I'm the owner of this seaside ranch."
Silas pushed open the ranch gate and invited him inside. While introducing himself, he also made sure to introduce the Pokémon by his side.
It was clear that this was the boy's first time visiting a ranch. He looked around with curiosity at everything within, only snapping his gaze back when Silas spoke.
"Hello, Mr. Silas. Just call me Grant. I'm currently a rookie Trainer."
"It's still early—Grant, you haven't had breakfast yet, have you? We're still eating. Why not join us?"
Without giving him much chance to refuse, Silas ushered him toward the house.
Upon entering, Grant couldn't help but exclaim, "It's really lively in here!"
Inside, Pokémon—some he recognized, others he did not—were eating one after another. They merely glanced up at the two humans before returning to their meals.
It was Grant's first time seeing someone keep so many Pokémon at home. He couldn't help but ask, "Mr. Silas, are all these Pokémon yours?"
"Yes. They run this ranch together with me."
Silas fetched a new set of tableware from the kitchen and took a serving of dessert from the refrigerator, gesturing for Grant to sit down.
"Try it. See if it suits your taste."
"Alright."
Grant first took a sip of the porridge. The sweet fragrance of rice bloomed across his tongue, immediately brightening his eyes.
Then he eagerly tasted the dessert beside it. The moment it entered his mouth, he froze completely.
The spoon in his hand hung suspended midair, his eyes wide and round. After a long pause, he smacked his lips, awe evident in his voice. "Th-this… what is this made of? It's unbelievably delicious!"
As an extreme dessert enthusiast, he had tasted countless sweets, yet none could compare to what lay before him now.
That unique flavor swirled across his taste buds, lingering and refusing to fade.
Silas handed a small biscuit to Minccino. The little Pokémon immediately hugged his arm and began nibbling at it in tiny bites.
"You should thank that little one for the dessert," Silas said, pointing toward Alcremie, who was sharing food with Dolliv at the table.
Without the high-quality cream Alcremie provided, he would never have been able to create such delicious sweets.
Grant looked at the Pokémon shaped like a cream cake. With a form like that, it certainly seemed destined for dessert-making.
In just a few bites, he finished the entire bowl of sweets, still looking reluctant to stop.
As he hesitated, Silas pushed another serving toward him.
"I made plenty this morning. If it's not enough, there's more," Silas said with a smile.
It was obvious to him that Grant adored sweets.
And at this ranch, sweets were abundant. Minccino, Alcremie, the Flabébé—all of them loved sweet treats. Even the Meowth didn't dislike them.
If not for the concern that eating too many sweets might lead to weight gain and cavities, they might very well have had dessert for all three meals a day.
After eating three servings in a row, Grant wrestled with himself before finally shaking his head.
"No more, Mr. Silas. I'm afraid I won't be able to control myself."
Through their earlier conversation, Silas had already learned that Grant was not only a Trainer but also an extreme sports enthusiast.
He was particularly passionate about rock climbing. Too many sweets would mean extra weight, and that was something he could not afford. With effort, he forced himself to resist temptation.
"Alright then."
Silas did not press him further. After he and Minccino tidied up the table, the two finally discussed the real purpose of Grant's visit.
Silas spread out a simple map of the ranch and the surrounding terrain, tracing a line between the ranch and Route 12.
"My plan is to carve out a road between the ranch and Route 12—wide enough for small trucks and cars to pass through."
"I'll need you and Onix to clear this stretch. I'll handle the rest afterward."
The task was straightforward: Onix only needed to level the uneven and rugged sections along this route, pushing soil to fill in the dips and smooth the ground.
Grant studied the map carefully for a moment before nodding firmly. "No problem! Onix and I will take care of it."
"Thank you."
Without wasting time, the two set out.
Silas left the ranch's daily tasks in the hands of the Pokémon and, together with Cyclizar, followed Grant outside.
They arrived at the highest point along the mountain path. Grant tossed a Poké Ball forward.
"Onix, come out!"
A burst of brilliant white light flashed, and a massive figure appeared before them.
Its enormous serpentine body was composed entirely of gray boulders, each segment slightly smaller than the one before it toward the tail. A sharp rocky horn protruded from the top of its head, beneath which were its eyes—currently squinting contentedly as it enjoyed Grant's affectionate pat.
Even the largest and fiercest Pokémon would behave gently before a Trainer it acknowledged.
Grant patiently explained the situation to Onix several times.
Onix nodded, indicating that it understood.
"Onix, use Dig! Take the soil from higher ground and fill in the ravines below."
The massive body of Onix began to move, twisting and whipping with surprising agility, sometimes using its tail, sometimes driving forward with its head.
Each movement sent out a low rumble like a small earthquake. Loose stones cascaded down with a rattling sound, filling the lower depressions and forcibly shaping a relatively level path.
Of course, that was not the end.
As it stood, the path was too loose—cars couldn't drive on it, and even walking would be difficult. It needed to be compacted.
Silas waved toward the three Mudsdale that had arrived behind him.
"I'll have to trouble you three. Walk side by side and compact this road."
"Mud~"
(Alright, Silas. Leave it to us.)
"Mud!"
(Don't worry, we've got it!)
"Mud Mud~"
(I'll follow big brother and second brother.)
Onix stepped aside after completing its part. The three Mudsdale lined up shoulder to shoulder.
The sound of twelve heavy hooves striking the ground together was no less thunderous than Onix's earlier rumbling. Step by step, they pressed the loose earth downward, compacting it until the road grew firm and solid.
They made several passes back and forth. Afterward, Onix was asked to fill in soil again where needed.
In this way, a preliminary road connecting the ranch directly to the outside world took shape.
Finally, a layer of fine clay made by the Mudsdale was spread over the surface for additional reinforcement. Now all that remained was to wait for the clay to harden and test its durability.
At the ranch gate, Kangaskhan stood waiting with the other Pokémon. Cyclizar looked especially eager, clearly itching to try the new road first.
(End of Chapter)