Antoine kept examining the Miracle Seed, turning it over in his hands.
He had never seen a Miracle Seed preserved in such pristine condition.
Many Pokémon like Caterpie and Pidgey inhabit Viridian Forest, and Miracle Seeds form part of their natural diet. Because of this, Miracle Seeds brought out from Viridian Forest are usually damaged or incomplete.
"Jack, for a Miracle Seed of this quality, I can offer you the market price of thirty thousand League Coins. What do you say?"
In the games, a Miracle Seed sells for 3,000 Pokédollars, but Jack understood that game prices and real-world values weren't equivalent. Given the seed's exceptional condition, thirty thousand League Coins seemed quite fair.
After a moment's consideration, Jack decided to accept the offer.
Ranch development required substantial funding, and besides... Mew certainly had more valuable treasures hidden away! Once the Ranch environment improved in the future, he could negotiate better prices with Mew.
Jack didn't mind that Uncle Antoine had already departed. He simply felt satisfied holding the thick stack of League Coins in his hand.
Having money felt wonderful!
For breakfast, Jack prepared hot noodle soup for all the Pokémon on the Ranch before heading into town alone. He left Meltan and Bulbasaur behind to guard the property.
Developing the Ranch properly would require some livestock and production Pokémon. With over thirty thousand League Coins now in his possession, he should be able to purchase quite a few, right?
Jack pondered his options as he walked.
Should he buy a Miltank, or perhaps a Rockruff...
Exxon's Farm Shop
"Thirty thousand League Coins won't stretch very far, you know."
He had been feeling so optimistic, but reality struck him as soon as he arrived at the shop.
While production Pokémon generally have lower aptitude compared to battlers, the Pokémon specifically bred for farm work still commanded high prices.
"The price for ordinary livestock typically ranges from one thousand to ten thousand League Coins. I'd recommend purchasing Miltank and sheep. As for Pokémon, I suggest Combee and Ribombee. Summer has just begun, so there's still a long production season ahead. However, you'll need to construct specialized beehives for them, and they won't be productive during winter."
Combee and Vespiquen could collect nectar to produce Sweet Honey—highly nutritious and excellent for making beverages, juice, and pastries. Ribombee gathered pollen and nectar to create Pollen Puffs, which had relaxing properties and helped relieve fatigue. These were often sold as nutritional supplements, with their flavor varying depending on the pollen type.
"Keep in mind, though, they'll need time to adapt when moving to a new Ranch, so it might be difficult to generate income immediately."
The prices for these two Pokémon species were relatively affordable, and they didn't require much space or food. It was indeed sound advice.
"Uncle Exxon, are there any Pokémon that can generate income quickly?"
The Ranch currently had sufficient food stores, but no reliable source of income. Jack couldn't possibly expect Mew to cover all the Ranch's expenses indefinitely.
"Yes, there are options. For example, Wooloo, Miltank, and Mareep can produce goods quickly, but they're more expensive and require pasture grass."
Pasture grass wouldn't be an issue. Jack could process it as prepared dishes, which might even yield higher quality results. Quick production was exactly what Jack needed right now.
"Unfortunately, Mareep is currently out of stock, Jack. Let me show you the other two Pokémon."
Miltank could produce Moomoo Milk—rich, creamy, and popular among many Ranches. With summer just beginning, it was the perfect time for pasture grass to flourish, so it made sense that Miltank were sold out.
Exxon led Jack through his Ranch, where different Pokémon were kept in numerous partitioned enclosures. Uncle Exxon's Ranch nestled among rolling hills covered in clover. Morning glories climbed the wooden fences, and from a distance, the continuous calls of "Moo! Moo!" could be heard.
Jack followed him through the creaking wooden gate. A few Diglett suddenly darted across the path in front of his feet, their gray-brown bodies flashing through the grass.
"They're responsible for tilling the soil," Uncle Exxon explained, pointing to a neatly cultivated field.
Several Mudsdale pushed stone rollers forward, their hooves thudding heavily against the earth. The copper bells around their necks jingled rhythmically with each movement. A Tauros stood near the field's edge, pawing at the dirt with its tail, its reddish-brown fur gleaming in the sunlight.
A chorus of "Baa! Baa!" echoed from the distance.
A flock of Wooloo came running down the slope, their fluffy wool resembling white clouds drifting across the hillside.
"Wooloo's fleece is excellent for production. Clothing and carpets made from its wool are extremely popular in the Galar region. Its fleece grows continuously throughout its lifetime—even if you shear it completely, it returns to its original length in just three months.
You'll need to shear the Wooloo's fleece every two to four days, just a little each time. Otherwise, if the fleece grows too long, it becomes prone to tangling. Also, Wooloo's fleece doesn't generate static electricity, which makes it somewhat more expensive than Mareep."
Exxon called over a Wooloo whose fleece had already grown quite thick. He took a comb and first smoothed out the Wooloo's fleece evenly, then glided electric clippers across the Wooloo's body. The pure white fleece fell away in soft tufts, and the relieved Wooloo let out a comfortable cry.
"You see? You only need to trim the fleece every few days. It's very simple to maintain."
The newly shorn Wooloo rolled its body contentedly and returned to rejoin the flock. There was no need to shear completely—a thin layer of fleece remained to protect the hair follicles from damage.
"I'll take one Wooloo and one Miltank, then."
One Wooloo cost thirty thousand League Coins, and with one Miltank added... nearly all of Jack's funds would be depleted.
There wouldn't be any money left to build proper housing for the Wooloo and Miltank. He would have to let them stay outside for now. Fortunately, it was summer, so staying outdoors wouldn't pose any major problems.
"Would you like me to help build a sheepfold and a cowshed? I can offer you a reasonable price based on your Ranch's terrain. Sheepfolds start at twenty thousand League Coins, and cowsheds start at ten thousand."
Exxon knew that Jack's Ranch had only just begun construction. If the building environment proved too challenging, he could easily lose money on the project, so he would adjust the price according to the geographical conditions.
"No, thank you. I'll come back to you in a few days if I need help."
"No problem."
Exxon opened the sheepfold gate. Inside, a group of Wooloo were huddled together in a pile, their soft fleece rubbing against one another—a sensation that clearly made the Wooloo very comfortable.
"See which Wooloo is willing to go with you. If none are willing, there's nothing I can do about that."
Pokémon were far more intelligent than ordinary animals. Forcing them to leave against their will would negatively affect their mood and, consequently, the quality of their products.
Over a dozen Wooloo grazed peacefully on tender grass. Their fluffy fleece gleamed with a milky-white luster in the sunlight.
As Jack took two steps closer, the small lamb nearest to him suddenly raised its head. Its braided curls trembled, its hind legs shifted back half an inch subtly, and its bright black eyes filled with wariness.
Exxon slowly stroked the Wooloo's body, constantly reassuring it in a gentle voice. "This is Jack, the Rancher of Silver Ranch. You don't need to be afraid."
The Wooloo blinked, but its ears remained drooped, and its nose kept twitching as it sniffed the air cautiously.
Jack slowly crouched down and pulled a Pecha Berry from his pocket. He held out his open palm and remained completely still, even softening his breathing. "I won't hurt you. This is for you to eat."