The next day, after breakfast, Silas brought the three Mudsdale to a plot of farmland that was about to be reclaimed.
This had been something the Mudsdale brothers requested on their own initiative. Their strength had increased tremendously after evolving, and having each one take care of a single field would be effortless for them.
More than anything, they wanted to help Silas even more.
Silas himself was also eager to see just how much improvement the Mudsdale had gained after evolution.
As both a ranch owner and a Trainer, he needed a comprehensive understanding of his Pokémon—only then could he take better care of them.
"Are you ready?" he asked.
"Mud!"
The three brothers nodded vigorously, brimming with fighting spirit, signaling that they were fully prepared.
"Then let's begin! Start by using the move Rototiller on the farmland in front of us."
He also wanted to see exactly where the Mudsdale's current limits lay.
At the sound of his voice, the three Mudsdale moved together.
After exchanging glances, they unleashed their power in unison, determined not to disappoint Silas.
Massive amounts of yellow ground-type energy gathered around their front hooves. As the Mudsdale kicked the ground again and again, Ground-type energy was injected deep into the land beneath their feet.
Ripples of earth-yellow light spread outward in concentric circles, and the glow enveloped the entire plot of farmland ahead.
The barren soil received an immense infusion of nourishment. Under the influence of the three brother's power, vegetation became far easier to grow.
Weeds on the farmland went wild, shooting up crazily until they were waist-high in the blink of an eye.
And they showed no signs of stopping.
Seeing this, Silas hurriedly called for them to stop. He couldn't let the three Mudsdale continue—this would only increase his workload.
"Stop for now, stop for now!"
The three brothers looked over in confusion. "Mud?"
Silas pointed at the field and explained, "All of these weeds need to be cleared out."
"Mud!"
The three Mudsdale understood immediately, grasping his meaning.
As their eyes lit up, their sturdy bodies took on a metallic, iron-gray sheen, their outlines becoming sharp and pronounced.
"Iron Defense—you've learned a new move."
With High Horsepower, Sandstorm, and Fissure already mastered back when they were Mudbray, they were now more than capable of actual battles.
Under Silas's watchful gaze, the three Mudsdale charged at the weeds from three different directions.
They were like three knightly lances, displaying an overwhelming and majestic presence.
Using their bodies as blades, they harvested the weeds, quickly carving out several clear paths.
The rampant weeds were completely cut down by the three brothers, revealing dark, reddish-black soil beneath.
After finishing that, the three Mudsdale didn't forget to use Rototiller once more, flipping up the roots of the weeds and clearing everything thoroughly.
Watching all of this, Silas couldn't help but smile, a sense of deep satisfaction filling his heart.
It felt like watching children grow up.
He still remembered how clueless the three brothers had been when they first arrived at the ranch, completely ignorant about farming.
And now?
They were already seasoned farmers, even more capable than he was.
After completing their task, the three Mudsdale squeezed in around Silas, lifting their heads and asking for praise.
Despite their huge size, they were still childlike at heart.
Every bit of praise from Silas was something they would remember for a very, very long time.
He praised them one by one, rubbing their large heads vigorously.
Mounting the eldest Mudsdale, Silas headed back.
At the same time, he found himself thinking about whether he should get some little red flowers—just like in kindergarten.
Pokémon could earn little red flowers, and once they collected a certain number, they could tell him one wish, which Silas would do his best to fulfill.
Thinking about it, the ranch really wasn't much different from a kindergarten anyway.
Doing this could also maximize the Pokémon's motivation.
But that would have to wait a few days—he still had things to do today.
For example, expanding their shed.
After evolution, the three Mudsdale stood a full 2.5 meters tall and weighed as much as one ton.
The original donkey shed now felt extremely cramped and needed a proper expansion.
[Upgrade: Donkey Shed -> Stable]
Required Materials:
League Coins: 10,000
Wood: 100
Iron Ingots:5
Description: A building specifically designed to house horses Pokémon. It offers much more spacious accommodations and more complete facilities, providing better services for Pokémon.
"Ten thousand League Coins, that's acceptable," Silas nodded. His finger touched the construction button, and the donkey shed was replaced on the spot.
Demolishing the donkey shed returned half of the building materials, which was a nice bonus and reduced the overall cost.
Spending ten thousand all at once meant that upgrading the ranch house would have to be postponed.
Fortunately, with his current earning speed, he could save up the money again in about a week, and still have some surplus left over.
Under the mysterious and unfathomable power of his golden finger, the construction of the stable was completed very quickly.
But that wasn't all—Silas still needed to further expand the mud pool for the now Mudsdale.
This was a major project, and there was plenty to keep him busy.
By the time everything was finished, the entire day had quietly slipped by.
Standing to the side and watching the three Mudsdale happily frolic in the mud pool, Silas felt much of the exhaustion in his body fade away.
As long as the Pokémon were happy, that was the best outcome—his whole afternoon of hard work had been worth it.
"Kangaskhan, please help take the tools back to the cabin."
Taking off his gloves and locking all the tools into the toolbox, Silas instructed.
"Kang!"
Kangaskhan took the toolbox and agreed.
Silas waved toward the mud pool. "One of you, come up and help me with a delivery."
"Mud~" ×3
All three Mudsdale called out at once.
"Then the eldest it is."
Mounting the eldest Mudsdale, Silas found its back incredibly broad, and its gait remarkably steady.
No matter how complex the terrain, it felt like walking on flat ground to them—Silas didn't feel the slightest bump.
They quickly arrived at the main road of Route 12, where Gario was already waiting for him, just as they had agreed in yesterday's message.
As for the selling price of the tulip nectar, yesterday's 2,400 had only been an estimated figure.
"Silas, is this Mudsdale also your Pokémon?" Gario stepped forward, looked it over, and couldn't help but ask.
Mudsdale were still quite rare in Kalos.
While stroking the eldest Mudsdale's slightly coarse mane, Silas explained, "It used to be the Mudbray I had. It just finished evolving last night."
"You really have talent as a ranch owner, Silas. I didn't expect you to get your Mudbray to evolve so quickly."
As he spoke, Gario took out 600 League Coins.
"This is the price difference from yesterday. Tulip nectar is very popular in Lumiose City."
"One thousand League Coins per bottle?!"
Silas was truly shocked.
The two talked for a while longer. After asking about the specifics and understanding the situation, Silas accepted this price.
In the end, Silas received a total of 3,600 League Coins from Gario for the three bottles of nectar he sold today.
Just as Silas was about to leave, Gario stopped him.
"Silas, I don't know if you'd be willing to sell the high-quality soil produced by Mudsdale?"
Silas looked at him in confusion. The ranch currently had plenty of it, and he was actually worried about how to deal with the excess.
"You don't know yet? Mudsdale can mix soil with their saliva to create a special kind of mud. It's premium clay used for making pottery, and it sells for as much as 2,000 League Coins per ton."
"Hiss—"
Silas was shocked once again. However, he didn't agree immediately. He planned to go back and ask the three Mudsdale first.
If producing that kind of clay was harmful to them in any way, he would rather not make that money at all.
(End of Chapter)