Upon arriving at the artificial lake, Rex observed the tranquil scene with numerous Poliwag lazily sunbathing on the water's surface. Seeing Rex, Poliwhirl jumped out of the water joyfully. Previously, during the transfer of Lileep, Rex had also teleported Poliwhirl back to Farm, so it had been a while since it had seen its trainer.
"These Berries have grown well, Poliwhirl. You've worked hard!"
Rex praised Poliwhirl with a thumbs-up after noticing the rare Berries had grown into small saplings without any wilting or dying. Poliwhirl beamed with pride, patting its chest and promising to continue taking good care of the Berries.
Next, Rex released Lapras, who was an old acquaintance of Poliwhirl. Rex instructed Lapras to live well in the artificial lake, and from the look on its face, it was clear Lapras liked the environment there.
Magikarp and Feebas swam to the shore, their eyes now much more spirited. Magikarp had grown significantly larger, and Feebas's body had become smooth and delicate. This change was due to the large amount of Pokéblocks provided by Yuli, but more importantly, they had not slacked off. They continued their collision training daily, encouraging and improving each other.
Rex was deeply gratified by their dedication. In both humans and Pokémon, it's rare to seize opportunities and strive upward when stuck in a rut. Rex believed that with their diligence, they would eventually evolve successfully; it was just a matter of time.
After some thought, Rex placed his hands on their heads, injecting life energy to heal their accumulated injuries and accelerate their growth. Receiving the life energy, Magikarp and Feebas felt warm all over, their accumulated experience from collisions perfectly released, and their strength noticeably increased, making their eyes shine brighter.
After praising them, Rex returned inside, knowing that Karen had just arrived at Rex Farm and he needed to ensure she felt welcome.
"Boss, lunch is almost ready. Please have a seat!"
Yuli called out to Rex upon noticing his return.
Rex glanced towards the kitchen and saw Karen laughing and chatting with Yuli and Yui while preparing lunch. Although Karen mostly assisted, Rex remembered she had mentioned working in various kitchens before, making her proficient in washing and cutting vegetables, though he wasn't sure if she could cook.
Relieved to see everyone getting along, Rex was pleased. Unity among his staff was crucial; internal discord could easily destroy a stronghold.
"Akiko, let's go to the backyard and play with the Skiploom!"
Rex called out to Akiko, who was chasing Marill around.
"Yay, let's go!"
Akiko grabbed Marill and ran over, hopping with excitement.
Marill, cradled in Akiko's arms, sighed. Since Akiko arrived, its peaceful life had vanished, now seeing Akiko as its primary tormentor, even more so than Rex.
In the backyard, Akiko released Marill and began chasing the Hoppip. She knew the plants were rare, so she made sure to only run in open spaces to avoid harming them.
Rex headed straight for the three Revival Herbs at the center, checking their growth. The herbs were now over 20 centimeters tall, brimming with life energy. He then checked the Energy Roots, which are similar to carrots and used for their ginseng-like roots. The leaves indicated their growth status.
With meticulous care and ample life energy, both the Energy Roots and Revival Herbs had grown rapidly. Rex originally thought they would take at least six months to mature, but now estimated only 4-5 months until full maturity.
After inspecting all the Revival Herbs and Energy Roots, Rex turned his attention to the Skiploom and Hoppip, noticing the number of Skiploom had increased. These were Hoppip that had evolved by learning the Grassy Terrain move, which pleased Rex as it meant his farm could expand further.
"Boss, lunch is ready. Please wash up and come eat!"
Yuli's call interrupted Rex's thoughts.
"Alright, Akiko, let's go eat. You can play with them after lunch."
Rex called out to Akiko.
"Okay, but they don't want me to play in the backyard because they're afraid I'll damage the plants. I would never do that!"
Akiko protested, reluctantly saying goodbye to the Skiploom.
Rex patted her head, understanding Yuli's caution due to the importance of the Revival Herbs and Energy Roots.
"Wow, today's lunch looks amazing!"
Akiko exclaimed at the sight of the abundant dishes.
"Yuli, please bring out the Berry juice made by our Polteageist. Let's have a feast today."
Rex suggested, looking at the sumptuous lunch.
"Sure, Boss, I'll get it right away!"
Yuli responded, soon returning with the juice and pouring a glass for everyone.
"It's delicious!"
Karen exclaimed, savoring the Polteageist's Berry juice, finding it unparalleled.
"Where are Torchic and Carbink?"
Rex suddenly remembered the Pokémon he had left to roam the farm.
"They've been going out early and returning late, not even coming back for lunch. They only return for dinner, so we haven't worried too much."
Yui replied after sipping her juice.
Hearing this, Rex decided to check their training progress when they returned, ensuring they had completed their tasks.
Meanwhile, in the Berry grove, Torchic and Carbink sneezed, looking around in confusion before resuming their feast.
"Got it. How's the growth of the Gracidea Flowers? I plan to check on them this afternoon."
Rex inquired about the Gracidea Flowers, a future cornerstone of their farm.
"With the help of Skiploom, the Gracidea Flowers have grown rapidly. We had some wild Pokémon nibbling on them, but I've arranged for Taillow to patrol, which has improved the situation."
Yuli reported enthusiastically, having devoted much of her time to the Gracidea Flower field.
Rex, satisfied with her diligence, prepared to enjoy their meal together.
Chapter End