Pokemon: A New Path

Chapter 434: The shock caused by Dragonite Express and Life Goat Milk!

As the World Tree neared completion, its bustling activity hinted at the harmony of Pokémon working and living together. Naoki couldn't wait to see the looks of amazement on the faces of Mew and Teddiursa when they returned and saw the fully operational expedition base.

Reflecting on how Milotic had been drawn to the World Tree, Naoki realized its immense appeal to Pokémon. To describe it in terms of fantastical literature, the World Tree was akin to a sacred site overflowing with "spiritual energy". For Pokémon, the natural energy radiating from the tree was a dream-like draw, a sanctuary perfectly suited to their needs.

Understanding this, Naoki returned to the ranch. After enjoying a handful of translation seed crisps, he gathered all the Pokémon. They assembled with curiosity.

He swept his eyes across the faces of the Pokémon in front of him and asked, "The World Tree is almost ready. Does anyone want to move there?"

Alcremie raised its small paw almost immediately. "Mree?" (Will you come live with us at the World Tree, Naoki?)@@novelbin@@

Naoki smiled gently. "No, not for now. I built that place for all of you to enjoy. You can live there without worrying about me."

The ranch was Naoki's life's work, constructed with his own hands and enriched by years of memories. Leaving it wasn't an option. This was home.

Alcremie thought for a moment before cheerfully declaring, "Mree!" (Then I won't go either if you're staying here!)

This set off a chain reaction.

"Ogi!" Ogerpon chimed in.

"Bamo!" Pawmot agreed.

"Raao!" Koraidon rumbled enthusiastically.

"Gah!" Cyclizar let out a low, melodic sound.

The Pokémon unanimously decided they wouldn't leave either. Wherever Naoki was, that was their home too.

Naoki couldn't help but chuckle at their earnest devotion. "I don't mean to send you away! I just thought the World Tree might suit you better. It's just a short walk from the ranch."

"Pamo!" (Nope!)

The Pokémon were resolute. They wanted to stay by his side forever.

Naoki was deeply touched by the Pokémon's unwavering loyalty and affection. These Pokémon were more than companions—they were family. Deciding not to press the matter, Naoki left the idea of relocating them to the World Tree behind.

With the Pokémon's decision settled, Naoki turned his attention to Dragonite Express. The delivery service had grown immensely, but new challenges were surfacing. 

For instance, a customer had left a message on the store's message board, asking if Dragonite Express offered cross-regional delivery services.

At first, Naoki politely responded, "Sorry, we don't currently offer cross-regional delivery services." However, as the questions and demands grew louder, customers even organized a petition, pledging to pay higher fees if cross-regional shipping was made available.

Despite the demand, Naoki hesitated. Pokémon poachers and villainous teams ran rampant in many regions, making it unsafe for Dragonite to travel across borders. Organizations like Team Rocket in Kanto and Johto, Team Aqua and Team Magma in Hoenn, and Team Galactic in Sinnoh were notorious for targeting rare Pokémon.

Even though some regions, like Galar's Team Yell or Paldea's Team Star, posed little direct threat, the dangers in other regions were enough to keep Naoki wary of expanding Dragonite Express beyond its current reach. 

The members of Team Yell are passionate fans of Marnie and Pokémon trainers from Spikemuth. They often resort to antics like occupying hotels, commandeering transportation, and yelling during battles to support Marnie in her quest for the championship. However, even with their boisterous behavior, Team Yell never resorts to stealing Pokémon.

As for Team Star, they weren't even on the radar at this point.

It was due to security concerns in regions with such organizations that Naoki had long hesitated to introduce cross-regional delivery services. These areas posed risks that Naoki wasn't willing to take lightly.

Now, however, the demand for cross-regional deliveries had skyrocketed. A flood of messages, primarily from people in other regions, filled the store's message board. Naoki was overwhelmed by the sheer volume of requests, which had reached thousands overnight.

Curious about the sudden surge, Naoki decided to dig deeper and contacted one of the customers who had left a message. What he discovered shed light on the situation.

As the saying goes, the hardest part is getting started.

Initially, Dragonite Express and Naoki Ranch's online store operated in relative obscurity. However, it didn't take long for them to gain traction, thanks to one unique feature: the use of Dragonite for deliveries.

The novelty of a delivery service employing Dragonite quickly spread online, first by word of mouth and then through forums and social media.

One particular post on a popular Pokémon forum captured widespread attention:

[Shocking! Forget standard courier birds like Pidgeot or Pelipper—this store uses Dragonite for deliveries! Have you ever seen anything like it?]

The post detailed the original poster's experience:

"I'm a homebody who rarely goes out. My Mimikyu and I enjoy a peaceful life at home. One day, I ran out of Moomoo Milk and decided to buy some online. While browsing, I stumbled across a store offering only one delivery option: Dragonite Express.

At first, I thought it was a typo or a gimmick. But curiosity got the better of me, so I placed an order despite the slightly higher delivery fee. Within minutes of paying, the app notified me that my milk was already en route.

To my astonishment, less than ten minutes later, a Dragonite appeared at my door with a backpack, carefully unloading the two boxes of Moomoo Milk I had ordered.

The whole experience was surreal. Not only was the delivery speed incredible, but I got to see a Dragonite up close! My Mimikyu and I were thrilled. The milk quality was exceptional, too. I highly recommend Dragonite Express!"

While many users were intrigued by the post, some skeptics dismissed it as an advertisement. The original poster quickly responded, urging them to try it themselves.

Soon, other users chimed in with their experiences:

"It's legit! Dragonite Express is both efficient and reliable. But I can't help but wonder: who owns this service? How do they have so many Dragonite?"

"Could this be a venture by the Dragon Tamer family? Maybe they're stepping into the modern era!"

When Hassel, the Dragon-type Elite Four member of the Paldea region, saw this comment, he initially assumed that the elders in the Dragon Tamer community were starting to embrace modern advancements like online shopping and internet delivery.

However, it didn't take long for him to realize something awkward.

There simply weren't enough Dragonites in their Dragon Tamer circle to account for such a large-scale delivery service

He read through the post carefully until he noticed a reply from the original poster to another curious user. The netizen had asked about the name of the store offering such unique delivery services.

The original poster responded: "The name of the store is Naoki Ranch."

Hassel immediately connected the dots. "Oh, it's him! That explains everything."

The name "Dragon Express" quickly became a trending topic on Pokémon forums, drawing widespread attention.

Meanwhile, at Naranja Academy in the student dormitory…

Arven, who had recently started his semester, casually scrolled through the Pokémon forum. He couldn't help but chuckle at all the excitement surrounding Dragon Express.

"What's all the fuss about?" Arven muttered.

He had been a regular customer of Naoki Ranch since it opened. Over a month ago, he'd stumbled across a post about Dragon Express on the academy's campus forum. Intrigued, he looked it up and realized it was connected to Mr. Naoki.

Knowing firsthand the quality of Naoki Ranch's products, especially the fresh Moo Moo Milk, Arven had started ordering regularly. Even his Mabosstiff had taken a liking to it.

Arven wasn't the only one using Dragon Express. Grusha, the Gym Leader of Glaseado Mountain, and Larry, a dedicated worker for the Pokémon League, were also loyal customers.

Grusha first heard about Naoki's store during a livestream by Iono. In one casual moment, Iono sipped from a bottle of milk on stream and exclaimed how incredible it was. She added, "By the way, they use Dragonite for deliveries! Can you believe that?"

Curious, Grusha looked it up and became a regular customer.

Larry, on the other hand, valued efficiency above all else. With his demanding work schedule, time was a precious commodity. "Time is money," he often said. Dragon Express's speed outperformed traditional services like Squakwbilly by miles. Sometimes, even on work trips, Dragonite would find him and deliver his goods with pinpoint accuracy.

For Aoki, this level of convenience made Naoki Ranch an indispensable part of his routine.

As more people discovered Dragonite Express, word spread rapidly. Initially, most were captivated by the novelty of Dragonite making deliveries. However, soon enough, attention shifted to a specialty product sold in Naoki's store: "Life Goat Milk."

According to the product description, this goat milk could instantly heal Pokémon injuries and even provide humans with significant energy and health benefits. The catch? It was sold in extremely limited quantities—only 50 bottles per week!

Naturally, curiosity about Life Goat Milk skyrocketed, and enthusiastic netizens began sharing their purchasing experiences:

"That's right! Everything described above is absolutely true," a netizen wrote with excitement. "Let me tell you, even though Life Goat Milk is pricey, its effects are worth every Poké Dollar! Honestly, I think the shop owner is underselling it!"

The post continued with an astonishing claim:

"The effects of Life Goat Milk are incredible. Even if a Pokémon is on the brink of collapse, just one sip restores its full strength instantly. Isn't that amazing? One time, I encountered a wild Pokémon far beyond my skill level while exploring. Thanks to this milk, I survived to tell the tale!"

Another user chimed in:

"Haha, let me add—this goat milk isn't just for Pokémon. Humans can drink it too. After just one bottle, you'll feel like you've got unlimited energy. Trust me, I've experienced it firsthand!"

People unfamiliar with such an item were stunned. "How can something like this exist?" they wondered.

For many in the Johto region, this revelation was especially striking. If the claims about Life Goat Milk were true, it seemed eerily similar to the legendary Sacred Ash of Ho-Oh.

The Sacred Ash, a rare and revered artifact, was said to have been created by the legendary Pokémon Ho-Oh. It possessed miraculous restorative powers—capable of reviving the near-dead, human or Pokémon alike, as long as even a sliver of life remained. However, only a handful of Sacred Ashes were left in Johto, carefully guarded by ancient families who believed in Ho-Oh's benevolence.

And now…

A small online shop seemed to be selling an equivalent of this sacred item in bulk?

This revelation sent shockwaves through Ho-Oh's followers and the ancient families of Johto. "Could the goat milk come from a legendary Pokémon, like Ho-Oh?" they speculated in disbelief.

For those devoted to the Rainbow Pokémon, this notion was almost sacrilegious. "If that goat milk truly comes from a legendary Pokémon, how could the shop owner so casually sell it online?" they questioned angrily. "Such divine blessings should be preserved, not turned into a commercial product!"

At the same time, curiosity grew within these ancient families. "If this milk really compares to Sacred Ash, we need to see it for ourselves!" Many resolved to investigate the store further.

The Pokémon Shopping app saw an unprecedented surge in activity. Thousands of netizens flocked to search for Naoki Ranch, eager to learn more about Dragonite Express and the famed Life Goat Milk.

Many tried to place an order, but they were soon disappointed. The store's message read: "Cross-regional delivery is currently unavailable."

Frustrated, more and more people began leaving messages on the shop's message board, petitioning the owner to enable cross-regional delivery services.

"Please! I'll pay extra for the postage!"

"I don't care how much it costs. Just let us buy it!"

The message board was soon flooded with thousands of such comments.

Naoki Reads the Messages

Naoki, holding his Rotom Phone, browsed the post and scrolled through the overwhelming number of messages on his store's board. He fell silent.

He could understand people's amazement at Life Goat Milk's effects. After all, it truly was remarkable.