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After getting Kai's approval, the burly man reached into the basket of strawberries, picked one up, and held it to his nose, inhaling deeply. A satisfied smile spread across his face.
"What a fresh, fragrant aroma. Just from the scent alone, I can already imagine how sweet and tangy it must taste."
He examined the fruit closely before adding, "And I can tell right away no strange pesticides or artificial enhancers were used."
The man then handed the strawberry to his Primeape, who sniffed it curiously. A few seconds later, the ever-furious expression on its furry face softened into something almost… blissful.
Noticing this, the man raised an eyebrow in surprise and turned to Kai with an amused look. "Even Primeape, with its sharp nose, is enjoying the scent of this fruit. Now I'm really curious how did you manage to grow such high-quality crops on your first attempt?"
Kai smiled as he responded, "It's all thanks to my Pokémon."
He saw no reason to hide the truth. In fact, the unique way his farm operated could very well become a selling point in the future.
"Figures," the man nodded as if he'd already expected that answer. "It takes the power of Pokémon to achieve something this extraordinary. These strawberries are pristine and well-formed I can tell they were carefully tended to."
Many farms struggle to have all their crops cared for by Pokémon alone. Between energy limitations, training difficulties, and sheer workload, it's nearly impossible for large-scale farms to ensure every plant receives direct Pokémon assistance.
This was why crops from farms like the one run by Milo Turffield's Gym Leader were highly sought after worldwide. His Pokémon-assisted farming techniques played a huge role in their exceptional quality.
The man then inspected the other baskets, carefully evaluating each batch. After confirming that, while small in quantity, the overall quality of the produce was Excellent, his enthusiasm grew.
He extended his hand for a brief handshake and introduced himself, "Name's Sean. As you can see, I'm a buyer who sources produce from farms and resells them. That said, I set my prices fairly almost the same as if you were selling these directly at the market. If you're interested, I'd like to purchase this batch."
Kai nodded slightly. "Nice to meet you, Mr. Sean."
He had already contacted Sean through Peter with the intent of selling his produce, so this offer was exactly what he'd been hoping for.
Sean grinned. "I like a decisive farm owner. Makes my job easier."
Without wasting time, he pulled a set of professional weighing scales from the back of his truck. Working efficiently alongside his Primeape, he quickly measured everything and calculated the final price.
"Let's see… Cabbage, eggplants, tomatoes, cucumbers… plus a modest but high-quality batch of strawberries… That comes to 6,351 Poké Dollars."
Kai's eyes lit up slightly. "Not bad."
The seeds for these crops had cost him only 600 Poké Dollars. Even factoring in fertilizer and time investment, this first harvest had already yielded a substantial return.
Not to mention, some of these plants would continue producing more crops in the coming weeks.
On the surface, it might seem like over a month's work had only earned him a few thousand Poké Dollars, but Kai understood consistent, steady profits would accumulate over time.
Sean chuckled. "Of course, I'm offering you a higher rate than standard farm-grown produce. High-end buyers love quality like this."
He retrieved a neatly stacked bundle of cash from his satchel, carefully counted it, and then handed it over.
Kai took the bills, counting them as well. This was the first time he had truly earned money from running his farm, and a satisfied smile crossed his face.
After slipping the cash into his pocket, he turned back to Sean. "By the way, do you buy anything other than farm produce?"
"Oh?" Sean's eyes gleamed with curiosity. "Depends. What do you have?"
Kai walked over to the fence and returned with a small wooden box. Inside lay several soft, pristine tufts of cotton fluffy and lightweight, yet clearly of high quality.
Sean's eyes widened in shock. "Wait… Is this—?!"
A look of disbelief spread across his face as he leaned in for a closer examination.
Kai smiled. "These are cotton tufts shed by my Whimsicott. I've heard they're in high demand, but we have no real use for them here. I figured I might as well sell them."
Sean took a deep breath, rubbed his temples as if trying to process something, and then sighed. "I can't believe it… You actually have this kind of rare commodity on your farm. Too bad I don't have the resources to buy it."
Kai frowned slightly. "Hmm?"
With a wry smile, Sean explained, "Even in Galar, Whimsicott isn't particularly common. The only farms that consistently produce their cotton are places like Turffield and a few elite estates with large Whimsicott colonies."
"Whimsicott's cotton is incredibly valuable. Whether spun into thread or blended into fabric, it creates some of the finest textiles you'll ever see. I never expected to find it here in Paldea."
He glanced at the small box, estimating the weight. "From what I can tell, you've got maybe 50 to 100 grams here. But listen, one pound of Whimsicott cotton can sell for a whopping 6,000 Poké Dollars. If you're serious about selling this, I'd recommend stockpiling more and taking it to a bigger market like the auction house."
Kai raised an eyebrow. "That valuable, huh?"
Sean nodded firmly. "Absolutely. If I had the right buyers, I'd jump at the chance to purchase it from you. But my business is strictly local I don't have the means to travel all the way to Levincia just to sell this much cotton."
It simply wasn't worth the time and effort for him.
Hearing this, Kai fell into thought. He hadn't realized Whimsicott's cotton was such a luxury item.
These tufts had been shed naturally when his Cottonee evolved. Normally, his Whimsicott used their cotton to enrich the soil, helping crops grow.
Which meant…
He had literally been throwing away money while farming.
The realization stung a little. Suddenly, that 6,351 Poké Dollars he'd just earned didn't seem quite as impressive.
Still, he didn't let his thoughts show on his face. With a calm nod, he thanked Sean for the information.
Since Sean wouldn't be buying the cotton, Kai decided he would store future tufts and sell them in bulk at an auction house when he had enough.
If he recalled correctly, that place specialized in selling high-end goods to the highest bidder.
With the deal settled, Sean and Primeape transferred the five baskets of produce into the truck's storage crates.
"Next time you have a harvest ready, just give me a call," Sean said as he handed over his contact details.
With that, Primeape hopped into the driver's seat, started the engine, and drove off, the truck rumbling away from the farm.
Kai patted the wad of cash in his pocket. His gaze drifted toward the lush, thriving grass in the pasture.
"…Looks like it's time to start making plans for the ranch."
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