Not Being a Trainer This Time

Chapter 44: Chapter 36: Fishing for Nacli

If he remembered correctly, Nacli, this kind of Pokemon, prefers a salty taste.

After evolving into Naclstack, they even actively spray salt at their prey, turning them into salted products.

So, for them, specially salted plums and dried fish have great attraction.

At first, the Nacli that fled into the cave had no reaction.

But as more dried fish and plums were thrown in, they couldn’t resist, cautiously stepping forward to feast on the plums on the ground.

”Salt salt~” So delicious!

The faces of the group of Nacli revealed expressions of happiness.

But the thrown-in snacks were limited, and there wasn’t just one Nacli in the cave, so soon those plums and dried fish were all eaten up.

Just as the group of Nacli began to feel sad, another piece of dried fish suddenly flew in from outside.

The dried fish was tossed just right, landing not far from their position.

A few Nacli blinked, ultimately unable to resist the temptation, moved forward, picked up, and ate that piece of dried fish.

Then, another piece of dried fish was tossed a little farther up ahead.

The previous dried fish wasn’t dangerous, so this one must be safe too!

After the previous attempt, this group of Nacli reached this conclusion.

So they happily walked and ate, slowly lured out of the cave.

By the time they realized, they were unknowingly in front of the two big guys from earlier.

”Salt salt!”

The Nacli were panicked and shivered.

If only they hadn’t been so greedy, boo-hoo!

Naoki: ”...”

He glanced over simply, there were exactly five Nacli in front of him.

Five, just right, and he had five Poke Balls on hand. If he could take these five away...

Naoki cleared his throat softly, then opened his backpack, took out a plum, and handed it in front of the foremost Nacli.

”Here!”

The Nacli froze in place immediately.

Then he distributed food to the other four Nacli.

Except for one that was the smallest and looked somewhat malnourished, the remaining four were not as afraid of him as before.

”Eat, eat up!”

Naoki tried to release his goodwill, while Koraidon beside him transformed into a gentle speeding form, restraining its aura.

Several Nacli hesitated a bit, then cautiously started eating.

Naoki glanced at the smallest-looking Nacli; its reaction was slightly sluggish, and it took a while before it began to eat.

Patiently waiting for them to finish eating, Naoki revealed his true intention with a hint of temptation in his words: ”Is it delicious?”

”Salt salt!”

”Do you want to eat these foods every day?” he asked.

The Nacli blinked happily: ”Salt salt!”

”Then, come with me!” Naoki took out an empty Poke Ball: ”Come to my ranch, it’s large with plenty of food.”

Just when Naoki thought he had them, reluctance was evident in the Nacli’s eyes.

”Salt salt...”

”Eh?” Is that not okay?

Naoki fell into thought, and it was then that a voice from behind suddenly emerged.

”Naoki? What are you doing here?”

Naoki turned around to see Yousuke running over, carrying a backpack with a surprised face.

Naoki stood up and didn’t hide his intention: ”I want to catch these Nacli to take them back to the ranch to live together.”

”Nacli?” Following his gaze, Yousuke also saw those Nacli.

He looked around as if searching for something: ”That’s odd... I remember there was a Garganacl with this group of Nacli? Did you see it?”

”Garganacl?” Naoki shook his head: ”No, when I came, I only saw these Nacli. They looked very hungry.”

Seeing his confusion, Yousuke explained: ”I’ve been observing the wild Pokemon ecosystem around here these days. I encountered this group of Nacli a few days ago; they hung around a Garganacl.”

”That Garganacl seemed to be the leader of their group, normally leading them to find food and wander outside, look!”

As he spoke, Yousuke took out a sketchbook, turning to a page that clearly recorded the scene of the Nacli surrounding a Garganacl in this area.

Garganacl’s big hand held a few berries, feeding the Nacli.

”I didn’t see it.” Naoki shook his head.

Yousuke stroked his chin, pondering for a moment, ”That’s strange! Garganacl wouldn’t leave Nacli alone, and there aren’t any Pokemon around here capable of defeating it, so there seems to be only one possibility left.”

Naoki also thought of this at the moment, and the two of them spoke in unison: ”Captured by a Trainer?”

If so, that Trainer was too irresponsible, wasn’t he?

They captured the leader and left behind a group of helpless little ones.

If he were in their shoes, he would certainly take everything with him, leaving nothing behind.

”This won’t do!” Yousuke frowned: ”Without Garganacl, another Pokemon will soon come to compete for this territory.”

And the weak Nacli almost have no combat ability...

Hearing this, Naoki’s desire to take them back to the ranch grew stronger.

But looking at the group of Nacli, they seemed unwilling to leave, waiting for Garganacl to return.

”Naoki, take them to your ranch!” Yousuke urged.

Naoki: ”But they seem unwilling to leave here?”

Yousuke: ”Then capture them in the way of a Trainer! Prove your strength through battle!”

Hearing this, Naoki turned to look at Koraidon.

Using Koraidon to battle Nacli felt too brutal...

After considering, he decided to use his own method.

Naoki squatted down, no longer using food to entice, but instead looked at the group of Nacli in front of him and asked: ”Are you waiting for Garganacl?”

”Salt salt...”

Nacli lacked hands, feet, and a neck, resembling a salt mushroom in appearance, somewhat reminiscent of Minecraft’s art style.

Naoki couldn’t determine their answer through actions and language, so he turned to Koraidon.

Koraidon quickly understood his intention and nodded: ”Ga-sis!”

This indicated that they were indeed waiting for Garganacl.

Although the possibility that Garganacl was captured was high, Naoki couldn’t be entirely sure without seeing it in person.

Therefore, he decided to wait with this group of Nacli for a few more days.

If Garganacl doesn’t return after a few days, it means it won’t come back.

Hearing his plan, Yousuke seemed a bit helpless: ”I really can’t help you, but I understand. I’ll help you watch over them, so feel free to go back to work at the ranch! But don’t forget to take me to see that mysterious Pokemon at seven tonight!”

”Don’t worry!”

He had prepared food in advance, so there was no concern for Cyclizar and the others going hungry. Naoki stayed at Casseroya Lake until the afternoon before heading back.

Upon returning to the ranch, even before Naoki landed, he saw an elderly woman with gray hair looking inside from outside the ranch.

Naoki approached and politely asked: ”Hello, is there something I can help you with?”

The old lady seemed equally polite, asking: ”Are you the Rancher of this place? I’m Boji·Dantes from the town, and I wanted to ask if you have goat milk for sale?”

”My husband is ill and needs fresh goat milk to make dishes for healing. If you have any, I’m willing to purchase at a high price.”

This was a treatment method she got from a mysterious culinary master, a healing method called dietary therapy, said to have been passed down from some ancient country, and regular use slowly improves the body.

She had already made numerous trips to the Porto Marinada Market and nearby ranches but hadn’t found any selling goat milk.

Just when she was about to give up, she suddenly heard that this ranch had resumed operations.

So, she came over specifically.

Compared to the common MooMoo Milk, goat milk was indeed quite rare.

Naoki looked at Mrs. Dantes and shook his head: ”I’m sorry, we currently don’t have any at the ranch, but maybe in some time, we will.”

This undoubtedly gave the old lady hope, and her eyes immediately lit up.

Naoki thought about buying more Poke Balls from the town later, then capturing Gogoat and Skiddo at Casseroya Lake to obtain goat milk.

He told the elderly lady: ”If it’s convenient, could you leave me your phone number, and I’ll contact you when we have goat milk.”

Mrs. Dantes quickly provided her phone number, thanking him repeatedly: ”Thank you so much!”