As Zack arrived at the ranch with the test results for the Gogoat milk, he found Naoki carefully grooming G and Pawmot.

  Spring had brought a burst of growth, and cockleburs were scattered throughout the grass. When the long-haired Pokémon rolled around, the burrs iably g to their fur. Some got stu pces they couldn't reach, so they'd return, looking a bit sorry for themselves, hoping Naoki could help.

  After plug the st burr from Pawmot's head, Naoki patted it affeately. "Alright, you're all set! Go on and py."

  "Pawmot!" it squeaked happily, scampering off.

  Naoki turo Zaotig his excitement. "What's going on?"

  Zack ractically glowing with enthusiasm. "Naoki, this goat milk is incredible! It's loaded with nutrients, and it also tains a mysterious energy that rapidly restores strength and heals injuries."

  "Mysterious energy?" Naoki was surprised but quickly sidered. 'Could it be the natural energy Calyrex mentioned? Or maybe the Grass-type energy imbued in the goats?'

  Zack tinued. "Plus, I went to the Pokémoer to test its effects firsthand. A seriously injured Wattrel, which was nearly unscious, fully recovered after drinking the milk! Not even the full-recovery potions at the Pokémoer work that fast!"

  "I see…" Naoki's rea was more measured. He already khe milk's potent effects; it was akin to the Phoenix King's Sacred Ash.

  Zack tinued, "After a lot of discussiotled on a price of 30,000 Pokédolrs per bottle. Does that sound fair to you?"

  "Thirty thousand?" Naoki was momentarily taken aback. Given the yield from the Gogoats, that meant he could earn millions in a single round of sales.

  After some thought, though, he realized it was reasonable—any higher, and it might be out of reach for those who really . He had initially wahis milk to help trainers and Pokémon like Alder and his Vola, to prevent the kind ic loss Alder had faced.

  With a nod, Naoki agreed to the price. "That sounds good to me."

  "Fantastic! I'll take today's shipment!" Zack beamed. He'd e prepared with enough funds this time and, after carefully calg the total, paid Naoki for the goat milk and other items, the in his truck with a satisfied smile.

  As nearly a million Pokédolrs was deposited into his at, Naoki looked at the pile e-denomination bills, feeling a wave of satisfa and purpose wash over him.

  "It's a lot of money!" Naoki muttered, surprised by the amount. But with the ranch running smoothly and most needs met, he didn't really have much use for it.

  "Maybe I'll save it for now," he thought. "Perhaps I look into getting a vil somewhere sic, so I take Koraidon and the others out for the occasional getaway."

  With that in mind, Naoki grabbed his travel backpack, packed the money safely inside, and rode Koraidon to Kosaji Town to deposit the mo the bank. By the time they returhe sun was setting, and a gewilight had settled over the ranch.

  As spring warmed the days, the Pokémon had been more eio longer huddling around the firepce to stay warm. Even as night began to fall, they were still running around outside, pying iwilight.

  Naoki watched from uhe eaves, a mix of fondness and exasperation on his face, before heading baside. The thought of Alder and his Vola lingered in his mind, and he decided to reach out to Geeta using the video phone.

  Geeta's face soon appeared on the s, and she greeted him with a smile. "Oh? Naoki! Calling to discuss joining the Paldea League, are we?" she teased.

  Naoki: "..."

  Geeta chuckled. "Alright, alright. What I help you with, then?"

  "Actually, I wao ask if you know much about the champions of ions," Naoki replied.

  Geeta raised an eyebrow, a bit surprised. "The champions of ions? Hmm… while we don't i all that often, I do know some. Each region is pretty autonomous, after all."

  She thought for a moment and then tinued, "For instance, I know of Diantha, the champion of the Kalion. She's actually quite famous outside of Pokémon battles—she's also a well-known actress."

  "There's also the Champion of the Union, Alder; the Sinnion's thia; and the Gar region's Leon. I'm not too familiar with others, as they're quite far from Paldea," Geeta expined.

  She paused, suddenly recalling something. "Oh, speaking of Gar, Leon—their stro Champion—applied to visit Paldea not long ago. I wonder what's keeping him. He hasn't arrived yet."

  'Leon? ing to Paldea?' Naoki was surprised. Could he have gotten lost on the way?

  "What's with the sudden i?" Geeta asked, a curious look on her face.

  Naoki gave the prepared answer he'd thought of earlier. "I heard from trainers passing by the ranch that Champions in ions are incredibly strong."

  Geeta's eyes lit up with i. "Are you thinking of challenging them?"

  Naoki quickly replied, "No, no. I'm just a rancher. I don't have that kind of strength."

  Inwardly, Geeta thought, 'You say that, but you're the trainer who mao befriend and work alongside Calyrex, the King of Bountiful Harvests!'

  Then, as if a thought crossed her mind, Geeta added, "While it might be possible to battle some Champions, Alder would be an exception."

  "Huh?" Naoki blinked, a little surprised. "What happeo Mr. Alder?"

  "Alder's main Pokémon, Vola, suffered a severe injury—an injury the Pokémoer couldn't fully heal. Sihen, Alder has lost i in battling and has stepped back from League duties. Now, the affairs of the Unova League are mainly managed by the Elite Feeta expined, a hint of sadness in her voice. "It's truly a shame to see such a gifted traiep away."

  "I see…" Naoki houghtfully. He found himself w why Geeta was so well-versed in the happenings of the Unova League.

  Geeta seemed to sense Naoki's curiosity, so she offered an expnation with a smile:

  "Retly, the Padlea Alliand the Unova Alliance have strengtheheir ties, especially with the establishment of the academy. Not long ago, they set up Blueberry Academy on an offshore isnd, which serves as a sister school to Naranja Academy and Uva Academy. Every year, the schools exge students, giving them a ce to study at each other's campuses."

  Naoki was taken aback. "Really? I hadn't heard anything about this!"

  Just then, Naoki heard other voices in the background from Geeta's side.

  "I have a few things to handle in the department," she said. "But let's catch up ter if there's more to discuss!"

  Naoki, having gathered the information he sought, expressed his gratitude, "Thank you so much for sharing this."

  Geeta smiled warmly, about to end the call, when she suddenly remembered, "Oh, and by the way, the Paldea Alliance is aware of how Calyrex used his powers to restore the ecology around Kosaji Town. To express ratitude and honor his deeds, the Alliance has decided to build a Shrine of Plenty in his he lead on this project should be arriving at your pce soon."

  "A… Shrine of Plenty?" Naoki was caught off guard. He stared at the s as Geeta ehe call, feeling a bit overwhelmed.

  ---

  Meanwhile, deep within Area Zero in the heart of the Paldea Crater, the time mae tis operation, periodically bringing Pokémon from aimes and distant futures into the present.

  Not every paradox Pokémon appeared here every moment; only those that met certain criteria and respoo the time mae's signal could be transferred.

  For instance, only Pokémon that found themselves he time mae signal rew curious about it would be drawn toward it.

  At that very moment, within the vast chamber housing the time mae, a fsh of intense white light illumihe surroundings. As the light faded, a mysterious Pokémon with long, wild fur and an appearance akin to a giant nightmare materialized, gliding gracefully through the air.

  Below, Professor Sada and Dr. Turo observed the Pokémon and immediately reized it.

  "It's a Paradox Pokémon known as Flutter Mane, recorded in the 'Scarlet Book!'" Dr. Turo warned.

  "Be careful," he added, "Flutter Mane has a fierd warlike temperament."

  Professor Sada nodded calmly. They'd already gained plenty of experience handling such situations.

  Their protocol was clear: if a Paradox Pokémon showed signs of aggression, they would use Poké Balls to capture it immediately and thehe Poké Ball to keep it tained.

  However, Flutter Mane did not appear to be aggressive. Instead, it hovered in the air, its blood-red eyes calmly the two below.

  Seeing this, Professor Sada hesitated as she prepared to throw the Poké Ball.

  Moments ter, Flutter Mane's figure gradually faded into the shadows and vanished.

  "It disappeared?!" Professor Sada's heart skipped a beat.

  Dr. Turo readied his Poké Ball, anticipating a surprise attack from the shadows. However, after a long moment, it became clear that Flutter Mane was not pnning an ambush.

  Realizing this, Dr. Turo made a quick assessment. "It fled."

  Professor Sada was surprised. Such behavior was unusual.

  Luckily, the time mae facility was empty, so Flutter Mane's escape posed no immediate dao anyone else.

  Dr. Turo surmised that Flutter Mane would likely make its way to the upper levels of Area Zero, where it would blend into the ecosystem there.

  "What a missed opportunity," Professor Sada mented. "To enter an a Paradox Pokémon with such a calm temperament…"

  Dr. Turo forted her. "o worry. Our research shows that these Paradox Pokémon—summoned from both the distant past and future—are sloting to this era and to humans. As long as we remain patient, we'll realize oals eventually."

  Professor Sada nodded, her optimism restored. "You're right."

  With no other Pokémon appearing from the time mae that day, they checked the time, noticed it was te, and decided to leave.

  Unbeknownst to them, Flutter Mached silently from the shadows, the strange figures.

  Flutter Mane slipped bato the shadows, silently trailing the two researchers as they returo the b.

  Dr. Turo headed straight to che the Paradox Pokémon, studying their gradual adaptation to the modern era. Meanwhile, Professor Sada sat down at her desk and began doting the day's findings in her researotes.

  "Today, Turo and I ventured deeper into Area Zero and discovered a vast cavern in its lower levels. Within this cavererapagos… the mysterious relic of Zero, dormant in its depths.

  The crystalliructure surrounding it appears to be a form of prote against potential threats. However, it seems it may require more time to awaken.

  Iingly, a unique crystallization phenomenon, unlike anything seen on the surface, is throughout this cavern.

  Turo and I have decided to bel this all-enpassing crystal 'Star Crystal.'"

  Professor Sada paused, turning to a new page in her notebook, then tinued her notes.

  "After further discussion, Turo and I have he area below Zohe 'Area Zero Underdepths.'

  Based on the geological structure, I estimate this cavity was formed around two million years ago.

  Remnants indicate that the cavity was once filled with some unknown material before nearly f. The depth of the colpse is approximately 1,000 meters, aed colpses have left signs throughout. We specute that crustal movement and erosion from rain and groundwater may be responsible.

  Sis ultimate formation, Area Zero Underdepths has remained geologically stable to this day."

  She set down her pen, p the e between Terapagos and the mysterious Star Crystal.

  There was no doubt in her mind that Terapagos was the in of this crystallization. But acc to her research, this Pokémon had once been part of a rger group in a Paldea, likely living deep within the Earth's crust.

  Refleg on the massive colpse marks in the under depths, Professor Sada couldn't help but wonder:

  "Could it be that, due to teic shifts, all other Terapagos perished, leaving only this one, now locked in slumber?"

  Lost in thought, she was unaware of Flutter Mane lurking in the shadows behind her.

  Flutter Mane's gaze wandered around the b, taking in the cluttered piles of research materials and tools scattered across the room. By a nearby whiteboard stood stacks of data and photographs.

  Most photos were of Paradox Pokémon, each meticulously taken by Professor Sada and Dr. Turo. Among these, there were several pictures of Koraidon and Miraidon, along with snapshots of Naoki's iions with Koraidon as it grew aced to the human world.

  Flutter Mane's calm gaze eventually settled on a photo of Naoki gently stroking Koraidon's head.