Ashwin stood at the edge of his farm, the early morning breeze carrying the soft scent of blooming berries and sun-warmed soil. The farm had transformed over the past few weeks—from a neglected patch of land to a thriving, pulsing ecosystem alive with harmony and unseen depth.
And now, it was time to share a part of that progress.
Just not all of it.
The Grotto, his hidden sanctuary and heart of the operation, would remain a secret. Too much at stake. Too many vulnerable Pokémon. Too many eyes that wouldn't understand.
Instead, he had prepared a detailed surface demonstration. Above ground, the Pokémon had been trained and synchronized with their respective tasks. Fields had been cleared, feeding lanes polished, and the specially-constructed observation area—a makeshift pergola adorned with Sitrus flower vines—stood ready for the incoming breeders.
Ashwin turned to his team, gathered and organized for the day's presentation.
Vespiquen stood at the rear, overseeing her Combee force as they buzzed methodically over the pollination fields. Gogoat calmly plowed along the berry beds, his hooves leaving neat furrows while Phanpy siblings splashed water with rhythmic coordination. The Riolu pair stood by the livestock enclosure, using their aura sense to calm a couple of nervous Mareep recently loaned to the farm for testing.
Even the newly integrated Eevee and Shinx were part of the presentation, darting through designated pest-control routes with precision.
Everything had been staged perfectly.
A small System ping alerted Ashwin.
[Farm Interface: Public Breeder Showcase Mode – ACTIVE]Visibility of Underground Grotto: ZeroSpectator Pathways: Green Route ActivatedProjected Reputation Gain: +30 (Local), +15 (Regional), +1 Guild Credit)
Ashwin gave a small nod. "Alright. Let's begin."
The first of the breeders arrived.
A stout man with a long red beard introduced himself as Toma of Goldtail Ranch, followed by a younger woman from Pewtermist Farms, and a quiet couple from the Lavenbreath Hatchery.
One by one, they toured the farm with curious eyes and clipped questions.
"You've trained a Snorunt to regulate temperature over Sitrus rows?""And that Gogoat... it's adapted to multiple terrains already?""Wait, is that electric-type pest control? Never seen that deployed in a small operation before."
Ashwin smiled politely through each question, giving partial answers that hinted at innovation, without exposing why it worked so well.
"Careful elemental pairing and a lot of personalized routines," he said vaguely, gesturing toward the Shinx duo. "Helps them feel ownership of the land. They protect it in return."
He never mentioned the aura-enhanced integration. Or the real training systems in place.
Instead, he demonstrated:
Field-to-Barn Relay Feeding, guided by Phanpy water runs.
Electric Grid Nest Monitoring by the Shinx pair.
Early Pollination Schedules with Vespiquen's supervision.
Mild Element-Infused Honey tasting, a subtle teaser of the Echo-Honey product line.
By the time the breeders reached the tasting table, Ashwin could see the spark in their eyes.
"Have you patented this process?" Toma asked.
Ashwin just chuckled. "Still refining it."
In the hidden Breeder's Grotto, the real heart of the operation continued quietly. Ralts used aura to guide young Pokémon into meditative breathing. Gible siblings were carving out a new underground tunnel play zone. The Dratini pair coiled around a tranquil spring that hummed with elemental energy.
None of the breeders knew.
None of them saw.
And that was exactly how Ashwin intended it.
[System Notification:]Reputation Gained: +32 (Local), +1 (Guild Network)Quest Completed: "Showcase Without Sacrifice"Rewards:
Grotto Expansion Unlocked
New Farm Income Channel: Breeder Partnerships Tier-1
Breeding Efficiency Boost: +10%
Trust Increase: All Rescued Pokémon Loyalty +15%
As the sun dipped lower, the breeders thanked him and made their way out, already murmuring excitedly about what they'd seen. Some even asked about joint contracts or farm training exchanges.
Ashwin watched them go, then turned toward Vespiquen.
"They don't know about the Grotto. And they won't."
She buzzed once, proudly.
From the trees nearby, Combee zipped to his side with new pollen samples—three of which glowed faintly with elemental traits previously unrecorded.
Ashwin opened the farm menu again. More features unlocked. More synergy.
And more work to be done.