After Roman left, Cole released Helioptile and Brionne and helped them climb over the fence.
"Gogoat, wait here for me. I'll return after looking around." Since Gogoat was large and didn't have a Poké Ball, helping it climb the tall fence would be difficult.
Gogoat nodded obediently.
Cole walked with Brionne and Helioptile until they found the grove Bianca had mentioned. Inside, he carefully examined the area, discovering dried bloodstains on some weeds, just as expected.
As Bianca had said, there were no other useful clues in the surroundings.
About half an hour later, Cole returned to the fence with his two Pokémon. Gogoat was waiting there, just as instructed.
Before he could reach Gogoat, however, he noticed a small mound of dirt appear behind it. The mound was creeping closer to the goat.
"Helioptile, Brionne, attack!" Cole commanded, sensing danger.
"Ah-bi~"
"Brion~"
The two Pokémon sprang into action, unleashing a blue lightning bolt and a water jet at the dirt mound.
BOOM!!!
The explosion shattered the dirt mound, causing Gogoat to leap into the air in fright, but the mound was empty.
Whatever had been inside hadn't gone far. Cole quickly spotted another dirt mound appearing nearby, moving swiftly from inside the fence to the outside.
"Helioptile, Brionne, keep attacking!" He called out.
"Ah-bi~"
"Brion~"
The two Pokémon responded, launching bolts of lightning and water jets at the mound.
Cole noticed something peculiar: Helioptile's lightning had no effect on whatever was under the mound, but Brionne's Water Gun made it cry out in pain with each hit.
Given its immunity to electricity and its ability to use Dig, Cole suspected it might be a Ground-type Pokémon.
After a brief standoff, the creature under the mound escaped. Despite Brionne's type advantage, they couldn't catch it — the creature was too well-hidden and could dig too quickly.
Cole rushed to Gogoat's side, "Gogoat, are you alright?"
The Pokémon was visibly shaken. The creature had clearly been trying to ambush it, likely the same culprit behind the recent ranch disappearances.
Gogoat shook its head nervously to indicate it wasn't hurt, though its heart was still racing. It had been terrified, knowing all too well about its missing companions — and how close it had come to being the next victim.
"I'm glad you're okay." Cole sighed with relief.
He couldn't have faced Roman and Bianca if Gogoat had been taken right under his watch.
"Let's head back." He said to everyone.
As they prepared to return to Roman's house, Cole noticed Helioptile digging in the blast crater, its rear end in the air.
"What is it, Helioptile?" Cole asked curiously.
"Ah-bi~ Ah-bi~"
Helioptile pulled its head from the crater, holding something in its mouth.
"Ah-bi~ Ah-bi~"
It scurried to Cole's side and held up its discovery — brownish-black hairs with moist dirt still clinging to them.
"This is..." Cole examined the hairs, unable to identify their source, "I'll take these to the Pokémon Center later for analysis."
He turned to Helioptile with praise.
"Well done, Helioptile. You're so attentive — without you, I would have missed this important clue."
"Ah-bi~ Ah-bi~"
It modestly waved its hand as if to say it was nothing.
This made Brionne extremely envious — why hadn't it thought to dig around in the crater? It wanted Cole's praise too!
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After returning to Roman's house, Cole told the couple, "I think I encountered the culprit behind the ranch's losses. It's likely a Pokémon."
"Really?" Bianca asked excitedly, "What kind of Pokémon is it? Can you drive it away?"
Cole replied, "I'm not sure what Pokémon it is yet, but I got some of its fur. I'll take it to the Pokémon Center for analysis. As for dealing with it, I'll need more time to think."
Bianca smiled gratefully, "Thank you for all your help."
As evening approached, Cole bid farewell to the couple. They walked him to the ranch gate, insisting on giving him several bottles of their ranch's grass-fed Gogoat Milk.
Though he tried to refuse, the couple was too enthusiastic, determinedly stuffing the bottles into his spatial backpack until he had no choice but to accept them all.
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Instead of heading home, Cole rode his Captain Talonflame directly to the Pokémon Center in the West District.
Nurse Joy, who was quite familiar with Cole, smiled when she saw him enter.
"Here to buy medicine? You're earlier than usual!"
She said this because he bought medicine at regular intervals.
Cole shook his head, "Not this time. I need your help with something, Nurse Joy."
He took out the hairs and explained the ranch situation.
Nurse Joy, known for her strong sense of justice, listened with growing indignation at the culprit's actions.
Living up to her reputation for Pokémon knowledge, she examined the hairs briefly before declaring, "These look like they might be from an Excadrill."
Excadrill? Cole's eyes lit up.
That could be it! Ground-type, knows Dig — it had to be an Excadrill. Even the fur color matched.
"To be certain, let me analyze these for you. Please wait a moment." Nurse Joy said, taking the hairs to the lab.
Using the Pokémon Center's advanced equipment, she soon returned with the results.
"These are definitely Excadrill hairs."
Cole paid the testing fee and said gratefully, "Thank you so much, Nurse Joy."
Nurse Joy waved her hand, "You've paid me, so there's no need for thanks."
She had actually intended to help for free, but he had insisted on paying.
Having confirmed the Pokémon's identity, Cole left the Pokémon Center and rode his Captain Talonflame back to the East District.
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Before returning to Mt. Ascendant, Cole stopped by the orphanage and left half of the Gogoat Milk from Roman and Bianca for the children.
The grass-fed Gogoat Milk was delicious, and the children couldn't stop praising it.
Paul took a big gulp and exclaimed happily:
"Wow~ This is the most delicious thing I've ever drunk!"
Cole chuckled as he ruffled Paul's head, "If you like it, I'll buy more for all of you in the future."
The grass-fed Gogoat Milk was good for children's physical development. They could certainly drink more of it, and he thought he might have some too — it was something he could definitely afford now.
"Really? That's great!" Paul cheered.
Lily frowned, "Cole, you shouldn't spoil him so much. This kid always tries to take a mile when given an inch."
Cole shook his head, "It's just a drink. How is that spoiling?"
Hearing this, Paul stuck his tongue out at her, "Exactly, exactly!"
The angry girl chased after him, but Paul was too fast for her to catch.
Cole grabbed Paul as he ran past, "You need to be more well-behaved too. Don't make your brothers and sisters angry for no reason."
"I got it!" Paul said with a beaming smile.
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After returning from the orphanage, Cole shared the remaining Gogoat Milk with his Pokémon, who all loved it too.
No wonder Roman's Gogoat Milk had become so popular in Coumarine and turned into one of its specialties.
Early the next morning, he went to Ramos's place and reported everything that had happened at the ranch yesterday.
Ramos asked, "Have you thought of a solution?"
Cole nodded, "I have some ideas, but I'll need your help."
Then he explained his plan.
"Alright, no problem. Do as you suggested." Ramos nodded.
Cole continued, "I'm just worried that someone might be controlling that Excadrill. Otherwise, where did all those Gogoat and Skiddo go?"
Ramos was concerned about this too, but he couldn't understand why anyone would go to such lengths to steal Gogoat from the ranch. Surely it couldn't just be for the milk?
If someone wanted to sell the Gogoat and Skiddo for profit, why were there bloodstains in the forest?
For now, neither Cole nor the authorities could make sense of it.
"Just be careful, and contact me immediately if anything happens." Ramos cautioned.
"Don't worry."
After finishing at Ramos's place, Cole rode his Captain Talonflame back to the ranch.
Roman and Bianca had been busy since early morning — Roman was milking the sheep, while Bianca was bathing the little ones.
The couple brightened at his arrival.
"Cole, have you had breakfast? If not, I'll make you something." Bianca said warmly.
They had grown quite comfortable with each other after yesterday's interactions.
"Bianca, please don't trouble yourself — I've already eaten." Cole said quickly, stopping her as she headed toward the house. He took out a bag of berries from his space backpack and said, "I brought you some berries I grew myself. Let uncle, auntie, Cora, and Carl try them."
He couldn't come empty-handed after receiving their milk yesterday.
Looking at the bag, Bianca put on a stern face, "Yesterday we gave you milk, and today you bring us berries — are you treating us like outsiders?"
Cole quickly protested, "How can you say that, Auntie? If you and Uncle can give me milk, why can't I give you berries? Auntie, you're being unfair. This is just my way of showing appreciation, and I grew them myself, so it didn't cost anything."
Bianca's face broke into a smile, "Good boy, then uncle and auntie will accept them."
She happily took the bag from him.
"Did any Gogoat or Skiddo go missing from the ranch last night?" Cole asked.
Bianca replied with relief, "That Pokémon must have been scared off by you yesterday — everything was fine last night."
Cole nodded, "That's good. I've confirmed that yesterday's Pokémon was an Excadrill. Today I'm going to try to catch it."
"So it was an Excadrill — no wonder she and her husband couldn't find it. How could anyone spot it when it was hiding underground?"
Then she asked, puzzled, "Why would an Excadrill steal our Gogoat and Skiddo?"
Although Bianca and Roman weren't trainers, they did have a Gym Leader father, so they knew a thing or two about Pokémon.
Could it be that Excadrill particularly liked drinking sheep's milk?
Cole said with a worried expression, "That's exactly what's strange. Ramos and I are both concerned that someone might be controlling the Excadrill."
Bianca muttered anxiously, "Oh heavens, I hope this doesn't lead to more trouble!"
After chatting with the couple for a while, Cole began preparing to catch the Excadrill.
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About half an hour later, he brought a group of Gogoat to the forest.
He instructed them, "If the Excadrill appears, don't worry about anything else — just run far away."
The Gogoat nodded, but they were clearly afraid, their bodies trembling violently. After all, they were now being used as bait to lure out the Excadrill.
How scary!
Seeing this, Cole reassured them, "Don't worry, I'll protect you."
He had made thorough preparations today.
Hearing his promise, the Gogoat's uneasiness diminished somewhat.
After leaving them in the forest, Cole quietly found a hidden spot to conceal himself. Up in the sky, several Talonflame kept their sharp eyes on the ground below — they would immediately sound the alarm if the Excadrill appeared.
Time passed slowly with no sign of the Excadrill, but he remained patient, staying completely still in the bushes.
After about three or four hours, a small mound finally emerged silently in the forest and crept toward the Gogoat.
"YARO!!!"
The Talonflame in the sky immediately sounded their warning cry, and in an instant, all the Gogoat bolted away, as if wishing they had extra legs to run even faster.
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