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As soon as Lucas appeared, the Skiddo foals cheered and rushed to his side.
"Skid~! Skid~!" Lucas, Lucas, you're here!
"Skid~! Skid~!" Lucas, what yummy things did you bring us today?
"Skid~! Skid~!" It's tomatoes! I love tomatoes the most!
"Skid~! Skid~!" I like cucumbers! Tender, crisp cucumbers are the best!
The Skiddo foals nuzzled affectionately against Lucas, making the adult Gogoat watch with a mixture of amusement and slight embarrassment.
Clearly, Lucas's efforts these past days hadn't been in vain. Although the Gogoat had been reserved in their interactions with him, the Skiddo foals had completely warmed up to his presence.
They adored the vegetables from Lucas's garden. Compared to dry grass, crisp and juicy vegetables were definitely more appealing to their palates.
"Don't rush, don't rush, there's enough for everyone," Lucas said, distributing the vegetables one by one to the eager Skiddo foals.
"Skid~! Skid~!" So delicious, so delicious!
The Skiddo foals munched on the vegetables with obvious delight.
"Here, try this radish. It's very crisp and sweet," Lucas offered a white radish—as plump as an adult's arm and even longer—to one of the Skiddo foals.
"Skiddo~!"
The crisp, juicy texture of the white radish had the young Pokémon completely enraptured.
(*≧▽≦) "Skid~!" So delicious! So sweet!
The white radish was too large for a single Skiddo, so Lucas broke it into two pieces and gave them to two different foals. Then, he took out a small red radish the size of an infant's fist.
"Here, try this too. It has a different flavor, but it's just as good," Lucas said.
This small radish was just the right size for a Skiddo foal to eat in one bite.
Unlike the crisp and sweet white radish, the red one had a slightly harder texture and a mild spicy kick, offering a completely different taste experience.
"Crunch~ Crunch~"
The sound of enthusiastic chewing came from the Skiddo's mouth, and its surprised expression made it clear that it enjoyed the red radish just as much.
Ｏ(≧▽≦)Ｏ Delicious! I like it!
Watching the Skiddo foals eat so heartily, some of the adult Gogoat subconsciously swallowed. They looked down at the thick grass beneath their hooves and suddenly found it significantly less appetizing.
"Go~goat!" Mr. Lucas, you bring delicious vegetables here every day. What is your purpose? Please speak frankly.
After some time, one of the Gogoat finally approached. Following a brief commotion within the herd, a Gogoat that was noticeably stronger and taller than the others slowly walked forward and addressed Lucas directly.
Lucas recognized this as the leader of the Gogoat and Skiddo herd.
Although he couldn't understand exactly what the Gogoat leader was saying, he could make a reasonable guess at its meaning.
Sensing that the time was right, Lucas decided to present his proposal to the Gogoat, so he stated plainly, "I want to cooperate with you."
"Go~?" Cooperate?
The Gogoat leader tilted its head in confusion.
Lucas continued, "I see that your Skiddo foals all enjoy the vegetables from my garden. How about we arrange an exchange—vegetables for your Gogoat milk?"
Hearing Lucas's words, the Gogoat leader fell into deep contemplation. The proposal was undeniably tempting.
Both male and female Gogoat possess the ability to produce milk, which they primarily use to feed newly hatched Skiddo foals. Once the young ones are weaned, the Skiddo begin to graze on grass like the adults.
At this point, excess milk accumulates in the Gogoat's bodies, causing discomfort, which is why they often help other Pokémon raise their offspring.
However, there aren't many newborn Pokémon on the Nebel Plateau each year, and they still find themselves with surplus milk.
If they could exchange this milk for delicious vegetables, it would indeed be a beneficial arrangement for all involved.
"Go~goat! Go~!" Are you really proposing to exchange vegetables for our milk?
The Gogoat leader wanted confirmation.
"Do you agree to this arrangement?" Lucas asked in return.
Seeing Lucas's sincere intentions, the Gogoat returned to consult with the herd. After a thorough discussion, it came back and gently nodded to Lucas.
Mr. Lucas is already a respected member of the Nebel Plateau community. Since this is beneficial for everyone, why shouldn't we agree?
"That's wonderful!" Lucas exclaimed, jumping up in excitement.
Observing Lucas's enthusiasm, the Gogoat leader couldn't help but smile.
"Skid~! Skid~!" Will we be able to eat vegetables from Lucas's garden every day from now on?
"Skid~! Skid~!" That's fantastic! That's absolutely fantastic!
The Skiddo foals gathered around, chattering excitedly, though Lucas couldn't understand their exact words. He smiled at them warmly nonetheless.
A thought suddenly occurred to Lucas—shouldn't he learn how to properly milk a Gogoat? This skill would be essential for their new arrangement.
He discussed this with the Gogoat leader, asking if he could try it out right away. The Gogoat readily agreed.
Shortly after, a robust female Gogoat slowly emerged from the herd. This particular Gogoat was known for producing the richest milk in the group. Her baby had recently been weaned, and she was experiencing discomfort from the excess milk.
"Go~goat!"
The Gogoat leader called out, signaling that Lucas could begin.
Lucas approached the mother Gogoat, reaching out tentatively, unsure of where to start.
It wasn't just Lucas who felt nervous—the mother Gogoat was also experiencing some apprehension. While she was skilled at nursing Pokémon young, being milked by a human was entirely new to her.
At this moment, Lucas suddenly remembered something and lightly slapped his forehead. Of course! He could purchase a tutorial from the system store first!
He opened the system interface, clicked on the search bar, and quickly located what he needed.
"Gogoat Milking Tutorial: Guaranteed Results on Your First Try!" An interesting title, to say the least.
Lucas studied the tutorial carefully. He hadn't realized until now that there was so much technique involved in proper milking.
He nodded as he read, absorbing the valuable information.
The guide explained that it was important to gently massage before milking to promote milk production.
It also advised imitating a young Skiddo's natural butting motion when seeking milk, with emphasis on keeping movements gentle.
The proper strength when milking was crucial, and specific techniques of pressing, squeezing, and holding required particular attention.
After thoroughly studying the material, Lucas closed the guide, took a deep breath, and crouched down. He purchased a small bucket from the system store and positioned it beneath the mother Gogoat.
"I'm going to begin now," Lucas said to the Gogoat.
"Go~goat."
The mother Gogoat nodded her agreement. During the time Lucas had been studying, she had also mentally prepared herself.
Lucas applied the techniques he had learned, gently holding the Gogoat's udder and beginning a careful massage.
The Gogoat didn't display any shyness. For her species, having their udders touched wasn't considered embarrassing—otherwise, they wouldn't collectively assist in raising other Pokémon's young across the plateau.
Lucas's massage technique proved quite effective, making the mother Gogoat feel comfortable. She could sense her milk ducts relaxing and becoming more receptive—a warm, pleasant sensation.
After massaging for an appropriate amount of time, Lucas began the actual milking process.
He first used his thumb and forefinger to gently grip the base of the teat, preventing milk from flowing backward, then systematically applied pressure with his middle, ring, and little fingers toward his palm. Immediately, a stream of pearly white milk flowed into the bucket, releasing a subtle, pleasant aroma.
Success!
Lucas was delighted—his learning ability and practical skills were evidently quite strong!
With the excess milk being expressed, the mother Gogoat felt an immediate relief from the physical burden she had been carrying.
Her milk production was indeed abundant, and before long, the small bucket was filled with fresh Gogoat milk.
At this point, Munchlax, who had been playing with the Skiddo foals, returned and curiously sniffed at the bucket.
"Munch~?" Delicious?
As he wondered aloud, Munchlax dipped a paw into the bucket, then quickly brought it to his mouth.
"Munch~lax!" So fragrant!
Munchlax's eyes widened instantly with delight.
Lucas lightly swatted him, saying, "That's not hygienic! Can't you be patient?"
Munchlax was well aware of Lucas's plan to use the Gogoat milk to make creamy steamed buns, and he had been eagerly anticipating this for some time.
"Munch~! Munch~!" Hee hee!
Munchlax wasn't upset at all by his master's gentle scolding. Instead, he hugged Lucas's waist affectionately.
Lucas smiled helplessly and pinched Munchlax's chubby cheeks as a light-hearted punishment.
However... catching the enticing aroma rising from the Gogoat milk, Lucas couldn't resist extending his own finger, dipping it slightly, and bringing it to his lips.
The moment the milk touched his tongue, Lucas was amazed by its unique qualities. The milky richness was extraordinary—without any unpleasant aftertaste, it carried a subtle hint of fresh grass, with a smooth, full-bodied flavor that lingered pleasantly.
Excellent!
Seeing his master secretly sampling the Gogoat milk just as he had done, Munchlax covered his mouth to suppress a laugh, thinking Lucas hadn't noticed.
After storing the bucket of Gogoat milk in his system inventory, Lucas addressed the Gogoat leader: "I'll come back tomorrow to milk properly. You're welcome to visit my house at noon for vegetables—I'll prepare them in advance.
Also, feel free to come by for breakfast in the morning. Not only are the vegetables delicious, but the steamed buns and dumplings are quite tasty as well."
The Gogoat leader nodded in acknowledgment.
Then Lucas and Munchlax headed home together with the empty basket.
"We should get back before it gets too late today, or Diancie will be upset," Lucas reminded Munchlax as they walked.
"Munch~! Munch~!" Yes, yes.
Munchlax nodded in serious agreement.
As master and apprentice made their way home, they suddenly heard a commotion coming from somewhere nearby.
"What's going on?"
"Fletch~! Fletch~!"
At that moment, a Fletchling flew over anxiously, landed on Lucas's shoulder, and began chirping frantically, gesturing with its wings. Though Lucas couldn't understand its exact words, he recognized that something important was happening.
"Fletch~! Fletch~!"
Fletchling pointed urgently in a specific direction.
Lucas quickly responded, "Okay, okay, I understand. I'll go check it out."
With that, he and Munchlax followed Fletchling's guidance. Before long, they came upon a large gathering of Pokémon. Fletchling's parents, Bellsprout's family, Swablu's parents, Meowth, Bunnelby, Vivillon, Litwick... they were all there, surrounding something.
When Lucas approached and got a clearer view, he saw that the focus of their attention was a small aircraft. Kimia, Raleigh, Flamel, and Sylveon were seated inside it.
Spotting Lucas, Kimia waved excitedly, "Your Highness! Your Highness! Please help us!"
When the Pokémon noticed Lucas's arrival, they too became animated, gathering around him and chattering—though he couldn't understand their exact words.
It was clear, however, that they were not welcoming to humans other than Lucas on the Nebel Plateau.
Lucas quickly addressed the Pokémon: "Everyone, please calm down, there's no need for alarm. These are my friends. They're just here to visit me. Please disperse—everything is fine!"
Hearing this, the Pokémon gradually began to scatter.
"Remember to come by my house for dinner tomorrow!" Lucas called out to them.
Kimia and the others finally relaxed enough to breathe properly.
They had barely entered the airspace of the Nebel Plateau when they were surrounded by the protective Pokémon, nearly causing them to crash.
In truth, with Sylveon's considerable power, it could have easily resolved the situation, but Kimia had prevented this. Using force would only have escalated the conflict.
Fortunately, Lucas had arrived just in time.
As Kimia and the others exited the aircraft, Lucas approached with Munchlax. "What brings you all here?"
Kimia smiled warmly. "We've been planning to visit your home for quite some time but couldn't find the right opportunity. We didn't expect the Pokémon of the Nebel Plateau to be so... 'enthusiastic' in their greeting."
Lucas explained, "Many of the Pokémon here have been previously harmed by humans, so they're generally wary of visitors. Please don't take it personally."
Kimia nodded in understanding. "I see—that explains it." She added apologetically, "We were presumptuous to arrive without notice."
"But they respond so well to Prince Lucas," Raleigh observed. "Your Highness is truly remarkable."
Lucas smiled and gently ruffled Raleigh's hair. "I've lived here long enough to become part of the community. Naturally, they've grown familiar with me. We're friends."
"Being able to form friendships with so many Pokémon is admirable in itself. Your Highness has accomplished something special," Flamel noted, adjusting his glasses.
"Syl~! Veon~!" Your Highness has changed from before, and it's wonderful to see.
Sylveon chimed in, though no one could understand its exact words.
"Well, since you're all here, come home with me. I was planning to try a new recipe tonight—you're in for a treat!" Lucas offered with a smile.
"Really?" Raleigh's eyes lit up at the mention of food.
"Absolutely. Let's go." With that, Lucas led everyone toward his residence.
Upon reaching Lucas's home, Kimia gazed at the charming building before them and exclaimed, "Is this truly Your Highness's residence?"
No wonder Lucas had consistently emphasized how comfortable his living situation was—it was genuinely lovely! She had assumed he was simply trying to prevent them from worrying, using exaggerated descriptions.
"Yes, please come in quickly."
Lucas warmly invited everyone to enter.
"You're back...?" When Diancie saw the group following Lucas, her expression shifted from surprise to delight. "Princess Kimia, Prince Raleigh, Miss Flamel, and Sylveon—what a wonderful surprise!"
Kimia and the others greeted Diancie warmly.
"Please, make yourselves comfortable," Diancie said, graciously inviting everyone to be seated.