After receiving the invitation, Tong Hua immediately began preparing.
This trip would take him far from home, and for even longer than the last Hot Spring Trip.
Tong Hua packed four changes of clothes alone, along with several bags of the Sweet Berries the Pokémon loved.
Speaking of Berries, through Tong Hua's efforts, the Salac Berries and Dragon Fire Berries Steenee and the others had brought back from the valley on West Hill had successfully been planted in the Ranch's Orchard.
With Vespiquen's family and Grotle helping tend them, they would be able to keep harvesting these two rare varieties of Berry in the future.
"Hmm-hmm-hmm~"
Tong Hua hummed as he packed his backpack, planning the itinerary in his head.
"A port town by the sea!
What a great place to hold the competition. I can do some sightseeing there while I'm at it!"
Tong Hua couldn't help imagining the possibilities. Perhaps he could even board a ship and see the world beyond!
But that was only a fantasy. After all, he still had the Ranch and the Dessert Shop to run. Where would he find the time to travel so far?
"Min-min~" Minccino helped Tong Hua pack too. When it came to cleaning and folding clothes, nobody on the Ranch could beat him.
"All right, that should just about do it!" Tong Hua checked his backpack one last time and zipped it up. "The competition is in three days, so let's leave tomorrow at noon.
Who wants to come this time?"
Tong Hua looked at the Pokémon still watching television on the bed.
"Meow!" Purrloin was the first to raise her paw. She bounded over to Tong Hua in a few steps and rubbed affectionately against his trouser leg.
Purrloin was quite satisfied with Tong Hua as her human