Chapter 121: Loco Moco

Half an hour later.

An excited Baimu and Chansey returned.

Through the Pokémon Center's certification, the latter had indeed learned the Toxic move, but the reason it learned it was unknown — the former guessed it was because of all those failed dishes accumulated from the earliest practice of cooking.

It was also possible that it had something to do with Chansey occasionally sneaking bites of those failures.

In any case, the reasons were many and varied.

So how exactly did Chansey release Toxic? It neither had poison fangs like Arbok, nor could it spread poisonous powder like Gloom.

He saw Chansey gleefully sharing the good news with Mawile and Aggron, and when the latter two were happy for it, they too showed gleeful expressions — he couldn't help but smile knowingly.

Right then.

Baimu suddenly saw Mawile and Chansey holding hands, and a light bulb went off in his head—

Could it be released through touch?

Cooking inevitably meant hands touching ingredients, so with that in mind, it wasn't hard to understand why every one of Chansey's dishes ended up as a Dark Dish.

Thinking of this possibility, he hurried over to tell Chansey.

Chansey stared blankly at its own hands, and upon realizing it was still holding Mawile's, it hurriedly tried to pull them back.

"It's fine, Mawile's a Steel-type Pokémon, under normal circumstances it won't be poisoned." Baimu patted its head, "But this kind of unconscious release really does need more practice to get under control soon."

"…Lucky!"

Chansey nodded solemnly, then indicated that it wouldn't be cooking anymore recently, so as not to waste ingredients.

However.

The fact that it had learned Toxic was still very much worth celebrating.

After all, this was Chansey's very first offensive move. With Toxic, it had thoroughly shed the shortcoming of being unable to deal damage on its own, and truly shaken off its identity as a pure support.

He believed that one day, Chansey would shake off the nightmare in its heart, and understand the difference between having power and choosing not to hurt others, versus having no power and therefore not hurting others.

"You'd better keep at it too. Learning Magnet Rise and ending up with Thunderbolt — I really can't even with you."

Baimu said to Aggron.

The move 【Magnet Rise】 was far more difficult to learn than expected, like a wall blocking the latter, preventing it from flying under its own power.

"Rooar!"

Aggron swished its tail, and a little sullenly gave Baimu a light shove — it wasn't like it did it on purpose.

The latter stumbled and nearly fell flat on the ground, but didn't really mind.

Although it hadn't managed to learn Magnet Rise, the moves Aggron had newly mastered weren't limited to just Thunderbolt — there was also 【Smack Down】, obtained from the simulation opponent two rounds ago: the Beast Tamer.

This move could temporarily ground opponents with the Flying type or the Levitate ability, and Magnet Rise and Telekinesis were equally unable to escape it.

Chansey and Mawile had clearly been targeted by the simulator.

Since learning this move, Aggron's win rate against Mawile in their fights had indeed improved considerably.

Finally.

He turned his gaze to Mawile. The latter gave a start, stepped back twice, then voluntarily leaned back in and glared at him, waving its little fists as if to say, "You dare lecture me and I'll hit you."

This one's progress was, for now, still fairly satisfactory.

Not long ago, it had learned Ice Fang and Thunder Fang through Ice Punch and Thunder Punch, and with Flame Fang obtained from the previous round's simulation opponent — the Firebreather — it had completed the set of three Fangs. It was currently putting splendid effort into Play Rough and Swords Dance.

Its boxing had likewise made great progress.

"Keep it up! Charge toward a beautiful tomorrow!"

He shouted, and took the initiative to run laps around the field. Aggron and the other Pokémon exchanged a glance, then broke into a run and followed behind him.

——

Late at night.

Baimu, freshly showered, lay in bed and opened the simulator.

It was time to gather a new partner. Letting these clues just pile up wasn't doing anyone any favors — at the very least, he should use up that excellent one.

【Choose the Pokémon type for the clue】

He hesitated for a moment, then thought of the thirty million he had just received, and his confidence suddenly swelled considerably. He tapped Dragon type directly.

Dragon-type Pokémon were famous for their high combat power. Although they were often pushed around by Fairy types, their fierce nature wouldn't change.

But correspondingly, this also meant these fellows were very "delicate." Most were late bloomers, and their tempers were top-tier bad — for trainers, they were fierce Pokémon that required enormous effort to tame.

Moreover, combat power was directly tied to money spent. Only by giving them the highest standard of treatment could one enjoy their highest standard of combat power.

Raising a Dragon-type Pokémon still required a certain amount of mental preparation from the trainer.

And the thirty million he had just obtained was Baimu's backing.

The clue transformed.

【You need a wooden plaque carved with a Dragon-type pattern, hung at your waist and carried on your person】

A wooden plaque?

While he was still stunned, a light screen appeared, displaying a palm-sized plaque inside — on it was a very strange circular base with an abstract dragon-shaped pattern.

Isn't this the Dragon Energy from the Pokémon Trading Card Game?

Could it be that hanging this kind of wooden plaque would make someone mistake him for a certain someone?

Baimu thought it over, and decided to go find someone to make one tomorrow, then wait for the new Pokémon to appear.

If he needed to buy it, he could just expense it through the rewards from being a reserve executive. If he could get it without spending money, then he could also consider getting a fifth Pokémon.

——

The next day.

Baimu made the wooden plaque and hung it at his waist, but an entire morning passed and still no new Pokémon appeared.

And just as he was opening shop to earn money, he unexpectedly welcomed an "old acquaintance."

"I've been wondering when you'd invite me, but the invitation never came, so I had to come to you on my own." Mountain Renshu smiled as he sat down at the counter. "You don't mind me showing up uninvited, do you?"

"... Of course not."

He gave a rueful laugh. "I was worried you'd look down on it. Someone who's been out in the world and seen everything must have experienced it all — I wouldn't dare invite humiliation on myself."

"Whether it's truly inviting humiliation or not, you'll only know after you eat."

Mountain Renshu sat up properly, ignoring the surprised glances from those around him, and looked at the walls. "You don't have a menu or anything here?"

"Of course I do."

Baimu handed over a small notebook.

He watched Mountain Renshu flip through it back and forth, then glance toward the stove not far away, and raise an eyebrow slightly. "Luo-style cuisine?"

"I learned it by following Luo-style recipes online — I'm his devoted fan. You've surely been there in person to eat his food, haven't you?" He wasn't at all surprised that this young man, who radiated an upper-class air, could tell.

These little tricks might fool country folk, but they can't fool those with real experience.

"I've had the good fortune to visit the flagship store. Master Luokemoke's culinary skill is extraordinary — truly a genius in the culinary world who can be matched against Master Zhimi."

Mountain Renshu seemed to recall that wonderful flavor, and for a moment was lost in longing.

And the Luokemoke and Luo-style he mentioned were precisely the chef's real name and the name of his new-style cuisine school.

Though this chef's name carries little weight in the trainer world today, in the culinary world he is hailed as a peer of Zhimi, with branch stores spread across all of Kalos, clearly with designs on expanding to other regions.

"How wonderful. I hope someday I can taste Master Luokemoke's cooking too."

Baimu's tone was not without envy — he truly was envious, for he knew better than anyone just how powerful glowing cuisine was.

baimengshu.

At the same time, he was curious how far Luokemoke's culinary skill had progressed over all these years.

"That day won't be too far off."

Mountain Renshu smiled and said, "Serve me two of your best dishes. If you don't mind, let me offer a few suggestions."

"I'm honored!"

Baimu turned and went back into the kitchen.