Chapter 53: The Visitor of the Chinese Restaurant Club

Master Master Haidai's Chinese Restaurant sits right beside the Cortondo Gym, and this place also serves as a club gathering many enthusiasts who love Chinese cuisine.

The overall architectural style of the Chinese Restaurant uses blue as its base tone, hinting at Master Master Haidai's expertise as a chef in cooking seafood-related dishes, as well as his side role as the Water-type Gym Leader of the Cortondo Gym.

After challenging Master Master Haidai, Luo Mu had been invited by him to taste dishes cooked personally by the chef, and even the recipe for the braised fish Luo Mu made previously came from Master Master Haidai.

Luo Mu brought Wenxiang Wenxiang Kedou to the outside of the restaurant, where Master Master Haidai, wearing a wave-patterned apron, had already been waiting for quite some time.

Although Master Master Haidai is broad-shouldered and round-waisted with a shiny bald head, he is actually generous and open-minded, and the dishes he makes are greatly loved by the citizens of Cortondo.

"Hey! Have you eaten?" With arms crossed, Master Master Haidai, relying on a chef's sharp vision, quickly noticed Luo Mu approaching; he first greeted Luo Mu warmly, then looked scrutinizingly at the Wenxiang Wenxiang Kedou by his side: "Isn't this a Poliwag quite rare in Paldea? Is it a Pokémon you recently caught, young man Luo Mu?"

"Aren't I here right now to taste your new dishes?" Luo Mu extended his right hand to briefly shake Master Master Haidai's left, then shifted his gaze down to Wenxiang Wenxiang Kedou and smiled: "It's a Pokémon I caught for the farm, planning to train it to evolve into a Politoed."

"Politoed? Not a bad idea; I recall it is very skilled at controlling weather, it's just that the King's Stone item needed for evolution is somewhat scarce and very hard to obtain."

As a Water-type expert, Master Master Haidai knew a thing or two about Water-type Pokémon from other regions, and he had also paid attention to Politoed, a Pokémon possessing the rare Drizzle ability.

"Wu-lu-lu!"

Wenxiang Wenxiang Kedou wagged its tail to greet Master Master Haidai.

Seeing this, Master Master Haidai revealed a kind smile, squatted down, and gently patted Wenxiang Wenxiang Kedou's head, saying: "You're doing well too; keep working hard to grow."

After greeting Wenxiang Wenxiang Kedou, Master Master Haidai stood up, looked at Luo Mu, pointed with a finger at the restaurant behind him which was packed with customers due to mealtime, and said generously: "Let's stop with the pleasantries; now, let you taste the freshest sea bass caught after a burst, and the dreamlike kelp from the Hoenn region that I worked so hard to procure, the supreme deliciousness woven together by both!"

"Supreme deliciousness? As a chef, I cannot let those words go in one ear and out the other."

Before Luo Mu could respond, an unfamiliar male voice suddenly came from behind.

Both turned to look toward the source of the sound, only to see a man standing there with meticulously styled golden hair, wearing a pristine white chef's uniform, whose blue neckerchief at the chest and the large case carried in his hand were very eye-catching.

The man's sharp gaze stared straight at Master Master Haidai, seemingly harboring some indescribable emotion within.

"You are..." Master Master Haidai's cheerful smile froze; he stared directly at the man, sensing the aura of a kindred spirit on him.

Two sharp gazes collided, intertwining in the air and sparking flames, as a strange atmosphere began to spread between the two.

Luo Mu & Wenxiang Wenxiang Kedou: "?"

So, what exactly is the situation right now?

Luo Mu had some impression of this golden-haired man; he remembered him as someone queuing at the elevator, whose purely golden hair, somewhat rare in the Paldea region, had made him pause for a while.

But no matter how he ransacked his memory, he simply could not recall who this somewhat familiar man was.

After a moment of silence, Master Master Haidai suddenly spoke: "Hey! Kid, which path are you on?"

The man's gaze swept past the Chinese Restaurant behind Master Master Haidai, and after carefully setting down the heavy suitcase in his hand, he said calmly: "A chef traveling abroad in search of ultimate cuisine, Zhi Mi."

Luo Mu: "!!!!"

Master Master Haidai furrowed his brows, as if recalling something, his eyes widening slightly in shock: "You are the one from the Kalos region... the head chef of that famous three-star restaurant!"

"It is merely an empty reputation; now, traveling abroad, I am nothing more than an ordinary chef." Chairman Zhi Mi shook his head; compared to various honors bestowed upon him, he valued something far deeper.

"I heard your conversation with this young man just now; my purpose in coming to Cortondo City in the Paldea region is to seek new culinary inspiration, and this Water Capital, where gourmet flowers bloom in full splendor, has also opened my eyes wide."

"Therefore, I am very interested in the 'supreme deliciousness' you mentioned; would you like to have a contest between chefs with me, Mr. Master Haidai?"

Chairman Zhi Mi's words, filled with no hesitation, struck straight at Master Master Haidai's heart; he was only stunned for an instant before saying boldly: "I would be delighted; let us bet a chef's pride on a contest that leaves no regrets!"

The opinions of the two thus reached an agreement, both looking ready to roll up their sleeves and go all out.

Before turning to enter the restaurant, Master Master Haidai turned his head and said: "Let young man Luo Mu serve as one of the judges, how about it?"

"I have no problem; even if it is someone you know, I will produce dishes that will make him praise them endlessly."

Chairman Zhi Mi's gaze shifted from Master Master Haidai, glanced at Luo Mu; originally, he had no interest in Luo Mu, having eyes only for Master Master Haidai as a fellow chef.

However, Chairman Zhi Mi looked at the other for only a single glance, and his expression froze for an instant.

Was it his illusion, or did he glimpse a shadow of Miss Diantha on this young man?

Chairman Zhi Mi looked at Luo Mu with a gaze containing deep meaning.

From Luo Mu's perspective, this chef calling himself Chairman Zhi Mi had a conversation with Mr. Master Haidai and then instantly clicked, inexplicably deciding to start a cooking duel.

Luo Mu's mouth was full of complaints with nowhere to vent; this is a Pokémon scene, why are you guys starting a Shokugeki competition?

Wenxiang Wenxiang Kedou, on the contrary, was very interested in this novel scene, hopping along to follow Luo Mu's steps as they walked into the restaurant.

After taking their seats, a woman wearing a patissier's outfit with beautiful green hair smiled and said to Luo Mu: "Oh my, long time no see, young man Luo Mu~"

"Has Miss Arven also been invited by Mr. Master Haidai?"

Luo Mu felt somewhat surprised, yet it was also within reason.

This woman who struck up the conversation was Arven, the Gym Leader of the Artazon Gym in Artazon Town; her main profession is a patissier, owning a shop called Mochi no Patisserie, and she is also Master Master Haidai's culinary student.

"Yes, I arrived even a step earlier than you." When speaking, Arven's tone was slow, and she wore a faint smile, appearing very gentle and airheaded, "By the way, this is a belated blessing; congratulations on becoming a Champion-level Trainer~"

"Hehehe, I didn't expect you to surpass all of us in just a short year~"

Luo Modestly said: "Thanks to my partners; relying on me alone, it would be impossible."