A dish without meat that tastes like meat and is also delicious.
Heath couldn't help but wonder if he had misheard, but the girl's confident smile convinced him she was serious.
"Please wait a moment," Heath said, looking through his ingredient cabinet and opening the fridge. He hadn't bought many ingredients today, so making mock meat or vegetarian chicken seemed impossible.
However, Heath found two other ingredients. With the right preparation, they could create a meat-like taste using vegetables.
"Yes, I have something. Would you like to try it?" Heath asked the girl after a moment.
"Of course, but if it's not good, I won't pay," the girl replied, sitting down and even wiping the table.
Heath didn't mind her strange attitude. In business, he encountered all kinds of customers, including many with bad tempers.
Just recently, two customers had come to eat during the day. Eating was fine, but they started drinking and causing a ruckus, making it very troublesome. If Officer Jenny hadn't passed by, Heath thought his food truck might have been overturned. In hindsight, he regretted not letting them flip it; he could have gotten more compensation.
Heath opened the braising pot in his food truck. It had been simmering for a long time, making it a rich, flavorful broth. Instead of the braised chicken legs inside, Heath took out a piece of braised tofu.
Besides braised tofu, he needed peanuts. Fortunately, he had bought some earlier, so he didn't need to go to the market.
Heath remembered a saying from a scholar: "Tofu and peanuts chewed together taste like ham." This statement had a profound impact on Heath.
Curious, Heath had once tried braised tofu and peanuts, discovering a faint ham flavor. Though not strong, it was noticeable.
Some argued that scholar's statement had a different meaning, but without the ability to ask him directly, it remained a mystery.
This time, Heath planned to use his braised tofu and peanuts to create a meat-like dish for the picky customer.
Heath worked quickly. The braised tofu was already prepared, and frying peanuts was easy. Soon, he placed the dish in front of the girl.
"Here you go," Heath said confidently, having tested it himself and found a slight ham flavor.
"Really?" The girl looked at the dish, indeed meatless, and then at Heath's confident expression, growing more curious.
As she was about to eat, Heath stopped her and explained how to get the meat flavor.
"I don't believe these together can taste like meat," the girl said, pouting but following Heath's instructions. She chewed the tofu and peanuts together.
"It doesn't taste like meat, but it has a faint savory flavor," the girl said, licking her lips and looking dissatisfied.
Heath paused, realizing there might be no concept of ham in this world, making the girl's reaction understandable.
"Seems I need to prepare more ingredients next time," Heath sighed internally. With more ingredients, he could have made mock meat or vegetarian chicken.
Feeling awkward, Heath considered explaining the ham flavor, but the girl began eating the tofu and peanuts on her own.
"Though it doesn't taste like meat, it's not bad. Here's your payment," the girl said, leaving a hundred League coins and walking away.
Before leaving, she gave Heath a strange look and huffed, leaving him puzzled. Had he offended her somehow?
[You served Ho-Oh. You've received a Mood Detector.]
Heath was stunned. Ho-Oh? He hadn't seen Ho-Oh today.
Wait, could the red-haired, red-eyed girl be Ho-Oh in disguise?
Heath was dumbfounded. He hadn't expected to serve Ho-Oh, especially in human form. It seemed incredible.
On second thought, if Pokémon like Mew and Latias could transform into humans, it wasn't too surprising that Ho-Oh could do the same.
"This is... quite something," Heath thought, both amused and at a loss for words.
He pulled out the item he had received, which looked like a pocket watch.
"Mood Detector: Point it at any target to see their current mood."
The description was simple. Heath tested it on Farfetch'd, who was practicing diligently. He wanted to see its mood.
The watch showed a wave, then an ancient-looking face appeared, displaying the word "Exhilarated."
Shaking his head, Heath pocketed the useful item. As the morning rush began, more people appeared on the streets, and Heath prepared to start his day's business.
(End of Chapter)