Attentive Doroba saw his companion Shana gazing at Baimu with her head lowered in thought, and couldn't help but ask, "What's wrong?"
Shana replied, "I think I've seen him somewhere before..."
The chubby Tieryu said, "Maybe at some competition? What's his name, anyhow? I don't recall hearing him introduce himself."
"Youx Lijia seems to call him Brother Baimu," Doroba said.
Shana was suddenly startled, and then glanced at Doroba before looking at Baimu, her eyes filled with excitement, "Baimu! Yes! Baimu! It's him!"
Doroba and Tieryu were puzzled as they watched their companion's inexplicable fervor.
"Check the blog using the holographic communicator and you'll understand!" Shana was unable to contain her excitement at that moment.
Although her goal is to become Queen Carlos of the Pokémon Performers, how could she not pay attention to the Gorgeous Competition, a world-famous event extremely suitable for girls?
And as this year's most dazzling star among coordinator trainers, Baimu's name successfully reached the ears of all Gorgeous Competition enthusiasts.
After seeing Baimu's performance at the festival, Shana couldn't help but be filled with admiration and awe.
She hadn't noticed before partly due to her focus on Xiaoguang and Xiaogang, and partly because she hadn't expected Baimu from Hoenn to appear here.
"Go for it, Baimu!"
She couldn't help but shout out encouragement for him.
Not far away.
Baimu nodded friendly at Shana and asked, "May I add a reward?"
Lokomoko continued smiling, "Feel free to mention it!"
"If I win, could I come to your kitchen and help cook once?" he asked tentatively.
"Help in the kitchen?"
About to change face, Lokomoko's expression became strange, "Why would you want to help in my kitchen?"
Baimu answered honestly, "Because I want to learn your shining cuisine."
These words would be considered offensive to many chefs; the kitchen is a battlefield commanded by the head chef, and the recipe is the war book held by the head chef. A foreigner boldly entering and claiming to steal the war book?
However.
"Hahahahaha—"
Lokomoko let out a hearty laugh, looking at Baimu with curiosity and joy, and said loudly, "I promise you!"
The chef who detests fixed-module cooking and private recipes couldn't possibly refuse such a suggestion; he wished everyone would come to learn his shining cuisine!
To this end, he filmed videos, published recipes, and repeatedly participated in various food festivals just to prevent shining cuisine from becoming a lost art.
Furthermore, even if Baimu is an outsider who only causes trouble, at most he would just help with chores like tidying up.
The kitchen is the battlefield of the head chef, and once inside, not following orders?
It's out of your hands!
Lokomoko clapped his hands, and immediately many people inside began to move the clutter around the road, clearing a space for a battle.
The rest retreated in unison.
"Will Baimu be okay?" Sarina was a bit worried. She felt Lokomoko was a very strong trainer because many restaurant chefs and waiters surrounded him with smiles cheering him on.
Hoopa flew up to her, saying seriously, "Of course, Xiaobai can! Xiaobai is even more amazing than Xiaozi!"
"Oh? Really?"
Ash Ketchum didn't feel offended hearing this, and even happily said, "Is Baimu that strong? I really want to battle him someday."
Hoopa crossed his arms proudly, "Xiaobai is the strongest, of course."
"Right here?"
Baimu glanced left and right; the location was too close to the store door, and he was worried about breaking the glass. The space between the trainers was also a bit tight.
Lokomoko waved his hand, "Don't worry, you won't break it, you don't have the chance."
Aha!
In the simulated plot, chefs didn't seem so arrogant, right?
His eyebrow slightly raised, but a smile appeared on the corner of his mouth. Being able to witness Lokomoko's personality outside of the simulation and interact with him was truly delightful.
Being able to battle him was an unexpected joy.
Come on!
Let me see the Golduck that can rival the Super Hypno!
Without hesitation, he tossed the Pokeball.
Bang!
A flash of white light.
"Gurgh~"
Aggron appeared, leisurely swinging its tail.
"Oh! You see my signature is Golduck, yet you dare to send out a Rock Attribute Pokémon? Or do you think Steel Attribute resists Water Attribute, huh?"
Lokomoko snorted lightly, took out a Pokeball from his pocket, "Go! My partner!"
Bang!
"Quack~"
The Golduck landed with a demeanor as lazy as its signature look, yawned widely, and scratched its face with its webbed claws.
"I'm not one for pleasantries, don't blame me for making the first move, buddy! Golduck! Strong Mental Will!"
Lokomoko demonstrated an aggressiveness that resonated with the simulation.
"Quack!"
Golduck's eyes lit up, and powerful telekinesis transformed into an invisible wave in the air, sweeping towards Aggron.
Baimu's expression remained unchanged, "Metal Sound!"
"Roar—!!"
Aggron roared out loud, the two long horns on its head shone with dazzling silver light, and visible low-frequency silver sound waves clashed with the telekinesis transmitted by Golduck.
Buzz!
But oddly enough, the two did not just collide explosively; the telekinesis smoothly extended to Aggron's body, while the Metal Sound also spread across Golduck's surroundings.
Lokomoko had no time for joy, as Golduck had already covered its ears in pain.
"Quack—"
It let out a hoarse cry with its eyes tightly shut, the low-frequency sound waves making its head feel like it's splitting, unable to use its techniques properly.
First round disarm!
A commotion erupted all around.
Baimu gazed at the anxious Lokomoko for a moment, then spoke: "Now's the time! Don't give it a chance to release pressure! Charge forward and strike with thunder!"
"Roar!"
Aggron took heavy strides forward, its massive form advanced like a small mountain but not lacking speed, and with the short distance between them, it reached Golduck in just a few breaths.
Crackle—
A sphere of lightning formed between its horns emitted a dazzling light, then transformed into a thick bolt of thunder that blasted through Golduck's body!
Crash!
The thunderous sound was deafening!
The shop's glass couldn't withstand such ferocious impact and shattered abruptly, fortunately it was shatterproof glass so it didn't scatter everywhere.
The onlookers covered their ears, as the white haze before their eyes gradually disappeared, they stared in disbelief at the composed Aggron in the center.
The opponent was Lokomoko!
A former runner-up of the competition!
Yet, before this boy's Aggron, he stood powerless?
"Won?"
Ash Ketchum and others looked at the charred Golduck sitting helplessly on the ground, pulling a twisted expression, and couldn't help laughing together, "Baimu won!"
Dinner is sorted!
Lokomoko helped Golduck up, looked at the towering Aggron and Baimu behind it, lips quivering slightly, then said: "How did you know?"
"I am an admirer of your culinary skills, naturally I've watched your competition recordings."
Baimu replied with a smile.
Golduck has two characteristics in the simulation—
First, its spiritual power is extremely strong.
Second, the more it's attacked, the stronger its spiritual power becomes.
So as long as you take down Golduck in one go, there's no need to worry about it making Aggron "feel pain," and although its telekinesis can whip an Onix.
However, during the initial stage, it's easily interrupted by external brain stimuli, and Metal Sound happens to be a very effective suppressive-type technique.
Plus, the distance between the two Pokémon was really short...
The time for the telekinesis to envelop Aggron and for Metal Sound to attack Golduck would be estimated to have only a point-zero few seconds of deviation.
Such short timing you'll need Celebi and Dialga to perceive it.
"Hmm, hmm-hmm-hmm, hahahaha—"
Lokomoko hummed a few times, then burst out in hearty laughter, recalled Golduck and nodded, "Very good! Your strength is quite impressive! I declare you officially as my sous chef today! Everyone come in!"
He waved his large hand, and the waitstaff immediately invited everyone inside the restaurant.
"Buddy, don't say I didn't warn you. The kitchen is the most sacred place in this world, if you do anything to insult it, don't blame my temper for blowing up."
Lokomoko raised both arms, and immediately someone stepped behind him to put on the kitchen-only apron.
A self-confident yet domineering aura exuded from him, his brown shoulder-length hair billowing, resembling a male Pyroar.
"My sous chef, isn't just something you can do as you please!"
He pulled his gaze back from the stunned Baimu, clapped his hands forcefully and declared loudly: "Boys! Time to start working!"
"Yes! Head chef!"
The shout from numerous chefs in the semi-open kitchen stirred the hearts!