The reward the system just gave was most cost-effective when used on a Pokémon's lowest individual value. Ange had already received this once before.
He looked through the data of his disciples and his Pokémon one by one. Komala and Metagross aside, as he couldn't see their individual values, Diancie's values were already entirely maximized.
That left Munchlax, Drizzile, Haunter, and Pawmi.
Among these four, except for Munchlax, the other three all had individual values above 20. Using the reward on them would be a complete waste.
Only Munchlax had a particularly low Special Defense value of 10. Therefore, applying the reward there was the most logical choice.
Without further thought, Ange opened Munchlax's panel and applied the reward to its Special Defense.
Munchlax's data was now as follows:
Munchlax (Eviolite)
Type: Normal
Ability: Thick Fat
Gender: Male
Level: 46
Moves: Tackle, Lick, Stockpile, Recycle, Covet, Bite, Stockpile, Swallow, Body Slam, Fling, Amnesia, Take Down, Charm, Seed Bomb, Brick Break, Counter, Ice Punch, Thunder Punch, Fire Punch
Individual Values
HP: 31
Attack: 29
Defense: 20
Special Attack: 31
Special Defense: 31
Speed: 31
Looking at Munchlax's current stats, Ange was extremely satisfied. A perfect individual value Pokémon was right before his eyes!
In a joyful mood, Ange stored a jar of Bean Paste into his system backpack and left the warehouse humming a little tune.
On his way back, he encountered Minccino and Heliolisk cleaning up.
Yes, it was Heliolisk. A month ago, after obtaining a Sun Stone, Ange had discussed evolution with Helioptile. It was very eager to evolve, so Ange gave it the stone.
With the power of the Sun Stone, it successfully evolved into Heliolisk.
Ange greeted the two Pokémon. "Good afternoon, Minccino, Heliolisk."
Min min~
Heli heli~
The two Pokémon greeted him back at the same time.
After Ange left, Heliolisk asked Minccino, Heli heli~ Ange seems to be in a very good mood. Did something good happen today?
Min min~
Minccino shook its head.
Well, it's a good thing Ange is in a good mood! Both Pokémon thought simultaneously.
Subsequently, the two Pokémon imitated Ange, singing while they cleaned. Cheerful voices soon echoed throughout the first floor of the Secret Fortress.
By the time Ange returned home, the lunch for Munchlax and the others was almost ready. Waves of fragrance wafted from the kitchen.
Ange walked into the kitchen, took out the large jar of Bean Paste, and fetched several small jars to portion it out.
Once finished, he stored some in his system backpack and put the rest in the kitchen refrigerator. Finally, he placed one jar on the counter and spoke to Munchlax, who was busy cooking.
"Munchlax, use this Bean Paste to make your favorite Braised Fish. We'll have that for lunch."
Munch munch~ I love Braised Fish!
Munchlax's eyes lit up with excitement upon hearing this.
Haunt haunt~
Hearing the plan, Haunter immediately fetched a prepared Grass Carp from the fridge and flew over.
This Grass Carp was a wild fish caught earlier by Poliwhirl in Nebel Lake.
After handing the fish to Munchlax, Haunter took over the dish Munchlax was currently stir-frying, allowing Munchlax to focus on the Braised Fish.
Munch munch~
Munchlax squinted its eyes and patted its junior sister, expressing its thanks. Then, it brought the fish to the cutting board and deftly made several slashes on both sides of the fish to help the flavors penetrate during braising.
Setting the fish aside, it gathered the necessary seasonings: ginger, garlic, green onions, cooking wine, rock salt, white sugar, oyster sauce, starch, and more.
Next, it marinated the fish with the wine and rock salt.
Once the fish was marinated, Munchlax sliced the ginger, onions, and garlic. It poured oil into the wok to heat it up and then placed the fish inside to sear over low heat.
It gently flipped the fish during the process, ensuring both sides were seared to a golden brown.
The next step involved adding the sliced aromatics, followed by the wine, salt, sugar, oyster sauce, and the Bean Paste Ange had just given it.
A sizzling sound accompanied by a thick fragrance spread through the kitchen.
Finally, it added water, covered the pot, and let it simmer over low heat so the fish meat could fully absorb the sauce.
Gurgle gurgle~
The fish soup bubbled in the pot. As the steam carried the rich aroma outward, Munchlax couldn't stop sniffing the air.
Why does today's Braised Fish smell so much better than usual?
Ange stood quietly at the kitchen door, watching Munchlax skillfully prepare the pot of fish with a smile. A sense of pride welled up within him.
This is the disciple I trained!
At this time, Drizzile and Haunter also looked over, drawn by the scent.
Driz driz~ Today's Braised Fish seems a bit different.
Drizzile couldn't help but comment.
Haunt haunt~
Haunter nodded repeatedly in agreement.
Ange laughed and pointed to the jar of Bean Paste on the counter. "The difference in the Braised Fish is all because of this jar of Bean Paste."
The three disciples all looked at the Bean Paste in surprise.
Ange continued, "Once you eat it, you'll understand its benefits."
Hearing Ange say this, the three Pokémon showed looks of great anticipation.
Then, Pawmi appeared at the kitchen door, hugging Ange's leg while peeking inside.
Paw paw~ What are we eating? It smells so good!
Diancie arrived as well with two Spinarak in its pocket, holding a half-finished pillowcase. "Today's lunch smells exceptionally fragrant! Am I in for a treat?"
The two little Spinarak poked their heads out of the bag and waved their small yellow claws in agreement.
"You are indeed in for a treat today!" Ange said with a laugh.
Soon, the sauce was fully absorbed by the fish. Munchlax deftly plated it and poured the thickened glaze over the dish. The aroma became even more intense.
Pawmi stared fixedly at the plate in Munchlax's hands, swallowing its saliva repeatedly.
Once the Braised Fish was done, lunch was basically ready. Ange and Diancie helped bring the dishes to the table. Then, the family of eight (plus Diancie's two Spinarak) sat around a single table and began to eat.
Sniff sniff~
Pawmi leaned its head forward and took a deep sniff. It then reached out its chopsticks impatiently, but Ange slapped them away.
He said with a stern face, "Pawmi, how many times have I told you? When we eat together, you must mind your table manners."
Ange didn't have many rules for the other Pokémon's eating habits, but he always reminded Pawmi because it was far too hasty and often tried to steal food.
Pawmi gripped its chopsticks, pouting with an aggrieved expression.
Paw~ I know!
Ange withdrew his gaze and said with a smile, "Munchlax, Drizzile, and Haunter made lunch today. Thank you for your hard work."
"Thank you!" Diancie said.
Meta~ Thank you!
Diancie and Metagross spoke simultaneously to the three Pokémon.
Munch~ Munchlax scratched its head sheepishly.
Driz driz~ You're welcome, I'm the best!
Drizzile winked at everyone and gave itself a thumbs up.
Haunt haunt~ Haunter looked shy, but its eyes glowed with joy. Every time it ate with everyone like this, it felt deeply that it was a member of this family.
"Then, let's eat!"
As soon as Ange's voice fell, everyone reached for their chopsticks.
Magically, everyone's (and every Pokémon's) chopsticks reached for the plate of Braised Fish at the exact same time.
They looked at each other and laughed in unison.
Ange said, "It seems we are all on the same wavelength."
Pawmi finally got to eat the Braised Fish as it wished. The moment the fish entered its mouth, the delicate, tender texture merged with the rich, savory sauce, creating a flavor like a symphony playing in its mouth.
Forgive this little foodie Pawmi; it simply couldn't find the words to describe such deliciousness.
It was too good!
Furthermore, after the fish entered its stomach, it could feel a strange power slowly wandering through its body. The feeling was like... having Ange massage its sore body after a morning run.
So comfortable!
The other Pokémon also wore expressions of enjoyment similar to Pawmi's, including Ange.
"Is it good?" Ange asked with a smile.
The Pokémon all nodded.
Ange said, "It should be. It was worth waiting over a month to make this Bean Paste."
Eventually, not a single bit of that Braised Fish remained. Munchlax even used the leftover sauce to mix with its rice.
After lunch, Diancie sat at the doorstep soaking up the sun while continuing to weave the pillowcase. The two Spinarak lay quietly beside it.
Metagross went back to its room to prepare lessons for the students. Even so, it could still multitask, controlling Robert 2 to do housework—washing dishes, wiping tables, sweeping floors... it could do everything.
With Robert 2 around, Diancie had a much easier time.
Komala left as soon as it finished eating, and no one knew where it went.
The playful Pawmi ran out onto the grassland to frolic.
Meanwhile, Ange took his three disciples—Munchlax, Drizzile, and Haunter—to the lakeside. Munchlax and Drizzile each carried a bamboo basket on their backs.
They were there to pick Waterside Herbs to make fish feed.
After so much time, the seeds Diancie and Drizzile had planted earlier had grown into lush, green patches by the lake. It looked very pleasing.
Today was their first time harvesting.
Munchlax and Drizzile put their baskets on the ground and immediately began picking.
Ange reminded them, "Just pick the tender leaves. Leave the old ones alone." As he spoke, he also bent down to harvest.
The stems of the Waterside Herbs grew in the water, covered with white roots that absorbed nutrients from the lake.
The tips of the plants were very tender; this was the part Ange and the others were targeting.
Munch~
Driz driz~
Munchlax and Drizzile responded to Ange as they worked.
Haunter flew over the lake, its eyes glowing with a ghostly blue light. In an instant, a whole patch of herb tips was harvested by it. Its efficiency was incredibly high.
Seeing this, Ange praised it, "Haunter, amazing!"
Driz driz~ Junior sister, so cool!
Drizzile also looked up and gave Haunter a thumbs up.
Haunt haunt~
Haunter smiled shyly, and its movements became even faster.
Woop woop~
As the four of them were harvesting, two little heads suddenly popped out from the herb bushes. They rolled around in the grass while greeting Ange and the others.
"Oh, it's Wooper!" Ange responded with a smile. "Thank you for looking after the herbs!"
Waterside Herbs required high-quality water to grow. Although the water quality of Nebel Lake was already excellent, Ange had asked the Wooper to look after them just in case.
Sure enough, after being cared for by the Wooper, the herbs grew more and more vigorously.
Wooper and their evolution, Quagsire, had the ability to purify water. The water they inhabited would become very clear, sometimes even reaching drinkable levels.
Woop~
Woop~
The two Wooper lay on the herbs, their tails splashing the water rapidly. Then, each holding a tender tip in its mouth, they ran over to Ange and placed them in his palm.
"Do you want to help pick too?" Ange asked with a smile.
Woop~
Woop~
The two Wooper nodded with smiles and then ran off to a spot slightly further from the shore to continue harvesting. They were small and light, allowing them to step freely on the herbs to reach further areas.
As time passed, the herbs near the shore were finished. Drizzile jumped into the water to swim further out to pick, and the two Wooper followed closely.
Haunter could fly, so it could pick wherever it wanted without restriction. Only Ange and Munchlax were left standing on the shore, watching helplessly.
Seeing Drizzile and the Wooper working so hard, Munchlax prepared to jump into the water, but Ange quickly held it back.
"Don't!"
Munch?
Munchlax looked puzzled.
Ange laughed, "Let them pick. We can just wait. There isn't much left anyway. If you jump in, you'll get soaked, and drying off isn't easy."
Munch~
Munchlax chuckled and nodded in agreement.
The two of them didn't need to pick anymore, so they stayed on the shore organizing the herbs Haunter and the others brought back into the baskets.
As evening approached, Ange saw they had enough and shouted toward the distance:
"Alright, Haunter, Wooper, Drizzile, let's go home!"
Haunt~
Woop~
Woop~
Driz driz~
The four Pokémon responded. Haunter flashed back to the shore in the blink of an eye. Drizzile dove into the water and swam quickly to the bank, while the two Wooper ran back stepping lightly over the herbs.
Ange and Munchlax each shouldered a basket, and then they headed home with the Pokémon under the setting sun.
The Pokémon who had been busy all day also began to finish their work.
Vivillon flew out from the orchard, heading home against the sunset. Below them, Chesnaught walked with Quilladin, Victreebel, and Weepinbell, chatting and laughing. It was unclear what funny story was told, but the Weepinbell waved their vines and laughed loudly.
At the fishery, Politoed led Poliwag, Poliwhirl, Poliwrath, Marill, and Azurill, jumping into the water one by one. They entered the water intake pipe of the fifth floor of the Secret Fortress.
Sliding down with the current, they screamed and splashed into the pool on the fifth floor. Then, the happy conversations of the Poliwag could be heard as they climbed onto the shore, gently shaking the water droplets from their bodies.
By the lake, Croconaw drove several white fatties—who had grown enough to be called big fat pigs—out of the water. It barked behind them to herd them back to the pigpen.
The pigs, used to being wild, weren't very obedient. If Croconaw wanted them to go east, they insisted on going west. An angry Croconaw opened its mouth and shot a water column next to the pigs, hitting a hole into the ground. This finally made the pigs behave, and they were dutifully sent into the pen.
Deerling and Bunnelby were in the front and back, with the flock of chickens they raised in the middle.
Unlike the fluffy chicks they were when first raised, the chickens were now fully feathered and had learned to flap their wings and jump around. At the slightest noise, they would run everywhere.
In the past, these chickens had indeed caused a lot of trouble for Deerling and Bunnelby. But after dealing with them for a long time, Deerling had its own method.
See, a few more chickens were getting restless, their eyes darting around as if planning some mischief.
Suddenly, the flower on Deerling's head emitted a burst of fragrance. After smelling the scent, the chickens acted as if they were drunk, staggering dizzily behind Deerling, becoming incredibly obedient.
This move was Aromatherapy, which Deerling had only recently learned.
One little hen at the back was so entranced by the fragrance that it forgot to walk. Bunnelby stepped forward and gave it a pat, snapping it out of its daze so it could follow the group.
Attracted by the Aromatherapy, the chickens successfully entered the coop.
Just as the chickens returned, Pachirisu and Buneary followed behind.
Pachirisu stood atop a sheep's head, chest out and its big tail wagging, looking like a general returning in victory. The sheep was incredibly well-behaved in front of it.
It had been shocked too many times.
Pachi~
It waved its hand forward, and with a command, several sheep obediently entered the pen.
After the sheep were inside, Pachirisu leaped from the sheep's head onto the fence, posing coolly and looking full of spirit.
Bunne~
Bunnelby immediately applauded warmly.
Deer~
Deerling also hopped and cheered for it.
Pachirisu became even more smug, puffing out its chest and walking back and forth on the fence, showing off its style.
Unfortunately, it suddenly stepped into thin air and fell from the fence, landing face-first on the ground.
Bunnelby's applause stopped abruptly.
Deerling's cheering also ceased.
Bunnelby and Deerling stared at Pachirisu. Pachirisu, with a mouth full of mud, looked up at them. The three Pokémon all wore expressions of embarrassment.
Coincidentally, Buneary returned riding on a cow's back and looked at the three Pokémon with confusion.
Bunne bunne~ What are you doing?
Pachirisu scrambled up from the ground and sped away.
Pachi~ Nothing!!!
Its voice echoed from afar.
Buneary didn't ask further and drove the two cows, which had grown quite a bit, into the shed.
It had finally learned Electric-type moves from Pachirisu, and now the two cows were incredibly obedient in its presence.