"Keke—"
It's not good—
Gengar poked at the noodles in its bowl with its chopsticks, its small face looking a bit distressed.
Lucas watched Gengar, who was doing its best to eat the noodles despite the taste, adhering to the principle of not wasting food. He laughed and reached out to pinch the corners of its mouth.
He pushed his fried rice toward it. "Try mine; the flavor is okay. Just bear with it for now, and I'll make you something delicious when we get home."
Gengar took the spoon, had a bite of the fried rice, and chewed. The taste was acceptable.
So, it lowered its head and began happily eating the fried rice.
Lucas picked up his chopsticks and tasted the noodles in front of Gengar. The heat control was terrible; no wonder Gengar couldn't eat it. Even he found it unpalatable.
"Goth?"
Do you need me to go out and cook?
Lucas turned his head and saw Gothitelle at another table looking at him. He shook his head.
"No need. Just make do for now. I'll make you something delicious when we get back to the Breeding House."
Lucas said.
After all, they were in the city center of Snowpoint City. There was no place for Gothitelle to set up a temporary stove, and Gengar hadn't prepared the ingredients needed; they'd have to go to a supermarket.
Most importantly, Gothitelle was the one who had worked the hardest today, so Lucas wanted it to get some rest.
"I think it's okay, though not as good as the food the Manager makes himself."
Ash stuffed his face.
"And besides, we don't have to pay for it."
Lucas: "Hmm?"
Sitting nearby, Candice smiled and said, "To thank everyone for helping Snowpoint City through this crisis, this meal is on me."
"Great! Waiter, three more bowls of noodles!"
"Pika pika."
Ash raised his hand without even looking up.
Candice: —...
Looking at the happily eating Ash, the thing Lucas liked most about him was that no matter whose food he ate, he always gave plenty of positive feedback.
"You don't think it's good just because it's free, do you?"
Lucas asked.
Ash looked up and scratched his head. "You caught me."
Candice: —...
"Speaking of which, I just remembered. Ash, I don't think I've ever charged you for meals at the Breeding House, have I?"
"Why don't we settle the bill today?"
With a mischievous expression, Lucas looked at Ash. "Let's say a thousand per meal. Roughly speaking, you should owe me three hundred thousand."
Ash: ?!
"That much?!"
Lucas scoffed. "Well, what did you expect? Aside from Gengar and Dash, you eat the most at the Breeding House."
"And that's a conservative estimate."
Ash checked his balance. "But I don't have that much money right now—"
"Then you can work at the Breeding House."
Aaron suggested.
"Don't."
Lucas immediately reached out to refuse. "If he works there, not only will he break my things, but just what he eats would make his debt grow. Even Gengar's massive appetite can barely keep up with yours."
The Breeding House originally had two gluttons: Gengar and Dash. Gengar's food seemed to disappear into a void, while Dash—who gave Lucas even more of a headache—ate six or seven meals a day. At least Dash's physique improved; Gengar's eating was like throwing meat buns at a dog—a total loss.
If Ash were added to the mix along with little Shauna, he wouldn't be able to afford it. Not at all.
"Hehe."
Ash chuckled.
"I wasn't praising you."
Lucas rolled his eyes.
Everyone burst into laughter at the sight.
"Just get a good result at the Lily of the Valley Conference, and we'll call it even."
"Don't worry, I'll definitely win the championship at this Lily of the Valley Conference!"
Ash promised confidently.
Ninetales nudged Lucas with its head. Lucas looked at it in confusion. Ninetales used its head to push his chair out slightly and then rested its head on his lap.
Lucas reached out to stroke its head. "What's wrong?"
He noticed that Ninetales hadn't touched much of its food either.
"You can't eat it either?"
Lucas asked gently.
Ninetales's tail gently patted his back.
Lucas glanced at the other table. Aside from Dash, who had finished its own food and was now helping itself to the others', Lilligant and the rest had barely eaten anything.
"Does everyone think it's bad?"
Lilligant nodded to Lucas, the flower on its head looking a bit wilted.
"Lilli."
It's not good.
Flint watched Ninetales and Lilligant acting spoiled with Lucas.
"Lucas really has a great relationship with his Pokémon."
Flint whispered into Aaron's ear.
Aaron felt his ear itch and moved his head away slightly, then nodded.
"As expected of a Breeder recognized by Lucian."
Lucas realized this couldn't go on. He patted Ninetales's head, and after it moved, he stood up. "I'll go ask if I can borrow the kitchen. I'll make something for you all to eat for now."
Ash: Σ(っ°Д°;)っ
"I'm full—"
"It's not for you."
Lucas called a waiter and asked to be taken to the kitchen. After speaking with the head chef and getting permission, Lucas took over the stove.
After looking around, Lucas decided to make egg fried rice.
Lucas brought out the freshly made egg fried rice and placed it before Ninetales and the others.
Smelling the familiar aroma, Ninetales and the rest lowered their heads and began to eat.
Ash stared at the fragrant egg fried rice.
"Darn, I want some too—"
He looked at his belly, which was already bulging.
Candice looked at the egg fried rice placed in front of her. She was about to refuse, but smelling the aroma, she swallowed and took a tentative bite.
"Mmm—"
It's so delicious—
Candice didn't lift her head again.
"Eat a bit for now. I'll make you something better when we get back to the Breeding House."
Lucas pinched the corners of Gengar's mouth as he spoke.
Gengar nodded obediently and focused on its meal.
Lucas sat in his chair, watching everyone present bury their heads in their food, quietly waiting for them to finish.
While eating, Ninetales placed its tail on Lucas's lap, and he naturally began to stroke it.
While Lucas waited, lines of text popped up.
[Regigigas felt unwell due to its long slumber, so it got up to move around. Before starting, it stacked several turns of Slow Start. During its activity, your arrival provided the conditions for it to move to its heart's content. Therefore, before it returns to sleep, it thanks you and has sent a gift.]
["Dash" Performs Miracles: To thank you for letting it move freely, Regigigas has sent a gift. It thinks highly of one of your Pokémon and sees a shadow of its former self in it. Therefore, it intends to bestow its most proficient move upon that Pokémon.]
[Pokémon: Dash (Machamp)]
[Crush Grip! —Regigigas]
[The Promise: Before Regigigas fell asleep, you made a promise. You said that the next time it wanted to move, you would take it elsewhere to find powerful Pokémon to exercise with. It looks forward to it; whenever you call, it will respond.]
[Remember to prepare a way to get there —Regigigas]
[Blessing of Regigigas: To thank you, Regigigas—the legendary Pokémon said to have towed the continents—has bestowed a blessing upon the Breeding House: Normal-type and Fighting-type Pokémon in the Breeding House will be slightly stronger and more powerful than those elsewhere.]
Lucas's attention was completely captured by the first gift.
Regigigas's most proficient move? Dash?
Crush Grip?!
Lucas was astounded.
After a Darkrai with Dark Void and Dark Pulse, now there's a Machamp with Crush Grip?!
There's really no explaining this to anyone.
I mean—honestly, my Pokémon are really quite normal.
Lucas pulled his thoughts back with satisfaction. Seeing that everyone and their Pokémon had finished eating, he stood up. "It's getting late, and everything is settled, so I'll be heading off now."
Flint and Aaron also stood up. Flint said, "Aaron and I are also ready to head out."
Candice saw them to the door. Sitting on Latias's back, Lucas looked at Gary. "Want to come along?"
Gary shook his head. "I plan to train with Gym Leader Candice for a while."
"Alright."
Lucas looked at Ash and Dawn again. "Good luck."
Ash chuckled, and Dawn nodded firmly.
"Well then, goodbye everyone. Call me if you need anything."
With that, Latias flew up into the high sky.
***************************
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