[Coconut Milk Soup (A): Carefully simmered from sunshine coconuts over a slow flame, with additional ingredients such as dried scallops and shrimp added, resulting in subtle changes to the dish's overall effect.
Dish Effect: Oh, the sea!
Additional Effect for humans only: Gain 1 extra point of affinity with Water type Pokémon.]
In the milky white broth floated an assortment of seafood. The mingling freshness and sweetness made Manaphy swallow unconsciously.
In front of the children, it still wanted to maintain the image of a dignified old father.
Even if there might not be much of that image left.
But after seeing the food… Forget it...
No need to maintain it anymore.
Without waiting for Silas to call out, Manaphy scooped itself a bowl first.
It took a large gulp eagerly. For this single mouthful, it had waited for so, so long.
The sweetness of the shrimp, the savory richness of the scallops, and the mellow sweetness of the coconut milk intertwined together. After drinking more than half the pot, Manaphy patted its belly in satisfaction.
Then it sprawled out on its back with limbs splayed, wearing a blissful expression.
As for the dignified old father image?
It had vanished completely along with the final mouthful of coconut soup.
Ignoring this unreliable Prince of the Sea, Silas began handling the various ingredients that Hisuian Samurott and the others had brought back from the ocean.
"Oh? Two Basculin?"
These could be used as food too?
Silas recalled that the League Pokédex had mentioned something about them.
"Forget it."
He shook his head and refused to eat Pokémon.
Eating byproducts that Pokémon discarded was fine, since they were unwanted and renewable.
But eating an entire Pokémon was something he simply could not bring himself to do.
"Samurott, take these back with you. The other ingredients are more than enough to keep me busy."
Hisuian Samurott said nothing and swallowed the two red striped Basculin in one bite.
Basculin, among Water type Pokémon, were the type that could sit at the same table as Carvanha.
They were known as the little hooligans of the lake.
Once either the red striped or blue striped variety appeared in a lake, it would not be long before every other Pokémon in that lake, except for Clauncher and Crawdaunt, would disappear.
They used their powerful jaws to devour everything and could not coexist with other Pokémon.
Because of this, they were equally disliked and detested by other Pokémon. Even in Manaphy's Temple of the Sea, where there were Wishiwashi, Gyarados, and Carvanha, there were no red or blue striped Basculin.
The white striped Basculin, despite being the same species, had a completely opposite temperament.
They were exceptionally gentle. Even when attacked, they would only retaliate with moves like Take Down and Wave Crash, moves that also inflicted recoil damage upon themselves.
More often than not, they would collapse before defeating their opponent.
Truly a case of harming the enemy by one thousand while losing one thousand themselves.
Refuse to eat Pokémon. Start with you and me. Remember that, kids!
While Morpeko and the Phione had not yet returned, Silas hurried to process the ingredients in front of him.
He placed the massive claws of several Clawitzer onto the portable induction stove to steam them. In one go, he steamed more than a dozen. The small stove was completely filled.
After all, he would soon be treating over a dozen Phione to a meal. He could not possibly make too little.
Especially with Manaphy watching eagerly nearby. That one's appetite was certainly not small.
Besides the steamed claws, Silas prepared another dish.
He separated abalone meat from its shell, sliced open the backs of the shrimp to remove the veins, scored the abalone with cross cuts. One by one, all the ingredients were properly prepared.
Silas planned to make an enormous pot of seafood soup, throwing in all kinds of ingredients.
He also added the vegetables he had purchased earlier. A proper balance of meat and vegetables was essential.
Everything was poured together into a clay pot and simmered first into a rich seafood stock.
Before long, the coastline of the entire island was enveloped in a thick, savory aroma.
Noivern sniffed the air and edged closer step by step.
The gluttonous Manaphy simply lay nearby, waiting silently.
Even Morpeko, Kangaskhan, and the Phione who were playing deeper in the isolated island caught the scent. Their stomachs began to growl in unison.
"Morpeko!"
(So hungry! Let's go back and ask Silas for food!)
As it spoke, Morpeko reached into its little pouch and pulled out berry seeds, crunching on them noisily.
"Phione!"
(Okay, okay! Let's bring all the fruit back!)
One little Phione suggested it, and the others responded together. They wrapped the fruit they had gathered nearby in an enormous banana leaf.
Where did such a huge leaf come from?
They had picked it up by randomly from the ground.
Carrying the fruit, the Phione headed back. But when they reached a grassy field, they stopped all at once, drawn by two Pokémon battling ahead.
"Morpeko!"
(It has so many big leaves on its body. So they're actually its wing!)
"Phion!"
(We took its things. Should we help it?)
The little Phione asked Morpeko.
After swallowing its snack, Morpeko pondered seriously.
"Morpeko!"
(I'll go get Silas!)
With that, its round body curled into a somewhat imperfect ball.
Bright white light enveloped it as Morpeko used Quick Attack to rush back.
Meanwhile, the seafood soup had finished cooking and was now simmering over low heat in its final stage.
"They're not back yet? Noivern, go and…"
Before Silas could finish speaking, a streak of white light shot urgently toward the beach camp, screeching to a halt.
"Morpeko? Why are you the only one back? Where are the Phione?"
"Morpe!"
Morpeko gestured with its little paws, explaining that they had encountered two Pokémon fighting and wanted Silas to help mediate.
"Alright then. I'll go take a look with you."
After wiping his hands clean, Silas sprinkled chopped scallions over the soup and asked Manaphy to watch over it.
He reminded it that lifting the lid now would cause most of the aroma to dissipate.
One human and one Pokémon entered the deserted island and soon arrived at a small meadow in its center.
Silas caught the little Phione that leaped toward him, patted Kangaskhan in passing, and then looked toward the middle of the meadow.
He quickly understood.
The reason the two Grass type Pokémon were fighting.
They were competing for mating rights.
The object of their affection was a gentle looking Meganium standing between them. From her petals, she released a special floral fragrance meant to calm conflict.
The method that had always worked before was failing today.
Neither Pokémon showed any intention of backing down.
In terms of a male's pride, the one who retreated this time would have no way to confess love to the one he cherished.
The two Pokémon revealed their most powerful weapons. No matter how anxiously Meganium waved her petals or how much stronger the floral fragrance she released became, neither was moved.
At a certain moment, the Tropius on the right suddenly flapped its large leaf like wings, stirring up a fierce gust of wind.
Meganium stumbled from the blast and fell to the ground, letting out a soft, pained cry.
"Grovyle!"
The Grass type Pokémon on the left flew into a rage upon hearing it and charged toward Tropius, swinging the blade like leaves on its arms.
Tropius, who had been flustered by accidentally hurting Meganium, now had no choice but to fight back.
Its broad leaf wings transformed into sharp blades.
In an instant, the two Pokémon were locked in combat.
They still retained some restraint, deliberately keeping their distance from Meganium as they fought.
Silas had not expected the fight to erupt so suddenly, so he did not immediately intervene.
When children fight, let them scuffle for a bit first.
He decided to check Meganium's injury before stepping in.
(End of Chapter)