When Rex arrived at the storage room for Honey, he discovered two honey pools—one large and one small—side by side.
The larger pool had been there for a while and was already over half-filled with regular Honey. The smaller pool, clearly crafted from wax by the Combee under Vespiquen's command, was still less than half full and would take quite some time to fill completely.
The honey in the small pool had a richer golden hue and a more concentrated aroma—it was clearly a higher-grade variety.
"Mmm, so sweet," Rex murmured after dipping his finger into the honey and tasting it. The sweetness was deep and fragrant, and he could feel a surge of vitality coursing through him after just one taste.
This confirmed the honey in the smaller pool had much more potent effects compared to the regular Honey. Rex didn't know exactly how it was made, but it was certainly special.
It reminded him of the difference between regular honey and royal jelly from his previous life—similar in appearance but vastly different in value and effect.
"Vespiquen, may I take a little of this higher-quality Honey?" Rex asked politely.
He wasn't sure if Vespiquen had a specific purpose for the special honey, so he made sure to ask first.
To his relief, Vespiquen nodded and made a grand gesture as if saying, "Help yourself!"
Rex returned to his room, collected a few glass jars, and filled them with both regular and high-grade Honey—but not too much of either.
By the time he finished, it was nearly noon. Rex carried the honey back to Yuli and the others' cottage.
"Hey, Rex! You're back!" Yui greeted excitedly when she saw him enter.
Thanks to their long chat the night before, Rex had asked them to call him by name instead of "boss," which he thought sounded too distant.
Yuli and Karen were busy in the kitchen, and the rich aroma of lunch drifted from inside.
"What are you two doing?" Rex asked curiously, noticing Yui and Diancie standing by the berry blender.
"I'm teaching Diancie how to make Pokéblocks with the berry blender!" Yui said excitedly. "She's amazing! I just explained the process, and she picked it up instantly. She even made some basic-quality blocks just now!"
Rex smiled. "Diancie, you're incredible. Can you show me?"
Without hesitation, Diancie opened the blender lid using telekinesis. Several berries floated in and the lid closed again. Then, with refined control, Diancie operated the blender.
Rex watched as Diancie skillfully controlled the blender with psychic power, showing no sign of confusion or error.
Soon, the spinning slowed, and with a soft chime, several Pokéblocks dropped into the tray.
Rex picked one up and examined it. Sure enough, they had reached basic-quality—a remarkable feat, especially considering Diancie had just started learning that morning.
Even Yuli, known for her talent, couldn't compare to this level of mastery.
Originally, Rex was worried about Yuli handling Pokéblock production alone after Yui and Karen left for their journey. But seeing Diancie's potential put his concerns to rest.
He realized Diancie's mastery came from her incredibly strong mental power. She could sense the inside of the blender with psychic precision, allowing far more accurate control than someone relying only on experience.
With that kind of advantage, Rex believed Diancie would soon be producing intermediate—or even advanced—Pokéblocks.
"You're amazing, Diancie. From now on, I'll be counting on you for Swellow's Pokéblocks," Rex said as he patted her head.
"Dian~" Diancie beamed, clearly delighted by the praise. She felt genuinely proud that she could finally contribute to her Trainer.
"Hey Rex—ah, I mean, lunch is ready!" Yuli called out cheerfully as she came over.
"We were just admiring Diancie's work on the Pokéblocks. Make sure you keep guiding her—she'll be a big help to you," Rex replied.
"Yeah, I was a little worried at first," Yuli admitted with a laugh, "but now that she's helping, I'll be able to handle the rest more easily."
Rex turned to Yui. "By the way, have you and Karen finished preparing for your journey? If there's anything you need help with, just ask."
Yui, sipping her soup, nodded confidently. "No worries! We've packed everything we need—and if I do need anything, I won't hesitate to bug you!"
"Good to hear. Then let me wish you both a safe and exciting journey—cheers!" Rex raised his glass.
"Thanks, Rex!"
"Thanks for everything you've done for us!" Yui and Karen clinked glasses with him, smiling brightly.
"Hey, don't forget about me!" Yuli teased, holding up her glass with a mock pout.
"Hehe, how could we forget you, Yuli?" Yui giggled, hugging her playfully.
"Yeah, you'll be our rock back here. We'll share all our travel stories with you!" Karen added, grinning.
The three girls immediately started chattering away, leaving Rex and Diancie somewhat sidelined.
Rex just laughed and turned to Diancie. "Wanna take advantage of the distraction?"
Diancie giggled in response, and the two quietly began clearing out the delicious food on the table in full "big eater" mode.
(End of Chapter)