By the time the door to the Checkpoint opened toward the outside world, Ludwig already did most of the prep that needed his direct involvement. Now, the cutting boards have been wiped, knives rested where they should, and a soup inside two large pots already moving in slow circles.
He had woken up earlier than usual just for the soup as he had to be absent from the restaurant today. But his employees readily accept the responsibility to fill the space he left behind. Though of course, the soup would still be his to make. Else, they would start serving a chow that wouldn't have Checkpoint's standard.
Ludwig adjusted the flame beneath the pot and let the lid settle back into place.
Across the counter, Looker sat with his coat folded neatly over the back of the chair. He had arrived not long after he flicked the 'open' sign in his system. Now, the coffee glass he served to him half empty.
Beside him sat an older man who had spent the past several minutes studying the kitchen with the same quiet curiosity Ludwig remembered from the previous visits. Every time Ludwig used his time ability, he would ask questions. that, if it's in Ortus, it would feel like someone was trying to look for his weakness.
But Oak was different. From what little he knew from the canon and the real human that had visited this place three times now, he was simply a curious person. Albeit his curiosity leaned towards Pokemon more in the canon, now with him and this restaurant appearing, his curiosity was pointed also at them.
Oak turned his mug slightly between his hands while watching the soup pot.
"You always start cooking this early?"
Ludwig, who had just killed the fire rune beneath the pots and enveloped the pots with his mana, walked to the bar and chuckled.
"Not at all. I only start this early when I have to go out."
The older man nodded slowly, accepting the answer without asking for further explanation. He seemed to be content that his curiosity had been sated. At least for now.
At that moment, Looker shifted slightly on the stool beside him. The agent had been quiet for most of the morning, which meant he was letting someone else speak first.
"Professor Oak already knows about what we will do and what I expected from you guys," Looker said eventually. "You can ask him anything if you are not sure. At least when it comes to Pokemon."
Ludwig hummed before looking past their shoulders.
The dining room remained empty for the moment. Morning light had only just begun to settle across the tables, catching the edge of the wooden surfaces in long strips that slowly crept toward the center of the room.
Looker's words from yesterday lingered in the quiet between them.
I want you to train them.
That had been the part the agent emphasized.
He didn't want them to simply own Pokemon nor keep them around as companions. What he wanted was training them until their presence made sense in the situations where Ludwig and the others might appear.
When he first heard it yesterday, the suggestion had sounded obvious. Of course they would train them. But the more he thought about it, the more he realized Looker had not meant training in the casual sense most trainers used.
The detective had been talking about something closer to narrative consistency. If they appeared somewhere and solved a problem, people needed to believe the Pokémon beside them were the reason the situation had ended.
Which meant the Pokemon themselves had to be credible.
In Ortus, some people were blessed by a power to make a connection with creatures that could easily kill them. Tamers, riders, handlers, and beast masters. Each region had its own methods, but the logic beneath them had always been similar.
You capture or make a contract with it depending whether the mana blessed you with one or not.
Then, you fed it, you survived long enough for it to accept your presence, then you made it stronger through mana conditioning, controlled exposure to combat, and gradual reinforcement until the creature understood both your expectations and its own limits.
When stripped down to its bones, raising Pokemon didn't sound that different from what he knew from Ortus.
Technology replaced the cages and chains most tamers relied on in Ortus at the first few stages. They also had Poke Balls instead of iron restraints as well as healing centers instead of relying on potion for their tamed monsters.
But the underlying idea remained familiar. A creature that fought beside you and grew stronger through repetition and trust.
Ludwig leaned lightly against the counter as the thought settled. But the million dollar question was, what Pokemon should he get?
The thought lingered longer than Ludwig expected. He had been thinking about it since last night before he went to bed. From a practical standpoint, the decision should have been simple. They wouldn't get their starting pokemon from anyone like the starting trainers in Pokemon world. So, the answer would be whatever appeared first once they stepped into tall grass due to their power.
But doing that also wouldn't work because Looker needs them to have strong Pokemon. Even though Ludwig was sure through his method or through Rimuru's way about evolving them through naming, they could turn, say, Raticate, into a powerhouse that could rival a Gyarados, people of Pokemon world would still doubt it.
Which meant appearances mattered.
Looker had told them that Kanto and Johto were the only regions they could reach for now. Due to that, the possibilities narrowed immediately. Some names surfaced from memory without needing much effort.
Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle. The original starters.
Ludwig dismissed them almost immediately. Not because they were weak. In the hands of someone patient, each of them eventually became something formidable. But the three starters carried recognition that went beyond strength. If they appeared beside him, someone would start asking questions about where they had come from. After all, starters were rarely obtained casually.
His thoughts moved on.
The pre-evolution species of the Arcanine he saw the other day would have been practical. A fire type that doubled as a guard animal and eventually evolved into something strong enough to justify its presence in a serious fight. The problem was that Growlithe belonged more to the police forces of Kanto than to wandering trainers. Showing up with one might raise more questions than it answered.
Machop crossed his mind next.
Strong, simple, and reliable. A creature built for direct combat and honest labor. They were the kind of Pokemon that would not look out of place throwing punches during a battle at night. He could even make them learn the martial arts of Ortus to boost its power.
However…
Rimuru had told them this last night:
Some Pokemons from this region evolved through trading in the game. So we have to ask Professor Oak about how they evolved tomorrow. Machop was included in those Pokemon
And… One of the most appealing candidates for him was also included in that list.
Gengar. The final evolution of Gastly.
He loved that Pokemon. The reason, he was not really sure about it. But maybe it stemmed from the fact he had never got the pokemon before as it require a trade and he had no friend that plays on the console.
Moreover, he felt Gengar would be a perfect partner for him. He was dubbed as Trickster of Time on Ortus, so yeah, Gengar's personality would suit well with him even though his tendency of tricking people already diminished quite a lot after opening the restaurant.
Then, there's a fact that Gengar was connected to another dimension entirely. A place where it could store anything it eats if he remembered correctly. That's like the essence of his space ability. So they matched again.
Moreover, the guy was strong enough to make something he could do with his space ability believable. And last thing he heard it also had a mega evolution.
That's the number one pokemon in his list to capture. Though, it's if the evolution from Haunter to Gengar didn't involve trading it.
As Ludwig's mind arrived on those thoughts, he opened his mouth. Of course, his mind already assembling phrases full of half-truths and lies. "To be honest with you, Professor Oak and Agent Looker. I still don't know much about Pokemon. That's why I am a bit in the dark about what Pokemon I should chase."
Professor Oak listened without interrupting. By the time Ludwig finished speaking, the older man had already set the mug down and folded his hands loosely on the counter. The look on his face was not surprised. If anything, it suggested he had expected the question long before Ludwig asked it.
"That is normal." Oak said.
Looker remained quiet beside him, which meant the explanation had been planned beforehand.
"You are approaching this from the perspective of someone who knows they have to do something dangerous in the future with their Pokemon." The professor continued. "Most new trainers do not think that far ahead. They see a Pokemon, they attempt to catch it, and they decide what to do afterward."
Oak glanced briefly toward the quiet dining room before returning his attention to Ludwig.
"That approach works when someone grows up around Pokemon. They already understand their behavior and strengths through their everyday life. In your case, it would simply create unnecessary frustration."
Ludwig leaned lightly against the counter. Of course, that's not really what he felt, but he went along with it.
"So what should I look for instead?"
Oak did not answer immediately. He reached for the mug again, took a small sip, and then set it back down.
"I know you guys are fighters to a degree. In Pokemon Trainer terms, you already have your fighting style. Like, whether you are a close range fighter or prefer fighting from distance. So my suggestion is to choose Pokemon based on the compatibility with your style, not their power."
Oak let the suggestion settle for a moment before continuing, his tone still calm and instructional.
"Power is something most Pokemon will develop if they are trained properly. Compatibility, however, is harder to force. Some Pokemon prefer direct confrontation. Others rely more on positioning or tricks. Trainers who choose poorly spend most of their time correcting their partner instead of improving together."
Oak paused after saying that, as if giving Ludwig time to turn the thought around in his head. The professor did not look particularly invested in persuading him one way or another. It sounded more like the kind of advice he gave new trainers often enough that the phrasing had long since settled into habit.
But then, Oak opened his mouth again. "That being said, your situation is not the same as most first-time trainers."
Looker glanced sideways at him but did not interrupt. Oak continued calmly.
"New trainers usually need to worry about safety first. They had to worry about whether they can handle the Pokemon they capture or whether they can keep control if something goes wrong." Oak's eyes moved at Ludwig at that moment. "I do not believe that will be a problem for you."
Looker gave a small hum of agreement at his words.
"That part has never been my concern." Ludwig answered with a chuckle.
Oak smiled before he nodded. "Then, what you need to consider instead is cooperation."
Ludwig tilted his head slightly.
"Meaning?"
"A Pokemon that does not trust its trainer will fight poorly." Oak said. "Even if the trainer is stronger than it. Strength alone rarely produces good results in that relationship."
The professor lifted the mug again but did not drink immediately.
"You will be capable of controlling most Pokemon you encounter. There's no doubt about it. I mean, we have people that can't teleport alone achieving that feat in our world." He said matter-of-factly. "But controlling and working together are two very different things."
Looker rested the mug against the counter before adding more words.
"And the second one is what makes the result believable."
"Exactly." Oak nodded.
Ludwig leaned lightly against the counter again while the explanation settled. It didn't answer all the questions he had inside his complicated little mind. However, it still answered some.
Regarding compatibility, he had no doubt that Gengar would be perfect for him. It's a ghost-type, and ghost type Pokemon fought with tricks and debuff rather than raw power.
Just like him.
Moreover… Their personality should be the same. Or at least, their love for tricking people.
Still,
"So the advice is still compatibility."
"Yes." Oak replied. "But not because I'm worried about your safety. It's because Pokemon are more useful when they choose to fight beside you. That will make it easier to get them to the power level needed for Agent Looker's requirement for you guys."
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