Eichi clearly remembered the exact amount Professor Kant squeezed out. Although Professor Kant's operation looked incredibly easy, he found it quite challenging. Eichi tried hard to squeeze out the precise amount of powder.
However, he still squeezed out slightly less than what he remembered Professor Kant dispensing. Consequently, Eichi continued the operation, pouring the powder into the fusion Liquid. After a few seconds, when the liquid had completely changed color, he poured in the second type of powder, and then the third.
Every time Eichi squeezed the powder, he felt that he was being extremely careful and controlling it very well. Nevertheless, the amount of powder he squeezed out still showed a slight discrepancy from Professor Kant's.
Subsequently, when the final powder was poured into the indentation, Eichi operated the lid to cover it and began the oscillation. He then pressed the drying button and stopped to wait for ten minutes.
As a result, ten minutes passed. With a "ding," Professor Kant pressed a button, and the dried Pokéblock emerged from the chute. Opening the indentation, the Professor then took out the Pokéblock and observed it for a while. He maintained a very serious expression, with no change in his demeanor. After reviewing it, he handed the Pokéblock to Eichi. "Take a look yourself, and compare it with mine."
Eichi took the Pokéblock he had made and examined it carefully. The color was also deep blue, but it was slightly lighter than the one Professor Kant had made, and the smell was also fainter.
Professor Kant's could be smelled within a one-meter radius, whereas Eichi's required holding it close to his nose to detect the fragrance. Eichi then picked up Professor Kant's Pokéblock to compare the two. This confirmed his suspicion: there were indeed some differences.
Just then, Professor Kant asked, "Did you finish comparing them? What differences do you see?"
"The color is a little lighter, the smell is fainter," Eichi replied. "Furthermore, the surface has some texture, unlike yours, Professor, which is completely smooth."
Professor Kant nodded. "That's very good. To be able to notice these issues is excellent. This is only the simplest Pokéblock, yet the difference can be so great; other Pokéblocks will be even more complex. However, you've been so busy looking at the differences that you forgot one thing."
"What problem?" Eichi asked, confused.
Professor Kant suddenly raised his voice. "You have successfully made your first Pokéblock! Although there are still some differences compared to mine, you succeeded on your very first try. Do you know what this means?"
"What does it mean?" Eichi asked.
Seeing that Eichi was not overly excited, Professor Kant calmed down. "Do you know how long it takes most breeding students to make their first Pokéblock?"
"I don't know," Eichi admitted.
"They typically require a week to produce their first Pokéblock," Professor Kant explained. "Note that I said typically, which is the average time. Those who are truly slow take more than two weeks to make their first. Even the faster students need two or three days to make their first one. Furthermore, the quality is often not as good as yours. The fastest student in the history of the breeding specialty still took three or four days to succeed."
"What about you, Teacher?" Eichi asked.
Professor Kant replied, "In my time, the machines weren't as advanced as they are now. It took me a full day to make my first one."
"Then I'm pretty amazing, succeeding on the first attempt," Eichi said.
Professor Kant became a little agitated. "I was right about you! You have the aptitude to be a Breeder! Why be a Trainer? Come to the Breeding Department, and I will personally mentor you! I guarantee you will be a Senior Breeder by the time you graduate."
Seeing Professor Kant losing control a bit, Eichi said, "Professor Kant, please calm down first."
Professor Kant realized he had been a little undignified. "Ahem, yes, I got excited. However, Eichi, you really should consider transferring to the Breeding Department."
Eichi thought for three seconds. "Professor Kant, I genuinely enjoy breeding, but I can't give up being a Trainer. My goal is to become a Bug-type Pokémon Master." Eichi interrupted Professor Kant as he was about to speak again. "Professor, please listen to me first. Even though I can't transfer to the Breeding Department, it's essentially the same. Not transferring doesn't mean I can't study breeding. I will continue to study breeding on my own, and I can still come to you with questions I can't solve! I just can't devote all my time to breeding."
After listening to Eichi's words, Professor Kant pondered for a moment. "That's true. I was getting stuck on the wrong idea. Very well, you can come to me whenever you have questions. My office isn't far from your teaching building, after all."
"Thank you, Professor," Eichi said.
"It's nothing," Professor Kant replied. "I'm just relieved that you'll continue to study breeding."
Concluding that topic, Eichi asked, "Professor, you just mentioned the quality of the Pokéblocks. Could you explain that to me?"
"Ah, yes," Professor Kant said. "I apologize, I forgot to mention that earlier. The Pokéblocks we create are also divided into grades of quality, which you can tell from the name. The quality of a Pokéblock affects its efficacy.
For example, let's take the Pokéblock I just made. Its purpose is to make a Pokémon happier. If my Pokéblock can make a Pokémon ten-parts happy, then your Pokéblock might only make it five or even four-parts happy. That is the difference in quality.
In the breeding world, we divide Pokéblock quality into four grades: Defective, Ordinary, Good, and Perfect. Of course, 'Perfect' is only a descriptive term; there's no truly absolute Perfect Pokéblock. Your Pokéblock is at the Ordinary level, while mine is at the Perfect level.
Let me properly explain how we classify Pokéblock quality. We generally judge the quality based on three aspects: color, aroma, and surface smoothness. Of course, this is only for judging standard Pokéblocks. For customized Pokéblocks, we require the aid of instruments. For the custom Pokéblocks you ordered from me, my ability will result in a Good quality, and at best, if things go exceptionally well, a few of them will reach Perfect quality."
After listening to Professor Kant's explanation, Eichi now had a general understanding. Subsequently, Eichi tried his hand at making Pokéblocks three more times, and each attempt was better than the last. His final attempt even reached good quality, which greatly astonished Professor Kant regarding his talent.
After the third attempt, Professor Kant looked at the time. "It's getting late. I have some matters to attend to, so I will teach you how to make Pokémon food next time. By the way, here is a key for you. From now on, you can go to the classrooms on the second floor to practice or make Pokéblocks yourself."