"Alright then, I'll take five," Ange said.
The staff member took out five eggs, packed them carefully in a box, and handed them to Ange. The box featured internal shock absorption to prevent the eggs from breaking.
"Thank you," Ange said as he took the box, carrying it happily in his hand.
Pawmi jumped down from Ange and began circling the box.
Paw paw~ Is this also something delicious?
"Of course, it's very tasty. It's so good you might just swallow your own tongue!" Ange replied.
Paw~
Upon hearing this, Pawmi immediately fell into a fantasy, saliva unconsciously trickling down its chin.
Ange pushed the cart toward the exit, "It's time for us to go!"
Seeing this, Pawmi quickly wiped its mouth and followed.
When they reached the checkout, the cashier looked at Ange with a very strange expression. Could this guy be some kind of reseller? Who in their right mind stocks up on this much stuff at once?
After paying, Ange left with his items looking somewhat embarrassed. The cashier's gaze had been far too pointed, almost as if they were asking him outright if he was a middleman.
Fortunately, his physical constitution was now incredible, otherwise, it wouldn't have been easy to carry so many things out of the supermarket.
Finding a corner where no one was looking, he stored everything into his backpack. Ange then picked up Pawmi and headed to the airport to board the aircraft returning to the Kalos region.
Aircraft in the Pokémon world did not allow large Pokémon to board, but small Pokémon like Pawmi were fine and even flew for free.
However, some slightly larger bipedal Pokémon, such as Gardevoir, Hatterene, or Machamp, required an extra ticket if they wanted to board.
Most people preferred to buy an extra ticket rather than return their Pokémon to a Poké Ball. It wasn't because the balls were uncomfortable, but because they enjoyed the feeling of being with their Pokémon at all times.
Carrying Pawmi, Ange found his seat and sat down. Feeling bored, he pulled out his phone and started scrolling through the news.
In the Pokémon world, all aircraft provided in-flight wireless services, so one could directly connect to the internet and play on their phone while flying.
Pawmi, seeing Ange focused intently on his phone, reached out and poked his arm a couple of times.
"Do you want to play too?" Ange asked.
Paw paw~
Pawmi nodded.
"Here you go then." Ange didn't actually have much of a desire to scroll, so he simply handed the phone over to Pawmi.
Paw paw~
Pawmi happily accepted the phone. Although it didn't know what was so fun about it, Ange had been playing with it so intently that it wanted to try as well.
"Come, I'll teach you."
As Pawmi sat in Ange's lap, he placed the phone in front of it and began teaching it how to operate the device.
With the level of technology in the Pokémon world today, phone functions were very convenient, allowing even Pokémon to operate them with ease.
Before long, Pawmi was playing with it all by itself, thoroughly engrossed.
Seeing Pawmi having fun, Ange withdrew his gaze and opened his System. He still had the rewards from two missions to collect!
Looking at the two tasks on the mission list, Ange first claimed the reward for the first mission.
[Congratulations, Master, for completing the Wave-Motion Training Mission: Contact 1,000 Pokémon and sense the Aura within them (1059/1000). Rewards obtained: Intelligence +1, Constitution +1, "Aura Culinary Training Manual".]
The first two rewards were standard, but the third one was a wonderful surprise! He had been worrying that even though he had awakened his Aura, he didn't know how to use it. He hadn't expected the System to be so well-prepared.
Using his spatial backpack as cover, Ange pulled out the Aura Culinary Training Manual. The moment it hit his hand, he froze.
You call this thing—35cm long, 20cm wide, and 10cm thick—a "manual"?
Holding it in his hand, Ange felt its considerable weight.
He flipped open the book to look at the table of contents and found that it was divided into two parts. The first part covered how to train and strengthen Aura, while the second part explained how to use Aura to process ingredients.
The content was extremely detailed. Ange flipped through it randomly and was immediately dizzy from the dense text.
Putting the book back into the System Backpack for the time being, Ange collected the reward for the second mission. He had specifically waited until both were finished to claim them.
The System immediately popped up a prompt.
[Congratulations, Master, for completing the Limited Mission: Request Professor Sada and Professor Turo to modify Robert 1. Reward obtained: Individual Values +3.]
The reward for the second mission was just mediocre.
Ange looked at his personal information.
Ange
Race: Human
Gender: Male
Age: 16 (+500)
Constitution: 43
Intelligence: 22
Culinary Evaluation: A fresh novice who has just barely qualified.
Both his Constitution and Intelligence had indeed increased.
As for the 3 points of Individual Values he had just received, technically they were earned because of Metagross, so they should go to it. However, he couldn't see Metagross's data right now, making it difficult to allocate them.
If one of Metagross's Individual Values was already maxed out and he blindly added to it, it would be a waste.
Therefore, he decided to give them to Munchlax instead and compensate Metagross later.
Ange added 2 points to Munchlax's HP and the remaining 1 point to its Attack.
Munchlax's current data was as follows:
Munchlax (Eviolite)
Type: General
Ability: Thick Fat
Gender: Male
Level: 43
Moves: Tackle, Lick, Defense Curl, Recycle, Covet, Bite, Stockpile, Swallow, Body Slam, Fling, Amnesia, Take Down, Charm, Seed Bomb, Brick Break, Counter, Ice Punch, Thunder Punch, Fire Punch
Individual Values
HP: 31
Attack: 27
Defense: 20
Special Attack: 31
Special Defense: 10
Speed: 31
Now Munchlax had three maxed-out Individual Values.
However, looking at Munchlax's move list, Ange was slightly stunned. Ice Punch, Thunder Punch, and Fire Punch—when did it learn the Elemental Punches? It definitely didn't have them before!
Did it learn them from other Pokémon on the plateau?
There were indeed Pokémon on the Nebel Plateau who knew these moves. For example, Poliwrath knew Ice Punch, Pachirisu knew Thunder Punch, and Scrafty knew Fire Punch.
It seems Munchlax has been working hard in secret! A gratified smile appeared on Ange's face.
Having finished claiming both mission rewards, Ange took out the Aura Culinary Training Manual again and began to study it carefully. He might as well, since he was idle.
As he read, he unconsciously began to practice according to the instructions in the manual.
He closed his eyes and mobilized the Aura Power within his body to circulate through his limbs. At that moment, everyone on the plane disappeared from his sight; they all turned into pure Aura.
Some of these Auras were strong, some weak, some active, and some quiet... each one was unique.
In the seat next to Ange sat a young girl, sleeping soundly with her jacket covering her face. Next to the girl sat a Lucario.
What Ange didn't know was that while he was practicing his Aura, that Lucario instinctively turned its head to look at him.
Sensing the extraordinary Aura emanating from Ange, a look of confusion appeared on Lucario's face.
Time passed unknowingly until evening, and Ange opened his eyes, stopping his practice.
"Still playing on the phone?" Ange said, patting Pawmi's head.
Paw paw~ The phone is fun!
Pawmi held the phone up excitedly.
"What are you watching?" Ange asked.
Paw paw~
Upon hearing this, Pawmi turned the phone screen toward Ange. On the screen was a girl dressed in a flashy, colorful outfit, talking animatedly.
"Good morning, noon, and night! Hello!"
"I'm catching your eyes with my Electroweb!"
...
Isn't that Iono? Ange recognized her identity at a glance.
Iono was not only the Gym Leader of Levincia in the Paldea region but also a popular influencer.
"You like this?" Ange asked, looking surprised.
Paw paw~
Pawmi danced with joy, telling Ange about the interesting parts of Iono's livestreams.
As an Electric-type Gym Leader, Iono didn't just stream fun things from the Gym; she also shared a lot of experience on raising Electric-type Pokémon. Pawmi liked that part very much.
After Pawmi watched for a while longer, Ange took the phone from its hands. Pawmi initially wanted to resist, but when it heard Ange say, "It's time for dinner," it immediately gave up the struggle.
Eating was much more important.
Soon, Ange asked the flight attendant for two meal sets. He had never had an airline meal in the Pokémon world before, so he particularly wanted to try it.
Since Ange was in business class, the meal was quite substantial, featuring an appetizer, main course, dessert, along with red wine and various drinks.
Ange took a few bites and found the taste to be merely average.
His own cooking was getting better and better, and having grown accustomed to his own food, it was hard to find these meals palatable.
If it were as good as the food at the Treasure Eatery, he would be willing to eat more.
However, Pawmi, having no experience with the outside world, ate with great relish. It not only finished its own portion but also ate Ange's leftovers.
Burp~~
After eating, Pawmi lay on Ange's lap with its round belly sticking out, letting out a loud burp.
Paw paw~ Not as tasty as Ange's cooking.
It critiqued the lunch while burping.
"Then why did you eat so much?" Ange said, pinching its belly.
Paw paw~ Can't let it go to waste.
Because he hadn't eaten much, Ange took a glass of Grass Nanny Milk from his System Backpack and began to drink it.
This Grass Nanny Milk was produced by the Gogoat on the Nebel Plateau. Ange had added Pecha Berry juice to it himself, making it delicious.
When Pawmi saw Ange chugging the milk, it scrambled up and reached out toward him.
Paw paw~ I want to drink too! I want to drink too!
"Alright, alright!" Ange agreed, pulling out a bottle and handing it over.
Gulp, gulp, gulp~
Pawmi held the bottle and guzzled it down. In an instant, not a single drop of milk was left, and it even licked the bottle frantically.
Paw~ So good.
Stuffed the empty bottle into Ange's hand, Pawmi reached out toward him again.
Paw~ More.
Ange slapped its palm lightly, "No more! You can have more later!"
Pawmi didn't persist. It pouted, turned around, and picked up the phone to start playing again. Since Iono's livestream had ended, it began watching her past content.
Ange put the empty bottle away. When he turned his head, he saw a Lucario watching him. He froze for a moment, then took out a bottle of milk and asked:
"Would you like some?"
Lucario also froze, not expecting Ange to ask. It hesitated for a moment before finally nodding.
Luca~ Thank you.
Ange smiled and handed the Grass Nanny Milk over.
Lucario took the bottle and opened it. A sweet fragrance wafted out. After taking a big gulp, it instantly fell in love with this sweet and fragrant milk.
At that moment, the sleeping girl's nose twitched as she opened her eyes.
"What's that smell?"
Still groggy, she leaned her head toward Lucario as her consciousness gradually returned.
"Lucario, where did you get this?"
Smelling the sweet scent of the milk, the girl instinctively swallowed.
Luca~~
Lucario pointed to Ange next to them.
Seeing this, the girl hurried to apologize to Ange.
"Um... I'm sorry. My Lucario didn't cause you any trouble just now, did it?"
Ange shook his head, "No, not at all. It was very well-behaved. I just gave it a bottle of Grass Nanny Milk."
The girl breathed a sigh of relief, "That's good then."
Ange studied the girl in front of him. Previously, her face had been covered by her jacket, so he hadn't seen what she looked like. Now that he looked, she seemed very familiar!
She seems to be... the Gym Leader of Shalour City, Korrina.
The Shalour Gym specialized in Fighting-types, and legend had it that this Gym held the inheritance of Mega Evolution.
Sure enough, the girl proceeded to introduce herself.
"My name is Korrina, and this is my partner Lucario. We just returned from a trip to the Paldea region."
Luca~ Lucario followed up by waving a greeting to Ange.
"Hello, Korrina," Ange introduced himself as well. "I'm Ange, and this is my partner Pawmi." He then patted Pawmi, who was still playing on the phone, "Pawmi, say hello to Korrina and Lucario. Don't be so rude!"
Paw paw~
Only then did Pawmi move its gaze away from the phone. It put on a smile and waved to Korrina and Lucario.
"How cute," Korrina praised.
Afterward, Ange and Korrina engaged in small talk, and the journey was finally no longer boring.
During their chat, Ange noticed Korrina constantly swallowing as she looked at Lucario's milk bottle, so he generously gave her a bottle as well.
Two days later, the aircraft landed in Lumiose City, the center of the Kalos region. Ange and Korrina said their goodbyes there.
Over the two days, the two had gotten along very well. Ange even invited Korrina and Lucario to visit the Azoth Royal Capital whenever they had time.
After parting ways, Ange took Pawmi onto the light rail returning to the Azoth Royal Capital.
Lumiose City was the center of the Kalos region with advanced transportation, so it only took half a day for Ange and the others to return to the capital.
Paw paw~
Standing on the cable car of the royal city, Pawmi curiously looked at the scenery of the Azoth Royal Capital, which was distinct from other cities.
Ange smiled and said to Pawmi, "Pawmi, welcome to the Azoth Royal Capital. This is my hometown, and it's where you will be living from now on."