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In the kitchen.
When Wayne sprinkled the chili pepper seasoning, he treated it as if it were completely free, so the system's evaluation notification read:
A portion of Mapo Tofu with excessive Sichuan peppercorn but excellent overall flavor.
This is a legendary dish that those who love spicy food will absolutely adore, and those who can't handle spicy food will grit their teeth and eat anyway!
The bright red Mapo Tofu (B-rank) was placed in front of Wayne, and he took an eager bite.
The tofu, blanched in boiling water, held together perfectly without falling apart. The salt water had removed the beany smell completely. The minced beef, stir-fried with Pixian bean paste and cooking wine, was wonderfully savory.
The first sensation was intense heat, then overwhelming spiciness, but it was absolutely delicious!
First-time consumption of Mapo Tofu (B-rank) can permanently increase a Pokémon's Special Attack stat slightly.
Although Wayne possessed the Heavenly Aura Physique, he was not a Pokémon, so it had no stat-boosting effect on him.
If a Pokémon ate it again, it could temporarily increase their Special Attack.
Wayne wondered if it would be effective for humans with Psychic abilities, immediately thinking of powerful Psychics like Sabrina and Caitlin.
Wayne's daily quota for making Mapo Tofu also became (1/6).
Looking at this completed Mapo Tofu (B-rank),
Wayne couldn't help but entertain some strange and amusing thoughts.
Other Trainers fed Special Attack-boosting potions to their Pokémon in competitions.
Would he feed Mapo Tofu instead?
During an intense Pokémon battle, would he shout "Chotto Matte!" and then dramatically bring out a plate of Mapo Tofu?
If he got hungry during a battle, eating a dish wasn't too excessive, right?
That scenario seemed completely ridiculous.
In Wayne's opinion, the most powerful aspect of the system's special cuisine collection was
that it could create dishes that significantly boosted Pokémon abilities using simple, everyday ingredients.
This was clearly an ability that only Master Level or higher professional chefs could possess when making special dishes with specific rare ingredients.
But Wayne wasn't one of those legendary chefs yet.
Smoked Sitrus Berry Juice was understandable. Citrus berries were berry-type items and inherently possessed the natural effect of restoring stamina.
But the ingredients in Mapo Tofu had absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with boosting Pokémon abilities naturally.
Making a single dish of Mapo Tofu that could actually boost a Pokémon's Special Attack? Who would believe that if you told them?!
But the special cuisine system achieved exactly that impossible feat.
Doesn't this mean he could potentially open a specialized Pokémon Restaurant?
Customers could eat a plate of Mapo Tofu, drink a cup of Smoked Sitrus Berry Juice,
then have a portion of Crab Roe Lion's Head for the main course.
Finally, for dessert, Crispy Apple pastries...
Pokémon's battle abilities would simply increase as they ate the meal.
It seemed like the concept had tremendous potential...
However, that ambitious plan would have to wait until the Breeding Center was fully on track. His current main task was still to develop and establish the Breeding Center successfully.
His current special cuisine collection was still far too small. He should aim to collect at least one or two dozen special dishes, right?
That evening.
Wayne's new dish, Mapo Tofu, made everyone simultaneously love and hate it. He directly used up all five daily portions of Mapo Tofu.
Every single Pokémon got an equal share.
To complement the Mapo Tofu perfectly, Wayne also specially stir-fried a large portion of spicy hot pot—the extra spicy kind.
It was visibly covered with Sichuan peppercorns and chili peppers, constantly releasing aromatic steam and intense spiciness as it boiled vigorously.
It felt like the clear broth pot next to it was even catching fire from proximity.
Spicy, numbing, even making everyone's scalp tingle uncomfortably.
This was an absolutely overpowering flavor experience.
"I feel my entire head buzzing," someone complained.
"Alan, your lips have swollen up into sausage lips!" Shion pointed out.
"Holy cow, Pichu just used Flamethrower!" someone exclaimed.
Jigglypuff simply smelled the intense scent from across the room,
and its legs began trembling, almost wanting to flee immediately.
"Puff~" o(╥﹏╥)o Jigglypuff whimpered.
(Did I do something wrong to deserve this?)
(I won't dare misbehave again~)
Claire couldn't help but swallow nervously at the sight.
"Come on, Kinsley, eat some duck intestines. These are delicious," Claire encouraged.
"Thank you, Claire," Kinsley responded gratefully.
"Shion, you're still growing. You should eat more," Claire advised.
"I'm eating, I'm eating!" Shion cried actual tears while eating the meatballs she'd picked out of the dangerous spicy hot pot.
Wayne had enlisted Metagross to help make various types of meatballs, such as beef balls and fish balls.
Although Metagross had almost demolished the kitchen trying to prove its culinary progress to Wayne...
Have you ever seen someone use Hammer Arm to pound beef into balls?
Wayne had witnessed it firsthand.
Wayne was completely stunned and couldn't help but advise the group, "If it's genuinely too spicy, just eat from the clear broth pot instead."
Shion clenched her fists with determination. "No way! I only want the spicy one!"
Alan was even more outrageous in his dedication. He had eight boxes of Moomoo Milk beside him, and he opened two cans specifically for Shion and placed them in front of her.
"Eat up! Let's drink until we're literally standing on top of the empty boxes!" Alan declared dramatically.
Other people get drunk on alcohol, but you're getting drunk on milk, right?!
Pay attention to your swollen sausage lips!
Wayne also received enthusiastic hospitality from everyone around the table.
"Little Boss, eat this piece!" Kinsley offered.
"Wayne, come here, try this!" Claire called.
"Son, this quail egg is delicious!" Leon said with fatherly affection.
Leon's fatherly love almost moved Wayne emotionally, until Wayne actually ate the completely unseasoned quail egg...
This thing isn't seasoned at all!
(╯°Д°)╯︵ ┻━┻
So his father had discovered the quail egg wasn't seasoned, couldn't waste it or throw it back in the pot, so he'd dumped it on his son instead.
Typical. Men, Wayne thought with exasperation.
Wayne could handle spicy food quite well. He was currently planning to acquire more chili pepper varieties and plant them in the Breeding Center's backyard.
If needed, building a greenhouse specifically for peppers wouldn't be out of the question.
"Alejandro, you can't really eat spicy food, right? How about I help you finish that..." Alan suggested hopefully.
Because the hot pot was still actively boiling, Alan eyed the snowflake beef mixed with Sichuan peppercorns in Alejandro's bowl with undisguised greed.
"No, I can handle it myself!" Alejandro declared.
Alejandro had the expression of someone facing death bravely.
Alan could only let out a regretful sound while drooling.
"How can there possibly be anything as delicious as spicy hot pot in the entire world!" Alan proclaimed.
"Ga-o!!!" Incineroar agreed enthusiastically.
Alan and Incineroar were both burning brightly with passion and fire.
"Alan's fired up again!" Shion observed.
Lucario and Arcanine, who could both handle spicy food well, ate everything with great relish and enjoyment.
Metagross could eat spicy food, but only in small quantities.
As for Drakloak... it was completely stunned by the intensity.
Drakloak ultimately decided to eat the sweet version of Kung Pao Chicken that Wayne had specially prepared for it instead, because it genuinely preferred sweet flavors.
Dragapult was also somewhat bewildered by the chaotic scene.
But this lively atmosphere made Dragapult recall fond memories of Meria's first time eating spicy food.
(It's very interesting here,) Dragapult thought contentedly.
Eating spicy food was always refreshing and exciting in the moment, but the aftermath was absolutely brutal.
The next day, except for Wayne and Fumie—who had exercised proper self-control—everyone else found themselves practically inseparable from the bathroom.
Fortunately, each person's dormitory room had a private toilet, and this period was relatively free of work, so it was an opportunity for them to rest and recover.
"Drink some hot Moomoo Milk. If your condition is really severe, you'll have to go to the hospital," Wayne warned with concern.
Wayne, Lucario, and the other healthy Pokémon delivered hot Moomoo Milk to each room one by one.
Alan's face looked noticeably pale and drawn.
"Thank you so much..." Alan managed weakly.
After drinking the soothing hot Moomoo Milk, Alan's condition improved slightly.
Remembering Alan's enthusiastic appearance yesterday, Wayne couldn't resist teasing, "Still want to eat more spicy food?"
"Absolutely eating more!" Alan declared without hesitation.
"..."
Alright, Wayne conceded defeat.
"If your condition really gets bad, call me immediately. I'll take you to the hospital," Wayne offered seriously.
Alan shakily made an OK gesture with his hand.
"Don't worry about me."
Meanwhile, on the other side of the region, a tall, slender blonde woman in a black trench coat stood proudly against the strong wind blowing across the sky.
"I'm almost there now," she reported.
"Sister, I'm really sorry. I can't get away from my duties here, so I'll have to leave it to you," a voice responded over the phone.
The blonde woman couldn't help but smile warmly.
"It's completely fine. It's for Feebas, after all."
Breaking through the clouds dramatically, her Garchomp—like a supersonic fighter jet—tore through the cloud layer and flew directly toward the eastern suburbs of Jubilife City...