https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-342-Unlocking-a-New-Recipe-Icy-Radish-Candy/12537501/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-344-Scallion-Duck-s-Great-Sword-Technique-Off-to-the-Unova-Region/12537503/
Chapter 343: Guardian of the Sea
Chapter 343: Guardian of the Sea
Aerodactyl was an efficient worker, and before nightfall, it returned with its catch.
Clutched in its two arms were a pair of lobsters, and its mouth held a large squid. Its small horns were wrapped with a strand of wilted seaweed, giving it a somewhat disheveled appearance. Yet, despite its messy look, Aerodactyl was delighted with its haul.
Upon seeing Naoki waiting for it in the ranch, Aerodactyl let out a triumphant cry. It dropped the lobsters and squid on the grass and wrapped its chubby arms, still carrying the scent of the sea, around Naoki in a tight embrace.
"Raaaawr!"
"You goof." Naoki plucked the seaweed from Aerodactyl's horns and picked up the lobsters and squid from the grass, carrying them toward the kitchen.
Aerodactyl plopped itself down on the grass to rest.
"Don't wander off now. I'll give you a bath later!" Naoki turned back and instructed, to which Aerodactyl responded with an eager, "Raaaawr!"
As dusk approached, the hired Aerodactyl left the ranch, content with their day's work and carrying their Poke Bowls.
Sitting on the grass, basking in the glow of the setting sun, the resident Aerodactyl waved its claws at its departing comrades, its heart brimming with joy.
"Raaaawr!"
Adake, witnessing this display of affection, couldn't help but exclaim in amazement, "This Aerodactyl truly adores you!"
Naoki smiled and placed the lobsters and squid into a basin.
The two lobsters and the squid were still barely alive, indicating that Aerodactyl had been swift in its pursuit and had likely used Agility to rush back to the ranch with its catch.
Naoki shared a humorous anecdote with Adake about a previous incident where Aerodactyl had run away from home out of jealousy.
"At that time, the other Aerodactyl gave me all sorts of large fish as gifts. Not wanting to be outdone, this stubborn guy here decided to leave without a word and flew off to find a bigger fish to upstage the others."
Adake's imagination painted a hilarious picture, and he burst into laughter. "And then what happened?" he asked eagerly.
"Well..." Naoki reminisced for a moment before continuing, "Aerodactyl encountered a mysterious, gigantic Pokemon in the depths of the ocean. But this Pokemon was not just massive in size; it was also incredibly powerful."
"Aerodactyl was no match for it and lost the battle, returning to the ranch dejected and covered in dust."
"It must have been heartbroken," Adake remarked.
"Indeed!" Naoki's voice was filled with emotion. "But the fact that Aerodactyl tried its best is more than enough for me. As a Trainer, the greatest gift is having my Pokemon by my side, no matter what."
Adake's thoughts turned to his Volcarona, and his voice carried the same sentiment. "That phone call from Dan was the most precious gift I've ever received in my life."
Motostoke and Golurk, who had been listening to the conversation, turned to look at the two men.
It was rare for Naoki to express his feelings for his Pokemon so openly.
Even though Golurk had heard these words before, they still struck a chord deep within, softening his heart as if something had reached out and touched it.
Meanwhile, Motostoke gazed on with a mixture of envy and longing.
"Grawrr..."
Naoki patted Motostoke's head and said, "Not just Aerodactyl, but you as well!"
While Motostoke might not stand out among the other Pokemon, its contribution to Naoki was no less significant.
As one of the first Pokemon to arrive at the ranch, Motostoke was intimately familiar with every aspect of ranch life.
And it was due to this familiarity that the subsequent Pokemon had been able to settle in so quickly and comfortably.
Naoki's heart swelled with emotions as he recalled the countless memories they had made together. He asked Motostoke to go out and play for a while as he prepared to cook a lobster feast for everyone.
"Graaawr~"
Motostoke nodded happily and scampered off.
Golurk watched this exchange, his thoughts unreadable.
Dinner was now taken care of—Naoki decided to steam one lobster and cook the other with garlic. As for the squid, it was too small to feed everyone, so he set it aside.
He lit the stove and placed the prepared lobsters in the steamer, taking a moment to ponder Motostoke's situation while he waited.
Compared to the other Pokemon on the ranch, Motostoke's strength was starting to lag.
Aside from the birthday cake that had increased its base stats and its self-initiated special training, there weren't many other ways for it to become stronger.
As a ranch owner, Naoki didn't have a strong desire for Pokemon battles.
He didn't push his Pokemon to fight; instead, he supported them in doing what they loved.
Whether they chose to lounge around all day or work diligently toward their training, he respected their choices.
After all, the world wasn't so cruel that Pokemon living alongside humans couldn't live out their lives happily and peacefully.
Naoki took it out and gave it a customary glance.
But as he looked, he noticed something extraordinary.
[Clear Steamed Lobster (A+)
: A special dish made from large lobsters that dwell on the seabed, retaining their natural fresh fragrance. It is a delicacy sought after by seafood connoisseurs, infused with the chef's rich emotions, which may lead to unexpected effects.
Dish Effect: Guardian of the Sea (Motostoke Exclusive)
: The Pokemon that consumes this dish gains the protection of the sea once. When facing a life-threatening crisis, this effect automatically triggers, shielding the Pokemon from all damage from that attack.
Evaluation: When emotions and cuisine blend, an unparalleled delicacy is born.]
"?"
Naoki stared at the steamed lobster before him, slightly dumbfounded.
A Motostoke exclusive dish? Could it be because he had been thinking about Motostoke the entire time while cooking?
Guardian of the Sea seemed like an enhanced version of the 'Stand Fast' move, completely nullifying a single attack.
However, for Motostoke, who had always lived on the ranch, such a function might never be needed.
With that thought, Naoki turned to look at the other lobster dish.
[Steamed Lobster with Garlic (B+)
: Dish Effect: Lobster Specialization. The defensive and offensive capabilities of the lobster Pokemon that consumes this dish will increase slightly for 30 minutes.]
Naoki: "..."
How cruel! Making lobsters eat lobsters, that's just ruthless.
Lobster Pokemon likely referred to species like Corphish, Crawdaunt, and Clawitzer.
However, what confused Naoki was whether Corphish and regular lobsters were even the same species. Without Corphish on the ranch, this dish wouldn't be of much use.
Naoki didn't dwell on it further. He stood up and brought the evening's dinner to the table, then called the Pokemon playing outside to come home for their meal.
At the table, as Naoki watched Motostoke devour its food, he asked, "Mr. Adake, is emotion also a form of power for Pokemon?"
"Of course!" Adake nodded and explained, "Some Pokemon academies specialize in teaching this aspect. Aside from the attributes we are familiar with, emotions can also be transformed into energy."
"For instance, the Normal-type Return and Frustration, and the Ghost-type Grudge. However, only a select few Pokemon can use these moves."
"Take Eevee, for example. Novice trainers put effort into building good relationships with them to increase the power of Return, helping them face stronger opponents."
Hearing this, Naoki immediately thought of the move 'Frustration.'
Frustration: The Pokemon attacks to vent its frustration, and the lower its happiness, the more powerful the move becomes.
Adake continued, "The same goes for Frustration..."
Naoki: "But that move could affect the relationship between the Pokemon and its trainer, right...?"
Where would you find a Pokemon that hates its trainer yet still fights for them? Is that a masochistic trait?
Adake smiled and nodded, "Indeed, it does impact their relationship. That's why, once a Pokemon is caught by a human, it becomes challenging for them to use this move effectively. Even if they do, the power is diminished, and the attack is barely felt by the opponent."
Naoki nodded thoughtfully.
So, because he had been thinking about protecting Motostoke and ensuring its well-being, that emotion had inadvertently infused into the dish, creating the 'Guardian of the Sea' effect?
This effect could only be triggered once, and the conditions were stringent—it would only activate when facing a life-threatening situation.
Naoki hoped that Motostoke would never have to use this guardian effect.
After dinner, Adake lounged comfortably on the sofa, rubbing his satisfied belly.
"Ah~ I'm so full! Your cooking is amazing! I feel like I've gained quite a bit of weight during my stay at the ranch."
His sister, Ai Guanshi, brought him a cup of tea.
Adake immediately straightened up. "Oh, thank you!"
"Ai~" Ai Guanshi smiled gently and then stepped back.
The crops in the fields would take some time to harvest, and there was no rush to develop the new land across the river. Those tasks could wait until he returned.
Today was March 25th, and Adake had mentioned that the banquet would be held on April 1st.
Additionally, Adake had offered to introduce him to a Pokemon Breeder who could teach him how to make Energy Blocks, which would also take some time.
Considering all this, Naoki thought it best to leave as soon as possible and come back early. "Then, how about tomorrow?" he suggested.
Adake readily agreed, "Sure, that works for me! You've helped me so much, and when we get to the Unova region, I'll make sure to return the favor and be your guide!"
Adake seemed eager to show him around the Unova region and its sights.
Naoki thought that might be a bit too much, but he politely inquired, "Won't you be busy with the affairs of the Unova League, Mr. Adake?"
Hearing this, Adake's face reddened slightly.
Previously, when his Volcarona had been severely injured and he couldn't find a way to heal it, he hadn't had the heart to focus on League matters. He had wandered the Unova region, seeking a cure for his Pokemon.
As for the League, he had irresponsibly left it all to the Elite Four...
But could he say all that?
Obviously not.
The person before him was his fan, and to maintain his image, Adake cleared his throat and said, his dark face reddening slightly, "The Elite Four are handling the League affairs for now, and when I get back, I'll resume my duties as the Champion."
Adake spoke earnestly, and Naoki chose to politely ignore the underlying truth.
Noticing Naoki's gaze, Adake shifted the topic slightly, "There will be many prominent figures and famous Trainers at the banquet, and Alder might be there as well."
"Alder, huh..." Naoki murmured, "I've been wanting to meet him."
"Oh?" Adake's eyes narrowed, "Are you an admirer of Alder?"
"Well, not exactly," Naoki organized his thoughts, "I've just heard his name quite some time ago."
"I see!" Adake exclaimed, "There will be a battling arena at the banquet as well. You can spar with him then, and oh, you can bring all your Dragonites along too!"
He was curious to see Alder's expression upon seeing so many Dragonites.
Naoki's heart stirred at the thought, but after some consideration, he decided against it.
The Dragonites had work to do, and if they left, they wouldn't be able to deliver goods to the townspeople.
"The Dragonites have work to do," Naoki explained.
Adake looked disappointed.
"Then..." Naoki thought for a moment and asked, "Will Champion Alder from the Hoenn region be attending?"
"Alder?" Adake racked his brains and then shook his head, "Probably not. He's never attended such events."
Naoki figured as much. After all, Alder was either on a journey to find stones or on his way to find stones.
"However, Mr. Giovani, the president of Team Rocket, will be there, as well as Mr. Lance, a well-known entrepreneur from the Kanto region," Adake informed him.
Hearing the name, Naoki was slightly taken aback.
"Lance?"
Was it the Lance he knew?
The Gym Leader of the Viridian City Gym, the leader of the notorious Team Rocket, the mastermind behind the creation of Mewtwo, the self-proclaimed strongest man...
"Hmm? You've heard of Mr. Lance?" Adake was surprised to see Naoki's reaction, given the vast distance between the Kanto and Padia regions.
"Yes," Naoki nodded, "Before settling here, I traveled extensively in other regions."
"I see!" Adake understood, "I'm not very familiar with Mr. Lance either, but he's a well-known entrepreneur in the Kanto region, and he also serves as the Gym Leader of a city. He's incredibly strong."
"..."
For a moment, Naoki was at a loss for words.
The term "well-known entrepreneur" seemed oddly fitting for Lance.
Although Lance was a hidden boss-level character, fortunately, the distance between the Kanto and Padia regions meant that Team Rocket's influence didn't reach this far, which was one less worry for Naoki.
(End of Chapter)
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