Chapter 70: Learning to Make Pokeblocks
Chapter 70: Learning to Make Pokeblocks
...Pokemon that like honey...
Several silhouettes flashed through Naoki's mind: Gentleman, Heracross, Baby Kangaskhan, Teddiursa, and its evolved form, Ursaring.
Naoki's interest was immediately piqued. "Are there Teddiursa in the mountains as well?"
Keli was taken aback, a question mark popping into her head as she wondered if his focus was a little off. Still, she replied, "That's right. This mountain range is vast, and it connects to Big Pot Lake at its edge. The unique geography has created a very rich Pokemon ecosystem. Countless wild Pokemon make their home here, and the locals call it 'Nature's Treasure Trove.'"
"I see," Naoki nodded.
Instead of harvesting the honey right away, he decided to leave it outside so that its fragrance could spread further.
As for the concern of wild Pokemon harming the ranch's Pokemon...
there was even less to worry about.
Even without considering Golleton and the Pidgeot, the three riding lambs were more than capable of holding their own in a fight.
Soon, the ruins of the Pokemon cottage had been completely demolished.
Keli and Naoki informed the construction team, and they began working on the site.
With all the ranch work completed, Naoki found himself with some free time, so he decided to take a trip to the town's dessert shop to learn how to make Pokeblocks.
Before leaving, he made a special trip to the chicken coop to check on Bubo.
On sunny days, Naoki would let the hens out to stroll outside.
When he arrived, the hens were walking back and forth on the grass with a group of chicks, occasionally tilting their heads to look around and sometimes lowering their heads to peck at the ground for food.
Bubo, on the other hand, was lying not far away, soaking in the sun while keeping an eye on the flock.
Bubo's work ethic was impeccable.
Naoki had only mentioned managing the flock in passing, but Bubo had taken it to heart and was diligent in its task.
In the past, herding the chickens had always been a worrying task, with concerns about wild Pokemon snatching them or the flock flying over the fence when one wasn't looking.
Now, with Bubo on guard, Naoki felt much more at ease.
When Bubo saw him approaching, its eyes lit up.
"Ba-moo!"
Naoki smiled at Bubo from the other side of the fence and said, "I'm going out for a bit. I'll leave things here to you!"
"Ba-moo!"
Bubo immediately nodded obediently. It would definitely keep an eye on the flock!
Watching this exchange, a smile appeared on Naoki's face.
Who wouldn't like such an adorable and obedient Pokemon?
Sighing with emotion, Naoki left the ranch.
To avoid causing a commotion at the dessert shop, he chose to ride his Motostoke Mokurai this time.
"Let's go! Keep an eye on everyone at the ranch for me," Naoki patted Golleton's head before riding off on his Motostoke Mokurai, leaving a dejected Golleton behind at the ranch exit, staring longingly at the receding figures.
———
Redstone Street, Shizen Town, Xiao Xian Dessert Shop.
Standing on the street paved with red cobblestones, Naoki looked at the glass display cabinet filled with various desserts and murmured, "I guess this is the place?"
At that moment, the door opened, and a girl wearing a red checked apron walked out. She hung a wooden sign with the words "Open for Business" written on it in large letters.
Then she spotted Naoki and his Motostoke Mokurai standing outside the door.
"It's you again?" The girl recognized Naoki.
"Hello, I'm Naoki," Naoki introduced himself formally. "I'm here to ask about making Pokeblocks this time."
"Alright, come on in!" The girl welcomed him with a smile.
Naoki stepped inside, greeted by a rich, sweet aroma.
The dessert shop wasn't very large. There were several glass display cabinets inside, each filled with a variety of desserts: Pokeblocks, toast, fruit cakes, chocolate pie, and more.
Following Naoki's gaze, she spotted the Frosmoth and smiled, saying, "That Frosmoth is my assistant. It's thanks to it that I'm able to run this dessert shop."
Naoki observed the Frosmoth, deducing from its coloring and scent that it was likely a Cream Vanilla-flavored Frosmoth.
"Please, follow me!"
Led by Lily, Naoki entered the work area of the dessert shop.
Various molds and equipment were laid out, and Lily asked, "Have you made Pokeblocks before?"
Naoki shook his head honestly. "No."
Nodding thoughtfully, Lily said, "In that case, I'll start from the very beginning and give you a full introduction!"
Naoki immediately assumed a posture of attentive listening.
Lily began, "Pokeblocks are a type of dessert that Pokemon love. Because they're made from various Berries as the main ingredients, the final product can bring about some magical changes in Pokemon."
"For example, they can make Pokemon healthier, their fur smoother and shinier, less prone to shedding, and they can also help them become stronger more easily."
"There are many Berries growing in this world, and each one has a unique flavor. By combining Berries of different flavors, you can create Pokeblocks with richer and more complex tastes."
"Every Pokemon has its own unique preferences. I once met a Pokemon breeder whose Pokeblocks were rejected by his Totodile, but surprisingly, a Pigey he encountered loved them so much that it wanted to follow him around."
Naoki blinked, his curiosity piqued as he wondered about the magical effects that his own handmade Pokeblocks might have.
He began to fantasize about feeding Pokeblocks to a group of wild, fluffy Pokemon and having them all follow him back to the ranch.
He imagined all the Eevee evolutions, Teddiursa, Vulpix and Alolan Vulpix, Totodile, Skitty, and Mew...
At that moment, Lily's face flushed with embarrassment as she realized she had been rambling. "Oh! I got a little carried away. Anyway, let me show you how to make Pokeblocks!"
Naoki snapped back to attention and watched as Lily took out Berries, flour, eggs, milk, and other ingredients from the refrigerator.
She started by mixing the flour and milk, then boiling two different types of Berries in water. Finally, she turned on the heat.
Once the clear water had been dyed with the color of the Berries, Lily added the flour, egg, and milk mixture to the pot, all the while explaining,
"Pay close attention! Constant stirring is necessary to infuse flavor into the Pokeblocks, but you also need to keep an eye on the temperature to prevent the mixture from burning or spilling!"
Naoki committed the entire process and each step to memory.
After about ten minutes, Lily turned off the heat and poured the evenly stirred batter into a mold, which she then placed in the oven. Soon, a "ding" sounded, signaling that the Pokeblocks were ready.
A rich and mellow aroma filled the room, and at the scent, the Motostoke Mokurai by Naoki's side couldn't help but swallow a mouthful of saliva.
Noticing this, Lily offered the Pokeblocks to the Motostoke Mokurai, smiling as she said, "It looks like your Motostoke Mokurai really likes them! Here you go!"
Instead of reaching out with its claws, the Motostoke Mokurai looked at Naoki as if asking for permission.
"Ga-om?"
"Go ahead and eat it if you want!" Naoki thanked Lily on behalf of his Motostoke Mokurai.
Lily covered her mouth and giggled. "Alright, now it's your turn to try making some!"
Sorry, I'm a bit busy today, so there's only one update. I'll make it up to you tomorrow.
(End of Chapter)
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