Using only the most basic Oran Berries as raw material, a Pokéblock of such perfect quality was created.
Only someone like Cynthia, and perhaps Coordinator Champion Wallace, could craft something of this caliber. The quality, needless to say, was beyond doubt, and Garchomp stood as the undeniable evidence.
Subconsciously, Cynthia turned her gaze toward Luke, who was seated beside her. "Did you... make it yourself?" she inquired, looking at the Oran Berry cube in her hand, her question neither avoiding nor skirting the issue.
"Yes, it's been stored for a while, otherwise the quality could have been even better," Luke replied, glancing at the Oran Berry cube without hesitation.
Lucario, who was in the middle of savoring the Pokéblock, momentarily stopped its actions, its eyes displaying a hint of astonishment. Could it be... even more delicious?
"Jie jie~! (¯﹃¯)," Haunter recalled the freshly made Pokéblock and couldn't help but drool.
"Did you use this machine to make it?" Cynthia gestured to the old Berry machine in the living room, raising an eyebrow inquiringly.
"Is there a problem with that?"
"No," Cynthia shook her head slightly, tucking a strand of blonde hair behind her ear. "I was just a little surprised."
That a Pokéblock of such exceptional quality could be crafted using the old machine was truly remarkable. Cynthia found herself thoroughly impressed.
"Isn't this Pokémon food tailored for your own team?" Cynthia inquired, breaking the silence and looking at Luke with a faint smile.
Luke's expression shifted slightly. "I've tried it myself... Well, Haunter said it was good when he tasted it!"
Cynthia smiled and said, "I would say it's not just good, it's extraordinarily suitable."
Even specially tailored Pokéblock wasn't as fitting for Garchomp as the ones Luke made. Cynthia mused that she might have figured out why Luke was so frugal, possibly due to financial constraints.
Crafting top-quality Pokéblocks undoubtedly came at a hefty cost. When compared to personal pleasure, Luke likely invested a substantial amount of money into the research process.
Individuals like Mr. Steel, who excelled in crafting exquisite food and drinks like citrus fruit balls, often possessed extraordinary skills yet lived modestly. For such individuals, the worth of their money lay in other areas, not just their external conditions.
Happiness wasn't solely determined by indulgence in food and drink.
"Your Pokémon... have found themselves a good Trainer," Cynthia remarked, her smile warm.
"Trainer? Forget that, I'm just the cook for these two," Luke sighed, waving off the title. "By the way, have you eaten? I can whip up a bowl of noodles for you."
Cynthia's flight was scheduled for ten in the morning, and she likely hadn't had lunch yet. If it were just Luke and Eevee, he might have grabbed a Pecha Berry Pokeblock to eat on the go. However, when guests were involved, he felt compelled to offer proper hospitality.
Cynthia observed her surroundings, taking in the sight of Pokémon enjoying their Pokéblocks with contentment. "I'll take you up on that offer," she replied.
"Should you pay by card or cash?"
"Huh?"
"Just kidding," Luke whispered. "You probably couldn't even pay if you wanted to..."
...
Glaceon, Cynthia's elegant Pokémon, stood gracefully by the windowsill. Haunter initially intended to approach it for a greeting, but the cold glare it received caused Haunter to retreat hastily.
This mischievous ghost-type, while eager to connect with others, seemed to have bitten off more than it could chew this time. Upon encountering Glaceon's striking beauty, Haunter promptly flinched and retracted.
Eevee, plagued by a sense of low self-esteem, never paid such matters much heed while living in the mountains. However, since meeting Luke and experiencing the outside world, Eevee had become more timid. Fearful it wouldn't see Luke upon awakening or that he might befriend another Eevee, Eevee had developed irrational anxieties.
Although it shouldn't have been afraid of these things, the possibility of them happening evoked an instinctual fear.
Growling and baring its teeth, Eevee glared fiercely at Glaceon perched on the windowsill. It emitted a challenging "vui~!"
Glaceon turned its head gracefully, its deep ice-blue eyes observing Eevee's flustered state. It proceeded to take slow, deliberate steps toward Eevee, pushing the nervous Pokémon into a corner.
"Ei... vui~?" Eevee stammered, surprised and confused.
Glaceon extended its icy-cold tongue, gently smoothing Eevee's fur and offering it a soft smile.
"Vui~!"
Blushing like it had been hit with Astonish, Eevee darted away and fled into the next room.
...
Back in the living room.
Cynthia, who frequently praises accomplished gynecologists or those who've made significant contributions in the field, was pleasantly surprised by the knowledge shared on the wiki.
Cynthia glanced at the large characters displayed on the pennant and skimmed the explanation provided on the wiki page, nodding in approval.
"Alright, I'm ready to eat!" Luke declared as he removed his apron.
Garchomp, Lucario, Haunter, and the rest of the Pokémon eagerly turned their attention to Luke, their expressions reflecting their excitement.
"It's not for you lot," Luke chuckled. "Pokéblocks will be made later; I'll handle it!"
Upon hearing this, Cynthia's Pokémon all seemed quite content, nodding their heads in satisfaction.
"Haunter! How did you sneak in there so perfectly?!"
"Jie jie~? Σ(っ°Д°;)っ"
Oh no, I wanted to eat more, but you found me out too soon?!
Cynthia crossed her arms and walked out of the living room with an air of calm curiosity. "What does that gynecological master title mean?"
Luke nearly choked on his water as it almost came spurting out.
Considering the image he had to maintain in front of the Goddess, Luke took a daring step and cleared his throat. "Um, what is it?"
"It's the pennant... it seems to hold great significance to you."
"Well... I've done extensive research on Tuina, especially for women," Luke replied, his words a bit awkward.
Cynthia appeared slightly surprised by his response.
"I always thought only female masseurs practiced that."
Luke raised an eyebrow and began speaking nonsense. "I am a true Hong Kong Shiatsu practitioner, passing down the knowledge to males but not females."
"Oh..." Cynthia nodded, although she felt something was amiss, it appeared to make sense.
Maybe she should ask him for a massage sometime? But as a guest, it might be inappropriate to burden Teacher Luke with such a request.
Shifting her attention to the fragrant soba noodles on the table, Cynthia blinked in surprise.
"Did you make this?"
"Of course."
"You seem to be quite knowledgeable about everything."
"Almost... I learned it from an uncle in Alola."
The authentic tempura soba noodles were prepared by mixing water and mirin with soy sauce, then cooked with kombu seaweed and herring fish flower. They were wrapped in breadcrumbs and deep-fried to create saffron-infused crispy prawn tempura, finally garnished with chopped chives.
The rich broth exuded an enticing aroma, and the saffron-infused fried shrimp added an extra layer of excitement.
Quietly pursing her lips, Cynthia's delicate face briefly showed a hint of surprise.
The dish looked... quite delectable?
Luke crossed his arms and reviewed the data in his retinas, nodding to himself.
Well, his culinary skills had improved again. No more overturned dishes this time!
[Cooking Lv3: Enhance cooking skills; this bonus also applies to knife techniques, ingredient selection, fire control, etc. (Only one step away from becoming a gourmet chef!)]
Garchomp and Lucario stared at the soba noodles on Luke's table, their mouths watering involuntarily.
Seating herself gracefully, Cynthia clasped her hands together and said with a touch of reverence, "I'm ready to indulge."
Compared to ramen, soba noodle soup had a clearer and more refined flavor, making it a true test of the chef's skill.
Cynthia brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, cautiously brought the soup spoon to her lips, and took a delicate sip.
Suddenly, her eyes narrowed, and an involuntary smile crept onto her lips.
This taste... felt incredibly familiar.
In fact, it even surpassed her grandmother's cooking.
A subtle sound echoed as she bit into the saffron-infused crispy prawn. The sensation was delightful, complementing the sharpness of the sake-infused broth.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call this dish the work of a star chef!
"It's absolutely delicious," Cynthia said with a smile.
While keeping a watchful eye on the drooling Haunter beside him, Luke focused all his attention on savoring the soba noodles before him.
Luke felt a surge of emotion. Who would have thought that the soba noodles he made would turn out to be so incredibly tasty?