At the scheduled time, Angie headed to Munchlax's Home with Drizzile, Komala, Meowstic, Espurr, and Ralts.
Today, Munchlax's Home was as lively as ever.
"Ralts, can I have two more pork and scallion buns? I'm feeling extra hungry today!"
"Ralts~!"
Coming right up!
Ralts tiptoed cheerfully and waved at the customer.
"Meowstic, could I trouble you for a bowl of sweet red date porridge, one steamed bun, and two chive-filled buns?" another customer called out.
"Meowstic~ Meowstic~"
After serving four customers simultaneously, Meowstic heard another call.
"Espurr, could you bring us some pickled cucumbers? We're out over here."
"Espurr~!"
I Got it!
...
From early morning, Munchlax's Home was bustling—not just with customers but also with the Pokémon servers.
Even though there were three servers, all of whom were highly capable Psychic Pokémon, the place still felt hectic.
With the restaurant growing more popular, tourists seeking out its famous dishes had been arriving in droves lately.
Not only were Meowstic and the others busy, but Angie and Drizzile in the kitchen were also swamped. Steamer baskets of buns and steamed buns emerged one after another, and pots of porridge were ladled out continuously. The two of them wished they had extra hands!
At one point, Drizzile stumbled as it climbed down from a small stool, losing its balance. The ladle it was holding flew out of its hand, and Drizzile toppled toward the floor.
Just as it was about to hit the ground, an invisible force suddenly caught it.
With a clang, the ladle hit the floor, but Drizzile landed steadily, supported by the unseen power.
Hearing the noise, Angie turned and asked, "Drizzile, what happened?"
Drizzile glanced left and right, finding nothing out of place. It shook its head in confusion.
"Drizzile~!"
Nothing happened.
Was it just an illusion? It couldn't help but wonder.
Angie sighed in relief and warned, "Be more careful. This is the kitchen—if a pot gets knocked over, it'll be a real problem." He then turned back to his work.
For instance, if that pot of porridge were spilled and poured all over someone, it'd be disastrous.
"Drizzile~!"
I Got it!
Drizzile replied.
In the shadows of the corner, Haunter stuck out its tongue playfully before slowly fading from view.
...
At the same time, a black stretch limousine and several standard cars pulled up in front of Munchlax's Home.
The doors of the ordinary cars opened first, and several burly men in black suits and sunglasses stepped out. They quickly moved to the stretch limo, where one of them opened the door.
From inside, a towering man, nearly 6'3" (190 cm), emerged.
The man appeared to be in his forties, with a stocky build that was slightly overweight. His hair was meticulously groomed.
As he stepped out, he raised his chin slightly, his expression tinged with arrogance. Everything about him screamed extravagance—the thick gold chain around his neck, a diamond-studded belt, an obviously expensive watch, and the glossy, polished leather shoes on his feet. Each item seemed to declare: I am rich.
Cradled in his arms was a forlorn-looking Lechonk.
Despite his haughty demeanor, when he looked down at the Lechonk, his face softened with tender affection.
"My little darling, you've been through so much," the man said gently, stroking Lechonk's back.
"Lechonk~"
Lechonk nuzzled against the man's chest, looking pitiful.
Shifting his gaze from Lechonk, the man turned his attention to the small establishment before him.
"This is the place Princess Kimia recommended?" he asked.
"Yes, sir, this is it," one of the bodyguards replied.
The man wore a look of disdain. "Can a shabby little place like this really have the kind of food that will help my precious one regain its appetite?"
The bodyguard stood silently, not daring to respond. It wasn't his place to answer such a question—he was just here to do his job.
"Hmph. Let's head inside."
With that, the man cradled his Lechonk and stepped into the Munchlax's Home. Only the lead bodyguard accompanied him, while the rest of the group stayed outside, faces stern, guarding the entrance. Passersby couldn't help but cast curious and uneasy glances in their direction.
Upon entering, the man was immediately displeased by the bustling scene inside.
"Why is this place so chaotic?" he muttered in annoyance.
"Waiter! Where's the waiter?" the man called out loudly.
"Meowstic! Meowstic!"
Hearing the shout, the Meowstic swiftly trotted over.
The man's frown eased just slightly upon realizing that the waiter was a Pokémon.
"Do you have any private dining rooms?" he asked brusquely.
"Meowstic~ Meowstic~"
No, sir.
The Meowstic shook its head politely.
"Of course, this tiny shop doesn't even have private rooms. How is it worthy of someone of my status?"
The man shot a glare at the bodyguard. "Are you sure you didn't bring me to the wrong place?"
The bodyguard shook his head. "There's no mistake, sir."
"Hmph!" The man snorted angrily.
He was already in a foul mood due to his Lechonk's lack of appetite. Now, the prospect of dining in this cramped, noisy restaurant only made him more irritable.
His loud and arrogant demeanor soon drew the ire of the other patrons, who began glaring at him.
The man, unfazed, glared right back at them. "What are you all looking at? Never seen a wealthy person before?"
"Meowstic! Meowstic!"
Sensing the growing tension, the Meowstic hurriedly tried to diffuse the situation.
Though visibly annoyed, the man looked down at the Meowstic's large, watery eyes and took a deep breath, suppressing his temper.
"Fine. For such a cute Pokémon, I'll let it slide!"
He looked at the Meowstic again. "If there are no private rooms, can I at least rent out the whole place? Name your price, and clear everyone out!"
"Meowstic~ Meowstic~"
The Meowstic shook its head again, indicating that it wasn't allowed.
The other patrons visibly relaxed at this response.
"Can't do this, can't do that…"
The man was about to explode again when the bodyguard leaned in and whispered, "Sir, this establishment is owned by a member of the Azoth royal family. It's not a place where you can throw your weight around."
The man's anger caught in his throat, and he stood there, conflicted and frustrated. He looked at the Lechonk in his arms, visibly unwell, and reluctantly said, "Fine, for my baby's sake."
Under the Meowstic's guidance, the man finally sat at an empty table in the corner, still clutching his Lechonk.
The Meowstic handed him a menu, and the man skimmed through it. "This is all you've got? Steamed buns, filled buns, porridge… I've never even heard of half of these things!"
The Meowstic waited quietly for the man to order.
Just then, a passing Ralts caught the man's eye. Their gazes met briefly, and the man felt an inexplicable wave of delight. He set the menu down and declared, "Fine, just bring me ten of everything on the menu!"
"Meowstic~"
Right away, sir!
The Meowstic left promptly.
Before long, the Meowstic used its psychic powers to bring out all the ordered dishes, filling the table to the brim.
The warm aroma of freshly steamed buns and bread rolls mingled with the fragrant scent of porridge, wafting into the air and straight to the man's nose.
"Smells… surprisingly good," he muttered under his breath.
"Lechonk~"
The Lechonk in his arms twitched its nose, visibly drawn to the enticing aroma. Slowly, it leaned toward one of the steamed buns.
Lechonk, known for its keen sense of smell, prided itself on being able to discern the finest scents. Wild Lechonk used this ability to locate food, and this one had already determined that the bun was delicious.
The man noticed and exclaimed excitedly, "My darling, you're finally interested in eating something!"
"Lechonk~"
Lechonk nodded eagerly, a small drop of drool forming at the corner of its mouth.
The man quickly picked up the bun, tore it in half, and held one piece to Lechonk's snout.
The little Pokémon sniffed it a few times before gobbling up the piece in one swift bite.
"Nom~ Nom~"
Lechonk chewed on the steamed bun, its large eyes squinting into slits, a look of pure bliss plastered across its face. Anyone could tell at a glance that it absolutely loved the food.
As the bun broke open, the fragrance grew even more intense. The man took a deep breath, and his mouth involuntarily began to water. Watching his little darling eat so contentedly, he couldn't help but mutter:
"Can it really be that good?"
The bodyguard standing nearby also caught a whiff of the tantalizing aroma. Though his face remained impassive, his mouth was already awash with saliva.
This wretched boss, the bodyguard thought bitterly, No consideration for his underlings. Sitting there eating away—can't even think to order a portion for me?
So demanding, so inconsiderate. One day, I'm quitting this job.
In a flash, Lechonk had devoured more than half of the food on the table.
The man, well-acquainted with his little darling, knew it to be a picky eater despite its voracious appetite. He'd always gone to great lengths to care for it, even hiring a private chef. This trip, however, had been so rushed that they hadn't brought the chef along, leaving his precious pet with no appetite. It had been enough to set him on edge for days.
Staring at one of the steamed buns for a moment, the man picked it up and took a bite.
Just one bite, and he was utterly conquered by the taste.
Within moments, he polished off the bun and reached for another. Then he took a sip of the warm porridge, feeling a comforting warmth spread through his body.
Meanwhile, the bodyguard closed his eyes and repeated in his mind: I see nothing. I smell nothing. I see nothing. I smell nothing…
Before long, every last bun, roll, and bowl of porridge on the table was gone.
"Burp~"
"Burp~"
The man and Lechonk simultaneously let out satisfied belches. They looked at each other, their faces lit with contented smiles.
"Lechonk~ Lechonk~"
Lechonk wriggled in the man's arms, clearly much more spirited than when it had first arrived.
"Liked it, didn't you?" the man asked his pet.
"Lechonk~ Lechonk~"
It nodded enthusiastically.
"Well then, let's—"
The man was about to say something when the bodyguard beside him interjected, "Boss, the owner of this establishment is a member of the Azoth royal family. They're not going to agree to work as your personal chef."
His boss's intentions were all too predictable, like a telltale bent in his posture.
"How infuriating!" The man's face darkened. "But how would we know unless we try?"
"Hey, you! Come here!"
The man barked at the Espurr who was tidying up dishes not far away.
"Espurr~ Espurr~"
What is it, sir?
The Espurr blinked innocently.
Though his voice had been booming moments earlier, as soon as the man met the Espurr's wide, guileless eyes, his tone softened involuntarily.
"Um…where's your boss? I'd like to meet them."
"Espurr~ Espurr~"
The Espurr responded with a soft cry and carried a stack of dishes into the kitchen with its psychic powers.
Inside, the Espurr set the dishes down before padding over to Angie, gently tugging at his pants.
"What's the matter, Espurr?" Angie asked, glancing down.
"Espurr~ Espurr~"
The Espurr pointed toward the entrance and then back at Angie.
Understanding dawned on him. "Are you saying someone outside is asking for me?"
"Espurr~ Espurr~"
The Espurr nodded.
Angie checked the time and saw that it was almost 10:00. The shop was no longer as busy as it had been earlier, so he thought it wouldn't hurt to take a look.
Normally, when customers requested to see him, he would refuse.
Led by Espurr, Angie approached the man. Just as the man was about to speak, the bodyguard leaned in to remind him:
"This is a member of the Azoth royal family. Mind your words."
The man swallowed his words instantly. "Ahem… uh… uh…"
The bodyguard prompted him, "It's His Highness Angie."
The man quickly said, "Your Highness Angie, hello, my name is Nasir."
Angie nodded. "Mr. Nasir, hello. What can I do for you?"
Nasir said, "I had the privilege of tasting the food you made, Your Highness, and I found it absolutely astonishing."
"Thank you for the compliment, Mr. Nasir," Angie replied.
Nasir continued enthusiastically, "I was wondering if Your Highness might have considered opening a branch? I'm willing to invest. We could start by setting up a culinary school to train many students. You could be the teacher, and once the students are fully trained, we could open branches in different regions. This way, your food could reach the entire world."
Money isn't an issue. If you agree, I could make you the most famous chef in the world—even more renowned than Siebold, the Kalos Elite Four member. Customers would flood in, and we could make an incredible amount of money."
Nasir spoke passionately, but Angie was left rubbing his temples in frustration.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Nasir," Angie interrupted. "I have no plans to open a branch, let alone teach."
"Eh?" Nasir was stunned by the rejection. "Your Highness Angie, won't you reconsider? Truly, money is not an issue!"
I can tell you're wealthy, Angie thought to himself.
"No, thank you, Mr. Nasir, for your kind offer." He shook his head firmly.
"How about…" Nasir tried again, clearly reluctant, "just opening a branch in Paldea? Specifically in Mesagoza?"
It turned out Nasir was from the Paldea region, and Mesagoza was where he lived.
"Apologies." Angie still shook his head.
"What a pity," Nasir sighed in disappointment. Even Lechonk in his arms drooped its head.
If only I could eat this delicious food every day…
Angie said, "Mr. Nasir, if there's nothing else, I'll take my leave."
As he watched Angie walk away, Nasir turned to his bodyguard. "How long were we originally planning to stay in Azoth?"
"Three days," the bodyguard replied.
Nasir waved his hand decisively. "Change the schedule—make it half a month. I've got time to spare, so I might as well stay in the Azoth Kingdom longer."
"Yes, sir," the bodyguard answered.
"And pack up ten portions of buns and steamed buns for me. We'll have these for lunch."
Hearing this, Lechonk immediately began wriggling around in joy in Nasir's arms.
"You little glutton! You eat so much I can barely hold you anymore," Nasir said as he affectionately stroked his Lechonk.
"Lechonk~ Lechonk~"
Lechonk snuggled against him, full of delight.
With the packed buns and steamed rolls in hand, Nasir left the Munchlax's Home. Of course, the bodyguard secretly packed portions for himself and his colleagues.
Count on the boss? Ha! We'd starve to death!
Shortly after Nasir left, Angie closed the shop for the day right on schedule.
Just then, his phone rang. The caller was Kimia.
"Your Highness, have you returned to the Nebel Plateau?" came her voice from the other end.
"Not yet. What's the matter?" Angie asked.