Chapter Thirteen: Cod and Braised Pork

“Oh, my adorable little Heath, what delicious thing are you making?” A peculiar voice rang out, making Heath instinctively cover his face. Why did this nuisance have time to show up now?

“Mr. Cord, what brings you out for a meal today?” Heath asked helplessly, lifting his head to see, as expected, the source of his headache.

“Oh, my old friend, you must not know today is the post office’s day off. I swear, if that damn supervisor dares ask me to work overtime, I’ll be sure to teach him a lesson with my psychic powers.” Cord stroked his golden beard and chuckled good-naturedly.

Heath felt a headache coming on. Mr. Cord was a regular at his place, but his background was a bit unusual.

A yellow body, golden beard, three fingers, and a ladle in hand—yes, Mr. Cord was a Pokémon. More precisely, he was an Alakazam.

Heath admitted that the first time he saw an Alakazam come to dine at his place, he was utterly dumbfounded. Even more so after hearing the strange way Cord spoke—it was simply bizarre.

But aside from his peculiar manner of speaking, Mr. Cord was actually a reasonable and amiable customer. Heath rarely saw him lose his temper; even if someone accidentally stepped on his foot, Cord remained unfazed.

Mr. Cord worked at the post office, though he had very few responsibilities—hardly anyone chose Alakazam’s services for mail delivery.

The postal system in the Pokémon world was quite fascinating. The cheapest option was regular mail handled by people. Next came delivery by Flying-type Pokémon, typically Pidgeot or Fearow in Viridian City’s post office.

There was, of course, an especially expensive method: sending mail via Alakazam. The advantage was almost guaranteed same-day delivery, with no worries about damage—Alakazam’s psychic powers were incredibly reliable.

The downside was the exorbitant price, charged by distance; the farther the city, the higher the cost.

Heath recalled Cord once telling him he’d delivered a letter as far away as Lavender Town, and that single delivery cost a whopping three thousand League Coins.

“Oh, my dear Cord, if you keep using that infuriating dubbed-movie tone with me, I swear to God I’ll kick your backside with my boot,” Heath sighed. Who had recommended those movies to Cord, anyway?

“Look at that, what a marvelous turn of phrase! So, little Heath, could you make me one of your latest dishes?” Cord grinned, placing his spoon in midair, then settled himself down right in front of Heath.

As an Alakazam, Cord had his own way of sitting. Each time, he would use his psychic powers to conjure an invisible chair to sit on while dining. Heath had long grown accustomed to this, and, truth be told, was a little envious—how wonderful it would be to have such abilities! He could save money on jars and tables and chairs.

“All right, please wait a moment, Mr. Cord.” Heath nodded, lifting the pot lid for a quick look; the braised pork with tofu puffs was ready.

As the lid was lifted, the rich, savory aroma quickly filled the air. The distinct scent of braised pork made many passersby pause, curiosity drawing their eyes to Heath’s stall.

Heath was quite pleased with this advertising effect. He could have cooked elsewhere or taken measures to hide the smell, but he wanted people’s mouths to water.

He scooped rice into a bowl, then filled another bowl with braised pork and tofu puffs, pouring the flavorful sauce over it before setting the meal before Cord.

“Leek, leek!” Farfetch’d danced anxiously at Heath’s side, clearly excited. Heath suspected that if he didn’t serve Farfetch’d a portion, the poor thing would bury its head in the pot.

To prevent Farfetch’d from ruining his freshly prepared food, Heath quickly dished out a serving for it as well.

Meanwhile, Cord studied the meal before him with curiosity. An Alakazam’s life span is a long one, and as they age, their heads become larger—the result of ever-increasing brain cells. This, perhaps, explained the insatiable curiosity that all Alakazam seemed to share.

To Cord, this serving of braised pork with tofu puffs was a tempting novelty.

A fragrance unlike anything he’d ever encountered filled the air. Cord had tasted many fine dishes, and even at work, the meals provided at the post office were top tier, yet none could match the unique aroma of this dish.

With practiced ease, Alakazam lifted his spoon and scooped up a cube of tofu puff, bringing it to his mouth. As he chewed, the broth-soaked tofu burst open, flooding his palate with scalding, flavorful juices. Cord couldn’t help but open his mouth wide, but the soft, sauce-laden tofu was so delicious that he couldn’t resist chewing a few more times.

“Mr. Cord, this braised pork tastes even better when eaten with rice,” Heath said with a smile, watching Cord, who kept opening and closing his mouth, presumably from the heat. The scene made Heath want to laugh.

Did Cord forget he was a Psychic-type Pokémon? Cooling it down with his powers would be child’s play.

“Very well, my friend.” Cord obligingly tipped the braised pork and tofu over his rice, then took a mouthful of the combined flavors.

Again came that rich aroma—the tender texture of the tofu, the way the white rice instantly soaked up the sauce’s flavor. Cord couldn’t help taking another big bite.

The slow-cooked pork was chewy yet tender, not falling apart, and with every bite, the distinctive scent of the braised sauce and the richness of the meat seemed to burst forth, making Cord feel as if his taste buds were dancing.

Farfetch’d attempted to imitate him, shoveling rice into his beak with gusto, a look of pure happiness on his face. Yet, in his eagerness, he sometimes burned himself and hopped frantically about.

[You have served Cord the Alakazam. You have received a Brain Enlarger.]

[Brain Enlarger: In the eyes of Alakazam, a bigger head means greater intelligence. Use this potion to permanently increase the size of your head, making you more attractive—at least to Alakazam.]

Heath’s mouth twitched. What kind of bizarre item was this? What use could he possibly have for it? Was it meant to attract Alakazam?

Still, Cord’s live eating demonstration proved highly effective. Many passersby glanced over, swallowing hungrily, and soon a line began to form at Heath’s stall.