Chapter Fourteen: The Plasma Squad?

Heath felt as if he had discovered a path to wealth—a path called mukbang, for there was no such thing in the Pokémon world. Kadabra Coder’s meals at his stall had proven to be very effective, bringing in a stream of customers that kept Heath busy right up until the start of the workday. By then, most office workers had already arrived at their companies, and the crowd at Heath’s stall began to thin. He wiped the sweat from his brow and lifted the lid off the pot; there wasn’t much braised pork left inside.

Heath estimated that there was enough for two more servings. “Whew... This new dish is really popular. It’s almost sold out in such a short time.” Counting the bills in his hand, Heath broke into a blissful smile.

Mr. Coder had left after finishing his braised pork rice, but judging from his lingering expression, Heath suspected he would see him again tomorrow. It seemed wise to add braised pork to his regular menu.

As Heath pondered how much pork he should buy in the future, he suddenly felt a tug on his sleeve. He looked down in confusion and saw Farfetch’d gazing up at him with pitiful eyes. Heath paused, then glanced at Farfetch’d with a peculiar look.

“Do you want to make braised pork?” Heath recalled the earlier quest—Farfetch’d seemed very interested in the dish.

“Leek!” Farfetch’d waved its leek enthusiastically, chirping with delight.

Heath drew in a sharp breath. Braised pork was quite different from pancakes; if the pancake mishaps had merely made him wince, losing braised pork would feel like being stabbed. The losses would be too great. Even though he could make a tidy profit from each serving, Farfetch’d’s destructive tendencies were hard to endure.

Yet, seeing Farfetch’d’s eager eyes and considering the special reward for completing the quest, Heath admitted he was tempted. If he could get something powerful, it would more than make up for any losses.

Still, Heath decided caution was necessary. Once he bought the ingredients, he would teach Farfetch’d to make a small batch of braised pork with tofu, guiding it step by step to avoid waste.

“Dad! I want that!” A child’s voice rang out. Heath looked up and saw a well-dressed boy tugging his father’s hand, pointing eagerly at Heath’s stall.

“It’s the day to receive Pokémon, you know. Shouldn’t you get your starter first?” The man smiled, ruffling his son’s hair.

“I’m hungry!” The boy’s stomach growled as he inhaled the delicious aroma wafting through the air. Unable to resist his son’s wishes, the father brought him to Heath’s stall.

After confirming the price, the man bought the last two servings. Heath watched the pair leave, scratching his head. The boy must be a privileged child scheduled to receive a Pokémon, though his face didn’t suggest anyone particularly important.

Heath knew that in Kanto, he could only hope to serve a handful of famous figures. He wondered if he might ever encounter one of the Elite Four, but doubted they would dine at his humble stall.

As the time to receive Pokémon approached, cars passed by Heath’s stall, and he began to pack up. Few people stopped to buy food at this hour.

“Mom, when can I get my Squirtle?” A familiar voice caught Heath’s attention. He looked up in confusion, then froze.

A car waited at the red light, and through the window Heath saw a little girl—the same girl he’d met yesterday. Heath rubbed his eyes. The car had already driven off, but he was certain he’d just seen the girl from Viridian Forest. The realization left him bewildered.

“Was it a Pokémon illusion?” Heath frowned. Yesterday, that girl had vanished like sand blown by the wind. He was convinced a Pokémon was behind it; humans couldn’t possess such technology.

As Heath was thinking that humans were incapable of such feats, another thought struck him—in the Pokémon world, humans did have some pretty advanced technology.

He touched the ball hanging from his waist. The GS Ball had been with him since he’d acquired it, though it hadn’t served any purpose yet.

“Let’s go, Farfetch’d. Time to shop for ingredients.” Heath stretched. With no customers, he decided to take Farfetch’d to buy supplies and teach it how to cook.

As he walked, Heath reviewed the messages he hadn’t had time to check while serving guests.

Most customers left behind candies that could boost specific effort values.

“You have entertained Asura, one of Team Plasma’s Seven Sages, and received a random clue.”

Heath paused. Previous guests had names like Todd or Alain, but suddenly Team Plasma appeared—a detail that instantly caught his attention.

“Team Plasma has brought something to Kanto, seeking cooperation with Team Rocket.”

The random clue appeared. Heath had been too busy to check these notifications before, but now he found a surprising reward.

“Team Plasma... I remember they’re the villainous group from Unova,” Heath mused, scratching his head. He recalled they were the antagonists from the Black and White games, promoting the idea that Pokémon should return to nature, but in reality seeking to monopolize their power.

Those who opposed Team Plasma risked losing their own Pokémon—a true villainous organization.

Heath never expected to serve such figures, but curiosity gnawed at him: What had Team Plasma brought to Kanto?

Heath shook his head. He couldn’t recall Asura’s face; there had been so many customers today that he wasn’t sure whom he’d served. He’d have to wait and see if he met them again. Still, he made a mental note of the matter.

Soon, Heath and Farfetch’d arrived at the market, where he bought several slabs of pork. He planned to cut them into small pieces and teach Farfetch’d how to make braised pork, minimizing any losses.