Chapter Five: The Pokémon Chef

“Brother Heath, the day to receive our first Pokémon is coming soon. Are you planning to go get one?” Ash asked curiously as he munched on the jianbing that Heath had made for him.

Heath paused, spatula in hand as he cleaned the charred batter off the griddle. “Hm? Me? I’m not planning to, since I’ve already caught a Pokémon,” he replied with a smile and a shake of his head.

If it had been before, the idea of a starter Pokémon would have felt impossibly distant for Heath. But now that he had paid off his debts, captured a Farfetch’d, and gained his golden finger, his longing for a starter Pokémon had faded considerably.

“What? Really? What kind of Pokémon? Can I see it?” Ash’s eyes sparkled with excitement as he looked at Heath with anticipation.

Heath chuckled and took out his Poké Ball. Normally, he’d just let the Pokémon out, but seeing Ash’s expectant face, a bold idea sparked in his mind.

“It’s decided! Go, Farfetch’d!” Heath cried out with dramatic flair, tossing the Poké Ball in what he thought was a particularly cool manner.

The moment the words left his lips, he regretted them. For a man in his twenties, shouting such a line felt unbearably embarrassing. He flushed with awkwardness, wondering how Ash could always shout so naturally.

“Oooh!” Ash clenched his fists in excitement, his eyes nearly twinkling with stars. He thought Heath’s throw was incredibly cool!

When the Poké Ball’s light faded, a Farfetch’d appeared before them, sound asleep, hugging its leek.

Passersby stared in surprise at the Farfetch’d before Heath—it was an exceedingly rare Pokémon. However, seeing Officer Jenny, who often patrolled past Heath’s stall, put them at ease.

Everyone knew how strict Kanto’s protection of Farfetch’d was. The fact that one had been captured by a trainer meant it was registered with the League. Even Team Rocket, whose notoriety had recently soared, would think twice before making a move.

Compared to the vast League, Team Rocket was practically insignificant—if not for their hiding in the shadows, they’d have been wiped out long ago. Moreover, for some reason, Team Rocket, notorious throughout Kanto, was rarely seen in Viridian City.

“You’re so cool, Brother Heath!” Ash said, his eyes shining. Heath stroked his chin, wondering if Ash’s habit of staring at Pokémon with stars in his eyes had started with him.

“But of course,” Heath replied cheerfully, slipping a small silver treat into Farfetch’d’s beak. The bird woke with a crunch. Ash didn’t see clearly, but assumed it was some kind of snack.

Heath watched Ash with satisfaction. As expected of a protagonist—after hosting Ash, he had received a Silver Crown as a reward, and after using it, Farfetch’d’s defense stat had maxed out.

Heath felt a little helpless; he’d have preferred to boost attack or speed, but it seemed his Farfetch’d was destined for a defensive path.

“Farf! Farf!” Farfetch’d flapped its wings excitedly, looking much more lively.

Ash circled Farfetch’d with Luffy-like curiosity, reaching out to touch it. But Farfetch’d was wary of strangers and gripped its leek tightly, eyeing Ash with suspicion.

Heath knew this was Farfetch’d’s guarded state—the leek wasn’t just food; it could also be a weapon.

“Want something to eat, Farfetch’d?” Heath quickly intervened, not wanting his newly caught Pokémon to accidentally hurt Ash.

“Farf!” Farfetch’d nodded emphatically and sidled up to Heath, wagging its tail like a loyal puppy.

Heath couldn’t help but laugh. If he didn’t know better, he’d think he’d caught a Growlithe instead.

Meanwhile, Ash crouched by Farfetch’d, eyes wide with fascination. He’d only ever seen such a Pokémon on the news.

Heath continued making jianbing with practiced ease, but after a moment, he sensed something odd. Looking back, he saw Farfetch’d watching his every move, spinning its leek thoughtfully as if...

“Do you want to learn how to cook, Farfetch’d?” Heath asked, intrigued. Farfetch’d looked just like it wanted to try making a jianbing itself. While Heath doubted those wings could handle a spatula, he still asked.

“Farf!” Farfetch’d nodded eagerly and trotted over.

Heath raised an eyebrow. It really was going to cook?

A Pokémon famous for its delicious taste wanting to learn how to cook... Heath couldn’t help but think there was something off about this world.

But it was just a jianbing, and Heath didn’t mind letting Farfetch’d have a go. So he stepped aside, giving Farfetch’d a chance to try.

As expected, it was a struggle for Farfetch’d to grasp the spatula with its wings, but soon enough, it managed. Heath guided it patiently through the process.

Watching the jianbing gradually turn into something resembling an iron puck, Heath fell into deep thought.

How could Farfetch’d burn the jianbing when he was right there guiding it? Didn’t Ash see how hard he was laughing, his shoulders shaking with mirth?

[Farfetch’d has made a jianbing. Long-term quest “Pokémon Chef” activated.]

[First step of Pokémon Chef: Train Farfetch’d to make a perfect jianbing by itself to receive a special reward.]

Heath was momentarily stunned. This could trigger a quest? But seeing “long-term quest,” he felt a headache coming on. Was he really supposed to train Farfetch’d into a professional chef? That sounded impossible.

Still, the prospect of a special reward was tempting. So far, Heath had noticed his golden finger’s triggers were all related to cooking and food—serving guests often brought rewards, and serving famous guests brought even better ones.

Ash and Giovanni had given him excellent rewards, while ordinary customers provided small candies.

But looking at the scorched jianbing before him, and the Farfetch’d trying to sneak away unnoticed, Heath realized this would be a monumental task.

“Well, we’ll just have to make do,” Heath sighed. What else could he do? He was at his wit’s end.