While Robin was busy building the Coop, Leo didn't sit idle. He started experimenting with some special recipes.
Like Grass Cake.
In the game, this was a special dish with the ability to alter crop quality.
When players made this dish and fed it to their helpers, the crops tended by those helpers would undergo magical mutations.
But... could grass really be made into a dish?
Leo stood in the kitchen area, sleeves rolled up, utensils ready. He looked at the pile of fresh grass collected by Koraidon and Cyclizar, some washed stones, and a piece of iron gleaming with a metallic sheen.
Everyone knew that the Pokémon world had a huge variety of species, and their diets varied wildly.
Some ate meat, eggs, milk, and vegetables like humans. Others fed on grass, stones, metal, emotions, or even souls.
So, he was going to try something bold.
Although he lacked the specific cooking tools to make a literal "cake," the same ingredients could be cooked in different ways.
The early spring grass was incredibly tender and dripping with green vitality.
He washed them with clean water, removed the dirt and root stems, and placed them in a steamer to steam with water.
"If I were a Grass-type Pokémon, I'd probably prefer the grass to be a bit more tender." While waiting, Leo tried to put himself in a Pokémon's shoes.
So, he couldn't over-steam the grass. It couldn't be too old or dry; he had to lock in the moisture and original juices as much as possible.
Leo counted the time. As soon as five minutes were up, he put on gloves and took out the white porcelain plate containing the grass.
The steamed grass lay wet on the plate.
Leo looked down, and the information appeared in his mind.
`
Cooking Effect: After consumption, slightly increases the chance of a Grass-type Pokémon learning a Grass-type move.
Evaluation: A dish humans cannot eat, yet a rare delicacy for Pokémon. Your bold experiment will set an unprecedented precedent in the Pokémon world! Someday, your magical cuisine will spread to the ears of all Pokémon, driving them crazy! Keep going! Strive to make dishes that bring happiness to Pokémon!]
Leo: "..."
Moving his gaze away from the block of text, Leo stared in shock at the grass on the plate.
Although he had expected it, seeing it actually work still shocked him.
You can really make dishes out of grass! And the rank isn't even the lowest F-!
So, here's the question: Can I use stones and iron?
A bold idea popped into Leo's mind.
He looked at the shiny piece of iron and decided to switch cooking methods.
He heated oil in a wok. Once hot, he tossed in the iron block, followed by chili peppers and various seasonings. Once the iron was coated in bright red chili oil, he immediately plated it.
Leo looked down.
`
Cooking Effect: After consumption, slightly improves the Pokémon's control over Fire and Steel-type energy.
Extra Effect: Feeding it to Heatran will slightly increase its affection.
Evaluation: @#%&***!]
What the heck is that evaluation?
Leo was confused, but seeing the effects, the thought "as expected" surfaced.
Just like grass, metal could be made into a dish.
Then, the ordinary stones by the roadside probably worked too.
After all, Pokémon like Onix and Golem fed on mountain rocks.
However, what surprised Leo most was the "Extra Effect" of this Spicy Stir-Fried Iron.
Increase Heatran's affection?
Speaking of Heatran, one had to mention the distant Sinnoh region and its ancient myths.
Legend has it that the Creator, Arceus, created this world.
To provide the material and spiritual foundations for the world, It created Dialga to govern time, Palkia to govern space, and the Lake Guardians—Azelf, Uxie, and Mesprit—living in another dimension to bring emotion, wisdom, and knowledge.
Heatran was born during this process.
In ancient times, during the great battle between Dialga and Palkia, many fragments fell. These fragments landed on the ground and became Heatran.
"But Heatran should be in the Sinnoh region right now, right?" Leo fell into thought.
According to game lore, besides Sinnoh, Heatran also existed in the Hoenn region.
But currently, he couldn't travel to either region, and even if he did, he wouldn't know Heatran's specific location.
Thinking this, Leo looked at the Spicy Stir-Fried Iron with some regret.
He turned to see Koraidon and Cyclizar waiting eagerly nearby and teased them intentionally. "Do you guys want some?"
Koraidon and Cyclizar looked at the iron block coated in red chili oil. They both looked troubled and shook their heads in unison. For once, they reached a rare consensus.
Leo regretfully dumped the stones and grass into the trash can.
He wouldn't be using these two special dishes anytime soon.
But in the future, if he had time, he definitely wanted to visit the Sinnoh region.
"Heatran," the Lava Dome Pokémon. That was a Legendary!
Even if it was a lower-tier Legendary, compared to Caterpie and the like, it was still an incredibly rare Pokémon.
As a former collector, Leo's hoarding instinct began to stir.
Bringing all the cute, fluffy, and rare Pokémon in the world back to the ranch, raising them, and watching them while farming every day... what a beautiful life that would be!
Hehehe!
Suddenly, Leo noticed two big guys staring at him.
He coughed twice, wiped the grin off his face, turned to pat Koraidon and Cyclizar's heads, and then walked out of the house to Robin, who was building the Coop.
"Miss Robin, do you know where I can find Pokémon like Eevee, Vulpix, Pikachu, Skitty, Pachirisu, or Espurr?" Leo asked with hope in his eyes.
While the crops were still growing, he had some free time. He could take Koraidon and Cyclizar to "abduct" one back.
Although Koraidon and Cyclizar were well-behaved, cute, and goofy, they were too big.
Besides them, Leo wanted to raise some small, soft, fluffy Pokémon that he could stuff into his blanket to sleep with.
In the cold winter, with snow falling outside and the fireplace lit inside... Koraidon and Cyclizar lying by the bed, while Eevee, Vulpix, and Skitty lay on his quilt, at the foot of the bed, by his pillow, and in his arms.
I wouldn't trade that life for an emperor's throne!