Watching Ye Lan work with practiced ease at the front of the classroom, many of the students looked on in admiration. His knife skills, heat control, and timing were all excellent.
Normally, students specially admitted to the Breeding Department were not selected through provincial Trainer tournaments. Students recruited through Pokémon Battle competitions like those generally chose the Battle Department, and Ye Lan was one of the rare exceptions.
For gifted breeders, each province's Breeders Association had its own selection process. Although they also held assessments and ranked the candidates, selection was largely based on theoretical knowledge.
They might demonstrate astonishing talent in their understanding of Pokémon breeding, but as first-year students, their practical skills fell far short of Ye Lan's. Many had barely even touched the utensils used to prepare Pokémon dishes, and had only begun getting the hang of them through their recent classes.
At that moment, Ye Lan looked like a thoroughly seasoned chef. Every movement was effortless. Even though this was his first time attending a class in this room, the memories ingrained in him kept any hint of panic off his face. In no time at all, he used the appropriate cooking techniques to place a nearly flawless dish on the counter.
Surveying the finished dish, appealing in appearance, aroma, and flavor, the middle-aged man nodded repeatedly before praising him. "Very good. Ye Lan has done an excellent job, and clearly, this isn't his first time using these cooking techniques. He must practice regularly. You should all learn from him."
He had long since heard that Ye Lan's own ability affected the Pokémon Food he cooked. Only Grass-type Pokémon could properly digest the grass-type energy infused into it, while Pokémon of other types were highly likely to suffer side effects after eating it. Yet, as a