The fragrance was like living tendrils. It not only enveloped Xinhai and his group, but also quietly drifted toward the lazy Slowpoke in the middle of the pool.
At first, the few Slowpoke closest to them merely turned their heads sluggishly, their pink noses twitching slightly, their eyes carrying a trace of confusion, as if wondering what that familiar, pleasant scent was.
Before long, more Slowpoke were drawn over.
They slowly climbed up from the moss where they had been lying, rose from the shallows, or stopped their already nearly motionless dazing. In unison, they turned their gazes toward Xinhai... or, more precisely, toward the pot that was bubbling away with steam and little bubbles.
A few bolder Slowpoke began slowly approaching Xinhai's platform with their characteristic sluggish movements.
"Sha-mo." Blaziken frowned slightly, about to let out a warning growl to stop them from coming any closer.
Xinhai raised a hand, signaling Blaziken to stay calm. He could tell that there was not a trace of hostility in these Slowpoke's eyes, only the purest longing for something delicious.
In this peaceful territory, they probably had only the vaguest concept of "snatching."
Still, being lured over by the aroma of tails cooked from their own kind was something else.
Xinhai looked at the gathering Slowpoke with amused helplessness. They did not come too close, stopping several meters away to sit or lie down, their heads raised as they stared blankly at the pot. Every so often, one would let out a muffled, "Yadon~"
Eating while being watched by over thirty pairs of vacant yet longing eyes was genuinely rather stressful.
Xinhai smiled helplessly, then had an idea.
He took several large bags from his backpack—Pokémon food he had specially prepared in Fallarbor Town before setting out, along with several bags of