Hearthome TV Station.
After Li Wei and the other three took the stage, only two minutes remained before the competition officially began.
The host, Yuka, introduced the semifinal challenge to the audience.
"The theme of this semifinal is-your original aspirations!"
"Contestants, think back to what first inspired you to become a breeder. You have sixty minutes to create a Pokémon dish that best expresses that inspiration!"
Yuka's voice grew louder and more excited.
As the starting bell rang, Yuka drew a deep breath. "The semifinals of the 24th Young Breeder Competition officially begin!"
The sixty-minute countdown started on the big screen. Li Wei, Ge Li, Lalami, and Sasha all got to work at their cooking stations.
Yuka, who also had the important job of providing commentary, walked back and forth, with the camera following her.
"Stop hitting me on the head!"
The live broadcast delivered entertainment right off the bat.
The sound technician holding the overhead microphone had whacked Yuka again.
Actually, who knew how many times it had happened by now?
The clumsy sound technician was practically a signature feature of the Sinnoh NOW team.
Akin quipped, "They still haven't fired him?"
Lance laughed. "Maybe it's part of the show."
"Wow! Look at contestant Ge Li!"
Ge Li was stir-frying over high heat. Just as in the previous round, he was making his specialty, Pokémon Curry.
This time, however, he had chosen the ingredients himself.
He had selected chicken gizzards and the tips of pig stomachs. After scoring them, he stir-fried them for less than ten seconds before taking them out of the wok.
These were the toppings for his Pokémon Curry.
The Old Master commented, "Not bad, but he's still too slow. Nowhere near his grandfather."
The scoring made the cooked gizzards and stomach pieces curl into