Li Wei pondered the Smoked Apricorn Juice entry in his Special Cuisine Pokédex.
Friendly reminder: This special recipe is slightly above the player's cooking skill level. There is a considerable chance of failure.
Got it. Another Schrödinger situation.
Berry Juice was sold on the market. It was simply juice squeezed from Normal Oran Berries, and it really did restore stamina.
This was Li Wei's first time hearing of Smoked Apricorn Juice.
That meant even if Li Wei asked his grandfather, the old man could probably only offer some advice based on experience.
Li Wei clicked on the video details, and the view before him immediately changed.
A woman spread fresh Apricorns over a bamboo mat and smoked them with pine branches.
The sun rose and the moon set. Over three straight days of smoking, the woman turned them over every twelve hours, until their skins blackened and their insides dried completely.
Soak, simmer, reduce the heat from high to low, pour out the liquid and add water, simmer again, add roses...
After exiting the video, Li Wei wrote down the woman's entire process, including the simmering times.
"Great. Once I buy some Oran Berries tomorrow, I can try smoking them."
Although the system's friendly reminder warned that he might fail, he would never improve without practice.
Another half month passed amid monotonous training.
The new year arrived.
Li Wei's parents, his Elder Uncle Li Wen, and his Elder Aunt Mizuho all returned to Celestic Town.
Only his older cousin Vera was unable to return because of work.
Unlike the easygoing, portly Leon,
his Elder Uncle Li Wen wore a sharp suit and polished shoes, looking like an eligible millionaire bachelor.
Though... he was a little bald.
After all, he was a famous designer and tailor.
Losing his hair was only natural.
Seeing that Vera hadn't returned, Leon looked at his older brother Li Wen in confusion. "What's keeping her so busy she still can't come home?"
His Elder Uncle explained, "She went to the ancient ruins in Eterna City. Apparently, they've unearthed another batch of inscriptions. Even the Champion went."
Leon dismissed this. "Ancient ruins? We've got those in Celestic Town too."
Wen Hui rolled her eyes at Leon. "The ancient ruins in Celestic Town and Eterna City aren't the same."
Quietly enjoying the conversation from the sidelines, Li Wei pondered.
Eterna City's ancient ruins...
He remembered that either the Lustrous Orb or the Adamant Orb was stored there, but he couldn't recall which one.
Those two orbs were connected to Sinnoh's gods of time and space, Dialga and Palkia.
Speaking of the two gods, aside from the movies, Li Wei also remembered Team Galactic.
Team Galactic had been exposed long ago.
No one had expected a company that maintained a good public image and claimed to be developing cosmic energy,
with Galactic Buildings in both Veilstone City and Eterna City in the Sinnoh Region, to actually be a clandestine organization.
After Team Galactic's defeat, Cyrus had vanished without a trace.
The system suddenly gave a bizarre little ding.
Li Wei, who had been quietly enjoying the conversation, froze.
At most, Team Galactic only has a few remnants left.
Don't tell me it wants me to deal with Team Galactic too?
Fortunately, the system wasn't quite that unreasonable.
Side quest: [A Meeting Across Time and Space] (optional): The Sinnoh Region, home to many ancient ruins, has left precious treasures throughout the long course of history. The people of Celestic Town should bravely take the lead. Try to unravel the secrets of the ancient ruins and seek out traces of Legendary Pokémon! [Stage one objective]: Meet any one of the following: Dialga, Palkia, Azelf, Uxie, or Mesprit. [Quest reward]: Information on the whereabouts of one catchable Mythical Pokémon of your choice.
Li Wei nearly blanked out.
The objective was to meet either one of the gods of time and space or one of the Lake Guardians, and the reward was information on a Mythical Pokémon's whereabouts!
Having come to the Pokémon world, Li Wei would have been lying if he said he wasn't interested in Legendary or Mythical Pokémon.
Darkrai, Diancie, Zeraora, Victini, Jirachi...
These were all Mythical Pokémon Li Wei really liked.
Especially since Li Wei even had a Diancie Mega Stone.
It wasn't as though Li Wei had never thought about catching them, or befriending them like Ash.
With an opportunity to obtain them right before his eyes, Li Wei had to consider whether this might be his only chance in this lifetime...
Restore the glory of Mythical Pokémon!
Mythical Pokémon could also boost the Pokémon Day Care's reputation.
Accept.
Li Wei chose to accept without the slightest hesitation.
Even a moment's hesitation would be disrespectful!
The elders' conversation jumped from topic to topic, soon shifting from his cousin Vera to Li Wei.
Looking at the Shiny Metang, Li Wen remarked,
"Xiao Wei even caught a Shiny Metang. I remember the former Hoenn Champion, Steven, had a silver Metagross."
Steven had long since given up his Champion title and gone off to dig for minerals.
Leon smacked a fist into his palm and exclaimed excitedly,
"I get it, I get it! My son equals Steven, which means my son has what it takes to be a Champion!"
Li Wei nearly spat out what he was eating.
You people are far too good at playing with equations!
His Elder Aunt Mizuho patted Li Wei on the shoulder. "Exactly. Our Xiao Wei is no worse than Steven in either height or looks."
Li Wei's passive skill-Center of Attention (master level)-spoke for itself.
His uncle Li Wen nodded with an air of importance. "Come to think of it, I've actually met Steven. Xiao Wei really does measure up."
"?"
Everyone turned to look at Li Wen.
Their faces all held the same curious spectators' confusion.
We don't do tall tales around here, you know.
Li Wen blinked. "Didn't I mention it?"
Everyone answered in unison, "No."
Li Wen rubbed his chin and explained, "Hoenn's current Champion, Wallace, came to me to have clothes designed for a Pokémon Contest.
"Former Champion Steven came too. I designed outfits for both of them, and they were quite pleased."
His Elder Aunt said through gritted teeth, "And you didn't think to advertise that you'd designed clothes for them!"
Li Wen ran a hand over his sparse hair, looking ready to cry.
"That would be too exhausting! I barely have any hair left as it is. I'm practically about to start giving each strand a name!"
"..."
Looking at her husband's sparse hair...
his Elder Aunt couldn't really say anything more.
Their argument did give Li Wei an idea, though.
Making use of his connections was a good option.
Having attended a Trainer school and traveled away from home, Li Wei did have a few connections.
His Elder Uncle really was busy. After just two days back in his hometown, work forced him to return to his tailoring.
He had just accepted a major order worth five million.
Apparently, it was for a princess from some kingdom,
designing a gown for Princess Salvia.
Before leaving, his Elder Uncle expressed strong support for Li Wei's decision to study Pokémon breeding and cooking.
"Xiao Wei, study hard... Don't forget what your grandfather taught you. That way, the old man won't have to scold me!"
Li Wen wiped away tears, then covered his face and sobbed like a melodramatic actor.
"..."
Elder Uncle, you're laying it on way too thick!
Actually, both of you brothers are drama kings!
His grandfather happened to pass by and gave Li Wen a homeroom teacher's death glare!
Fortunately for his Elder Uncle, less than ten seconds passed between getting into the car and driving away.
"I haven't gotten in yet!!!"
Only his Elder Aunt was left standing there, utterly flustered in the wind.
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