Recaps

Li Wei left Mirror Lake Island after translating the surviving records and returned to the Jubilife Breeding Center to prepare for the Pokémon Restaurant's opening. The restaurant was ready, and he planned to finalize its opening-day menu with his family.

• Li Wei translated records describing the island's early inhabitants, their lives with Pokémon, and their eventual departure by boat, while researchers continued restoring damaged inscriptions.
• Cynthia saw Li Wei off at the island's edge and promised to attend the restaurant's opening, while Steven had already returned to the Mossdeep Space Center after collecting stones for analysis.
• Li Wei flew back to the Jubilife Breeding Center on Corviknight and reassured Elder Uncle that Vera was eating properly with Cynthia and Roland nearby.
• Li Wei and Lucario inspected the finished restaurant, which Elder Uncle had designed and renovated, and Li Wei prepared to finalize the menu before its opening in seven days.

Li Wei prepared to hire staff for the Pokémon Restaurant and gathered media contacts with help from Dayou and Elder Uncle. The next day, applicants arrived early at the Jubilife Breeding Center, drawn by Li Wei’s fame.

• Li Wei discussed the restaurant’s staffing needs and confirmed that reporters arranged through Miss Yuka would publish promotional articles soon.
• Comrade Leon invited Li Wei to join the next day’s interviews and asked him for the list of guests he had invited.
• Dayou gave Li Wei a notebook of media contacts, and Elder Uncle offered to send additional recommendations.
• Li Wei drove Mom and Elder Aunt downtown, then returned to the Breeding Center before the scheduled interviews.
• Li Wei saw applicants waiting at the Cafeteria at 1:15, unaware that many had come because of his fame.

The Jubilife Breeding Center began recruiting staff for its Pokémon Restaurant, drawing many applicants because of the center’s reputation. Li Wei and his family interviewed the kitchen candidates, where they met Kane Anderson, the prodigious heir to Kalos’s Rainbow-rated Anderson Restaurant, who had come to improve his cooking.

• Applicants arrived early for the restaurant recruitment, and Dayou and Incineroar handled registration at the cafeteria entrance.
• Dayou recognized chef applicant Kane Anderson as the Anderson Restaurant heir and Siebold’s student, and directed him into the kitchen.
• Li Wei, Leon, and Xiao Meng interviewed kitchen applicants while planning to hire a head chef, assistant cooks, and kitchen hands.
• Li Wei wondered why Kane had come to Jubilife instead of taking over his family restaurant, while Leon took his arrival as proof of the Breeding Center’s prestige.
• Kane observed Li Wei and his family as they discussed his application.

Li Wei and Leon interviewed chefs for the Jubilife Breeding Center, where Kane Anderson sought a new culinary challenge and Thor hoped to keep cooking despite his family’s objections. Leon hired Thor after hearing how he had secretly left home to find work.

• Kane Anderson reflected on Li Wei’s skill and explained that Siebold had encouraged him to seek a culinary path beyond memorized recipes.
• Li Wei began the kitchen assessment, and Kane prepared Sweet and Sour Pork and rosemary steak for the interview.
• Li Wei asked sixty-five-year-old Thor why he wanted to work, and Thor revealed that he had retired five years earlier and secretly traveled from Veilstone City after his son forbade him from opening a restaurant.
• Leon was moved by Thor’s dedication and immediately told him he could stay.

Li Wei hired Kane and Thor as head chefs for the Pokémon Restaurant and learned from Siebold that Kane needed to make his cooking more accessible to ordinary people. Siebold asked Li Wei to guide Kane, and Li Wei agreed.

• Thor's lifelong love of cooking had led him to become Master Leze's only apprentice, and he came to apply for a job at the Pokémon Restaurant.
• Li Wei and Dad hired Kane and Thor as head chefs, chose four assistant cooks, and filled the remaining kitchen positions with helpers.
• Li Wei told the new kitchen staff to come in by January 23 to sign contracts and said they would receive free accommodation.
• Li Wei called Siebold and confirmed that Kane had passed the assessment and been hired as a head chef.
• Li Wei observed that Kane focused too much on refined presentation, and Siebold explained that Kane needed to balance his aesthetic principles with ordinary people's needs and budgets.
• Siebold asked Li Wei to advise Kane when appropriate, and Li Wei agreed.

Li Wei and his family prepared to taste test dishes for the Pokémon Restaurant, while his elder uncle showed him the completed ordering system. The restaurant’s opening was nearly ready, and friends in the Chat Group planned to travel to Jubilife City for the ceremony.

• Li Wei’s elder uncle showed him a customer ordering system with chef selection, dish prices, and estimated wait times, as well as a chef interface for tracking orders.
• Li Wei and his family planned to begin taste testing in two days and asked the head chefs to submit ingredient lists and menus.
• Li Wei and Leon prepared their dish lists, and Li Wei’s elder uncle praised the wide variety of Li Wei’s cooking.
• Li Wei asked Cynthia about the Mirror Lake Island investigation, and she said they were still repairing the damaged stone wall.
• Red, Yellow, Blue, Akin, Christa, Green, Professor Rowan, and Professor Oak booked flights to Jubilife City for the restaurant’s opening, and Li Wei told them not to bring gifts.

Li Wei's restaurant staff held a taste test, beginning with his candied sweet potato, which impressed Kane and the other tasters. Kane then served pan-seared scallops with his pineapple-brandy sauce, and Li Wei prepared mapo tofu as the next dish.

• Li Wei invited the Breeding Center staff and the new restaurant employees to taste dishes and vote on whether they should join the menu.
• Dayou, Shiyin, Kane, and the others tasted Li Wei's candied sweet potato, and Kane recalled his life and the praise he had received from his father and teacher.
• The staff praised Li Wei's cooking, while Dayou and Shiyin said the Old Master's food was even better.
• Kane prepared pan-seared scallops with his pineapple-brandy sauce, and Li Wei found the scallops' sweetness and savory flavor balanced by the sauce.
• Li Wei warned everyone to get Moomoo Milk before tasting his mapo tofu.

Li Wei finished preparing the Pokémon Restaurant, hired and assessed its staff, and announced its opening to the trainers in Red's Chat Group. On the morning of January 25, he began preparing ingredients for the opening ceremony.

• Li Wei's staff sampled Kane and Thor's dishes, and the tasting confirmed their different cooking skill levels.
• Biscara quickly took charge as head server, while Li Wei noticed Xiao Yue's advanced drawing skill and planned to ask her about it later.
• Biscara blacklisted a new server who focused on gossiping about Li Wei and Kane, while Li Wei welcomed Xiao Yue to the team.
• Li Wei announced the restaurant's opening time in Red's Chat Group, and Lance, Red, Akin, Lt. Surge, Lorelei, Blue, and Professor Oak said they would attend.
• Li Wei and the others discussed the research progress on Giant Dragonite and its value for understanding Pokémon history and preventing past mistakes.
• On the morning of January 25, Li Wei got up early to prepare ingredients for the restaurant's opening ceremony.

Li Wei prepared the Jubilife Pokémon Restaurant for its opening, which drew major attention from across Sinnoh and the restaurant industry. As the opening ceremony began, invited guests and reporters arrived, and flower baskets from prominent figures filled the entrance.

• With Lance's help, Li Wei hired experienced Lilligant, Tsareena, Indeedee, and Mr. Mime as servers, completing the restaurant's staff.
• Li Wei supported Mayor Luca, who was expected to run for Sinnoh League President after leaving Jubilife City at year's end.
• Li Wei's commissioned media articles built excitement for the restaurant by highlighting its ties to famous Champions and researchers.
• Li Wei, the Old Master, Leon, Kane, and Thor prepared to serve the opening's guests, while Biscara organized the dining room and instructed the servers.
• Invited guests, customers, and reporters arrived for the opening, and flower baskets from Lucian, Steven Stone, Wallace, Professor Oak's Laboratory, and the Rowan Research Institute gathered outside.

As the Jubilife Breeding Center prepared to open its restaurant, crowds, reporters, and prominent guests arrived. Red, Yellow, and Blue joined the invited guests inside, while Li Wei began a livestream and Yellow spotted Cynthia arriving.

• Flower baskets and a growing queue gathered outside the Breeding Center as customers came for the grand-opening meal draw.
• Shaymin watched the crowds from home while Diancie enjoyed the lively scene at the center.
• The Sinnoh NOW crew arrived, followed by Red, Yellow, and Blue, and reporters questioned Red as he entered the restaurant.
• Red, Yellow, and Blue were seated with prominent guests, and Red examined the restaurant's scan-to-order code.
• Steven, Wallace, Green, Professor Oak, Professor Rowan, Mayor Luca, Zoro, and other guests arrived as Li Wei started a livestream, and Yellow spotted Cynthia.

The Pokémon Restaurant opened in Jubilife City as trainers, researchers, officials, and reporters gathered for the occasion. Red accepted that he could not battle Cynthia during the opening, and the restaurant began serving food to its eager guests.

• Reporters gathered outside the Pokémon Restaurant as Cynthia, Red, Blue, Lance, Mayor Luca, Lucian, and others arrived.
• Red and Pikachu explored the menu while Blue teased him about how much Snorlax would cost to feed.
• Akin arrived unnoticed by reporters, and Crystal explained that the media had focused on interviewing Mayor Luca instead.
• Red asked Cynthia for a battle, but Yellow explained that they should not take attention away from the restaurant opening.
• Li Wei's relatives greeted guests, and the restaurant served its first food at 11:36.

Li Wei hosted a meal at the Jubilife Pokémon Restaurant, where invited Champions, professors, reporters, and critics sampled dishes prepared by the restaurant’s chefs. Blue was moved to tears by Li Wei’s Candied Sweet Potato, which reminded her of Professor Oak’s care, and she called it the best dessert she had ever eaten.

• Li Wei served an elaborate cold platter carved into Pokémon, impressing the guests and attracting attention from reporters and diners.
• Yellow praised Kane’s pan-seared scallops, while Lt. Surge and the other guests admired the Old Master’s blanched choy sum.
• The guests reached Li Wei’s Candied Sweet Potato, and Cynthia advised them to eat it while it was hot.
• Blue tasted the dessert and remembered Professor Oak welcoming her as a Trainer and caring for her, then began to cry.
• Blue wiped away her tears and said she had remembered something happy and that the dessert was the best she had ever eaten.
• Green reflected on his own happy memories of becoming Champion and battling Red, while Red and Pikachu enjoyed the dessert.

The Pokémon Restaurant’s opening drew a packed crowd, and Li Wei’s elaborate Pigeon Swallowing a Swallow’s Nest impressed the guests and food critics. Lorelei and Lance decided to return to Sinnoh for more meals, while the gathering wound down after lunch.

• The Pokémon and staff served a packed restaurant as Blue, Yellow, Green, and the others enjoyed Xiao Meng’s Corn Tart.
• Li Wei served Pigeon Swallowing a Swallow’s Nest, and Akin explained how the elaborate dish had been prepared.
• The food critics praised the dish, while Li Wei’s servers guided Red, Professor Oak, and the other guests on different ways to eat it.
• Lorelei decided to visit the restaurant whenever she came to Sinnoh, and Lance considered competing there more often so he could dine as a paying customer.
• Lucian and Shauntal enjoyed the meal together, and the guests realized it was already half past one.

Li Wei’s Moltres-class Spicy Pokémon Curry amazed the diners and showed Green that it could strengthen Fire-type Pokémon. After the restaurant’s grand opening, customers signed up for memberships and discussed the upcoming Master League, while Li Wei finally met Cynthia after finishing his kitchen work.

• Li Wei served Moltres-class Spicy Pokémon Curry, which delighted Red’s Pikachu, Charizard, Arcanine, and Akin’s Typhlosion, Explodey.
• Lance signed up for a premium membership and reserved two servings of Pigeon Swallowing a Swallow's Nest for next Saturday; Lorelei and Akin followed, Green revealed he already had a membership, and he offered to let Blue use his.
• Lance told Akin that the Master League would begin on February tenth, and Red said he was not interested in competing for now.
• Cynthia messaged Li Wei from outside the kitchen, and he washed up and went out to meet her.
• Li Wei and Cynthia chatted as they walked toward the dining area.

Li Wei opened his Pokémon Restaurant and finally met Red, while the gathered trainers celebrated and traded jokes. After everyone else made excuses to stay behind or pursue their own plans, Red and Yellow went to explore downtown Jubilife City together.

• Li Wei welcomed Red to the restaurant opening and admitted that inviting famous trainers helped draw attention to the business.
• Akin and Lt. Surge took their argument outside to battle, while Li Wei declined to challenge Lance after Cynthia had already turned him down.
• Yellow suggested that the group explore downtown, but Blue, Lorelei, Lance, Steven, Wallace, Li Wei, and Cynthia all found reasons not to go.
• Crystal texted Akin to turn down Red's invitation, and Lorelei and Lance agreed to secretly follow Red and Yellow later.
• Red and Yellow were left to explore downtown Jubilife City together.

Li Wei joined his friends’ gossip about Red and Yellow while the group relaxed after the Pokémon Restaurant’s opening. As the restaurant and Breeding Center settled into a routine, Li Wei anticipated reaching Master Tier in Pokéblock production on February 15.

• Li Wei’s Pokémon Restaurant drew a large crowd, and Professor Oak, Professor Rowan, Professor Carolina, Cynthia, and Green spent the afternoon discussing the Giant Dragonite at the Breeding Center.
• Red and the others barbecued on the restaurant terrace, where Li Wei joined a gossip session about Red and Yellow after Lance and Lorelei reported that their date had failed.
• Lance, Li Wei, Lorelei, and Shauntal debated how to help Red and Yellow, while Lorelei and Shauntal asked Cynthia about her romance with Li Wei.
• Blue photographed Steven and Wallace admiring the stars, and Steven praised the picture before Blue jokingly charged him for it.
• Professor Oak and the other researchers left after a day of rest, and the restaurant gained customers following the publication of articles and an interview with Mayor Luca.
• By February 15, Li Wei had delegated much of the restaurant’s work and expected his Pokéblock proficiency to reach Master Tier as his second Master Tier skill.

Li Wei reached Master Tier in Pokéblock Crafting, unlocking the chance to make golden and rainbow perfect Pokéblocks, while his Pokémon continued to grow stronger. The second Pokémon Master League began with Cynthia scheduled to face Steven Stone in Jubilife City.

• Li Wei advanced Pokéblock Crafting to Master Tier and learned that rare Berries could produce golden or rainbow perfect Pokéblocks.
• Li Wei kept his high-quality Pokéblocks priced below market value and asked Dad to look for rare Berries, planning to reserve any golden Pokéblocks for his own Pokémon and those of Cynthia, Lance, and Steven.
• Diancie advanced to the middle stage of Master Tier and achieved Mega Evolution with Li Wei, while Mega Diancie reached the middle stage of the Elite Four level.
• Li Wei's Lucario approached a possible Elite Four-level breakthrough, Arcanine reached the middle stage of Master Tier, and Li Wei became a Master Tier Trainer.
• The second Pokémon Master League began, and Cynthia's opening match at Jubilife City Stadium was set against Steven Stone.

Cynthia and Li Wei focused on their respective goals as the Jubilife Pokémon Restaurant grew popular for Li Wei’s strength-enhancing cuisine. After helping Lycanroc lose weight for more than four months, Li Wei returned it to Mr. Schroder, who planned to travel with Lycanroc and his mother.

• Cynthia continued competing in the Master League and aimed to defeat Gigantamax Charizard before challenging Red, while hoping Roland would eventually take her place as Sinnoh Champion.
• Li Wei explained that he let his Pokémon train independently and concentrated on breeding and cooking rather than pursuing a Champion title.
• Li Wei’s Pokémon Restaurant became popular, and Blue planned to have Charizard, Rhyperior, and other Pokémon try Li Wei’s future dishes.
• On February 11, Li Wei said goodbye to Lycanroc after helping it lose weight from nearly 70 kilograms to 33 kilograms.
• Mr. Schroder told Li Wei he had dissolved his company and planned to travel with his mother and Lycanroc, promising to bring Lycanroc back for a visit.

After Lycanroc left the Jubilife Breeding Center, Li Wei focused on supporting his Pokémon’s training and followed a discussion about Team Rocket’s expansion into Hoenn. That afternoon, he received a delivery from Team Rocket, sent by Matori.

• Mr. Schroder paid Lycanroc’s bill and took it home, leaving Li Wei feeling wistful after their four months together.
• Li Wei watched his Pokémon train and decided to obtain more resources to help them improve.
• Steven asked for help dealing with Hoenn’s growing Pokémon-poaching gangs, and Lance volunteered to lead an operation.
• Lance reflected that Team Rocket had become a legitimate business under Giovanni and said he hoped to work with him if the organization continued to avoid poaching.
• Wallace reported that Team Rocket had been expanding into Hoenn, while Li Wei noted that Rocket Logistics had also reached Sinnoh.
• Li Wei received a delivery from Team Rocket, sent by Matori.

Li Wei received a visiting card from Matori, who planned to meet him on Giovanni’s behalf, and decided to hear her out while refusing any invitation to join Team Rocket. The next morning, Matori arrived alone at the Jubilife Breeding Center and asked the receptionist to take her to Li Wei.

• Li Wei received a package from Matori and used Lucario to check it before opening it to find her visiting card.
• Li Wei told the group that Matori planned to meet him, and the others discussed whether Giovanni might be recruiting him.
• Li Wei decided to meet Matori but said he would refuse if she invited him to join Team Rocket.
• Matori reflected on Team Rocket’s public transition as she entered the Jubilife Breeding Center alone.
• Matori told Xiao Rou that she had come to see Li Wei, and Xiao Rou offered to have someone escort her.

Matori visited Li Wei at the Jubilife Breeding Center on Giovanni’s behalf to invite him to join the reformed Team Rocket, now called Team Rainbow Rocket. Li Wei declined before hearing the terms, and Matori began asking him to consider the offer.

• Giovanni decided to redirect Team Rocket into Team Rainbow Rocket and sent Matori to recruit Li Wei, whom he valued for his connections.
• Matori researched Li Wei’s accomplishments and influential network before visiting the Jubilife Breeding Center.
• Li Wei recognized Matori as a Team Rocket representative and explained that Lance had told him about her.
• Matori formally invited Li Wei to join Team Rocket on Giovanni’s behalf.
• Li Wei refused the invitation, and Matori asked him to hear the terms first.

Matori visited Li Wei at the Jubilife Breeding Center to invite him to become an executive of Team Rainbow Rocket and explain Giovanni’s plans to reform Team Rocket. Li Wei understood the vision but refused to join unless the organization proved its sincerity through its actions, while Giovanni met with a woman in Saffron City.

• Matori described Team Rocket’s generous employee benefits, but Li Wei declined Giovanni’s invitation to become an executive.
• Matori explained that Giovanni planned to sever ties with Team Rocket’s criminal past and use its resources for new technology, a Pokémon gene bank, ecological reserves, welfare, and restoration.
• Li Wei acknowledged that Giovanni’s plans could improve the Pokémon world but said he would judge Team Rocket by its actions, not its promises.
• Giovanni met with a woman at Team Rocket’s base in Saffron City.

Giovanni invited Li Wei to join Team Rocket as an advisor with a three-percent equity stake, but Li Wei refused and urged him to genuinely follow through on Team Rocket’s new vision. Afterward, Li Wei and Lance discussed the risks of putting that vision into practice.

• Giovanni watched a recording of Li Wei refusing his first offer while Cogita observed, then Cogita left Team Rocket Headquarters with Enamorus and called Li Wei interesting.
• At the Jubilife Breeding Center, Matori offered Li Wei an advisor role and three percent of Team Rocket, but he turned it down.
• Li Wei asked Matori to tell Giovanni that justice would support Team Rocket if Giovanni truly implemented his vision rather than merely dressing it up.
• Matori returned to Giovanni, while Li Wei revealed that Lance had listened to their conversation over the phone.
• Li Wei and Lance agreed that Team Rocket’s vision could go astray in practice, though Lance thought Giovanni had likely considered those risks.

Li Wei told the group that he had turned down Giovanni’s offer to join Team Rocket, prompting discussion about the organization’s past and new ideals. Lance decided to meet Silver in Viridian Forest to discuss the changes, while Li Wei and Cynthia agreed to wait and see whether Team Rocket could follow through.

• Li Wei told the group that Matori had recruited him on Giovanni’s behalf, and Ash worried that he had joined Team Rocket.
• Green and Brock explained that Team Rocket had changed direction and recalled that Giovanni had tried recruiting them, too.
• Li Wei revealed that he had rejected a 3% stake in Team Rocket, and Lance said the offer had even tempted him.
• Lance suspected Silver might be connected to Giovanni’s change and decided to speak with him; Silver quietly hoped to see genuine change in Team Rocket.
• Li Wei told Cynthia about the offer and Team Rocket’s ideals, and they agreed that the organization’s promises needed to be proven.
• Matori reported back to Giovanni, who said she had done well, while Lance arranged to meet Silver in Viridian Forest.

Lance found Silver hiding in Viridian Forest, brought him a bag of cartoons, and urged him to judge Giovanni’s new Team Rocket before trying to destroy it. Silver rejected the idea but thanked Lance and called Akin; meanwhile, Li Wei turned down a Team Rocket endorsement and said he expected to leave for Kanto around the twenty-fourth or twenty-fifth of next month.

• Lance met Silver in Viridian Forest and reassured him that the International Police were no longer pursuing him, though Silver admitted he was hiding from Giovanni.
• Lance gave Silver a bag of cartoons, including his favorite, and offered him a place to stay in Viridian City or Blackthorn City.
• Lance urged Silver to consider whether Giovanni’s new Team Rocket was changing and warned him that he could not simply destroy the organization; Silver refused to abandon that goal.
• After Lance left, Silver thanked him and called Akin, who invited him over for dinner.
• Li Wei told Dayou and Leon that he had declined Matori’s endorsement offer, then estimated that he would leave for Kanto on the twenty-fourth or twenty-fifth of next month.