Farfetch'd's Leek

With that thought, Heath picked up the Ingredient Identifier and scanned Farfetch'd.

[Farfetch'd: edible, non-toxic, with tender, delicious, juicy meat. Stunning before consumption prevents excessive fright from rupturing blood vessels and affecting the flavor.]

The corner of Heath's mouth twitched. This really was an Ingredient Identifier-it even explained how to prepare the ingredients. Still, Heath had no interest in eating a Farfetch'd protected by the Indigo League.

Heath thought ordinary roast duck tasted pretty good anyway. Besides, this Farfetch'd was his companion and family. He couldn't put Farfetch'd on the dinner table.

Then Heath froze. He suddenly felt rather stupid. He should have used this Ingredient Identifier when he went to Viridian Forest.

"That was a mistake. If I'd used it in Viridian Forest, I could at least have learned more about that Pokémon... Wait, can it identify humans?" A bold idea sprang into Heath's mind.

If it really worked, Heath felt he might have discovered an incredible treasure. Unfortunately, the thing could only be used once a day. However excited he was now, he would have to wait until tomorrow to find out.

"Looks like we won't be getting any more customers. Come on, Farfetch'd, let's go to the market." Heath glanced at his watch. It was already time for people to head back to work for the afternoon.

After buying the ducks and other ingredients he needed at the market, Heath brought Farfetch'd back to the Officer Jenny Dormitory and began teaching Farfetch'd how to make Beijing Roast Duck.

Beijing Roast Duck was different from Red-Braised Pork with Fried Tofu. For the latter, Heath could control the quantity of ingredients to keep Farfetch'd from causing him too great a loss, but that wouldn't work with Beijing Roast Duck.

Preparing Beijing Roast Duck was relatively simple, but he couldn't cut it into small pieces and let Farfetch'd learn through trial and error. That was why Heath was being very strict with the instruction this time.

Still, when Farfetch'd casually swung the leek down and sliced the duck open, Heath couldn't help wearing a rather strange expression.

Presumably, Pokémon didn't regard ordinary wild animals as their own kind, which was why Farfetch'd could chop up a duck so naturally.

"Yes, that's right. Now you need to spread this on it. This is the honey I prepared. Go ahead." Heath patiently guided Farfetch'd, feeling that their relationship was a little odd.

Normally, Heath should have been Farfetch'd's Trainer. When it came to cooking, however, Heath was more like a master, and Farfetch'd was his apprentice.

Fortunately, Beijing Roast Duck wasn't complicated to make. With Heath guiding every step, Farfetch'd successfully produced a decent Beijing Roast Duck. Heath took a bite, and it tasted pretty good.

Next, though, Farfetch'd would have to make it alone. Heath couldn't offer any hints during the process. After all, Farfetch'd had to complete it independently.

Heath sincerely hoped Farfetch'd wouldn't go next door to Fullmetal Alchemist to pick up equivalent exchange again. If Farfetch'd made him another lump of coal, he would cough up blood.

Just as Heath was praying earnestly, Farfetch'd put down the leek, looking forlorn.

"Farfetch'd, what's wrong?" Heath looked at Farfetch'd in confusion. There was still one duck left, and they had enough ingredients.

Had Farfetch'd suddenly developed a conscience and finally realized that both Farfetch'd and the birds on the counter were ducks, deciding not to learn how to make Beijing Roast Duck after all?

"Far..." Looking dejected, Farfetch'd pushed the leek toward Heath. Curious, Heath picked it up for a look.

The leek, which had been in pretty good condition before, now had a notch in it. Heath guessed Farfetch'd had accidentally struck the kitchen knife with it earlier.

"Do you need to go find another one?" Heath asked Farfetch'd. Farfetch'd were very unusual Pokémon.

They generally carried a particular kind of leek with them. These leeks were scarce to begin with, and environmental damage was making them increasingly difficult to find.

In fact, two wild Farfetch'd might even come to blows over a better leek, fighting for ownership of it.

When Heath had traded with Farfetch'd before, he had been curious about where all those leeks came from, but Farfetch'd had never taken him there.

"Should I come with you?" Heath asked. Farfetch'd looked ready to go searching for another leek, and Heath wanted to dig up a few to bring back, too.

"Far!" Farfetch'd firmly shook that feathered head.

"We're going to travel eventually. You can't just find another leek every time yours breaks somewhere new, can you?" Heath asked, caught between laughter and exasperation.

That made Farfetch'd hesitate. After glancing at Heath several times, Farfetch'd finally nodded and agreed to take him along to look for leeks.

Heath followed curiously, only to discover that Farfetch'd was flying toward Viridian Forest. He hurriedly called Farfetch'd to a stop.

"Your leeks are in Viridian Forest?" Heath asked. Farfetch'd nodded.

Heath immediately turned around and brought Farfetch'd back. At the dormitory, he made a portion of Sweet and Sour Pork Ribs and packed it into a lunch box. He also concealed his Poké Ball before setting off for Viridian Forest with Farfetch'd.

When Heath reached Viridian Forest, he saw plenty of Officer Jennys patrolling the area. Officer Jenny Feng was focused on assigning tasks to her sisters, and only noticed his arrival amid the amused laughter of those around her.

"What are you doing here?" Officer Jenny Feng approached with a dark expression. Heath could already see the veins standing out on Sister Feng's clenched hand.

Heath hurriedly explained the situation, but Officer Jenny Feng still eyed him skeptically. Only after he showed her Farfetch'd's damaged leek did she reluctantly let him in.

For his safety, she also gave him a communication device. All he had to do was press the button, and she would bring her team over.

Returning to Viridian Forest, Heath found that it felt completely different. Last time, it had been nighttime, and the forest had looked rather sinister. In daylight, however, it was just an ordinary forest.

There were plenty of wild Pokémon inside, though. They darted through the grass in alarm, while Caterpie clung to tree trunks and watched Heath curiously.

Heath looked around and decided to follow Farfetch'd to get the leeks first, then think about how to find that wild Pokémon.

As Heath followed Farfetch'd along, Farfetch'd suddenly stopped. Then Heath saw a little girl standing ahead of Farfetch'd, holding a teddy bear.