Arc 9Dream Wine and Edible Quartz

Heath expanded his food business, earned an alcohol permit for Dream Wine, and learned the difficult process for preparing edible quartz from Dàkōng. The arc ended with Heath planning to try the recipe and noticing a cold encounter between Dàkōng and one of his regular customers.

  • Heath shared late-night barbecue with Cynthia, discussed his Pokémon and cooking, and invited her to try his food the next day.
  • Heath discovered that Farfetch'd had prepared Crab Roe Soup Dumplings unsafely, removed them from the menu, and donated them to the stray Pokémon rescue association.
  • Heath helped Zorua buy a PlayStation 5, served Cynthia and Giovanni, and learned that Dream Wine attracted the attention of Officer Jenny Xingruo, whose words came true.
  • Heath certified Dream Wine and received an Alcohol Sales Permit, then challenged Silph Co. researcher Nami to tennis and won by accidentally destroying the ball with his serve.
  • Heath followed Old Officer Jenny Ye's lead to the Indigo Retirement Home, where he met Dàkōng and passed a cooking test by leaving onions out of his dishes.
  • Dàkōng taught Heath how psychic powers removed edible quartz's toxins and explained its lengthy preparation, while Heath planned to make it the next day.
  • Heath met a regular customer who walked away coldly after seeing Dàkōng, who called the man pitiful and sent Heath back to the Officer Jennys' apartment building.
Chapters 202–226 Vol. 3 Read

Ch. 202A chance encounter with Cynthia

Heath watched a Pokémon film, then encountered Cynthia at a late-night food stall and shared skewers with her. Cynthia explained that she had sneaked out during her work trip, and their conversation ended with her teasing Heath about blushing.

  • Heath booked a private screening room so Snorlax could watch the film without risking its disguise being exposed.
  • Heath finished the movie and headed out into the lively nighttime streets.
  • Cynthia called to Heath from a food stall, and he joined her for a late-night snack.
  • Cynthia said she had snuck out during her reimbursed work trip and ordered more skewers for herself.
  • Heath advised Cynthia on how grilled fish balls could be made tastier, then talked with her about her carefree vacation.
  • Cynthia noticed Heath blushing, leaned toward him, and teased him about it.

Ch. 203The Question of Cynthia's Age

Heath shared food and drinks with Cynthia at the night market, learning that she was still eighteen and drinking Slowpoke kvass rather than beer. Cynthia agreed to visit his food truck the next day to try his chicken.

  • Cynthia teased Heath about being underage and offered him a drink while they ate barbecue.
  • Heath found his skewer of chicken dry and tough, and Cynthia asked how his grilled chicken would taste.
  • Cynthia asked whether Farfetch'd was Heath's first Pokémon, and Heath explained that he let his Pokémon choose their own paths rather than making them battle in Gyms.
  • Cynthia invited Heath to battle, then joked that she was drinking beer despite being underage.
  • Cynthia revealed that the drink was Slowpoke Kvass and that she would not turn nineteen until the end of the year.
  • Heath invited Cynthia to try his chicken at his food truck the next day, and she accepted.

Ch. 204In short, regret. Deep regret.

Darkrai tried to sample Heath’s nightmare but was dragged into a humiliating dream and left behind Darkrai’s Tears, which Heath used to make Nightmare Wine. Heath then discovered Mew had used his toothbrush and marked a spare one for it before heading to the market.

  • Darkrai spotted Heath’s concentrated nightmare energy and reached out to taste it, but was pulled into a nightmare filled with Female Machamp and a Conkeldurr in maid outfits.
  • Heath woke from a nightmare about Machoke in maid outfits and received Darkrai’s Tears, which could be steeped in purified water to make Nightmare Wine.
  • Heath realized he had forgotten to keep Darkrai’s Saliva nearby, explaining why he had suffered another nightmare.
  • Heath found his toothbrush damp and out of place, and Charmander and Zorua told him that Mew had visited and used the bathroom.
  • Heath marked a spare toothbrush for Mew, then set the food truck to autopilot and headed to the market for ingredients while the wine steeped.

Ch. 205Heath's Variety Breakfast (II)

Heath prepared Da Su Beef Noodles for his Variety Breakfast quest and began serving breakfast, including Crab Roe Soup Dumplings made by Farfetch'd. After Kailunya bought breakfast and left, Heath noticed a strange smell, and Kailunya wondered why he could still smell it after cleaning up.

  • Heath bought extra chicken for karaage and crabs for Farfetch'd before returning to the food truck to prepare breakfast.
  • Heath discovered that Da Su Beef Noodles qualified for Variety Breakfast and realized he could meet the daily requirements with many kinds of noodles.
  • Farfetch'd practiced making Crab Roe Soup Dumplings while Zorua took Charmander into the lounge.
  • Heath saw a Pikachu in a Pikachu Street Power uniform riding a bicycle to service locations and reflected on Pokémon working for a living.
  • Kailunya ordered Jianbing Guozi and Crab Roe Soup Dumplings from Heath, who noticed a strange smell as he collected payment.
  • After leaving, Kailunya sniffed his clothes and wondered why he could still smell something after taking care of everything.

Ch. 206The weight-gain combo

Heath made crisp, juicy fried chicken and paired it with milk tea, which Cynthia eagerly ate alongside grilled pig trotters. After finishing her first serving, Cynthia bought another combo.

  • Heath prepared a new style of fried chicken while Cynthia arrived early and asked for ten pig trotters.
  • Heath fried the chicken, packed a serving with milk tea, and offered Cynthia the combo for thirty-two League Coins.
  • Cynthia tried the fried chicken and milk tea, enjoying their flavors and finishing the entire serving.
  • Heath grilled Cynthia’s pig trotters and offered her more fried chicken.
  • Cynthia paid for another combo and declared that she wanted another serving.

Ch. 207Farfetch'd Would Become a Good Chef

Heath stopped Farfetch'd from selling food after realizing his sweat-covered wings had contaminated the wrappers and crab roe soup dumplings. Farfetch'd responded by removing all the feathers from his wings, determined to become an excellent chef.

  • Heath noticed Farfetch'd wiping sweat from his head with his wings while rolling dough wrappers and threw the wrappers away.
  • Heath learned that Farfetch'd had made the crab roe soup dumplings the same way, so he stopped cooking and removed them from the menu.
  • Heath explained that chefs had to prioritize food safety and decided to donate the dumplings to the Indigo League Stray Pokémon and Stray Pet Rescue Association.
  • Farfetch'd lowered his head in shame, then returned from the break room with bare wings after deciding to prevent the problem from happening again.
  • Zorua told Heath that Onion said he would definitely become an excellent chef, and Heath laughed.

Ch. 208Gourmet Pokédex-Lava Eel

Heath drank an Agility Potion that increased his hand speed, then used his improved dexterity to prepare a Lava Eel for the wealthy woman who had ordered it. After she left, he checked the Gourmet Pokédex and saw that Lava Eels could be exchanged for 1,100 customer satisfaction points, while he was close to earning a Giant Purple Crab.

  • Heath discovered a blue Agility Potion in his pocket and drank it before serving the old man Egg Fried Rice.
  • Heath noticed his hands moving faster and confirmed the potion’s effect by removing an eel’s bone in forty-three seconds.
  • Heath messaged the wealthy woman, then quickly removed the Lava Eel’s bone and prepared the eel as Eel Rice.
  • The wealthy woman arrived, paid for the Lava Eel, and asked Heath to notify her when he had more good ingredients.
  • Heath checked the Gourmet Pokédex and learned the Lava Eel’s exchange cost and cooking details, then noted that he was close to earning a Giant Purple Crab.

Ch. 209The fifth step of Pokémon Chef

Heath watched Farfetch'd successfully make Crab Roe Soup Dumplings with a Giant Purple Crab, completing the fifth Pokémon Chef step and earning protective bedding. After selling the dumplings and serving customers, Heath agreed to buy Zorua a game console after hearing about a storewide sale, then prepared for the lunch rush.

  • Heath gave Farfetch'd a Giant Purple Crab and watched it make Crab Roe Soup Dumplings without guidance.
  • Farfetch'd completed the fifth Pokémon Chef step, and Heath received bedding that protected anyone inside it from harm.
  • Heath sold fried chicken and sold the Giant Purple Crab Roe Soup Dumplings to his wealthy regular customer.
  • Zorua begged Heath for a game console, and Heath refused until a passing truck announced a thirty-percent discount on consoles.
  • Heath agreed to shop after the lunch rush, called Charmander out to help, and prepared to serve the arriving customers.

Ch. 210Once, when I was extremely angry...

Heath closed his food truck after running low on ingredients and served Jessie while Zorua waited impatiently to visit an electronics store. Elsewhere, Cynthia defeated Giovanni in a Pokémon battle, and Giovanni remained occupied as Jessie said she would stay at Indigo League headquarters for about another week.

  • Heath closed his food truck for the day and prepared to visit Rotom Electronics Store at Zorua's excited insistence.
  • Jessie approached Heath and ordered food, asking first for red-braised pork with rice and then yellow-braised chicken with rice.
  • Cynthia defeated Giovanni's six Pokémon after he challenged her in a fit of anger over his troubles with the Mew project.
  • Giovanni exchanged pleasantries with Cynthia and thought about his plans to keep Team Rocket hidden until the Mew project succeeded.
  • Jessie told Heath she expected to remain at Indigo League headquarters for about another week, while Zorua glared at her for delaying the trip to buy a game console.

Ch. 211This Thing Called Dreams

Jessie remembered her abandoned dream of becoming a Pokémon medical care worker and met Saya, who encouraged her not to give up on it. Meanwhile, Heath and Zorua joined a long line outside the Rotom Electronics Store to buy a PS5.

  • Heath asked Jessie what food she liked, and she said she preferred hot, tasty, filling meals.
  • After leaving Heath's restaurant, Jessie wandered into a bookstore and remembered studying Pokémon medical care with her friend Chansey before she was expelled and gave up her dream.
  • Jessie imagined meeting a Prince Charming while reaching for a fallen book, but the hand belonged to Saya, who apologized and encouraged her to pursue her dream.
  • Jessie introduced herself to Saya as a Trainer, and the two girls shook hands in the sunlight.
  • Heath brought Zorua to the Rotom Electronics Store, stopped her from pulling more of his hair, and joined the queue for a PS5.

Ch. 212A familiar formula, but would the flavor be familiar?

Heath ran into Cynthia while shopping for discounted electronics, then served her food at his truck. Cynthia told him a Pokémon exchange visit from a newly joined League region was coming soon, leaving Heath intrigued by the chance to see Sprigatito.

  • Heath met Cynthia in line at the electronics store, where they both planned to buy PlayStation 5 consoles.
  • Heath bought a PlayStation 5, accessories, and a Sony television, while Cynthia bought several items of her own.
  • Cynthia followed Heath to his food truck, where he made her fried chicken and grilled pig trotters.
  • Cynthia asked Heath to open a shop in Sinnoh, and Heath agreed to let her know if he traveled there.
  • Cynthia told Heath that Pokémon from a newly joined League region would visit in a week or two and that visitors might obtain the starter Pokémon Sprigatito.

Ch. 213Restoring the Grass-type's Glory Was Sprigatito's Bounden Duty!

Heath shared his newly made Dream liquor with Giovanni, who praised it and urged him to get it certified. Their tasting was interrupted by a drunken woman who looked exactly like Officer Jenny.

  • Heath asked Cynthia what Sprigatito’s final evolution looked like, and she said she had heard it was cute.
  • Heath showed Cynthia the black liquor he had made with Tears of Darkrai and named Dream.
  • Cynthia messaged Giovanni, who came to Heath’s food truck to sample the liquor.
  • Heath poured Giovanni the permitted thirty-milliliter sample, and Giovanni loved it and promised to buy bottles after certification.
  • A drunken woman came looking for the liquor, and Heath was shocked that she had Officer Jenny’s face.

Ch. 214Giovanni: I'd call you the strongest

Heath refused Officer Jenny Xingruo’s request to taste his uncertified drink, but Giovanni urged him to accept after recognizing her. Once a sudden downpour forced them into Heath’s food truck, Giovanni explained that Xingruo was famous for her words coming true, and Heath set off for League headquarters with her, Giovanni, and Cynthia aboard.

  • Heath declined Officer Jenny Xingruo’s request to taste his new drink, but Giovanni quietly told him to say yes.
  • Xingruo declared that Heath was her friend, then a sudden crash brought heavy rain down on them.
  • Heath brought Giovanni, Cynthia, and a drunken Xingruo into the food truck’s lounge, where Zorua was caught playing a game.
  • Giovanni told Heath and Cynthia that Xingruo was a legendary Officer Jenny whose statements came true, citing the rain and Lance’s experience with her.
  • Heath set the truck on autopilot toward League headquarters and decided to leave Xingruo in Old Officer Jenny’s care.

Ch. 215Leisure time

Heath returned to the dormitory, spent a quiet evening with his Pokémon, and prepared dinner. Meanwhile, Cynthia faced another stack of Champion duties and tried to find an excuse to leave, ending with a plan to battle Mr. Giovanni.

  • Heath brought Officer Jenny Xingruo back to the dormitory, where Old Officer Jenny recognized her and linked her presence to the sudden rain.
  • Heath found Zorua struggling to play Resident Evil on the PlayStation 5 and discovered Snorlax, Charmander, and Farfetch'd in the bedroom; Zorua had tried to keep him from seeing them.
  • Heath sat with his Pokémon for a while, then went to prepare dinner for them and himself.
  • Cynthia's secretary reminded her that she would travel to Hoenn the next day to meet Champion Steven in Ever Grande City and still had Sinnoh documents to review.
  • Cynthia complained about her Champion duties, then claimed she would battle Mr. Giovanni to train her Pokémon.

Ch. 216Na, na, na

Heath began the morning with his Pokémon and found Mew brushing its teeth in his food truck, then stocked up on ingredients and drinks for business. At his usual spot, Kailunya bought breakfast and told him she had tutoring later that day.

  • Heath woke Zorua and took her and the other Pokémon to wash up, where he found Mew using the bathroom.
  • Mew tried to use Charmander’s towel, but Heath gave it a towel of its own, and Mew copied the Pokémon washing their faces.
  • Heath and his Pokémon shopped for ingredients, Charizard Cola, and Ampharos Beer before heading to his usual spot.
  • Kailunya ordered Da Su Beef Noodles, fried chicken, and Charizard Cola from Heath.
  • Kailunya told Heath that she had no school because it was the weekend, but her parents had arranged tutoring classes for the afternoon.

Ch. 217Winning at the starting line

Heath agreed to let Kailunya complete a short community-work assignment at his food truck, where the boy proved helpful with customers. As the breakfast rush continued, Morty stopped by for dumplings before heading to another exhausting workday.

  • Kailunya told Heath he hoped to attend Quartz University, and Heath wished him luck.
  • Kailunya asked to work at Heath's food truck for a day or two so Heath could sign his community-work form, and Heath agreed to let him carry plates and serve customers.
  • Kailunya handled the growing breakfast crowd skillfully while Heath prepared food.
  • Morty arrived yawning, ordered Crab Roe Soup Dumplings, and joked that he had already won at the starting line in hair loss, dark circles, and other effects of staying up late.
  • Heath watched Kailunya clear bowls, considered how well he might suit the food truck, then returned to serving customers.

Ch. 218Cynthia's Departure

Heath spoke with Kailunya about Pokémon before Sabrina arrived and asked for food to calm an angry person. Giovanni thanked Cynthia for her help after she had kept him battling all night, and suggested she invite other opponents next time.

  • Heath asked the Magic Conch how to cook edible quartz, but it did not answer.
  • Heath learned Kailunya had never owned a Pokémon and saw his drawing of a Drowzee.
  • Sabrina watched Kailunya's shadow, then asked Heath to make food that would stop someone being angry.
  • Cynthia thanked Giovanni for his help after making him battle her through the night, and Giovanni asked her to challenge other people next time.

Ch. 219Rice in chicken soup

Heath served Sabrina Chiffon Cake and gave her its recipe before preparing rice in chicken soup for Giovanni, who had stayed up all night battling with Cynthia. Giovanni enjoyed the meal and left, while Heath expected him to go home and sleep.

  • Heath persuaded Sabrina to try Chiffon Cake with sweet Berries, and she paid him over six thousand League Coins for the cake and its recipe.
  • After Sabrina left, Heath resumed filling Morty's delivery order and learned that Morty's company staggered its employees' days off across the week.
  • Giovanni arrived tired and told Heath that Cynthia had kept him battling and discussing Pokémon tactics all night.
  • Heath cooked chicken soup and served Giovanni rice in the soup, explaining to Kailunya that it would be easier for him to eat after missing sleep.
  • Giovanni approved of the meal and left after eating, and Heath thought he would go home to sleep.

Ch. 220Chefs needed all-round development, too

After getting his Dream Wine certified for sale, Heath met Nami, Silph Co.'s Research Department head, and accepted a tennis match after a quest appeared. He began the match as a complete novice, determined to defeat Nami for the reward.

  • Heath signed Kailunya's community service form, closed his food truck, and went to certify his Dream Wine.
  • Heath completed the certification process and received an Alcohol Sales Permit.
  • Heath met Nami, the head of Silph Co.'s Research Department, who asked about the company's new mobile kitchen.
  • A quest appeared requiring Heath to defeat Nami in tennis, so he asked her to play a match.
  • Heath bought a racket, balls, and tennis clothes, then faced Nami and swung at his first ball.

Ch. 221Nami Looked After Her Junior

Heath’s tennis match with Nami revealed that his strength made even an ordinary serve dangerously destructive, and Nami conceded rather than continue. Heath received a Hair Growth Potion as a task reward and headed back to prepare dinner for the Officer Jennys.

  • Nami watched Heath’s amateur-looking serve motion and assumed she could let him save face in the match.
  • Heath’s first serve tore a hole in the fence behind Nami, startling her and the referee.
  • Heath used his full strength on his next serve, destroying the tennis ball and damaging his racket before it crossed the net.
  • Nami conceded and left with the referee, while Heath mistakenly thought she had done so to spare his feelings.
  • Heath received a bottle of Hair Growth Potion as his task reward and decided to cook something for Nami the next time he saw her.
  • Heath headed back to prepare dinner for the Officer Jennys.

Ch. 222Old Officer Jenny's Past and the Retirement Home

Heath learned that the head chef at the Indigo Retirement Home might know how to make Edible Quartz, so he drove there to investigate. Officer Jenny Ye gave him a special pass, and Zorua asked him for an advance on its wages to buy games.

  • Heath asked Old Officer Jenny Ye for leads on Edible Quartz, and she directed him to the head chef at the Indigo Retirement Home.
  • Heath read about the retirement home's unusual admissions and finances, then decided to visit it.
  • An Officer Jenny at the guard post gave Heath a special pass for the retirement home and warned him to keep it in his vehicle.
  • Heath drove toward the retirement home with Zorua, who asked for an advance on its wages to buy games.
  • Heath smiled after thinking of an idea in response to Zorua's request.

Ch. 223The nursing home

Heath let Zorua buy two games by deducting the cost from her wages, then drove his food truck along a remote road toward a nursing home on a hill. At the entrance, an Arcanine confronted him as a hostile elderly man came out to meet him.

  • Heath offered Zorua a buy-now-pay-later arrangement, but admitted he was teasing and deducted the cost of two games from her wages instead.
  • Heath and Zorua bought a Resident Evil collection and an open-world game.
  • Heath drove out of the brightly lit city and along a dark, uneven road toward the nursing home.
  • Heath reached the nursing home’s hilltop road and found a guard post where an Arcanine challenged him.
  • An elderly man emerged and eyed Heath with hostility, saying he had expected a quiet night.

Ch. 224Head Chef Dàkōng

Heath visited a nursing home to meet head chef Dàkōng and learn how to cook edible quartz. After being admitted by a suspicious old man who recognized Officer Jenny Ye’s pass, Heath found Dàkōng chatting with an elderly woman and introduced himself.

  • An old man and several Pokémon surrounded Heath’s food truck and demanded to know why he had come.
  • Heath explained that he worked with Officer Jenny Ye and showed the old man her signed pass, so the old man let him enter.
  • The old man served Heath tea and told him that Dàkōng was in the hall.
  • Heath drove to the nursing home, knocked several times, and entered when nobody answered.
  • Heath met Dàkōng and said Officer Jenny Ye had recommended him.

Ch. 225Dàkōng's test

Heath sought Dàkōng’s instructions for preparing edible quartz, and Dàkōng agreed to teach him if he passed a cooking test. Heath served Dàkōng a meal made from the limited ingredients, and Dàkōng praised the food but had not yet revealed the recipe.

  • Heath asked Dàkōng how to prepare edible quartz, and Dàkōng hinted that he could teach him in exchange for Dream Wine and a cooking test.
  • Dàkōng challenged Heath to make a meal from the kitchen’s eggs, rice, garlic chives, and onions.
  • Heath prepared stir-fried eggs with garlic chives, steamed egg custard, and rice, leaving the onions unused.
  • Dàkōng enjoyed the food and asked Heath why he had left out the onions.
  • Heath explained that the strongly flavored onions would have overwhelmed the other ingredients.

Ch. 226The recipe finally obtained

Heath impressed Dàkōng by choosing not to force an onion into his dish, and Dàkōng revealed the recipe for preparing edible quartz. Heath left planning to try making it, then encountered a regular customer whose cold reaction to Dàkōng hinted at an old grudge.

  • Dàkōng praised Heath for not using the onion where it did not belong and explained why the edible quartz recipe had been lost.
  • Dàkōng demonstrated how psychic powers removed edible quartz’s toxins and described boiling it through twenty-two cycles, then chilling it for twelve hours.
  • Dàkōng explained that each round required the chef to rub the quartz twice by hand and that the finished amount was tiny.
  • Heath thanked Dàkōng and planned to prepare edible quartz the next day to complete his unique task.
  • Heath met an old man who regularly bought food from his truck, and the old man coldly walked away after seeing Dàkōng.
  • Dàkōng called the old man pitiful and told Heath to return to the Officer Jennys’ apartment building.
Arc 9 of 46