Pokemon: A New Path

Chapter 346: Banquet



Naoki frowned at the peculiar name: Poipole?

Wasn't that the Ultra Beast from the Alola region? How could a poke block possibly have an effect specific to it?

Naoki glanced down at the strangely colored poke block in his hand. The recipe's note stated that if placed in the wild, the cube had a chance to attract Pokémon like Poipole.

This effect reminded Naoki of the mechanics in certain game hunting zones, where Pokémon battles were prohibited. Trainers couldn't use conventional capture methods. Instead, they relied on poke blocks bought at the entrance to lure wild Pokémon closer for capture.

Still, poke blocks crafted specifically for individual Pokémon were rare, especially one so niche.

Naoki scrutinized the odd cube and glanced over at Koraidon, his ever-curious tester. With a grin, he asked, "Want to give it a try?"

Koraidon recoiled with a dramatic shake of its head. "Ah gah!"

Koraidon pointed toward the Poké Balls on Naoki's belt, signaling it couldn't stomach anything more and hinting someone else should be the guinea pig.

Naoki sighed, resigned. "Guess I'll try it myself."

He pinched his nose, steeling himself as though about to taste durian for the first time, and popped the cube into his mouth.

A cocktail of bitterness, sourness, and astringency exploded on his taste buds, an indescribable assault of flavors that surged straight to his head. Within moments, his stomach rebelled violently.

He spun around and buried his face in the nearest trash can. "Ugh!"

When Marina walked in, she found Naoki clutching the trash can, looking utterly miserable. The sight was enough to tell her what had happened.

Marina chuckled, the corners of her mouth curling into a knowing smile. "Looks like you've made your first unpalatable poke block!"

Naoki raised his pale face to look at her. "Miss Marina..."

"Don't feel too bad," she reassured him with a laugh. "Every Pokémon breeder has to go through this phase."

She approached his workstation and inspected the scene. "It seems you've gotten the basics of poke block production down. Now, I'll teach you some advanced techniques."

Naoki perked up, curiosity momentarily overcoming his queasiness. "Advanced techniques?" Marina nodded. "Novice breeders often rely on machines to make poke blocks, but the best breeders craft them by hand. Handmade cubes take more effort but are of significantly higher quality."

She handed Naoki a piece of paper detailing the manual process of poke block creation.

He scanned the steps: baking, melting, boiling, mixing, compressing, solidifying... The process was far more involved than he had anticipated.

"Machines have limitations," Marina explained. "They can only mix up to five berries at once. But with manual crafting, you can incorporate dozens, creating far more complex and effective poke blocks."

She added, "Take this poke block, for example. This famous cube is entirely handmade. It condenses the essence of numerous berries into a single serving-enough to satisfy even a Snorlax."

Naoki's eyes lit up at the explanation.

"Would you like to try making one?" Marina asked, holding out a recipe.

Naoki accepted the paper and read it:

[Primary Glutton Poke Block Recipe: Peach Berry x2, Oran Berry x1, Bluk Berry x1, Eggant Berry x2, 1/3 Nanab Berry. Effect: Provides basic nutrition for Pokémon and fills their stomach.]

Marina pointed toward a pot on the counter. "You can start there. I'll guide you along the way."

"Thank you for your help, Miss Marina," Naoki said with a polite nod.

He carefully located the berries listed in the recipe, peeled them, removed the seeds, and washed them thoroughly. Following the instructions, he placed the fruits into a pot in the specified order and boiled them until they turned into a glossy, jam-like consistency.

Marina observed his progress closely. "There are very few impurities," she remarked approvingly. "That meets the standards. It seems you did an excellent job cleaning the fruits. Now, it's time to add the Nanab Berry for seasoning."

"This particular berry has a soft texture and melts easily, so it should always be added last. Its purpose is to enhance sweetness and improve the flavor of the poke block."

Naoki watched intently as the mixture thickened, carefully turning off the heat when it was ready. He strained out any remaining residue, poured the clear jam into a specialized machine for compression, and then transferred the mixture into molds to solidify.

After a short wait, five small, steaming poke blocks emerged fresh from the process. Naoki held one up, and immediately, information about the poke blocks appeared in his mind.

[Primary Glutton Poke Block (C+): Cooking Effect: A nourishing poke block designed to satiate hunger. Just one cube is sufficient to fill the stomach of a Snorlax or Pokémon with smaller appetites.]

"Excellent work!" Marina praised with an approving smile. "Handmade poke blocks are just as much about creativity as they are about precision. Breeders must constantly explore new formulas to meet various Pokémon needs. And remember, you can also buy recipes created by other breeders if you want to expand your repertoire."

"This is how many breeders earn their living," she added. "If you ever discover a rare poke block formula, you can sell it to the Breeders Association or other breeders. It's a great way to share knowledge-and earn some income."

Hearing this, Naoki was reminded of the [Poison Baby] he had recently concocted. The idea that his creation could attract Pokémon like Poipole gave him a sense of accomplishment. However, considering that Poipole and other Ultra Beasts were rarely found in the Unova region, the poke block's practical use here seemed limited.

"Miss Marina, could I borrow a pen? I want to write down the formula for the poke blocks I just made," Naoki asked, eager to record his progress.

"Of course," Marina said, pulling a pen from her pocket and handing it to him. Naoki quickly wrote down the recipe for the [Poison Baby]. He knew it might come in handy someday, especially if he ever traveled to regions where Ultra Beasts were more common. Over the next few days, Naoki remained dedicated to mastering poke block creation, honing his skills at the Breeders Association. During this time, Alder visited him only once or twice. Upon learning that Naoki was immersed in his training, Alder chose not to interrupt and instead focused on his own responsibilities.

With Volcarona fully recovered and the Unova League still awaiting a new champion, Alder felt compelled to step up. He resumed his duties as acting champion, guiding trainers and fostering bonds between them and their Pokémon.

The unexpected return of Alder-and the miraculous recovery of Volcarona-sent ripples of surprise through the League. Many regarded Alder's return and newfound resolve as an

inspiring transformation.

Meanwhile, as Naoki devoted himself to the craft of poke block production, significant changes were unfolding beyond the Breeders Association.

Driftveil City has been buzzing with activity in recent days.

Luxury cruise ships, private jets, and charter flights arrived one after another, bringing a steady influx of notable figures:

Giovanni, a prominent entrepreneur from the Kanto region. Lance, heir to the Dragon Clan, Dragon Master, and the Champion of Kanto. Professor Oak, a leading figure in Pokémon research. President Stone, head of the Devon Corporation in the Hoenn region. Cynthia, the strongest Champion of Sinnoh. Caitlin, the Psychic-type Elite Four member of Unova, and Shauntal, the Ghost-type specialist. Diantha, Champion of Kalos and a renowned movie star. Several wealthy families from the Paldea region, including the owner of Rotom Technologies

and his daughter, Nemona.

...

Four days later, Naoki finally mastered the art of making poke blocks.

That afternoon, Alder arrived at the Breeders' Association, finding Naoki deeply immersed in

crafting unique poke blocks from berries.

"What's the status?" Alder asked as he approached.

"Almost done!" Naoki exhaled with relief. "Thanks to Miss Marina, I've learned to make

special poke blocks."

"In that case, it's time to go," Alder said with a grin.

Naoki looked up, slightly confused. "What do you mean?"

"The dinner. It's starting soon!" Alder explained.

Naoki blinked in surprise. "Already?! That was quick."

Alder smirked. "It's been four days since you arrived in Unova. I just received word that all the

other guests have already arrived-except us."

Hearing this, Naoki hastily set down his tools. He hadn't forgotten the primary purpose of this trip: to present the Rotom Smartphone Project to the owner of Rotom Technologies. It was already 4:00 PM, and the dinner was set to begin shortly.

Before leaving, Naoki wanted to thank Marina and bid her farewell, but he learned from the

staff that she had left for another city.

For a moment, Naoki didn't know how to respond.

Alder placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry! She knows how grateful you

are. I'll make sure to thank her on your behalf."

Naoki nodded. "Then I'll leave that to you."

With no other choice, Naoki followed Alder out of the Breeders' Association and headed for

the dinner venue.

Alder drove through the bustling streets of the city. After crossing several neighborhoods, then/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

car pulled up in front of an opulent mansion on the outskirts of town.

The evening air was lively. The manor was brightly lit, with an air of elegance and

sophistication. Guests were arriving in droves:

Gentlemen dressed in tailored suits. Ladies adorned in elegant evening gowns. Boys and girls

in formal attire. Young trainers in outfits that subtly mixed practicality with style.

The gathering exuded exclusivity, clearly catering to high society.

Naoki, who had only seen such scenes on television, felt like a fish out of water. His nerves

crept in as he surveyed the glamorous attendees.

Surrounded by wealthy elites, Naoki couldn't help but feel out of place. Compared to the city

sophisticates, his identity as a rancher from the countryside felt glaringly out of sync.

Alder turned off the car and said, "We're here. Impressive, isn't it? All of this belongs to

Clay!"

Naoki responded with an astonished, "Oh!"

Alder glanced over and noticed Naoki's slightly tense expression.

He chuckled and asked, "Feeling nervous?"

Naoki didn't shy away from admitting it. "I'm just a farmer. I've never been to a place like this

before."

His modest background felt worlds apart from the grandeur surrounding him. "Relax!" Alder reassured him. "Even if you're a farmer, you're the strongest farmer around!

Later, let's battle them. If they can't even beat a farmer, they're the ones who should be

nervous!"

Naoki: "..."

Ignoring Naoki's bemused silence, Alder hopped out of the car and called out to Koraidon,

who was seated in the back. "Koraidon, come on out! I'll take you to try some delicious food!"

"Agassi!"

Koraidon, who had subsisted on nothing but poke blocks lately, perked up immediately. Its

eyes sparkled at the thought of a feast. It leaped out of the car, eagerly following Alder, but not before casting a backward glance at Naoki.

With a resigned smile, Naoki followed. Alder's words had calmed his nerves a bit. After all, he

reasoned, staying composed and maintaining a steady demeanor would help him navigate the situation.

As they walked through the garden, Alder skillfully avoided mingling with acquaintances, guiding Naoki and Koraidon to a quieter area laden with tables of gourmet food and fine

wines.

The area was bustling with trainers and their Pokémon, all enjoying the lavish spread. Alder released his Volcarona, allowing it and Koraidon to dive into a feast that included a massive chicken leg reminiscent of something straight out of One Piece.

He then grabbed two glasses of red wine from a passing waiter and handed one to Naoki. "Take this and relax! There's still some time before the banquet officially starts."

Naoki accepted the glass, taking a sip in sync with Alder. Just as he was about to speak, a

familiar voice interrupted. "Mr. Alder? Is that really you?"

Alder turned to find the source of the voice. His face broke into a grin as he saw who it was. "Shauntal! Caitlin! It's been ages! How have you been?"

Caitlin, the blonde Psychic-type trainer, gave him a mildly exasperated look. "You're still the same as always."

As the three began chatting, Naoki's gaze shifted to another figure standing nearby-a composed blonde woman with an aura of quiet strength. Their eyes met briefly. She gave him

a polite nod before focusing on Alder.

"Long time no see, Alder," she said.

"Miss Cynthia! What a pleasant surprise! I didn't expect to see you here this year!" Alder

replied warmly. Cynthia smiled faintly, a glimmer of amusement in her eyes. Meanwhile, Shauntal and Caitlin exchanged subtle glances, their curiosity piqued as they studied the young man beside Alder.

Alder, noticing their interest, clapped a hand on Naoki's shoulder. "Oh, where are my

manners? Let me introduce you. This is my friend Naoki, a champion-level trainer from the Paldea region."

Turning to Naoki, Alder gestured to the group. "Naoki, these two are the Ghost-type specialist Shauntal and the Psychic master Caitlin, both Elite Four members of the Unova

region. And this," he added with a flourish, "is none other than Cynthia, the Champion of

Sinnoh."

...

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