The restaurant where Austin stopped for lunch was a one-star Snorlax-rated restaurant located in Hearthome City, known as Siebold Restaurant.
It was a branch established by Siebold, the Water-type Elite Four member from the Kalos region. Unlike ordinary restaurants, this establishment welcomed both Trainers and Pokémon, allowing partners to dine alongside their owners.
The interior was filled with Pokémon-inspired decorations. Berry-shaped chandeliers hung from the ceiling, casting colorful lights across the dining area.
Austin ordered a filet and ribeye steak for himself and Ryu, while Zenith, Agni, Dragapult, and the others received specially prepared Pokémon meals from the restaurant.
"Cario."
(It's not as delicious as what you make)
Austin nodded in agreement.
"I rarely cook steak. Maybe I should try making it next time."
After all, this was only a branch of Siebold Restaurant.
It could not compare to the three-star Snorlax-rated restaurant in Lumiose City, where Siebold himself served as head chef.
The culinary skill of the Hearthome City branch's head chef was already above average, but it still failed to reach Austin's personal standard.
His taste had been refined too much by his grandpa's cooking.
After eating countless high-quality dishes, Austin could easily identify small mistakes in preparation, seasoning, and cooking technique.
"Woof!"
(๑＞＜๑)
Agni continued eating from his bowl, but his eyes remained fixed on Austin's ribeye steak.
At exactly noon, the restaurant bell rang.
"It's battle time!"
"Let's see which lucky customer will win today's free meal!"
The Berry-shaped lights hanging above the restaurant began rotating, eventually stopping directly above Austin.
Austin looked up.
Seriously?
It really is a spotlight.
Battle Restaurants had appeared in various Pokémon competitions and stories before. Ash and Brock had even participated in one.
"Dear guest, we would like to invite you to participate in a battle. If you do not wish to participate, please remain seated."
If the selected customer declined, another participant would be chosen.
Judging by the restaurant's attitude, they genuinely wanted someone to claim the free meal reward.
Since Austin was selected, it was unlikely to be a planned trick.
"Would you like to participate?"
Dragapult, Ryu, and Agni immediately shook their heads.
Only Drakloak and Zenith showed interest.
Austin looked at them.
"Since you want to participate, then go ahead."
The Battle Restaurant was not designed to challenge customers seriously.
It was more like a performance match meant to entertain guests.
The restaurant's battlefield was a large water arena, where a Primarina gracefully swam through the water.
Seeing his opponent was a Water-Fairy dual-type Pokémon, Austin naturally ruled out sending Drakloak.
Even if this Primarina was not especially powerful, only reaching the Silver (Initial) level, it had clearly evolved recently.
Meanwhile, after absorbing the Black Rayquaza's Dragon Scale and receiving Austin's daily supply of perfect-quality Pokéblocks, Drakloak had already reached the Gold (Initial) level.
However, Austin estimated that Drakloak would only evolve once it approached the Platinum level.
As Austin stepped onto the battlefield, several customers began whispering.
"Does he look familiar?"
"That's the Breeder who helped maintain Champion Cynthia's ace Garchomp."
"It's him? No wonder his Pokémon look so impressive."
In the Pokémon world, battles were not only popular among professional Trainers.
Even ordinary people enjoyed watching Pokémon battles.
That passion was one of the reasons competitions like the Pokémon World Championships and the newly established Emerald League could become worldwide sensations.
The woman standing across from Austin wore an elegant gown and gave a graceful bow.
"Greetings, honored guest. I am Miss Misandei, daughter of the restaurant's head chef, and this is my partner, Primarina."
Austin narrowed his eyes slightly.
This Primarina was not ordinary, as he expected.
It possessed a Hidden Ability.
Regular Primarina usually possessed the Torrent Ability.
However, this Primarina was different.
Its Ability was Liquid Voice, which transformed all sound-based moves into Water-type moves.
Because of this, commonly used moves such as Disarming Voice became far more effective. Although it still would not deal much damage against a Steel-type Pokémon like Zenith, it was at least enhanced beyond its normal power.
Miss Misandei had long, wavy hair and appeared to be around Austin's age, perhaps slightly older.
What Austin did not know was that his selection was not completely random. The Battle Restaurant's selection system depended partly on the staff's preferences.
Miss Misandei, being one of Austin's fans, had personally chosen him because she wanted the chance to battle him.
"Go, Zenith."
The moment the Shiny Metagross appeared, the atmosphere inside the restaurant changed.
Several customers immediately turned their attention toward the battlefield.
A Shiny Metagross was already rare enough, and one this powerful was even more impressive.
"Primarina, Disarming Voice!"
Primarina raised her head.
A beautiful, almost ethereal melody spread throughout the restaurant as the sound waves traveled across the battlefield.
"Confusion."
Austin could have chosen Psychic instead.
However, with Zenith's current strength, that would likely end the battle instantly.
Zenith was already at the Platinum (Advanced) level, only one step away from reaching the Emerald level.
Combined with its Steel typing advantage and the super-effective damage against Primarina, the outcome was obvious.
Since this was a Battle Restaurant offering customers a free meal, there was no need to completely overwhelm his opponent.
The two moves collided in the center of the battlefield.
Disarming Voice and Confusion pushed against each other, causing ripples to spread across the water.
Suddenly, two pillars of water erupted from the arena.
Zenith understood Austin's intention.
Rather than allowing Primarina to be defeated immediately, it used Confusion to manipulate the water itself.
The attack still struck Primarina, but the force was controlled enough to prevent a devastating knockout.
The two water pillars disrupted Primarina's Disarming Voice, and Confusion forced it backward.
"Primarina, Sparkling Aria!"
"Psychic."
The two Pokémon exchanged attacks.
The water arena continued to churn as waves crashed against the battlefield.
After an entire pool of water had practically been thrown into the battle, Austin decided the performance had gone on long enough.
Meteor Mash."
"Stop it, Primarina! Hyper Voice!"
Even Primarina's normally beautiful singing voice became overwhelming when amplified into Hyper Voice.
Zenith's supercomputer-like mind instantly calculated countless possibilities.
Using Confusion, it manipulated the water around the battlefield, creating a barrier that disrupted Primarina's sound waves while blocking its vision.
Then, its metallic body shot forward.
The water curtain exploded apart.
Boom!
Meteor Mash struck Primarina directly.
The dual-type Pokémon was sent crashing into the water, creating a massive splash.
After a few moments, Primarina slowly floated back to the surface.
Its eyes had turned into spirals.
It was unable to continue battling.
The referee immediately raised their hand.
"Primarina is unable to battle. The winner is customer Austin Black!"
"According to the rules, Mr. Black has earned today's free meal!"
Applause erupted throughout the restaurant.
The customers enthusiastically cheered as Austin and Miss Misandei returned from the battlefield.
Miss Misandei gave a graceful bow.
"Thank you very much for going easy on me."
During the battle, she had already noticed.
Austin had clearly been controlling Zenith's strength.
"No, you battled very well too."
Austin was naturally polite.
He had no intention of openly admitting that he had held back.
"May I ask for your autograph?"
Austin paused.
"Of course."
One battle had earned him a satisfying lunch, a new fan, and a completely free meal.
Battle Restaurants really were too convenient.
. . .
Time passed quickly.
At four o'clock in the afternoon, Austin's phone rang.
It was Cynthia.
"I've arrived in Hearthome City. Where are you?"
. . .
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