In the evening, after his parents finished their necessary shopping, his Aunt-in-law, Natsumi, and Uncle arrived.
Adjusting his gold-rimmed glasses, his Uncle chuckled, "I heard Austin is cooking tonight. We had to come and try it."
When they arrived in Celestic Town, his grandfather firmly held the spatula, and Austin and his dad, Leon, could only assist.
This time, Austin and Leon worked together in perfect sync, producing a table brimming with dishes:
Snowfield Braised Beef, Garlic-Steamed Seabass, Sinnoh Berry-Glazed Pork Ribs, Hearthome Honey-Glazed Root Taters.
And, of course, there was a serving of Pokémon Curry Beef Rice for everyone, including Ryu and the others.
Austin even filmed one of the dishes.
Austin poured 120% effort into meticulously cooking the dishes.
The culinary ceiling in their household was still his grandfather, so this meal might not make his Uncle and Aunt clap with delight—but it would definitely earn their newfound respect.
His Uncle's eyes lit up as he swallowed. "Austin's cooking skills have really improved!"
"We're all family, let's eat!"
Chopsticks moved like flashing blades, and the plates on the table were wiped clean as if polished.
Agni held its plate, reluctantly licking it spotless.
Machamp drank all the leftover sauce straight from its plate.
Austin watched from the side, dumbfounded.
After finishing their meal, Austin, his parents, and his Uncle moved in surprisingly synchronized motions.
Even Gardevoir leaned back in her chair, rubbing her stomach without caring about appearances.
Only Ryu, ever the epitome of discipline, managed to resist with sheer willpower, sitting upright with closed eyes.
Leon suggested, "Brother, Natsumi, now that we're all here, why don't you stay for dinner tonight? We have rooms, so no need to head back to the city center."
His Uncle and Aunt exchanged glances, clearly tempted.
His Uncle nodded contentedly. "Alright, I'm not busy lately anyway. The Breeding House just opened, so if you need any help, just say the word."
Austin looked puzzled. "Weren't you supposed to design clothes for the princess? Already?"
He recalled that his Uncle had taken the order less than two weeks ago.
"Princess Salvia is the best client I've ever met, like an angel!" his Uncle exclaimed dramatically,
"She's the first person who didn't make me revise the draft—saved my hair!"
For the next ten minutes, his Uncle raved about Princess Salvia's taste and aesthetic sense in flowery language, leaving Austin completely bewildered.
Princess Salvia, apparently, was also very satisfied with his Uncle's craftsmanship. In short, both sides were happy.
"Oh, right—she also raises Pokémon. If she ever needs anything, I'll recommend you two."
Amanda smiled. "Then thank you in advance, Hanson."
Under the guarantee of the City Mayor, they had taken over the Breeding Base, but the debt remained. Unlike fashion, competition among Breeders was fierce. Still, Amanda couldn't help feeling a little uneasy.
Even if his Uncle didn't push for repayment, he casually waved it off. "We're family—no need to worry about that."
Natsumi added, "The signboard goes up in three days, right? Then it can officially open. I also know a few friends who might become customers."
Leon nodded gleefully. "Yes, in three days."
...
The next day.
After morning training, Ryu and the others mysteriously slipped away again.
Austin didn't bother them and first started editing his video on Sweet and Sour Pork Ribs.
He picked up a glazed rib with his chopsticks and began with an ASMR-worthy bite.
"Does it sound good? If yes, then this is a good Sweet and Sour Pork Rib."
He explained step by step, filming a full tutorial:
"Cut the pork ribs into individual pieces, add salt and white pepper, and mix. Cooking wine is optional."
"Most tutorial videos say 'appropriate amount,' which is vague. I'll give you exact quantities."
He included pictures of ingredients and weights for clarity.
"Pay attention: if the batter is too thick, add water; too thin, add flour. Mix thoroughly."
"The batter shouldn't be too thin."
"Pour in plenty of oil. Fry over medium-low heat for 5 minutes until light golden, then remove. Deep-fry again on high heat—just one minute."
"The sweet and sour sauce can be adjusted to taste. Too sweet? Add vinegar. Too sour? Add sugar. Bring to a boil and season with 1.5 grams of salt."
The scene cut back to the ribs he had fried earlier, with Agni eagerly licking the plate clean.
"Here's a quick tip for all of you: Cooking isn't a one-day ride. Never be afraid to make mistakes and enjoy your culinary journey. Austin Black, until next time."
The video ended, titled: You Have Been Making Sweet and Sour Pork Ribs Wrong!!. Here Is How It's DONE.
Austin uploaded it, feeling satisfied.
The title was clickbait enough.
He stroked his chin. "Didn't expect I had a knack for teaching."
It was his first time editing a video, so it took a while, but the content was clean, and he was proud of his first effort.
...
The next day.
Austin had to head to Jubilife City early in the morning for his Intermediate Breeder assessment, so he was up before sunrise.
Originally, he planned to bring Ryu and the others with him.
"Are you sure you're not coming with me?"
"Rio."
(We want to wander around nearby.)
Austin paused, then nodded. "Alright. Just don't cause any trouble."
He didn't quite understand what was so appealing about roaming around a quiet residential area, but he chose to respect their decision.
He kind of understood them because if they went to the city with him, Metang and Agni would likely have to stay inside their Poké Balls most of the time. Compared to that, staying here was clearly more comfortable.
They had already been out and about for two days without any incidents. From Austin's observations, only Metang occasionally challenged nearby wild Pokémon—and with Ryu watching over things, there shouldn't be any real danger.
The subway station was about a kilometer away from the Breeding Base. Austin rode on Agni's back to the station before boarding the train.
"Be careful while I'm gone."
"Canine~"
Jubilife City was enormous, with a dense and intricate transportation network. Without a map or navigation, it would be easy to get lost—but thankfully, public transit was exceptionally well organized.
Austin arrived smoothly at the Jubilife City Pokémon Center.
"Hello, Nurse Joy. I'm here for the Intermediate Breeder assessment."
"Alright, please show me your ID."
Austin handed over the identification card he had prepared in advance.
After tapping away at the computer for a moment, Joy looked up and smiled warmly.
"Mr. Austin Black, your registration is confirmed. The written exam will begin at 9:00 a.m. Please wait patiently until then."
Austin let out a quiet breath and nodded.
Everything was officially underway.
. . .
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