The surprise Phione was talking about turned out to be nothing other than a fully blossomed lotus flower.
In the middle of the lake, among the dense cluster of lotus leaves, that soft gradient of pink fading into white stood out vividly. Each petal stretched open naturally, elegant and unrestrained, as if welcoming the sunlight.
Five Flabébé circled around it curiously, sniffing the faint lotus fragrance, their little faces intoxicated with delight.
"Phion~"
The Phione in Silas's arms happily pointed with its tiny finger, urging him to look.
"So it's already about to bloom!"
Taking two steps forward, Silas sighed in admiration.
Looking around, he realized this one was only the beginning.
Hidden among the nearby lotus leaves were quite a few tender green buds, quietly waiting for the right moment. At any time, they too might burst into full bloom.
"Min!"
"Doll~"
All the little ones were gathered here, but they could only stand on the shore and look longingly from afar.
When they saw Silas approach, each of them grew more excited than the last.
"Mm-hmm!" Silas bent down to scoop up the Minccino, giving it a kiss and a gentle squeeze. Only then did he notice the lotus leaf clutched tightly in its tiny paws.
"How about I make you lotus leaf grilled fish for lunch?"
"Min?"
Minccino didn't quite understand how a lotus leaf could turn into grilled fish, but it obediently handed the leaf over, as if saying Silas could use this one.
After setting Minccino down and letting them continue playing in the ranch, Silas gazed at the lotus leaves that covered nearly half of the lake's surface.
These were truly treasures.
The lotus seeds inside the pods could be made into sweet lotus seed soup, and the lotus roots could be used to stew pork ribs.
Just imagining a pot of pork rib and lotus root soup was enough to make his mouth water.
Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, he called over Veluza.
He asked it to help keep watch and make sure the little ones didn't damage the lotus flowers.
"Vel~"
Veluza blew a bubble, agreeing.
Placing his palm on Veluza's body, Silas noticed that some fish flesh and bones on one side had loosened slightly, wobbling faintly.
"You're shedding meat again? Need my help?"
He licked his lips discreetly. Last time, Veluza sashimi had been astonishingly delicious.
"Vel!"
Veluza shook its head, indicating that the flesh had only just begun to loosen and would take quite a while before it detached.
"Alright. Call me if you need anything. And don't throw the meat away."
After parting with Veluza, Silas picked seven or eight lotus leaves.
He found Cyclizar, who was herding the chicken flock, and asked it to help catch some fish. He was planning to make some delicious lotus leaf grilled fish.
"Cyc~"
Cyclizar immediately expressed that it would get to work.
Morpeko appeared at his side at some unknown moment, raising its little paw with sparkling eyes.
"Mor-pe-ko!"
(I'll help too! I can shock the fish.)
Tiny arcs of electricity flickered from Morpeko's cheek pouches. This little glutton only put in effort when good food was involved.
"Alright then. But make sure you're quick."
Silas returned to the house first and entered the kitchen.
He needed to prepare the lotus leaves.
After washing them clean, he scalded them briefly with boiling water and set them aside.
Soon he heard Morpeko's voice as it and Cyclizar burst into the kitchen, tossing a string of fish, electrocuted into unconsciousness into a basin of water. Even the smallest one weighed at least half a kilogram.
Rolling up his sleeves, Silas waved at the two Pokémon who wanted to help.
"You're not needed here. Go watch TV or play outside. I'll call you when it's ready."
The big one and the small one withdrew reluctantly, standing at the kitchen doorway and peeking inside.
By then, Silas had already cleaned the fish thoroughly and patted them dry with kitchen paper to remove excess moisture, preparing for the next step.
One spoonful of melted brown sugar, half a spoon of salt, a little light soy sauce, peppercorns, shredded chili, and minced garlic were mixed evenly into a sauce.
He laid the fish on the lotus leaves, brushing the prepared sauce evenly over the fish's surface and inside the belly cavity, letting it marinate for a short while.
Next, he mixed soy sauce, yellow rice wine, bay leaves, scallion segments, and ginger slices, pouring the mixture over the fish before carefully wrapping everything tightly in the lotus leaves.
His movements were cautious, afraid the leaves might tear and leak.
Once finished, he placed the wrapped fish onto a foil-lined baking tray and slid them into the oven.
Top and bottom heat at 200°C, timer set for 20 minutes.
Grilled fish alone might be a bit greasy, so Silas also prepared several platters of fruit assortments to enjoy alongside.
"Morpe~"
(It smells so good!)
Morpeko's nose twitched rapidly. If Cyclizar hadn't grabbed its ear, it would have already sneaked inside.
The enticing aroma made Morpeko's stomach growl nonstop. Unable to eat yet, it could only inhale deeply to satisfy its cravings.
Twenty minutes passed in the blink of an eye. Silas opened the oven, unwrapped the lotus leaves slightly, and brushed a layer of olive oil over the fish. Keeping the temperature the same, he set the timer for another 10 minutes.
"Cyclizar, help call Kangaskhan and the others back for lunch."
"Cyc!"
After agreeing, Cyclizar took Morpeko along to prevent it from causing trouble.
With the other Pokémon still outside, a white cat leaped lightly onto the kitchen windowsill.
It sat obediently there and let out a soft meow toward Silas.
"What's wrong, Litten?"
Silas stepped forward and rubbed it gently. Litten licked his palm ingratiatingly.
Its barbed tongue created a faint tingling sensation.
"If it's grilled fish you want, you'll need to wait a bit longer."
"Meow~"
Litten shook its head.
It wanted to become stronger.
As strong as Noivern and Cyclizar—strong enough to help Silas.
"I see." Silas smiled. "That's doable. After we eat, I'll give you a gift."
While Silas and Litten were talking, a chorus of chattering sounds approached from afar. Kangaskhan returned with a group of Pokémon.
Kangaskhan told them to wash their hands first. One by one, they obediently sat in their assigned little seats, their small eyes collectively sneaking glances toward the kitchen.
The lotus leaf–wrapped fish were ready. A sprinkle of chopped scallions on top, and they were good to serve.
The moment Silas touched the finished dish, a panel popped up before his eyes.
[Lotus Leaf Grilled Fish (C): During roasting, the fresh fragrance of lotus leaves permeates the fish, reducing the fishy odor and enhancing its flavor.
Dish Effect: Speed increase (minor). After consumption, Pokémon will remain in a pleasant mood for a certain period (120 minutes).]
A modest effect—typical of C-grade dishes, which rarely offered anything remarkable.
For Silas, however, taste always came first.
"Time to eat!"
Together with Kangaskhan and Cyclizar, Silas carried the dishes to the table and pointed out a spot.
"Your seat is over there."
Litten's place was next to Popplio, with Rowlet on the other side. Silas had always kept a seat reserved for it.
As the lotus leaves were opened, a wave of steam carrying the mingled fragrance of fish and lotus leaves rushed out, prompting a collective chorus of "Waaah~!" from the Pokémon around the table.
"Min!"
(Silas is amazing! I love eating the food Silas makes the most!)
Once Minccino began praising, Morpeko, Dolliv, and the others immediately followed suit.
For a moment, endless compliments filled the air.
"Morpe~"
(The meat is delicious! So fragrant!)
"Doll!"
(The fruits are so tasty! It has my favorite sweet-and-sour flavor!)
"Kang~"
(The cake Silas makes is delicious too. I really, really like it!)
"..."
Meowth and the others chimed in after tasting the food. Even Cyclizar and Popplio were no exceptions, joining the so-called "Praise Cult" and collectively showering Silas with sweet words.
Under the relentless "praise offensive" from Minccino and the others, Silas surrendered completely.
Reaching out, he rubbed the head of the nearest Minccino and let his gaze sweep across the group of Pokémon.
"As long as you like it, that's enough. If you love it, I'll cook for you for the rest of my life."
(End of Chapter)