What is a chef's obsession after all?
Without letting Baimu worry too long, the chef who returned to Lumiose City revealed the answer through narrations and flashbacks in black-and-white scenes.
Simply put, just two words—
[Family].
The chef is not an isolated orphan. On the contrary, his family is quite wealthy, with his father being the CEO of a large corporation.
But the main business of the corporation is very interesting.
It's prefabricated food.
These are convenient foods produced in centralized kitchens using modern standards and scientific packaging, including but not limited to ready-to-eat, ready-to-cook, ready-to-heat, and ready-to-assemble varieties.
It belongs to the hottest catering industry in Carlos right now.
The chef's family is the leader in prefabricated food, selling not only within the Carlos Region but also expanding it to the outside world.
Understandably, the chef's father hopes the chef can inherit this industry, but the chef, who has lived with his grandfather, a professional cook, for many years, stubbornly believes that some prefabricated foods are the wrong path.
'Such things only confuse people about the quality of food; they have no reason to exist.'
At the same time, he thinks those who graduate from Western culinary schools are more like machines than chefs, always using the same ingredients and cooking with the same heat to make a dish.
Being replaced by prefabricated food is deserving.
So after a falling out with his family, he resolutely took the wok and iron spoon his grandfather passed down to him and went to a Western culinary school, hoping to carve out a different world.
Unfortunately, he had overestimated himself and inevitably ran into obstacles everywhere.
When he had his falling out with his family, he also boasted about relying on himself to succeed and echoed Siebold's classic saying.
『Only by constantly worrying, researching, absorbing knowledge, and practicing, can one truly explore the brilliant and fleeting beauty of cooking.』
『This cannot be achieved with prefabricated food made by machines, measured and seasoned according to recipes.』
This latter statement was the chef's own addition.
At this point.
The flashback in the scene ended.
Baimu felt conflicted, unexpectedly realizing the chef had such an experience, which explained why he stubbornly refused to give in, as yielding would mean compromising on prefabricated food.
So is the obsession prefabricated food?
Apparently not.
Baimu saw the chef lying on the bed, repeatedly uttering '...', as if pondering something, understanding that the chef's attitude had matured somewhat during his travels in the Carlos Region, and he no longer harbored such strong hostility toward prefabricated food.
So how will he resolve his obsession?
The next day.
The chef provided Baimu with an answer.
[You visit your father and request to talk with him.]
[Your father agrees.]
In an office, the chef faces a middle-aged man across a desk.
[You both discuss recent events and inquire about each other's health.]
[You notice your father is aging, and you feel somewhat saddened.]
[You apologize to your father, acknowledging that prefabricated food does indeed have its merits, and not all prefabricated food is as worthless as you once thought.]
[Your father feels very comforted, but when you reaffirm your dreams again, your father falls silent.]
[You tell him that the key seasoning to make cooking delicious is joy. When someone enjoys food with a big smile, the deliciousness is multiplied many times. Seeing others taste the food with a smile is exactly the joy of a chef. Making others, as well as yourself, happy and joyful is uncompromising.]
[You promise to become a top-notch chef and a strong Trainer. You will participate in the Lumiose Conference to prove your determination.]
[You didn't wait for your father's response, bowed, and then left.]
A long narration.
Filled with the chef's resolve.
As he walked out of the company building, Baimu saw the chef basking in the sunlight, with his Psyduck poking its head out from the bag and then jumping out.
In the next moment.
The light of evolution enveloped Psyduck.
"The obsession is resolved…"
Baimu smiled, seemingly understanding that the chef's obsession was the inability to apologize to his father and solemnly express his dreams.
After fulfilling these conditions, the Psyduck that represented his soul's will evolved into Golduck.
『Quack~』
The blue humanoid duck may not be as chubby as before, but it still had the same lazy expression, eating five meals a day.
——
The Lumiose Conference began on time.
Even though the chef didn't achieve Super Evolution, Baimu knew the chef would achieve a good result.
The power of determination was evident in him.
Indeed.
The chef breezed through the three rounds of preliminaries.
Among the Trainers who obtained eight badges, the chef was clearly one of the standouts.
The culinary team he possessed not only had the ability to assist him in cooking but also showed tremendous combat prowess.
From Vespiquen to Torkoal, they demonstrated that their glowing dishes day after day were not consumed in vain—
A Vespiquen that learned the evasive skill of passing through myriad flowers unscathed through rapid honey gathering.
By digesting a large amount of failed cooking, Snorlax has gained super endurance and a terrifying physique.
By raising five Pokémon and taking care of a person, Miltank mastered the unique skill of enduring attacks and recovering with "Drinking Milk".
By continuously fermenting various ingredients and Tree Fruits, Shuckle gained powerful digestion and corrosion abilities.
By precisely mastering the cooking temperature, Torkoal realized the ability to control temperature and the powerful skill of instant high temperature burst.
Finally.
It's Golduck, who embodies the will of a chef and resembles a Psychic-type Pokémon more than a Water-type one.
Although it no longer suffers from headaches due to pressure from trainers, when needed, it can still use the divine skill of "making the world feel the pain".
Is there a high probability of the chef winning the tournament?
To be honest, Baimu didn't think so.
Because he doesn't have a Pokémon capable of defeating all Mega Evolutions.
The power brought by Mega Evolution is something that no one can ignore, and in the animation, to emphasize this point, the top eight and even the top four at the Lumiose Conference all have Mega Evolutions.
Even the Four Heavenly Kings and the Champion need Mega Evolution to enhance themselves, so what the chef lacks is a new double-stove Fierce Fire Stove—cough cough.
It's Camerupt and its Mega Evolution Stone.
But no matter what the final result is, the chef will continue to grow, whether in the aspect of being a Trainer or in cooking.
A chef who doesn't want to become a Celestial King isn't a good Trainer!
When the chef passed through the preliminary rounds and reached the quarter-finals, the first opponent with a Mega Evolution appeared.
The opponent used Mega Pinsir, putting the chef in a tough battle.
Fortunately.
Under Baimu's expectant yet nervous gaze.
The chef's Pokémon fought with all their might and defeated the opponent, successfully advancing to the semi-finals.
In the semi-final.
Facing the opponent's Mega Alakazam, Golduck's small universe erupted, and with the assistance of the Blue Talent "As if God's Help" and Strong Mental Will, it successfully defeated the opponent.
To be honest, if it wasn't for facing Kona in the semi-finals, Miniskirt could surely have easily won the semi-final.
At this moment, the chef was just one step away from the championship.
But unfortunately, it ended there.
The final opponent's Mega Evolution was Tyranitar, a Pokémon with Rock and Evil attributes.
For Golduck, who couldn't use Miracle Eye, the Evil attribute of Mega Tyranitar only brought a deep sense of helplessness, as even the strongest Spiritual Power would weaken in front of an Evil attribute.
Even in animations where absolute attribute restraints don't exist, there's no guarantee that the attribute compatibility will disappear when both sides are equally strong or when one side is stronger.
In the end.
Golduck, who nearly overturned the entire battlefield, fell under the Sharp Stone Attack of Mega Tyranitar.
Announcing the end of this conference.
The chef embraced Golduck, looked at the sky, with only a slight regret on his face, but a determination to keep moving forward.
"You stopped at the runner-up, but you have proven your determination to your father, and you've shown your impressive demeanor to the Four Heavenly Kings Siebold who was watching you."
"Your father called to express his support for your career and vision."
"You received an invitation from the Four Heavenly Kings Siebold, who admires you as an ambitious and strong Trainer and chef, hoping you can become his deputy."
"You agreed and made a decision in your heart — to open your own restaurant in the future and spread the innovation of cooking, and the name... let's call it 'Golduck's Smile'.
Golduck: 'Quack~'
That lazy blue face disappeared from the screen, and Baimu let out a sigh.
Compared to Miniskirt, the chef's story is much more complex, and it's a pity that he didn't win the conference championship in the end... Is this thing that demanding?
Or maybe it requires a much stronger talent, will there be other color talents after the Blue Talent?
Speaking of...
Has the chef's restaurant opened? The timeline is before Ash Ketchum arrives in the Carlos Region, although I don't know what time it is now, but it should have been a long time, right?
He checked his phone and searched for "Golduck's Smile".
Turns out he really found a three-star restaurant located in Lumiose City, with the restaurant's sign on the picture clearly showing Golduck's lazy HD face.
No longer the blurry pixels.
"It's already opened, and it's a three-star restaurant now..." Baimu clicked his tongue, understanding that the star rating in the Pokémon World is the same as Michelin stars from his past life.
Three stars represent the highest level.
I hope there will be a chance to taste it, glowing cuisine.
As he imagined, the rewards for this simulation popped up.
"Fixed Reward: Move Tutor ×3 (can specify attribute)"
"Fixed Reward: Chef's Culinary Memory - Magical Glowing Cuisine · Stir-fry Edition (can be repeatedly consulted)"
...
"Choice Reward 1: Raise any Pokémon by three levels (below lv.70)"
"Choice Reward 2: Clues to obtain a Pokémon (can specify attribute, excellent)"
"Choice Reward 3: Skill – Strong Mental Will (can be taught to a Pokémon)"
"Choice Reward 4: Retain [Kind-hearted] Talent for the next round of simulation"
Three out of four rewards.
It really was a choice of three out of four.
Baimu rubbed his eyes several times, realizing he hadn't seen it wrong.