Pokémon, Ash's art style is off!

A cool, moist, somewhat strange but faintly floral scent filled my nostrils.

Strangely, it calmed the slight restlessness in my heart.

"what?"

Xiao Zhi wrinkled his nose and subconsciously began to analyze.

"This calming, refreshing feeling, like after a forest bath... is it from the petals of a geranium?"

Upon hearing this, Lijia's slender eyebrows twitched almost imperceptibly.

She never expected that this seemingly clueless young man could hit the nail on the head.

"And there's also a little...sweet feeling..."

Xiao Zhi tried hard to recall similar olfactory memories.

"Is it the sweat of the sweet bamboo? But it doesn't seem so simple; it's mixed with something sweet... The proportions are just right, almost indistinguishable..."

With each sentence Xiaozhi uttered...

Lijia's eyes widened slightly.

From initial slight surprise, to later astonishment, and then to disbelief.

In just a short while, Xiaozhi had described 99% of her ingredients.

It's worth noting that the formula for this new perfume is the culmination of her recent hard work.

Its complexity and subtlety are far beyond the easy comprehension of ordinary enthusiasts.

This young man, with just one sniff, had already discerned most of the truth.

However... the most crucial and also the most secret ingredient.

It shouldn't be possible for it to be detected.

That was a secret she discovered by chance, and it's also the source of the perfume's unique dry-down...

Xiao Zhi is still sniffing.

Pikachu is still pretending to sniff.

However, Xiao Zhi's brows furrowed more and more, as if he had encountered a great problem.

He tilted his head and brought the fragrance tester closer.

Then, as if doubting his own nose, with great uncertainty and a hint of instinctive disdain, he muttered under his breath.

"...That's strange, why does it seem...there's a hint of...stinky flower nectar?"

Although it was very faint, almost completely covered up...

But it seems like it is, right?

It shouldn't be... right?

After all, what kind of decent person would put something like that in perfume?

Rika: "?!"

"Clap."

The delicate pale green perfume bottle slipped from her hand, bounced lightly on the polished wooden floor, and rolled to the side.

Fortunately, it didn't break.

The shop was completely silent.

The three shop assistants stared in disbelief at their usually composed and calm boss, who was hailed as a perfume genius.

Their owners are calm and elegant.

How could someone lose their composure to the point of not even holding the perfume bottle properly?

And what kind of expression was that on his face?

shock?

Horrified?

Even... if they weren't mistaken, there was a hint of excitement at having found a kindred spirit?

Lijia's hands trembled.

Ash is right, Gloom's nectar is her secret recipe!

It is also the source of the unique "soul" of all her "Jade Rainbow" perfume series!

The nectar of the Stinkweed flower does indeed have a strong and unique aroma.

However, after being diluted a hundred or a thousand times and treated in a special way, it produces an extremely subtle, almost imperceptible, yet unique scent that greatly enhances the overall sophistication, vitality, and memorability of the perfume.

This is the ultimate secret to her Jade Rainbow perfume series standing out; it is her proud and unique skill that she never reveals to outsiders!

So subtle, so delicately blended with other strong forest notes...

It's unbelievable... that this boy managed to "dig" it out using only his sense of smell!

Lijia took a deep, deep breath, her full chest rising and falling slightly.

It was as if he needed to use this to suppress the surging emotions in his chest.

She suddenly stepped forward, ignoring the perfume bottle on the ground, and stretched out her hands.

He firmly grasped the hand that Xiaozhi was still holding the perfume tester.

Xiao Zhi: "?"

What's going on?

Rika's eyes were burning with passion, a stark contrast to the elegant and reserved kimono-clad beauty she had been moments before.

"juvenile!"

"Please, please come and work at my perfume workshop!"

"You're a born perfumer! No, a born olfactory genius! A once-in-a-century prodigy!"

She gripped Xiaozhi's hand tightly, as if she were holding the key to a brand new perfume palace.

They saw a bright future for the perfume industry in Yuhong City.

They even saw hope that Yuhong City's GDP would surpass that of Jinhuang City!

"Excellent salary and benefits! Profit sharing is negotiable!"

"Make any request you have! As long as it's within my power, I'll grant it!"

Lijia's sudden and incredibly aggressive poaching plunged the entire perfume shop into an eerie silence.

The three shop assistants' mouths were slightly open.

Look at the genius and composed eldest sister in their eyes, and then look at that clueless boy in the baseball cap.

It felt like all three CPUs were overloaded at the same time, and were about to start smoking.

After all, Arceus is fair.

With nutrients concentrated in other areas, the processing units in the brain sometimes do feel a bit strained.

Ash looked at Rika's hand, which was being held tightly.

At this moment, I wholeheartedly agree with Professor Oak's earnest advice.

As expected of a PhD!

Experience is wealth.

Yesterday I earnestly said that there are "no good people" out there, that everyone is just lusting after their bodies, and today this is a living example!

He withdrew his hand.

He answered firmly.

"Thank you for your kindness, but I'm a man destined to become a Pokémon Master!"

"I have absolutely no interest in blending perfumes or anything like that!"

Xiao Zhi had a clear goal, a firm gaze, and did not waver in the slightest.

"Pickup!"

Pikachu nodded.

He watched Lijia warily.

perfume?

Where can you find the best perfume?

Rika was taken aback by Ash's decisive and straightforward rejection.

She then cooled down a little from the extreme excitement of "discovering a treasure of the world".

Realizing how abrupt and even... somewhat impolite my behavior was to a complete stranger I was meeting for the first time.

Think about it too.

For a teenager who is unaware of his own identity and the resources he represents.

Such an enthusiastic invitation could indeed seem suspicious or even have ulterior motives.

But there's no problem!

As long as you mention her name, she will surely bow down and worship you!

She composed herself, slightly agitated, and took a half-step back, regaining the composure befitting a dojo leader.

A warm, gentle smile returned to his lips.

"I apologize for my rudeness." She gave a graceful slight bow. "Now, please allow me to formally introduce myself again. Perhaps you don't yet know who I am—"

"I am Lily, the gym leader of Celadon City Gym..."

"Miss Rika!"

Lijia hadn't finished speaking.