Pokémon, Ash's art style is off!

"This soup is so delicious! I've never tasted anything like it before!"

Xiaoxia was a little confused.

Are you so hungry that everything tastes good?

"Absolutely not!" Ash shook his head firmly. "You should try it too!"

Xiaoxia picked up the spoon with some skepticism and took a bite.

Her eyebrows twitched slightly, but she didn't say anything and took another sip.

Then he silently reached for the soup bowl with his spoon.

It immediately started racing Ash and Pikachu.

Of the three people and the rat, Xiao Gang, who had achieved his big dream, was the most composed.

He slowly tasted the other things before finally picking up the soup bowl and taking a small sip.

"Ok?"

Xiao Gang frowned.

I took another bite, and this time it lingered in my mouth for a long time.

"...It is indeed extraordinary."

Although I could tell that this person's skill was comparable to mine, there was a subtle flavor in the dish that enhanced its appeal.

Not to mention the soup, the spiciness of the other dishes is also very unique.

It's neither the pungent kick of pepper nor the stimulating kick of chili.

It's a warm, gentle sensation that slowly rises from deep within the throat, like an invisible hand gently massaging the taste buds.

"This spiciness is quite unique," Xiao Gang muttered to himself. "I've never tasted anything this spicy before..."

Xiao Zhi nodded as he ate.

"Yes, yes, yes! I've never tasted it before either. It's that kind of unique flavor that's hard to describe, but it's just delicious! It's even better than my mom's cooking!"

"Don't let your mother hear you say that when you get home."

Xiaoxia reminded her.

Xiao Zhi continued to bury himself in his food.

Pikachu ate without even lifting its head, its face almost buried in the bowl.

The wind swept away the clouds.

Nine dishes, a large bowl of soup, and three desserts were devoured at an astonishing speed through the combined efforts of the three people and the rat.

"Hmm... I'm about 70% full."

Xiao Zhi leaned back in his chair and patted his belly contentedly.

“Pikachu…”

Pikachu was also lying on its back on the table, with its four legs in the air and its round belly, looking just like a yellow balloon.

This man and the rat practically devoured 80% of the food.

But Xiao Gang wasn't as relaxed as the other two.

He held the empty bowl, turning it over and over several times, his brows still furrowed.

As the waiter passed by to refill the water, Xiao Gang finally spoke.

Excuse me, may I bother you?

The slight shock in the waiter's eyes at the sight of "three people and a rat with enormous appetites" vanished in an instant—

Having received excellent pre-job training, he perfectly managed his expression, stopped, turned around, and smiled.

"Sir, how can I help you?"

"I'd like to ask a question."

Xiao Gang tried to make his tone sound as casual as possible.

"How do you make the soup base for that creamy seafood soup in your kitchen?"

The waiter was taken aback, clearly not expecting to be asked such a technical question.

He smiled apologetically.

"Um... sir, I'm just a server who serves food, so I'm not really sure how it's done."

"Should I... go and call the head chef?"

"It's troublesome."

Xiao Gang nodded slightly.

The waiter turned and went into the kitchen. A moment later, a steady sound of footsteps could be heard.

A middle-aged man with a dark face walked over.

He was about forty years old, with a strong but not bulky build, wearing a white chef's uniform with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, revealing his muscular forearms.

Although there were some water and oil stains on the apron, it was still relatively clean overall.

His gaze swept across the three people's dining table—

The plate was almost empty; even the garnish herbs had been eaten.

His complexion improved considerably after that.

The head chef was simply called out without knowing why.

"Gentlemen, is there something wrong with the food? Is the taste off? Or—"

"No, no, no!"

Xiao Zhi waved his hands repeatedly.

"It's so delicious! I've never had such a good soup before!"

Pikachu flipped over off the table and nodded frantically.

"Pikachu, Pikachu!"

The chef's facial features softened considerably, revealing a kind and honest smile.

"That's good."

He thought someone had come to cause trouble.

After all, it's hard not to have him think things over when there are only three people ordering so many dishes, especially the expensive ones.

“It’s not that there’s a problem,” Xiao Gang stood up, his tone serious, “it’s that I want to ask you a few questions.”

"Just say it!"

"What do you mean by 'ask a question'?!"

As someone from the Kanto region, the head chef simply waved his hand dismissively.

"It's the broth of that seafood soup. I can taste a very special umami flavor, but even after cooking for so many years, I can't tell where it comes from. Could you tell me?"

The chef's eyes lit up.

"And then there's that subtle spiciness, a spiciness that slowly rises from deep in your throat, with a strong aftertaste but never irritating."

"Could you tell me what these two things are?"

Xiaoxia was devastated.

She felt that Xiaogang hadn't read a single word of the books she bought for him.

"What I'm trying to say isn't easy to explain..."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Gang expressed his understanding.

After all, it's a secret recipe, so it's not something you can easily show to others.

"...How about this?"

The chef smiled heartily.

"If you don't mind, please come with me to the kitchen."

"It's hard to explain with words alone; you'll understand once you see it."

"May I?"

"of course can."

The head chef turned and walked towards the kitchen, waving back at them as he did so.

"This way, please."

Ash jumped up excitedly and followed with Pikachu.

"Let's go! I need to see what's so delicious!"

......

The kitchen wasn't big, but it was very clean.

Three rows of stoves, two large sinks, and a wall covered with spatulas and knives of various sizes.

The shelf by the window was filled with bottles and jars.

But what catches the eye most is the large soup pot in the corner, emitting a faint steam and half-covered.

The lid is made of wood, and some water droplets formed by condensation on the edge are slowly sliding down the curve.

A low flame licked the bottom of the pot.

The head chef walked to the soup pot, patted the rim of the pot, and had a "revealing the mystery" expression on his face.

"The essence of this soup lies in its broth."

"And the ingredients for the broth... are extremely rare."

He didn't keep anyone in suspense, reached out and grasped the handle of the wooden lid, and gently lifted it—