Pokémon Detective Case Files.

Shimi elegantly wiped his mouth with a napkin and offered his comments to the three brothers of the Sanyo Dojo—

"Adding many expensive ingredients and complicated techniques to a dish is actually a very easy thing to do in terms of ideas. Just like the mixed box mentioned earlier, if there is no need to consider the price, no matter how much a chef adds to a dish, he will be understood by diners because of the reason of 'effort'. I am not saying that this approach is bad, but I just think it is a bit too 'lazy' - in this context, choosing simple subtraction is a rare and precious thing."

"Thank you for your feedback. Now we understand that... sometimes it is a better choice to give up prudently."

Mr. Cohen's face showed a similar expression to that of Tian Tong before, but he still maintained a grateful smile as he thanked Zhi Mi.

"Miss Azure, thank you so much this time."

At this moment, Guskaf suddenly bowed his head deeply to the blue sky.

"If it weren't for your persuasion at the station, I probably wouldn't have met King Shimi today, and I would have missed this precious opportunity to enjoy delicious food."

"It was my good fortune to hear Mr. Guskaf's explanation at the dinner table."

Azure smiled as she put the last spoonful of shaved ice into her mouth—

"Besides, even if you miss this opportunity, you'll still have the chance to enjoy the culinary skills of the Sanyao brothers when you visit Sanyao City again. After all, this place will soon be converted into a real restaurant. Once the Sanyao Restaurant officially opens, I'm sure you, as a food critic, will eventually come here because of its excellence."

"Opening for business?" Upon hearing Bilan's words, Tian Tong, Bert, and Koun's eyes lit up simultaneously.

Bert, the most impatient of them all, stepped forward towards Azure: "You mean to say..."

"There wasn't much of a suspense in this matter, was there?" The girl gently stroked Eevee's fur.

"Even the King of Cuisine has praised your culinary skills, so the United League has absolutely no reason to abandon this restaurant. This trip has been so easy and enjoyable that I'm even starting to suspect that the champion deliberately gave it to me as a perk for my staff."

"That's great!" The three brothers automatically ignored the second half of Azure's sentence, happily high-fiving each other. Zhimi smiled and nodded, while only Guskaf was completely bewildered.

"Wait... an abandoned restaurant? League champions? What kind of riddles are you playing? What does this have to do with the lofty League?"

When he heard that Azure was the detective appointed by the League, he thought she was just an ordinary judge responsible for investigating restaurants. He really didn't expect that this girl would actually hold the power of life and death over the entire dojo...

“Mr. Guskaf, haven’t you realized the true significance of this dinner for the Sanyo Dojo?”

Azure was a little dumbfounded. Although she knew that this gourmet's reasoning ability was poor, she did not expect him to be this slow-witted.

"Hmm... I have absolutely no interest in Pokémon battles, and my knowledge of the Stellar Gym was limited to having heard of it by name." The food editor shook his head. "The editorial department only told me that a new restaurant had opened here, and when I asked my subordinates to book a private dinner, I had no idea that Ms. Azure and Mr. Shimi would be joining us at the last minute..."

"I'm so sorry, this was my oversight!"

Museum owner Bert slapped his forehead and said apologetically to Guskaf—

"I didn't notice your need to book the entire venue for the meal. I thought that since this was the restaurant's first formal dinner, it would be good to have a famous food critic present, so I took the liberty of adding you to the list of guests for this banquet to test the restaurant's standards. It wasn't until the day of the meal arrived and Tian Tong called to confirm that I realized something was wrong."

“I see… So it turns out I was the guest who joined at the last minute.” Guskaf sighed with relief. “But thanks to Mr. Bert’s mistake, otherwise I would have definitely declined the meal.”

He turned to Azure again and asked jokingly, "Miss Azure, what's going on with this restaurant being abandoned? If such an excellent restaurant is abandoned because of the Alliance's capriciousness, I will definitely post a protest on 'Flying Cloud Culinary Exploration'."

“Mr. Guscalf, thank you for your support, but actually it's like this…” Cilan stepped in to explain for Azure—

"Actually, the place we're dining in now isn't strictly speaking a formal restaurant, but rather the Pokémon Gym in Sanyo City, which serves as a training ground for Pokémon Trainers in the League. In the past, the three of us brothers would occasionally cook for guests at the gym, and sometimes even search for dishes that guests had eaten before but couldn't find the origin of, but that wasn't a formal business activity. In fact, because of the effort we put into running the gym, many of the culinary ideas we had accumulated never had the chance to be put into practice..."

"Therefore, we ultimately decided to give up our status as gym leaders."

Koun stepped forward and supported Tian Tong's shoulder, whose confidence was waning.

"Over the years of hosting gym challengers, we've gradually come to understand our own limits." His voice flowed like a gentle stream. "Unlike Elite Four member Shimizu, who can reach the pinnacle in both fields, the three of us brothers are at best hard-working types. We lack both the energy and the talent to excel in both battling and cooking simultaneously."

"I don't think I have any superior talent." Elite Four member Shimi shook his head. "The only thing that has allowed me to get to where I am today is complete trust in my Pokémon in the arena and the kitchen."

He touched the sturdy shell of the Blastoise beside him, which squinted its eyes happily.

"The scallop monkeys have indeed helped us a lot. Just like the three of us brothers working together, we can accomplish many things that one person could not do alone. But it is precisely because of this bond that we should take each other's feelings into consideration when making decisions."

Tian Tong picked up the conversation, her fingertips unconsciously stroking the bow tie on her chest—

"From the very beginning of our battles, the three of us brothers have been better at team battles with mutual cooperation, but gym battles can't be conducted in that way, since most trainers travel alone. Perhaps we shouldn't make excuses, but among all the gym leaders in the Unova region, our average battle strength is only slightly better than Ms. Homiga from Liyu City. And even that little girl, her win rate against gym challengers this year far exceeds ours."

He shook his head with a wry smile: "At this point, rather than being a test of trainers' abilities, we are more like a small drink before a meal, an appetizer on a fancy menu, more suitable for guiding newcomers who are just starting out."

No, that's a complete misunderstanding. Homiga's situation might be even worse than that of the Sanyo Gym... Knowing the inside story, Azure couldn't bring herself to say this because of the atmosphere of the conversation.

Bert suddenly strode forward, his red hair burning like flames under the light: "But it is these years of gym experience that have taught us that we enjoy warming travelers with delicious food more than testing trainers with battles! Rather than reluctantly staying in our current positions, we should fight for what we love."

It wasn't to the point of risking his life... Tian Tong awkwardly covered his forehead.

"So you decided to close the Sanyo Dojo and turn it into the Sanyo Restaurant?"

Guskaf nodded in understanding and asked naturally.

"Unfortunately, things aren't that simple; at least procedurally, it can't be executed directly," said Azure, who represented the United Alliance, scratching her head.

“While the League won’t force those who don’t want to continue being Gym Leaders to continue running their Gyms, it’s just that this land…” She stomped her foot, the shoes making a crisp sound on the floor, “and the building above it called ‘Sanyo Gym,’ the real estate ownership actually belongs to the Unova League.”

“Therefore, if the three brothers want to transform this place into a restaurant, they must obtain approval from the Alliance and prove that the transformed Sanyo Restaurant can not only maintain its operations smoothly, but also create long-term economic and cultural value for the United Alliance, and even demonstrate…” The girl’s voice suddenly became solemn, “its strength as a landmark building, upholding the honor of the United Alliance in front of many travelers.”

"Top restaurants should aim for this standard."

Zhimi nodded slightly, his slender fingers gently stroking the rim of the wine glass.

"It was because I learned about the Sanyo Dojo that I changed my plans and stayed here for a few more days. I discussed cooking with Cohen and the others and came up with plans for the Sanyo Dojo after it became a restaurant. That being said, tonight's dinner wasn't taught to them by me; it was all hard work and skill from Tong and the others."

"In that case, I will formally announce it again."

In the now somewhat bustling restaurant, Miss Azure slowly approached the three brothers, Sanyo.

The elegant indoor lighting cast a long shadow behind her. Eevee obediently jumped down from the girl's shoulder and sat down beside her.

"Bert, Cohen, and Cilan, the three of you are all quite skilled in cooking. I believe that tonight's dinner fully demonstrates your level of expertise. Therefore, I am here to fulfill the duty entrusted to me by the Unova Champion and, on behalf of the League, endorse your plan to transform the Trisolaran Gym into a restaurant. I hope that this place will become a world-renowned culinary paradise in the future."

“That’s…that’s wonderful…” Bert’s voice suddenly choked up. This usually energetic fire expert was now wiping away tears like a child.

Kohn offered him a handkerchief, but his brother pulled him into a tight embrace. "The restaurant Father left behind...we finally..." His words were drowned out by sobs.

Tian Tong and Kou En put their arms around their brother's shoulders, one on each side, and the sight of the three of them touching foreheads moved even Zhi Mi.

However, in this warm atmosphere, Guskaf looked thoughtful.

“Mr. Food Editor?” Azure noticed his unusual behavior.

As she asked her question, the sobbing and laughter in the restaurant gradually quieted down.

The culinary authority did not answer immediately, but instead walked heavily to the three brothers.

His shadow completely enveloped the three of them, but his eyes gleamed with an unusual light.

“I just heard…” his voice was much lower than usual, “that you sometimes help trainers find dishes they’ve eaten in the past?”

“Indeed.” Tian Tong straightened her disheveled tie and gave the editor an elegant bow. “Some guests have even given me, who is in charge of receiving these kinds of guests, overly flattering titles like ‘food detective.’ Do you have any similar needs?”

A detective? He's practically a colleague... Azure's ears perked up sharply; the sudden address stirred something within her.

"Yes."

Guskaf answered without hesitation, his gaze fixed intently on the Grass-type Gym Leader, who was shorter than him.

"Then, I would like to make a detective request to you. If you are the ones who can cook this delicious meal, perhaps... you can help me find the dish from my memory."

Interlude Two: May the novelist finally be able to put down his pen

It was the end of the month, and Ms. Wanlong had a perfect excuse to delay her manuscript—attending the Karendo Newcomer Award ceremony.

Just how good is this excuse?

First, the publishing house to which the editor belongs welcomes established writers like Wanlong to attend the ceremony, and the invitation she holds is the best proof of that. Second, attending such an event that promotes new talent gives her a righteous pretext; even if someone chases her to the venue, the other party will have to consider the dignity of the organizers and other writers, preventing serious consequences. Finally, there are many fellow editors at the awards ceremony, and Wanlong owes manuscripts to far more than just one person. After the awards ceremony, those editors who know writers have limited time will compete for priority in urging them to submit their work, giving Wanlong a window of opportunity to gracefully withdraw.

It was the perfect shield... that's what she originally thought.

However, at this very moment, Wanlong was sitting on the judging panel at the Carendor Arts Centre, feeling extremely uncomfortable.

The literary newcomer award is divided into so-called "big years" and "small years".

The purpose of these awards is less to select the best works of the year and more to showcase the best work of promising newcomers. To put it bluntly: we can't expect to encounter top-tier works every year, so sometimes we need to select and reward the better entries from the less impressive ones, so we can all support the growth of new talent…

A "big year" is when the best and most outstanding works can be selected, while the opposite is a "small year".

This year's Karendo Newcomer Award was clearly a "slow year" for the publishing industry.

Wanlong had never seen the works of these newcomer award nominees before—which is natural, otherwise they wouldn't be considered newcomers.

But after hearing about this, the organizers kindly lent Wanlong a tablet containing the electronic copies of the shortlisted works. So she started flipping through them without any suspicion in a corner of the venue... Looking back now, this action was the beginning of the entire nightmare that followed.

"Wanlong Heavenly King, you read so fast!" A middle-aged man she didn't recognize greeted her.

Wanlong later learned that he was the host of the ceremony, but at the time, she had let her guard down because the person who suddenly struck up a conversation with her was not an editor she knew...

"Yes, although I can't remember everything I read, my reading speed has been frighteningly fast since I was a child. Haha, the ability to write those well-known works is also the product of long-term reading and accumulation."

There were many editors she didn't recognize at the scene, and Wanlong planned to give them a heads-up before they started pressuring her for her manuscript.

"I noticed you seemed to have flipped to the very end of this document. Which of these works left the deepest impression on you?"

None of them were very good. The reason the search was so fast was simply because the quality of the shortlisted works was... well, let's just say it directly, but Wanlong still managed a shy smile.

"It's quite difficult to judge," Wanlong said, pushing up her round-framed glasses.

"Speaking of impressions of the works, this satirical novel from the perspective of a female trainer is one of the more outstanding ones. Works with sharp writing style have always had an advantage in the newcomer award. Although the topic of the relationship between humans and Pokémon is controversial, it also has a certain degree of thought."

She managed to pick out the tallest one from a string of lackluster works. While the book, titled *The Heartless Dagger*, was filled with aggressive descriptions and even sang praises to the Pokémon liberation movement, at least the writing was decent. The author was simply caught up in the current clamor of social issues; perhaps their creative perspective will change once they gain more life experience…

"I see. And what about this novel?"

The man nodded with an expression of deep agreement, then eagerly pulled out another work to ask for advice, which made the female writer feel very accomplished.

"This one is definitely among the top books this year..."

Wanlong, in a mood to pass the time, spoke to the person she least wanted to confide in, about her views on the nominated works for the newcomer award, until the ceremony began, when the middle-aged man put on a tuxedo, took a microphone, and walked to the center of the venue...

"Guess who I ran into in the venue just now?"

The host egged on the audience, creating a lively atmosphere. As a consequence, Wanlong was forcibly placed on the judging panel. Although she couldn't vote for the entries as a temporary guest, she could offer some comments on the winners after the awards were announced.

Normally, this wouldn't be a big deal. Since she was determined to attend the ceremony, she had naturally prepared for any eventuality. Dealing with this kind of thing was as easy as a primary school essay question compared to dodging the editors' pursuit.

Unfortunately, this ease didn't last long...

"First of all, I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to all the award-winning new authors. Your talent and passion fill the future of Pokémon literature with hope."

The person who stood up to give a speech in front of Wanlong was a highly respected senior figure in the literary world.

"As a judge, I had the privilege of reading many works of diverse styles, especially the winner of this year's Newcomer Award, 'The Heartless Dagger.' In recent years, female writers' works have shown increasingly distinct characteristics—delicate emotions, unique perspectives, and profound reflections on the relationship between trainers and Pokémon. Of course, the value of literature lies in its diversity. Some works tend to explore the tension between the individual and the system, such as the situation of female trainers, or the issue of Pokémon autonomy... These themes are certainly worthy of attention, but if we focus too much on them, it may limit the scope of the works..."

broken.

Sensing the somewhat subtle atmosphere at the scene, Ms. Tianwang felt a chill run down her spine.

If this senior's remarks had been made in the past, they might not have caused much controversy—although the words implied that certain types of works lacked depth, it could ultimately be attributed to the common phenomenon of literary figures belittling each other.

The problem, however, is that he has touched upon one of the most sensitive issues of the moment: the controversy surrounding Pokémon autonomy. In this era of the vigorous Pokémon liberation movement, even literary figures who hold reservations about Team Plasma's ideology are cautiously keeping quiet about related topics and trying to avoid them as much as possible.

When neutral discussions fall silent, the voices of extremists begin to rise.

Whispers spread like ripples through the room, and a sense of unease began to permeate the air.

Following the literary veterans, the person who will speak next is none other than Wanlong.

She is not only a female writer, but also the Ghost-type Elite Four member of the Pokémon League Unova division, and her words and actions represent the League's principles.

This is definitely not the right time to state the alliance's position... Wanlong gripped her smartphone tightly.

The previous speaker had already pushed the atmosphere to the brink of danger.

Now, no matter what she says, it's bound to be over-interpreted by various forces, and those with ulterior motives may use it as an opportunity to raise questions. If not handled properly, it could even plunge the entire alliance into a media storm.

The Elf Liberation Movement and Team Plasma are like conjoined twins, yet they are accompanied by a huge amount of public opinion. The award of "Heartless Dagger" reflects this fact to some extent. The current Unova League has neither the ability nor the means to perform surgery to cut this huge tumor.

For some reason, Wanlong's mind flashed to the image of Lian Wu, the Fighting Master, with his stern, almost stone-carved face.

Since returning to the Alliance from a meeting in Raven City a few days ago, he has become increasingly taciturn. His eyes, which always burned with fighting spirit, are now veiled with an inexplicable gloom.

Did he encounter something during his journey?

While I was pondering, the senior's speech had already ended. The host racked his brains to say a few lines to connect the segments, then looked at Wanlong with an embarrassed smile—as if to say, "The rest is up to you."

The organizers, of course, had no idea of ​​the intricate feud between the Plasma Group and the United States Alliance. At this moment, they could only hope that Wanlong, who was both a writer and a superstar, could use her skillful language to defuse the awkward atmosphere.

However, she did not have that skill.

There was no other way... so I had to resort to that trick.

Wanlong gritted her teeth. This was her last resort, just like the "big bang" of the Wind Ball. She absolutely did not want to use it unless it was absolutely necessary.

However, the current situation left her no time to think of a second option. The murmurs and discussions in the hall seemed like countless Ghost-type Pokémon whispering in her ear, urging her to make a decision.

"Mr. Wanlong, what are your thoughts on the winning entries of this year's Karento Newcomer Award?"