Pokémon Detective Case Files.

However, Guskaf did not accept the tea; he shook his head.

"Your meal was delicious; the bread and mushroom soup reminded me of my childhood, but... but this potato and pork stew is not right."

The food critic seemed to raise his voice slightly, as if moved by a wavering emotion, just like he had two weeks earlier at the train station—

"I'm sorry, the potato and pork stew you found wasn't made by my mother, but by that woman, my stepmother. I'm sorry, but what I wanted you to find was the dish left by my biological mother before I was six years old, the taste of my mother. It seems you've made a mistake somewhere; this isn't the dish I wanted."

He took a deep breath, his tone regaining some composure: "Of course, I will continue to pay the detective's fees as usual, and I will find a way to arrange the interview with *Outlook Weekly* myself. That's all for today, excuse me..."

As if unable to bear the atmosphere any longer, Guskaf suddenly stood up, casting a huge shadow on the restaurant floor.

Chapter 377 A Dish from the Depths of the Soul

This is the kind of potato and pork chop stew my stepmother makes...

The moment the artificial meat steak gently touched my tongue, memories I thought I had long forgotten surged back like a tidal wave bursting its banks.

Guscalf's taste buds trembled involuntarily—this was the taste, the suffocating taste that had completely buried his childhood.

He seemed to see again his mother's increasingly withered face on her sickbed, the white petals falling at his father's funeral, and the cold, silent knives and forks on the dining table.

In that town of Ripples, where the sea breeze howled incessantly, under those heartbreakingly dilapidated eaves, the boy's heart gradually cooled down.

The whispers and laughter in the classroom, the unfamiliar footsteps at home—everything made him feel like a stone statue of a baboon, unable to rekindle even a single spark of warmth.

This despair, without them even realizing it, transformed into a craving for gluttony.

Torn between inferiority and self-destructive tendencies, he consumed food without restraint, swallowing everything in sight, attempting to fill the emptiness within with gluttony. Each excessive bite felt like a punishment, and his increasingly bloated body became a new mark of shame.

What an ironic and pathetic cycle...

However, just as a spring compressed to its limit will eventually rebound, when he ran away from home and finally broke free from the shackles of that home, the whole world suddenly shone with a dazzling light.

The baboon broke its hibernation and roared, unleashing a burst of fire that illuminated everything.

Food that was once so bland and tasteless now blossoms with amazing deliciousness on the palate, and even the plump figure is strangely regarded by peers as a symbol of prestige, becoming a unique mark of the gourmet.

However... the brighter the light, the deeper the shadow behind it appears.

He had thought he had long since sealed that memory away in the darkest corner of time, hoping to cleverly overcome the shadows of the past and find his culinary awakening in his biological mother when he was six. However, this fantasy was shattered completely by the stew before him—

The invisible hand reaching out from the abyss of memory was now gripping his clothes tightly.

Disregarding the dignity of a gourmet, he hastily got up to escape before even finishing his meal. What he wanted to do was none other than the childhood memories he had buried deep in the dead corner of his heart.

He was afraid, afraid of being swallowed by that darkness again, afraid of falling back into that nightmare world from which he could never escape.

.

"Please wait a moment." Tian Tong's clear voice came from behind Guskaf.

"This is the potato and pork stew we found, there's absolutely no mistake."

"Stop making excuses. Is this how the food detectives at the Sanyo Dojo solve cases?" Guskaf was almost laughing out of anger, and he stopped in his tracks.

“I’ve already said that the stew I’m looking for was made for me by my biological mother before I was six years old, while this stew was made by my stepmother. They’re not even the same color, so what’s the problem?”

“These are not two different things, but the same thing.” Tian Tong’s voice remained steady, as mellow and resolute as aged red wine.

“It can’t be the same.” The gourmet’s voice was filled with anger. “My mother and stepmother are two different people. They even live in different cities. How could they possibly make the same stew?”

"If you're in a hurry to leave, we won't stop you. It's our fault for not being able to fulfill a customer's wish, and we'll waive the fee. But if you'd like to hear what I have to say, please sit down."

The bartender gestured toward the previous seat.

Guskaf's chest heaved violently.

After a moment of silence, he let out a heavy sigh: "Out of respect for Sanyao Restaurant, I'll listen to what you have to say."

The gourmet shifted his heavy body and returned to his seat, glancing at Bilan, who was sitting at the other end of the table, watching the show with her chin propped up on her hand.

Tian Tong returned at this moment.

"In fact, just like you said. I got this recipe from your stepmother, so the color isn't red, but everything else should be exactly the same. Your stepmother is doing very well now, and Cohen and I visited her little house in Ripple Town. She lives with her partner, the Sandalwood Cactus, and the Rock Crab she inherited from your father, and occasionally helps out neighbors who don't have time to take care of their children. Her life is simple yet fulfilling."

As if to bolster his persuasiveness, the Grass-type Gym Leader handed the phone displaying the photos to Guscalf.

The stepmother is not in the photo, but you can see the two owners, the sand cactus, and the rock crab in a group photo.

Behind them was the simple old house that the gourmet remembered. Sunlight streamed through the familiar window frames, casting dappled shadows on the shell of the Iwadono crab.

"Does she still live in that place..." Guskaf glanced at it and then pushed the phone back.

"Six years ago, your sworn brother traveled to the Johto region and found his current life partner on the way. The two of them settled down in Asagi City. Since then, your stepmother has been taking care of this family in Ripple Town all by herself, and your room has remained exactly as it was when you left."

Guskaf did not answer. The aroma of the stewed ribs continued to waft into his nostrils, making the gourmet somewhat irritated.

"This potato and pork stew was actually food that your biological mother entrusted to your stepmother."

The owner of the Tian Tong Pavilion said this, placing a small, yellowed notebook on the table in front of him—

“This notebook contains detailed records of the ingredients used in cooking and the methods of seasoning. Although we could scan and photocopy the contents, we thought that you might want to read the handwriting left by your deceased mother in person, so we managed to borrow it from your stepmother.”

"Is this...the recipe my mother left behind?" Guskaf hurriedly took the notebook and carefully opened it.

"Your seriously ill mother never gave up on taking care of you until the very end, entrusting everything to the nurse who was about to marry your father—your stepmother. This cookbook was written at that time. She recorded everything in this notebook about what you liked and disliked, even though you were a picky eater."

“My mother entrusted these to my stepmother…” Guskaf stared wide-eyed at the weak handwriting in the notebook, his large fingers trembling slightly.

The aroma of the stew suddenly stopped bothering him; instead, it transformed into a strange pang of sadness that welled up in his eyes.

"The potato and pork chop stew is on page four," Tian Tong said.

Upon hearing this, the food critic quickly turned back to the previous page.

"The stewing tradition in the Unova region dates back over a hundred years. The most authentic way to make it requires using golden potatoes grown on the outskirts of Hiyori City. These potatoes don't fall apart even after long cooking and have a smooth, creamy texture. Your mother specifically chose 'Sea Tide' potatoes, a specialty of Ripple Bay. These potatoes absorb the minerals from the seaside, resulting in a crisp texture and a unique sweetness. The onions must be laurel onions introduced from Johto and cultivated in the greenhouses of Homba City, and the sauce uses soy sauce, a specialty of Hinoki City. The combination of these two ingredients gives off a unique aroma. In an era thirty years ago when the flow of goods was not so convenient, the fact that your mother was so particular about the source of the ingredients shows how much care she put into it."

"Then this steak, could it be..." Guskaf stared at the notebook, muttering as he opened and closed his lips.

"That's right, it's canned meat. It's bionic meat canned meat jointly produced by the Alola Ether Foundation and Fanba City, which is also written in the notes. At that time, there were no shops in Mountain Road Town that could supply fresh bionic meat that had just become popular, and you didn't like the rough texture of the old plant protein products, so you used bionic meat canned meat that could maintain consistent quality. Your family runs a warehousing company, so it's relatively easy to buy this kind of product, which should also be one of the reasons."

Tian Tong placed a can of meat on the table.

"The places where imported food is purchased in Fanba City are usually local cold storage warehouses. You didn't know about this place when you were a child, and when you heard about it from your parents, you might have understood it as a snowy winter. In addition, the trademark on the can may also have slightly affected your memory."

The curator pointed to the pattern on the can that symbolized the place of origin, which was a hexagonal geometric snowflake.

"That's why I remembered it as a snowy day." Guskaf took the can and opened his mouth in sudden realization.

"The potato and pork stew you remember was red because your mother grated carrots, which you didn't like when you were little, and stewed them in it. But when your stepmother took over the recipe, you were already able to eat whole carrots. That's the difference in color."

Tian Tong pointed to the carrots left in the stew on the table and said.

"One more thing, about those two pots, one of them doesn't have any meat in it because we're using artificial meat cans. The meat in the cans is already cooked and seasoned, so you can just put it in before eating. If you overcook it, the already cooked meat will become tough."

"My stepmother prepared a meal for me alone, so that's why..." Guskaf held the notebook, his voice trembling with emotion.

“Yes.” Tian Tong nodded. “In addition, after you started junior high school, the family lost your father as the breadwinner, so the opportunity to obtain artificial meat cans became even more difficult. Under these circumstances, your stepmother would be more casual when preparing stews for other people, using common plant protein meats available on the market for cooking.”

"I now prefer fresh food to canned food."

“Fresh food is certainly delicious, but it won’t be good if the quality declines. As you get older, your taste preferences will change. But your stepmother has always adhered to the practices she inherited from your biological mother, which is truly honest and proper.”

Tian Tong took out her phone again, and this time the screen showed a photo of Guskaf's stepmother standing in front of the door.

"She looks a little smaller, and her hair seems to be whiter too." The gourmet's eyes welled up with tears.

Was the "darkness" he desperately tried to escape all those years just a gentle, hunched figure?

"Besides the stew and bread, this vegetable soup with dried mushroom spores is also on this recipe. However, the handwriting is different from the previous notes, so I think it was added later by your stepmother. She mentioned during our conversation that you've become somewhat indulgent with your appetite since your father's death, and she's very worried about your digestive health."

“You’re interfering too much…” Guskaf turned his face away. “I’ve already run away from home a long time ago.”

"Therefore, this potato and pork stew is not two different flavors, but a flavor that has been passed down with love by two mothers."

Tian Tong poured warm tea for the tearful gourmet.

"I wonder if this answer can serve as a reference for you when responding to an interview with Outlook magazine."

Guskaf closed his notebook, bowed deeply to Tian Tong, and said firmly, "Even if they don't ask, I will tell them about this dish."

The steam rising from the tea seemed to echo this reconciliation that spanned thirty years.

Tian Tong's lips curved into a gentle smile: "Do you know? Your stepmother is very pleased to hear about your success. Every time she sees your food reviews on TV, she carefully cuts out the relevant reports and keeps them. She specially prepared a thick scrapbook, which is now completely full. All the living expenses you've sent over the years have been deposited in the bank without any change..."

"Are you going to renovate that old house?" Guskaf shook his head with a wry smile. "If you ask me, it's better not to repair those dilapidated little houses. Just buy a new one."

“A mother’s heart…” Tian Tong’s gaze deepened. “It’s certainly something to be happy about for her son to succeed, but she also worries that he might fall into despair at any moment. That lady probably feels that if that happens, she’ll have to return the money to you. Regardless of blood ties, she’s always concerned about her child’s future…”

"Ah." The sommelier suddenly scratched his head awkwardly. "Sorry, did I sound too old-fashioned just now? I'm a young man myself."

“No, that’s not true.” Guskaf suddenly gripped Tian Tong’s hand tightly, his voice trembling with emotion. “Please don’t say that. I am truly, truly grateful to you. This evening may well become one of the most precious memories of my life.”

"Since it's such a significant night..."

At this heartwarming moment, a clear, bright voice suddenly came from across the table—

"At a time like this, it would be such a shame to only eat half a meal when faced with delicious food, don't you think?"

She winked playfully and tapped her finger lightly on the still steaming plate on the table.

Everyone's eyes fell on the dining table—the golden stew was still steaming, and the aroma of bread filled the air.

Guskaf was taken aback at first, then laughed happily, the tear tracks at the corners of his eyes glistening under the light.

Interlude 3: May the masters of victory and defeat be able to leave the stage.

When N pushed open the top-floor door of the tallest building in Feiyun City, Lanju was standing with her back to the entrance.

The Dark Elite Four member of the Unova Alliance was standing in front of a floor-to-ceiling window 540 meters above the ground, with the cityscape below him appearing as insignificant as an ant colony.

Tempered glass perfectly isolates the air pressure and cold at high altitudes, leaving only a dizzying panoramic view.

Sunlight pierced through the clouds, casting a long, thin shadow at the feet of the Heavenly King.

The young man glanced past the female bodyguard with sunglasses standing motionless at the door and stepped straight into the deliberately cleared, spacious area.

Did you know I was coming?

The nominal king of Team Plasma asked calmly, in his characteristic tone, as if he were talking to a Pokémon.

Lingju didn't turn around; she simply tapped the glass gently with her slender right index finger.

“Look at this view. It’s like a magnified version of that transparent gambling room on the Royal Navy.” His voice was filled with rapture.

"I borrowed this observation deck from my business partner in that gambling game; it cost me a fortune. The view from here is truly spectacular; the entire Feiyun City looks like a giant roulette table... It seems that neither gamblers nor smoke can escape the fate of drifting upwards."

N looked around the arena-like space: "By making the interior environment so spacious, you probably already know why I'm here, right?"

"Of course, of course." Yueju finally turned around, revealing the dangerous smile commonly seen at gambling tables.

“After all, you have defeated Lian Wu and Wan Long and taken the spoils from them, so I naturally know why you came here.”

A scrutinizing gaze swept over the green-haired youth, and the gambler said sharply—

"Leaving aside the novelist who made a fool of himself in the exchange battle with the Carlos Alliance because of his low mood, I'm not so sure I would miss the missing boxing gloves on my old friend's hands."

“That wasn’t what I asked for,” N shook his head. “They insisted on giving me some kind of ‘symbol of failure.’ Besides Lian Wu’s gloves, Wanlong Tianwang also gave me a signed novel. I still don’t understand what your criteria are for choosing symbols.”

“Hehehe.” Yueju smiled nostalgically. “Of course you wouldn’t understand, because this is a ‘rule’ that Mr. Aldeck taught us… Just like how you have to use chips instead of cash in a casino, it’s a etiquette that losers have to follow.”

"Since that's how it is, I have nothing more to say."

N took a step forward, his gaze sharp and resolute, yet his voice remained calm.

"I hereby formally challenge you—Mr. Blueberry, the Dark-type Champion of the Unova League."

"Haha, you're in great spirits! You're a young man after all."

Yueju smiled slightly, shrugged lazily, but a sharp glint flashed in her eyes.

"Since Lianwu and Wanlong are willing to keep your secret after your defeat, it seems that you made this challenge not for any evil reason. As the Unova Heavenly King, I really have no right to refuse your reasonable request... However, I don't really like this kind of conventional approach."

As the Gambler King spoke, he suddenly swung his arm down.

Outside the room, the silent female bodyguard in sunglasses took out a remote control and quickly pressed the button on it.

"Click, click, click-click-click—!"

In an instant, countless heavy metal gates crashed down from the ceiling, completely sealing off the entire floor-to-ceiling window.

The sunlight was instantly swallowed up, and the entire space was plunged into absolute darkness, where even the sound of breathing became clearly audible.

In the darkness, Lingju's voice drifted out eerily, carrying the unsettling laughter characteristic of gamblers—