Pokemon: With Title System

Chapter 53: I Kept the Original Flavor

"Charmeleon, use Flamethrower!"

"Dodge it, Lairon!"

"Lairon is unable to battle. Charmeleon wins!"

…

In the VIP viewing box, Steven, Lance, and Asahi watched the friendly tournament unfold below.

Oddly enough, despite never having met Steven before, Asahi naturally joined the discussion as they critiqued the battles.

"Lairon was unlucky. Although its level is lower than Charmeleon's, with better tactical guidance, it might have stood a chance to win," Lance remarked.

Steven nodded in agreement. "Charmeleon's trainer is quite skilled, especially in adapting to the flow of battle. It's no surprise they won."

Asahi's perspective, however, was a bit different.

"Lairon's right hind leg seems to be injured. There's a 0.2 to 0.3-second delay between receiving a command and acting. While it might not stand out normally, against a strong opponent like Charmeleon, it becomes a fatal flaw."

Steven and Lance both turned to look at Asahi in surprise.

Noticing their expressions, Asahi explained, "I used to work as a ranger for a while, so I tend to notice these kinds of details."

Reflecting on the battle, both men realized Lairon's slight delay during combat. Initially, they'd assumed it was due to a lack of rapport with its trainer, but Asahi's explanation shed new light on the issue.

Lance was already used to Asahi's remarkable observations, so he wasn't too surprised.

But for Steven, who was meeting Asahi for the first time, his curiosity was piqued.

Such keen observation… and impressive technical expertise…

Asahi certainly wasn't ordinary.

Taking advantage of the short break between matches, Asahi decided to get down to business. "Regarding the deal, I have a proposal."

Steven turned to him, signaling for him to continue.

"Even with Lance's endorsement, I'm sure Devon Corp. has some doubts about the energy cube's effectiveness, right?"

Steven didn't deny it, nodding slightly.

While he trusted Lance, there were indeed skeptics within Devon's R&D department.

"So what's your plan?" Steven asked.

In response, Asahi pulled out a portable energy cube kit and some berries from his bag.

Steven immediately understood. Asahi planned to demonstrate the recipe on the spot!

This was the simplest and most direct way to prove its effectiveness, showing his confidence in the formula.

"Let me show you one of the recipes I've mastered," Asahi said, deftly handling the berries and supplementary ingredients.

Under their watchful eyes, Asahi skillfully adjusted the device's speed as he added each ingredient. By tweaking the rotation speed to specific levels, he maximized the reactions between the berries, creating an extraordinary synergy.

Five minutes later, the energy cubes were complete.

Asahi opened the kit and placed a small box of them in front of Steven and Lance.

Steven picked one up, sniffed it lightly, and remarked, "It has a hint of Pecha Berry. Was that intentional?"

Asahi smiled. "Exactly. I intentionally left a portion of the berry peel to preserve its natural flavor, making the cubes taste more authentic while enhancing their sweetness."

He added, "This particular recipe produces sweet cubes that enhance beauty stats. Trainers can eat them too."

Hearing this, Steven nodded and cut off a small piece to taste.

The rich sweetness filled his mouth instantly, but it wasn't cloying.

Steven then released his Mawile, feeding it a cube. After sniffing curiously, Mawile eagerly devoured the treat.

Its eyes gleamed with delight, and even the massive jaws on the back of its head began to sway happily.

"The flavor and energy contained within are both astonishing!" Steven commented, genuinely impressed.

This wasn't flattery or exaggeration. It was his honest assessment after experiencing the cube firsthand.

Even his notoriously picky Mawile, which typically ate with its rear jaws for convenience, couldn't resist the energy cube and chose to use its front mouth instead.

"Thank you for the praise," Asahi said humbly, though his triumphant expression betrayed his pride.

Now that's what you call a Master-level energy cube!

Having personally verified the recipe, Steven no longer had any doubts about the deal.

With Lance as the mediator, Asahi's skills were now beyond question.

Steven retrieved a contract and placed it on the table. "This is a draft my father had prepared. According to its terms, Devon Corp. is willing to pay five billion for the exclusive usage rights to the energy cube formula."

Five billion!

Hearing this number, Asahi couldn't help but feel pleased. Devon would provide the manpower, equipment, and distribution channels, while all he needed to do was supply the formula and walk away with five billion.

With that kind of money, he wouldn't have to worry about feeding his future Salamence once his Shelgon evolved.

But then Steven added, "That's what my father proposed. However, I've made a slight adjustment to the contract."

"...?"

Asahi, still basking in joy, froze in confusion. What was this about?

Even Lance looked puzzled, unsure of what Steven was planning.