Pokémon: Chef Trainer

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Heath had often wondered what his first Pokémon would be. Growlithe? Or maybe one of the starters? Both seemed like solid choices to him. However, Farfetch'd had never crossed his mind before.

Pushing his small cart, Heath walked back to his residence with a satisfied smile on his face, humming a cheerful tune. With this cheat ability, the future looked bright.

"Yo~ Isn't this little Heath? Finished your work for the day?" A fragrant breeze swept past, followed by the soft sensation of someone hugging him from behind. Heath froze in place.

"Sister Jiana, you're not working today?" Heath didn't even need to look to know who it was.

"Of course not! I have a day off today~" The teasing voice belonged to a strikingly beautiful woman who stepped in front of Heath, pinching his cheek with a playful smile.

Heath gasped. Every Officer Jenny had quite a grip, and this one made him feel like he was up against a heavyweight boxing champion.

"Back already, Heath? I'm hungry!" Another Officer Jenny, dressed casually, walked out to greet him with a bright smile.

"I want fried rice!" Yet another Officer Jenny chimed in, and soon more and more of them surrounded Heath.

Scratching his head, Heath thought back to his life since arriving in this world. His misfortune: becoming an orphan saddled with his parents' debts. His fortune: being taken in by this group of Officer Jennys.

"All right, stop teasing little Heath. Welcome back," said a mature and composed voice. Instantly, all the Officer Jennys snapped to attention with perfect posture.

"Sister Rose!" Heath lit up at the sight of the woman walking toward him. She was another Officer Jenny but carried herself with a more mature air.

In his previous life, Heath had never been able to tell the difference between Officer Jennys and Nurse Joys—they all looked the same to him. But after living with these Officer Jennys for four years, he could now easily identify each one.

Heath had grown from a clueless thirteen-year-old into a somewhat less clueless seventeen-year-old under their care.

Looking at the hopeful faces around him, Heath couldn't bear to let them go hungry. It was a chef's instinct, after all.

Heath soon found himself in the kitchen at the Officer Jenny gathering place, busy preparing dinner for everyone.

Viridian City was home to a dense population, which meant a high number of Officer Jennys. Heath happened to be the only male in their midst. While this might sound like the setup for a harem comedy, the reality was different.

This was the Pokémon world. Not only did these Officer Jennys have their Growlithes and Arcanines by their side, but their combat skills were also off the charts. Heath had often seen them sparring and gulped nervously at their prowess.

Thankfully, Heath had managed to win them over through other means—namely, his cooking.

"Nothing beats Heath's cooking!" In the cozy dining room, the Officer Jennys, all nearly identical in appearance, enjoyed their meals with blissful expressions.

"So, have you paid off your parents' debt yet?" asked Officer Jenny Rose, the one who had taken Heath in. She smiled at him, though her tone was serious.

"Yes, I've paid it off… and I bought a Poké Ball," Heath replied, scratching his head awkwardly. To him, Officer Jenny Rose was more than a caretaker—she was like an elder sister.

"Oh? Does that mean you're planning to become a trainer? Or will you follow my advice and join the police force?" Officer Jenny Rose's eyes sparkled with excitement.

Heath stuffed a spoonful of fried rice into his mouth, savoring the flavor. The leek provided by Farfetch'd had enhanced the dish's aroma.

After some hesitation, Heath finally shared the news about catching Farfetch'd. Officer Jenny Rose listened with surprise before explaining the unique circumstances of this Pokémon.

Farfetch'd was rare and considered a protected species. However, its excellent flavor and its habit of carrying its own seasoning made it a frequent target for Pokémon hunters. Traveling with a Farfetch'd could invite trouble from unsavory individuals.

Heath nodded. He had considered this risk. Without the cheat ability, he might have chosen a different path. But with it, things were different now.

Still, he felt confused. Why hadn't the text box appeared yet? Previously, interacting with Farfetch'd had triggered rewards.

After dinner, Heath followed Officer Jenny Rose back to the dormitory. He enthusiastically cleaned not just their dorm but also the neighboring one. Yet, the text box still didn't appear.

Heath felt lost. He was certain Farfetch'd had been affected, but what were the conditions for triggering the text box? He still didn't know.

Taking Officer Jenny Rose's advice, Heath let Farfetch'd out that evening to bond with it by grooming its feathers. Farfetch'd seemed calm around Officer Jenny Rose, as if it instinctively knew she posed no threat.

Officer Jenny Rose observed the rare Pokémon with fascination. Seeing a living specimen of such a protected species was a rare treat. She reported the situation to the League, and soon officials arrived to register Farfetch'd.

Every captured Farfetch'd was documented, with the League keeping a close watch on their status.

After a busy night, Heath woke naturally at 5 a.m.

Quietly dressing and grabbing his things, Heath left the dormitory, pushing his cart toward the city.

His early-morning routine as a street vendor had conditioned him to rise at this hour. Only by waking up early could he secure affordable ingredients. Thankfully, he still had enough supplies left to last the day.

"Morning, Heath! Up early as always, huh?" A calm, mature male voice greeted him. Heath immediately recognized it.

"Good morning, Mr. Giovanni. You're up early too. What can I get you?" Heath turned to see Giovanni, clad in a black suit, and greeted him with a smile.

Yes, this was Viridian City's own Giovanni—the Gym Leader of the city, the head of Team Rocket, and one of Heath's regular customers.

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