Chapter 88: Nine-Delicacy Noodles

"Prepare tonight’s staple food."
Zhusuihan lifted the lid of the pot and slid in the already-cut noodles. The rich aroma intensified, distinct from the sweet scent of berries, carrying a deep, savory fragrance.
“Nine-flavor noodles, though I think my ingredients have surpassed nine kinds.”
Well, nine is the ultimate number, so such trivial matters needn’t be fussed over.
Zhusuihan inhaled the scent, finally reassured. That fleeting fear in his mind—wondering if he might create some culinary abomination—had truly worried him. He dreaded the thought of accidentally making something so inedible that no one could stomach it.
If it came to that, perhaps he’d have to visit the cells in Manjin City, offering a couple of villains the dubious honor of testing his dish.
This wasn’t torture, nor was it a last meal; it was the prison’s benevolent gesture—an extra meal for the inmates.
The only guarantee Zhusuihan could give was that the dish wouldn’t kill anyone. After all, the ingredients were excellent and nutritious; calling it a bonus meal for them would be entirely justified.
If, by chance, they were so moved after eating that they turned over a new leaf and confessed all their secrets, then he’d have truly profited.
“Ooh!”
“Milulu!”
The Lapras and the little Fairy Cream were beside themselves with excitement, the aroma alluring beyond measure.
With abundant and high-quality ingredients, and Zhusuihan’s meticulous approach—treating the soup and noodles with the spirit of research—the result was extraordinary.
“A bit outrageous, really.”
After cleaning the shrimp and crab claws, he tossed the bones into the soup as well, bringing the flavor to the level of a carefully simmered stock.
“The resources are too abundant, and the quality is high.”
Apart from that precious Quichisi, it seemed the villains’ ambitions were never for mere petty gains.
Either they wanted to reshape the world according to their own will, treating reality as some kind of city-management game, or they were aiming for the future of a region.
Among the villains, Quichisi truly was the odd one out—lowering the tone, much like those historical figures who went to Mount Tai for ritual.
A real drop in standards.
Team Skull’s Guzma in Alola?
In the special edition timeline, the ultimate boss is Lusamine—the General himself would praise her as a terrifyingly talented woman, while Guzma is merely a pawn, at most a vanguard.
If going by the anime, Team Skull is no more than a group of spirited village youths.
Just like Team Star in Padia, in Zhusuihan’s view, they were hardly villains.
The noodles were cooked, plunged into prepared cold water, then scooped out and arranged in small bowls, ready for different toppings.
“Little Fairy Cream, pick your own toppings, but I suggest you try a bowl plain with salt first—it’s a flavor in itself.”
Zhusuihan patted Lapras’ head. “What do you want to eat? I’ll fix it for you and bring it right to you.”
“Ooh!”
Love you!
Lapras nuzzled Zhusuihan’s chest, and like Fairy Cream, listened to the advice, starting with the salted plain soup noodles.
Sprinkling salt to taste, Lapras and Fairy Cream took a bite and couldn’t stop.
The salt was a spark, igniting a flavor explosion. With the last bite in their mouths, both felt reluctant to swallow.
“No need to be sentimental—if you want more, I’ll make it again.”
Zhusuihan finished his noodle soup. “Besides, did you forget that was just a small bowl? There’s plenty left for you.”
Lapras, Fairy Cream: ?
It really was only a small bowl; instinctively, they thought that was all.
Dig in!
Lapras tasted the rich meat sauce, while Fairy Cream, ever rebellious, loaded her bowl with a fresh, spicy, numbing combo.
Zhusuihan ate at a measured pace, but was nonetheless the fastest, sampling every topping.
If salted plain was the pinnacle of savory flavor, then adding different toppings and condiments was like dressing up the noodles—each time brought a new experience.

“On the matter of noodles seducing me with their myriad flavors”
“Mm, I calculated our total food intake and added a bit extra—this combination really is solid.”
With delicious food before them, appetites swelled, and without more ingredients, the two might not have been satisfied.
Lapras and Fairy Cream hummed contentedly; this meal was a true feast.
“Pokémon are wondrous, or perhaps outrageous.”
Take Fairy Cream, for instance: what she eats is digested and converted into nutrients her body needs, then becomes part of her form.
Cream.
Yes, meat, berries, noodles—all eventually yield cream, the “flesh” of Fairy Cream.
“Once you get this concept, it all makes sense.”
Zhusuihan dumped the leftover toppings into the big pot, added instant noodles from the supermarket—no waste allowed.
Everyone knows that an occasional mixed-pot “banquet” of many dishes is actually quite tasty.
Lapras looked at Fairy Cream, sprawled atop her shell, digesting.
“Ooh?”
How about we take a stroll ourselves?
“Milulu.”
I think we should stay with our trainer, finish eating, then walk by the lake.
Fairy Cream rallied: “Milulu!”
Then I can go train with Gyarados!
Zhusuihan ate directly from the pot: “You two go watch some TV; we’ll head out together soon.”
“And Fairy Cream, no vigorous exercise after eating—stick to kneading cream by hand.”
“Milulu.”
Fairy Cream nodded decisively, lying on Lapras’ shell and rolling cream balls, sometimes tossing them high, synchronizing multiple balls at once.
Lapras: …
Darn it, Fairy Cream’s cream smells better and better!
If she hadn’t eaten so much just now, Lapras would be tempted to sneak a bite!
Noodles finished, Zhusuihan calmly polished off the soup—easy for cleaning up.
After tidying up, he took out the incense burner and made energy cubes with Candleberry and Waistwood Berry—for Gyarados as research compensation.
Waistwood Berry functions like Candleberry, but reduces ground-type energy.
When made into energy cubes, Waistwood Berry adds a crispy texture, like nutty chocolate.
Zhusuihan considered that if Gyarados was to face Electabuzz, boosting only electric resistance wouldn’t suffice.
Electabuzz appearing in the back hills with few thunderstorms meant he was likely a proper academy employee, probably a key member of the electrical maintenance team.
Judging by nutritional intake from their compensation, Zhusuihan didn’t expect Gyarados to win in battle.
If Electabuzz had already evolved into Electivire, then it was even less likely.
Electric moves are fast—Gyarados couldn’t kite him from the sky.
If he tried to fly higher, Electabuzz would just taunt, “Are you scared?” and Gyarados would dive to prove his courage—only to be struck with fourfold electric weakness.
“Add Waistwood Berry, see if he can sense ground energy and learn Earthquake directly.”
If he already knew it, all the better—stock up on type energy and hit Electabuzz with a big one.
“Cooking and cleaning up the battlefield—this is a hassle. Pokémon like Rotom and Porygon-Z are crucial.”
With their computing power, managing smart home appliances is a breeze.

Zhusuihan tossed an energy cube into his mouth; it really did taste like nutty chocolate—delicious.
“Gyarados, I came to strike a deal.”
Gyarados surfaced: “Gala?”
What sort of deal?
“I’ve made your energy cubes. In return, you need to cooperate with me in recording some research data.”
Zhusuihan said, “Of course, my research won’t harm you—I promise.”
“Gala.”
Let me inspect the goods.
He tossed an energy cube; Gyarados swallowed it and looked pleased, eyeing the jar in Zhusuihan’s hand—he nodded decisively.
Deal accepted!
“Excellent. Shall we begin now?”
Gyarados: ?
Why the rush?
“No choice—I’ve only got a week off from the academy. Even if my research makes a breakthrough, who knows what challenges await?”
Zhusuihan grinned. “That’s why I must make full use of every moment—even a post-meal stroll can become research time.”
“Let’s start with basic physical data, then record energy output during move execution.”
Gyarados nodded. The payment was settled; he wasn’t the type to go back on his word.
After some commotion, Gyarados drew near the shore, opened wide, and Zhusuihan poured in all the energy cubes, watching the data logged by his phone and energy detector with some confusion.
His own records, the data in research papers, and the averages published by the League—all needed careful comparison.
“All right, at least your physical data shows you’re very healthy.”
Zhusuihan patted Gyarados’ thick lips. “Healthier than a regional champion-level Gyarados recorded in the papers—no wonder you’re the master of the lake.”
“Gala!”
Of course!
Gyarados suddenly leaned in, inhaling deeply, looking surprised.
“Gala?”
Besides the scent of energy cubes, there’s another aroma—what delicious food did you eat today?
Zhusuihan: ?
“You’re not a Ursaring—how could you smell that?”
He thought the energy cubes’ aroma would mask everything.
“Gala.”
Don’t underestimate me! In the eyes of other creatures, I’m a terrifying presence.
Gyarados glanced at Zhusuihan; besides this white-haired monkey, only the local principal wasn’t afraid of him.
“True. In the official Pokédex, you’re hardly a noble character—always causing disasters, destroying villages, flattening castles.”
Zhusuihan chuckled, “If a passing Slowpoke caught your eye, even if you were full, you’d grab it just to lick its tail before letting it go.”
Gyarados looked proud, thinking Zhusuihan was praising his species—his sense of honor overflowing.
That’s right!
We Gyarados are just that fearsome!