Returning to Shalour City on the west coast of Kalos gave him a completely different feeling this time.
As a world-renowned tourist destination, Shalour City's nightlife was highly developed. Long tables lined the golden sands where people faced the sea breeze, gathered in small groups of friends to chat.
Beside them, Pokémon, taking advantage of their Trainers' distractions, slurped up grilled squid with faces full of excitement.
The beach seafood BBQ of Shalour City was praised across every region of the world.
"It really is lively!" Natsuki remarked with a sigh of admiration as he arrived at the bustling scene, carrying his ice bucket after asking for directions along the way.
Such a vibrant scene was a rare sight. From quite a distance, waves of fragrance drifted over, teasing his stomach.
Grumble~
Natsuki looked toward the sound and saw Minccino sheepishly placing its paws on its little belly.
"Are you hungry?"
"Li-li!" Minccino chirped shyly.
She nodded and then shook her head. Being clever, she knew her Trainer had something to sell and didn't want to delay him on her account.
Seeing Minccino like this, Natsuki smiled appreciatively.
He stroked her fluffy ears and said, "Good girl, it won't interfere at all."
He walked straight into a seafood BBQ restaurant, where he was greeted by a tall Barbaracle.
"Barba~ Barba!"
The fierce-looking Barbaracle spread its claws, revealing a pleasing smile while handing over a menu.
"Thank you!" Natsuki took the menu and handed it straight to Minccino.
"Take a look and see what you want to eat, little one."
"Minccino..."
"By the way, Barbaracle, is your head chef in? I have top-tier seafood to sell. Nurse Joy recommended I come here."
Just as Natsuki was communicating with the Barbaracle, a handsome young man approached from nearby.
"Excuse me, guest, is there something I can help you with?"
"And you are?"
The handsome youth smiled. "My name is Siebold. I am one of the partners of this seafood restaurant."
"Siebold?"
Muttering the unfamiliar name, Natsuki felt a strange sense of familiarity, as if he had heard it somewhere before, but he couldn't place it at the moment.
"Hello, Mr. Siebold." Natsuki set down the ice bucket and brushed aside the top layer of ice.
"This is half a side of fish meat I obtained from a struggle with a Veluza."
Natsuki paused mid-sentence, noticing the other man's frown.
He explained, "Veluza is a Pokémon. They actively discard their own flesh. It's very rare, and the meat is light and delicious. It's a top-tier ingredient."
Natsuki's explanation wasn't without purpose. One had to realize that there were over a thousand known species of Pokémon in the world.
Recognizing and understanding every single one was part of the League's Elite Trainer exam, and Elite Trainers only accounted for about 1% of the Trainer population.
Furthermore, one never knew when the League might discover a new species. The number of Pokémon species was, in a sense, increasing all the time.
"My apologies, guest. I was a bit impolite just now," Siebold bowed apologetically. He explained, "I didn't expect to find Veluza in the waters near Kalos, I have only ever encountered them in the seas of Paldea."
Siebold prided himself on his deep knowledge of Kalosian waters, so the half-side of Veluza before him caught him completely off guard.
Simultaneously, he couldn't help but wonder...
'Just how delicious would the meat of a Veluza that had traveled across the ocean to reach Kalos be?'
As a chef, Siebold could not wait to transform it into a gourmet dish and hear the praise of his diners.
Since Siebold recognized Veluza, things became much easier.
"Guest, I would like to purchase this piece of fish in your hands for 3,000 Poké Dollars per pound. What do you think?"
The skin and flesh were perfectly preserved, in peak condition for consumption.
Siebold was willing to pay a high price. 3,000 Poké Dollars per pound was comparable to the price of bluefin tuna in his previous world. It was not a low offer.
"Deal!" Natsuki readily agreed.
The two went to the back kitchen of the seafood restaurant. There, Natsuki learned that the young man before him was actually the owner of the restaurant.
"It weighs 14 pounds total. The final price is 42,000 Poké Dollars. Do you want cash, or should I transfer it to your account?"
"Wait a moment, Mr. Siebold."
Under the other man's questioning gaze, Natsuki felt a bit embarrassed.
"Um, would it be possible to sell only 10 pounds? Both my Pokémon and I would like to taste the Veluza meat."
"Of course, no problem," Siebold said dismissively. "However, sir, do you know how to prepare it? Top-tier ingredients like this must not be spoiled."
"I may be untalented, but I am not only a rancher, I am also a chef."
'Well, a half-baked chef who relies entirely on his Golden Finger's hard work', Natsuki added internally.
"You are a chef as well?" Siebold sized him up skeptically before reaching a conclusion.
'Anyone who could recognize a Veluza and understand its value was likely a chef indeed.'
In an instant, Siebold felt a desire to compete in culinary skills, accompanied by a sense of competitive drive.
"I almost forgot," Siebold slapped his forehead. "May I ask how to address you?"
"My name is Natsuki. I currently live on Route 12, just outside Shalour City."
"Very well, Natsuki. Please, follow me."
The two passed through the main kitchen and arrived at a smaller, private one.
The room was spotless, equipped with every kind of culinary tool imaginable.
"This is my private kitchen. You may borrow any of the tools in here, Natsuki."
"And this is my partner, Blastoise."
"Toise~ Toise!"
The Blastoise was powerfully built with a smooth shell, and its two protruding cannons gleamed with a cold light.
This was a Blastoise that had been raised to absolute perfection.
The only Pokémon Natsuki could think of to rival it was the Lucario belonging to the current Shalour Gym Leader, Mr. Gurkinn.
"That is... a Mega Stone."
Natsuki's eyes immediately landed on the gemstone worn on Blastoise's forehead.
The stone emitted a mysterious glow, and the three-colored spiral pattern within seemed to flow.
A partner Blastoise, appearing in Kalos, and a chef... these connections caused Natsuki's blurred memories to resurface.
He couldn't be blamed, as the games in his previous life had given the Kalos Elite Four very little description, almost passing them over entirely.
It would have been a miracle if Natsuki had remembered instantly.
Normally, seeing a member of the Elite Four in person, he should have been as excited and thrilled as any other Trainer.
But aside from his initial surprise, Natsuki felt mostly calm and a sense of self-confidence that refused to back down.
He, Natsuki, was not weaker than any member of the Elite Four.
Furthermore, if he remembered correctly, Siebold hadn't become a member of the Elite Four yet.
"Natsuki, let me help you slice off the fish meat."
Upon entering the kitchen, Siebold's demeanor underwent a total transformation, his expression becoming exceptionally serious.
"Alright."
The chilled fish meat met his hand, the icy touch instantly turned Natsuki's palm red.
Noticing Siebold leaning in to watch, Natsuki couldn't help but ask curiously, "Siebold, aren't you going to process your portion of the fish first?"
"No rush, no rush!" Siebold waved a hand. "Let me observe your culinary skills first."
Though he said this, Siebold was actually standing by to intervene.
He wanted to be able to save the dish if Natsuki failed to handle the meat correctly, top-tier ingredients could not be wasted.
"Very well!"
Natsuki stopped dwelling on it and selected a sharp boning knife from the array of kitchenware.