Looking at the two boys in front of him, Kawaki didn't forget his real purpose—milking every advantage he could get.
He turned his gaze to the dirty, dusty Zigzagoon and Poochyena, then suggested to the boys:
"The breeding house also offers Pokémon grooming services. These little guys are pretty dirty—would you like me to give them a bath?"
Hearing this, Youngster Bello and Youngster Sprye looked at their Zigzagoon and Poochyena, embarrassed expressions immediately crossing their faces.
"That would be great, thanks!"
Kawaki smiled. "Don't mention it."
He went to the backyard and filled two large basins with warm water at the faucet, then placed the fluffy Zigzagoon and Poochyena inside.
First, he rinsed the dust off their bodies with warm water. Once they were clean, he squeezed on some Pokémon-specific shampoo.
Finally, he wrapped the two soaked Pokémon in towels and dried their fur.
The breeding house didn't have a blow dryer, but it did have Growlithe.
Under Kawaki's direction, Growlithe used Ember to start a campfire. With the help of the flames, he quickly dried the water from Zigzagoon and Poochyena's coats.
The two refreshed Pokémon looked at their clean, tidy selves in the mirror, and little suns appeared above their heads.
[Zigzagoon's mood has improved, happiness +50, received Zigzagoon's gift: "Pickup" ability.]
[Ability (Pickup): A mysterious ability. Pokémon with this ability can sometimes pick up useful small items. This is Zigzagoon's specialty skill. You helped it clean its fur and provided food, so it's happy to teach you this technique. Uses remaining: 1/1. Can only replace Pokémon capable of having the Pickup ability.]
[Poochyena's mood has improved, happiness +45, received Poochyena's gift: "Odor Sleuth" TM.]
[TM (Odor Sleuth): Normal-type move. After use, moves that have no effect on Ghost-type Pokémon and high-evasion opponents become able to hit. Additionally, Pokémon with this move will have enhanced smell sensitivity, allowing for tracking, investigation, and positioning. Uses remaining: 9999/9999.]
"Pickup and Odor Sleuth, huh..."
Both were support-type abilities and moves.
Kawaki couldn't use Pickup right now, and from the description, it seemed like it could only be used on Pokémon capable of having the Pickup ability.
And it wasn't an addition—just a replacement, basically functioning like an ability capsule.
As for Odor Sleuth, it would be perfect for Growlithe to learn.
Kawaki planned to investigate Meteor Falls later and see if he could catch a few Clefairy to help out.
The boy named Youngster Sprye had conveniently provided him with intel on Clefairy's habitat. Combined with Growlithe's Odor Sleuth and Bewear's protection, finding Clefairy shouldn't be too difficult.
As night fell, time unknowingly reached 7 PM.
After finishing their ramen, Youngster Bello and Youngster Sprye had gone to their room to rest early.
Bewear was washing dishes in the kitchen.
On his fifth day in the Pokémon world, Kawaki was gradually adapting to life here.
Kawaki sat in the lobby holding Growlithe, thinking about the current situation and his future plans.
What he hadn't expected was that hosting guests and providing them with delicious food could also earn him gifts from them.
Looking at it this way, he'd need to seriously manage the inn side of things too.
Kawaki had always been a decent cook. In the future, he could research more culinary dishes to add to the menu.
However, handling all this work by himself was still too exhausting.
Bewear could help with cleaning and housework, but that was far from enough.
So the question was: were there any Pokémon that could cook?
Several figures flashed through Kawaki's mind.
Oranguru—there was one in the Alola region that ran a tavern in the wild forest, providing meals for Pokémon customers.
Gourgeist—Team Rocket's Jessie had one. In Jessie's memories, that Gourgeist had once made applesauce and other sweets for her when she was sick, which really touched Jessie.
Cutiefly and Ribombee—these two Pokémon were experts at making sweets. They collected pollen and nectar, turning the pollen into delicious pollen puffs.
Mr. Mime—the Mr. Mime that followed Ash's mom in the anime was definitely on par with a nanny, handling both cleaning and cooking without breaking a sweat.
And there was Meowth from Team Rocket.
Although it couldn't use moves, through its past wandering in the Hollywood region and travels with the Team Rocket duo, Meowth's life skills were already maxed out. Whether it was desserts or meals, everything it made was especially delicious.
Meowth's shaved ice once made Ash and his friends praise it endlessly. Later, when Meowth worked part-time at a noodle shop, the noodle dishes it made kept customers coming back for more.
Unfortunately, except for Mr. Mime and Meowth, all these Pokémon were in other regions.
Although Hoenn had Meowth too, Team Rocket's Meowth was irreplaceable.
And Kawaki currently had no opportunity to travel to other regions, unless breeding houses in other regions were willing to exchange with him.
After finishing the dishes, Bewear returned to the lobby. Seeing Kawaki sitting there holding Growlithe in thought, it didn't disturb him. Instead, it picked up a broom and started on the daily housework.
Kawaki used Odor Sleuth on Growlithe.
The second it learned this move, Growlithe immediately felt its sense of smell become much more acute.
It twitched its nose, constantly sniffing around, seeming very curious about this new move.
But soon, Growlithe focused its attention on Kawaki beside it.
Kawaki's scent—remembered!
Now, no matter where Kawaki went, it could find him!
"Alright, now it's study time!"
Kawaki placed little Growlithe on the counter, then pulled out a book from the small bookshelf below.
These were books he'd bought in town earlier.
"On Pokémon Mating and Egg Production," "Complete Guide to Pokémon Care," "Herbal Encyclopedia," "Pharmacology," "Ecology," and so on.
To become an excellent breeding house owner and breeder, the Pokémon knowledge from his previous life was far from enough.
Although Kawaki had his cheat ability, that was ultimately external—not his own power.
What if one day the cheat disappeared?
It was better to rely on himself for everything.
So he still needed to keep studying.
Under the warm lamplight, Kawaki quietly read his book while little Growlithe chased its own tail nearby.
The Oddish in the garden basked in the moonlight, enjoying life.
Everything seemed so peaceful and harmonious.
Bewear watched this scene, its eyes couldn't help but sparkle.
It would remember this moment forever, Bewear thought to itself.
How wonderful, how blissful this was!