Pokémon: Reborn as Lucario

Chapter 103: A Song of Ice and Fire

Here it comes, the Dessert Master's divine plot twist.

Rio was also pondering.

According to the Dessert Master, the apron-wearing girl's creation had an exquisite appearance, a scattered fragrance, and the ice bricks of various colors each had their unique flavor. It had color, aroma, and taste all in one. So what was the flaw in this creation?

The Dessert Master looked at the creation before him with a regretful gaze. "It's a great pity. There are no problems with the design, the flavor pairing, or the texture requirements. It's just that you forgot one very important point."

"Forgot a very important point? What could it be?"

The apron-wearing girl could no longer maintain her relaxed appearance at this moment and hurriedly asked.

"That is, time cost." The Dessert Master reluctantly put down his spoon and then said seriously to the apron-wearing girl, "This shaved ice of yours requires a large amount of your Pokémon's help, right? Not only does it take a relatively long time, but your Pokémon must also be able to maintain such energy to produce more shaved ice."

"You must know, we are a cold drink and dessert shop. The customers who come into our shop are eager to get their orders as quickly as possible. Quick and efficient serving is the most basic requirement. For this creation of yours, to produce it well, you must be fully concentrated. This kind of serving efficiency is not enough."

The Dessert Master emphasized that as a cold drink and dessert shop, a very basic point is that you cannot make customers wait for a long time. Otherwise, they order a cold drink to cool off and quench their thirst in the first place; if the time is too long, by the time the cold drink arrives, the customers will have long lost that urgent appetite.

Moreover, looking at the somewhat listless state of the Smoochum beside the apron-wearing girl, one could also tell how tiring it was for a Pokémon to continuously use Ice-type energy and psychic power for such delicate work. If it was for a competition, putting all one's effort into making one such creation was understandable. But if faced with orders from numerous customers, it probably wouldn't be able to hold out after making just a few servings.

Nevertheless, the apron-wearing girl's creation still received high recognition from the Dessert Master.

Finally, the Master came before Ming Rizhao, Ralts, and Rio.

However, before he even reached the cooking station, his brow was already furrowed.

"What is this thing?"

It was no wonder the Dessert Master was puzzled. The "shaved ice" currently placed on the third cooking station looked nothing like shaved ice at all. No, even if you said it wasn't shaved ice, there wouldn't be much doubt.

Because this "shaved ice" had the external appearance of a complete brown chocolate sphere. Placed just like that in a dessert cup, there was no visible trace of shaved ice's basic raw material—ice.

"…"

Ralts whispered a few words to Ming Rizhao, and then Ming Rizhao walked confidently to her creation.

"Here, Rio, hand me a lighter." Ming Rizhao took the lighter handed over by Rio and then smiled mysteriously. "Next, please enjoy our creation—A Song of Ice and Fire."

"Poof!" The lighter ignited a spark on the shell of the chocolate sphere.

As if having anticipated something in advance, the Dessert Master's eyes lit up.

The spark quickly spread across the chocolate sphere. As the chocolate melted, the interior of this dessert was slowly revealed. And at this moment, the other people and Pokémon finally realized that this chocolate sphere was actually hollow inside! After the chocolate shell melted, the resulting thick, melted chocolate sauce spread over the pile of shaved ice inside. The residual heat from the sparks mixed with the cold air emanating from the shaved ice, making the aroma of the chocolate sauce exceptionally rich.

"Gulp." The hot-blooded youth couldn't help but swallow a mouthful of saliva. That aroma made him feel a little hungry too.

The Dessert Master said nothing, silently took out a spoon, scooped up a spoonful of shaved ice and chocolate sauce, put it in his mouth at the same time, and closed his eyes to savor it.

Ming Rizhao and Rio waited nervously for the Dessert Master's critique. Only Ralts remained calm and full of confidence.

"The warm chocolate sauce neutralizes the cold shaved ice. At the same time, the fine texture of the ice granules and the smoothness of the chocolate sauce complement each other, bringing an incomparably silky mouthfeel. Very good!"

"There seems to be some special flavor in the shaved ice... Hmm? This is? The aroma of mint and lemon?!"

"Infusing the juice of mint and lemon into the shaved ice, just when the tongue is about to get tired of the rich chocolate sauce, these two ingredients with a fresh taste are used to cut through the richness, while at the same time bringing out the refreshing clarity of the shaved ice. Brilliant!"

"In addition, the flame burns the outer shell, yet the inside is as cold as frost. Two completely different themes of fire and ice are cleverly combined. Wonderful!"

"Another creation that has it all—color, aroma, and taste!"

The Dessert Master opened his eyes.

Ming Rizhao also took out several chocolate spheres of different colors from the ingredient preparation area of the cooking station.

"These are chocolate spheres of different flavors. There's strawberry flavor, apple flavor, condensed milk flavor... and so on."

"Just place them on the prepared shaved ice, and you'll have shaved ice of different flavors."

Ming Rizhao briefly demonstrated for everyone to see.

The Dessert Master couldn't help but nod, saying in an appreciative tone, "Quickly making chocolate shells of different flavors using molds, and the shaved ice inside doesn't require too much operation either. Not only is the time cost low and material waste minimal, but it can also provide a variety of choices. From the perspective of cost control and creativity, it's full marks."

"This is a top-tier shaved ice!"

The hot-blooded youth and the apron-wearing girl both came over, tasted it, and said nothing more.

The result was already very obvious. Ralts's chocolate ball shaved ice was not necessarily the most exquisite, nor was it necessarily the most delicious, but it was indeed the most outstanding overall. And, with the bonus of Rio's sharp claw work, this shaved ice made the Dessert Master praise it endlessly.

"Congratulations. I didn't expect you to be so strong in the culinary arts."

The red-haired hot-blooded youth came over to shake Ming Rizhao's hand.

"No, actually..."

Ming Rizhao wanted to say something.

"No need to be modest. This is a victory you deserve. My name is Shin Yukihira. I definitely won't lose next time. See you again if fate allows."

The hot-blooded youth, Shin Yukihira, waved his hand dashingly and, with his Sneasel also shooting Rio a "I won't lose next time" look, left the ice room.

"Congratulations. Your skill is admirable. I am Millie. Let's also make a promise to have a decisive match next time."

The apron-wearing girl, Millie, also smiled and gestured to Ming Rizhao, then also left with her Smoochum.

"No, no, no, I'm not... sigh..."

Ming Rizhao, who had tried to say something several times, watched as the two people, who had spoken their declarations of a rematch on their own, just left like that. She opened her mouth but finally gave up.

Only Rio was on the side, slapping the table and laughing hysterically. Ralts watched Ming Rizhao with joy on her face.

"Ahahaha, that's hilarious! They actually think you made that shaved ice... hahahaha..."

"(Pokémon Language) Rio, stop laughing! Xiao Zhao's face is getting redder and redder..."

"Ahahaha, ah ha... Holy crap! Xiao Zhao, don't choke me... Ruru, help, ahhh..."

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