Around noon, Ange and the others finally arrived home, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
No one expected that a simple spring outing would turn into such a dangerous encounter.
However, there was good news. Shortly after reaching home, Ange received a phone call from Elite Four Bruno.
During the call, Bruno formally proposed a visit to Ange. Hearing this, Ange was naturally overjoyed and immediately began preparing for Bruno's arrival.
The next day, Bruno arrived at the Nebel Plateau aboard Jeremy's aircraft.
From the aircraft, Bruno spotted Altaria, Talonflame, and Staraptor flying alongside them. Below on the grassland, Gogoat and Skiddo strolled leisurely. He could not help but admire the view.
"What a wonderful place," Bruno remarked.
After living in the fast-paced city for so long, suddenly arriving in such a peaceful and serene environment made Bruno feel completely refreshed and healed.
"The Nebel Plateau used to be a completely deserted place," Jeremy said with a smile. "It only gradually became fertile after His Highness arrived."
"So that's how it is," Bruno replied.
Jeremy then added, "You definitely won't regret coming to the Nebel Plateau, Elite Four Bruno. Our Highness's culinary skills are absolutely top-tier!"
"Indeed," Bruno agreed, nodding. The breakfast at Munchlax Home had already left a deep impression on him.
Soon, the aircraft touched down on the grassland. Ange was already waiting outside the enclosure walls with Diancie and Magearna.
Seeing Jeremy and Bruno step down from the aircraft, Ange smiled and said, "You're finally here! I was starting to think you got held up by something!"
"Everything went smoothly," Jeremy replied, waving his hand. "It seems Your Highness was eagerly looking forward to Elite Four Bruno's arrival and grew quite impatient."
"Of course," Ange said. "Elite Four Bruno is my honored guest."
"Your Highness is far too polite," Bruno said.
"Come inside with me!" Ange said, leading the two men toward the house.
At that moment, Ange noticed that Bruno was staring intently at Diancie and Magearna without blinking, so he asked curiously, "Is something wrong, Elite Four Bruno?"
"Two Pokémon I've never seen before," Bruno noted.
Bruno was not a Pokémon Professor like Friede. Even for rare Pokémon with only brief mentions in historical documents, Friede would have a deep impression.
Bruno only cared about getting stronger. While he had a solid understanding of ordinary Pokémon, he was completely clueless when it came to mythical entities like Diancie and Magearna, which lay far outside the knowledge of average people.
"I forgot to introduce them," Ange explained with a smile. "This is Diancie, and this is Magearna. They are my companions and family members who live with me."
"Hello, Elite Four Bruno," Diancie greeted him in a very ladylike manner.
Du~ ki~ du~
Magearna also greeted Bruno with impeccable poise.
"Hello to you both," Bruno replied.
Right after, Jeremy excitedly began explaining the origins of Diancie and Magearna to Bruno.
When Bruno learned that both Diancie and Magearna were Mythical Pokémon, he was deeply astonished.
By the time the three reached the front door, a rich and savory aroma was already wafting out from the house.
"It smells incredible!" Bruno said, taking a deep breath.
"We finished cooking lunch a while ago," Ange said. "We were just waiting for you to arrive, Bruno!"
"Your Highness has gone to too much trouble!" Bruno said.
Ange waved his hand and said, "It's no trouble at all. Also, please stop calling me Your Highness, Bruno. Just call me Ange!"
Bruno nodded and replied, "Then... Your Highness... no, Ange, you should just call me Bruno as well!"
"Deal!" Ange agreed readily. "I won't stand on ceremony then, Bruno."
Although a certain age gap existed between them, true friends did not need to fuss over such formalities.
Turning to Jeremy, Ange added, "Jeremy, you should stay for lunch too. I made a portion for you."
"Awesome!" Jeremy cheered excitedly. "I was just racking my brain trying to think of an excuse to stay!"
Ange shook his head helplessly. "You guy..."
Upon entering the house, Bruno and Jeremy saw a table packed to the brim with various dishes. Munchlax and Inteleon were currently setting out the bowls and chopsticks.
Munch munch~
Seeing his master lead the guests inside, Munchlax immediately waved his hand happily.
After introducing his family members to Bruno, Inteleon led the guests to wash their hands.
By the time they returned, Volcanion and Xerneas happened to walk through the door as well.
Bruno froze. "Another unrecognized Pokémon."
Jeremy, on the other hand, widened his eyes in utter disbelief. He pointed a trembling finger at Xerneas and stammered, "Th-This... Is this Xerneas?"
Xerneas was far more famous than Diancie and Magearna. Both Xerneas and Yveltal had corresponding picture books and legends circulating throughout the Kalos region.
Many children grew up listening to the tales of Xerneas and Yveltal.
Of course, in all those legends and picture books, Yveltal always appeared as the villain, while Xerneas was invariably the savior who defeated the great demon king.
Who could have guessed that in reality, these two actually got along quite well?
Under Jeremy's intense gaze, Xerneas calmly walked over to its designated spot, laid down, and quietly waited for the meal to start.
Large Pokémon that were unsuited to sit at a regular dining table, such as Volcanion, Xerneas, and Metagross, all had custom furniture specially made for them by Robert 2.
For instance, Xerneas's seat consisted of a long bench designed for it to lie down comfortably, paired with a low table that perfectly allowed it to reach its food.
"It is indeed Xerneas," Ange answered, confirming Jeremy's bewilderment with a nod.
Jeremy had not visited the Nebel Plateau for a while, so he had no idea that both Xerneas and Yveltal had taken up residence here.
"Why is Xerneas staying with you, Your Highness?" Jeremy could not believe that he was seeing a Pokémon that usually only existed in legends and picture books with his own eyes.
"For some special reasons," Ange replied cryptically.
Seeing that Ange did not give a direct answer, Jeremy tactfully dropped the subject.
Ange winked at him and said, "Keep the matter about Xerneas a secret~"
"Yes, Your Highness! I promise not to utter a single word!" Jeremy immediately promised with a solemn expression.
Ange patted Jeremy's shoulder. "I knew you were always reliable."
Hehe~
Jeremy scratched his head in embarrassment.
Meanwhile, Bruno asked curiously, "What exactly is Xerneas?"
As a result, Jeremy eagerly began recounting the stories and legends surrounding Xerneas and Yveltal to Bruno.
After listening, Bruno looked at Ange in amazement and said, "I never expected you to be a Legendary Trainer, Ange!"
Legendary Trainers formed a very unique group in the Pokémon world, specifically referring to those capable of commanding Legendary Pokémon.
In this context, Legendary Pokémon included Mythical Pokémon, Sub-Legendaries, and Mascot Legendaries.
Ange smiled and shook his head. "I'm not a trainer at all. Everyone is just living together and sharing a life with me."
Gesticulating toward the table, he invited them, "Let's take our seats and eat, otherwise the food will get cold."
Under Ange's guidance, Bruno and Jeremy took their seats one after another, and the Pokémon sat down as well.
Ange gestured grandly and declared, "Let's eat!"
Because guests were present today, the Pokémon did not gorge themselves as they usually did. Instead, each one behaved with excellent manners.
Ange secretly winked at them and gave a thumbs-up.
Seeing this, Munchlax grinned broadly at Ange.
Inteleon gave an OK gesture and winked back in response.
Gengar, looking a bit shy, silently lowered its head.
Noticing that Bruno was already fully immersed in the culinary delights, a proud smile emerged on Ange's face.
He had put an immense amount of effort into today's meal.
He had asked Poliwrath to catch the largest shrimp from the lake to make braised prawns.
He caught the biggest Cod to prepare braised fish, and used the extra fat from Veluza to make fish balls.
Furthermore, he had Bunnelby retrieve young chickens raised this spring from the coop to cook Kung Pao Chicken and Spicy Chicken. The meat of the chickens at this age was incredibly tender.
Ange also had Infernape help grind fresh soybeans with a stone mill to make tofu, which he used to prepare a First-Class Tofu dish and an Eight-Treasure Tofu dish.
The fresh, tender bamboo shoots dug up from Pangoro's place yesterday also came in handy. Ange used them to make a traditional bamboo shoot soup and shredded chicken with spring bamboo shoots.
Aside from those, the table featured steamed beef with rice flour, husband and wife lung slices, sweet and sour ribs, lion's head meatballs, stuffed bitter gourd, radish meatballs, stir-fried eggs with green peppers, cumin potato slices, hot and sour cabbage, and many more.
In his previous life, Ange's cooking skills were not nearly this exceptional, which was why his restaurant had ended up going bankrupt.
He had studied his grandfather's recipes back then, but he possessed only the theoretical knowledge without the practical skill.
Of course, his poor cooking back then was not due to a lack of talent.
Ange's culinary talent might not have been top-tier, but he certainly possessed some natural ability.
The main reason his family restaurant collapsed was his grandfather's sudden passing, which left him with absolutely no time to properly study the culinary arts.
After arriving in the Pokémon world, Ange gained access to high-quality ingredients that he grew and raised himself, and he also acquired the ability to process ingredients using Aura Power.
Combined with his daily practice of the recipes provided by the system, he gradually grasped the core knack of cooking. Once a chef masters that essential breakthrough, everything else falls into place.
That single hurdle was often what kept many aspiring cooks from ever truly mastering the craft.
Additionally, he never slacked off during his daily practice sessions in the Cooking Training Room.
With all these factors combined, his past seven-out-of-ten cooking skills could now easily deliver a nine-out-of-ten performance.
Most of Ange's dishes had been enhanced with the special effects of his custom Bean Paste, so Bruno noticed the difference the moment he took a bite.
As expected, the food Ange cooked provided a significant boost to his physical strength and training!
Coming to the Nebel Plateau was definitely the right choice!
"Would you like a little wine, Bruno?" Ange asked.
Bruno paused upon hearing the offer. He did not care much for alcohol, but since Ange had offered, he felt it would be impolite to refuse, so he nodded.
Seeing this, Ange smiled and looked at Passimian. "Passimian, hurry up and bring out your fine brew."
Passi~
Passimian jumped off its chair happily and darted out the door in a flash.
It not only loved brewing alcohol but also thoroughly enjoyed watching humans and Pokémon drink its creations. To the Pokémon, that was the ultimate recognition and respect for its hard work!
Not long after, Passimian returned from the Secret Fortress carrying a crate.
It took the items out of the crate one by one, revealing several bottles of fruit juice and a bottle of crystal-clear, colorless liquor.
Ange patted Passimian's shoulder and said, "You really are thoughtful."
While the adults drank alcohol, the other Pokémon would definitely want some juice! Ange had completely forgotten about that earlier, so it was fortunate that Passimian remembered.
Passi~
Passimian flashed a wide grin at Ange. After handing the liquor bottle over to him, it began pouring juice for all the Pokémon at the table one by one.
"Come, let me share a drink with you," Ange said, setting a wine cup right in front of Bruno.
Bruno looked down at the cup. The pure white porcelain was stamped with a blue plum blossom pattern, giving it a unique aesthetic charm.
Ange's own cup featured an orchid design.
As Ange poured the clear liquid into the cup, it looked like a pristine mountain spring flowing down to the mortal realm. Instantly, a rich, aromatic wine fragrance filled the entire room.
"What a unique aroma," Bruno could not help but remark. He had never smelled a liquor quite like this before.
Jeremy also exclaimed, "It smells amazing!"
Ange wagged his index finger at Jeremy and said, "You still have to pilot the aircraft later, so stick to juice today. I'll gift you a bottle before you leave, and you can enjoy it slowly at home."
Jeremy looked disappointed upon hearing this. "Alright then!"
With that, he picked up his juice and took a sip, and his face instantly lit up with surprise. "Wow, this juice is delicious!"
Ange smiled and countered, "So drinking juice isn't a loss, right?"
Jeremy nodded vigorously. "Indeed, everything from Your Highness's home never disappoints."
Ange felt quite proud upon hearing the praise. "The wine and the juice are both masterpieces created by my Passimian!"
Passi~
Hearing the compliment, Passimian instinctively sat up straighter and puffed out its chest.
"Impressive!" Jeremy said, raising a thumb to show his admiration to Passimian.
Passimian grinned and scratched the back of its head, then took a large gulp of its own juice to hide the proud expression on its face.
Ange raised his glass toward Bruno and said, "Bruno, let's toast to a drink together."
Bruno nodded and raised his cup as well.
After a gentle clink of their cups, both men took a small sip simultaneously.
The moment the strong liquor hit his throat, Bruno's eyes lit up. "Excellent wine!"
This liquor was completely different from any alcohol he had consumed in the past. It was rich, crisp, and left a lingering, aromatic aftertaste that stayed with him long after swallowing.
Without a doubt, Passimian's brew hit the exact sweet spot of Bruno's personal preferences.
Just like that, Ange and Bruno began matching each other cup for cup.
Before long, an entire bottle of liquor was completely drained, and a prominent red flush appeared across Ange's cheeks.
In stark contrast, Bruno's face remained entirely unchanged, and his heart rate stayed perfectly steady. He acted as if nothing had happened at all, revealing an incredibly formidable alcohol tolerance.
"Passimian, bring another bottle," Ange shouted toward Passimian, clearly showing signs of intoxication.
Passi~
Passimian looked hesitant upon hearing the request.
Suddenly, it noticed Diancie casting a sharp gaze over, and it immediately understood that it should completely ignore Ange's command.
"Passimian, why haven't you gone to get the wine yet?" Ange muttered, looking displeased.
Diancie finally spoke up, unable to hold back any longer. "Ange, you've had too much to drink!"
Hearing this, Ange stiffened his expression and argued, "Had too much? Nonsense, how could I possibly be drunk?"
This time, it was Diancie's turn to stiffen its expression. "I say you've had too much, which means you've had too much!"
Seeing that Diancie's expression looked genuinely stern, Ange immediately became docile. He sat up straight in a perfectly orderly manner, nodded obediently, and conceded, "Yes, I've had too much to drink!"
Diancie helplessly scooped a bowl of rice for Ange. "Here, just eat your rice properly."
"Oh~" Ange murmured in response, and he indeed picked up his bowl obediently.
Seeing this scene play out, everyone in the room could not help but chuckle under their breaths.
So this was what Ange looked like when he got drunk.
Diancie turned to Bruno apologetically and said, "I'm sorry, Elite Four Bruno. Ange has had too much to drink. If you haven't had your fill yet, Mr. Bruno, I can have Passimian fetch another bottle for you."
Bruno waved his hand dismissively. "No need. I've enjoyed myself thoroughly. Thank you for the wonderful hospitality."
Although Bruno immensely enjoyed the wine from Ange's home, he knew the value of moderation and recognized that overindulging in alcohol was unwise.
"Then let's just focus on finishing the meal. Drinking without eating proper food won't do," Diancie said with a warm smile, displaying the impeccable grace of a true hostess.
Soon, the entire table of food was polished off completely. Robert 2 came over to clear away the bowls and chopsticks, while the intoxicated Ange was carried up to the third floor to sleep by Munchlax and Inteleon.
Diancie then addressed Bruno, asking, "Mr. Bruno, would you like to take a walk around the Nebel Plateau?"
It knew that Ange had another underlying purpose for inviting Bruno here, so it would not simply allow Bruno to leave just like that.
"Sure! That would be grand," Bruno agreed, nodding. In truth, he had no intention of leaving immediately either.
His official business in the Azoth Royal Capital had concluded, and since he had no other urgent matters for the time being, he was looking for a suitable place to undergo special training.
The Nebel Plateau seemed like a spectacular location.
A smile appeared on Diancie's face upon hearing his answer. It called out toward the distance, "Volcanion, come here for a moment!"
"What is it?" Volcanion grumbled, descending from the sky with a clearly disgruntled expression.
"Take Mr. Bruno on a tour around the area," Diancie instructed.
Among all the Pokémon in the household, aside from Diancie itself, only Volcanion was capable of communicating normally with Bruno.
"I still have things to do!" Volcanion muttered, looking annoyed. Nonetheless, it turned to Bruno obediently and grunted, "Let's go."
Bruno nodded and followed closely behind Volcanion as they walked out past the enclosure walls.
In the blink of an eye, evening arrived.
The gentle rays of the setting sun spilled through the window and illuminated the bedroom. Ange bolted upright in bed, rubbing his throbbing head while letting out a sharp breath.
"Ugh... I really can't drink that much wine ever again." His tolerance for alcohol was truly mediocre.
Suddenly, a realization flashed through his mind. Wait a minute, wasn't I hosting Bruno? Where is Bruno?
Ange glanced at the alarm clock sitting nearby. Seeing that it was already nearly five o'clock in the afternoon, he scrambled out of bed, muttering continuously to himself under his breath.
"Alcohol ruins everything, it truly ruins everything!"
Just as he was clumsily trying to shove his feet into his shoes, Diancie pushed the door open and walked inside.
"You're awake?" it asked with a smile.
Ange asked urgently, "Where is Bruno? Surely he hasn't left already, has he?"
Diancie gave him a firm look. "Don't worry, he hasn't left! I told you not to drink so much at noon, and now you see how it disrupts things, don't you?"
Hearing those words, Ange finally let out a massive sigh of relief.
"Hehe~" He flashed a silly grin toward Diancie. "I understand, please lower your anger, Madam Housekeeper."
Diancie slapped him playfully in annoyance. "Who are you calling a housekeeper!" As it spoke, it placed a glass of water down on the table right next to Ange's hand.
Ange happened to be feeling completely parched at that moment. He grabbed the glass and gulped the water down greedily, draining every single drop in one continuous breath.
Once he made his way downstairs and walked out to stand near the front entrance, he could see Bruno out past the enclosure walls in the far distance. Bruno was currently trading punches back and forth with a Machamp.
Ange could not discern the exact level of that Machamp, which meant it was inevitably at level 70 or higher.
Yet, Bruno was actually able to exchange blows with it on completely equal terms. He truly deserved his reputation as a human Pokémon!