Chapter Twenty-Two: The Scallions of the Scallion Duck

With this thought, Heath picked up the ingredient identifier and scanned the Scallion Duck.

[Scallion Duck, edible, non-toxic, tender and juicy meat, stunning before consumption prevents excessive fright and ruptured blood vessels, which affect taste.]

Heath's mouth twitched. This really was an ingredient identifier—it even described processing methods. However, Heath had no interest in eating the Scallion Duck, which was protected by the Quartz League.

Heath believed ordinary roast duck tasted just fine, and besides, this Scallion Duck was his companion and family. He couldn't bring himself to serve it on the dining table.

But then Heath paused, realizing he'd been rather foolish. He should have used the ingredient identifier when he went to Evergreen Forest.

"A mistake... If I’d used it in Evergreen Forest, at least I could have identified that Pokémon’s details... Wait, can it identify people?" A bold idea surged in Heath’s mind.

If it worked, he might have discovered an astonishing artifact. Still, it could only be used once a day, so no matter how excited he was, he'd have to wait until tomorrow.

"Seems business is slow. Come on, Scallion Duck, let's go to the market." Heath glanced at his watch—it was already time for his afternoon shift.

After buying the duck and other ingredients at the market, Heath led Scallion Duck back to Junsha’s dormitory, preparing to teach it how to make BJ Roast Duck.

Unlike braised bean curd with pork, which Heath could manage by controlling the ingredient quantities to prevent Scallion Duck from causing too much loss, BJ Roast Duck was different.

Its preparation was simpler, but it couldn’t be cut into small pieces for Scallion Duck to experiment with, so Heath taught it with strict precision this time.

Yet watching Scallion Duck slice open the duck so naturally with a swing of its scallion, Heath’s expression grew subtly odd.

Perhaps, in the eyes of Pokémon, wild animals weren’t considered their own kind, so Scallion Duck could butcher the duck without hesitation.

"Right, now you need to coat this... This is my homemade honey, just use it." Heath patiently instructed Scallion Duck, feeling their relationship was rather peculiar.

Normally, Heath should be Scallion Duck’s trainer. But in culinary arts, Heath was more like its master, and Scallion Duck, his apprentice.

Fortunately, BJ Roast Duck wasn’t complicated, and with Heath’s hands-on guidance, Scallion Duck successfully made a decent BJ Roast Duck. Heath tasted it—it was quite good.

Next came independent practice. Heath could not give hints; Scallion Duck had to finish alone.

Heath sincerely hoped Scallion Duck wouldn’t sneak off to the neighboring “Steel Alchemist” to learn equivalent exchange again. If it produced another batch of coal for him, Heath would be beside himself.

As Heath prayed for this, Scallion Duck set down its scallion with a troubled expression.

"Scallion Duck, what’s wrong?" Heath asked, puzzled, since there was still another duck and plenty of ingredients.

Could it be Scallion Duck’s conscience awakening, realizing it was kin to these ducks and unwilling to learn BJ Roast Duck?

"Scallion..." Scallion Duck, disappointed, pushed its scallion to Heath. Curious, Heath took it and examined it.

The previously fine scallion now had a notch—Heath guessed Scallion Duck accidentally struck it with the knife.

"Will you go find another scallion?" Heath asked. Scallion Duck was a very special Pokémon.

They always carried a scallion, which was rare and increasingly hard to find due to environmental damage.

Wild Scallion Ducks might even fight fiercely over a better scallion, vying for ownership.

Heath had always wondered about the origin of Scallion Duck's scallions, but it had never taken him along to find them.

"Do you want me to come with you?" Heath asked. Scallion Duck seemed intent on searching for a new scallion, and Heath wanted to dig up some for himself.

"Scallion!" Scallion Duck shook its head firmly.

"But we’ll be traveling soon—you can’t just find a new scallion every time yours breaks, can you?" Heath said, half amused, looking at Scallion Duck.

This made Scallion Duck hesitate. After glancing at Heath several times, it finally nodded, agreeing to let him come along.

Heath followed Scallion Duck, soon realizing it was flying toward Evergreen Forest. He quickly called it back.

"Your scallion is in Evergreen Forest?" Heath asked. Scallion Duck nodded.

Heath immediately led Scallion Duck back, prepared a serving of sweet and sour ribs in a lunchbox, concealed the Poké Ball, and then set off for Evergreen Forest with Scallion Duck.

When Heath arrived at the forest, he saw many Officer Jenny patrols. Maple was busy assigning tasks to her sisters, and only noticed Heath amidst the laughter of others.

"What are you doing here?" Maple asked sternly, her hand clenched so tightly Heath could see her veins.

Heath hurriedly explained, but Maple remained skeptical until Heath showed her Scallion Duck’s damaged scallion. Only then did she reluctantly let Heath in.

For his safety, she gave Heath a communication device—pressing the button would summon her and her team.

Returning to Evergreen Forest, Heath’s impressions were completely different. Before, it had been night, and the forest seemed eerie; now in daylight, it was just an ordinary woodland.

But it teemed with wild Pokémon, darting nervously through the undergrowth. A green caterpillar clung to a tree trunk, watching Heath curiously.

Heath looked around, deciding to follow Scallion Duck to fetch the scallion before considering how to find the wild Pokémon.

As they traveled, Scallion Duck suddenly stopped. Ahead, Heath saw a little girl standing there, holding a teddy bear.