Chapter 58: Jigglypuff Who Wants to Become an Idol

"Pudding?" Jigglypuff looked at Heath, clearly not understanding what the new breakfast was.

"It's this, a new special dish, ten League coins per serving," Heath said with a smile, pointing to the sign and patiently explaining to Jigglypuff.

Jigglypuff seemed hesitant. Heath wasn't in a hurry, but after a while, Jigglypuff shook her head, indicating she still wanted her regular breakfast crepe. Heath didn't push her and turned to prepare her usual breakfast crepe.

Heath had met Jigglypuff a year and a half ago when he saw her walking wearily out of a nightclub while he was setting up his stall. It was the first time he saw a Pokémon in a human nightclub, so he curiously watched her. Jigglypuff noticed Heath's gaze and caught the enticing aroma of his breakfast crepes.

Since then, Heath had gained a loyal customer. Jigglypuff would buy a breakfast crepe from him after singing at the nightclub. Although Jigglypuff was adorable, the path to becoming an idol was tough.

Aside from competing against other melodious Pokémon like Primarina and Altaria, many Pokémon in Viridian City were pursuing idol careers.

Heath wasn't surprised by Pokémon idols anymore. Initially, he found it strange, but now he accepted it as normal.

Being an idol was a fame-driven profession, and Jigglypuff was still relatively unknown. Thankfully, her singing was pleasant, unlike the anime where her singing put people to sleep.

"Did you gain more fans today?" Heath asked, chatting with Jigglypuff while making her crepe.

"Pudding." Although Heath couldn't understand her, he could guess from her tone that things hadn't gone well for her today.

Heath flipped the crepe and squeezed a generous amount of ketchup on it, knowing Jigglypuff loved it. Zorua liked ketchup too.

"Keep it up, Jigglypuff. I'm looking forward to showing off your first autograph," Heath said, waving a small sign. Jigglypuff nodded happily and bounced away.

"What's an idol?" Zorua asked, watching Jigglypuff leave.

"It's a glamorous but tough and highly competitive job," Heath summarized, picking up the "Past Exam Papers of Viridian City" and flipping through it.

Heath didn't know if Jigglypuff would succeed in the harsh idol world, but he hoped to see her on the Kanto League's largest concert stage, conquering all her fans.

[You served Jigglypuff and received the Dream Microphone]

Heath blinked. What was this odd item? He checked his pockets but found nothing, so he looked in the cabinet and found the peculiar object.

[Dream Microphone: Holding this microphone makes you a god to all with sleep disorders (please don't use it for anything weird)]

Heath's mouth twitched. What did the note in parentheses imply? Did it suggest he would use it for nefarious purposes?

Looking at the microphone, Heath thought it might indeed be a fantastic tool, akin to a lullaby, great for people struggling with sleep.

Moreover, Heath was happy that his chef's eye mission progress had increased. He felt he was getting closer to completing it.

"I just hope I can pass the first test smoothly. Then there's the second, third, and fourth tests. I hope the exam contents are reasonable." Heath sighed, continuing to read the book.

"Heath, you've introduced a new breakfast?" Giovanni arrived. Heath, amused, put down his book and glanced at him. He felt Giovanni had a lot of free time for someone who should be busy.

"Yes, Mr. Giovanni. Today's new breakfast is braised beef noodles. Would you like to try it?" Heath asked with a smile, always eager for business.

"Sure, add extra chili. I like it spicy," Giovanni said, handing over the money.

Heath took the money with a smile and prepared a steaming bowl of braised beef noodles, adding more beef, a habit of his.

"Mr. Giovanni, did Champion Lance's investigation last time reveal anything?" Heath recalled seeing Lance, the Dragon-type Elite Four member.

"Champion Lance? He investigated but left soon after. The incident was a result of the chemical plant staff's mishandling, nothing serious," Giovanni explained.

Heath nodded, thinking Lance had come to investigate Team Rocket. When did Lance discover Giovanni was Team Rocket's boss?

Watching Giovanni eat his noodles, Heath thought it must have been later. Giovanni wasn't yet brazen enough to neglect his gym responsibilities.

"Mr. Giovanni, do you know what the specialty of Pallet Town is?" Heath asked curiously.

"Pallet Town? The specialty? Does Professor Oak's Pokémon count?" Giovanni joked, thinking of the formidable Professor Oak.

Team Rocket avoided Pallet Town and Viridian City; Viridian City was Giovanni's base, and Pallet Town was home to Professor Oak.

Many didn't know Professor Oak's true strength, but Giovanni did. Professor Oak's power rivaled that of an Elite Four member, though time might have diminished it.

Heath found it amusing. He couldn't possibly buy a Pokémon from Professor Oak to cook, right? He'd be beaten to a pulp.

"Mr. Giovanni, I meant food ingredients," Heath clarified, not wanting to try cooking Pokémon.

"Food ingredients?" Giovanni laughed, shaking his head.

Professor Oak's strength was recognized by Agatha, one of the Elite Four. In the games, his Pokémon's levels were even higher than those of Green's team. This fact can be verified online; it's not made up by the author.

(End of Chapter)