With Professor Oak present, Cole didn't need to worry about being attacked by the fossil Pokémon, so he gave the man a tour of the underground cavern.
Deep in the cave, Professor Oak discovered traces of "some suspicious" excavation, but he neither commented on it nor asked what the boy had taken.
These were Cole's expedition findings, and others had no right to question them. The Pokémon League had no law stating "anything found on League territory must be handed over", and even with fossil Pokémon in the cave, if he captured them all without surrendering a single one, no one could criticize him.
This was a place where the Pokémon League explicitly allowed trainers to capture wild Pokémon, not a protected preserve.
After giving the professor a general understanding of the underground cave, Cole left everything in the professor's hands while he mounted his Dragonair to continue toward Cinnabar Island.
Flying past Grampa Canyon, he officially entered the sea route.
"Woo~ Woo~ Woo~"
While flying over the sea, Cole suddenly heard a melodious yet sorrowful song.
"Dragonair, stop. What's that sound?" He patted Dragonair's neck.
"Woo~" — Don't know.
Dragonair shook its head.
"Let's check it out." Cole said.
Dragonair nodded and carried him toward the source of the sound. Soon, they spotted a reef with a blue figure hiding behind it.
The mournful, melodious song was coming from behind the reef.
"That... seems... to be a Lapras." Cole said after looking carefully, "Dragonair, let's get closer and take a look."
As they approached the reef, he confirmed it was indeed a Lapras — one covered in wounds, with tears in its eyes, crying sorrowfully.
"Hello."
"Woo!!!"
Hearing Cole's voice, the Lapras let out a terrified cry and plunged into the water with a frightened expression.
"It seems to be very afraid of humans."
Suddenly a voice sounded beside Cole's ear, startling him.
He turned to see a Gastly slowly materializing beside him.
"Why are you here too?" Cole asked in surprise.
This was the same Gastly he had encountered at Maiden's Peak.
"Yo, hello there, young man!" Gastly grinned in greeting, "I'm traveling around the world. Just passing by when I heard a sad song, so I came to check it out."
Cole nodded, then looked back at the sea. After quite a while, the Lapras finally emerged from the water, panting heavily.
Although Lapras is a Water-type Pokémon, they don't live underwater like fish Pokémon do. They live on the water's surface and can't hold their breath underwater for long periods.
"Woo~ Woo~ Woo~ Woo~"
Seeing the human again, the Lapras swam away in terror, trying to escape.
At that moment, Gastly suddenly vanished from Cole's side, reappearing in front of Lapras. It looked directly into the other's eyes, emitting a faint purple glow.
"Don't be afraid, don't worry, we won't hurt you..." Gastly whispered in its ear.
Gradually, Lapras's emotions stabilized, its fear subsiding as it stopped crying out.
Gastly had used Hypnosis on Lapras — not to control it, but as a gentle psychological suggestion.
Clearly, Gastly possessed exceptional hypnotic skills; even its illusions cleverly incorporated hypnotic elements.
For instance, it might appear to transform into a beautiful woman, when in reality, it hadn't changed at all — you had fallen under its hypnosis without realizing it. The suggestion that it was a beautiful woman caused that image to appear in your mind when you looked at it.
Such suggestion worked subtly and gradually. Perhaps from your very first interaction, it was already secretly hypnotizing you.
With Lapras now calm, Cole guided Dragonair to fly beside it. He examined its injuries and treated the wounds with medicine. The injuries were severe, taking considerable time to treat completely.
Thanks to Gastly's presence, Lapras remained quiet, only making sounds when its wounds were touched and hurt.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk, you humans are truly heinous." Gastly clicked its tongue as it observed the wounds covering Lapras's body.
Cole remained silent; he could easily recognize that humans had caused Lapras's injuries.
"Little one, tell this old man what happened, and I'll go avenge you." Gastly's eyes flickered with faint light as it induced Lapras to reveal the source of its injuries.
Lapras are Pokémon that follow ocean currents to travel the world. This particular one had been traveling with its pod.
While swimming near the strait by Cinnabar, they had suddenly heard calls from their own kind — a happy moment, as two Lapras pods rarely meet.
However, upon following the sound, they discovered they'd been tricked — the calls weren't from their kind at all, but from a strange machine. Just as they were about to leave, a fishing net descended from above, ensnaring them all.
The net was electrified, and the moment the Lapras pod was caught, they were subjected to powerful electric shocks. In an instant, most of the Lapras fainted and were dragged onto a boat.
This Lapras was the only one to escape, protected by its pod members who sacrificed themselves.
"Quick, tell me who captured your companions. I'll go settle the score right now." Gastly narrowed its eyes, dangerous gleams flashing in its semicircular eye sockets.
Hearing this, Lapras shook its head — it didn't know.
"Then which direction did they go?" Gastly asked.
"Woo~"
Lapras pointed with its head in a direction.
Cole looked surprised — wasn't that the direction of Cinnabar?
"Very good, we'll follow that direction to find them." Gastly, with nothing better to do, thought it could find some entertainment.
It took out a worn-out Poké Ball from its body, captured Lapras, and transformed into a wisp of black mist before disappearing.
"Farewell, little brat!"
Gastly's voice echoed over the sea.
That was certainly swift action.
Cole shook his head helplessly, "Dragonair, let's continue on our way."
"Woo~"
Dragonair nodded, the white wings on either side of its head suddenly enlarging. With a burst of speed, it carried him toward Cinnabar.
✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲
About two hours later, Cole arrived at Cinnabar and followed his navigator toward the Cinnabar Gym. What greeted him was a dilapidated hot spring inn called "Big Riddle Inn".
At the entrance stood a young woman, also holding a navigator and looking utterly confused.
Recognizing her, Cole called out in surprise, "Chiyo!"
Chiyo turned around and, seeing the young boy from the camp, looked equally surprised.
"Cole!" She greeted him with a smile, "Were you also assigned to the Cinnabar Gym?"
"Yes." Cole replied, "Why haven't you gone in yet?"
"I didn't expect the navigator would lead me to a hot spring inn instead of the Cinnabar Gym." Chiyo said helplessly, "I was momentarily stunned."
Cole joked, "Gym Leaders need to make a living too. Running a side business is perfectly normal."
His quip made Chiyo laugh, though it did ring true. Despite the League's generous pay for Gym Leaders, it clearly wasn't enough to cover a Trainer's expenses.
The title of League Gym Trainer enhanced social status more than anything else, and with higher status came more opportunities for wealth.
For instance, a restaurant opened by a Gym Leader would naturally gain more popularity and recognition than one opened by an ordinary person.
Just as the two were about to enter, a man wearing a flowery shirt, sandals, and sunglasses walked out.
"What has a cold head but a warm body?" He asked.
Chiyo looked up at the hot spring inn's sign and answered, "An open-air hot spring?"
"Correct!" The man clapped with delight, "Clever girl. Then, young man, what is something right before your eyes that you cannot see?"
This time he was addressing Cole specifically.
"Eyelids?" Cole answered.
"Correct again!" The sunglasses-wearing man danced happily, "You're both smart people, but what brings you here? Not coming for a hot spring bath? My hot springs work wonders for beauty and health."
"We're here to challenge the Cinnabar Gym. May I ask where Blaine is?" Chiyo asked politely.
The man simply smiled without saying a word.
Seeing this, Cole said, "You're Blaine, the Cinnabar Gym Leader, aren't you?"
"How did you know?" The sunglasses man asked, looking surprised.
Cole made something up, "Didn't you say 'right before your eyes but can't be seen'?"
"Hahaha~" The sunglasses man burst into laughter, pulling off his wig and removing his sunglasses to reveal his true identity.
Indeed, he was Blaine, the Cinnabar Gym Leader.
"Clever boy. Since you're here to challenge the gym, follow me!" With that, Blaine turned and walked into the hot spring inn.
Under his guidance, Cole and Chiyo ventured deep inside the inn, where they found an open-air hot spring steaming with heat.
Beside the hot spring pool stood a Gyarados-shaped water spout. Blaine pushed it forcefully, revealing a dark opening in the floor.
"Follow me," said Blaine, as he descended into the hole first.
Inside was a staircase leading downward. The deeper they went, the hotter it became, until their clothes were soaked with sweat.
At the very bottom, Cole and Chiyo discovered a lava pool with a battle platform suspended above it by chains.
"So this is the Cinnabar Gym?" Chiyo murmured.
Blaine walked to one side of the battle platform and asked, "Which of you wants to go first?"
Chiyo glanced at Cole, then stepped forward. "I'll go first!"
Cole remained silent, stepping aside and taking out a bottle of water from his backpack. He gulped it down quickly.
It was too hot!
After Chiyo had taken her position on the battlefield, Blaine said, "I don't have a referee here, and there are no special rules. Challengers may use three Pokémon."
With that, he released his first Pokémon — a handsome Ponyta.
"Neigh~~~"
Ponyta burst with energy, happily running around the field as soon as it appeared. The hot environment and abundant Fire-type energy made it feel comfortable.
"Will the challenger please release their Pokémon!"
Chiyo nodded, took out a Poké Ball, and released her Pokémon — a blue Shellos.
Seeing Chiyo using a Water-type Pokémon, both Blaine and Cole sighed inwardly.
Although Water-type Pokémon counter Fire-types, they were currently inside a volcanic crater where Water-type energy was extremely scarce. This meant Water-type moves would be greatly weakened.
"Shellos, use Rain Dance!" Chiyo commanded.
"Lulu~"
Shellos opened its mouth and spat a blue ball of light skyward. Clouds quickly gathered above the field, but though they formed, the rain never came.
Tap Tap~
A few drops of water fell on the field, kicking up tiny bits of dust, and then... nothing.
Seeing this, Blaine said to Chiyo, "Young lady, you seem to have too high expectations for your Water-type Pokémon."
As he finished speaking, the Ponyta opposite Chiyo gave a long neigh and approached Shellos.
"Stomp!"
At Blaine's command, Ponyta raised its sturdy hind legs and kicked hard at Shellos.
Bang!
Shellos was sent flying across the field.
"Shellos!" Chiyo cried out, her face etched with concern.
Despite the powerful hit, Shellos managed to rise again, enduring the pain.
"Shellos, use Recover!"
"Ponyta, use Agility to speed up, then use Return."
Blaine wouldn't allow Shellos to heal itself. His Ponyta's speed increased dramatically with Agility's boost.
Just as Shellos began its Recover, Ponyta crashed into it with Return, interrupting the healing move.
Return is a special attack whose power depends on the bond between Pokémon and Trainer. The strong relationship between Ponyta and Blaine was evident as Shellos collapsed from the impact, unable to rise again.
"Shellos."
As Chiyo called out worriedly, Blaine offered some wisdom.
"Sometimes adapting to the environment is important in battle."
Chiyo recalled Shellos and humbly bowed to Blaine, "Thank you for your guidance, Gym Leader Blaine."
Seeing this, Blaine nodded with satisfaction — a teachable youth indeed.
"Please release your second Pokémon." He instructed.
After a moment's consideration, Chiyo took out a Poké Ball and released her second Pokémon — a hefty Graveler. As a Rock and Ground-type Pokémon, it was the perfect counter to Fire-types.
✲✲✲
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