Following the winding mountain path, Gary arrived at the Big Riddle Inn.
"Hello, I'm Gary Oak from Pallet Town. I'm here to challenge the Cinnabar Gym." Gary rang the doorbell and introduced himself.
"Pallet Town? What's your relationship with Professor Oak?" Blaine opened the door with a curious look.
"Professor Oak is my grandfather," Gary said frankly.
"I see, you're Oak's grandson. Come on in, then." Blaine nodded, his tone growing a little warmer.
In recent years, with too many tourists challenging the Gym just for kicks, Blaine had rarely accepted challenges anymore.
Still, since this was Professor Oak's grandson, Blaine decided to give Gary a chance.
When they reached the backyard, Blaine stopped. "Before we head to the Gym, let me test you. There's a flood above and a great volcano below. What is it?"
"A bathhouse?" Gary blurted out.
"Gah! You guessed it straight away!" Blaine looked at Gary in surprise.
"Isn't that just a brainteaser? The kind for three-year-olds, at that..." Gary spread his hands.
"Damn it~ I forgot he's Oak's grandson. His brain really does work well..." Resigned, Blaine patted the stone statue beside the hot spring, and a secret passage leading underground appeared before them.
"After you~" Gary politely gestured for Blaine to go ahead.
"Honestly... there's no fun in riddles at all..." Muttering under his breath, Blaine led Gary down the passage.
The farther they walked through the tunnel connected to the underground volcano, the hotter it became. Gary couldn't help pulling open the collar of his yukata.
Blaine walked calmly ahead without a single drop of sweat~
This old guy's got something going for him~ Gary thought wryly.
Soon, they passed through a heavy iron door and arrived at the Cinnabar Gym's battlefield.
The Pokémon League-standard battlefield was suspended above the lava by