Cinnabar Island was an island shrouded year-round in the smell of sulfur and waves of heat.
At its center, Mt. Ember stood like a silent giant, its summit wreathed all day in lingering smoke-the heavy breathing of the earth.
A speedboat disguised as a Pokémon League geological survey vessel silently docked at a secluded pier on the island's southern side.
Ye Li and his companions changed into white uniforms bearing the Pokémon League's scientific expedition insignia, along with sun hats and goggles, looking no different from genuine researchers.
Inside the equipment case they carried lay the controller that had absorbed Zapdos's sacred electricity. It had now been named the "Zapdos Beacon."
"Hello, we're the Volcanic Geology Research Expedition Team under the Pokémon League. Here is our expedition application."
Ye Li handed an electronic document, meticulously forged by Lin Feng and convincing enough to pass for the real thing, to the bald old man who had come to greet them.
Blaine.
The Gym Leader of the Cinnabar Gym, a man renowned for his wisdom and riddles.
"Welcome, welcome! It's been a long time since the Pokémon League sent anyone to this little island of mine that's practically roasting."
Blaine wore a warm smile, his bald head gleaming in the sunlight.
He took the document, gave it only a cursory glance, then enthusiastically ushered everyone into his research institute.
The institute's interior opened into an unexpectedly vast space, filled with precision instruments and complex piping. The air smelled of machine oil mixed with metal.
"Thank you all for making the long journey. Let me show you around my research first."
Like a hospitable host, Blaine led them on a tour, but his words subtly began to probe them.
"I hear the Pokémon League has recently taken an interest in ancient geology. Is