Chapter 226: The Cinnabar Lab and Fossil Restoration
2024-05-15 Author: Samsung Charmander (Author Name)
"Pokedex Beep. Congratulations on triggering the taboo. The volcano deity is angered."
Just as they exited the volcano's crater, the bright light outside was a bit blinding. Before anyone could say a word, a notification sound suddenly came from Ash's waist, accompanied by a rather festive BGM.
This notification caught everyone off guard.
Ash was the first to break the silence.
"Haha, my Pokedex is spouting nonsense again. Don't mind it, everyone."
"That's right. I counted. We were just short of the last 'Torkoal,' 'Torkoal,' 'Torkoal' to make it ten times."
To vent her frustration from not being able to speak her mind inside the volcano, Misty said it three times in one breath.
Torkoal?
Is that a Water-type Pokémon, something like a Squirtle? It sounds kinda goofy.
Everyone came to this conclusion.
"It's nothing."
They then ignored the Pokedex and headed into the town.
Although Blaine was the Gym Leader of the Cinnabar Gym, his prestige as a gym leader had been suffering in recent years due to the impact of the tourism and hotel industry. He needed to find a place where his words would truly carry weight.
Five weeks wasn't a short time, but they still had to hurry with the evacuation. Who knew if this volcano deity, whom they had provoked nine times, would erupt ahead of schedule.
"Don't tell me it's going to erupt in five weeks just because we provoked it nine times? If we had said it ten times, would it have erupted on the spot?"
Blaine frantically shook his head to dispel this terrifying thought. He was now a little afraid he wouldn't be able to control his own mouth.
He then looked at Ash and his group.
"Oh, we plan to have a good look around Cinnabar Island for the next few days. The next time we come, I reckon only the scenery of the Underworld will be left."
Ash and the other two waved their hands. Their task of delivering the warning was complete; they wouldn't meddle in the evacuation of the people.
"Oh, you are the great heroes of this incident. I will definitely write a letter of commendation to the Pokémon League." Blaine first gave a verbal promise, then handed Ash a business card, winking at him rather suggestively.
"If you get bored of wandering around Cinnabar Island, you could come to this place. You might find an unexpected reward."
Ash casually stuffed it into Brock's hand, assuming it was a special little advertisement for some hot spring hotel.
Teacher Brock, it seems even this small ocean island has people in a sea of suffering who need you to purify their souls.
Brock's face turned red, but he tucked it away with an impassive expression, saying no more.
Buddha says: It cannot be spoken.
The next day, Ash and his group were strolling through Cinnabar Town.
Although they had decided to tour Cinnabar Town for its final days to commemorate the impending eruption, Ash's mind was elsewhere at the moment, and the surrounding scenery didn't register at all.
He already had seven badges. With only the last one remaining, he wished he could fly directly to the final Gym right now and seize the eighth badge.
As the man who understood Ash best, Brock patted him on the shoulder and said in a deep voice:
"Your state of mind is also a form of training, Ash. Your training in the Rock-Solid Will still has a long way to go."
"Master, what do you mean?"
Ash eagerly and sincerely asked for guidance. Ever since yesterday's Cinnabar battle inside the volcano, his blood was still surging. He couldn't calm down at all and needed to do something to blow off steam.
"Then go blow off some steam!"
Brock let out a low cry. As a teenage boy, he should vent when he needs to. Bottling it up is frustrating; he'd feel better after letting it out.
He raised his hand, and a small card, the very advertisement Blaine had given them yesterday, appeared between his fingertips.
"You... you two are shameless!"
Seeing this, Misty, who was beside them, blushed and stared with wide eyes, taking the initiative to chastise them.
"What's wrong? We're going to the Cinnabar Lab. Is there a problem with that?"
"Surely no one's getting the wrong idea, right?"
This time, it was Ash and Brock's turn to look at Misty with baffled expressions. Brock flipped the card in his fingers; the advertisement on the small card was indeed for the Cinnabar Lab.
Brock flipped the card over to its back and held it in front of Ash's face.
"By the way, Ash, take a look at what's written here."
"Let me see... Cinnabar Lab, undertakes domestic, entry-exit, and other tourism-related services, including group tours and independent travel..."
Even though it was the Cinnabar Lab, they still had to make a living. They used the money earned from tourism to reinvest in scientific research, creating their own perpetual motion machine.
"No, the line below that," Brock reminded him.
Ash looked closely again and, sure enough, discovered another line of small text below the tourism services.
"We undertake Pokémon Fossil Incubation and Restoration projects. Guaranteed prehistoric bloodline activation of over 3%. Favorable prices, round-trip airfare reimbursed with receipt... Wait, for Farfetch'd's sake, Fossil Restoration!?"
Ash was jolted and quickly snatched the small card to examine it closely.
Seeing Ash's face gradually flush with excitement, Brock nodded.
"Have you forgotten what I told you? There are only two institutions in the Kanto Region capable of resurrecting fossils. One is the Pewter Museum of Science in Pewter City, and the other is this Cinnabar Lab."
Actually, he left one out. Both the museum and this lab were just local organizations. The most technologically advanced was, of course, the official Pokémon League.
And the other two places were far inferior to The Officials in terms of both the quantity and quality of fossils, as well as technical support.
"But guaranteeing a prehistoric bloodline activation of over 3% is still quite high..."
He remembered that Pewter City's was only 2%.
And The Officials' was merely 5%.
With this data for comparison, Ash couldn't help but suck in a sharp breath. Only now did he realize just how rare those true prehistoric Pokémon that had awakened from their long slumber were.
How terrifying...
The machine's limit was merely 5%, but the Aerodactyl he had caught possessed a natural 100% prehistoric bloodline!
Utterly terrifying!
"Damn it, I absolutely can't let Gary have it! I've decided! After I get all eight badges, I'll stay in Pallet Town for some special training. I have to lure that prehistoric Aerodactyl to my side!"
At his current pace, there would still be a gap of free time before the Pokémon League Conference officially began. Ash hadn't decided where to go during that period.
Now he had decided. He would stay in Pallet Town to whip his army of Pokémon into shape, practice military-style boxing, and, in his spare time, talk to the Aerodactyl and give it gifts to increase its friendliness.
He had to remember that the Luxury Ball was his. Their friendliness level was already very high!
However, he still had a fossil in his backpack right now. It was the perfect chance to try the incubation and restoration and see what happens. Maybe he'd get a miracle on a single pull.
It wasn't as if there were no cases of high prehistoric bloodline concentration being produced from machine incubation and restoration. Maybe he'd get lucky with this one.
The luck of people from Pallet Town has always been very good!
"Besides, bloodline concentration isn't the key to everything. Innate bloodline and post-birth training are both factors in whether a Pokémon can become strong."
Brock smiled. Even a dime-a-dozen electric mouse Pokémon was now dancing with impressive form. If the fossil's actual bloodline concentration turned out low, it didn't necessarily mean it would be a dud.
Pikachu: "?"
Your whole family is dime-a-dozen.
The three of them nodded. There wasn't much to see in Cinnabar Town anyway. Following the map's directions on the small card, the trio headed enthusiastically toward the Cinnabar Lab.
(end of chapter)