Even the Elite Four of Kanto have to give her some respect, that's the influence of having monopoly-level enhancement items.
Even the Elite Four are currently eager to buy the perfume she sells; that's something you can't buy even if you're rich.
So with Erika's help, they managed to stay at the most luxurious hotel on Cinnabar Island, and Ash started bragging in front of Gary without holding back.
Who could blame Ash when Gary was so arrogant, speaking in such a patronizing manner?
Although Gary's words were not pleasing to hear, he actually meant well, so Ash didn't go overboard. If Gary were purely mocking, Ash would have put him to the ground!
After exchanging a few casual words, the two parted ways. Gary came here to vacation with his girlfriends, and after the vacation, he still needed to continue training, so he couldn't waste the precious break time.
Ash and the others strolled around Cinnabar Island, also inquiring about Blaine's whereabouts.
The morning on Cinnabar Island was scorching, with almost everyone wearing short sleeves and shorts, carrying small fans as they walked the streets.
But Ash was dressed in jeans, a short sleeve, and a jacket, looking quite unorthodox. Brock was similar, while Misty was the only normal one.
The three of them were also wearing masks; since Ash's notoriety hadn't completely faded, they still had to cover up a bit, but this only made them stand out more.
After all, it was unusual to wear masks in such heat on Cinnabar Island, causing passersby to give them a second glance. However, due to Ash's waning notoriety, no one recognized him behind the mask.
Wearing masks, Ash and the others enjoyed various activities while also gathering information about Blaine's whereabouts.
However, the locals all said Blaine had already left Cinnabar Island, and as for the Cinnabar Gym, it was currently in ruins.
What's strange is that the alliance hadn't sent anyone to revoke the gym's status nor to rebuild it, as if they had completely forgotten about Blaine.
After spending the entire morning on this, Ash and his friends concluded that Blaine was no longer on Cinnabar Island.
However, they learned from the Pokemon Center that Blaine's absence from Cinnabar Island was seemingly not just due to the supposedly trivial challenges from outsiders.
By noon, Ash and his friends sat in the Pokemon Center, drinking cold beverages and enjoying the air conditioning to relieve the heat.
"...Miss Joy said Blaine used to be a researcher. He left Cinnabar Island for research-related reasons, which is quite different from the outside rumors, right?" Ash muttered as he sipped his watermelon juice.
"You could ask Professor Oak about the researcher thing; maybe he knows something," Brock suggested.
Upon hearing this, Ash snapped his fingers, "Right! We could ask Professor Oak. Why didn't I think of that?"
Saying this, Ash immediately ran with Pikachu to the phone in the Pokemon Center.
As for Ash's impulsive behavior, Misty and Brock exchanged a glance and helplessly followed.
"Hey, Professor Oak!"
"I'm here, I'm here. What's got you so excited? Did you catch some rare Pokemon again?" Professor Oak, from the other end of the line, calmly adjusted some unidentified experimental materials as he replied to Ash.
"I'm on Cinnabar Island now, but I haven't seen Blaine."
"Didn't I already tell you that the Cinnabar Gym has been closed?"
"I know, but I wanted to try my luck, yet I discovered something strange. The Cinnabar Gym isn't just closed; it's in ruins! The alliance hasn't released any statement saying Blaine's gym status has been revoked."
"Furthermore, Miss Joy here said Blaine was a researcher, and he left the Gym due to research-related reasons. So, I wanted to ask if you have any information about Blaine, Professor Oak."
Hearing this, Professor Oak paused his actions, showing a hesitant expression on his somewhat wrinkled face.
Finally, under Ash's eager gaze, Professor Oak sighed and said, "The Joy over there is really something, telling you all the intel. This is supposed to be a league secret."
"Being a researcher is a secret? Surely not! At first, Miss Joy mirrored the outside rumors, saying Blaine left due to challengers. But when I took off my mask, she told me the truth. My face is pretty handy!" Ash replied with a smug expression.
He took off his mask in front of Joy, not expecting her to reveal Blaine's whereabouts due to his fame, but rather thinking if Blaine left because of mundane challengers, his reputation would prove he wasn't a trivial challenger. Then, Joy might tell him where Blaine was.
Although things didn't exactly go as planned, Joy did share true information. However, the intel stopped there. Fortunately, Professor Oak seemed to know more.
"The information you got is correct. Blaine is indeed a researcher, and a researcher whose status is no less than mine. However, our research directions differ, and his projects can't be publicly disclosed. That's why few people outside know about him being a researcher."
Upon hearing this, Ash and his friends had a look of surprise. Blaine was not only a researcher but one as prestigious as Professor Oak!
But this is very strange, since Blaine's most renowned reputation in Kanto is as the Fire Emperor.
Blaine specializes as a Fire Type Trainer, and it's said that his overall power is comparable to that of the normal Elite Four!
The abnormal Elite Four refers to the Kanto ones...
But for such a powerful Trainer to also be a researcher?
It's not an unprecedented thing, though, since there is someone right in front of them who became a researcher after retiring as a Champion.
What they found odd is... does the path of strong trainers inevitably lead to becoming researchers? Professor Oak is like this, and so is Blaine.
Professor Oak ignored the bizarre looks on their faces and continued, "Blaine's research focuses on genes. Genes, as the 'code' at the base of Pokemon, are extremely complex, and this research can't be displayed openly because it involves many things."
"Initially, the research was fine, merely extracting genes from various Pokemon to study their differences. But later, Blaine proposed fusing all the genes together, thereby replicating to create the world's strongest Pokemon, one capable of challenging deities."
Upon hearing this, Ash and his friends' pupils constricted, and Pikachu's eyes widened.
Combining Pokemon genes to replicate and create a Pokemon? Doesn't that sound somewhat inhumane?
Gene fusion and creating life, such research is a forbidden existence anywhere!
But for Blaine to propose this even within the alliance is quite outrageous.
"Naturally, this research was rejected, and not long after, Blaine withdrew from the research field to solely serve as a Gym Trainer. But recently... an aspect of Blaine's actions was uncovered."
"It turns out he continued conducting gene fusion experiments, and... he succeeded. According to information obtained by the alliance, he used gene fusion technology to create a Pokemon comparable to deities. However, what exactly it is, the alliance hasn't found more information, and Blaine vanished after it came to light."