Chapter 142: Maiden Gorge

May 26th, Alliance Year 200.

Early in the morning, after having breakfast at the Pokémon Center, Ahm and Misty immediately rushed to the port and boarded the boat whose rental fee Misty had negotiated the day before, heading toward Maiden's Peak!

If they were only going to Maiden's Peak, Vermilion City had scheduled ferry routes that were definitely cheaper than renting a private boat. However, Misty planned to set sail from Maiden's Peak afterward to try and track down a Lapras, so renting a vessel was a necessity.

After all, Lapras had been spotted "near Maiden's Peak," and a Lapras wasn't going to swim right into the harbor!

The boat Misty rented appeared to be a regular fishing boat with a single owner who served as helmsman, captain, and deckhand all in one. Within the previously agreed-upon boundaries, he would steer the boat wherever Misty asked him to...

"We'll head to Maiden's Peak today, rest there for the night, and then head out to the waters where Lapras was sighted to search for it. We'll head back on the 30th at the latest," Misty confirmed the itinerary with the captain.

"Alright, no problem! Don't worry, I've got three Dewgongs on board... As long as there aren't any massive storms, I'm brave enough to accompany you out there. Even if the boat capsizes, they can carry us back, hahaha..." The middle-aged captain was quite cheerful and optimistic.

He didn't hold back at all with his morbid jokes!

"Still, Lapras aren't easy to encounter. I've been sailing for so many years, and I've only ever crossed paths with one once... and that was just a solitary individual," the captain chatted amicably.

Misty immediately asked with great interest, "Really? Whereabouts?"

"Right around the Maiden's Peak area," the captain replied.

Hearing this, Misty felt a mix of excitement and apprehension.

She was excited because the rumors of a pod of Lapras being sighted were likely true, but apprehensive because... the captain looked to be in his forties or fifties, and having sailed for so many years, he had only seen one once.

Meanwhile, Ahm leaned against the deck railing, curiously gazing down at the surface of the sea.

Earlier, when traveling from Primula City to Pallet Town, Ahm had also taken a boat, but it was a large passenger liner where the deck was very high above the water—that was Primula City, a small coastal town west of Ashwood Town, not the S.S. Anne's port or anything near Vermilion.

Misty walked over and said, "Once I catch a Lapras, I won't need to rent a boat anymore when I go out to sea!"

Indeed, apart from Gyarados, Misty's other Pokémon were not suitable for riding in the water, which was why she had to rent a boat. As for Gyarados... its temperament made it unsuitable for riding.

"Oh, right, now that you mention it... I don't have a riding Pokémon right now. When we battled Ash, my Pinsir evolved, so the next time we travel on land, we should ride one together," Ahm suddenly remembered.

Hearing this, Misty rolled her eyes dramatically and said, "We probably won't need one right away. When we go to Porta Vista later, we can just take a boat, and besides, I might have already caught a Lapras by then. After that, when we head to Celadon City, we'll definitely just buy plane tickets."

Ahm did the math and realized she was right.

There was no particular rush to find a new mount Pokémon...

The small boat did not travel very fast, but fortunately, the distance to Maiden's Peak was quite short. By a little past two in the afternoon, Ahm and Misty had arrived at Maiden's Peak.

Misty surfed often and was a strong swimmer, so she certainly didn't get seasick. Ahm possessed a robust physique and strong adaptability, which made the captain heave a sigh of relief, sparing him from having to wash down the deck.

Although the town at Maiden's Peak was not large, it was quite lively right now, as today was the day of the Maiden Festival!

Along the way, Ahm had already spotted several rather gloomy-looking characters, and even... two people carrying umbrellas during the daytime!

Sure enough, among the people attracted by the "Maiden's Ghost," quite a few were Ghost-type trainers.

Lurking in spooky locations and exploring haunted places was something Ghost-type trainers were always willing to do—finding a Ghost-type Pokémon was ideal, but even if they couldn't find one, it added to their own netherworldly aura...

When Ahm and Misty arrived at the Pokémon Center in the Maiden's Peak town, they discovered it was already completely booked.

After all, the town was small, and this was the only time of year when the population swelled dramatically, so the Pokémon Center couldn't guarantee that every visiting trainer would get a free room.

"I apologize, but you can choose to pitch a tent in the camping area. We also ensure the security of the camping area and provide food delivery services..." the Pokémon Center staff member said.

"Forget it, let's go find an inn," Ahm said helplessly.

They weren't so destitute that they had to pitch a tent upon arriving in town!

"In that case, I'll give you these two discount coupons. If you ever need Pokémon-related services, feel free to come back anytime," the staff member said, handing two discount coupons to Ahm and Misty.

Taking the coupons, Ahm and Misty headed straight toward the inn listed on them...

"Huh? Why are you walking that way? It's up the slope over here, seemingly not far from the Maiden Shrine," Ahm said, looking at the map and then at Misty.

"I... I was just going to check out that takoyaki stand over there, hehehe..." Misty laughed dryly.

In truth, Misty had looked at the map just now, but she had been holding it upside down!

Ahm had already guessed as much, but being a considerate adult, he chose to pretend he hadn't noticed and accompanied Misty to queue up for takoyaki anyway.

Misty reached the end of the line, looked at the people ahead of her, and muttered, "There are so many people... Should we just skip it?"

Just then, a voice that both Ahm and Misty vaguely found familiar drifted over...

"My fair lady, I wonder if I might offer you my burning passion, just like this piping-hot takoyaki..."

A squinting young man was down on one knee, presenting a skewer of takoyaki to a woman who was also growing impatient in the queue!

"Brock?"

"They're here too?"

Ahm and Misty immediately recognized who this romantic wanderer was.

Given that they had just seen him yesterday at Professor Oak's research institute, and knowing these three guys' penchant for trouble, it wasn't surprising they would rush over upon hearing a legend...

Wait? Hang on, this legend was about the Maiden's Peak...

Just as Ahm was trying to recall something, he suddenly saw a potato-headed little boy scramble up Brock's body, climb right onto the top of his head, and say to the awkwardly smiling woman, "Pretty big sister, you should eat mine instead! This perverted big brother must be thinking bad thoughts!"

"Th-Thank you so much, little boy!" The woman nearby decisively chose the child who appeared more innocent.

Instantly, the potato-headed kid flashed a "pure smile."

"Hey! Who are you? Get down right now!" Brock immediately snatched the potato-headed boy off his head.

At that moment, a couple hurried over, looking thoroughly embarrassed as they said, "I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry... Shin-chan, you're acting up again!"

"Honestly, my parents must have caused you a lot of trouble, right?" Shin-chan apologized, completely shifting the blame.

"That's our line!" the couple roared at him.

Even so, Brock had nothing more to say, and Ahm... was utterly speechless!

He had a strong sense of déjà vu looking at the three of them, and he really wanted to ask: Does your family happen to have a massive mortgage to pay off?