Chapter 205

"Three, I'm really sorry, the shop is already full." Inside the "Spark Restaurant" next to the Pokémon Center in Cinnabar Town, the waiter looked apologetic, but his tone was very polite. "If the three don't mind sharing a table, there are still empty seats in the corner; if you want to wait for a separate table, you may need to wait for a while."

"Wow, worthy of being the most famous shop in Cinnabar Town, it's actually so popular!" Bilan stood on tiptoe, looking at the scene where the shop was full, and sighed sincerely.

The air was filled with the fragrance of volcanic tofu and the charred fragrance of roast meat, and the voices were loud and lively.

Brock looked around and spoke gently to the waiter: "Hello, sharing a table is also fine, may I ask where the empty seats are?"

The waiter pointed in the direction of the corner: "Just over there, that guest is sitting in a four-person booth."

The three looked in the direction he pointed and saw a figure sitting with his back to them at the corner of the dining table, with a red hat placed on the table.

Huo La's pupils shrank slightly when he saw that hat, then he reacted and smiled and took the conversation: "Just there, sorry to trouble you."

Saying that, he ignored the suspicious eyes cast by Brock and Bilan and walked straight toward the corner, sitting opposite that person.

"Brother Red, long time no see."

That person raised his head when he heard this, revealing a face with distinct edges and corners. It was Red.

He saw Huo La, the corners of his mouth slowly pulled out a faint smile, and his eyes carried a bit of surprise and familiarity: "Yeah, long time no see. Didn't expect to run into you here, are you also here to challenge the Gym in Cinnabar Town?"

Brock and Bilan hurriedly followed and sat down beside Huo La.

Brock nodded to Red and greeted him with a smile—the first Gym Red challenged when he went out was his Pewter Gym, and the two could be considered old acquaintances.

Red saw Brock, a hint of obvious surprise flashed in his eyes: "Gym Leader Brock, you actually traveled with Huo La?"

Brock smiled shyly and scratched his head: "Yes, thanks to Huo La, I had the opportunity to temporarily put down the Gym affairs and come out to see the outside world."

Red nodded, his gaze turned to Huo La, his tone carrying a bit of teasing: "It must have been hard for you along the way. Huo La, this guy, although a bit more reliable than Ash, but... it's only a little bit."

"Hahaha!" Bilan laughed out loud immediately. "That's so right! He is indeed only a little bit reliable!"

Huo La looked embarrassed and glared at Red: "Brother Red, why are you teasing me too?"

Red smiled, his gaze turned to Bilan who was still giggling, looked at her carefully for a few seconds, and said uncertainly: "Bilan?"

Bilan's laughter stopped abruptly, and she looked at Red with some surprise: "You know me?"

She didn't have any impression of meeting this trainer wearing a red hat, so she was a bit suspicious.

Seeing her look like this, the smile in Red's eyes became stronger: "It seems I didn't guess wrong. Professor Oak mentioned you to me, saying you are a very interesting girl."

Hearing Professor Oak's name, Bilan also nodded.

The waiter walked over with the menu at this time, breaking the pleasantries between the few: "Three, may I ask if you need to order now? Our shop's signature volcanic tofu, lava roast meat, and flame ice cream are all very popular!"

Huo La took the menu and looked at Red: "Brother Red, have you ordered yet? Do you want to add anything else?" Red shook his head: "I just ordered, you guys feel free. Just right, I also want to hear about your experiences along the way."

"So, Brother Red, you have already finished challenging Blaine and got the Crimson Badge?!" Huo La put down the spoon in his hand violently, bright light burst out in his eyes instantly, and his gaze landed straight on Red.

Red nodded with a smile, took out a crimson badge with flame patterns from his pocket, and placed it on the table: "Hmm, I won it this morning, specially came to this shop to celebrate. Blaine is worthy of being an old veteran, his Magmar is amazingly powerful, if it weren't for my Charizard and I having tacit understanding, and carrying it down, it would be hard to say whether I could win."

Huo La rubbed his chin, thinking thoughtfully and asked: "Then, is the Cinnabar Gym really inside the volcano?"

"Gym inside the volcano?" Bilan was digging a spoonful of flame ice cream into her mouth. Hearing this, her movements paused, and she stared at Huo La with wide eyes. "Are you not awake? How can there be a Gym in a place as hot and dangerous as a volcano?"

Red was also a bit surprised, raised his eyes to look at Huo La, his eyes carrying a hint of suspicion: "How do you know the Gym is inside the volcano? Not many people know about this."

"Ah?!" Bilan's ice cream almost fell out of her mouth, and she was stunned again. "Is there really a Gym inside the volcano? Then what is the place with the 'Cinnabar Gym' sign hanging in the town outside?"

"It's a fake Gym made by Mr. Blaine." Huo La leaned against the wall and answered easily. "It is estimated that it is to block those tourists who are just looking for freshness and have no real skills, so as not to waste time."

The suspicion in Red's eyes became stronger, and he looked at Huo La with a bit of inquiry: "How do you know these things? Even the matter of the fake Gym is clear."

Huo La shrugged, looking innocent: "Guessed."

"Guessed again?" Red raised his eyebrows, clearly not surprised by this answer.

"Right, just guessed." Huo La smiled innocently.

Red shook his head helplessly, but a smile appeared in the bottom of his eyes: "You guy, you have been like this since you were a child, what you guessed is always the same as what you have seen with your own eyes, I really don't know what to say about you." He paused, his eyes suddenly became sharp, flashing with the excitement of battle. "But since we met here, why not have a match? Just like in Pallet Town back then, have a good fight!"

Huo La's fighting spirit ignited instantly, and he responded without hesitation: "Naturally accompany!"

"Great! I, I want to be the referee!" Bilan immediately clapped the table excitedly, forgetting to eat the ice cream. "How about going directly to the battle venue after eating and checking in at the Pokémon Center?"

Brock also nodded with a smile: "That's good, I also happen to be able to observe your battle, maybe I can learn a lot of techniques. After all, you are both men who have defeated me."

Huo La rolled his eyes at Brock, some words didn't come out, the meaning was self-evident.

Red nodded, picked up the Crimson Badge on the table and put it away, his tone carrying expectation: "No problem, but let's say it first, I won't show mercy."

"Each other!" Huo La grinned and clenched his fists. "I want to wash away the failure of the first day of the trip with my Venusaur."