After spending a day in Pacifidlog Town to rest, Cain dedicated his morning to making Pokéblocks and the entire afternoon to training with two of his Pokémon.
Although he lost a total of 600,000 Pokédollars, what he gained in return made this expense insignificant.
However, from that moment on, a legend began to circulate in the local Pokémon Center.
The legend said that, on lucky days, an unknown person would appear in the Pokémon Center's battlefields, bringing their Pokémon and scattering money generously. If someone was fortunate enough to encounter this person, they should challenge them without hesitation.
Thus, without knowing it, Cain earned a peculiar nickname among trainers: the "Money-Giving Boy."
The next day, Cain left Pacifidlog Town.
The town was not far from the main headquarters of the Alliance in the Hoenn region. Cain rode on his Flygon and headed directly to his destination.
Due to the imminent celebration of the Sinnoh Tournament, flights departed daily from Hoenn's headquarters to the Sinnoh region.
The Sinnoh region is located northwest of Kanto, Johto, and Hoenn. It is a rather isolated region, with most of its land routes surrounding the imposing Mount Coronet, which occupies the center of the region, similar to Mt. Silver that connects Kanto and Johto.
The plane carrying Cain landed in Hearthome City, located in central Sinnoh.
Hearthome City is one of the largest cities in the region, densely populated, and particularly popular among children, leading many families to settle there.
The reason flights from Hoenn's headquarters do not land directly at Sinnoh's Alliance headquarters but rather in Hearthome City is because this is the location where the Sinnoh Tournament will be held.
When Cain disembarked, he could see workers throughout the city busy constructing a gigantic battle arena.
From the outside, the structure resembled a circular football stadium, with different battlefields inside adapted to various environments. Surrounding it, grandstands were being built, capable of hosting thousands of spectators.
Although the arena was still under construction, its shape was already beginning to take form.
There were ten days left before the Sinnoh Tournament began.
Cain had arrived in Hearthome City with enough time, so he didn't have to rush his next steps.
It was his first time visiting Sinnoh, and everything in this region felt fresh and exciting.
As a region that, after being integrated into the Alliance, had gone through a significant period of development, Sinnoh now had Pokémon Centers in all corners.
Cain spent a few hours exploring Hearthome City and experiencing its local culture before deciding to leave it behind.
Although city life can be comfortable, Cain knew it was not the best environment for exceptional Pokémon training.
Since he had arrived in Sinnoh, Cain wanted to take the opportunity to learn more about the region, and for that, he would seek guidance from a local.
The first name that came to his mind was the only person he knew in Sinnoh: Cynthia.
Cynthia lived in the legendary Celestic Town.
Celestic Town is the oldest settlement in Sinnoh, even predating the formation of the region itself, with a history deeply rooted in its land.
As the sole representative of her town in the outside world, Cynthia carries the legacy and the responsibility of preserving its traditions.
Although she always appears serene and distant, Cynthia bears a great burden on her shoulders. As a trainer, she must not only constantly face challenges to improve her skills but also fulfill the expectations of her heritage.
Cain didn't know much about Cynthia, but he knew enough to admire her.
In the past, Cain had considered Steven a "player with unlimited resources," while he saw Cynthia as someone who achieved everything through pure effort. However, although Cynthia's lineage had declined over time, her family was still powerful, with a heritage far older than Steven's.
Historically speaking, Cynthia's family could easily surpass the Stone family of Hoenn.
With the Sinnoh Tournament, spanning five regions, about to begin, Cynthia, as one of the strongest competitors and Sinnoh's main representative, was at the center of attention.
Upon arriving in Hearthome City, Cain contacted Cynthia to ask if she was in Celestic Town, as he wished to visit her.
Cynthia's response was brief: "Sure."
For Cain, the main motivation to visit Celestic Town was to learn about its rich history.
He had heard rumors that the oldest myths about Sinnoh's legendary Pokémon originated from this town, including the creator of the Pokémon world: Arceus, the Creator Pokémon.
There were also tales of Giratina, known as the ruler of the Distortion World and Arceus' eternal rival.
Sinnoh is the only region that has clear accounts of these two legendary Pokémon. Celestic Town is the heart of these stories.
Besides Arceus and Giratina, Sinnoh's myths also include Dialga, the dragon of time, and Palkia, the dragon of space.
Although Cain knew it was unlikely to encounter Pokémon of this caliber, he considered it valuable to learn about them, as one day he might face relics or artifacts related to these Pokémon.
Cain's system could also provide him with useful information about these Pokémon, helping him avoid incidents in future ruin explorations.
With this mindset, Cain left Hearthome City and headed southeast toward Solaceon Town.
Solaceon Town is a small settlement in Sinnoh. To reach Celestic Town, Cain would have to pass through it and take Route 210.
Although the journey would be long, Cain took the opportunity to train his Pokémon along the way.
Sinnoh, as the homeland of Drapion, was a special place for this Pokémon. Upon reaching the outskirts of Hearthome City, Cain released Drapion from its Pokéball.
Drapion, which had hatched from an egg while under Cain's care, had never known Sinnoh. But upon hearing the story of its origin, it showed a complex expression before filling with determination.
To Drapion, Cain was its true father... or mother. Well, that didn't matter.
Mounted on Drapion, Cain advanced along Route 209, ready to uncover the secrets Sinnoh had to offer.
(End of chapter)