Chapter 146: Leisurely Urgent
The manor grounds spread out before Xiu, impressively large but surprisingly open – no high walls or obvious security measures guarded the perimeter. A meticulously kept garden, dotted with colourful flowerbeds and neatly trimmed hedges, wrapped around the main building. A stone-paved driveway cut through the center, leading towards the entrance, flanked on either side by reflecting pools connected by narrow, stone-lined aqueducts where water flowed gently.
'Maintaining a place like this must cost a fortune...' Xiu's pragmatic mind registered the extravagance and the apparent lack of security. He parked the vehicle near the start of the driveway and quickly got out, jogging towards the main entrance.
The gardens were quiet at this hour, devoid of people, though Xiu spotted several common grass-type Pokémon – Oddish, Bellsprout – foraging peacefully amongst the plants. He slowed his pace slightly, observing them briefly as he walked, a habit ingrained from his time in the safari zone. Reaching the heavy, dark wooden front door, he saw no one attending it.
Just as he reached for a doorbell he assumed must be there, the door swung smoothly inward. An elderly man stood just inside, white-haired and impeccably dressed in attire that seemed subtly more formal, perhaps slightly older in style, than typical modern clothing. He looked to be in his sixties or seventies, yet his posture was ramrod straight, his demeanor composed and dignified.
'A butler?'
"Good morning," Xiu offered politely, instinctively adopting a more formal air given the setting and the man's bearing. He was here seeking a favor, essentially.
"A guest. Please, do come in." The old man smiled faintly, a slight, almost imperceptible nod accompanying his words as he gestured sideways, inviting Xiu inside.
Xiu hesitated. The man's calm, unsurprised reaction felt… odd. As if his arrival was expected, or at least entirely unremarkable. 'Do they know why I'm here? Is Professor Oak expecting me?' Wary, he remained just outside the threshold. "Excuse me, is Professor Oak here?"
"The Professor is dining with my master," the old man replied, his posture and faint smile unchanging. The response was polite, informative, yet gave nothing away.
Caught between his urgency and caution, Xiu felt he had little choice. He gave a slight nod and stepped inside, following the old servant.
The manor's interior wasn't ostentatiously luxurious in the way of gilded excess, but it radiated a palpable sense of history and quiet wealth. Polished wood, antique furniture, and what looked like valuable, though unfamiliar, works of art lined the wide hallway. Even without expertise, Xiu recognized the quality and the likely expense they represented.
After a short walk through hushed corridors, the servant led him to what was unmistakably a dining room, albeit one of ludicrous proportions. A single, immense table, long enough to seat dozens, dominated the space. At the far end, looking almost lost in the expanse, sat only two figures engaged in quiet conversation.
Xiu immediately recognized one of them. Relief warred with exasperation, the pressure of the ticking clock overriding decorum for a moment. "Professor!" he called out, his voice sharper than intended.
Both figures turned towards him simultaneously. Neither seemed particularly surprised or disturbed by the interruption. Professor Oak simply looked over, a casual, almost amused expression on his face. The other man, seated at the head of the table – presumably the master of the house – regarded Xiu with a calm, friendly smile.
"Ah, Xiu, my boy. What brings you here?" Oak waved him closer nonchalantly.
Xiu quickly shifted his attention to the host – an older man with neatly combed grey hair, spectacles perched on his nose, and a generally amiable face that still held an air of quiet authority. Remembering his manners, Xiu offered a polite bow. "Good morning, sir. Please forgive my intrusion."
"Haha, not at all, welcome." The old man nodded kindly, then turned slightly to address the servant standing discreetly nearby. "Please, set another place for our guest."
"Thank you, sir, but there's no need!" Xiu interjected quickly. He hadn't driven across the city just for breakfast. He turned back to Oak. "Professor, the event is starting soon! They're waiting for you!"
He expected Oak to show some sign of haste, perhaps embarrassment at being caught dawdling. Instead, the Professor looked utterly unconcerned.
"I know, I know," Oak said with an airy wave of his hand. "Doesn't it start at nine? Plenty of time. Still early."
Xiu stared, momentarily speechless. He could only manage a tight, helpless smile in response. 'Unbelievable. Isn't that just simply lovely?'
"Well, don't just stand there gawking," Oak chuckled. "Sit, sit."
'He has a point, I suppose.' And arguing seemed futile. Since Oak himself wasn't worried, Xiu's anxiety was pointless. With a silent sigh of resignation, he took the offered seat.
The servant efficiently placed a setting and a plate of breakfast before him – simple eggs and toast, but clearly made with quality ingredients. Xiu nodded his thanks to the servant, then to the host. "Thank you very much for your hospitality, sir."
"Haha, think nothing of it." The old man waved dismissively, then glanced at Oak with a teasing smile. "Your assistant here is far more polite than you are, Samuel."
Oak snorted. "Why should I be polite to you, old friend?"
Xiu wisely kept quiet, focusing on his food. They're clearly very old friends and he wasn't planning to get drawn into their banter. Listening to their easy conversation, sprinkled with reminiscences, Xiu gleaned some fragments of information.
It seemed Professor Oak had significant family ties, perhaps even property, here in Viridian City, managed by others while he pursued his research elsewhere. 'So that's another reason he accepted the invitation to this event. Not just the League's request.'
After another ten minutes of relaxed conversation and eating, Oak finally glanced at his watch, then at Xiu. "Alright, time to go." He stood up, gave his host a casual wave. "Leaving now, see you later."
The host simply smiled and nodded, showing no inclination to see them out formally.
As they walked back towards the entrance, Oak glanced at Xiu curiously. "How did you know I was here, anyway?"
"Deduction," Xiu replied succinctly, briefly outlining his reasoning based on Oak's stated plans, the time, and the likely profile of an "old friend" in Viridian. Oak listened with mild interest but didn't press for details.
Now it was Xiu's turn to voice his frustration, albeit mildly. "Honestly, Professor, you had the nurse at the Pokémon Center quite worried."
"Ha! Still too young, my boy," Oak said with a knowing grin. "Think about it. If I arrived early, I'd be swamped. Everyone wanting a moment, asking questions, endless small talk. Much better to arrive precisely when needed, perhaps fashionably late. It saves a great deal of hassle." He patted Xiu's shoulder conspiratorially. "Remember that. Timing is everything. Now, you handle the initial greetings when we arrive, smooth things over until the official start. You're good at that."
'So, he planned this delay deliberately, Xiu realized with resigned annoyance, and now I'm the designated shield.' "Understood, Professor..."
As they exited the manor and approached the parked vehicles, Oak noticed the Pokémon Center response van properly. "Ah! You drove here?"
"Did you expect me to walk?" Xiu retorted, unable to keep a slight edge out of his voice.
Oak ignored the sarcasm, his eyes lighting up with sudden, opportunistic realization. He grinned broadly. "So you can drive! Excellent! From now on, consider driving as part of your job description!" He gave Xiu's shoulder another firm, decisive pat before Xiu could even protest, then briskly walked over and climbed into the passenger seat of the response vehicle, leaving Xiu standing beside Oak's pickup truck.
Xiu stared at the Professor, now beaming expectantly from the passenger window. He shook his head slowly, muttering under his breath, "A breeder, research assistant, and now a driver... this is blatant exploitation."
Heaving another internal sigh, he walked over and slid into the driver's seat. Starting the engine, he asked, "What about your truck?"
"I'll have someone send it back later. Don't worry about it," Oak waved dismissively. "Now, hurry! Don't want to be too late, that would be problematic."
Xiu paused, glancing sideways at the Professor, whose casual indifference from moments ago had vanished, replaced by sudden urgency. The sheer nerve of this man.
Despite the irritation, he knew Oak was right about the timing now. He put the vehicle in gear. "Professor," he said, his voice deceptively calm, "you might want to hold on. As you know... I'm still new to driving."
Before Oak could fully process the warning, Xiu deliberately stepped harder on the accelerator than necessary. The response vehicle lurched forward, tires spinning briefly on the gravel before accelerating. He wrenched the steering wheel slightly, sending the vehicle into a wide, uncontrolled-looking swerve across the pristine lawn, leaving a noticeable track before correcting sharply back onto the driveway. The van fishtailed for a moment, like an ungainly dancer.
From the passenger seat came a strangled yelp. "Gods! Xiu! You didn't say you just learned!" Oak gripped the dashboard handle, his knuckles white, face pale.
"Hold on tight, Professor!" Xiu called back, a faint, almost imperceptible smirk playing on his lips as he straightened the vehicle's path and accelerated down the driveway, perhaps just a touch faster than strictly necessary. A small measure of payback.