Chapter 148: One Man's Stand
Xiu slid back into the driver's seat, his expression grim. Professor Oak, noting the lack of progress, turned to him.
"What's the situation up there?"
"A roadblock," Xiu stated flatly. "Some 'famous trainer' is apparently nearby, attracting media. Security has blocked the entire street, and a crowd is stuck." He briefly described the guards, the reporters, and the fearful inaction of the trapped public despite the weak Pokémon deployed against them. He concluded by relaying his assessment of the guards' Pokémon: "Objectively, they're weak. Poorly trained. Yet everyone is intimidated." He recalled the fear he'd seen, the way the crowd instantly backed down. "Why?"
Oak sighed, leaning back in his seat. He seemed unsurprised. After a moment of silence, he explained, his tone turning somewhat pedagogical, "Because, Xiu, the average person has very limited, and often negative, exposure to Pokémon. Unless they attend specialized schools, their primary education paints Pokémon as inherently dangerous, powerful forces of nature. Add to that the media – news reports focusing on destructive incidents, televised battles showcasing only the explosive power of high-level combatants... They rarely see the nuance."
He gestured vaguely. "They don't grasp the differences in capability between one Pokémon and another. To many, 'Pokémon' simply equate to 'uncontrollable danger,' especially when wielded by someone in a uniform, however flimsy the authority."
Xiu listened, absorbing the explanation. It makes a twisted sort of sense. Fear born from ignorance and biased information, amplified by the spectacle of official battles. It aligned depressingly well with the scene he'd just witnessed – the crowd's paralysis wasn't just fear of the Pokémon themselves, but fear of the idea of Pokémon power combined with the perceived legitimacy of the guards.
He glanced at the dashboard clock. Less than thirty minutes until the event's scheduled start. "The road's completely blocked. We're not getting through like this. What do we do?" Even if Abra could Teleport, moving this vehicle is the issue.
Oak frowned, realizing the implications of the delay on his own 'fashionably late' arrival plan.
"Alright," Xiu said, making a decision. The Professor's explanation had solidified his assessment: waiting for the crowd to act was futile. Direct intervention was needed, but he couldn't risk associating Oak directly with potential trouble. "I'll go clear the way. Professor, you stay here for now. Drive through once the path is open. Don't worry about me."
Without waiting for Oak's assent, Xiu opened the door and stepped back out into the noisy street. Oak watched him go, a thoughtful, almost amused expression flickering across his face before settling back into mild impatience.
Xiu pushed back through the crowd, his approach markedly different this time. No caution, just focused intent. 'Oak's reputation needs protecting, but mine? Heh.' Besides, the guards' arrogant dismissal of the public's legitimate needs grated on him. He came to this world to survive, not to be pushed around by incompetent thugs in uniforms.
The crowd near the front had swelled slightly, but the atmosphere remained one of resigned frustration. People murmured complaints or pleaded uselessly with the impassive guards. Xiu saw the desperate-looking middle-aged farmer again, his face etched with worry, but making no further attempt to argue. The security line remained firm, smug in their minor authority.
He scanned the crowd again. A few individuals still looked like Trainers, but they hung back, merely observing, clearly uninterested in intervening. Either fans of whoever is beyond the cordon, or just here for the spectacle. 'Useless.' The potential for uniting the crowd under a competent Trainer had passed. They were divided by either fear or apathy.
'Fine. I'll do it myself.'
He strode purposefully towards the human wall. As expected, a guard immediately put out an arm to block him.
"What's going on up ahead?" Xiu asked, his voice deliberately pitched to carry slightly, though still calm. "Why is the road blocked?"
The guard glanced down at him, registering only a young man, barely more than a boy. His expression was pure disdain. "None of your business. Move along."
"Who gave you the authority to block a public road?" Xiu pressed, his tone still even, inquisitive. "As I understand it, only the police force or certified League officials have that authority— are you the police?"
"No!" The guard snapped, clearly annoyed by the persistent questioning. "Now beat it before I—"
"What!" Xiu interrupted loudly, his voice suddenly ringing with feigned shock and misplaced deference. "You guys are League officials?"
Before the guard could react to the absurdity, Xiu quickly reached into his own pocket, pulled out a few low-denomination Poké Dollar bills, and conspicuously, almost clumsily, stuffed them into the guard's uniform pocket in full view of the surrounding crowd. He even patted the pocket firmly. "Thank you for your hard work maintaining order, Officer!"
His loud declaration and the blatant, public act of 'payment' instantly drew dozens of eyes. People nearby saw the exchange clearly. Whispers started immediately.
Further down the line, the guard who seemed to be in charge noticed the commotion and frowned, looking towards Xiu. Seeing the situation potentially escalating, he subtly signaled his men. The Pokémon – the Raticate and the Beedrill – tensed, preparing to move.
But Xiu didn't wait. Seeing the leader's signal, he abruptly stepped towards the guard he'd just 'paid', closing the distance rapidly.
Startled by the sudden advance, the guard reacted instinctively, raising his hands to push Xiu away.
"Why did you push me!" Xiu yelled, stumbling back dramatically before the push actually landed. "Assault!"
The other guards, reacting to their leader's earlier signal and Xiu's shout, started to close in, forming a tighter circle.
Xiu's earlier calm vanished, replaced by theatrical agitation. He pointed furiously at the converging guards. "Who are you people? Why are you attacking bystanders? Are you trying to disrupt the Viridian City festival? Sabotage the League event?"
His rapid-fire accusations, delivered loudly and full of righteous indignation, momentarily stunned the guards. They hesitated, unsure how to respond to this sudden, bizarre escalation.
The leader stepped forward, regaining composure. He waved a dismissive hand. "He's causing trouble! Remove him!"
At his command, the guards urged their Pokémon forward – Raticate snarling, Arbok slithering closer.
Xiu merely scoffed, standing his ground. His voice cut through the tension, sharp and cold. "Are you ordering your Pokémon to attack an unarmed civilian within city limits? Do you know the penalties for that? Article 7, Section 3 of the Kanto Constitution mandates that unauthorized Pokémon assault on a civilian results in the offending Pokémon potentially being euthanized, the Trainer permanently stripped of their license, liable for all damages and medical costs, and facing a minimum five-year prison sentence, severity depending on the injury."
He took a steady step towards the leader, locking eyes, his voice dropping to a low, dangerous intensity, yet carrying clearly. "I dare you. Give the command. Attack me."
The sheer confidence, the precise citation of regulations, stopped the leader cold. He stared at Xiu, visibly flustered. The crowd murmured, their expressions shifting from fear to suspicion directed at the guards. The leader felt the pressure, the dozens of hostile eyes. He couldn't risk it.
"Look," the leader stammered, his earlier arrogance gone, replaced by awkward defensiveness. "We're just doing our job, following orders. Don't make this difficult for us."
"Orders!" Xiu seized on the word, his voice booming again, projecting to the entire crowd. "So you admit someone higher up ordered you to illegally block a public road and disrupt a city festival? No wonder you're so bold! Who is it? Who's pulling your strings?"
"What? No! That's not what I said!" The leader panicked, raising a hand as if to grab Xiu, perhaps silence him.
Xiu danced back easily, a scornful smile touching his lips. "Ah. So you're not following official orders? Then you're just impersonating security. You're fakes!"
That accusation landed like a physical blow. The crowd's suspicion turned to open hostility towards the guards. The men in uniform visibly wilted, their postures slumping, eyes darting nervously. The flimsy wall of authority crumbled.
Xiu let the silence hang for a beat, then spoke, his voice dripping with contempt as he addressed the now-cowed guards. "Why so quiet now? Weren't you brave when you were pushing around farmers? Weren't you tough when you threatened unarmed people with your Pokémon?"
"Let's go Arceus! Use Judgement!"[1]
[1] I TL'ed this chapter on April 1, so April Fools!