Chapter 149: Consequences
Xiu watched their flimsy authority crumble under his final accusation. A cold, almost invisible smile touched his lips internally. He turned to face the restless, uncertain crowd, his voice cutting through the sudden lull, "So," he stated, letting the single word hang heavy with implication, "they were just fakes."
A beat of stunned silence. Then, the dam of suppressed anger and frustration broke.
"Liars!" The shout erupted from somewhere in the crowd, raw and furious.
"Fakes!" Another voice echoed, closer this time.
"Get them!"
Suddenly, the fear was gone, replaced by righteous mob fury. The crowd surged forward, no longer hesitant. The first man threw a clumsy punch, connecting with a guard's jaw. Another joined in, then another. Within seconds, the small group of security guards was engulfed by a wave of enraged citizens. Shouts, curses, and the sickening thud of fists landing on flesh filled the air.
Xiu melted back, becoming just another face on the periphery of the brawl. As he navigated the edges of the chaos, he dropped carefully chosen phrases into the ears of already incensed individuals, subtly fanning the flames:
"They wanted to ruin the festival!"
"Pretending to be police, probably planned to rob people stuck here!"
"Heard they have big shots backing them, think they can push us around!"
He let the chaos reach its peak, observing the raw outburst with detached interest. Then, deciding enough was enough – the point had been made, and the road needed clearing – he slipped towards a large delivery truck parked near the front of the jam. Reaching into the driver's open window, he slammed his palm down hard on the truck's horn.
An ear-splitting sound cut through the sounds of the fight, shocking everyone into momentary stillness. Heads turned, startled by the sudden, overwhelming noise.
Xiu seized the moment, projecting his voice over the stunned silence: "Drag them aside! Clear the road! Everyone, back to your vehicles! The event is starting soon, stop blocking the way!"
Perhaps it was the shock of the horn, the sudden command cutting through the frenzy, or simply the release of pent-up energy, but the crowd obeyed. Rough hands grabbed the battered, groaning forms of the security guards and hauled them unceremoniously to the roadside, dumping them like sacks of refuse. Drivers scrambled back towards their cars and trucks.
Xiu added one final shout, "Let's move!"
The brief, violent resolution had undoubtedly drawn the attention of the reporters and the entourage surrounding the 'famous trainer' further down. But by the time they could fully process what had happened, the immediate area was a chaotic scene of restarting engines and bruised bodies left by the roadside. The illegal barrier was gone.
As the first truck lurched forward, its driver laying heavily on the horn in a gesture of defiance, a chain reaction began. Horns blared up and down the line, a cacophony of sound washing over the cluster of fans and media still lingering on the road. Like a shepherd's dogs driving sheep, the sheer volume and the advancing vehicles forced them back, scattering them in disarray onto the pavements. Pushing, shoving, and panicked insults erupted amongst them now. The river of traffic, stagnant for so long, began to flow once more.
Xiu watched it all unfold from the side – the brutal effectiveness of the mob, the retreat of the roadblockers, the panic of the privileged few who had caused the initial disruption. A flicker of cold, detached amusement surfaced within him. 'It would've been perfect if I had some junk food and a can of coke...'
"Xiu!"
A familiar voice cut through his detached observation. He turned. The Pokémon Center response vehicle was pulling up beside him, Professor Oak behind the wheel, his gaze sweeping over the lingering chaos, then settling intently on Xiu.
Quickly smoothing his expression into neutrality, Xiu gave a slight shake of his head, as if distancing himself from the scene. He started to turn away, intent on blending back into the crowd, but Oak called his name again, insistent. With an internal sigh, Xiu walked over to the vehicle.
"Professor," he murmured, keeping his voice low and glancing around, "we probably shouldn't be seen together right now. This vehicle is rather conspicuous..."
"Get in. We'll talk while we drive," Oak interrupted, a faint, knowing smile touching his lips. He clearly saw through the façade.
Seeing no one paying them specific attention amidst the general confusion, Xiu quickly slid into the passenger seat. As Oak carefully maneuvered the vehicle back into the slowly moving stream of traffic, he chuckled dryly.
"Impressive work back there, Xiu. Quite ruthless. Those little rumors you planted will be all over Viridian City by noon, I imagine."
"Rumors, Professor?" Xiu replied blandly, adopting an air of perfect innocence. "I merely observed the situation and drew logical conclusions. It seems the crowd did as well."
Oak chuckled again, not bothering to challenge the transparent denial. "For a moment, I almost expected you to send Scizor out to simply carve a path through."
"Professor, surely you don't think I'm that foolish?" Xiu countered, a note of genuine exasperation entering his tone. "You know the League regulations regarding unauthorized Pokémon use in urban centers, especially initiating conflict. The official reports, the potential issues that could arise...
Why resort to such a messy, attention-drawing method when a few well-chosen words – and perhaps a strategically placed hundred Poké Dollars – could achieve the desired outcome far more cleanly and discreetly?"
Taking direct action assigns responsibility. Letting the crowd act diffuses it. High morals don't guarantee survival; calculated efficiency often does.
He stared ahead at the traffic, a familiar wave of irritation washing over him as he thought about the crowd's initial passiveness. 'So easily cowed by such weak opposition.' If I had been driving that first truck... would those guards truly have risked their lives against several tons of accelerating metal for their meager paychecks?
"Xiu."
Oak's voice sliced through his dark thoughts, suddenly sharp, devoid of its earlier amusement. Xiu blinked, turning towards the Professor, momentarily disoriented. Oak's expression was unexpectedly solemn.
"Your emotional state," Oak stated quietly, his gaze probing. "It seems... volatile. Are you experiencing increased irritability? More aggressive thoughts?"
Xiu paused, genuinely taken aback. He mentally replayed his actions at the roadblock, the cold satisfaction, the detached calculation regarding the truck. He hadn't consciously recognized the internal shift until Oak verbalized it. He took a slow, deliberate breath, trying to regain his usual detached composure. "...Yes," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "Now that you mention it... I hadn't fully realized."
"It's accelerating," Oak said gravely, his voice low. "The constant exposure to Abra's anomalous psychic field. The side effects are worsening. Be careful, Xiu. Very careful." He offered no further elaboration or comfort, simply turning his attention back to navigating the traffic.
A heavy silence fell in the vehicle. The confirmation of the deteriorating side effect – not just the slow drain on his lifespan, but this emotional instability – landed like a lead weight in Xiu's stomach. This was a different, perhaps more immediate, danger.
They soon cleared the congested street, and the remaining drive to Viridian City's central square was swift. The square itself was already bustling. A large stage had been erected on one side, technical crews moving purposefully behind it. Xiu easily spotted a nurse near the stage, directing staff with brisk efficiency.
"Alright, Professor, you should probably head over," Xiu said, reaching for the door handle. "I'll take the vehicle back to the Center."
"Nonsense," Oak countered, grabbing his signature white lab coat from the back seat. "I might need it later for a quick escape. No point returning it yet." He swiftly exited the vehicle. "Just mingle for a while. I need to go make my presence known." He slipped on the coat, instantly adopting the persona of the esteemed Pokémon Professor. Striding towards the stage area, he called back over his shoulder without looking back, "And remember – rescue me when the speeches get tedious!"
Xiu watched him disappear into the throng near the stage, then slumped slightly in the passenger seat. 'So that was the real reason.' He sighed. He didn't bring me here for the experience, or to relax. He just wanted a convenient chauffeur and a built-in excuse to duck out of the boring social gatherings. A familiar sense of weary resignation washed over him.
Always a bother with this man.