Chapter 150: Team Rocket
With Professor Oak absorbed into the event, Xiu turned his attention to the periphery of the central square. He began walking, not aimlessly, but with a detached curiosity, observing the temporary ecosystem that had sprung up for the festival.
The streets bordering the square pulsed with activity. Stalls had multiplied, overflowing from the sidewalks, manned by vendors hawking their wares with practiced calls.
Even nearby permanent shops had joined the fray, displaying colorful banners and offering festival specials to lure in the dense crowds. People flowed thick and fast – locals enjoying the day, tourists drawn by the League event, faces reflecting a mix of excitement and bewildered navigation.
Xiu noticed many stallholders seemed to be from the surrounding towns rather than Viridian City itself. Their offerings leaned heavily towards agricultural goods – fresh produce, homemade goods – and simple handicrafts. He paused at a stall selling dried herbs and oddly shaped roots, recognizing several with potential medicinal or Pokéblock applications.
Some displays genuinely surprised him, offering glimpses into aspects of everyday Kanto life he hadn't encountered yet, confined as he often was to Oak's lab or his own clandestine business dealings. His initial intention to simply pass time shifted as practical opportunities presented themselves.
Within a short period, Xiu found himself juggling several small purchases – mostly local food items he hadn't tried before, a few intriguing carved wooden figures, and, more importantly, a bundle of useful raw materials.
He'd spotted dried berries, specific types of mineral-rich clay, and hardened saps – all potential ingredients, acquired here at prices significantly lower than market rates in established shops. 'The quality seems good too,' he assessed, examining a handful of berries.
As he continued his exploration, snippets of conversations drifted from the passing crowd, coalescing around a familiar topic: the roadblock incident. He slowed his pace near a group speaking animatedly, catching fragments:
"...heard they were robbing people, blocking the road like bandits!"
"...pretending to be International Police! Aren't they afraid of the Officers?"
"...someone said they killed a guy who tried to get through!"
"...must be Team Rocket! Trying to ruin the festival! Those villains..."
Xiu listened, a sense of weary absurdity washing over him. 'Team Rocket? Killing people?' The narrative had already spiraled wildly beyond the reality of incompetent security guards and an incited mob. He almost wanted to laugh.
Still, the name 'Team Rocket' snagged his attention. He'd heard surprisingly little about them since arriving in this world; the 'Hunter' organizations seemed a more immediate, discussed threat in the regions he'd frequented.
Yet, in his memory from his past life, Team Rocket was the quintessential Kanto criminal element. Interesting to note that the name still carries such weight in public fear, even if their recent activity seems low-profile.
Before he could overhear more exaggerations, a cheerful, brassy melody erupted from the main square. The official opening ceremony was beginning.
'Right. Time to retrieve the Professor.' Setting down his purchases discreetly near a bench he could easily return to, Xiu turned and headed back towards the stage area.
Predictably, the music acted like a signal flare, drawing the crowds towards the stage. The wide square, while spacious, quickly became congested near the front as people jostled for a better view. The sheer density of bodies was something Xiu inherently disliked, activating his ingrained caution.
Fortunately, event staff and perhaps a few actual police officers were visibly maintaining order, keeping clear pathways and preventing crushes.
Scanning the perimeter, Xiu spotted a familiar figure in a pink Pokémon Center uniform near an access point behind the stage – the young nurse from that morning. He made his way over.
"Excuse me!" he called out as he approached.
The young woman turned, startled, then recognized him. Relief warred with renewed anxiety on her face. "Mr. Xiu! You shouldn't be here! It's dangerous! Did the Professor get back alright?" Before he could fully respond, she grabbed his arm urgently. "Come with me, quickly!"
Surprised by her forcefulness but sensing genuine panic, Xiu didn't resist, allowing her to pull him away from the main crowd towards a guarded backstage entrance.
"What's going on?" he asked once they were in a slightly less crowded corridor behind the stage structure.
"Haven't you heard?" she whispered, glancing around nervously. "The rumors... Team Rocket! They might try to disrupt the festival! It's not safe out there!"
'Her too?' Xiu felt a jolt of unease. 'The rumors had reached the official staff?' He stopped walking, forcing her to stop as well. He kept his expression neutral, but inwardly, gears were turning rapidly. 'Did my little stunt stir up something? Could there actually be something to this?' He looked at the nurse's genuinely frightened expression.
"Team Rocket? Are you sure?" he asked quietly. "That sounds... extreme. Could it just be rumors?"
"Shh! Not so loud!" She waved a hand frantically. "I don't know! But Professor Oak was asking for you just now. Maybe he knows more. Come on."
She led him deeper into the backstage maze – a temporary warren of partitioned areas and equipment storage. Following her directions, they soon arrived outside a closed door marking a makeshift office or meeting room.
"Professor? Your assistant, Mr. Xiu, is here," the nurse called softly, leaning towards the door.
"Send him in," came Oak's familiar voice from within.
"I need to get back to my post," the nurse whispered to Xiu, giving him a worried look before hurrying away.
Xiu took a breath and pushed the door open. The scene inside immediately made him feel out of place. Professor Oak was seated at a simple table, but he wasn't alone. The Head Nurse was there, looking serious.
Beside her sat a man in late middle-age, dressed in smart civilian clothes but carrying himself with the unmistakable air of an official. And across from them sat a younger man with sharp features and an intensely focused gaze, dressed casually but sitting bolt upright, his posture screaming discipline.
"Ah... sorry. Am I interrupting?" Xiu began, instinctively preparing to retreat. This felt like an official briefing, not somewhere he belonged.
"Nonsense," Oak waved him in casually, cutting off his escape route. "He's my assistant."
The simple declaration hung in the air. Xiu felt a familiar mix of resignation and wry amusement. Well, that settles that. Oak had just vouched for him, integrating him into whatever this was, whether he liked it or not. Unlike the previous night's dinner party, neither the Head Nurse nor the other two occupants seemed particularly surprised or bothered by his presence, accepting Oak's statement at face value.
There were no spare chairs. Xiu moved quietly to stand beside and slightly behind Professor Oak, adopting an unobtrusive posture while keenly observing the others. The dignified middle-aged man – likely a city official, perhaps the Mayor or a council representative. And the young man with the sharp eyes and military bearing...
Xiu's gaze lingered on the young man for a fraction of a second too long. The man's head snapped up, his piercing eyes meeting Xiu's directly. There was an unnerving intensity there, an instantaneous assessment.
Xiu held the gaze for a beat, careful not to show intimidation or overt curiosity, then offered a slight, polite nod before letting his eyes drift away. 'Definitely police or military. Possibly League security, or even... International Police?' A cold knot formed in Xiu's stomach. 'Did what I've done earlier escalate things to this level already?' He glanced sideways at Professor Oak, but the older man appeared completely relaxed, oblivious to Xiu's internal turmoil.
"Alright, let's continue," The Head Nurse said, bringing the focus back to the matter at hand.
Xiu listened intently as the conversation resumed. It took him a moment to parse the careful, official language, but the core subject quickly became clear: recent intelligence, likely from the police presence the young man represented, indicated potential Team Rocket activity detected in the vicinity of Viridian City. They were discussing the credibility of the threat and coordinating security measures for the ongoing festival.
'So the rumors weren't entirely baseless,' Xiu realized, though far from the sensational stories spreading outside. The actual information seemed frustratingly thin. They had hints, traces, but nothing concrete. No specific plot, no confirmed targets, just enough to put everyone on edge.
"We proceed with the festival schedule as planned," The Head Nurse concluded after a few more minutes of exchanging information. "We'll increase visible patrols, both police and event staff. Maintain vigilance. We've handled festival security for years; we trust our protocols."
The city official nodded gravely in agreement. The young man with the sharp eyes remained silent, his expression unreadable.
'Proceed as planned, but with more guards.' Xiu processed the decision. Standard procedure for a low-confidence, high-impact threat. But if Team Rocket is involved... are standard procedures enough? The gap between the rumors and reality felt vast, and vaguely unsettling.