Chapter 218: Generations of Power
The abrupt appearance of Kona, the 'League Investigator,' followed by the even more unsettling young woman with the unnervingly sharp gaze, had shifted the dynamics in Nurse Joy's office.
What began as a debriefing on the lobby incident had quickly morphed into a high-level parley between factions – the local Joy Family and the Pokémon League HQ.
Professor Oak, despite his current status, was still technically an outsider in this internal power play, and Xiu, even more so. His business with Nurse Joy regarding the crisis was concluded, and lingering around would draw unwanted scrutiny. His retreat was the wisest course of action, especially with fights among women.
"What was all that about?" Oak grumbled as they walked down the corridor, Xiaoyuan and Xiaochun trailing a few steps behind. "They robbed me from a perfectly good nap."
Xiu quickly recounted the events in the lobby – Kiba's provocations, the operatives he'd identified, the sudden Weezing, Kona's intervention, and the hostage situation.
Oak listened intently, his initial irritation fading, replaced by a grim understanding. "Good heavens, boy! Why do things happen wherever you are?" He shook his head, a mixture of exasperation and grudging admiration in his tone. "That was risky. Very risky."
"It was, Professor," Xiu corrected mildly. "But it needed to be done." And I didn't exactly do anything at all. Scizor did. I just gave the orders. He kept that fact to himself.
Xiaoyuan and Xiaochun followed silently, catching only fragments of the rapid-fire conversation. Once they reached the upper floors, Xiu paused. "Xiaoyuan, take Xiaochun back to her room for now. I need to discuss a few things with the Professor. I'll join you shortly." He offered Xiaochun a reassuring smile and a gentle pat on the head. "Go with your sister Yuan. I won't be long."
After Xiaoyuan and Xiaochun departed, Xiu followed Professor Oak into his private room. Oak didn't even bother to sit down.
"This entire affair," Oak stated, his voice heavy, "concludes in that office downstairs. The League and the Joy Family's central command… will hammer out the new status quo for Viridian City."
"Hopefully without any further… disruptions," Xiu commented. "The city's been bled dry these past few days. It can't take much more."
Oak sighed, finally sinking into a chair. "Indeed." He looked tired. "Speaking of which, Professor," Xiu began, taking a seat opposite him, "those two women who arrived at the end… Kona, and the other one… any insights into who they are?"
"Hardly a mystery, Xiu," Oak replied, a touch of weariness in his voice. "Kona, or whatever name she's using this week, is almost certainly a high-ranking operative from the Pokémon League. Someone sent to assess the damage and reassert League authority after this mess. The other one," Oak's expression tightened, "is from the Joy Family's headquarters. Their specialized enforcers."
He paused for a moment before continuing. "You understand, the Joy Family, while renowned for healing and care, they also possesses formidable defensive and offensive capabilities. They have to protect their facilities and personnel across all regions.
And the Joys selected for those combat roles… they are terrifyingly powerful. The Pokémon they command are bred and trained to a level that dwarfs even most Gym Leaders. Frankly," Oak admitted, "I wouldn't be surprised if they fielded legendary Pokémon. What's certain is that anyone dispatched from their HQ to a situation like Viridian possesses the strength to pacify an entire city, if necessary."
Xiu nodded slowly. He'd seen glimpses of the Joy Family's underlying strength – like Sachiko's Blaziken, the Nurse Joy with a Latias from the anime, and their security corps... but this was another level entirely. "The second woman," Xiu mused, "she looked barely out of her teens…"
"Don't let age fool you," Oak cautioned sternly. "Individuals chosen for such roles are prodigies, often from families with generations of service to the Joy Family. They receive specialized training from the moment they're old enough to hold a Poké Ball.
While you or I were learning basic type matchups at ten, they were likely mastering advanced combat strategies with elite-level Pokémon. Another decade of that kind of focused development… and you can imagine the result."
A heavy silence filled the room. Xiu felt a familiar, crushing weight settle upon him – the stark, undeniable difference between those with resources and those without.
In his past life, he had been a nobody. In this life, despite his intelligence, his knowledge about the future, and his relentless efforts, he was still scrambling from the bottom, fighting for every scrap.
And then there were people like this… simply born into power, nurtured by legacy, and wielding city-destroying strength by the age of twenty. Is this what they call a class divide? Or just the cruel lottery of birth? He slumped back in his chair, the fight momentarily draining out of him.
Oak observed Xiu's reaction but said nothing. Facts were facts.
After a long moment, Xiu straightened, pushing the dispiriting thoughts aside. "This attack today, then," he speculated, "the operatives in the crowd… do you think they knew these high-level enforcers were arriving? A last desperate gamble before the hammer fell?"
"Perhaps," Oak shrugged, looking tired himself. "We'll know more when the interrogations are complete. But with both the League and Joy HQ directly involved now, whatever dregs of Team Rocket or other factions are left won't be able to cause much more trouble. It's over, Xiu. We can finally prepare to leave."
Xiu nodded, a sense of weariness settling over him as well. He excused himself and returned to Xiaochun's room, his mind still processing the implications of Oak's words.
"Xiu!" Xiaoyuan jumped up as he entered, her voice tight with anxiety. Seeing him back, looking relatively unscathed, she let out a visible sigh of relief and sank back onto the edge of the bed, looking drained. The wait had clearly been an ordeal for her.
Xiaochun, however, merely glanced up from where she was sitting, calmly interacting with her Ditto, her expression unreadable.
"It's alright," Xiu reassured Xiaoyuan softly, sitting beside her. He offered her a nutrient bar from his pack. "You haven't eaten. Have something." He then passed one to Xiaochun. "You too, Chun."
Xiaoyuan took the bar gratefully, realizing she was indeed starving. As she ate, she looked from Xiu to Xiaochun, then back again, curiosity finally overcoming her earlier anxiety. "So," she began, raising an eyebrow at Xiu, "are you going to introduce us properly?"
"Her name is Chun," Xiu said simply. "I don't know about her parents; never met them. She was… badly mistreated from a young age and she can't speak. So, I found and rescued her."
He stated the facts calmly, but Xiaoyuan stopped eating, the nutrient bar suddenly tasteless in her mouth. She looked at Xiaochun, truly seeing her for the first time – the thin frame, the old, faded scars she'd glimpsed, and the perpetual silence. She'd noticed the girl was… odd… but had been too caught up in her own worries about Xiu, then her work, to inquire further.
Xiaochun, sensing Xiaoyuan's gaze, looked up. Their eyes met for a moment before Xiaochun quickly looked away, returning her attention to her Ditto.
Is she shy? Or just… wary? Xiaoyuan thought, a pang of empathy striking her. She remembered her own past, her own vulnerability before Xiu had intervened. If not for him… I might have ended up not so different from her.
Xiu, oblivious to Xiaoyuan's internal emotional turmoil, continued. "Things here are wrapping up sooner or later. So I was thinking… perhaps Chun could return to Fuchsia City with you.
It would be safer for her there, away from… all this."