Chapter 219: Interrogation Results
"Huh?" Xiaoyuan blinked, genuinely surprised by Xiu's suggestion. She looked at Xiaochun, then back at Xiu, a flicker of apprehension in her eyes. It wasn't that she was unwilling to help, or afraid of responsibility.
Xiaochun… she was so fragile and withdrawn. And since she's mute… how would she even communicate with her? Xiaoyuan was worried that her own unintentional missteps might hurt the girl further. And I'm not exactly an expert at childcare, she thought with a pang of self-doubt.
"It's just… taking her with me, all the way to Fuchsia…" Xiaoyuan began hesitantly. "She's so young. And I'm not really… equipped to…"
Xiu gestured vaguely. "I know, but my current situation is… not an ideal environment for a child, especially one who needs stability and care."
Xiaoyuan understood what Xiu meant. His life was dangerous and unpredictable. She considered it, her gaze softening as she looked at Xiaochun. Just as she was about to agree, to accept the responsibility despite her reservations, she noticed Xiaochun's eyes.
The girl was staring fixedly at Xiu, her usually blank expression suffused with an almost desperate intensity, a raw, unspoken plea that Xiaoyuan recognized instantly. That look… I know that look.
It was the fear of abandonment, the fear of being left behind.
A memory surfaced: her own desperation when Xiu had first left Fuchsia, the feeling of being adrift. A surge of anger, protective and fierce, rose within her, eclipsing her earlier doubts.
"No," Xiaoyuan declared, her voice firm, her decision suddenly, irrevocably made. "I can't take her. She stays with you."
"Hey! What?" Xiu looked genuinely confused by her abrupt reversal. "Why the sudden change?"
"Because," Xiaoyuan improvised quickly, her mind racing, "I have the company to manage! Once things settle here, I have to oversee the new supply lines for Viridian, restructure the company, and sort out the relocation now that we're expanding operations here. I won't have a spare moment!" She met his gaze squarely.
"Unless, of course," she added, a challenging glint in her eye, "you're planning on coming back to Fuchsia with me to run the company yourself. Then, maybe I'd have time for Xiaochun."
She knew arguing logically with Xiu was often a losing battle; he could twist words and reasons with infuriating ease. This was a lesson learned through many prior discussions. The only way to win is to corner him and force a choice where either outcome benefits me.
Either he takes responsibility for Xiaochun, or he returns to the company, freeing her up. Either way, I'm not losing.
Xiu considered her argument, a thoughtful expression on his face. "You make a point," he conceded after a moment. "The company's expansion into Viridian is critical. Any missteps now could be costly." He sighed, a display of resignation. "Alright. I'll look after Xiaochun. You focus on the business."
"I knew you'd see reason," Xiaoyuan said, patting his shoulder with feigned solemnity with a triumphant sparkle in her eyes. It was a small victory, but a significant one – this was the first time she successfully outmaneuvered Xiu in a conversation.
She caught Xiaochun looking at her and offered the girl a warm, genuine smile. Xiaochun, however, merely blinked, her expression unchanging. Still a long way to go with her, I guess.
"Speaking of business," Xiu said, smoothly changing the subject, "what's the status with Fushun and the others?"
Xiaoyuan's focus snapped back to work. "Right! That's what I came to tell you. Fushun told me they're ready. Over twenty cartloads of fresh vegetables, fruits, and other farm goods just waiting for the all-clear to move."
Xiu nodded, calculating. "The food shortage in Viridian should be fully resolved within two days with that influx. Good. When the official directive is given, I'll accompany the first convoy in…" He quickly outlined his plan to Xiaoyuan.
Once the details were settled, Xiu stood. "You should get some rest. I'll send word when it's time to move on the supply convoy." He then turned to Xiaochun and left the room with her.
After Xiu and Xiaochun departed, Xiaoyuan practically threw herself onto the bed, rolling over several times before flopping onto her back, a wide, slightly giddy grin spreading across her face.
I did it! I actually won an argument with him! The feeling was exhilarating. She released Pichu from its Poké Ball, sharing her triumph with the little Pokémon as she fed it, chattering excitedly.
(Pichu, of course, understood none of it, focusing solely on the delicious Pokéblocks.)
Outside, Xiu paused by the closed door, a faint, knowing smile playing on his lips. He glanced down at Xiaochun. "Your sister Yuan," he murmured softly, "she can be a little dense sometimes, but she's smarter than she looks."
Xiaochun tilted her head, looking up at him with her usual silent curiosity, clearly not understanding his cryptic comment. Xiu just chuckled and continued walking.
Give Xiaochun to Xiaoyuan? Not a chance. Not because he doubted Xiaoyuan's kindness, but because Xiaochun's situation was far too complex. She was barely acclimated to normal human interaction, let alone independent living.
She needed careful, patient guidance to navigate the world— to shed the trauma of her past.
Only Xiu, who knew the full extent of her history, her abilities, and the dangers associated with her, was equipped to provide that. And then there was the Ditto, the stolen 'Heart of the Galaxy' necklace (still safely hidden), the lingering threat from her former captors…
Entangling Xiaoyuan, an ordinary civilian despite her growing business acumen, in that mess was unthinkable. The risk was too great.
He needed Xiaoyuan focused, confident, and ready to take the reins of the expanding company. This small 'victory' would bolster her self-confidence and make her more willing to accept his eventual (and necessary) departures without resentment.
Returning to his own room with Xiaochun, Xiu didn't immediately resume their discussion about Ditto, but instead began reinforcing her basic social norms, correcting her more outlandish assumptions about the world, and instilling a rudimentary framework of 'normal' human values and understanding.
Soon, a knock came at the door. A staff member informed him that the interrogations of the captured operatives were complete. Head Nurse Joy requested his presence downstairs.
Leaving Xiaochun safely in the room with instructions to stay put, Xiu collected Xiaoyuan and they headed back down. The main lobby had been cleared, the earlier chaos erased, security restored. They were escorted to Nurse Joy's private reception area, where Professor Oak and Sachiko were already seated. Kona, the League Investigator, was notably absent. Gone to make her own report, no doubt.
"You're here," Nurse Joy greeted them, gesturing for them to sit. She looked surprisingly relaxed, the earlier tension gone. "Let's begin." She nodded to Sachiko, who opened a data folder.
"Sixteen individuals were apprehended in connection with the incident in the lobby," Sachiko began her report. "Preliminary interrogation suggests they are not core Team Rocket members, but rather freelance mercenaries, recruited through black market channels. Their primary objective appears to have been the assassination of Head Nurse Joy or other key Pokémon Center leadership via a coordinated explosive attack."
Xiu listened intently. That explains the use of Weezing – a messy, but effective Pokémon for causing chaos and covering an escape.
"They took advantage of a temporary lapse in security." Sachiko continued, "With many guards fatigued from days of high-intensity operations, and some diverted to manage the crowd situation you were addressing a window of opportunity opened, allowing them to infiltrate the main lobby."
So, my little drama with Kiba did create the opening they exploited, Xiu acknowledged internally.
"Intelligence indicates," Sachiko concluded, "they were acting on information suggested by a high-level informant within the Pokémon Center. However, they claim no knowledge of the informant's identity or affiliations."
Nurse Joy nodded slowly. "The investigation continues, but the immediate threat seems contained." She looked at Xiu. "You were instrumental in neutralizing the attackers, though the means were perhaps a bit… unorthodox."