Chapter 209: Sweeping Out the Trash
Feeling a sense of cautious optimism after his conversation with Sakaki, Xiu made his way back towards the main hub of activity – the Pokémon Center. He navigated the increasingly busy corridors, offering polite nods and brief smiles to the staff members he passed, many of whose faces were becoming familiar.
Instead of heading straight to his room, however, he went towards the large conference hall that had been converted into a temporary shelter and information center.
Technically, with his access level granted by Professor Oak and Nurse Joy, he could have bypassed the queues and security checks at the entrance. But setting a good example felt appropriate. He lined up patiently with the others seeking entry, presented his temporary credentials to the security personnel, and thanked them for their diligence before walking inside.
He hadn't spent much time here since the initial setup, having delegated the entire operation to Professor Oak while he focused on… other matters. The hall, while not enormous, served its purpose by providing a safe space and alleviating pressure on the Center's main facilities; buying Nurse Joy valuable time to negotiate with local hotels and manage the influx of displaced people and stranded tourists.
Those negotiations were surely… persuasive, Xiu mused dryly. Businesses that cooperated likely received preferential treatment; those that didn't probably found themselves facing sudden regulatory inspections or having old skeletons dragged out of their closets.
Pull some strings, apply some pressure, and secure cooperation. Nurse Joy played the game very well.
Inside the hall, Professor Oak was currently on a makeshift stage, conducting one of his impromptu lectures. A small, flitting Butterfree hovered near his shoulder as he spoke animatedly about common Kanto Pokémon.
Must be covering Bug-types today. A sizable crowd of civilians and even some off-duty staff listened intently, captivated by the renowned professor's charisma and knowledge. Professor Oak certainly knows how to work a crowd.
Xiu leaned against a side wall, observing quietly, not wanting to interrupt. After a few minutes, deciding Professor Oak had things well in hand, he turned to leave, but noticed a young security guard standing nearby, struggling to stay awake on his feet. His head nodded intermittently, eyes fluttering closed despite his efforts to remain alert.
"Hey," Xiu said softly, stepping over and gently tapping the guard's shoulder. "Wake up."
The young man startled violently, snapping upright, eyes wide. He quickly straightened his uniform, stammering, "S-Sir! Apologies, sir!"
"What's your post?" Xiu asked calmly, observing the guard's exhaustion. He couldn't have been much older than Xiu himself, maybe eighteen or nineteen, but deep shadows underscored his eyes, and his face was pale with fatigue.
"M-My duty is to monitor for suspicious individuals and ensure the safety of the attendees, sir," the guard recited, clearly panicked at being caught dozing.
"Alright," Xiu nodded, understanding the immense strain these young guards were under. He gestured towards a nearby row of empty seats. "Go take a break. I'll cover your post for a bit."
The guard blinked, stunned, the apology dying on his lips.
"You're no good to anyone falling asleep standing up," Xiu stated reasonably. "Go on. Take half an hour. Rest, clear your head." He gave the young man's shoulder a gentle push.
Torn between duty and overwhelming fatigue, the guard hesitated for only a second before relief won out. He mumbled a thank you and practically collapsed onto a chair, falling asleep almost instantly.
Xiu shook his head slightly, a flicker of sympathy crossing his face as he then turned his attention to scanning the crowd, taking over the young guard's watch.
Oak's lecture concluded shortly after, ending not with quiet dismissal but with a roar of applause and cheers. The sudden noise jolted the sleeping guard awake. He looked around wildly for a few seconds, disoriented, before spotting Xiu watching him with a faint smile. He glanced quickly at the time, realizing he'd been out for over forty minutes, and scrambled back to his post, looking mortified but noticeably more alert.
"Feeling better?" Xiu asked quietly.
"Yes, sir! Much better! Thank you, sir!" the young man replied, his voice stronger now.
"Good. It's almost over for today. Hang in there," Xiu encouraged him with a nod.
Leaving the guard to his duties, Xiu turned his attention back to the stage, where Professor Oak was now completely mobbed by enthusiastic audience members – seeking advice, autographs, and photo opportunities.
The price of fame. With a sigh, Xiu pushed his way through the crowd. "Excuse me! Pardon me! Professor Oak has another urgent engagement! Please, make way!"
After several minutes of polite but firm maneuvering, he managed to extract the professor from the crowd, hustling him towards the backstage area.
"Took you long enough!" Oak grumbled good-naturedly once they were clear. "Thought I might need a rescue party."
"Busy schedule, Professor," Xiu quipped back with a grin. "But I come bearing good news."
"Oh?" Oak raised an eyebrow.
"Gym Leader Sakaki has seen reason. He's agreed to publicly support Nurse Joy and cooperate fully. With one Viridian Gym officially aligned, the situation in the city should completely stabilize. We can probably head back to Pallet Town in a day or two."
Oak's reaction was surprisingly muted. "Is that all?" he asked, his tone flat.
Xiu blinked. "Isn't going home good news?"
"Going home is fine," Oak sighed, "but the real work is just beginning. You and Nurse Joy haven't just stabilized Viridian City; you've fundamentally altered its power structure... and rebuilding from this chaos… that will be the truly difficult part."
"Destruction precedes construction, Professor," Xiu countered philosophically as they entered the backstage lounge. "The world moves forward. Sometimes, you have to sweep the accumulated garbage into the dustbin of history."
They had just settled into chairs when a hesitant knock came at the door.
"Come in," Oak called out.
The door opened, and a portly, balding middle-aged man entered cautiously, carrying a brightly wrapped gift box. He looked unfamiliar to both Xiu and Oak.
Security back here is usually tighter, Xiu noted mentally. How did this guy get in? Since Oak seemed disinclined to speak first, Xiu took the initiative. "Can we help you, sir?" he asked politely.
"Hehe," the man chuckled, an oily smile spreading across his face. He placed the gift box on the table. "Allow me to introduce myself…" He launched into a sycophantic preamble, quickly revealing his purpose.
He represented some local business association, wanting to capitalize on Oak's popularity by organizing a 'morale-boosting' event at the venue, featuring the Professor prominently, of course. And naturally, they required significant 'funding' for this noble endeavor – five million Poké Dollars, to be precise.
Xiu glanced at Oak, saw the distinct lack of interest, bordering on irritation, in the professor's eyes. Playing the role of the efficient assistant, Xiu politely but firmly interrupted the man's pitch, declined the 'generous offer,' and ushered him and his gift box back out of the lounge.
"Five million, just like that," Xiu muttered, closing the door behind the man. "Shameless."
To his surprise, Oak looked genuinely angry. "Shameless indeed," the professor snapped, his voice tight with indignation. "Where were these 'civic leaders' when the city was actually in crisis? Hiding in their mansions, counting their money! Now that the danger has passed, thanks to the efforts of others, they crawl out of the woodwork looking to profit from the tragedy, wrapping their greed in the flag of 'rebuilding morale'!"
Seeing Oak's uncharacteristic display of anger, Xiu's own expression turned cold. "They lack the courage to defend Viridian City," he stated flatly, "but they have an abundance of courage when it comes to exploiting its suffering for profit."
Oak suddenly stood up, shaking his head, dismissing the topic with a wave of his hand. "Pointless talking about it. Just ruins the mood." He started pacing the small lounge, a thoughtful, almost troubled expression replacing his anger.
"Professor?" Xiu asked, sensing a shift. "What is it?" Oak seemed preoccupied by something deeper than just the opportunistic businessman.