Chapter 210: The Line Jumper
However, Professor Oak abruptly shifted gears all of a sudden as if his earlier frustration was seemingly forgotten— a relaxed smile spread across his face. "Goodness," he remarked casually, glancing at his watch. "Look at the time already."
Xiu followed his gaze, understanding dawning. Ah. Dinner time. Oak, despite his status, seemed keen on experiencing the communal meal service.
"Right," Xiu agreed. "We should probably head over now if we want to avoid the rush."
Oak was already shedding his distinctive white lab coat, stuffing it into a bag. He donned a simple face mask, ruffled his hair to look less conspicuous, and headed for the door. "Lead the way."
Xiu fell into step beside him. Hm... He knew his supply operation provided the bulk ingredients for the Pokémon Center's mass catering, but he hadn't actually sampled the prepared meals himself.
Professor Oak could easily have meals delivered to his room, the best quality available. Why queue up for the standard line? Curiosity? Or just a desire for normalcy given his exalted status?
The main cafeteria was bustling. As predicted, a lengthy queue already snaked towards the serving windows. Oak immediately quickened his pace and joined the end of the line without hesitation. Xiu sighed inwardly and followed suit.
"So this is the menu," Xiu observed, watching people collect their trays. Simple, nutritious, but undeniably plain. Rice, a basic vegetable stir-fry, and a serving of protein.
"Food is food, especially now," Oak murmured, his eyes scanning the room. "Be thankful there is food. Nurse Joy had the foresight to secure the backup generators at the main cold storage depots early on. If the power grid had failed completely during the disturbances… all the frozen food in the city would have spoiled. The situation would have been far, far worse."
"True," Xiu conceded. His initial focus had been on non-perishable staples – rice, flour, dried beans, and nutrient blocks – things that offered maximum stability for the cost and transport effort. Meat and fresh produce required refrigerated transport, a logistical challenge he couldn't manage reliably at the time.
Securing the existing frozen inventory was crucial. The Pokémon Center's own pre-crisis stockpiles had also helped buffer the supply, but variety was a luxury they couldn't afford when feeding thousands under an emergency.
They chatted idly as the line shuffled forward. More serving windows opened as the peak dinner hour arrived, speeding things up slightly. Finally, they reached the front.
Oak peered at the options available. "Ah, three choices today! An improvement," he commented cheerfully to Xiu. "Yesterday was just…"
His words were cut off as a young man abruptly pushed past them, shoving his way directly to the serving window, completely ignoring the queue. He slapped his tray down and started barking orders at the staff member behind the counter.
Oak blinked, momentarily stunned by the blatant disregard for order. Xiu frowned, irritation flaring. Who does this guy think he is? The cafeteria was still operating under strict conditions, with security guards posted at the entrance. Disrupting public order here was not just rude; it was incredibly foolish.
Xiu knew the procedures well. VIPs or those with specific dietary needs had meals arranged separately and delivered discreetly. They wouldn't be queuing here, and certainly not for this food. Only someone like Oak, who deliberately choose to be here, or ordinary staff and refugees would be in this line.
So, this idiot likely has no real status or authority. And he dared to cut in line? Right in front of me? That settled it.
Glancing quickly at Oak, who seemed more surprised than offended, Xiu reached out and firmly tapped the line-jumper on the shoulder.
"Excuse me," Xiu said, his voice level but cold. "The line starts back there."
The sudden confrontation drew attention. Most people in the queue had averted their eyes, accustomed to ignoring minor transgressions to avoid trouble. Bullies and the entitled often relied on public apathy.
But Xiu stepping forward broke the spell. Eyes turned towards them, whispers rustling through the queue. The inherent human desire to watch drama unfold.
The line-jumper, clearly not expecting to be challenged, turned around with annoyance flashing across his face. He looked Xiu up and down – young, dressed in plain, unassuming clothes. His initial irritation shifted to dismissive arrogance. "Who the hell are you?" he sneered. "Mind your own damn business."
"Ha!" A short, sharp laugh escaped Xiu. He stepped fully in front of the man, blocking his access to the window. "Funny you should ask. I've been standing in this line patiently. You shove your way to the front and I'm the one who needs to mind my business?
Seems your sense of logic is as lacking as your manners." He leaned in slightly, his voice dropping to a mocking whisper. "Or maybe," he added with a cruel smirk, "you just don't have the brains to understand how queues work."
Scattered snickers erupted from the nearby crowd. People pointed and murmured as the line-jumper's face flushed crimson. Caught off guard by Xiu's directness and the ridicule of the public, he seemed flustered, unsure how to react. He instinctively reached for his tray, intending to retreat and to save face.
But then, noticing the staff member hadn't prepared his food yet, his arrogance resurfaced. He turned back to the window, slapping the counter impatiently. "Hey! Hurry it up! Don't you know who I am?"
The staff member, however, calmly ignored him, finished serving the person beside him, and then looked past the line-jumper to Oak, who had stepped up beside Xiu. "Sir," she said politely to the Professor, "what would you like?"
Oak, pointedly ignoring the fuming young man, placed his order, received his tray, and walked away without a backward glance.
Now it was Xiu's turn. With a deliberately smug grin directed at the line-jumper, Xiu stepped up to the counter. The young man's face contorted further with humiliation and impotent rage, but he didn't dare physically confront Xiu, who radiated a quiet confidence that belied his appearance.
Thwarted by Xiu and ignored by Oak, the line-jumper redirected his fury towards the easier target: the staff member. "You! How dare you ignore me!" he snarled, pointing an accusatory finger at her. "Do you have any idea who I am? I could have you fired with one word! Do you even want this job?!"
The staff member simply stared back at him silently, an unreadable expression in her eyes.
Suddenly, a firm hand clamped down on the young man's outstretched wrist, halting his tirade. He tried to pull away, but the grip was like steel, easily overpowering his struggles, forcing his hand down.
"Do you know where you are?" Xiu asked, his voice dangerously soft, his eyes narrowed with curiosity. This is a cafeteria directly managed by the Pokémon Center. Threatening staff here… who does this idiot think he is? Is he just monumentally stupid?
"What are you doing?!" the young man yelped, fear replacing anger as pain shot up his arm from Xiu's grip. "Let go of me! Ow!"
"What's happening here?" Two uniformed security guards, alerted by the commotion, arrived on the scene. They immediately recognized Xiu, their expressions shifting to deference. Ignoring the struggling young man entirely, they addressed Xiu respectfully. "Sir, is there a problem?"