Chapter 212: Whispers in the Crowd
Xiaochun silently absorbed Xiu's explanations about Ditto's transformative abilities, her expression unreadable behind the temporary mask she still wore. She demonstrated various applications – mimicking keys to bypass simple locks, altering her apparent clothing texture, even briefly forming wing-like membranes between her arms and torso to glide short distances across the room.
Each demonstration opened Xiu's eyes further to the sheer versatility of this Pokémon when combined with human ingenuity and Xiaochun's unique training. It was less about combat power and more about infiltration, espionage, and skills honed in the harsh underworld she came from.
He peppered her with questions, relayed telepathically via Abra:
Xiaochun answered through gestures, demonstrations, and simple projected feelings that Abra translated. The Ditto transformation required focus and constant energy expenditure.
Complex forms were more draining. Rapid shifts were possible but taxing. Mimicry was near-perfect visually but lacked the true substance or function of the original object (a Ditto-key wouldn't have the correct internal structure for a complex lock; Ditto-wings couldn't sustain true flight). Still, the potential applications were staggering.
Xiu felt like a child again, discovering a whole new dimension to the world of Pokémon.
Meanwhile, downstairs, the arrogant young man who had tried to cut the cafeteria line emerged sullenly from the security office where he'd been briefly detained and lectured. Luckily, just a warning, he thought resentfully. No formal charges filed, thanks to someone pulling some strings. Still, the humiliation stung. It's all that kid's fault!
As he reached the main lobby, the woman who accompanied him hurried over, annoyance clear on her face. "There you are! I asked you to grab a quick meal, not disappear for an hour! What took so long?"
"It wasn't my fault!" the young man immediately protested, reverting to defensiveness. "The restaurant here is terrible, the staff are rude…"
The woman shot him a sharp look that instantly silenced his whining. He quickly changed tack. "It was some lunatic! He started trouble and wouldn't let me get any food!"
"Honestly," The woman sighed, grabbing his arm and pulling him towards the exit. "Causing trouble everywhere you go. You need everyone waiting on you?"
As they walked away from the front desk, the young man muttered petulantly, "Seriously, Auntie, I think there's something wrong with the food here anyway. Can't we just order from that nice hotel outside, like we did yesterday?"
His complaint, though muttered, was overheard by someone standing nearby – a tall, blond young man with the unmistakable aura of celebrity, flanked by two imposing bodyguards. Kiba, the idol trainer. He turned towards the young man, a polite but interested expression on his face.
"Oh?" Kiba inquired smoothly. "Is there a problem with the food at the Pokémon Center?"
— — —
Back in room 904, Xiu and Xiaochun's exploration of Ditto's abilities was abruptly interrupted by a loud, urgent knocking at the door.
Xiaochun instantly tensed, the playful fluidity of her Ditto-masked movements vanishing, replaced by the cold, coiled readiness of a hunted animal. Her head snapped towards the door, her posture radiating high alert.
"Relax," Xiu murmured, placing a calming hand briefly on her shoulder. "It's not them. Your old organization wouldn't knock." He could feel the tension vibrating through her. "Stay alert, but don't assume the worst." The urgency of the knocking, however, signaled something was wrong. He stood and walked towards the door.
Opening it, he found a flustered Pokémon Center staff member, panting slightly.
"What's wrong?" Xiu asked, raising an eyebrow. He added, with a touch of dark humor, "Don't tell me Team Rocket is launching another attack?"
The staff member shook her head frantically, catching her breath. "No, sir! It's… it's your friend! Downstairs in the lobby! She's in some kind of conflict!"
Xiu's easygoing demeanor vanished instantly, replaced by a chilling coldness. My friend? Only two people here fit that description. Xiaochun was beside him. That leaves Xiaoyuan.
He turned back briefly, his expression softening slightly as he looked at Xiaochun. "I need to handle something. You stay here…"
But Xiaochun was already moving, stepping past him towards the door, raising her head slightly to meet his gaze, her silent intention clear. I'm coming with you.
Xiu hesitated for only a second, then gave a slight nod. "Alright. Stick close."
They descended quickly to the main lobby. A crowd had gathered, buzzing with chatter. Pokémon Center staff were attempting to maintain order, forming a loose cordon around a central area where voices were raised in anger.
Xiu scanned the scene. In the middle, looking flushed but standing her ground, was Xiaoyuan. Facing her, yelling belligerently, was the same arrogant young man from the cafeteria line.
This time, however, he wasn't alone. Standing beside him, looking faintly amused, was the idol trainer, Kiba. Kiba's two bodyguards stood impassively nearby, along with the line-jumper's aunt. A mix of onlookers – tourists, patients, off-duty staff – watched the confrontation unfold.
"...terrible service attitude, the menu is pathetic, and the food is overpriced and practically inedible!" the young man was declaiming loudly.
"You haven't presented a shred of actual evidence," Xiaoyuan retorted calmly, though Xiu could see the anger simmering beneath her composure. "Making baseless accusations like this is slander against the Pokémon Center's services."
Kiba stepped forward slightly, a practiced, charming smile on his face that didn't quite reach his eyes. "And yet, my associate here was detained by security simply for expressing his concerns. That seems rather heavy-handed, wouldn't you agree? Perhaps an apology is in order?"
"He was detained for violating regulations and threatening staff," Xiaoyuan shot back. "That is a separate security matter."
"And we still felt ill after considering eating here!" the young man interjected, clutching his stomach theatrically. "Probably food poisoning just from the smell!"
"How can you claim food poisoning," Xiaoyuan pressed, her voice laced with exasperation, "when by your own admission, you never actually ate anything from the cafeteria? Isn't that a false accusation?"
She had logic on her side, but the young man simply blustered, dodging the question with vague complaints, playing the victim. Unfortunately, many in the crowd, unfamiliar with the context and perhaps resentful of the monotonous food themselves, seemed inclined to believe the accusers. Kiba's celebrity presence only amplified the effect. Murmurs started circulating, pointing fingers at Xiaoyuan.
"Who does she think she is?"
"Look at her, arguing with Kiba!"
"She's probably just trying to get his attention…"
"Bet she's responsible for the bad food!"
"Serves her right, offending Master Kiba!"
Xiu, who had been observing with growing anger, felt his blood pressure spike. His fists clenched. All the work, all the sacrifice… people injured, staff collapsing from exhaustion, risking their lives to keep this city running… and these pampered idiots dare outrage over food?
He felt a small, cool hand grasp his wrist. Xiaochun. Her silent touch anchored him, pulling his focus back from the red haze of anger. He took a deep, steadying breath, forcing his emotions back under control. Getting angry won't solve this.
He gently patted Xiaochun's hand, then made a subtle gesture towards Xiaoyuan, catching her eye across the crowd. Xiaochun nodded almost imperceptibly, understanding his silent instruction. She released his wrist and melted into the throng of onlookers, moving with an unnatural fluidity, slipping through gaps like water flowing around stones.
Xiu scanned the crowd again, his gaze lingering on a few individuals standing near Kiba's entourage – faces he didn't recognize, but who seemed unusually interested in the scene, observing with a detached intensity. These aren't just any fans... His expression hardened further.
Instead of wading into the argument directly, he deliberately stepped back, moving towards the edge of the crowd, positioning himself where he could observe the entire scene unfold…