Chapter 179: The Truth
The young boy guarding the Grass Gym entrance regarded Xiu sternly. "I don't know when we'll reopen. If you wish to challenge the Gym Leader, you'll simply have to wait." His tone was serious, mimicking adult authority.
Xiu found the boy's earnestness slightly amusing but didn't press further about reopening times. Instead, he asked gently, "Can you tell me why the Gym is closed during such a big city festival?"
The boy immediately shook his head, puffing his chest out again. "That's Gym business!"
Xiu studied the boy's resolute expression, then glanced back towards the quiet Gym building. So, they're deliberately isolating themselves. He understood the message. Sending a child out as the gatekeeper was a clear signal: We are uninvolved. Do not disturb. He'd sensed eyes watching him when he first approached the grounds; the adults were present, just choosing not to engage.
Respecting their unspoken boundary, Xiu gave the boy a polite nod. "Okay, thanks." He turned and walked back through the small urban forest, leaving the Gym and its self-imposed seclusion behind.
As he walked away, unseen by him, a tall, middle-aged man emerged from the Gym building, watching Xiu's retreating figure with a conflicted expression.
"Father?" the young boy piped up from beside him.
The man started slightly, then forced a gentle smile. "Yes, son? What is it?"
The boy looked down the path where Xiu had disappeared. "Why can't we go out? The festival..."
The man sighed softly, placing a hand on his son's head, ruffling his hair gently. "You'll understand when you're older, son." His gaze turned distant. "Some things... are safer to stay out of. I have to protect our family."
The boy looked up, his earlier disappointment replaced by determination. "I'll grow up fast, Father! Then I can help protect our family too!"
The man's smile became genuine, tinged with pride. "I know you will, son. You'll be a strong Trainer one day. Strong enough to protect everything important."
Xiu didn't linger. He briefly visited the locations of Viridian's other two official Gyms. The second, another long-established institution reportedly specializing in Bug-types, also appeared closed and quiet, though he didn't attempt to approach closely. The third, Giovanni's Ground-type Gym located in the newer district, was shut tight, with absolutely no sign of activity. Whether he's genuinely away or just playing dead, he's certainly thorough about it.
The coordinated inactivity of all three official Gyms during a city-wide crisis confirmed Xiu's suspicions. This wasn't just about Team Rocket; there were deeper currents at play, powerful local factions choosing neutrality, or perhaps tacitly supporting the disruption.
Returning to the Pokémon Center, Xiu was immediately intercepted by a staff member. "Mr. Xiu, Professor Oak is looking for you urgently."
Finally. I was wondering what the Professor had been up to since earlier, Xiu headed straight upstairs to Oak's suite.
He knocked, and the door opened almost immediately. Oak stood there, looking grim. Before Xiu could even speak, Oak demanded, "Where have you been? What have you been doing?"
"Guarding the warehouse," Xiu replied evenly, deciding against mentioning his earlier activities. "Wouldn't want our investment to go up in smoke, would we?" He managed a slight, tired smile.
Oak didn't return the smile. His expression remained serious, almost somber. "You might stop smiling soon, boy."
Xiu's senses immediately went on alert. "What happened? What did you find out, Professor?"
Oak sighed heavily, turning and walking back into the suite, slumping into an armchair. He looked profoundly weary. "This situation... it's not what it seems."
Xiu followed him in, sitting opposite, waiting silently.
Oak focused his gaze on Xiu, his eyes sharp despite the weariness. "How much do you really understand about Viridian City, Xiu?"
Xiu frowned slightly. "I believe I have a good grasp of the current situation..."
Oak waved a dismissive hand. "That's just the surface noise. You don't understand the core power structure." He leaned forward slightly. "You came from Fuchsia City. You must be aware of how power operates there, and who truly holds sway."
Xiu thought back to Director Bao Ba, his influence and connection to the police force. "The Officer Force?" he answered tentatively.
Oak nodded. "Precisely. The Jenny family's regional headquarters is nearby. Fuchsia City, as the largest urban center in that area, falls squarely within their sphere of influence. Notice how the Pokémon Center there, while functional, is relatively modest compared to Viridian's?"
Xiu nodded again. He had noticed the difference in scale and resources.
"The Pokémon League structure," Oak continued, "is a coalition of various powerful factions. Different regions, even different cities, often have one dominant power base. In Fuchsia, it's the Jennys. Here, in Viridian City..." He paused for emphasis. "...it's the Joys."
Xiu's eyes widened slightly. Head Nurse Joy?
"Think about it," Oak pressed on. "Who organized this festival? Who liaised with the League? Who is coordinating the emergency response right now? Nurse Joy. The International Police might have a presence due to the League event, but look closely – which local forces are conspicuously absent from this crisis response? Where are the Viridian City Jennys? Where are the established Gym Leaders?"
The pieces clicked into place in Xiu's mind with blinding clarity.
"Viridian City is Joy territory," Oak stated flatly. "Their network controls Pokémon healthcare, a vital service. Over decades, through their essential role and control over medical supplies and resources, their influence here has grown immense, eclipsing the older, established powers – the traditional families, like the ones running the Gyms and maybe even factions within the local police or city council."
"So," Xiu extrapolated, his voice low, "this isn't just Team Rocket causing trouble. This is... the old guard striking back? Using Team Rocket as a weapon to undermine Nurse Joy's control?"
"It's just speculation," Oak admitted grimly, "but the pattern is undeniable. The market, the sabotage... they all target areas under the Joy Family's responsibility. Team Rocket maybe the likely perpetrators behind the incident, but some within the league benefit from their actions as well."
Amen. Xiu felt a cold dread seep into him. This wasn't just crime; it was a political power struggle, a civil war fought through proxies and sabotage. No wonder the official response feels fractured. Parts of the establishment might be actively working against Nurse Joy by simply doing nothing. "So, it's not Viridian versus Team Rocket," he murmured, "it's Nurse Joy versus Team Rocket and plus." No wonder she seemed overwhelmed.
The willingness to destabilize an entire city for political gain... it was staggering. His earlier plans, predicated on exploiting the wake of their chaos, suddenly felt naïve and inadequate in comparison.
"Professor," Xiu asked, his voice tight, "where do we stand in this? We're guests of the Pokémon Center, under Nurse Joy's protection..."
"There's no choice, Xiu." Oak's voice hardened, his earlier weariness replaced by cold anger. "They've gone too far. Their plan isn't just to regain influence. They intend to burn the city down to discredit her."
He leaned forward again, his eyes blazing. "They know they can't defeat the Joy Family long-term. It's too vast, too powerful, spanning multiple regions. A direct confrontation is suicide. So, their real objective? Incite mass panic. Create chaos. Push the ordinary citizens to the brink through fear and deprivation, then blame the Joys for their failures.
Force her into a position where she either loses control completely or has to resort to harsh measures – a bloody crackdown – which they can then use to destroy her legitimacy and her public support here in Viridian."
He slammed a fist lightly on the armrest. "Once the Joy Family is discredited, they can bring in their knight in shining armor to 'restore order', conveniently eliminate loose ends, and seize control. Their own hands remain clean, protected by layers of plausible deniability. Existing rules and League charters would make it almost impossible for the wider Joy Family to retaliate directly against them afterwards."
Xiu listened in silence, the plan leaving him cold. This wasn't just a normal power struggle; it was a scorched-earth campaign aimed at destroying a rival by sacrificing the city itself.