Chapter 134: Masks and Mingling
Xiu stared blankly at the contact information and employee file Xiaoyuan had sent over for the problematic bookstore manager. He quickly cross-referenced the details with the recruitment records Xiaoyuan had previously shared.
'Just as I suspected.' The young man wasn't some recent hire; he had been with their nascent organization almost from the beginning, one of the early recruits brought on to handle distribution in the Fuchsia City area before being promoted to manage the Viridian branch due to his initially strong performance.
An old hand— which meant he was intimately familiar with their operational structure, their supply chain, the illicit nature of their core business, and likely the vulnerabilities inherent in their rapid, loosely supervised expansion.
While Xiu and Xiaoyuan had been reviewing the accounts during their video call, the extent of his malfeasance became clear. It wasn't just negligence and a poor attitude damaging the brand's image.
He had been actively embezzling funds – falsifying sales records, inflating prices on legitimate used books while pocketing the difference, purchasing cheap, unrelated 'filler' books at inflated prices through shell suppliers to siphon off company funds… a whole catalogue of petty corruption.
Dealing with him through formal channels – citing breach of contract, demanding repayment – seemed impossible. 'He knows too much,' Xiu realized grimly. Firing him might provoke retaliation.
He could expose their entire operation, revealing the location of the hidden printing press, the source of their funds, potentially leading investigators right back to Xiu and Xiaoyuan.
And threatening him? Given his insolent attitude earlier, he clearly wasn't easily intimidated. He knows we can't easily go to the authorities. He held all the leverage. This was a dangerous loose end.
A sharp knock on his room door jolted Xiu from his troubled thoughts. He quickly closed the sensitive files on the computer terminal and went to answer it.
A Pokémon Center staff member stood outside. "Mr. Xiu? The Head Nurse requests your presence downstairs. There's a pre-event luncheon."
"Ah. Okay," Xiu nodded slightly, recalling Professor Oak mentioning something about official obligations. "I'll be right down."
He quickly checked his appearance in the mirror. His 'assistant' role, however nominal, meant representing Professor Oak to some extent.
He needed to look presentable, professional. He smoothed down his slightly ill-fitting suit jacket, ensured his face mask was properly adjusted[1], and confirmed his own internal composure was settled. No outward sign of the internal turmoil.
Satisfied, he followed the staff member downstairs, not to the main public cafeteria, but towards a corridor leading to private dining rooms. The staff member stopped before an elegant door, opened it respectfully, and gestured Xiu inside. "Please."
Xiu nodded his thanks, feeling slightly uncomfortable with the formal treatment, and stepped inside.
The private room was spacious, elegantly decorated, a stark contrast to the functional aesthetic of the main center. A long, polished dining table, capable of seating more than a dozen, dominated the center. Several individuals were already seated, engaged in quiet conversation. The meal hadn't officially started yet, but the atmosphere felt… important.
Xiu immediately spotted Professor Oak seated near the head of the table, chatting amiably with the Head Nurse and several other well-dressed individuals Xiu didn't recognize – likely local dignitaries or League officials. Oak, Xiu noted with amusement, was wearing his iconic white lab coat again, even indoors, even for lunch. Maintaining the brand.
His arrival drew attention. The Head Nurse, playing the role of hostess, noticed him first. "Ah, here he is!" she announced warmly. "Everyone, this is Professor Oak's talented young assistant, Xiu." She waved him over. "Come, Xiu, join us. There's a seat right here next to the Professor."
Feeling slightly overwhelmed by the sudden scrutiny, Xiu offered a polite, general nod to the assembled company, then navigated towards the indicated empty chair beside Professor Oak, acutely aware of the curious, appraising glances directed his way.
As soon as he sat down, the introductions began. Names and titles washed over him – Viridian City council members, regional League administrators, representatives from major Kanto corporations sponsoring the upcoming event.
They all greeted him with effusive, almost excessive warmth, praising his "youthful promise," his "sharp intellect", his "bright future" under Professor Oak's tutelage. Compliments flowed freely, interspersed with subtle flattery directed towards Oak himself.
"So young and already assisting the great Professor Oak! Impressive!"
"Must be brilliant to keep up with the Professor's research!"
"A fine-looking young man! Clearly has a bright future ahead!"
Xiu endured the onslaught with a fixed, polite smile, murmuring appropriate responses, knowing full well the praise was meaningless, merely a social lubricant, a way to indirectly curry favor with the influential Professor Oak.
'Why did Oak even insist I attend this?' He felt completely out of place, a small fish swimming awkwardly amongst sharks. He regretted coming almost immediately. He had learnt nothing useful here, just endure mindless flattery and political maneuvering. The experience dredged up unpleasant memories of obligatory corporate dinners from his past life. Depressing. Yet, he maintained the smile and played the part.
Lunch was served – elaborate, multi-course fare – but few seemed truly interested in the food. Conversation, networking, subtle negotiations continued throughout the meal.
Professor Oak, Xiu noted, ate sparingly, mostly just picking at his food while engaging politely but noncommittally with those around him, skillfully deflecting any substantive requests or inquiries veiled as casual chat.
Finally, as the meal wound down, Xiu caught Professor Oak's eye across the table— a subtle glance, a barely perceptible nod.
'The signal.' Xiu immediately leaned towards Oak, pretending to whisper something urgent but keeping his voice just loud enough for those nearby to overhear.
"Professor," he murmured conspiratorially, "apologies, but that follow-up scan we scheduled? The timing is critical. We really should head back to the lab soon."
The nearby officials immediately picked up on the cue.
Oak sighed dramatically, feigning reluctance. "Ah, yes." He turned apologetically towards the Head Nurse. "My dear Head Nurse, esteemed guests, you must forgive us. Urgent research calls. We must unfortunately take our leave."
He didn't wait for formal goodbyes. He offered a general nod to the table, stood up, gave Xiu another subtle glance, and headed for the door. Xiu quickly stood as well, murmured polite farewells, and followed Oak out of the private dining room.
The moment the door closed behind them, Xiu felt like he could finally breathe again. The forced smile dropped, his shoulders slumped with relief.
Oak didn't pause. As he passed Xiu in the corridor, he clapped him lightly on the shoulder again. "Well done," he whispered, a hint of amusement in his voice. "Let's go."
Xiu followed silently, a helpless smile returning to his own face. They didn't head back upstairs to their rooms, but walked briskly towards the main exit, heading straight for Oak's truck parked outside.
As soon as they were inside the truck, pulling away from the Pokémon Center, Professor Oak's 'distinguished scholar' persona vanished instantly. He let out a long, weary sigh. "These social gatherings..." he complained bitterly, loosening his collar slightly. "Utterly tedious. A complete waste of valuable research time."
"Didn't you need to discuss the event details with the Head Nurse and the organizers?" Xiu asked, genuinely curious now.
"Discussed beforehand," Oak waved dismissively. "Standard protocols. Today's luncheon? Purely performative. Mostly for the benefit of those," he sniffed disdainfully, "…sponsors." He explained that the individuals Xiu had met, the local business leaders and dignitaries, were primary financial backers for the Viridian City event.
"They only care about rubbing shoulders with League officials, getting their brand names mentioned, ensuring their investment yields positive publicity. The actual content of the event? Irrelevant to them." He snorted again. "Besides, those sponsors have zero actual influence over the proceedings. Their presence is pure vanity."
"So," Xiu clarified, "what is the event, actually?"
"Standard regional festivals, mostly," Oak replied, sounding bored. "Been doing them for years. Couple of exhibition battles featuring currently popular celebrity Trainers to draw crowds, some pointless speeches by local politicians, maybe a few recruitment booths for the League academies… primarily," he concluded cynically, "an excuse to stimulate local tourism and merchandise sales. And provide a platform for up-and-coming Trainers to get some televised exposure." He mentioned a recent graduate from the Indigo Plateau competition who'd gotten their start at a similar regional event.
Listening to Oak's pragmatic, almost jaded, breakdown of the seemingly celebratory event, Xiu gained another layer of understanding about the complex interplay of commerce, politics, entertainment, and genuine Pokémon training that structured this world.
It was… complicated.
[1] face mask as in the ones y'all used during the pandemic.