Chapter 135: Fading Flavors
'What kind of profession, Xiu mused silently as they drove away from the Pokémon Center, is a 'Trainer', really?' Professor Oak's cynical explanation of the modern battle system lingered in his mind.
'Individuals capable of commanding creatures with immense, often destructive power… how did society manage them?'
"If the Alliance doesn't actively manage Trainers," he thought aloud, verbalizing his internal query to Professor Oak, "wouldn't chaos inevitably result?"
"Precisely," Oak confirmed, navigating the city traffic. "Power, especially in the hands of inexperienced or ambitious youths, would destabilize society. So, the Alliance," he elaborated, "has to provide… outlets. Channels for that energy, that ambition."
Xiu saw the connection immediately. "The Gym challenge? The League Conferences? All those televised battles and regional competitions?"
"Exactly," Oak nodded. "It serves multiple purposes. It provides structure, measurable goals, a path for advancement. It channels competitive instincts into a regulated format. It creates heroes, celebrities, role models – reinforcing the 'glory' of being a Trainer, making the lifestyle seem desirable, aspirational." He chuckled dryly. "And it generates enormous revenue. Broadcast rights, sponsorships, ticket sales, merchandise… the Pokémon battle industry is a massive economic engine."
'No wonder they push it so hard,' Xiu realized. Tournaments, festivals, exhibition matches… it's not just about Pokémon; it's big business. It keeps potentially powerful individuals occupied, provides entertainment for the masses, and lines the pockets of the organizers and sponsors.
A self-sustaining system of control and profit. Gym battles, League Conferences… were all just distractions? Ways to keep potentially dangerous individuals busy playing a game?
"Something wrong?" Professor Oak asked, noticing Xiu's thoughtful silence. "Still dwelling on our earlier discussion?"
Xiu quickly shook his head, offering a wry smile. "No, Professor. Just… processing things. Thinking about the structure of this world."
"Good," Oak nodded approvingly. "Critical thinking is essential." He then seemed to deliberately shift the mood. "Well then! Enough heavy thoughts for now." A genuine smile touched his lips. "Since our lunch was cut short, and you probably didn't eat much amidst all that… 'socializing'… I know an excellent little place nearby. Old restaurant, been around for ages. Let's get some proper food."
Xiu couldn't help but laugh at the abrupt change in plan. 'Ditching a formal gathering with dignitaries to grab a bite at some local diner?' Professor Oak truly operates by his own rules. He wondered what the Head Nurse and the other officials would think if they knew?
Oak expertly navigated the pickup truck away from the modern city center, heading towards an older district of Viridian City. As they drove, he pointed out landmarks, offering snippets of local history.
"Viridian City, you know, wasn't always a major metropolis," he explained. "It was one of the earliest settlements established after the Great Calamity, strategically positioned near the Viridian Forest and the route leading towards the Indigo Plateau." He gestured towards the surrounding landscape. "Its initial importance stemmed from resources – timber from the forest, rare minerals from the nearby mountains, access to unique Pokémon populations."
He continued, "Pallet Town, my hometown, was essentially just a small farming community back then, supplying Viridian with medicinal herbs and specialized Berries. The whole region was more… decentralized.
It wasn't until the formal establishment of the Pokémon League, the creation of the Gym system, that Viridian truly boomed. Its strategic location, coupled with the establishment of the Viridian Gym as the final Kanto challenge, cemented its status." Decades of growth, fueled by League investment and resource exploitation, transformed the large town into the sprawling city it was today.
"Here we are," Oak finally announced, turning onto a narrow side street lined with older buildings. He parked the truck along the curb.
Xiu looked around as he got out. This district felt completely different from the gleaming city center. The buildings were lower, mostly two or three stories, their brick facades showing signs of age, weathered by time and elements.
The architectural style felt… older, more traditional. Different from the generic modernism prevalent elsewhere. Most buildings seemed to be residential apartments situated above ground-floor storefronts – small groceries, repair shops, local eateries.
Few young people were visible on the quiet street; mostly middle-aged or elderly residents chatted on stoops or ambled along the sidewalk. It felt like stepping back in time slightly.
"Haven't been here in ages," Oak murmured nostalgically, looking towards a specific storefront down the street – a small, unassuming restaurant with faded lettering above the door. He seemed genuinely pleased to be back, walking briskly towards it.
Xiu followed, observing the restaurant. It looked clean but dated. Through the window, he could see it wasn't busy – understandable, as it was now well past the typical lunch hour. Only a couple of tables were occupied by elderly patrons lingering over tea, seemingly finished with their meals long ago.
"Boss!" Oak called out cheerfully as they entered, his voice echoing slightly in the quiet space. "Table for two!"
A middle-aged woman emerged from the kitchen area, wiping her hands on an apron. She offered a polite but standard greeting. "Welcome. Please, sit anywhere." She placed a simple teapot and two cups on a nearby table. "What can I get for you folks today? Our daily special is…"
Before she could finish, Professor Oak rattled off several dish names with practiced familiarity, clearly ordering old favorites from memory.
The woman blinked, slightly surprised by his decisiveness. The waitress gave Oak a closer look, then glanced briefly at Xiu before she simply nodded. "Coming right up," she said, turning back towards the kitchen.
"See?" Oak whispered to Xiu with a conspiratorial grin after the woman left. "Much better than those stuffy official luncheons. No need for pretense here."
Xiu smiled back, appreciating Oak's relief at escaping the formalities. He suspected most people wouldn't recognize the Professor out of context, without his lab coat or official title. Here, he was just another customer.
The food arrived quickly. Simple, home-style dishes, generously portioned, lacking the artistic presentation of the luncheon fare but smelling delicious, hearty, and authentic.
Oak picked up his chopsticks immediately and dug in with obvious relish. Xiu was about to do the same when he noticed Oak suddenly pause mid-bite, a strange expression crossing his face.
"What's wrong, Professor?" Xiu asked.
"This taste…" Oak murmured, chewing slowly, thoughtfully. "It's… different." He took another bite, concentrating. "Something's… wrong."
Xiu tried the same dish himself. It tasted fine to him. Simple, savory, well-cooked. Nothing seemed amiss. "Wrong how?"
"I don't know," Oak frowned, clearly puzzled. "It just… doesn't taste right. Not how I remember it." He waved the waitress back over.
The woman hurried over, looking concerned. "Is everything alright, sir? Something wrong with the food?"
"No, no, the quality is fine," Oak reassured her quickly. He pointed at the dish with his chopsticks. "It's just… the flavor. It's different from how it used to be. Did you… change the chef recently? Or the ingredients?"
The woman looked taken aback, then slightly offended. "Change the chef? Sir, my husband has been the only chef here for the past thirty years! And we always use the freshest local ingredients!" She seemed genuinely perplexed by his complaint, perhaps suspecting they were just trying to cause trouble.
Gripping the edge of her apron, the woman looked warily at Oak and Xiu. "We've been running this restaurant for decades, sir. Our neighbors know our quality, our consistency."
Professor Oak seemed lost in thought again, still trying to pinpoint the subtle difference in taste, seemingly oblivious to the waitress's defensive posture.
Seeing the situation becoming awkward, Xiu quickly intervened, adopting a polite, conciliatory tone. "Apologies, ma'am," he said smoothly to the waitress. "My… employer… has an attachment to this place, visiting often years ago. Sometimes memory plays tricks, you know? Flavors seem different over time. The food is delicious, truly." He offered her a reassuring smile. "No complaints at all." He discreetly slid enough money onto the table to cover the bill plus a generous tip.
His diplomatic intervention, coupled with the payment, seemed to diffuse the tension. The waitress relaxed slightly, though still looking slightly confused. "Well… enjoy your meal then," she murmured, before retreating back towards the kitchen.
Xiu turned back to his own food, eating quickly. He was genuinely hungry, and Oak's earlier comment about not needing pretense here felt like permission to forgo formal table manners.
Professor Oak, however, still looked troubled. He picked at his food half-heartedly for a few more minutes, then set down his chopsticks with a sigh, his brow furrowed, a strange, almost melancholy expression on his face.