c145: Blame Me!
"(Xiaoxiao, let's have dinner first.)"
As soon as she arrived at the hotel, a familiar voice echoed in her mind. Gardevoir, who had been quietly monitoring the outside world through telepathy, spoke warmly.
"Gardevoir… didn't I tell you to rest properly?"
Chen Xiaoxiao, frowning slightly, entered the private Pokémon storage space linked to her Poké Ball and found her partner already at work.
"(It's fine, Xiaoxiao. My wounds are healed. Cooking something simple is easy for me.)" Gardevoir smiled gently, her eyes glowing faintly as she set the last dish down.
"…Alright. Then let's eat together."
Seeing the neatly prepared meal steamed vegetables, roasted Magikarp, and berry salads Chen Xiaoxiao's chest warmed. She sat with her partner, and for the first time that day, the weight of her duties seemed lighter.
The food tasted better than usual, perhaps because of the relief that both of them had survived unharmed. Gardevoir sat by her side, levitating bowls and chopsticks with Psychic, occasionally offering her extra portions with a satisfied smile.
But when Gardevoir tried to prepare a second round, Chen Xiaoxiao quickly stopped her. "No more! I'll explode if you keep cooking."
They cleaned the table together, then Chen Xiaoxiao collapsed onto the sofa, stroking her stomach with a sigh. "So full…"
"(Here, some tea will help.)"
Gardevoir brewed a cup with practiced precision, setting it before her Trainer.
"Thank you," Chen Xiaoxiao said softly, sipping with a smile.
After a few moments of rest, her expression hardened again. She pulled out her Pokédex communicator, connecting directly to Leng Xin, her superior in the prosecutor's office. This was a matter too large to delay.
"Prince Hui… from Guancheng?" Leng Xin's voice sharpened when he heard the name. He remembered Hui clearly an influential businessman who had even voiced proposals at last year's National Council. The revelation made his brows furrow deeply.
"He's already in custody," Chen Xiaoxiao confirmed.
"…You handled it well. But Xiaoxiao, next time you must report to headquarters first. If word had leaked before the arrest, the media storm would've been uncontrollable. Do you understand?" Leng Xin's tone was stern but not cruel.
Chen Xiaoxiao's stomach tightened. She finally understood the political weight of her actions. She had operated in secret to prevent leaks, but in doing so, she had bypassed all procedure.
"…I'm sorry, Uncle Leng. I wasn't thinking enough."
Leng Xin sighed, but his tone softened. "No, you did what most rookies could never do. Still, we'll hold a meeting at once. Inform Gym Leader Lin to compile a detailed report for me. You're brave, Xiaoxiao, but you're too used to acting alone. Don't let that courage turn into recklessness."
He hung up.
Chen Xiaoxiao put down her device and, after a long breath, contacted Gym Leader Lin.
"Master Lin, was the sweep successful?"
Her voice carried the sharpness of someone already expecting both relief and more problems.
"Haha! Very successful! Over a dozen criminals apprehended and hundreds of Pokémon rescued!" Lin's voice was full of triumph.
"H-Hundreds?" Chen Xiaoxiao's eyes widened. They had already freed nearly a hundred during the earlier raids, but to add hundreds more?
"Yes. But now the real headache begins," Lin admitted. His smile faded. "Pokémon imprisoned, drugged, or abused for so long can't simply be released. Many of them may distrust or even hate humans. If they're set free like this, attacks will occur. Worse other wild Pokémon may imitate them, and the problem will spiral."
Chen Xiaoxiao nodded grimly. In Pokémon Adventures, she had read of similar cases Mewtwo's fury after human experimentation, or the abused Red Gyarados at the Lake of Rage. If hatred took root, it could spread like wildfire.
Lin continued: "Those too damaged will need long-term rehabilitation. If, after counseling, their emotions remain unstable, they'll be raised in secure sanctuaries. We can't risk unleashing that kind of resentment into the wild."
"…I understand," Chen Xiaoxiao said softly. "But another issue bothers me. Why didn't you report Hui's arrest to the higher authorities immediately?"
There was a long silence.
"Didn't… didn't you?" Lin finally muttered awkwardly.
Chen Xiaoxiao's eyes narrowed. "Me? I just finished explaining myself to Uncle Leng, and he was furious! And now you're telling me you didn't report either?"
Master Lin nearly choked. Nimma! This girl's got some nerve! You were the one charging headfirst, saying 'Prince Hui is behind this, let's take him down right now!' You didn't flinch when the truth came out! And now you're blaming me?
Chen Xiaoxiao crossed her arms, glaring. "A Council member arrested, a national scandal, and you didn't say a word up the chain. What were you thinking?"
Lin could only grimace. He thought bitterly to himself: Blame me now? Weren't you the one who pulled Solgaleo out without hesitation and said, 'Don't worry, we'll just do it'?
The room fell silent, and Lin resisted the urge to shout.
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