Chapter 201: A Legacy and a Promise
Damn, Xiu thought, examining the hidden mechanism in the ceiling beam. After a moment of searching along the wood revealed by the shifted panel, he found a thin, cleverly concealed secondary cover.
This one wasn't locked; it slid open easily. Inside, nestled within the hollowed-out beam, lay another compartment. No intricate carvings or metalwork here, just a simple, square wooden box resting within.
He carefully lifted the box out. It was heavier than it looked. Opening it revealed several thick, leather-bound books, each easily the width of two fingers stacked together.
Xiu quickly scanned the titles and flipped through a few pages. More research journals. Detailed breeding plans, advanced training methodologies, and observations on rare Bug-type behaviors…
This was the core knowledge, the truly advanced stuff, hidden away even from the main library. Alongside the books lay a small leather pouch tied shut with a cord. Inside, Xiu could feel the distinct shapes of four small glass vials. Potions? Serums? Whatever it is, it must be something valuable enough to hide with the Gym's deepest secrets.
Without hesitation, Xiu transferred the books and the pouch into his spatial backpack. Hehe boi. He then meticulously fixed the wooden covers, engaged the pull-ring mechanism to reseal the beam compartment, and carefully slid the outer panel back into place. For good measure, he had Abra subtly redistribute the surrounding dust with a gentle psychic current, erasing any obvious signs of disturbance. Leave no trace.
With the secrets secured, Xiu turned back to the aged Beedrill, which had been hovering patiently nearby, observing him with that newfound calmness. "Alright," Xiu said, re-establishing the gentle telepathic link Abra facilitated. "Is there anything else? Anything else you need me to do?" The sheer audacity, a part of him wryly noted, to ransack its home, steal its legacy, then ask if it needs help.
The Beedrill's response came not in clear words, but in fragmented feelings and intentions, colored by weariness and resignation. "This place… fallen… decay… My time… ends…"
Xiu understood. The Beedrill sensed the Gym's decline and felt its own life fading. It had led him here to preserve what remained of its master's legacy. He frowned slightly. "Do you know how your trainer, the previous Gym Leader, died?"
A wave of sadness, and confusion washed over the link. "No… unclear…" Then, abruptly, a surge of fierce, burning anger, focused and sharp. "HIM!"
The image of the fleeing, current Gym Leader flashed through the connection, overlaid with feelings of betrayal and hatred. So, he was involved.
Somehow. The Beedrill's intention became clear: it had shown Xiu the secrets, entrusted him with the past, and now, it intended to seek its final vengeance before succumbing to time.
Xiu processed this rapidly. It chose me… maybe it sensed something, or maybe it's a final act of desperation… but it gave me access to invaluable knowledge. He felt a sense of obligation, mingled with opportunity.
"I don't know why you entrusted this to me," he projected calmly but firmly, "but I accept the responsibility. I received your master's legacy, and I will honor it. The matter of the old Gym Leader's death… I will investigate it. I will find the truth."
He paused, meeting the Beedrill's clouded gaze. "As for him," projecting the image of the current leader, "leave him to me. You need to rest, recover. Don't waste your final strength on blind revenge. I promise you, I will ensure he faces consequences."
Taking this on wasn't purely altruistic. The knowledge in those books… it was priceless. Securing the Gym's legacy, perhaps even influencing its future, offered immense potential benefits. But first, I need to manage this situation.
The Beedrill, however, wasn't convinced. It buzzed its wings agitatedly, clearly intending to leave, to pursue its own path of vengeance.
"Wait," Xiu said, raising a hand.
Before he could react further, faster than his eyes could track, the tip of the Beedrill's gray, scarred stinger was pressed against his throat. Abra, hovering nearby, remained perfectly still, its psychic energy coiled but not unleashed, radiating a calm readiness.
Xiu froze, genuinely surprised by the speed and precision, even in the Beedrill's weakened state. Gods, how powerful was this thing in its prime?
As if sensing his appraisal, the Beedrill exerted the slightest pressure, the needle-sharp tip pricking his skin— but Xiu didn't flinch. He slowly lowered his gaze to the stinger resting against his neck. Carefully, he reached up and gently touched the scarred, chitinous surface.
It felt cool, rough, worn smooth in places, pitted in others. Like the Beedrill itself, the weapon bore the marks of time and countless battles. It lacked the sharp gleam of youth, the honed edge dulled by age, yet the history etched upon it spoke volumes of its former glory, now shadowed by loneliness and decay.
"I told you I would handle it," Xiu said softly, his voice steady despite the imminent danger. "Besides, the man you seek is likely under guard at the Pokémon Center by now. You intend to assassinate someone within the Center? Challenge Nurse Joy's authority? Perhaps you could have, once. But now…" He let the implication hang in the air.
"You are old. Time takes its toll on us all."
He felt the faintest tremor through the stinger pressed against his skin. Yes… it knows. A pang of unexpected sadness touched Xiu. He sighed, a genuine sound of empathy. "It's hard to trust humans again, I understand. After whatever betrayal you suffered… But please. Trust me this one last time. Let me carry this burden for you."
He slowly withdrew his hand from the stinger. Then, he took out the unique Poké Ball and held it out, steady and open.
For a long moment, the Beedrill remained motionless, the stinger still poised. Then, slowly, it retracted the weapon from Xiu's throat. With a final, weary buzz of its wings, it tapped the activation button on the outstretched Poké Ball.
Red light enveloped it, drawing it back inside.
Xiu let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. He pocketed the ball, gave the dusty library one last look, then turned to leave. After instructing Abra to perform a final sweep, erasing any lingering traces of their presence, he slipped out of the Inner Courtyard and disappeared back into the foggy Viridian morning.
Walking through the awakening city felt surreal after the night's events. It all seemed like a strange dream. But the weight of the items in his backpack and the unique Poké Ball clipped to his belt were tangible proof. Right now, however, his most pressing need was sleep.
Deep, undisturbed sleep.
Back at the Pokémon Center, the usual morning bustle was underway. Staff hurried about their duties, trainers waited anxiously, civilians sought refuge or information. The night's covert operation had left no visible ripples on the surface. No one paid any particular attention to Xiu as he made his way to his room. Just another face in the crowd.
He locked the door behind him, leaning against it for a moment, the tension finally draining away. He didn't even bother washing up, simply crossed the room and collapsed onto the bed, falling into an exhausted sleep almost instantly.
He didn't know how long he slept. Consciousness returned slowly, dragged from the depths by a vague sense of unease. He blinked, eyes struggling to focus in the dim light filtering through the window. Someone was standing beside his bed.
Adrenaline jolted him awake. He reacted instantly, rolling violently across the bed and onto the floor on the far side, scrambling into a defensive crouch before his sleep-fogged brain fully registered the intruder.
It was Xiaoyuan. She stood there, hands on her hips, looking down at him with an exasperated expression. Pichu perched on her shoulder, blinking curiously.
"What are you doing back here?" Xiu mumbled, rubbing his eyes, the adrenaline fading as confusion set in. He pushed himself up and sat heavily on the edge of the bed, feeling groggy.
"Look at the time!" Xiaoyuan scolded, rolling her eyes. "You've slept the entire day away! It's already night again. Honestly, you were so still, if you weren't breathing, I'd have thought you were dead!"
Xiu blinked again, looking towards the window. Sure enough, it was dark outside. He really had slept around the clock. The heavy, waterlogged feeling in his head from Abra's earlier power usage was significantly better, though.
"Alright, alright," he sighed, pushing his hair back. He regained his usual composure quickly. "What happened today?"
Xiaoyuan didn't answer immediately. Instead, she disappeared into the bathroom and returned with a warm, damp towel. She sat beside him on the bed, playfully trying to wipe his face. "Wash up first, you look terrible," she complained lightly, though there was an underlying cheerfulness in her tone.
Xiu chuckled softly, taking the towel. "I can do it myself." He wiped his face haphazardly. "Judging by your mood, I take it things went well? Did our 'friends' finally crack?"
Xiaoyuan grinned, knowing she couldn't hide her satisfaction from him. "You were right," she admitted, recounting the day's events. "I was starting to worry. All morning, nothing happened. The market was dead, prices still artificially high. Then, around noon, the watchers reported a sudden flood of supplies hitting the gray market – food, Pokéblocks, medicine – all at prices way below yesterday's peak."
Following Xiu's detailed instructions, Xiaoyuan had ruthlessly exploited the situation, using Professor Oak's funds and leveraging the Joy Family's support to undercut the hoarders and buy up their dumped stock at rock-bottom prices.
The panic among the price-gougers had been palpable. Cut off their distribution, apply pressure, then let their greed turn on itself.
"Good," Xiu nodded, unsurprised. "Merchants like that stick together when profits are easy, but the moment pressure mounts, they turn on each other like starving Mightyena. Keep acquiring, keep stabilizing the official supply through the Center. Let them bleed themselves dry." He waved a dismissive hand.
"I'll leave the market to you."