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Although there had been continuous friction between the two regions before, it mainly involved verbal insults. The Sebas residents were quite tolerant, often leading to their disadvantage.
While enduring such treatment could resolve minor conflicts, constant appeasement only emboldened the Ellie Region people further. Nonetheless, these disputes rarely escalated rapidly.
Without that rotten egg incident, if the supervisor had continued his tolerance, the goods would have likely sold despite losing some dignity. At least, it wouldn't have resulted in anything worse.
However, inexplicably, this single foul-smelling egg ignited both sides, escalating the situation into a full-blown brawl.
But that wasn't even the worst part. Even if it remained a fight, the consequences would typically involve temporary detention and possibly some compensation, treating it as an individual or group altercation.
Yet now, with the sudden appearance of flames from an unknown source, the situation dramatically intensified. Not only did Pokemon intervene, but lives were also lost.
"Everyone, fucking stop!"
The Supervisor roared, realizing it was no longer just a brawl; he had regained his composure. Earlier, his emotions were indeed heightened, but something felt off. He wasn't typically impulsive; even when enraged, he wouldn't lose control like this, especially after having already stooped to begging.
As a seasoned Supervisor, he'd encountered numerous situations. The consequences of striking someone could be dire, potentially costing him his job, yet he impulsively acted out.
Could a Pokemon have influenced me? He immediately recalled legends about certain Pokemon affecting human emotions and suspected that someone might have secretly used a Pokemon to manipulate his feelings.
Though only a suspicion, the Supervisor knew for sure that someone was covertly orchestrating these events. His team members didn't carry eggs, and owning a Pokemon was beyond their means as ordinary citizens.
Following the Supervisor's outburst, others also sensed something amiss and gradually ceased their actions. Even those deeply engrossed in fighting, upon witnessing the fatal incident, paled and abruptly stopped.
Faces pale, everyone stared at the lifeless, charred body on the ground. A few managed to jump into the sea in time, though they still suffered severe burns.
The Supervisor searched for any suspicious individuals but found none.
Now, they could only wait for the final investigation results. However, before that, people from the Ellie Region were already outraged, as this incident occurred on their turf.
"What do you Sebas region folks want? Trying to start a war?"
"Call the police! These culprits must face severe punishment!"
Luckily, Mr. Ten remained unharmed, but one of his subordinates was less fortunate, caught in the flames and perished instantly, leaving him shaken with fear.
Mr. Ten wasn't known for impulsive anger; initially, he merely wanted to embarrass the other side, not force them to kneel. Yet, once he spoke those words, it escalated quickly.
As he calmed down, something felt off to Mr. Ten. Despite his unease, he was convinced that someone from the Sebas region had thrown the eggs, and the flames undoubtedly came from their Pokemon.
After all, it was inconceivable for anyone from the Ellie Region to harm their own. In essence, regardless of who specifically committed these acts, blaming the Sebas region constituted provocation against the Ellie Region.
Shortly thereafter, officers from the Ellie Region arrived at the scene.
***
In Totem City, Kalia browsed the news on her phone with a slight frown. For days now, it had been filled with reports of escalating conflicts between the two regions, growing tiresome to read.
Kalia felt a sense of unease, but so far, nothing too severe had occurred; mostly just scuffles and fights.
Suddenly, a new headline caught Kalia's attention, causing shock to appear on her pale face.
A malicious incident at one of Ellie Region's ports involved individuals from Sebas commanding their Pokemon to attack civilians, resulting in multiple injuries and deaths.
Ellie Region viewed this as a direct provocation. Due to intense public pressure, the Ellie Region's Pokemon League issued a statement demanding an explanation from the Sebas region. Otherwise, they would consider it an act of war.
"How could this happen?"
Although people from the Ellie Region were indeed annoying, she couldn't imagine any Trainer unaware of the grave consequences of using Pokemon against ordinary citizens, especially during such critical times.
Moreover, targeting Ellie residents precisely when tensions were highest seemed highly irresponsible.
"The Pokemon League should be able to handle this," Kalia reassured herself.
Shaking her head, Kalia trusted that the Pokemon League would handle this situation effectively, preventing any conflict between regions. She had no need to worry about it.
Following the incident, both regions launched investigations to identify the person who commanded their Pokemon to unleash flames and the specific Pokemon involved. However, the culprit seemed well-hidden, with few leads emerging despite persistent efforts.
In response to Ellie Region's demands, the Sebas Region's Pokemon League hesitated without providing an immediate answer. Compromising could entail significant consequences.
Ellie Region surely wouldn't pass up this opportunity and was likely to make excessive requests.
Yet, refusing compromise risked being seen as a declaration of war, potentially leading to a full-scale conflict between the two regions.
Therefore, both sides prepared for negotiations.
The negotiation venue was set in Ruby City, Sebas Region, aiming primarily to resolve the tensions between the two areas, as neither wished for a regional war.
Ruby City.
A large crowd gathered to observe the negotiations, given their significance for both regions. Naturally, Kalia attended, accompanied by Julian.
"Who is he?"
Kalia studied the representative from the Ellie Region, feeling somewhat unfamiliar; she had never seen them before.
"I'm not sure, but anyone representing the Sebas region in negotiations must be significant." Julian shook his head, acknowledging that such a representative would undoubtedly hold considerable influence.
Soon, the negotiations began. The Ellie Region sent a middle-aged man dressed in a suit, presumably one of their elite members.
On the other side was a glasses-wearing individual with a gentle demeanor; it was unclear why he had been chosen for the negotiation.
As discussions commenced, it became evident that the glasses-wearing man possessed some skill, albeit with a slightly peculiar accent.
"Strange, this accent feels familiar, as if I've heard it before?" Kalia couldn't shake the feeling that the glasses-wearing man's accent was both recognizable yet distant, though she couldn't place where she might have encountered it.
However, she didn't dwell on it, as the man's eloquence was truly impressive, often leaving the opposition speechless.
Gradually, Kalia sensed something amiss - the glasses-wearing man seemed to be straying from the main topic.
The primary goal of these negotiations was to prevent conflict and foster peaceful coexistence between the two regions.
Initially, things appeared to be going smoothly, but as the conversation progressed, the glasses-wearing man's focus increasingly diverged, causing Kalia to furrow her brow subtly.