Chapter 287: Sweeping the Perimeter
"Although we've managed to neutralize the largest approaching beast tide, some scattered groups still need to be cleaned up," Professor Oak said, his voice heavy with fatigue.
"And the antidote production and distribution is still a major problem. I can't return to Pallet Town anytime soon." He leaned back in his chair, looking exhausted.
"Don't worry, Professor. I will take care of things here," Xiu reassured him. "You should get some rest. I won't disturb you any longer."
"Be careful, Xiu… those people in town…"
The connection with Professor Oak disconnected abruptly. Xiu didn't bother sending a follow-up email to Director Bao Ba at this point.
He quickly checked his own inbox, scanned for any urgent messages, and after confirming there were none, he hurried back downstairs to the lab.
"What did you find out?" Rinko Murasame asked, noticing Xiu's somewhat anxious demeanor.
"The Nurse Joys have developed an antidote," Xiu announced.
"That's great!" Rinko seemed a little excited, a rare smile gracing her face. "Let's find a way to make it quickly."
Xiu handed over the data slate with the formula. "Go check if you have the necessary ingredients in stock. I'll go take care of the captured Pokémon."
Rinko didn't pay much attention to Xiu's latter statement at first, her focus entirely on the formula. But as she read the list of ingredients, her expression became thoughtful, then troubled.
She didn't voice any objections as she had before, merely turning around silently to gather the required materials. Though no further words were exchanged, a somber understanding passed between them.
Xiu, meanwhile, retrieved a few of the brains he had carefully preserved from the dissected Pokémon. Rinko also returned with the other necessary chemical compounds and equipment.
It had to be said, Xiu thought. Only in a well-equipped private lab like Rinko's could one find all these specific materials so quickly.
Anywhere else, sourcing them would have been a significant delay.
Rinko looked at the brains, now placed in sterile containers, her brow furrowed. She raised a hand to cover her mouth and nose, a wave of nausea washing over her.
"Experimental research is sacred, Rinko," Xiu said, his tone detached, though not unkindly. "The components from these brains will be used to create an antidote that will save countless other Pokémon."
He felt no personal pressure or revulsion from the task and even offered a measure of comfort to Rinko. He did not, however, pause in his work, beginning the meticulous process of preparing the antidote.
Just at that moment, a dark shadow landed outside the laboratory window. Xiu glanced over and saw Rinko's Fearow, stretching its long neck and tapping insistently at the glass.
"I'll go take care of it," Xiu said simply, setting down his instruments and leaving the laboratory.
Only Rinko was left, alone with the harvested brains.
"Urp…!" After Xiu left, she couldn't hold it back any longer and rushed outside; only after a long while did she return, her face pale.
Just looking at the organ samples still made her feel queasy. This time, however, only a few soft retching sounds echoed in the otherwise quiet laboratory as she steeled herself to assist.
With Abra providing a telepathic link to the patrolling Noctowl and Fearow, Xiu knew what was happening just by looking at the agitated Fearow.
Another group of infected Pokémon had gathered and was rushing towards Pallet Town.
Xiu levitated into the air, overlooking the Pokémon below. This new group was approaching from a different direction, and their numbers seemed smaller than the last wave.
There were no particularly rare or powerful Pokémon among them, only common forest dwellers.
Xiu and Abra descended slightly. Xiu raised his hand and, with a wave of telekinetic force, a much smaller, more controlled green mist of Stun Stem powder enveloped the advancing Pokémon.
Soon, the distinct, rustling crackle of bodies falling to the ground filled the air.
The previous scene was reproduced; no Pokémon could resist the potent effects of the Murasame family's Stun Stem.
Xiu rummaged through his backpack, then tossed out a cluster of Poké Balls, which Abra directed to capture the incapacitated Pokémon.
"Damn it," Xiu muttered. "I don't think we have enough Poké Balls."
It had merely been a matter of habit to carry five bundles of standard red-and-white Poké Balls, totaling one hundred.
Adding in some miscellaneous specialty balls he had acquired over time, he now had one to two hundred in total. It was rapidly becoming apparent that supply was insufficient.
While Abra controlled the Poké Balls, recalling them to Xiu's backpack once they had secured their targets, Xiu himself scanned the distance.
The two groups of beasts had come from different directions, but their general trajectory was towards the path leading from Viridian City.
It was conceivable that these drug lures must have been placed along the routes Team Rocket operatives took when they infiltrated the area.
If I don't find and remove those lures, there will be more problems.
"Let's go and take care of those things first," Xiu decided.
The Rattata that Xiu held captive from the wave suddenly kicked its legs once more, and its body went limp as Abra severed its conscious control, leaving only its base instincts.
Now, Xiu would use it as a diviner. He deprived it of control over its body but allowed its craving for the drug to guide its senses.
Little Rattata had a remarkably good sense of smell for certain things.
After the Rattata's head twitched, indicating a direction, Xiu leaned forward and flew swiftly towards the forest below.
After a short while, Xiu found the substance. It consisted of small, brown particles, similar in appearance to soil, and not at all noticeable to the casual observer.
To Xiu, they seemed unremarkable, but the Rattata he was controlling became extremely excited in their presence.
Through its senses, which Abra relayed to him, Xiu discovered that the particles emitted a fragrance undetectable to humans.
"Do you feel anything?" Xiu asked Abra telepathically.
Abra's response was a faint mental shake of its head.
"It seems that only Pokémon who have already ingested this stuff can smell its strange fragrance," Xiu concluded. He carefully used tweezers to place the particles into a sealed container and then continued his search.
Xiu searched for a long time. With the help of the "Rattata-detector" and Abra's capabilities, he systematically cleared the area around Pallet Town of the drug lures.
He ended up with a small bag containing the tiny, scented particles.
But Xiu realized that this was far from over. The closer his controlled Rattata got to Pallet Town itself, the stronger its reaction to the perceived scent trail became.
It was obvious: there were Team Rocket members, or at least individuals carrying the drug, among the outsiders currently seeking refuge in Pallet Town.
Xiu was not particularly surprised by this. He had roughly guessed as much when the first wave of agitated Pokémon attacked.
It was likely that Team Rocket operatives were among the first groups of "refugees" to arrive; otherwise, it would have taken at least another day or two for the situation to escalate to this point through natural spread.
However, despite circling Pallet Town for a long time, Xiu couldn't find an opportune moment to discreetly enter and investigate the newcomers.
There were too many people, and Xiu didn't want to expose his abilities or his suspicions prematurely. He had to return to the research institute first.
"Why were you gone for so long?" Daisy asked anxiously when she noticed Xiu's return.
"There were too many outsiders causing minor disturbances in town," Xiu said evasively. "I went to help maintain order, and it delayed me for a while." He naturally had no intention of telling her the truth.
"Get ready for dinner. You should take a rest after eating," Daisy said, though she didn't press further. There was a slight worry in her eyes as she looked at Xiu. She noticed that he seemed unusually tired.
"No, I still have to go back into town to keep watch," Xiu replied, his attention not on Daisy but rather scanning the institute grounds. "Please pack some food for me; I'll take it over and eat there."
When Daisy heard this, she could only sigh and turn back towards the kitchen.
Xiu walked straight to the backyard and began to mobilize his Pokémon.
The Pokémon that were usually concentrated in the backyard were now strategically positioned by Xiu around the perimeter of the research institute.
The task Xiu gave them was simple and brutal: attack any outsiders—even Pallet Town residents he hadn't explicitly cleared—who approached the institute without authorization.
Now, more than ever, Xiu knew he must be cautious. If anything happened to Daisy and Gary, he would have failed Professor Oak completely, and the consequences would be severe.
He had initially considered leaving Scizor behind to protect the two of them directly, but then he would have no immediate, powerful backup if he encountered serious trouble himself.
It was a difficult catch-22.