Wanderer of the Pokémon World

Chapter 275: The Race Against Time

Rinko stared at Xiu, his words about the beast tide and the potential salvation offered by her Stun Stem echoing in her mind.

She, who had lived a sheltered life, immersed in the quiet world of her botanical garden, suddenly felt the weight of thousands of lives, the fate of entire towns, resting on her shoulders.

It was a staggering, almost paralyzing realization. She didn't know what to do, what to say.

"These Stun Stem byproducts," Xiu continued, his voice calm but firm, breaking through her daze, "they might save many people. But Rinko, you must understand, the sudden appearance of such a vast quantity of this material, even the defective ones, will inevitably attract attention.

It will increase the scrutiny, the pressure, that you will face. Have you truly considered the implications? If you are unwilling to take that risk, I will understand. We can forget this conversation ever happened."

He wasn't trying to absolve himself of responsibility, but to ensure she understood the potential consequence of her decision. This wasn't just about them anymore.

Rinko looked at him, then at the sacks of dried leaves lining the storeroom. After a moment of silence, a new resolve hardened her gaze.

"There's no use discussing what-ifs now, Xiu," she said, her voice surprisingly steady. "If these plants can help, if they can save lives… then that is what matters most."

Her decisive answer surprised Xiu. He had expected more hesitation, more fear. This kind of selfless courage… it's rare. He nodded slowly. "I proposed this, Rinko, so I will help you deal with any fallout. You provide the Stun Stem; I will handle the rest."

With that, Xiu turned back to her computer, logged into his secure account, and initiated a video call to Director Bao Ba without further delay.

The screen flickered, then stabilized, revealing Bao Ba's familiar, gruff face. He looked like he was in his industrial park office. "Xiu? Looking for me again so soon? Don't tell me you want me to be a godfather?" He stopped short as his gaze shifted, noticing Rinko standing slightly behind Xiu.

"Director, we're short on time," Xiu interjected, pulling Rinko further into the camera's view so both their faces were visible. "Allow me to introduce Miss Rinko Murasame, proprietor of the Murasame Botanical Garden here in Pallet Town."

"Uh… hello," Bao Ba responded, clearly puzzled by Xiu's actions.

"Director," Xiu pressed on, "you're familiar with the unique strain of Stun Stem cultivated at the Murasame garden, are you not? I believe it may be the key to resolving this current crisis with the beast tide."

"I'm aware of its potency, yes," Bao Ba acknowledged, his eyes flicking towards Rinko. "But the problem is the quantity, the availability…"

"No problem!" Xiu cut him off impatiently. "We can provide enough Stun Stem – even if it's the less refined grade – to be effective. The Pokémon in these swarms are mostly common, wild types.

Even a slightly reduced potency should be sufficient to disrupt their formations. If we can prevent them from overwhelming the defensive lines as a cohesive force, the individual groups will be far less of a threat."

Bao Ba listened, his expression growing more thoughtful, a flicker of excitement in his eyes. "Alright, Xiu," he said finally. "If you can truly guarantee a sufficient quantity of this Stun Stem, I will handle the logistics, the deployment, everything else."

"Excellent," Xiu replied. "But I have a few conditions."

"Go on," Bao Ba said, his gaze shifting to Rinko, then back to Xiu.

"This plan," Xiu stated, "it was Miss Rinko's initiative, her decision, made after learning of the threat to the region. She is taking a significant personal risk by providing these materials.

My first condition is this: regardless of the outcome, regardless of any political fallout, her safety and the continued autonomy of her botanical garden must be absolutely guaranteed.

I trust you have the influence to ensure that, Director."

Bao Ba considered this for only a moment. "Done," he agreed without hesitation. "Don't worry about her. My reputation still carries some weight.

No one in the League, or anywhere else, will dare to trouble her if she's under my protection, and by extension, the protection of the Jennys." He knew the Murasame family's history, the quiet tragedy that had befallen them.

And this Stun Stem… if it truly works, the benefits will be immense. Protecting one young woman was a small price to pay.

"Her willingness to contribute these resources shows commendable sincerity." And I, Bao Ba, am never one to refuse a profitable opportunity, especially when it's offered so freely.

Xiu then turned to Rinko. "Rinko, this is Director Bao Ba, of the Fuchsia City Safari Zone and a… significant figure within certain law enforcement circles."

Rinko, who had been listening to their rapid-fire exchange in a daze, managed a polite, if somewhat bewildered, nod. "A pleasure to meet you, Director Bao Ba."

"Haha! The pleasure is all mine, young lady!" Bao Ba boomed, his iconic gold-toothed grin flashing on the screen. "Kanto needs more responsible young people like yourself and Xiu here. Rest assured, I will ensure you have no cause for future worry."

"It's… it's what I should do," Rinko murmured, glancing at Xiu.

"Director," Xiu interjected, bringing the conversation back to the urgent matter at hand, "have your Alakazam teleport here to retrieve the supplies. And you should begin preparations on your end immediately. Time is of the essence."

He then turned to Rinko. "Miss Rinko, if you wouldn't mind stepping out for a moment? I need to discuss some sensitive details with the Director."

"Of course," Rinko said, nodding quickly, and discreetly left the study.

Once she was gone, Bao Ba chuckled. "My, my, Xiu. It hasn't even been a while and now you found yourself winning in life."

"No time for that now, Director," Xiu said, brushing off the question. "The Stun Stem will need some basic processing to be ready for deployment.

You should also gather your own people, collect any existing stockpiles of Sleep Powder, Stun Spore, any similar status-inducing agents.

I believe the League, for all its current disarray, should still have access to such resources. When everything is ready here, I'll notify you, and your Alakazam can retrieve it here."

Seeing Xiu's seriousness, Bao Ba dropped his teasing tone. "How much Stun Stem are we talking about, exactly?"

"I haven't done a precise inventory," Xiu admitted, "but the processed, ready-to-use material… it should fill more than thirty large sacks."

"That's all?" Bao Ba sounded skeptical.

"Sacks half the height of a man, Director," Xiu clarified. "It will be more than enough to deal with the largest, most threatening swarm. The other, smaller groups… we'll have to rely on conventional defenses, and hope for the best."

He paused, then added, "And Director, after the immediate threat is neutralized, after the Stun Stem is deployed… ensure a thorough investigation is conducted. Find out why these Pokémon are swarming, what's driving them.

Otherwise, if they simply regroup and attack again, we won't have a second batch of this material to fall back on."

"The Murasame family's normal monthly production of the refined Stun Stem is measured in mere grams," Bao Ba said, a note of incredulity in his voice. "This much… where did you find it all?"

Xiu offered a thin, humorless smile. "Let's just say… we have our ways."

Even Bao Ba, a man known for his stoicism and experience, was momentarily stunned speechless by Xiu's audacity. Then, he asked, his voice laced with a new curiosity, "What is your relationship with that girl, Xiu? Why would she allow you such… access?"

Xiu didn't answer immediately. After a moment of silence, he said, "That brings me to my second condition, Director— regarding the Murasame family's Stun Stem, its cultivation, and its future…"

He knew exactly what to discuss with Bao Ba after that, what further conditions needed to be done, and what promises to make— the conversation lasting for a very long time, far longer than their initial discussion about the beast tide.

By the time Xiu finally emerged from Rinko's study, evening had fallen. He found Rinko in the lab, already hard at work, a look of intense focus on her face as she operated the processing equipment.

The rhythmic hum of the machinery filled the air. The finished product, a fine, dark green powder, was steadily accumulating.

"We have to hurry, Xiu," Rinko said, without looking up from her work. "Every moment we delay… more people, more Pokémon… their lives are at stake." Her earlier gentle, academic demeanor was gone, replaced by a fierce, almost desperate urgency.

The weight of responsibility, the knowledge that her family's unique legacy might now be the only thing standing between Kanto and catastrophe, had transformed her.

The leisurely pace of her former life was shattered.

Now, there was only the race against time.