Chapter 161: An Awkward Holiday

Chapter 161: An Awkward Holiday

Xiu led Xiaoyuan away from the main street, finding a quieter alcove near a closed shopfront where they could speak without being easily overheard. The festive noise faded slightly.

"Alright," he began, his tone shifting from casual tour guide back to focused strategist. "Based on what I gathered today, particularly from that farmer, and combining it with the rumors and the official reaction..." He concisely summarized the situation: the coordinated refusal by buyers, the artificial price hikes within the city despite ample potential supply from surrounding villages, the whispers of Team Rocket, and the authorities' heightened but seemingly uncertain response.

"...What's your assessment? What's the most likely scenario playing out here?"

Xiaoyuan listened intently, her earlier relaxed demeanor evaporating, replaced by the sharp focus of the business manager she had become. The weight of responsibility settled back onto her shoulders. She processed the information, her brow furrowed in concentration.

"You taught me," she began slowly, methodically, "to identify those who benefit the most to understand the motive. Superficially, the Viridian City merchants who refused the shipments stand to gain the most. If they successfully corner the market by forcing the village suppliers out or buying their stock at rock-bottom prices, they achieve a local monopoly."

She paused, thinking deeper. "But... for multiple, likely competing, merchants to act in perfect unison like this... it implies coordination. Someone organized this. And orchestrating something on this scale, impacting multiple towns and villages..." Her gaze met Xiu's, sharp and knowing. "...requires more than just money. It requires influence and power." The unspoken implication hung between them: This is dangerous.

Xiu nodded, acknowledging her correct assessment of the power dynamics. "But," he countered gently, prompting her further, "think about the method. If the sole goal was long-term monopoly and price control, is this the most efficient way? Causing such abrupt disruption, attracting official attention, creating widespread hardship and resentment?"

Xiaoyuan frowned again, wrestling with the contradiction. "No," she admitted after a moment. "A slower, more subtle squeeze would be less risky for a purely economic goal." She followed his line of reasoning. "This approach... it feels designed for short-term impact, maximizing..."

"...maximum price inflation in the shortest possible time," Xiu finished for her, nodding slightly. "Exactly."

"But why?" Xiaoyuan murmured, still perplexed. "What's the ultimate goal of that?"

"Chaos," Xiu stated flatly. "Someone isn't just trying to control the market; they're trying to destabilize the city during its most important public event. Create hardship, foster anger, potentially incite unrest." He leaned back slightly. "My guess? Team Rocket isn't just involved; they're the orchestrators behind the merchants. This isn't just about profit; it's about disruption."

Xiaoyuan absorbed this, her expression growing visibly apprehensive. The scale of it, the potential for widespread problems... this felt far beyond the scope of their usual clandestine operations.

This felt like playing with fire on a city-wide scale. She had learned much about the harsh realities of the underworld through managing their business, understanding why Xiu always emphasized contingency plans and exit strategies. Getting caught in the crossfire of a conflict involving Team Rocket and potentially the League or International Police...

Seeing the flicker of fear in her eyes, Xiu placed a reassuring hand lightly on her shoulder. "Do you think I'm someone who takes reckless risks?" he asked quietly.

Xiaoyuan looked at him, startled, then slowly shook her head. 'No, whatever else he was, Xiu wasn't reckless. Cunning, ruthless, secretive, yes— but always calculating.' If he was considering this, he must have already analyzed the angles, the potential gains, the fallback positions.

"What... what are you planning?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.

"Our current business model, relying solely on pirated materials, is unsustainable long-term," Xiu explained calmly, outlining the strategy he'd emailed her earlier. "We need legitimate revenue streams. We've already invested heavily in building a transportation and logistics network. Viridian City, with its access to forest resources and its current market instability, presents an opportunity."

He laid out the vision: "Leverage our existing network. Establish legitimate channels for sourcing raw materials – timber, herbs, minerals, perhaps even agricultural goods from villages like Fushun's that are being cut off. Simultaneously, set up a distribution arm for finished products, potentially even basic necessities if the price manipulation continues. Transform our operation from purely illicit to a hybrid model, laundering funds while building a sustainable, defensible business." He met her gaze, his eyes alight with strategic intensity. "This disruption, this 'chaos'... it's the opening we need to secure a foothold in the Viridian market, a bite of a much larger cake than Fuchsia City."

His confidence, the clear articulation of a plan amidst the uncertainty, seemed to anchor Xiaoyuan. The fear in her eyes subsided, replaced by a familiar reliance on his strategic thinking. He always seemed to have a plan, a way forward. She took a deep breath, her composure returning.

Xiu, however, didn't notice the shift in her emotional state, already moving on in his own analysis. "Of course," he added, a touch of wryness entering his tone, "that's the optimistic scenario. We can't discount the official forces already in play."

He mused aloud, his expression thoughtful, "It struck me as odd... Team Rocket is apparently a known entity here, yet the moment rumors surfaced, the authorities – likely International Police – immediately briefed the Head Nurse. It suggests they were already monitoring Team Rocket, perhaps had existing intelligence. They haven't acted decisively yet, but they're aware."

"But," Xiaoyuan interjected, her own analytical mind clicking back into gear, "if Team Rocket has survived, even thrived, in Viridian City despite that awareness, doesn't that imply they have protection? Connections within the city's power structure?"

Xiu chuckled softly at her deduction. 'Sharp girl.' "Indeed." The image of Giovanni, the Viridian City Gym Leader, flashed in his mind. The leader of Team Rocket hiding in plain sight as a respected official... It was a truth so audacious, so unbelievable, that no one here would likely ever suspect it. He couldn't voice that suspicion, of course. "It means," he agreed carefully, "that Team Rocket likely has contingency plans and potential allies we don't know about. The situation is complex."

He abruptly shifted gears, cutting off the strategic discussion. "But enough business talk. I promised you a holiday, a chance to relax. We're supposed to be enjoying the festival, not plotting something."

The sudden change left Xiaoyuan momentarily confused, even slightly annoyed. "But this is important! The future of our entire operation..."

"You," Xiu stated firmly, looking directly at her, "are more important than any single operation." The unexpected, direct statement silenced her protest, leaving her momentarily speechless.

"Come on," he said, his tone lightening again. "You traveled all this way; you probably didn't even pack a change of clothes. Let's go find you something suitable for a tourist enjoying a festival." He stood up, glanced around, and started leading her towards the main commercial street branching off the square. "Any particular brands you prefer?" he asked casually, scanning the brightly lit storefronts.

He knew his own preferences leaned towards cheap, functional clothing from street stalls, making him useless for navigating actual fashion brands.

"I... I don't really know," Xiaoyuan admitted, still slightly flustered. Work had consumed her life for months; fashion hadn't been a priority.

"Right then. Window shopping it is," Xiu decided easily, steering them towards a store with a relatively upscale-looking display. Xiaoyuan followed, her mind still trying to reconcile the intense strategic discussion with this sudden shift to mundane shopping.

"Welcome!" A sales assistant approached them almost immediately upon entering, their gaze assessing both Xiu's plain attire and Xiaoyuan's more professional look before focusing on Xiaoyuan with a practiced, professional smile. "Good evening, miss. Are you looking for anything in particular? We just received our new summer collection..."

Before Xiu could respond, Xiaoyuan, perhaps still processing the earlier conversation or simply reverting to a more cautious persona, cut the assistant off coolly. "No, thank you. We're just looking." Her tone was dismissive, carrying an unconscious air of authority that made the assistant falter.

"Ah, right," Xiu interjected quickly, smoothing things over with a polite smile towards the slightly taken-aback assistant. "We'll browse on our own for now. No need to trouble yourself."

The assistant retreated, their professional smile looking slightly strained.