Chapter 282: Aftermath, Acquaintance and Anxiety

Chapter 282: Aftermath, Acquaintance and Anxiety

When the blood-soaked youth looked up, he saw Scizor leaning over him, its metallic gaze fixed on him.

Another broken scream tore from his throat, and he scrabbled backward, hands and feet flailing, kicking up a cloud of dust until his back slammed into the car, forcing him to stop.

"Hah! How can a coward like you, who fled Viridian City at the first sign of trouble, dare to represent the Trainers of Viridian City?" Xiu sneered at the youth's pathetic state.

He walked closer and casually kicked the Machoke's severed head so it rolled to a stop beside the terrified boy. "Is this all you have to rely on?"

"Ahhh!!!"

The youth stared at the grotesque mass of flesh and blood, and the screams that had momentarily subsided erupted anew, even sharper and more hysterical.

He waved his arms and legs wildly, trying to push himself further away from the head, but he was clearly out of his wits. His movements were purely instinctive and illogical, merely causing him to thrash about in place.

The once-arrogant registered Trainer from Viridian City had been reduced to this in an instant. The difference between his previous bluster and current abject terror was the result of a single punch.

The portly middle-aged man, the youth's father, looked completely dumbfounded. Scizor's brutal display had shattered his composure. He stared blankly at the Machoke's mutilated corpse, muttering unconsciously, "One million Poké Dollars… just gone…"

The sheer power of that one punch had also stunned the surrounding onlookers. An invisible pressure began to emanate from Xiu and Scizor, spreading through the crowd.

"Who is this person?"

"Too strong! A registered Trainer was no match at all?"

"A fatal blow… could he be from the Dark Tournament circuit?"

"What a damn loser! Defeated with just one punch. He brought shame to us from Viridian City!"

"Hiss… this kid is terrifying!"

The murmurs grew more intense, but Xiu paid them no mind. He continued with his original task, addressing the still-dazed middle-aged man. "Now, you can go and make your compensation and offer your apology."

His words seemed to jolt the man from his stupor, but his expression remained dull, his eyes vacant as he looked towards Xiu.

"Why…" the fat man mumbled, staggering towards Xiu. When he was close, he suddenly lunged, a desperate shout tearing from his throat, "Why did you destroy my hope!"

Xiu glanced at him indifferently, making no move to dodge before a shadowy blur—Xiaochun's hand—shot out from the side, intercepting the man in an instant. With a seemingly small exertion of force, she slammed him to the ground.

"Are you provoking me?" Xiu looked down at the fallen man, his face expressionless, his cold tone devoid of any discernible human emotion.

The man's heated rage instantly cooled. He looked around blankly, his gaze falling on his son, still whimpering and lost in his terror, now an object of derision for the crowd— a ferocious expression twisted the father's face.

"You useless piece of trash!" he snarled. "I spent so much money on you, and this is what you amount to?" He scrambled to his feet and viciously kicked his son twice. "Useless! Useless piece of trash!" he screamed.

Xiu had no intention of intervening, simply standing aside and watching the ugly scene unfold. The discussions around him, however, persisted, drawing his attention back to the other drivers.

"If anyone else drove through the fields, step forward now. Don't make me identify you individually."

Those who had been trying to blend in, feigning ignorance, no longer dared to remain silent and quickly emerged from the line of vehicles.

Wow, more than a dozen of them thought they could get away, Xiu noted.

Looking at the assembled culprits, Xiu added casually, "Our Pallet Town is well-known for its simple folk customs and warm hospitality. But that doesn't mean we're easily bullied.

I don't care who you are; if you come to Pallet Town, you must abide by the rules. Otherwise, don't blame me for taking action."

After delivering his warning, Xiu stepped back, leaving the rest to the town's mayor. He had no interest in managing the finer details.

Soon, the Machoke's remains were cleared away, and the convoy that had been blocked began to slowly file into the town. Seeing that the situation had stabilized, Xiu had no further reason to stay and turned to head back.

Wandering through the streets, Xiu observed that Pallet Town was now as bustling as Viridian City during its annual festival. With only one main street, all the newcomers were crowded into the central area.

It was clear that these people hadn't just restocked supplies and left; many had chosen to stay, likely to observe the developing situation from a relatively safe distance.

They all fled in a hurry, Xiu reasoned, and have no clear idea what's truly happening.

Pallet Town offers a certain threshold of safety. If the situation in Viridian City truly deteriorated, they wouldn't be in the direct line of fire and could continue their flight.

If nothing major occurred, they could simply return— able to advance or retreat, this made Pallet Town's ordinarily awkward, isolated location now seemed exceptionally advantageous.

However, the sudden influx of so many people was already straining the town's scarce resources, encroaching on the living space of the local residents, and inevitably leading to scrambles for supplies.

"I was here first!"

"I got it before you did!"

"Get out of my way! This is mine!"

A large group of people had gathered at the entrance of the general store, the air filled with chaotic shouts and the sounds of shoving.

Soon, the last of the goods the store had made available for the day were sold out, and the crowd gradually began to disperse.

Xiu was just passing by, not paying much attention, when a dejected figure sitting by the roadside caught his eye.

"Mr. Chen?" Xiu approached and called out. The man looked up, responding to the name.

Indeed, it was Chen, one of the family of three Xiu had encountered camping in Viridian City before the initial beast tide warnings— but unlike the relaxed, leisurely man Xiu remembered, Chen now looked disheveled.

His hair was a mess, his eyes puffy with prominent dark circles, and his overall demeanor was one of extreme exhaustion.

"Uh!" Chen stared at Xiu for a long moment before recognition dawned. "Xiu? Why are you here…?" he asked, surprised.

"What happened to you?" Xiu sat down beside him, taking a bottle of water from his backpack and offering it. "Here, drink some water first."

Chen looked at the offered water with a slightly helpless smile but took it. Without opening it, he answered Xiu's question wearily. "Everyone was grabbing supplies. I couldn't push my way in, didn't get anything."

"Are Aunt Mei and Sol here too?" Xiu asked, recalling the names of Chen's wife and daughter.

"We escaped from Viridian City. If we'd been any later, the routes would have been blocked again." When speaking of this, a distinct hint of fear entered Chen's tone, and his expression became more serious.

Noticing his troubled mood, and considering the busy street an unsuitable place for a sensitive conversation, Xiu smoothly changed the subject. "It's been a while. Where are Aunt Mei and Sol now?"

"The car is parked outside town. There isn't really anywhere to park here," Chen said, standing up. He began to walk towards the outskirts, and Xiu followed at a leisurely pace.

In an open area towards the rear boundary of Pallet Town, cars were parked haphazardly. Xiu did a quick scan: fifty or sixty vehicles of various sizes were crammed into a relatively small patch of land.

He also noticed several unfamiliar individuals loitering around, clearly not local folks.