'It doesn't matter anymore,' Xiu thought, the initial tension easing slightly now that the topic was out in the open. He hadn't intended to hide his involvement forever, just long enough to avoid unwanted attention, to avoid being the 'nail that sticks out.' But if Director Baoba already knew, or at least suspected strongly… well, denial was pointless. Might as well own it, carefully.
"Director," Xiu began, choosing his words deliberately, "you rescued me when I was near death. The park gave me shelter, a job, a chance to survive. When I saw those outsiders trying to forcibly take... take that Dragonair, something important to the park, I couldn't just stand by and watch." He paused, adding a touch of calculated pragmatism, "Besides, I never act recklessly when I'm unsure. I… acquired quite a few Poké Balls from the poachers I encountered earlier that night. Nearly fifty, in fact. Even if things went wrong, I figured I had enough potential backup, enough distractions, to create an escape." He conveniently omitted that most of those balls were empty or contained incapacitated Pokémon.
Baoba leaned forward again, his eyes gleaming with interest, latching onto the implication. "So, you would have sacrificed those other Pokémon? Thrown them out as cannon fodder to save the Dragonair?"
Xiu met his gaze evenly. "Everything has its weight, Director. Value is determined by comparison, isn't it? We make choices based on perceived worth." He allowed a small, knowing smile. "Just like how I've never seen the Rescue Station expend significant resources on injured Rattata or Caterpie."
The bluntness, the pragmatic acceptance of the harsh reality, seemed to catch Baoba slightly off guard. He chuckled, shaking his head, a hint of helplessness in the gesture. "Rattata… their numbers are staggering. In many cities, even out here sometimes, they're pests, destroyers of property, carriers of disease. Rescue is… impractical."
"So," Xiu pressed gently, "doesn't the Director already have the answer to his own question?"
Baoba was silent for a moment, then gave another wry smile. "Sharp tongued, aren't you?" He shifted in his seat. "Let's move on. Do you understand the full context of this incident? Why it happened?" He seemed almost relieved to change the subject, as if sparring verbally with Xiu was unexpectedly taxing.
Xiu shook his head. "Only that it seemed organized and premeditated. The attackers knew the park layout, the locations of valuable Pokémon, like they'd scouted extensively beforehand. Perhaps posed as tourists?" He voiced his earlier suspicions. Targeting the Scyther and Kangaskhan in his remote sector hadn't felt random. And the sheer number of invaders… "It felt like more than just poaching. Like a conflict between larger forces." 'And getting caught between those forces is a good way to die, he added silently. Hence the Kangaskhan shield.'
"You're perceptive," Baoba acknowledged. "This whole mess started with the Conservationist Association. Some time ago..."
He proceeded to explain the background. The Association had rescued a wild Dragonair from an endangered habitat. The Hunter Organization, a notorious criminal syndicate specializing in capturing and selling rare Pokémon on the black market, immediately targeted it. Initial skirmishes escalated, drawing in other factions, including official Pokémon Ranger units and even Officer detachments. The conflict spilled out into the open, forcing the Hunter Organization to retreat temporarily. But they hadn't given up. They'd tracked the Dragonair, discovering it had been secretly relocated here, to Bao Ba's park, for safekeeping under the Association's request. This large-scale invasion wasn't just about capturing the Dragonair; it was also retaliation against the park for harboring it and revenge against the authorities for recent crackdowns on their operations in the Kanto region, spurred by the initial conflict.
"Is… is Dragonair truly that valuable?" Xiu asked, stunned. "Worth all this? People died for this..."
Baoba sighed. "On the black market? The standing offer for a healthy Dragonair, especially one with its potential, easily exceeds one hundred million Poké Dollars. And even then, finding a seller willing to part with one is rare. They're valuable, yes, but also symbols." He paused. "And as I said, this wasn't just about the Dragonair. It was about territory, revenge, sending a message. The Hunters lost face, lost resources in the earlier crackdowns. This attack was meant to show they couldn't be pushed around."
'One hundred million…' The number staggered Xiu. He'd held that potential fortune, unconscious, in Abra's psychic grip. He'd personally ensured it slipped away into the lake. A hundred million Poké Dollars… enough to change his life utterly, irrevocably.
"What's wrong?" Baoba asked, noticing the flicker of expression on Xiu's face. "Regretting letting it go?"
Xiu quickly schooled his features. "Regret?" He gave a small, humorless laugh. "Whether I regret it or not is irrelevant now, isn't it? Besides," he added pragmatically, "even if I had somehow kept it, holding onto something worth that much? Someone like me? I'd be dead within a week."
Baoba looked at him, truly looked at him, his expression unreadable for a moment. "If I'd heard talk of a hundred million when I was your age," He said slowly, thoughtfully, "my heart would have been pounding out of my chest with greed and ambition. Your… sensibility… it's unusual. Frankly, it puts my younger self to shame."
He didn't wait for a response, transitioning smoothly into reminiscing about his own past, about the park's origins. Xiu sat upright, listening patiently, sensing the conversation was shifting again, though still unsure of the ultimate purpose.
He learned how the park began decades ago, not as a tourist attraction, but as a simple shelter founded by a much younger Bao Ba, dedicated to rescuing abandoned or injured Pokémon. Back then, before the formal Pokémon League structure existed, it was just a single hut, with Bao Ba as the sole employee, funding it almost entirely out of his own pocket, supplemented by occasional donations.
It reminded Xiu vaguely of stories from the anime – sanctuaries for Pokémon. But Bao Ba hadn't just been compassionate; he'd been shrewd. His hands-on experience caring for countless Pokémon species turned him into a self-taught expert on Pokémon husbandry and breeding. He became a respected local figure. He opened a Pokémon daycare center, offering reliable care for Trainers' Pokémon when they traveled. He launched breeder training courses, using the sanctuary's diverse inhabitants as practical teaching subjects. Many students formed bonds with the sanctuary Pokémon, adopting them, which helped manage the population and reduce Bao Ba's financial burden.
His reputation grew. Trainers and aspiring breeders came from further afield to learn from him. The sanctuary expanded. Eventually, leveraging the unique environment – Pokémon accustomed to and generally friendly towards humans – he opened the park to tourism. Success built upon success. Bao Ba had not only realized his dream of helping Pokémon but had also built a prosperous enterprise, earning wealth and renown. A true self-made success story.
"...Haha! Old men ramble," Bao Ba concluded, breaking off his narrative with a self-deprecating chuckle. "My own children are grown, far away, so I don't even have anyone to talk to most days. Hope I didn't bore you, Xiu."
Xiu still didn't know where this was going. Bao Ba had circled around the main point for ages. But he was the boss, the man who'd arguably saved his life. Listening patiently was the least he could do.
"Not at all, Director," Xiu replied politely. "It's… inspiring. And I should be thanking you. If you hadn't found me back then…"
"Think nothing of it," Bao Ba waved a dismissive hand. "But speaking of thanks… you performed a great service during the invasion. Aiding the Kangaskhan, ensuring the Dragonair wasn't captured… regardless of how you frame it, you acted bravely and decisively. That deserves recognition. The official park commendation and bonus will come through formal channels in a few days. But right now, consider this a personal reward from me. Within reason, name something you want. A request. Consider it granted."
Xiu didn't hesitate, didn't feign reluctance. He knew exactly what he needed most, more than money, more than Pokémon. He looked Bao Ba straight in the eye.
"Director," he said, his voice steady and clear. "I want an identity."
— — —
Leaving the Director's office later, Xiu felt a cautious sense of optimism. Bao Ba had agreed. He would arrange for a new, legitimate identity for 'Xiu', scrubbing away the precarious existence tied to the deceased orphan Ka Xiu. Details would follow. The promised park bonus would also be substantial, a welcome cushion.
A few days later, Xiu was summoned to meet Bao Ba again. Not in the imposing top-floor office this time, but down in the park itself, near one of the main plazas. A public meeting place.
'Strange.'