Chapter 68 The Storm Arrives, First Encounter: Ash and his friends,riding Arcanine, left Crimson City and arrived in Cinnabar City in no time.
A fierce gale swept in, and the already overcast sky was now filled with lightning and thunder, followed by a torrential downpour.
Along the way, many pedestrians, without umbrellas, were running frantically in the rain, searching for shelter.
Arcanine didn't stop, continuing to carry Xia Mu and Sonia.
The rain certainly brought many challenges, but Arcanine withstood them all.
It protected Xia Mu and Sonia with its fur and used its fiery aura to keep them as dry as possible.
Only when they arrived at the passenger terminal at Cinnabar Island's port did Xia Mu and Sonia quickly dismount from Arcanine.
By then, both of their clothes were somewhat wet, especially Sonia's long hair, which clung wetly to her face.
"Thank you, Arcanine." Having safely arrived at their destination, Sonia, disregarding her own condition, first expressed her gratitude to Arcanine for its protection.
At first, she thought Xia Mu was intentionally trying to take advantage of her. It wasn't until Arcanine started running that she realized she had misunderstood Xia Mu and over thought things.
'Woof!' Arcanine barked, indicating that she was welcome.
Xia Mu, watching Arcanine use its fire-type energy to dry its wet fur, suddenly had an idea and decided to use the heat to dry his own hair and clothes.
After confirming it was feasible, he looked at Sonia and asked her to dry her hair and clothes too.
Otherwise, she might catch a cold.
Arcanine readily cooperated. This discovery opened up a whole new world for Xia Mu, and he couldn't help but think about how bringing Arcanine along on future travels and wilderness adventures could solve many small problems in life.
"Phew~ That feels so much better, Arcanine is amazing!" No longer feeling soaked, Sonia showered Arcanine with praise, making it bark happily.
Xia Mu didn't say anything, and was about to recall Arcanine when four figures rushed towards them through the wind and rain.
His attention was immediately drawn to them. It was Ash, Brock, and Misty.
There were four figures, one of whom was Pikachu.
The three of them entered the sheltered rooftop and breathed a sigh of relief.
Occasionally, a few complaints could be heard, undoubtedly about how quickly the weather had changed and how little time they had had to find shelter. Luckily, they weren't far away, or they would have been soaked to the bone.
Xia Mu hadn't expected to meet Ash and his friends so coincidentally.
Sometimes, fate is truly wondrous.
"Wow~ What a huge Arcanine, and what a handsome guy!" Suddenly, Misty's words drew everyone's attention to Arcanine and Xia Mu.
This made Xia Mu a little embarrassed, but considering the other person's age, he readily accepted it.
After all, judging from her appearance, she looked to be only twelve years old.
According to the original information, Misty seemed to be only 10 years old, the same as Ash.
Brock, on the other hand, looked more mature, but although he appeared to be an adult, he was actually only about fifteen years old.
"That little girl is calling you handsome, handsome," Sonia seemed to notice Xia Mu's embarrassment and nudged his arm with her elbow, teasing him.
Cold sweat broke out on Xia Mu's forehead. Sonia's ability to cause trouble was always unexpected.
Before he could answer, Brock suddenly rushed over and grabbed Sonia's hand. A classic scene from the original anime was playing out right in front of Xia Mu. Xia Mu didn't know where Brock got the courage.
He certainly wouldn't have done it; it was too embarrassing.
"Beautiful lady, may I have the honor of meeting you?
My name is Brock, and my dream is to become the world's best Pokémon breeder. Currently... Ahhh! Ouch! Ouch! Let go..."
Misty grabbed Brock's ear and yanked him away from Sonia.
The dramatic scene was so unbelievable that even Xia Mu would have wondered how such a thing could happen if he hadn't witnessed it firsthand.
In short, it all happened so naturally.
Xia Mu felt like he'd become a supporting character, and now he, Sonia, and Arcanine were acting alongside Ash and his friends.
"I'm really sorry, my friend has a strange habit. Hello, my name is Ash, and I dream of becoming the world's number one Pokémon Master. This is my partner, Pikachu." Ash displayed a maturity Xia Mu hadn't expected.
'Pikachu~!' The Pikachu beside him let out a familiar cry.
A flood of memories rushed through his mind.
Pikachu, my god.
"It's okay, it's okay. My name is Sonia, hello." Sonia gave an awkward laugh.
Xia Mu also introduced himself: "My name is Xia Mu."
After these introductions, they had a basic understanding of each other.
Knowing the original story, Xia Mu wasn't surprised by Ash and his friends' purpose, but Sonia became even more excited after hearing it.
The group walked together into the dock passenger terminal.
Of course, Arcanine was put into its Ultra Ball.
Entering the waiting hall of the passenger terminal, the vast space was already filled with trainers, each accompanied by one or two Pokémon, though none of them were large; most were small and cute.
"It's truly spectacular! It's like some kind of Pokémon League tournament is being held here, and all these trainers are here to challenge the strongest Pokémon trainer on the new island," Sonia exclaimed in astonishment.
"Many of them have challenged gyms before, though only briefly, but I remember a few of them were quite strong, and they all have more than eight badges," Xia Mu said, looking around.
His words immediately drew surprise from Ash and his two companions.
"Big brother Xia Mu is also a gym trainer?" Ash asked.
He seemed particularly excited when he encountered a strong trainer, eager to battle and test his skills.
Xia Mu nodded slightly: "Yes, due to some special reasons, I've been acting as the Cinnabar City Gym Leader for the past two days."
"Cinnabar City Gym? I remember the original Gym Leader was Blaine. I beat him a while ago and got the Crimson Badge. Has he retired?" Ash had challenged the Cinnabar City Gym not long ago, hence the question.
Xia Mu couldn't refuse to answer: "No, it's just that Grandpa is getting old, and there have been many challengers lately, so I became the acting leader..."
During the conversation, his presence clearly attracted the attention of some trainers.
Because many trainers had challenged the Cinnabar City Gym in the past two days, they knew Xia Mu's identity and recognized his strength.
The bolder ones came over to greet him, and most simply smiled and nodded in acknowledgment.
Xia Mu didn't mind.
If others respected him, he would naturally reciprocate with respect.
Xia Mu also saw Xiao Tian and Ali among them, as well as some Pokémon trainers from Cinnabar Island.
These people all knew Xia Mu, and after a brief chat, the port manager, Voyager, proactively brought them over.
Xia Mu, accompanied by Sonia, along with Voyager and Officer Jenny, entered the conference room.
The room was already packed with people, including many high-ranking officials from Cinnabar Island, port administrators, special envoys from the League, and even the old Captain Nott.
Xia Mu and Sonia were immediately treated with great respect.
After all, Xia Mu's status was undeniable, and Sonia, who had come with him, especially as a researcher from the Galar region, naturally held a certain position.
"Gentlemen," Voyager explained, "the situation is extremely urgent.
If it weren't for this storm, we wouldn't have been able to stop these Pokémon Trainers from their adventures, but now it's different.
Going out to sea in this stormy weather, no one can guarantee safety.
Even Captain Nott has said it's best to stop the ferries.
Therefore, I implore you all to set aside all interests and agree to my proposal. After all, if an accident occurs, hundreds or even thousands of lives could be lost, and no one can be held responsible..." Voyager's explanation caused everyone's expressions to turn grave.
As the port's highest-ranking administrator, Voyager was extremely cautious in this matter.
Now that everyone is here, she is announcing that this matter must come to an end and that all ships must cease sailing.
"But if we stop the ferries, what will happen to the trainers outside?
These people probably won't leave easily; they might even cause trouble."
"In my opinion, it's better to assess the situation first before making a decision.
After all, storms sometimes come and go quickly."
"So many tickets have already been sold; refunding them all would be a hassle and requires recalculation. We need to consider this carefully."
"I don't think we need to consider this carefully.
Life is paramount. As the League's official envoy stationed on Cinnabar Island, I support Ms. Voyager's proposal."
"I also represent the League police in supporting Voyager.
Stopping the ferries and allowing ships to sail again after the storm is the best course of action."
"Since both Commissioner Allen and Officer Jenny have said so, then we…"
…
As the meeting progressed, various issues it were brought to the forefront.
Finally, under the League's official stance, a final solution was determined.
As for any uncontrollable situations that might arise later, that would require the cooperation of the police and local Gym Leaders to suppress them.
As the acting Gym Leader, this task fell to Xia Mu.
Leaving the meeting room, Xia Mu still felt a headache coming on.
Sonia, staying by Xia Mu's side, understood what was bothering him.
"Do you think we can control these trainers?" Sonia leaned against the second-floor railing, looking down at the trainers in the hall.
Xia Mu shook his head: "Those who are weaker and more timid are easier to fool, but those who are strong and have a strong desire to explore are unstoppable. At least if it were me, no one could restrain me."
"Then what do we do? Go to the new island?" Sonia blinked her big, bright eyes and asked again.
Xia Mu pretended to think for a moment before speaking: "Let's wait and see. If things get out of control, then we'll have to go."
Sonia turned her head to look at Xia Mu's handsome face: "But how will we get there without a boat?"
"Of course, we'll use Water-type Pokémon. I've observed that many of the trainers here have Water-type and Flying-type Pokémon that can carry people." Xia Mu smiled and said.
He was essentially telling Sonia in advance what would happen next.
...
More than half an hour passed, and the storm outside not only did not subside, but became even more terrifying.
The Weather Warning Center also sent a new report, forcibly ordering that no ships be allowed to leave the port.
Upon receiving the message, Officer Jenny led the police to relay it to all trainers, ensuring they knew this was an official order prohibiting everyone from going to sea.
However, despite this, some troublemakers still stood up, especially those with strong abilities.
Among them were Sweet and Neesha, and Xia Mu even saw Corey and Fergus, who had successfully landed on the island in the original story.
"Huh? The ferry is stopped? Why?"
"So we can't go to the new island?"
"Are you kidding me? How are we supposed to get there?"
"I mean, what do we do now?"
...
A cacophony of noise erupted.
With so many Pokémon trainers gathered together, even speaking softly created a chaotic wave of sound.
"Please be quiet, everyone. This is the port manager; she will explain the situation to you," Officer Jenny said, calming the trainers.
At the same time, she introduced Voyager, who was approaching from the back.
"I am Voyager. If you want to know about the sea, ask the gulls at the harbor!
But there's probably no need. Just listen to the wind; you can tell how dangerous the sea is.
Even I have never seen such a terrifying storm in my life." Voyager's words startled all the trainers.
Even the police officers involuntarily peered through the glass.
The scene at sea was terrifying; lightning struck intermittently, and being struck would be fatal.
"Even I, who grew up in the harbor, have never experienced a storm like this.
And it's not just what it appears on the surface; this storm is looming over New Island, where the situation is likely even worse.
My conscience won't allow me to let you all take such risks, so I urge you not to act recklessly. It is my duty to protect the harbor and everyone's safety."
As Voyager finished speaking, Officer Jenny chimed in, "Therefore, all ferries today are canceled to ensure everyone's safety."
"We understand everyone's feelings, so if anyone still wants to go to the new island afterward, the port will arrange boats to take you there free of charge.
For tickets already purchased, in addition to a full refund, we'll also provide some compensation."
The crowd stirred, but most of the trainers weren't very strong and were just there for the fun of it.
"Hearing about the compensation, they immediately quieted down.
However, this didn't mean everyone was quiet.
"It's alright, my Pokémon can carry me across the storm. I'm going to the new island no matter what," said the slightly chubby Fergus.
"Absolutely not! Even large ships can't cross the sea, so even if your Pokémon is a great swimmer, it won't make it," Voyager immediately waved to stop them.
Officer Jenny quickly added, "And if your Pokémon are injured during the adventure, they won't be able to receive treatment at the Pokémon Center in Cinnabar City for the time being."
"What does that mean?" "Ash squeezed to the front of the crowd and asked.
"That's because Nurse Joy from the Pokémon Center went missing not long ago. Without Nurse Joy, Pokémon can't be treated. Actually, they've already posted missing person notices over there."
Officer Jenny said, pointing to the area with the missing person notices.
Some people didn't quite understand, but others already knew the gist of the situation.
The situation was temporarily under control.
However, it was only temporary.
Most people were afraid and wouldn't take the risk, but a few still couldn't resist.
Just like the original story says, if you don't take risks, are you still a Pokémon Trainer?
It's just that because of the police presence, no one could leave and they had to stay and wait for an opportunity.
Xia Mu, on the second floor, saw everything that happened.
It should be said that adults using their power to coax and intimidate a bunch of children is naturally quite effective.
"Why do you look so malicious?" Sonia asked curiously.
"Is it that obvious?" Xia Mu was a little embarrassed and touched his chin.
"What do you think? Your composure is suspicious, isn't it? You remained unmoved even as the riot broke out, as if you'd anticipated it all along.
I have a feeling you've been scheming all along! Tell me, did you foresee all this happening?" Sonia's analysis impressed Xia Mu; she was indeed a clever woman.
"It's actually quite simple. The trainers here aren't very old. The younger ones will be intimidated with a little intimidation and won't dare to cause trouble," Xia Mu said.
Sonia nodded as if she understood: "So you're certain the riot won't last and will subside quickly?"
Xia Mu nodded: "Currently, that's true, but unexpected events will still occur.
As I said before, those older trainers who have been traveling for years believe they have Pokémon capable of crossing the sea, so they'll act quickly.
For example, that chubby little guy who spoke the loudest just now, and the few people around him." "Xia Mu said, then pointed to the special group of people.
Among them was Xiao Tian.
Xiao Tian, brimming with adventurous spirit, was clearly acquainted with both Corey and Fergus.
So, since Corey and Fergus were going, she certainly didn't want to fall behind; that's how she was in the original work, becoming the first super-strong woman in the original anime.
"Then shouldn't we stop them?" Sonia looked at Xia Mu, suddenly finding Xia Mu's plan somewhat incomprehensible.
Knowing they were going to do something reckless, yet not stopping them—wasn't that just waiting for them to act?
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