Pokémon: Who let him leave Pallet Town?

Chapter 466 The aftermath
Feiyun City, outside the international airport.

The salty sea breeze, carrying the roar of engines and the wailing of sirens in the distance, blew against the makeshift yellow warning tape.

Outside the line, crowds thronged, their faces etched with anxiety, fear, and helplessness.

Cries, prayers, and suppressed sobs mingled together, creating a suffocatingly oppressive atmosphere.

They are waiting for a miracle, or an unacceptable verdict.

On the edge of this despairing clamor, a slender figure stood out from the crowd.

A prodigy.

The scorching sun of Kanto seemed to have no effect on this place; the gloomy sky of Feiyun City cast an even deeper shadow on her cold little face.

She wore a neatly tailored black dress with a matching jacket, her long, black hair neatly tied back, revealing her smooth forehead and taut jawline.

She was only up to the chest of the adults around her, but her aura of keeping people at a distance created a small vacuum around her.

She clasped her hands tightly in front of her, her knuckles turning bluish-white from the excessive force.

Those eyes, which usually shone with intelligence and pride, were now like two frozen lakes, with only a hidden panic and anxiety suppressed deep within.

My hands and feet are cold.

From the moment she received that satellite phone call informing her that Mr. Natsume's flight had been hijacked and that the situation was critical, a chilling cold had never left her body.

She almost immediately abandoned her affairs in Shuanglong City and flew to Feiyun City at the fastest speed and at the highest cost.

Every second that passes feels like a dull knife cutting into flesh.

She stared intently at the airport exit, which was heavily guarded by military and police personnel, as if trying to see through the cold gate.

The worst images flashed uncontrollably through her mind, each one causing her slender body to tremble almost imperceptibly.

Mr. Natsume, you absolutely cannot be hurt!
Just as she felt her heart was about to be crushed by this silent torment, a commotion seemed to come from inside the gate.

Immediately afterwards, several figures emerged, surrounded by medical staff and other personnel.

The proud boy's pupils suddenly contracted!
She would never mistake the tall figure at the head of the group for that familiar silhouette, even from a distance, even though he looked a bit travel-worn!
It's Mr. Natsume! Mr. Natsume is still alive!

Her heart, which had been pounding in her throat, suddenly dropped back down. An immense, overwhelming joy at surviving such a close call instantly broke through the icy dam, almost bringing tears to her eyes.

However, this sense of security lasted for less than half a second.

Almost automatically, her gaze froze on Natsume's arms.

Natsume carefully handed an unconscious blonde woman to an elderly butler standing beside him, dressed in an elegant tailcoat, his expression respectful yet worried.

The woman's wide-brimmed hat partially covered her face, but the exposed profile was as delicate as a doll's, and her golden hair still shone in the chaotic light.

Even in a coma, the elegance and nobility emanating from her very being were clearly discernible.

A young lady from a prominent family in the Unova?
The thought flashed through Jiao Zi's mind in an instant.

The shock was like ice water, instantly extinguishing the warmth that had just begun to rise.

A subtle, almost imperceptible, bittersweet feeling crept into her heart.

Jiaozi pouted, realizing she'd never even been hugged by Natsume.
But as Natsume drew near, everything in his heart was replaced by a surge of concern.

Natsume's safety is the top priority!

"Mr. Natsume!!"

The cold outer shell shattered instantly, and Jiaozi, like a black arrow released from a bow, completely ignored the astonished gazes and shouts to maintain order. With a speed disproportionate to her petite figure, she burst through the gaps in the cordon and rushed straight to Natsume.

Natsume had just handed Cattleya over to her butler and was about to breathe a sigh of relief when she was bumped into by a small figure carrying the coolness of the sea breeze.

"A prodigy?" Natsume looked at the small figure rushing towards him with some surprise.

Jiaozi had no time to explain why he was in Feiyun City.

She didn't even glance at the blonde woman being picked up by the butler a second time.

At this moment, Natsume was all that remained in her world.

Those emerald eyes, like the most sophisticated scanner, swept over Natsume inch by inch with unprecedented tension and seriousness.

"Are you injured? Is anything bothering you? A mental shock? A backlash from telekinesis?"

"Mr. Natsume, I've called the best medical team." Her voice was fast and urgent, carrying an undeniable force.

Her small hand had already grabbed Natsume's wrist without saying a word, her fingertips touching his pulse, while her other hand tried to check his head and torso for any injuries. Her movements were professional and swift, completely unlike a young girl with a naive appearance.

That focus and worry almost materialized.

Behind her, a group of doctors in white coats carried a stretcher, staring at her like wolves.

Natsume was both amused and exasperated, looking at Jiaozi with some surprise.

It seems that the experience of the past ten days in Hezhong has brought Jiaozi back to the way she was when they first met at the academy. The young lady's little bit of assertiveness?
He gently pushed away the little hands that were groping him: "Okay, okay, I'm fine."

After thinking for a moment, Natsume took off his wig, revealing his bald head, and added:

Not a single hair is missing.

The atmosphere eased, and Jiao Zi chuckled, stopping what he was doing, but his gaze remained fixed on Natsume's face, as if confirming the truth of his words.

Only after confirming that he looked normal and was breathing steadily did his tense face regain a little color.

But deep in those eyes, the lingering emotions of surviving a disaster had not yet completely subsided.

"By the way, Mr. Natsume, who was that woman just now?" Jiaozi's voice lowered, carrying a hint of hesitation and inquiry.

Her face was flushed, and she spoke very quickly, glancing rapidly in the direction where Cattleya had been escorted away by the butler.

"Miss Cattleya." Natsume also looked in the direction Cattleya had left.

The other party's butler seemed to have been prepared, and went straight into the ambulance.

"She is the master of the Battle Castle of Unova, and a Psychic-type Elite Four member."

"When the plane went out of control, she tried to stabilize it with her mental powers, but she collapsed from exhaustion. I happened to be next to her and helped her out."

Natsume attributed all the credit to the other party.

He said the same thing as Officer Jenny's explanation.

Jiaozi pursed her lips and didn't ask any further questions.

"It's alright." Jiaozi finally said in a low voice, and resumed her aloof assistant demeanor.

Only the slightly reddened tips of her ears betrayed her excitement.

"The car is ready, teacher. Let's leave here first."

Soon, a low-key yet luxurious black sedan drove away from the still chaotic and noisy airport.

The interior is spacious and comfortable, isolating it from outside noise.

Jiaozi sat opposite Natsume, her back straight and her hands neatly placed on her knees, as if the little girl who had just rushed up to check on her was just an illusion.

Natsume leaned back in his leather chair, rubbed his temples, and the tension from the hijacking incident began to fade, with the real purpose of his trip coming to mind.

“Jiaozi,” he began, his voice relaxed with a hint of weariness, “tell me about the situation at Blueberry Academy. How are the acquisition negotiations progressing?”

Upon hearing this, a sharp and serious glint flashed in Jiao Zi's eyes, and his previous thoughts were instantly forgotten.

“Teacher,” her voice regained its usual calmness and order.

"A preliminary agreement has been reached on the acquisition; the gentleman welcomed your proposal and investment plan. However..."

She paused slightly, as if considering her words.

"We encountered some unexpected resistance. Or rather, minor problems."

"Oh?" Natsume raised an eyebrow, signaling her to continue.

With ample funds, the support of the alliance, and the assistance of Mayor Shaka of Twin Dragons City, plus the fact that the Blueberry Academy's land is owned by a friend of Shaka, the Blueberry Academy is a significant asset.

The time, place and people are favorable.

In this situation, if the prodigy describes it as an obstacle or a minor problem, then it probably isn't a minor problem at all.

Jiaozi took a deep breath, his gaze turning serious:
"The problem lies with the college itself."

"Or rather, it originated 'within' the academy."

(End of this chapter)