The Average Factor 2 - (Pokémon, Larry!SI)

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Sometimes, even in unusual business meetings, people have to claim some roles.

While it is true that it is not mandated by the League for me to do so, the nagging I got from Poppy in providing explanations to meanings or synonyms over words tied to this difficult topic forced me as a 'simplifier' for the child. Rika tagged along the 'asking for explanations', and I saw no poing in telling her not considering that she was quite the pushy colleague at times.

All in all, everyone was well aware that the subject at hand was indeed more complex than anything Paldea had to face.

One could make a case that Legendary-related matters could easily have a drug-related issue beaten, but those were rare and... drugs was a more widespread problem compared to a more centralized 'single Legendary Pokémon going rogue'.

Still, the situation involving Zirca and the overall discussion between the E4 and the Gym Leaders led to the same point: everyone voted in favor to not only an embargo, but also an outright travel ban. It sounded extreme, but the Mythrill came along via someone smuggling it.

We were shown data from the recently-concluded investigation on the matter, and it became clear this wasn't a case of indirect smuggling - they had people bringing this stuff through the border. So yes, people from Zirca would be checked more frequently and no new migrant could be accepted from that region.

Despite its declining social situation, Zirca had not been deemed to be in a humanitarian crisis for six years now by the international community. And it wasn't even like other regions didn't want to help - the issue was that the 'official reporting' provided by the government saying 'everything is going well'.

Some inspectors had been sent to 'verify the claims', but due to a mixture of being forced to check only Upper Zirca and having as a guide a rather 'scary and deranged-looking' trainer, there was a genuine unwillingness to defy the official narrative. So yes, Zirca was the black sheep by its own dictatorship's desire.

Good for them, but that didn't mean that Paldea was going to ignore the grave ramifications of allowing their drugs to hit the land.

The police was working overtime to find out any other new connections, but with no official way in and with the border monitored, the rats were going to jump out - and they did.

Business resumed as usual after the meeting, there wasn't any other 'slow days' after that and the police found two more drug lairs before concluding that all major providers had been caught and the remnant of their fiefs was going to be found within the end of the month. All in all, a clean and precise operation that warranted a public praise to the police from Geeta.

All was nice and well... until Zirca required to open some 'dialogue' to 'explain the situation'. Geeta decided against tackling the matter herself, especially since the one visiting Paldea was not the Champion of Zirca - it was his 'lawyer' or emissary.

The name Kingston Crossbell rang something to many of the 'old guard', but that was due to his previous runs in Kanto and Johto where he succeeded in winning the circuits of these regions. Some had called him the 'Second Coming of Red the Trainer', but Kingston's luck went downhill when he took to ally a rival region to Zirca and took to war with them.

Rumors suggested he got demolished by the Champion and that, after that day, he was 'enslaved' by the man to the job. So... I could relate to some extent to his plight. Hence why I ended up being selected as the 'best negotiator' to handle such individual.

The man's uniform was a mix of businessman and 'military man', his hat and theme reminding me of the old Imperial Japanese Uniform, and his Aegislash, used as a sword due to his family tradition, appeared to be like a Katana.

"Mr. Larry. It is a honor to make your acquaintance."

"Mr. Kingston, I am just as pleased. Let us start this meeting without any further delays."

I had the opportunity to claim copies of his old files and read a few interesting details about this person before this meeting in my office. Kingston suffered from Chronophobia, which tended to leave him with high functioning anxiety. A 'trigger-happy' individual when he was subjected to too many digressions. A very important trait to keep in mind as I was as blunt and direct as possible in getting to the point.

"I am afraid that will not be possible as the reasons behind both the embargo and the travel ban still exist," I argued as he presented his motivation to be there: the Zircan Champion wanted the border back to be open and he offered to personally take care of the drug issue. "A promise for a temporary harshening of the laws, something that the Champion has already done in the past, is not enough to warrant a normalization of relations."

"Well, I can assure you that this effort will be permanent-"

"Once again, this is not a personal decision. This is an unanimous decision taken by the entire League in regard to the situation. People have died, this situation should have been solved years ago, and our region, who has a high rate of young people living in it can't afford to see the birth of a generational drug issue."

The flat tone harshened the overall delivery, something visible from the flinching done by Kingston.

"All I can say in return is that change will happen. And we will be more than willing to host inspectors from Paldea to show our honesty in solving this matter."

As if you are going to let a proper investigation happen. I had already told this to Geeta just to prevent any ideas of her sending someone in the region. And while I had told Kingston that this perspective would be studied, I expected this meeting to amount to nothing. This was the logical resolution on such a matter but-

"I believe it is best to send inspectors."

Geeta perhaps sensed the fact I was positively livid as she had a rather tense look as she delivered this news to me. What was she thinking?! The entire point of grandposturing was to not budge an inch with this sort of rotten people! And she was supposed to be the boss.

"You don't think so, Larry? I thought you would have been keen to keep the status quo?"

Not when we are dealing with druglords!

I held back any sign of my true anger, merely blinking at that sort of notion. Foolish, and yet, I was not in any position to speak back to my superior. And when Geeta had taken this post, she knew straight from my mouth that my opinion on any of her decision was irrelevant.

"My beliefs are the League's own beliefs. If there is a decision to rekindle a diplomatic matter with Zirca, then that shall be the case."

I could sense that she was trying to get an opinion out of anyone that had a clue on what was to be done, but the young woman had slacked off so long in taking a strong position that now she was stuck in a very unsavory habitual spot. And I wasn't planning ot help her.

Especially since she hadn't told me that I was going to be sent there. I had thought of the options and ruled out both Rika and Poppy for obvious reasons, while Hassel just loathed the place after visiting it once when he was young. So, yes, I was going to be sent and Geeta bowed her head to this.

"Then I suppose that's going to be our next step forward."

She gave me the paperwork, the timing for when I had to leave... and three words that I feigned to not hear.

"I am sorry."

I know, I left unsaid as I walked away.

But someone has to suffer anyway...

AN

Paldea is not sunshine and rainbows, but while next up is a two-parter involving Larry checking out Upper Zirca and meeting three major characters there, this doesn't mean that there will not be chapters focusing on the rest of the E4 and Geeta herself. Especially Rika since she has a goal involving Larry and... it's not romance or lood she has in mind.