[attr="class","post"]

Mr. Roche pinched the bridge of his nose, as though a half-assed form of acupressure would mystically and instantly remove the pounding ache that had seized his head in a death grip for the better part of the morning.
[break][break]
As it happened, it did not.
[break][break]
His security had yet to brief him with a full report, just bits and pieces of the events of a few hours prior as they undertook their own investigation. Honestly, why did he pay these people if they were going to insist on being utterly useless in the face of actually having to get work done?
[break][break]
Oh, Sasha was saying something. "Yes, thank you," he responded absently, lifting his hand in gratitude as he examined the passing world outside his window. She, by comparison, had turned out exactly as apt as he'd suspected when he hired her, and if a gun were put against his head he'd be forced to admit that it was her efforts preventing him from suffering a full-blown cluster migraine after the events of the previous weeks.
[break][break]
She spoke up again, though, and that caught his attention. He blinked, replaying her comment in his mind, before offering a dry rejoinder: "Of course it's coordinated, thugs trying to get money for their next fix aren't going to raid institutions of this size to do it."
[break][break]
Well, she couldn't be expected to think for both herself and him, he reasoned.
[break][break]
He straightened in his seat and turned to orient his gaze on her, lifting an eyebrow. "The question we should be focusing on is: what's changed?" His headache throbbed, naturally to spite him. "The market research in expanding into Hoenn didn't speak to disruptions of this scale or frequency. That...Rocket, whatever, must be amassing funds for some reason."
[break][break]
He sucked thoughtfully on his teeth. "I can't imagine many people will like the reason."

[attr="class","pkmn"]

[attr="class","credit"]

[attr="class","body"]

[attr="class","credit"]

[attr="class","post"]

Musing on the fruits of Sasha's research, Roche turned his attention out the window again. Coming into Mauville from the north was among the more dreadfully dull routes his driver could have selected, even if it was the most expedient given the situation. In the distance, he could see the desert in Route 111, a sandstorm whipping through the center of the spread.
[break][break]
There was an allegory there, perhaps, for his thoughts. He'd have to work carefully to ensure that he was positioned for success when this oddly tenuous bubble decided to burst. Turning his attention back to Sasha, he looked over his glasses at her, an unusually pensive frown painting his features.
[break][break]
"Alright. Send a letterhead to Ever Grande, attention..." Who was it that oversaw the financial arm? Presumably a middle-schooler, as bumpy as this road was? Ah, no, he had it. "FERNANDO SILPH. I've already made contact with their offices for the move-in, as it were, but make it a formal introduction."
[break][break]
He settled more easily into his seat, his posture growing marginally more languid as his thoughts began to flow. "Inquire about the current state of infrastructure and security funding, I imagine we might be able to make something of an impact there. Following that, an internal memo to all branch directors that substantial additions to existing anti-theft systems are incoming. Any violation of security protocol going forward will result in immediate termination, if not death."
[break][break]
He paused, considering, and added: "Leave that last bit out."
[break][break]
That was one side of the problem, certainly, but he didn't have as comprehensive a grasp on the situation as he'd prefer, and his Kalosian contacts were of no use here. He'd have to...ugh.
[break][break]
Looking away once more, every inch the calm executive he was supposed to be, he concluded: "Get Rafael Artega on the calendar."

[attr="class","pkmn"]

[attr="class","credit"]

[attr="class","body"]

[attr="class","credit"]

[attr="class","post"]

"A business dinner!" Roche echoed, a little huff of incredulous laughter escaping him. The thought was absurd - Artega was good for one thing, and it wasn't conversation. No, this would be a formal meeting in the most ostentatious office Roche could drag out for the occasion - Slateport, perhaps. A quiet display of his power and the added benefit of being in his own domain would tip negotiations in Roche's favor. It was the only way he could guarantee even a chance of his gambit paying off.
[break][break]
Or it would have been, had he recalled to say it out loud.
[break][break]
The Council, the security systems, the douchebag. Three moves that were, at least, sensible for him to open with. He was, after all, the new magnate in town, and the problem was, simplified, twofold: It would not do to have his name and brand tarnished with the reputation of being an easy target for thieves, even those presumably working for as serious a threat as Team Rocket, and it would not do for his personal assets to take the monumental damage of the failure of the Hoennian expansion if it were forced to turn away at the first sign of trouble. God knew Peg Bank - Pig Bank? - whatever silly name that chain had adopted was barely struggling to stay relevant as it was, and he would not follow suit, not at all.
[break][break]
The skyline of Mauville broke the horizon into jagged lines in the distance, and his eyes glittered. "Now," he continued, "What do you know about these rapscallions?"

[attr="class","pkmn"]

[attr="class","credit"]

[attr="class","body"]

[attr="class","credit"]

[attr="class","post"]

"Mm," Roche hummed thoughtfully. "They're on a fifty percent success rate, then, and trying not to repeat their mistakes. A downward trend, if you're inclined to look at it that way, but two samples don't speak enough to really draw a conclusion. They're resolved. Irritated, perhaps."
[break][break]
His phone rang, and he glanced at it for barely more than a second before swiping his thumb to dismiss the call. It was the Mauville branch director. Let her sweat, he'd almost arrived in any case. "That's the problem with these sorts of organizations," he murmured thoughtfully, tapping a finger against his chin. "The only thing more troublesome than a thug is a thug with resources."
[break][break]
They'd passed into the Mauville city limits, and it wouldn't be long before they arrived at the bank. He didn't intend to continue this conversation where prying ears could misinterpret or catastrophize, so he settled for flashing one of his canned smiles at his assistant. "I won't bore you with platitudes, Miss Huang. I won't say that you're safe with me, or that the big, bad terrorist organization is just a function of the rumor mill."
[break][break]
His smile grew teeth.
[break][break]
"What I will note is that I never lose. Stay where you are, right where you are, and you'll be sipping a Cosmopolitan on my coattails by the time this is said and done."

[attr="class","pkmn"]

[attr="class","credit"]

[attr="class","body"]

[attr="class","credit"]

[attr="class","post"]

Roche settled once more, offering a simple nod to Sasha. "Very good."
[break][break]
The car wound through the busy streets, and Colin pinched the bridge of his nose. He could feel the beginnings of another headache settling in, and as per usual it was inbound at exactly the most inconvenient time. Perhaps he'd be able to release a little stress by firing someone. Or a few someones.
[break][break]
They pulled to a slow stop in front of the Mauville EvoEx branch, and the driver parked before hopping smartly out of the car, moving around to open Roche's door for him. He stepped out gracefully, adjusting his coat with a brief shake before lifting a brow at the woman emerging from the building, walking briskly toward him.
[break][break]
"Rika," he greeted flatly. "You've got an excellent review prepared for me, I trust?"
[break][break]
He didn't stop to listen to her babble, crooking a finger at Sasha and sweeping past the frazzled director without a second glance. His assistant had given him a much larger issue to tackle, but he couldn't blame her for it - she was simply doing her job, and doing it well. The fact that he would willingly suffer through another meeting with Artega at his own expense was only testament to the fact that he would do whatever it took to ensure adequate preparations were made.
[break][break]
He had no intention of seeing it otherwise.

[attr="class","pkmn"]

[attr="class","credit"]