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With a slow nod of her head, Yumi accepted the answer and drank from her own teacup. "Apology accepted, though I wouldn't call it 'bad'. But we'll see what my superiors think when they've received my report."[break][break]

She finished off her tea and set the cup down onto its saucer.[break][break]

"Thank you for your kind hospitality," she said, gesturing for him to gather his paperwork. As she stood, she picked up the bag of perfumes. "We will be in touch within a few days' time, and will contact you by encrypted email."[break][break]

The Liepard stood and prowled toward the door. Yumi, however, paused before following her Pokémon.[break][break]

"My business card," she said, removing the small rectangle from her purse and leaving it on the table in front of Troy. "Should you have any interest in testing your luck and courting fortune, come by Casino Starlight in Sootopolis."[break][break]

A saccharine smile spread across her lips.

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Yumi accepted Nikkari's assistance as she rose into the bar stool, her keen eyes flickering briefly to the laptop and papers before settling on his handsome features. While real estate was only a passing curiosity for her, ever since their conversation on Lilycove Beach, she'd been wondering about what other kind of work he did.[break][break]

The kind that well-acquainted him with danger.[break][break]

Instead of asking, she leaned into his compliment, flattered by it. "And what kind of host would I be to deny a VIP guest access to the bar—and to my company—by stuffing him in a conference room?"[break][break]

She picked up her glass after Anton poured wine into it and copied the way Nikkari tasted it. She had learned a thing or two about wine from him since their first meeting, but she was far from being an expert.[break][break]

"As a matter of fact, I've grown quite accustomed to seeing you in the lounge, hard at work. I think I would be surprised if you suddenly stopped showing up. I'd wonder if, perhaps, we'd done something to offend you."[break][break]

Despite her serious words, she maintained a mirthful smile as she took a proper sip from her glass.

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The hour was late, but the casino was alive. Yumi's own schedule had shifted to accommodate, meaning retiring at odd hours of the morning to wake near noon.[break][break]

She did not mind at all. It allowed her to check in with her managers and meet with any VIPs enjoying the casino on any given night.[break][break]

VIPs like nikkari hect.[break][break]

Yumi smiled when she approached the man at the bar. "Good to see you, Mr. Hect. Though it's not often we see patrons use our facilities as a second office," she greeted him, her smile full of charm, her laughter light.[break][break]

The second bottle and glass caught her eye, and her smile widened further.

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Yumi had not anticipated the sudden philosophical turn in which Troy took their conversation. The subject had never been her strong suit; she much preferred the tangible interactions between people, a speaker and an audience.[break][break]

She listened in silence as he recounted the story of Margaret Victoria Queens, then reasserted the documents were his own. The only reasonable conclusion she reached, even after such a strange explanation, was that Troy had simply been born into the wrong body.[break][break]

His personal life was none of her business. Unconsciously, her hand moved to scratch her Liepard behind the ears. Her gaze was even and unyielding as she regarded him.[break][break]

"You didn't answer my question, Mr. MacQueen. And frankly, I don't care for philosophy. I am here to do business."[break][break]

Yumi tapped one of the papers in front of her with a long, manicured fingernail.[break][break]

"And if you can't answer this, perhaps I should take my business elsewhere."

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"I honestly have no idea," Yumi admitted as she returned to Hitoshi's side. Bending down, she tried to help him to his feet.[break][break]

Despite his short height, however, he weighed more than she could possibly lift. "Lend him a hand, please, Mamoru."[break][break]

The Mega Gallade reverted back to his regular form before slinging Hitoshi's arm around his shoulders and hoisting him up.[break][break]

Yumi frowned at her bodyguard. "You look really pale, Hitoshi. We need to take you to a hospital," she decided.[break][break]

Thankfully, there were a few Rocket-owned clinics in the lower district, not far from their current location. Taking out her phone to check the map, she started walking down the street again.[break][break]

"Can you hold on until we reach one? You can't pass out, okay?"

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Yumi fell into a contemplative silence. She watched Theo from the corner of her eye as if seeing him for the first time—not as a frightening underboss with an air of detached mystery around him, but as a man who had been working tirelessly for a better future.[break][break]

That was the difference between them, she realized: he had a bigger picture in mind, while she remained focus on her own selfish desires.[break][break]

Perhaps such selfishness was a trait she would shed with age. Or perhaps she and Theo were just fundamentally different people.[break][break]

The question remained, however: would she accomplish just as much while focused solely on herself? Her passions, her interests, and her revenge?[break][break]

"How do we achieve peace once the conquering is finished?" Yumi asked.

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Yumi jumped at the sound of the second crash, more startled than scared. She followed Mei into the living room and caught sight of the intruder—the frightened-looking Dreepy surrounded by her Beedrill and Mei's Froslass.[break][break]

"It must have phased in," Yumi said aloud, glancing around.[break][break]

Many Ghost-types could use PHANTOM FORCE to sneak into places, but why a Dreepy would come into their apartment was beyond her understanding.[break][break]

"Are you lost?" she asked the Pokémon. It nodded its head and drooped in a forlorn way.[break][break]

Yumi turned to Mei. "We should call Ranger services, shouldn't we?"

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Yumi watched with a mix of awe and trepidation as Hitoshi went all out with his Honedge. The energy of the Z-move was overwhelming, the heat blistering against her skin. Yet she remained untouched, thanks to her loyal dog.[break][break]

When he slumped forward, exhausted, she placed a hand on his shoulder.[break][break]

"Rest," she said, gentle, proud. "I'll handle the last ones."[break][break]

Hitoshi was her bodyguard; she could not imagine life without him at her side. But she, too, had grown strong since their arrival at Hoenn. She, too, had power.[break][break]

The Key Stone on Yumi's bracelet glowed with blinding light. In a matter of moments, her Gallade transformed. A cape flowed from his back, and his arms hardened and sharpened into twin blades.[break][break]

Without waiting for his mistress' command, Mamoru leaped at the remaining Voltorb. Using SACRED SWORD, he cut into both of them, preventing yet another EXPLOSION. They rolled at his feet for a moment before growing still.

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Yumi picked up on the change in Theo's attitude at once. He sounded more enthusiastic and passionate, as if he had existed in a dream-like beforehand. If he had been bored, she didn't take it personally.[break][break]

She assumed he had countless conversations like theirs with other Rockets, talking about their lives and goals. How many conversations did he have where he got to talk about his own?[break][break]

The woman nodded slowly as she absorbed his advice.[break][break]

"Is that the kind of future you envision for us? One where members of our organization can do our work without burning out from the pressure and stress?" she wondered. "Where we can fish or design clothes in peace, in our well-earned free time?"

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Yumi did not bat an eyelash at Troy's demand of twelve percent. She would have haggled it down to ten or even eight percent if she could, but she represented Team Rocket that night.[break][break]

"I'll relay your offer to the finance department," she said smoothly, her eyes scanning the paperwork spread out on the table before her. She almost took another sip of tea, then noticed that the name on the paperwork did not match the name of the man.[break][break]

Most notably, it was a woman's name.[break][break]

On one hand, Yumi knew better than to ask a transgender person about his deadname. On the other hand, this was a business negotiation; she had to be as careful and thorough as possible.[break][break]

"When did you change your name, Mr. MacQueen?" she asked.[break][break]

As part of the assessment into viable business contracts, Team Rocket did their own background checks. Troy's chance at obtaining this contract was much higher if his story corroborated with their findings.

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