Forging Partnerships [Trade / Laz]

Cygni City; a metropolis (and furthermore, a region) that Zetsumei was not exactly familiar with, but one that bustled with so many citizens, resources and connections that even he felt slightly overwhelmed compared to the slums of Vega City. Despite being a man who enjoyed kicking back and/or painting the town red whenever he could, this time his presence in the captivating city would be purely business-related.

Enticed by a mysterious Team Crux higher-up to travel the secret headquarters located there with promises of giving him some personal belongings that belonged to Zetsumei's late girlfriend, in addition to bestowing him essential information that would assist him towards achieving his goals, he just couldn’t decline the offer. After finally getting what he came for, now considering himself a little more “enlightened” than before, he was also intrigued to learn that one of his favorite Pokémon, a Mankey, had become available on the trade market.

Though the malicious side of him preferred demanding the trainer to gamble both of their trades in a Pokémon battle or just downright forcefully taking the Mankey from him, he was specifically asked not to cause any trouble in Cygni City by this new, somewhat important Team Crux associate, and he would at the very least try to keep his word. But… to finally have his own Mankey, and eventually, a powerful, jab-throwing Primeape? The dream team was coming together quite nicely.

“...Damian, izzit?”, he questioned as he approached the blonde-haired lad at the destination that they had agreed upon. In his left pocket rolled about two Poké Balls, a Tyrogue and Inkay, neither of which he cared for, so much so that he was willing to trade them both for a single Pokémon. Zetsumei might’ve been a straight-up criminal, but he hadn’t made a name for himself yet, so he had no reason to fake his identity or trick the trainer into expecting someone else.

Assuming this pale-shaded man indeed was the trainer that he had spoken with, hopefully he wouldn’t back down from their exchange now… because if he did, trouble would unfortunately be inevitable, as his obligation to maintain a “low-profile” would end up succumbing to being the very last thing on his mind.