Chapter 55 ; Business ; Part 3

"You're meant to be who I'm working for?" Eli sat down with a boy who looked not much older than him. Silver eyes and silver hair, with a devilish grin and bloodthirsty smile. This was his dirty accountant.

Eli scanned him with probing eyes before looking the boy deep down into his eyes. What was this feeling? He knew exactly how the boy felt.... was it something to do with his mark? Did he gain more insight into his power to read people?

Using the newfound clarity, Eli extended his hand. "Nice to meet you, Mr. Oshun."

Oshun was his first name, and he didn't have a last name. He was from zone 3 of the slums and was an apprentice at an accounting firm where he grew up. Eli had researched the somewhat wild boy from before, but he had hope in the investment that he was about to make since Giovanni had directed him over to them in good faith.

Since the accountant couldn't know about ditto, Eli had changed himself into Loki beforehand.

Eli set his purple eyes aside from the boy's body before looking toward him.

"Let's speak business, shall we? I have already scouted out a place for the business to operate and have the funds for you to weave into the business. You should know this would be a money laundering business, correct?"

"I do." Oshun folded his arms, a nasty cut displayed to Eli, who stared at the boy blankly. "Cut to the chase."

"I intend to run a private limited company, and selling shares and attracting investors is my problem. I need you to launder enough money for advertisements without getting pigs on my trail."

Oshun smiled before holding out his hand and looking towards Eli with a large grin as Eli looked back with his lips curled.

"Payment. From what it sounds, you need more funds for me to achieve what you want. You haven't attracted enough investors, so what do I get out of it?"

"Hm..." Eli scanned the young adult's poker face before words seeped out of his mind. "15% of my business."

"20%"

"There are others to take this opportunity. A lot of your competitors. No haggling." Eli attempted to assert dominance, which made the boy smile.

"People see me as a prodigy-"

"I don't care," Eli responded, as he could see the air grow thick, almost like someone could cut it with a knife.

"What... did you just say?" The boy looked stunned before Eli muttered once more.

"I don't care if you're a genius at accounting. There is always a higher mountain and someone more desperate. I've an eye for talent, but my time is limited."

Oshun thought for a moment before shaking his head.

"Nah."

Eli raised his brow at this before letting out a small giggle. "Who do you think you are kidding, Mr. Oshun?" Eli muttered, his eyes scanning every part of Oshun's with a wicked smile that was frankly exaggerated. "I am the only one with a limited period, correct?"

Oshun's expression suddenly stiffened as Eli looked down at the cup of coffee before swirling it with the wooden stick. "Congenital heart disease.... truly a bitch. Yours is quite severe. You can treat it, but at a high price. And from what I know, it comes at a very high price."

"How did you know that?" Oshun muttered as he suddenly stood up.

"I can see it in your eyes," Eli muttered, before signaling him to sit down, which he sat down. "You want an opportunity to prove yourself, don't you? one that can help your weak heart and yourself. I'm giving you that opportunity. Do you want to sink or swim? I trust you to get me the best financial guidance you can give my business."

Oshun's tiger-like expression faded fast, replaced with a form of awareness. There was no shortage of accountants in the black market; he was just a junior accountant. People would bat their eyes over him at any chance they could get... and he needed money.

Oshun let out a sigh before rubbing his temples with a stressed expression. "I see. OK. Yeah, I'll take the deal then."

"Good, here's the contract."

The contract may not mean much in the underworld and black market, but they were running a semi-legitimate business. His pay will come in dividends, suspended until the business fcompanys on its feet. Dividends were payments to the shareholders, aka Oshun, who now was a part of the business. It was simple; the more shares you had, the more dividends you paid out.

Eli's sharp eyes scanned the larger, slightly younger boy going out the door before drinking the rest of his coffee and spitting it out.

It tastes like dogshit. How do people drink this? In the slums, he wanted to taste it so badly, and now that dream had just got crushed. But what was that he just felt? How did he read Oshun like that? was it something to do with his mark?

No matter. He had work to do. Touching his waist and pulling out his pokeballs, Eli looked towards Teddiursa and Skrelp's Pokeball with a frown before clutching them.

They were weak... too weak.

Clenching his fist, Eli rested his head on the padded chair before releasing a sigh. He had been in contact with nothing but monsters for the past year. He had been oppressed... but now it was time to get stronger and rise from the ashes.

He was training Pokémon, making them stronger while he ran his business. Many would call him stupid as fuck; others would probably laugh. But he will do it... no, he has to.

Twisting his arm to the back of his shirt where the mark was, Eli ran his finger's over the spot before sighing.

The business foundation was complete; it was time to revise for the exam. With his knowledge of pokemon, he did not doubt that he could ace it. After all, it was the only way he survived the slums for so long, the desperation that led him to knowledge. And knowledge is power.

But did he want to stand out? Standing out was a dangerous move right now.

But not only was he vying for the attention of team rocket, but as "Loki," he needed to attract the alliance. He knew he had bit off more than he could chew, but he was forced back into a corner.

Standing up and going towards the door, Eli's hand's reached the door handle before an uncanny smirk enveloped his face.

"Desperate animals are the most dangerous, huh?"