Chapitre 1238: Acquisition of Incense Workshop
The afternoon's competition had just ended, and as Yuga arrived at the door, he was greeted with surprising news from Suzuki Koen—Yashushi had returned.
Yuga was taken aback by this, quickly walking into the shop. In the reception room, he saw Yashushi talking to Seien.
Seien was a skilled incense maker trained by Yashushi. Now that his master had returned, it was only natural for him to come and see.
Having learned both Yashushi's family traditions and the incense-making manual from YoYo Day Care, Seien had grown into a capable and outstanding incense maker, fully capable of handling things on his own.
Upon seeing Yuga enter, Seien stood up politely and greeted him, "Hello, boss."
Seien, along with Kano, who joined YoYo Day Care with him, were orphans, and it was Yuga who had provided them with good jobs and favorable treatment. As a result, he held Yuga in great respect.
Yuga nodded and asked, "What were you talking about with your master?"
Seien scratched the back of his head, feeling embarrassed. "Hehe, we didn't talk about much. My master was testing me on my skills!"
Hearing this, Yuga laughed heartily, "I'll vouch for Seien. He's now our YoYo Day Care's signature incense maker, and everyone knows how good his craft is. He certainly hasn't embarrassed you, his master."
At present, there were three incense makers at YoYo Day Care: the head master, Lain, the apprentice, Kano, and Seien.
Kano was Lain's disciple, while Seien had been personally trained by Yashushi before he left.
Seien had learned both Yashushi's and YoYo Day Care's methods, which complemented each other, so his incense-making skills were slightly better than Kanos, who joined YoYo Day Care around the same time.
The craft passed down from Yashushi was something that Seien had learned privately from him and could not pass on to others. Doing so would be a betrayal to Yashushi.
"I can't let the students I teach bring shame to me," Yashushi said, joking for once.
Seeing that his master seemed to have something to discuss with Yuga, Seien spoke up, "I still have some work to do, so I'll leave now. You two can talk."
Yashushi nodded, "Go ahead."
After Seien left, Yuga sighed as he sat down, "You've been gone for so long, and not even a call. There's not a word from you."
Actually, Yuga had occasionally heard news from the Everlasting Incense Workshop and knew that things hadn't been going well for them.
Everlasting Incense Workshop was the name of Yashushi's family incense workshop. Once the most famous workshop in Hoenn, it had now completely fallen into decline.
Yuga didn't need to ask to know that life must have been hard for Yashushi after returning.
Yashushi remained silent for a long while before finally speaking.
"My grandfather passed away."
Yuga was stunned for a moment after hearing this, but before he could respond, Yashushi continued, "In a way, it was for the best. It was a release for him."
Family legacy had always been the most important thing to Yashushi's grandfather. He had gone so far as to force his granddaughter, Miyuki, to become Ariana, making him watch helplessly as the incense workshop he had spent his life building gradually fell into ruin. This was a pain greater than death for him.
What was most painful was that it was all his own doing. If he hadn't forced Miyuki into becoming Ariana, the family's incense workshop wouldn't have collapsed.
His grandfather had already been old and, after experiencing such a huge rise and fall, his health had deteriorated, and he eventually passed away some time ago.
It could be said that Yashushi's grandfather had passed away with curses from Miyuki still hanging in the air.
Even in death, Yashushi's grandfather had never reflected on the unfairness he had shown Miyuki. He only thought of her as ungrateful and less than human.
It was precisely because his grandfather had carried this resentment throughout his life and suffered for it that Yashushi said his passing had been a release.
After his grandfather's death, only Yashushi and his sister, Yukino, remained in the family.
Yukino was a notorious young lady who had never received proper guidance, so Yashushi had been very strict with her afterward, hoping to correct her bad habits.
The effects of strict teaching were evident. Although Yukino couldn't be considered a good person or a well-behaved girl, at least she no longer caused trouble.
The main reason was that their family no longer had the resources to cover for her. Yukino herself understood this, so she had no choice but to behave herself.
After returning from YoYo Day Care, Yashushi began taking over the family's incense workshop. However, due to the influence of Miyuki (Ariana), the reputation of the Everlasting Incense Workshop had already been tarnished, and business was steadily declining, putting it on the brink of closure.
Yashushi could only be considered a tech enthusiast—though skilled in incense making, he was not the type of person who excelled at running a business. Faced with the crisis of Everlasting Incense Workshop, he lacked the ability to reverse its fortunes.
Yuga watched Yashushi, who was deep in thought for a while, unsure whether to comfort him, and finally decided to ask, "So what are your plans moving forward?"
Yashushi hesitated, his face full of bitterness, before speaking, "Boss... I'd like to ask for your help."
"Go ahead," Yuga said. "I will certainly help if I can."
Having worked with Yashushi for such a long time, Yuga still felt a bond. Moreover, Yashushi had helped cultivate an outstanding incense maker for YoYo Day Care.
"I'd like to ask you to acquire our Everlasting Incense Workshop," Yashushi said, a request that left Yuga shocked.
Although Everlasting Incense Workshop had once been a leader in the incense making industry in Hoenn, it had since fallen from grace, and many people were eager to see it fail—this included both former competitors and previous partners.
Now that Everlasting Incense Workshop was on the brink of bankruptcy, one of its former competitors was pressuring Yashushi to maliciously acquire it.
Yashushi reasoned that it didn't matter who acquired the workshop, so he thought of Yuga, who was the only one who could still help him.
Though Everlasting Incense Workshop had declined, its foundation was still there, and if Yuga acquired it, there were great benefits to be had.
Yuga was taken aback. "Are you sure? That's your family's ancestral workshop."
Yashushi smiled bitterly. "What else can I do? It's better than letting it be maliciously acquired and falling into the hands of our competitors. I can no longer protect the workshop alone."
"So, do you have a specific plan?" Yuga asked.
"I do." Yashushi then took out a plan.
Since he had come specifically for this matter, he had naturally prepared in advance.
Yuga took the plan and began reading through it. It didn't take long for him to understand the content.
The root cause of Everlasting Incense Workshop's downfall was that the workshop's former owner was Miyuki (Ariana), a wanted criminal in the League. (Ariana had controlled the workshop for a time through her manipulation of Yashushi's grandfather.) If it had been a regular wanted criminal, it wouldn't have been such a big deal, but she was an executive of Team Rocket.
Yashushi's plan was to sell 60% of Everlasting Incense Workshop's shares to Yuga, changing the workshop's actual owner and giving it a fresh start.
Once Yuga took over the ownership of the workshop, it would re-emerge under a new identity. This would not only erase the negative impact caused by Miyuki but also allow the workshop to benefit from Yuga's and YoYo Day Care's reputations, gradually reviving its business.
If Yuga agreed, Everlasting Incense Workshop would become part of YoYo Day Care.
"Are you really sure you want to do this?" Yuga took a deep breath and said.
After reading the plan, Yuga couldn't deny that he was indeed tempted.
"Yes!" Yashushi nodded. "Not only will this save Everlasting Incense Workshop, but it also gives it a chance to reclaim its former glory. Why not take the opportunity?"
Hearing this, Yuga looked at him with a half-smile and said, "You didn't write this plan, did you?"
Yashushi was a tech enthusiast at heart, and from Yuga's understanding of him, he knew Yashushi couldn't have written such a plan.
Yashushi's face turned red under Yuga's gaze. "You... You figured it out. It's not mine, actually."
After his grandfather passed away, Yashushi was overwhelmed with the issues surrounding the workshop, so he hired a professional to manage Everlasting Incense Workshop for him.
Although the person was new to society, they were highly capable, and after understanding the situation of the workshop, they came up with the current plan.
After hearing this, Yuga nodded. "Seems like they're a good person. I'll make sure to meet them when I get the chance."
"Okay... okay," Yashushi said, feeling somewhat embarrassed.
"Alright, I agree to acquire Everlasting Incense Workshop," Yuga said as he placed the plan on the table. However, he then shifted his tone and added, "But I have one condition."
Yashushi immediately asked, "What is it?"
"I want the Everlasting Incense Workshop to no longer operate solely in the incense business, but to also run alongside the Pokeblock."
To make YoYo Day Care bigger and stronger, Yuga must expand the business, but opening branches in the Pokémon industry isn't feasible for someone like him. So, he decided to shift his focus to Pokeblock and Incense, which are by-products of Pokémon.
With Everlasting Incense Workshop as a foundation, he wouldn't have to start from scratch.
Although Everlasting Incense Workshop had fallen into decline, its experience in operations and industry knowledge was far greater than Yuga's, which would save him a lot of trouble.
After the makeover, Everlasting Incense Workshop would become a new enterprise. Although Yashushi would still hold shares, he wouldn't be involved in its operations. Yuga would be the actual person in charge, rendering the negative influence brought by Miyuki irrelevant.
Of course, he would need to report this to the League in advance to avoid unnecessary trouble.
Yuga's proposal was one Yashushi agreed to after a moment of thought. Since Yuga would become the real owner of Everlasting Incense Workshop, he would have decision-making authority over the direction of the workshop's operations.
As long as Everlasting Incense Workshop could be preserved, Yashushi had no objections.
"Then let's work together!" Yuga stood up and extended his right hand to Yashushi.
"Looking forward to it!" Yashushi's tone lightened considerably. Everlasting Incense Workshop was saved! Before coming, he had been worried that Yuga would refuse to acquire Everlasting Incense Workshop.
After finalizing their agreement, they talked for a while longer. This was only a preliminary agreement, and many details would need further discussion. It wouldn't be something completed in a day or two.
By the time they were done talking, it was nearly dusk, and Audino came to call Yuga for dinner. Yuga invited Yashushi to stay and have dinner before leaving.
Yashushi hadn't had Audino's cooking in a long time and missed it, so he didn't refuse the invitation.
After dinner, Yashushi left in a hurry.
After seeing Yashushi off, Yuga went to the Ecopark to visit the newly settled Helioptile.
Yuga had been worried that Druddigon, the clumsy one, wouldn't take good care of the Helioptile. However, when he arrived, he saw how carefully Druddigon was tending to it and how much the Helioptile depended on Druddigon. Yuga was immediately reassured.
He didn't expect Druddigon to have the potential to be a good caregiver! Yuga thought quietly as he left the Dragon Den Sub-Ecopark.
After several days of intense training, Yuga noticed that Druddigon's round face had slimmed down considerably, which made him very satisfied.
Leaving the Dragon Den Sub-Ecopark, Yuga went to the shallow beach to visit Squirtle and Froakie.
When Yuga arrived, the two little ones were having a swimming race, looking far more energetic than before.
When Yuga arrived, the two little ones swam even faster. In no time, they reached the shore and darted straight to Yuga's feet, with Squirtle being faster than Froakie.
It was surprising that the turtle was faster than the frog.
Yuga exclaimed in surprise, "I didn't expect you to swim so fast!" He then patted Squirtle's smooth little head.
Squirtle was very happy, hugging Yuga's hand and rubbing its cheek against Yuga's skin, leaving it wet.
Froakie was not pleased and kept croaking at Yuga, who had to reply, "Froakie swims really fast too. If you work harder, you'll definitely catch up with Squirtle."
Froakie was immediately satisfied upon hearing this and jumped to Yuga's feet, rubbing against his pants.
Well, now his pants were wet too.
The next morning, Yashushi came over to say goodbye to Yuga. He had a lot of things to take care of once he got back. The acquisition of Everlasting Incense Workshop by YoYo Day Care needed to be handled quickly; otherwise, more and more people would start targeting Everlasting Incense Workshop .
After breakfast, Yuga headed to the stadium. When he arrived, he noticed that the audience had arrived earlier than usual. Everyone was discussing who would win the championship in today's Duel Tournament.
Among the four competitors—Erika, Anya, Bill, and Hana—the one most likely to win was Anya, while Hana was considered the least likely.
Originally, Erika was the favorite to win, but since she used Shaymin in her match against Ash, the situation had turned around.
There was a strange reverence people had for legendary Pokémon.
At 7:30 AM, the battle groupings appeared on the big screen.
First match: Bill vs. Hana
Second match: Erika vs. Anya
The crowd gasped at the draw, as the two top contenders, Erika and Anya, were matched up against each other earlier than expected.
But it couldn't be helped; the matchups were random, and it was just bad luck for the two of them to meet so soon.
At 8:00 AM, the competition officially began. Bill and Hana slowly entered the arena amid the cheering of the audience.
At the signal from the Rotom camera, Bill and Hana released their Pokémon simultaneously.
Bill's first Pokémon was Sceptile, while Hana's first Pokémon was Trevenant.
Trevenant had performed very strongly in previous matches, and Bill hadn't expected Hana to send it out first.
"Trevenant, greet Sceptile with Shadow Ball!" Hana said in a cheerful tone.
At her command, Trevenant gathered several Shadow Balls and hurled them at Sceptile.
"Sceptile, use Agility to dodge!" Bill shouted.
As Sceptile sped up, the Shadow Balls missed one after another.
Bill then gave the next command. "Sceptile, use Double Team!"
Upon hearing Bill's command, Sceptile left behind multiple clones that were indistinguishable from the original. In no time, Trevenant found itself surrounded by them.
Hana wasn't worried in the slightest and calmly issued her next order.
"Trevenant, Will-O-Wisp!"
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone