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Among everyone present, only Diantha and Oleander had spent the most time dealing with one another, and they both knew exactly what kind of person Oleander truly was.
Beneath that graceful and polished exterior was a soul riddled with scars. To put it bluntly, Oleander radiated an aura of lifelessness. She had pushed others away so thoroughly that she likely had no friends left.
The only ones still by her side were her Pokémon. It was only when she was with them that Diantha could still see a trace of life in Oleander, something that made her seem human instead of just a hollow shell.
The wise avoid danger, and the more Diantha understood Oleander, the more she wished to distance herself.
Luther had shared something rather profound during one of his late-night runs: that living with ease is best, and even a life muddled by confusion can still be worthwhile. The people around him these days were far kinder and more genuine than those he'd met before, and that simplicity made him feel at peace.
He even remarked, "Life gives you thirty-six thousand days, if you can live through just one of them fully, that's enough."
To Diantha, the people Luther had known before hadn't seemed all that terrible, so it was strange that he felt this way. But that line, if you can live through just one day, that's enough, was something Oleander really needed to hear.
What becomes of someone who clings desperately to an obsession, only to lose it in the end?
Cyrus had been missing ever since.
Many people didn't understand why Cyrus was so resistant to stepping down, but Diantha did. Just like Oleander, he was sick, sick with obsession.
The two of them were like fanatics chasing martyrdom, walking barefoot through fire. Eventually, the flames would consume them. Diantha was sure of it.
Meanwhile, back at the dining table, everyone acted as if nothing had happened. They'd already brushed off the letter and were now talking about Musharna.
Musharna had grown quite attached to Luther, likely because she'd had almost no contact with humans in the past twenty years. Her affection was clumsy; besides licking Luther's hand with her tongue, she would simply curl up beside him like a puppy.
Whenever Luther spoke, she trembled slightly.
She was practically feral, communication with humans was difficult for her, and she feared everyone except Luther.
Cynthia had already noticed the issue and suggested that Luther take Musharna to the training grounds. The problem wasn't difficult to fix. If Musharna could sense the presence and energy of other Pokémon, her anxiety would likely subside.
"Aren't you coming?" Cynthia glanced toward Diantha, who made no move to rise from her seat.
"I just remembered something I need to take care of. I'll make a call."
…
On the other end, Oleander clutched her phone so tightly it creaked, as if she were on the verge of hurling it.
For someone like Oleander, falling asleep naturally was a rare luxury. Being woken up, especially by something trivial, was enough to make her furious.
The number was unfamiliar and unmarked, but it had already called four times in a row. It clearly wasn't a mistake.
Swallowing her anger, Oleander finally answered.
"I tried your office line, but there was no answer. I got your personal number from your colleagues, but that didn't go through either. I really thought you were going to ghost me forever."
That voice cut through her drowsiness like a blade.
"Diantha? I'm exhausted from working late. Can we talk in the afternoon?"
"Working late? Oh, you mean writing love letters, buying flowers, and, oh right, breaking into empty houses at night? I really underestimated the International Police. I didn't realize their operations were expanding so fast. Should I be expecting you to show up at my place next time, for a little 'overtime'?"
A soft chuckle came through the phone.
"We're both smart people. Isn't it a little awkward to keep pretending at this point? Or do you actually have feelings for Luther? If so, I can book a flight to Sinnoh for you right now, and I'll even cover the date expenses. Tsk tsk… Oleander, I never thought you had such a romantic side."
Oleander never believed this little act would fool Luther or the others. It didn't matter who had feelings for him, as long as it annoyed her, that was enough.
As for Diantha's mocking call? Oleander saw it as nothing more than jealousy.
When someone younger came trying to provoke her, Oleander's instinct was always to strike back.
"So you called first thing in the morning just to interrupt my sleep and accuse me? You must really care about your boyfriend, huh?"
"If that's how you want to take it, sure."
"Oh, so it is true? What a juicy scoop, Kalos' celebrity Champion caught in a romance scandal. I wonder how fast reporters would swarm Sinnoh."
"The Deputy Director of the International Police's Safety Division breaking into private homes in the dead of night would be a bigger headline. I know a few journalists who'd love to stir things up at headquarters. After all that excitement, would you still be the Deputy Director?"
Diantha's voice carried no emotion, but Oleander's face darkened immediately.
"I had a search warrant."
"No, you definitely didn't," Diantha replied coldly. "You were stripped of your authority around seven o'clock yesterday. The oversight committee meeting must've dragged on, and by the time it ended, the approval window had already closed. We all know search warrants have strict time constraints; they must be authorized and executed on the same day."
"You may have lost your authority, but your regional jurisdiction didn't officially expire until midnight. Knowing your personality, you would've squeezed out every last second of that window to pursue one final lead. In the end, you chose Luther. Am I wrong?"
Oleander's breathing quickened, and her hand clenched the blanket tightly into a fist.
Glancing at her now-awake Ninetales, Gastly, and Beedrill, she turned the phone away slightly and gave a gentle smile. "It's nothing, just work. Go back to sleep."
With that, Oleander stepped out into the courtyard, the night air cool against her skin.
"What is it? You calling to tell me not to make jokes about your boyfriend anymore?"
Diantha ignored the jab completely. "Send me a copy of the information you found last night."
Oleander's expression darkened. "I didn't find anything, except for Musharna. And she's already been delivered to your precious Luther."
"After losing your authority, you're not going to get another chance to command the region directly. Last night was probably your last chance to act without oversight. And you used it. On something important. You found something related to Luther, didn't you? That's why you disregarded the Pokémon League's warning and continued your investigation."
"Let me guess… your obsession with rooting out the remaining infiltrators within the International Police, it's all tied to your ex-boyfriend, isn't it? He had connections to the group behind the amplifier device incident. That's why you're desperate to confirm whether there are still remnants of that organization embedded within the agency."
"That wound you carry… does it still hurt?"
"Diantha!"
Oleander's voice cracked as she shouted, her face twisted with rage.
At the doorway, Ninetales stared silently, eyes filled with worry, as she watched her trainer tremble in the courtyard.
Oleander's face flushed red, her breathing labored. At that moment, she didn't care if Diantha heard her lose control. She wanted to storm across the line, to wipe that ever-so-poised smile off Diantha's face with her fists.
"Enough, Diantha! I told you, I found nothing except for Musharna!"
"I still have my connections. My influence. Cynthia and I can help. You've lost the support of the regional Pokémon League, but that doesn't mean you're completely out of options."
"I said, I found nothing!"
A long pause followed.
Just as Oleander's finger hovered over the screen to hang up, Diantha's voice returned, softer now, almost casual.
"Maybe I should let the reporters ask you directly about your little late-night break-in."
"I'll tell them everything about you and Luther!"
It was a direct threat, plain and sharp. But Oleander didn't believe Diantha would risk that, unless she was perfectly fine exposing her own secret in the process.
"Alright. I'll be waiting."
Diantha ended the call before Oleander could respond.
(End of Chapter)