Long-term planning

After Amina was taken away and Anya was sent off, YoYo Day Care returned to its usual tranquility.

On this particular day, Yashushi arrived in Verdanturf Town once again, this time to handle the paperwork for YoYo Day Care's acquisition of the Everlasting Incense Workshop. As the owner of YoYo Day Care, many documents required Yuga's signature.

During this visit, Yuga also met the person who had advised Yashushi. To his surprise, it was not a man as he had imagined but a young woman.

The woman's name was Kiriha. She was tall, with short hair, and exuded a sharp, competent demeanor. Her actions and speech were direct and efficient. She was responsible for managing much of the paperwork for the transfer of Everlasting Incense Workshop's shares.

Once all the procedures were completed, Everlasting Incense Workshop officially transitioned from a family-run business into a subsidiary company under YoYo Day Care.

With the change in ownership, Yashushi, who was not skilled in management, stepped back from running the company. Instead, he transitioned from being the owner to a full-time incense artisan, solely responsible for incense production.

The company's operations and management were fully entrusted to Kiriha.

Although Kiriha had not been with Everlasting for long, Yuga found through their conversations that she was a capable and visionary young woman.

Her entry into Everlasting, which was in a precarious state at the time, was a matter of coincidence.

Fresh out of school and lacking sufficient work experience, Kiriha struggled to find an ideal position. After a period of job searching, she came across Everlasting Incense Workshop. Through her research, she learned that the company was on the brink of collapse. However, she reasoned that if she could revive this failing company, wouldn't that prove her capability and secure her a great position with good benefits?

And so, when Yashushi was looking for someone to manage the company, Kiriha approached him proactively.

It turned out that Kiriha was indeed highly capable. Without her holding things together, Everlasting Incense Workshop would have long since been maliciously acquired by others.

After some discussions with Kiriha, Yuga quickly outlined the future direction for Everlasting Incense Workshop's development.

First, the name Everlasting would remain unchanged. Though the company's reputation had been tarnished due to Miyuki's scandal, its product quality had always been reliable. Its name recognition came from that reputation.

Yuga's task now was to reclaim Everlasting Incense Workshop's former renown reputation and win back its lost customers.

Next, Everlasting Incense Workshop's operations would expand beyond just incense production to include Pokeblock as well.

Everlasting had cultivated a significant number of its own incense artisans. Like Seien and Kano from YoYo Day Care, these artisans were all from orphanages and were deeply loyal to Everlasting. If not, they would have abandoned the struggling company long ago.

Of course, the incense artisans at Everlasting did not have access to the core secrets of incense production unique to Yashushi's family.

This did not surprise Yuga. Yashushi's grandfather was someone who wouldn't even teach his granddaughter; there was no chance he would share his knowledge with outsiders.

But Yuga was different. He was willing to teach the incense artisans the techniques he had mastered. If everyone hoarded their knowledge like Yashushi's grandfather, how could the company grow and thrive?

That said, proper confidentiality measures were necessary. Anyone wishing to learn YoYo Day Care's incense techniques would be required to sign a non-disclosure agreement.

Since Everlasting had trained these artisans and provided them with excellent treatment, the company wouldn't allow them to take their skills elsewhere.

In the coming days, YoYo Day Care's master incense artisan, Lain, would temporarily leave Verdanturf Town and travel to Everlasting Incense Workshop's headquarters to train the artisans there.

Unlike Lain, who was proficient in all types of incense production, each incense artisan at the workshop would only be permitted to learn one formula from the incense manual.

Incense making is a meticulous, labor-intensive craft. The saying "practice makes perfect" holds true—focusing on a single type of incense production would make it easier for artisans to reach the pinnacle of their craft.

Of course, this is also part of the confidentiality measures.

The Everlasting Incense Workshop will officially be renamed Everlasting Workshop, as it will no longer only produce incense but will also begin crafting Pokeblock.

However, for now, there is no one in the workshop skilled in making Pokeblock.

Yuga and Kiriha decided that Everlasting Workshop would replicate the training model used for incense masters to cultivate a group of specialized Pokeblock artisans.

YoYo Day Care will fund the establishment of a training institution at Everlasting Workshop's headquarters. This institution will focus on training apprentices for incense making and Pokeblock crafting, ensuring a steady stream of talent for Everlasting Workshop.

Finally, Yuga and Kiriha discussed how to expand the Everlasting brand from Hoenn to the entire Pokémon world.

Beyond production, the sales and distribution side will require considerable effort from Kiriha, which is precisely why a professional manager like her is essential.

While Yuga and Kiriha were enthusiastically planning, Yashushi sat quietly on the side without saying much, as this wasn't his area of expertise.

When the discussion was nearly concluded, he finally spoke: "Boss, I want to share my family's incense-making methods with the workshop's training institution as well."

Yuga was surprised. "Are you sure? Your grandfather wouldn't have agreed to this."

Yashushi nodded firmly, "I'm sure. Grandfather has passed away. What's the point of me holding onto this craft all by myself? It would be better to use it to help the workshop grow stronger."

Even though he was no longer the owner of the workshop, he still retained shares in the company and remained part of it. He wanted to see the workshop thrive.

The boss had already shared both the incense manual and energy cube-making techniques, so Yashushi felt he had no reason to cling to his family's secret craft anymore.

After thinking for a moment, Yuga agreed:

"Alright, as long as you're certain you won't regret it. I'm all for it."

This was undoubtedly good news for Everlasting Workshop, and Yuga had no reason to refuse. Whether or not Yashushi's grandfather would disapprove from beyond the grave was no longer their concern.

And so, the decision was made.

Yashushi and Kiriha didn't stay long in Verdanturf Town. Once their tasks were mostly settled, they promptly left, as there was still much to handle back at Everlasting Workshop.

Once the training institution was established, a large number of apprentices would need to be recruited, mostly from orphanages across the region.

Additionally, instructors for the institution would need to be hired.

For incense-making, the workshop's senior incense masters could take on the teaching roles without much issue. However, instructors for Pokeblock crafting had to be recruited externally.

YoYo Day Care would also assign a teacher to the institution. This individual would specifically teach the apprentices how to craft YoYo Day Care's unique Pokeblock.

The external instructors and YoYo Day Care's instructor would teach separately, each focusing on different aspects.

The external instructors would cover foundational knowledge and basic crafting techniques for Pokeblock, while YoYo Day Care's instructor would teach the exclusive techniques for crafting its signature Pokeblock.

Similar to incense masters, each Pokeblock crafting apprentice would only be allowed to learn one exclusive formula from YoYo Day Care.

Yuga decided to send Anya for this role. Despite her young age, Anya had proven herself as a capable artisan and was nearly on par with Misaki in Pokeblock crafting.

That day, Anya had just returned from visiting her mentor at the ranch when Aunt Hisoka told her the boss was looking for her. She quickly made her way to the main shop.

"Boss, you wanted to see me?" Anya asked curiously when she found Yuga.

Yuga, who was cleaning the shop alongside Saika and Suzuki Koen, put down his tools when he saw her.

"Come with me. I have something I need to discuss with you," he said.

Anya quietly followed Yuga into the meeting room. After he explained the plan to send her to Everlasting Workshop, she hesitated and said, "Re… Really? You want me to go? I'm worried I won't do a good job. Maybe you should send Sister Misaki instead."

Hearing this, Yuga frowned and said sternly:

"Do you lack that much confidence in yourself? My decision to send you means I believe you're capable. How will you know unless you try?"

Yuga's intention was to nurture Anya properly.

"But... but I've never done it before," Anya still felt unsure. She thought becoming someone else's teacher was too much—she herself felt like she hadn't yet graduated.

Understanding her youth and lack of experience, Yuga spoke gently, "It's okay. Even if problems arise along the way, we'll handle them. Learning through trial and error is part of the process. Everyone has a first time.

"Besides, your sister Lain will be going with you this time. If you run into anything you don't understand, just ask her for help."

"Then… okay, I'll do my best, boss!" Knowing that Lain would also be going brought Anya some relief, and she finally mustered the courage to agree.

After Anya left, Yuga sighed inwardly: Those kids back then have all grown up now.

Not long after, an official announcement was jointly made by Everlasting Workshop and YoYo Day Care. The statement revealed that Everlasting Workshop had been acquired by YoYo Day Care and was now officially a subsidiary of the company.

Alongside this announcement, YoYo Day Care also unveiled its operational plans for Everlasting Workshop moving forward.

Yuga made this public because he wanted to send a clear message: Everlasting Workshop was no longer the same as before.

As soon as the announcement was released, public perception of Everlasting Workshop underwent an immediate shift.

Everlasting Workshop had indeed garnered a poor reputation in the past, but YoYo Day Care had a sterling reputation. And with Yuga, a major figure, overseeing everything, public sentiment began to soften.

Now that everyone at Everlasting Workshop belonged to Yuga, the public naturally began letting go of some of their prejudices against the company.

The acquisition of Everlasting Workshop by YoYo Day Care caused quite a stir, especially among those who had previously sought to take advantage of Everlasting Workshop's situation to acquire it. These parties were now left gnashing their teeth in regret.

But what could they do? Everlasting Workshop was now backed by the mighty Yuga, and none of them dared to challenge him.

Some even attempted to stir up trouble by exploiting the fact that Miyuki was Ariana. They filed complaints with the League, hoping to derail YoYo Day Care's acquisition of Everlasting Workshop.

Unfortunately, Yuga had already reported this matter to the League in advance. The League trusted Yuga, especially since he was already on bad terms with Ariana. Accusations of collusion between Yuga and Ariana were naturally impossible to stand.

Thus, the issue was dropped without further action.

Not long after the acquisition of Everlasting Workshop was announced, Anya and Lain packed their belongings and were picked up by people sent from the workshop.

During this period, Yuga personally made a trip to Everlasting Workshop's headquarters. After all, now that the company belonged to him, he couldn't afford to not even know where its front door was.

Yuga stayed there for over half a month, and once he saw that everything was progressing smoothly, he returned to Verdanturf Town.

Another half-month passed, and Everlasting Workshop officially reopened. Everlasting Workshop's signature incense products returned to the shelves in their specialized stores.

However, the packaging of Everlasting Workshop's incense underwent significant changes. The trademark now featured two logos instead of one. The design representing Everlasting Workshop's trademark and YoYo Day Care's logo were printed side by side in one corner of the box.

As for the Pokeblock mentioned in Everlasting Workshop's development plan, they weren't available in stores yet. This was because the apprentices working on Pokeblock couldn't complete their training in such a short time, and YoYo Day Care lacked the manpower to supply enough stock to Everlasting Workshop's stores.

Still, efforts were being made at Everlasting Workshop's headquarters, and it was believed that it wouldn't take long before YoYo Day Care's Pokeblock could be distributed worldwide through Everlasting Workshop.

In the first month after Everlasting Workshop's reopening, incense sales were lackluster. However, with the implementation of one promotional plan after another crafted by Kiriha, along with various discount campaigns, Everlasting Workshop's business gradually began to recover. Although it still fell short of its former glory, it was enough to prove that they were on the right track.

Time flew by, and a few months later, Yuga suddenly received news from the League: Amina had confessed her origins.

Only then did Yuga learn that Amina was actually Anya and came from a parallel world.

Not only was Yuga astonished, but the League was equally surprised.

Amina's willingness to confess her origins stemmed from her desire to strike a deal with the League.

She would provide the League with certain information, and in return, the League would help her find a way to return to her world.

Amina was from another world, and judging from her age, the timeline of her world was several decades ahead of this one.

Although the two worlds had diverged in their development, many aspects remained similar, making the information she could provide highly valuable for the League as a reference.

However, whether Amina's claims were true or false still needed to be verified. The League couldn't simply take her word for it.

If what she said was true, the League would find it hard to reject her proposed deal. Conversely, they wouldn't be able to hold her accountable for the crimes she had committed in this world.

The reason the League informed Yuga about this matter was precisely because he had grievances against her.

However, the League also promised that if they were indeed compelled to pardon Amina's crimes because of this deal, Yuga, as the victim, would be compensated.

The compensation, of course, would be borne by the League.

Yuga had no objections to the League's proposed resolution. After all, he hadn't actually suffered any losses at Amina's hands. Since the League was willing to provide compensation, he saw no need to cling to Amina, as long as she didn't bother him again.

Moreover, since her sole focus was on returning to her original world, pursuing her actions in this world no longer held any meaning.