I Sting (Pokemon Poison Type Specialist)

Virah made sure to take measured observations on everything around her.

Janine had said that staring in the eyes here had the same effect as asking for something in trainer culture and Virah didn't want to accidentally get someone to think she wanted their help.

But really, she couldn't help but look around in wonder, everything here was exactly the kind of things anyone would find in a novel or a TV show like The Great Hoppip.

The culture surrounding crime was quite fascinating as well, with everyone either looking hard or rugged depending on how they presented themselves.

And unlike them, who wore clean, carefully maintained ninja outfits, the scarred men and women of this side of the world adorned a mercenary aesthetic, complete with protective gear on places such as their elbows or knees, chest, and the occasional neck.

They didn't wear protection on both their limbs either, instead, they sort of threw it on one hand and called it a day, when asked about why, Janine explained that those were closer to being a one-handed buckler, a type of small, circular shield apparently, than any proper gloves.

"So they just use it to block an attack or a move?" Virah asked in a whisper as she gazed at a man sitting on a table drinking beer, "that's interesting…"

A more reactionary way of protecting yourself sounded inefficient but also more exciting?.. Why was she thinking it was exciting?

Before she goes and decides suddenly wear less armor (which she refused to, but then again, a shield on her right forearm sounded good,) Virah looked at Janine and refocused her attention on why that is, "isn't it better if they wear full plated armor?"

"Not when they're trying to hide," Janine shook her head in disagreement, "people like us would be easily caught, actually, we're kind of wanted by the Jennies,"

"Oh," Virah looked down, that made sense, "so these guys just pretend to be other trainer archetypes when outside? Like Bird catchers I'm guessing?"

"Bird catchers, Hobos, Janitors, Fire breathers, Jesters, even Psychics occasionally," Janine listed, "that last one is what you should watch out the most for too since they're more dangerous than normal and could definitely read your moves,"

"I know," Virah nodded.

Psychics were, according to the normal folk, were mutated humans able to wield the power of Pokemon but she felt that it was simply affinity for Psychic Type Energy than anything else biologically related.

She never thought that a day where she picked the mystical over clear research and science would come but she supposed she's living in it now, and she couldn't help but smile wryly at the thought of it.

Virah scanned the crowd for anyone who's potentially psychic or capable of using Aura and she couldn't spot the latter but she did see a man with a ponytail.

He sat by what'd clearly a coffee shop mixed with a diner with a book floating in front him, its pages flipped on their own. Compared to everyone here, he was dressed cleanly, with a gorgeous dark-purple robe and a pair of wooden sandals.

Virah looked away when the man's eyes shifted to stare at her.

"So there are other aura users here too?" Virah asked to keep the tension rattling her bones away.

"There are plenty of aura users out there, some, more subdued than others and most not even aware that they're using a trainer's lifeblood," Janine looked to their right where a man breathed fire into his kebab before eating it.

Virah looked away, come to think of it, that is clear usage of Fire Type Energy isn't it? How come she's never caught on to that?

"People here are simply more open to using their abilities because of the lack of constraint and authority figures willing to reprimand them," Janine explained, "and, well, it's not like they're as strong as both of us, rarely can a Fire Type specialist breath fire, at best they can pull off a party trick,"

"But the enhanced physique is welcome anyways," Virah chimed.

"Yes," Janine nodded, "it is, it's why most practitioners learn how to use it after all,"

Janine kept explaining the nuances and culture of the underworld as they walked and by the time they stopped, Virah had learned most of the rules of the underworld, the reason for why people turn into mercenaries, as well as the different ways people like her can get paid.

It was all a little jarring, but not something she couldn't handle, she's read Pokedex pages with far more texts than this after all, and she's memorized those just fine.

"We'll, we're here," Janine finished with a shake of her head, "it's better to keep quiet until we find a room inside,"

Inside of what? Well, it's a diner judging by the people eating inside, the hostesses, be then Pokemon or human, carrying trays of food towards table, and the counter in the back manned by what is obviously a chef.

The building was just like any other one found here in the district, with it quite literally being built onto the wall screw and all.

It was nameless with an open diner that had pillars in the front rather than walls, it made the entrance pretty wide and going in, the first thing that Virah saw were picture frames of mobsters, scarred trainers and Pokemon, as well as poached species such as Dratini and Larvitar.

It was an interesting choice to make, and it strangely fit well with the jury rigged tables and chairs, the furniture really looked the part of being underworld borne, which Virah assumed was because they got destroyed in the daily, so repairs are done cheaply.

The food inside were what is commonly expected of any diner outside of the underworld, with Bug Types such as Caterpie, Weedle, and even Scyther meat being the biggest part of the menu while the occasional green is here and there.

Janine though wasn't interested in them, no, they walked to the side and into a hallway which led deeper into the building, the peeling wallpaper and flickering light switches creeped her out but the feeling of being stared at is what sealed the deal, there was a Ghost Type somewhere in here.

Watching, prodding.

Virah shook the fear out of her mind and silently followed her companion, who led her to a door connected to a cubical room with a very claustrophobic atmosphere.

The chairs were next to the walls and there was a table at the center that blocked anyone trying to sit, to even get to the back of the table, one needed to literally scape their way to it inch by rigorous inch.

Virah did so and she couldn't feel anymore choked out.

Janine, meanwhile, sat on the table and that made Virah blink, "that's allowed?"

"We're ninjas, and in the underworld," was Janine's expected answer.

Oh. Now Virah felt extremely stupid.

She made her way out of the chair, painstakingly so, and hopped on top of the table.

"So what now?" She asked.

Janine pulled out a piece of paper from underneath her vest and flared her Aura, the sigils on it activated and a bright purple field erupted from the paper.

"Now everything is muffled," Janine smiled, "well then, let's talk about Team Rocket, what do you know?"

"Well, I only know about Cyrus," Virah replied, Janine nodded, gesturing her to explain further, "well, then, he's supposed to be part of Team Rocket's group in researching wormholes and they're doing it to teleport their members around the region,"

"Faster travel then," Janine closed her eyes, "no, Team Rocket wouldn't have a project for something as simple as that, they're planning doing something big,"

"Like?" Virah wanted the more experienced ninja's guess, really, how close could Janine be to the answer?

"They want to mess with legendaries," she said.

"That's impossible," Virah shook her head, "I know they're messing with Gengars and their shadow hop ability though, so maybe it does have something to do with teleportation?"

But also not really…

"You look like you know something," Janine said.

"Yeah, one of the wormholes was able to let someone time travel," Virah answered.

"Hm, well, then, that's something else entirely, I'll have to do more investigations on my part before we talk more about that," Janine shook her head in warning, "for now, how about we discuss what I know? It's only fair I give information to you in return,"

"Okay," Virah was scared, really, why wouldn't she? Time travel was a big deal, and why it had never crossed her mind before was beyond her.