While her serious and standoffish demeanor might put most people off, Tristan sort of appreciated it. While it kept him on edge - still not entirely sure who he could trust - he was glad that this would just be business.

He only nodded to her nicety about Oracle; he knew she wasn’t terribly concerned. Either way, it didn’t really need a response. Additionally, he was a little preoccupied with Ether relaying that she had met with Pisces here in her office. He was curious what the timing was for this in relation to their meeting “3 years ago” in Lilycove. Yet another thing to inquire about.

“I’d like to know everything you’ve learned about this Team Zodiac.” He’d pause a beat to observe her reaction. “Most importantly any information you have about the Zodiacs themselves - descriptions, personalities, Pokémon, last known locations, habits; anything and everything you know about them.

“Of course I’d like to know who and how they’re recruiting, where they’re working out of, and such.” After another similar pause to last time he’d add, “I’d also like to be read-in on this Project Shadow the Master General just made me aware of.”

He’d continue before allowing her a chance to retort, “Now, I know this is outside my jurisdiction, but I believe these circumstances allow me to fall back into my previous role, yes?” 

He, too, was rather calm - doing his best to match her energy. It was nice, actually, to take it down a notch and allow all the nerves and stress from the past 48 hours to just fade away for a moment while he focused on the woman in front of him.

All the while he was rather annoyed that Ether wouldn’t be able to get any reads on Samantha. He was desperately curious to know what she thought and was going through her mind. All the more so probably because he knew he couldn’t. In a way, he took it for granted.