Pokémon Detective Case Files.

"Although they have all lost their ability to battle, the injuries of the ten Pokémon are quite different," the elderly champion remarked with emotion.

"Some of them are only temporarily unconscious due to the impact of the moves. As long as they take a stamina-restoring medicine and rest quietly for a while, they can be back in action in another battle. Others, like Volcarona, are too reckless in battle. Even if they receive emergency treatment immediately after the battle, they still need to be sent to the doctors at the Pokémon Center for another examination and treatment, and then they need to recuperate for a long time."

Wanlong's eyes darted away.

Of the six Pokémon that Mr. Alder sent back to the Pokémon Center to recover, apart from Volcarona, which was defeated by Yorgus, three of them were seriously injured by Fighting Champion Lian Wu, and two of them were defeated by Psychic Champion Cattleya...

All three Pokémon defeated by Lianwu were seriously injured, and two of the four Pokémon defeated by Gadria also needed to be sent for treatment.

Ironically, the two champion Pokémon that were defeated by the female novelist are still alive and well, curled up in Alder's Poké Ball.

"Miss Wanlong, you wouldn't have held back during our fight, would you? Do you really enjoy sympathizing with an old man who's past his prime?"

The Unova Champions watched with glee as the Ghost King descended into chaos.

"Please stop joking, Mr. Adek. Who can hold back their strength in the face of such intense pressure from the Volcano?" Wanlong couldn't help but protest loudly.

"Unlike Mr. Lianwu's brutal fighting style and Miss Cattleya's supernatural abilities, my Ghost-type attacks are more likely to cause this kind of unconsciousness that is not serious injury."

Suspicion lurks in the shadows, demons and monsters lurk in the human heart like shadows in the night, and malevolent energy assails people, causing their spirits to scatter and their souls to fly away.

For Ghost-type Pokémon, whose core attributes originate from ghosts and monsters, they are indeed better at creating a sinister and eerie atmosphere than engaging in head-on confrontations—unwittingly haunting their opponents with ethereal phantoms, launching unexpected and startling attacks from dark corners, or causing them to gradually lose consciousness in an extremely terrifying experience...

"Is it just a matter of attributes?"

Under Adek's meaningful gaze, Wanlong, sweating profusely, had no choice but to confess—

"Well, to be honest, my hesitation might have been reflected in my full-scale battle with you. Indeed, the sudden intrusion of that Plasma Sage had a great impact on me."

"How to say?"

"Watching Landorus and Volcarona fight, I realized a fact—that is, I do not yet have the magnanimity to become the Unova Champion."

In full-scale battles, even the slightest hesitation from a trainer will be reflected in their command and coordination with their partner. Wanlong, worried about not being able to live up to the champion's expectations, naturally couldn't fully commit to the battle.

In this sense, she, the Ghost-type Heavenly King, is the most unenlightened of the four Heavenly Kings of the Unified State.

"Really? I think I can retire with peace of mind no matter which of you four I hand over the championship title to."

Adek scratched the back of his head as he spoke, as if he truly meant it.

"That's because you're too magnanimous," Wanlong said, shaking his head helplessly.

"In today's Unova, the Champion title is by no means an easy task. There are Mr. Alder's long-standing unfinished business to deal with, and the restless Team Plasma is plotting something big. In this crisis-ridden environment, it's really hard to imagine what kind of storms the newly crowned Champion will face."

"Oh dear, it would be great if some outstanding young people could step up at a time like this... Ten years ago, the Sinnoh League chose a little girl as the champion, and now it seems like a wise move, doesn't it?"

The novelist sternly corrected: "That Miss Zhulan defeated both the Four Heavenly Kings and the Champion, winning the title through her own merit. It's completely different from your current situation of trying to find someone to award the title, Mr. Aldeck."

"Can Volcano and I hold out a little longer? Who can predict what will happen tomorrow... Speaking of which, that little girl Alice will probably climb the tower and challenge me tomorrow, right? Didn't she just make a big splash while cooperating with the police in a manhunt?"

“It’s a pity.” Wanlong shook his head. “According to the information Yueju sent me, Miss Alice suffered serious injuries to many of her Pokémon after fighting Team Plasma. She is currently receiving treatment at the Pokémon Center and it will be impossible for her to climb the tower tomorrow.”

"That's a real shame." The current champion, who was waiting for the handover, sighed.

"That child has good talent and comprehension, but her only flaw is that she is a little too impatient. A common characteristic of Dragon-type Pokémon is the composure that comes with their long lifespan. Iris should learn to be more composed in battles... I was thinking of telling her this during a battle, but it seems I'll have to find another time."

“Mr. Adek is still so good at teaching students... I, Lianwu, Cattleya and Yueju, were able to get to where we are today thanks to your constant guidance.”

After chatting for so long in the warm glow of the fire, even Wanlong couldn't help but sigh with emotion.

"Chandelier, Craftsman, Artificial Egg, Krookodile—these Pokémon, now considered the representatives of the Elite Four, were all your main Pokémon back in the day, Mr. Alder. So, even if you didn't successfully pass on the Champion title these past few days, your legacy has already become a prevailing trend in the Unova League."

"Hmph, as expected of a novelist, what remarkable speaking skills. Wasn't it you disobedient disciples who just sent the teachers to the Pokémon Center's emergency room?"

Adek snorted through his nose, but at the same time he laughed heartily, seemingly very pleased with Wanlong's subtle praise.

The student surpasses the teacher—this is the greatest praise for a teacher.

"I have indeed considered returning to Woodland to become a Pokémon teacher after stepping down as champion... However, before that—"

Despite the high temperature, the old man stroked the white downy hairs on the waist and abdomen of the fire moth, which looked as if they were burning.

"My partner and I have been the League Champions of the Unova region for decades, but we have never taught anyone the secrets of Bug-type Pokémon."

"Isn't Mr. Artie, the Gym Leader of Flying Cloud City, an expert on Bug-type Pokémon? Besides the Unova region, isn't there also a Bug-type Elite Four member like Ariel from the Sinnoh region?"

"I've been watching their playing style."

Surprisingly, Adek replied as follows—

"And there's Pixie from the Azalea Gym in the Johto region, and Violet from the Ebony Gym in the Kalos region. These people are experts in using Bug-type Pokémon, and their love and expertise in insects are beyond my reach... However, they cannot inherit Volcarona's resolve."

"Awakening...?"

This is precisely what Wanlong herself lacks.

Adek, unusually talkative, seemed to have truly transformed into a garrulous old teacher—

"For them, Bug-type Pokémon are endearing beings. Their ultimate goal in raising Bug-type Pokémon is to weave unique tactics for their partners and defeat opponents they should look up to in unexpected and overwhelming ways... It may be curious research, great art, vivid record, or fun play; perhaps they can continue on their own path and reach realms I cannot reach... But there is a fundamental difference between their own understanding and the path I have walked."

"What kind of deviation?" The novelist gripped his notebook tightly, determined to etch the aging champion's answer onto the pages.

"That is……"

Adek opened his mouth, but then suddenly fell silent.

"What's wrong?" Wanlong asked.

"What a delightful evening!" The champion grinned, revealing his white teeth. "Finally, we have more guests."

.

"Mr. Hugo, are you really planning to challenge Ardek for the championship? Isn't that a bit too much of a stretch?"

The purple-haired girl followed behind the detective in black. Although she had asked the same question many times along the way, she was still like a noisy bird that could only repeat the same sentence, tirelessly pestering Hugo.

The detective finally gave his answer—

“At noon, something you said touched me. So I felt I had to climb the tower and come here.”

Even without that reason, Hugo would still come here to retrieve Victini's Poké Ball for N...

"Huh? Did I say something so remarkable?"

Recalling her conversation with the detective after being defeated by the Dark Trio, Alice realized she had been crying and whining for no reason the whole time. Until just now, she naively thought Hugo had changed his mind and decided to challenge the champion to cheer her on.

"That's incredibly arrogant," the detective in black scoffed, his tone no longer as friendly as usual.

"You actually claim that you and Haxorus can become the best students of Champion Alder and Volcarona. Miss Alice, there is a limit to arrogance."

Chapter 234 Under the Shining Star of Victory

"I apologize for disturbing you so late at night. My name is Hugo, and I've come here to challenge the Adej champion of the Unova region."

The clear voice and silent footsteps created a stark contrast. The young man in black, who emerged from the corner of the stairs, was like a phantom in the night, followed closely by a petite purple-haired girl.

On the opposite side, the light emitted by the Volcano made their shadows appear enormous.

Upon seeing the two people climbing the tower, King Wanlong covered his mouth in surprise, almost letting out a scream.

Especially the former; Wanlong simply couldn't believe she would encounter this young man named Hugo at this time and place. As for the young man's claim of wanting to challenge the Ardek champion, she thought it was utterly absurd.

Even if the world were about to end, it wouldn't be this person's turn to challenge for the championship.

Hugo ignored the novelist he had met before, politely nodded to the champion inside the tower, and then walked to the center of the floor, directly in the direction where Adek was sitting cross-legged.

Clearly, this is the seat of the challengers, the place where the Unova Elite Four and the Sage of Joggs once fought against the Ardek Champion—the horrific marks left on the ground prove this.

"You're not a trainer from the Unova region, are you? Why are you here competing for the championship title?"

Unlike Wanlong, Adek had never met Hugo before. He didn't get up, but simply raised his thick eyebrows and silently stared at the newcomer.

The detective shook his head and reminded him, "Mr. Adek, the champion is not entitled to choose his challengers."

The fact that the challenger stands here is the sole reason the champion accepted the challenge. Nothing more needs to be said.

"Oh my, these young people these days are even more law-abiding than the old folks!" The elderly champion paused for a moment, then burst into hearty laughter.

Their bodies, draped in traditional clothing, began to move, and Adek stood up solemnly.

"That's true. After being a champion for so many years and teaching so many apprentices, I've even started to act like an elder. It's really not right... This is a battlefield to witness the passing of the championship, not a battle classroom that I opened in Suanmu Town. We should definitely go all out."

At the edge of the battlefield, Alice, who had moved to Wanlong's side, rubbed her eyes.

"Did I see wrong? Mr. Hugo seemed to have only said one sentence, and it made Champion Ardek look like he was facing a formidable enemy... In the past, no matter how I challenged Grandpa Ardek, he would always hold back in the fight as if he were dealing with a child."

“That man, Hugo, was reminding Mr. Adek of their respective identities at this moment.”

Wanlong stared intently at the two facing off, her eyes shining. After a brief moment of astonishment, she was filled with extreme excitement, eagerly anticipating the next development of the battle.

The pen in his left hand flew across the notebook, writing line after line. Whether he was answering Alice's question or murmuring what he was writing, the novelist continued—

"With just that one brief question, Mr. Ardek sensed Hugo's resolve as a 'challenger.' He, in turn, prepared himself to be challenged. This mindset was completely different from his composure when facing familiar Elite Four trainers, his vigilance when facing treacherous enemies, and his earnest guidance to younger trainers… Perhaps, Mr. Ardek's ascent of the Tower of Heaven, his challenge to all the high-ranking trainers in the Unova region—all these unprecedented actions—were perhaps simply what he was hoping for: this feeling of impending battle…"

Standing in front of Adek, who was clearly energized, Hugo remained expressionless and began discussing the rules of the game with his opponent.

"Both sides use a team of up to six Pokémon for a full-scale battle until one side forfeits or all of one side's Pokémon are rendered unable to battle—isn't that the most basic rule of the Championship Tournament?"

"good."

The elderly champion nodded and held up the Poké Ball to his partner. After a flash of red light, Volcarona returned to the Poké Ball.

The firelight disappeared, and the area became incredibly dark instantly. Fortunately, bright moonlight still shone into the window openings, preventing the tower from falling into complete darkness.

Alder took the Poké Ball tied around his neck with a knot and placed it on the ground in front of him, along with the one containing Volcarona.

There were six Poké Balls in total, which were all the Pokémon Alder was carrying at the moment.

All eyes turned back to the challenger, but Hugo did not immediately reveal his partner like Adek did.

“Before the challenge begins, I think I should invite a referee.”

"The detective in black said, walking toward the square window through which Jogus had once jumped.

The matter agreed upon with N is of course the top priority.

The edges of the window openings, weathered by centuries of wind and rain, are covered with cracks, but these cracks seem insignificant within the nearly one-meter-thick thickness of the tower wall.

By the bright moonlight, Hugo quickly found a relatively deep crevice, covered with some clearly newly formed sand and gravel—Yorgos's method of hiding things should obviously be learned from his ninja subordinates.

Reaching into the crack, the detective indeed touched something. He retrieved a dusty, spherical object from it.

Although you can vaguely make out the structure of the Poké Ball, this thing is unlike any Poké Ball sold on the market.

The black sphere, with its various parts, has an uneven surface. The parts are interconnected by exposed red wires, which are taped to the surface of the sphere with black electrical tape, making it look like a semi-finished mechanical product. Its weight is similar to that of a heavy sphere with metal embedded in it to improve the capture rate.

Hugo tossed and caught the strange object in his hands a couple of times, and quickly found a switch on it that looked like a safety device.

"Looks like this is the place."

Without hesitation, he flipped the switch, and heard the click of the mechanism unlocking in his palm. The safety was released.

Perhaps because the Pokémon inside the ball was still afraid of the cage that occasionally released electricity, the Pokémon Hugo was waiting for did not break out of the ball immediately.

So the detective pressed the button at the very center of the special Poké Ball.

A new light source appeared indoors, besides the moonlight. In the orange light, a Pokémon with buttery fur and orange head and limbs appeared before everyone's eyes.

Its two wing-like tails flapped gently, allowing the Pokémon to float swaying in the air.

"What is this Pokémon? Has it been in the Tower of Paradise the whole time?"

Faced with Alice's curious gaze, Wanlong was equally puzzled—

"I've heard of this Pokémon in the literature... the Mythical Pokémon Victini, a Pokémon that brings victory. I never imagined it actually existed. But why is it here?"

Adeker suddenly realized, "So that's why that Landorus was so powerful. The unnaturalness in the battle was actually the work of this Victini."

Under everyone's gaze, Victini slowly opened her blue eyes, and upon sensing the detective, she couldn't help but stumble.

However, Victini's eyes immediately lit up with joy when it noticed the specially made Poké Ball that had been opened in the detective's hand.

It let out a soft cry, flapped its little wings, and flew to Hugo's side.

"Legend has it that trainers favored by Victini can win every battle. Are you planning to send this little guy to challenge me?"

Aldak rubbed his hands together, eager to challenge the legend.

“No, my partner is someone else,” the detective said, shaking his head.

"Moreover, given this Pokémon's current condition, sending it out to challenge the champion would be too cruel."

Hugo took out a few Pokémon food pellets from his pocket and fed them to Victini, who had been locked in a Poké Ball for who knows how long, while speaking to Alder.

"As I said before, I want this Victini, the Victory Star that can bring victory to anyone, to be the referee in my duel with Mr. Ardek."