Pokémon Detective Case Files.

"If the weaker party loses awareness of its own weakness, then it also loses the awareness of being a challenger... I can understand a little of what Mr. Adek felt when he lectured the four of us in the past."

"What does this mean?" Alice asked, looking puzzled, and she and Victini tilted their heads together.

"Compared to you, who have begun to have confidence in being a detective, Hugo, who is still hiding and plotting schemes, is a more qualified challenger. Because he always understands the gap between himself and Adek."

Wanlong didn't keep them in suspense and answered directly—

"Garuda is indeed a champion ace, but it can only unleash its true champion potential in Cynthia's hands. Even with their special bond, the detective's command is still just a formality. I dare say that once the situation slips out of his control even slightly, this disharmony will become glaringly obvious."

"While Hugo's traps and tricks are varied and numerous, none of them can be reused. The space within the Tower of Heaven is limited, and it will eventually run out. Moreover, Champion Alder is not foolish; whether the traps will even work is also a question. In fact, upon closer examination, it becomes clear that in the previous three traps, Mr. Champion used the most perfect methods to avoid them. It was only because Hugo further increased the stakes on top of the traps that Alder's Pokémon suffered a loss. And as the Champion becomes more wary, the effectiveness of the traps will only be further weakened."

"Not to mention the three Sinnoh beginner Pokémon. No matter how intelligent they are, they can't bridge the gap between the strong and the weak; their lack of strength is an undeniable weakness. No matter how slight the Champion Pokémon's move hits them, it can instantly knock them out of all their stamina. The fact that two of them are still active on the field is nothing short of a miracle."

"The detective hiding in the shadows knows this, understands the gap between himself and Adek, and therefore spares no effort in displaying his cunning and treachery. To avoid being targeted by the tactic of capturing the leader first in a no-rules battle, he simply doesn't show himself on the battlefield—this is a respect for the champion's strength, and also a declaration."

"What announcement?" Alice asked.

Wanlong took a deep breath and whispered—

"Hugo is showing Ardek through his actions: I understand my weakness, but I'm still watching you with unwavering determination. When countless near-zero possibilities converge, it will be the end of your Ardek championship legend..."

"Don't say that. If I did that, I'd probably be blinded by the brilliance of Champion Ardek by now."

A teasing voice suddenly rang out from behind the Ghost King, startling the novelist.

The voice came from the challenger in this competition.

"Hugo... Hugo? How did you get down the stairs? Were you hiding upstairs the whole time?"

Wanlong turned around and saw a pitiful black figure slowly walking down the spiral staircase.

"With Garchomp's help, it wasn't difficult to pry a stone out of the ground to disguise a tombstone. I curled up and hid in the gap left by the stone, just in the blind spot among the rows of tombstones. The only downside was that the cold air released by Absolute Zero was a bit too strong. If I hadn't reacted and taken some precautions when it started pouring rain, I would have almost lost my life there."

Hugo rubbed his hands, which were red from the cold, and said with a livid face.

The Garchomp ahead noticed him out of the corner of its eye and let out a sigh of relief, half displeased and half relieved.

"King Wanlong, putting aside that declaration for now, your other analyses are completely correct, but it seems you've overlooked one of the most important factors that determines the strength of both sides."

The detective, trembling, smoothly joined the discussion.

"Then there's no need to mention it specifically, right? After all, no one can ignore its existence."

After a brief moment of surprise, the novelist regained his composure and replied in a matter-of-fact tone.

“That makes sense.” The detective nodded. “I rushed downstairs at first to mislead Champion Aldace, making him think I would run all the way to the ground floor of the Tower of Heaven.”

"The champion will never willingly be manipulated by his opponent. At his most careless moment, he might send out his only flying Pokémon to fly down to the first floor of the Tower of Heaven to ambush me, giving me a huge surprise—that's the opportunity I was aiming for. Fortunately, the opponent fell for it, otherwise the previous traps wouldn't have been very effective... But now, this delaying tactic is almost up. That guy who hasn't seen the enemy for so long won't just sit there quietly doing nothing."

The thick smoke from the "big bang" dissipated as the three talked, and across the three-story cemetery, the figures of Champion Alder and two beginner Pokémon gradually appeared.

Adeker dispatched Knight Snail and Agile Bug to chase after Piplup and Torterra. Judging from the distance, he seemed to have just caught up with the two little guys.

But in just a short while, both Pokémon were already in a terrible state—Turtle's Aura Sash had disappeared, and Piplup, though covered in dust and looking like it had overused its moves and was out of breath, still had a life-saving item on it that could prevent it from being killed in one hit.

"Yes, this is my last trump card on this floor."

Seeing the miserable state of his Pokémon, the detective did not panic. He took out two shrunken Poké Ball-sized objects from his black clothes, then threw them with a standard throwing motion towards the location of Turtwig and Piplup.

Two black, round sacs tied together with thin ropes traced graceful parabolas and landed right in front of the agile worm and the knight snail.

"Ah, isn't this what we found in the wreckage of that gray van? You know how to use it..."

Before Alice could finish speaking, two thick, black plumes of smoke erupted from the location where the mysterious item had landed—its purpose and usage were obvious.

"Smoke bombs, the signature weapon of ninjas, are favored by a certain triad. Actually, they're not difficult to make; you can even find the recipe online. They're supposedly made from a plant called 'smoke taro' ground up," Hugo explained.

Taking advantage of the smoke bomb's effect, the two starter Pokémon broke free from the champions' moves and scrambled back to Garchomp's side.

The rough-skinned earthworm stepped forward and instinctively shielded the two little creatures behind it.

It was at this moment that a fiery red light suddenly appeared in the night sky between the square windows on the third floor of the Tower of Heaven.

"It feels like...the sunrise."

Alice sighed softly.

On the third floor of the Tower of Heaven, the desperate three-on-three battle begins once again.

Chapter 250 Stars - This is how we came to be.

Almost the instant the red phenomenon appeared outside the window, a piercing wind accompanied by a surge of heat swept in.

In an instant, the fire moth, its entire body enveloped in crimson flames, rushed into the Tower of Heaven like a fiery red meteor, leaving behind only a window frame that had been melted and deformed by the intense heat.

The semi-dried lava, like a layer of viscous black mud, hung on the originally smooth and clean stone windowsill. The slowly moving lava emitted white smoke and made a hissing sound like a snake flicking its tongue.

With the return of the champion ace, the dimly lit cemetery at night seemed to be bathed in the midday sun. Under the blazing light, the tombstones, bricks, and rubble all reflected a golden glow.

"Grasshopper Tortoise, 'Wide Area Defense'."

Although his pupils had not yet adjusted to the sudden bright light, the detective, with his eyes closed, gave an order to his partner in advance.

The target wasn't Garchomp, but a Grass-type beginner Pokémon with negligible strength.

The Turtwig was also blinded by the light, but upon hearing its trainer's command, it instinctively unleashed this defensive skill, a skill born from its bloodline.

Without needing to aim, a thin, earthy-yellow light barrier descended in front of the three Pokémon, perfectly concealing all the Pokémon behind them. It was as if a larger, thinner, and more resilient "Protect" light barrier had been erected.

Just as the Turtwig released its skill, the Volcarona in the Steadfast Stance suddenly flapped its six wings, and the air around it seemed to come alive, flowing violently.

The overwhelming scorching wind not only dispersed the smoke from the two smoke bombs, but also transformed into an incredibly powerful heat wave that attacked Hugo's side.

The wind pressure released by the opponent had barely touched the light barrier when the Turtwig, which was maintaining its attack, couldn't help but show a strained expression.

This heatwave wasn't a skill Volcarona intentionally used; it was merely a breeze it casually fanned to disperse the smoke. "Wide-Area Defense," on the other hand, is a specialized defense against area-of-effect attacks. Theoretically, it can perfectly block not only strong winds but also genuine "hot winds."

However, the difference in strength between the two sides was too great. After just one exchange, the Turtwig that unleashed its attack was in danger.

"Wide Area Defense" collided head-on with this massive heatwave—the user of the move exerted all his strength, sweat pouring down his forehead, and even the tender shoots on his head, which were curled up by the high temperature, were shaking and throbbing as if they were equipped with electric motors.

Even so, the difference is still the difference. In the casual gusts of wind created by the Volcano Moth, the yellowish-brown light curtain still began to sway uncontrollably.

Just as Garchomp couldn't help but want to lend a hand, Turtwig suddenly seemed to have a flash of inspiration and intentionally or unintentionally adjusted the "Wide Guard" light screen to a tilted angle.

This adjustment had an immediate and remarkable effect.

The light screen slightly shifted, instantly redirecting the visible, surging heat wave towards the sky, narrowly averting a crisis before the attack was completely thwarted.

"Hmm, so this is the level of power difference between the two sides. Seeing is believing, no matter how much you speculate."

Hugo rubbed his chin, glancing out of the corner of his eye at Victini, who was also panting heavily behind him for some reason.

It was at this moment that Champion Ardek, along with Agile Bug and Knight Snail, emerged from the misty graveyard and reunited with Volcano Moth, who was already in the open area.

"I thought you would keep hiding forever, Detective Hugo."

Naturally, Aldak stood next to his old partner, Volcarona, and called out towards the stairwell.

“The weak rock crabs hide in hard rocks, the unevolved earth-dwelling ninjas and Trapinch-ants also like to bury themselves deep under thick sand, and iron ants live in swarms in burrows. I don’t think that the weak hiding their tracks and setting traps is a bad strategy—because it’s the only way they can defeat the strong. To be honest, I’m a little surprised to see you standing here now. Upright defeats are everywhere, so why not continue to cunningly pursue the possibility of victory?”

“We can’t win.” Hugo shrugged and stated his reason.

"The Tower of Heaven is only so big. Where am I supposed to find so many traps for you? Besides, your Volcarona is already this powerful. Once it joins forces with you, the champion, there will be almost nothing in the world that can threaten you. No matter where I hide, the outcome won't be much different. Instead of wasting time like that, I might as well try my luck here."

As always, he remained calm and objective, yet also nonchalantly indulged in his own desires.

Adek had no doubt that the young man before him had lived his life with this attitude so far.

"Before that, let me explain some minor issues, as a kind of recap, although I think you probably already guessed it, Mr. Adek."

Hugo adjusted the cuffs under his black trench coat and chatted casually.

"The timing of Garchomp's sneaking to the top floor was towards the end of the battle on the fifth floor. Taking advantage of the dim lighting and the confusion caused by the 'Mist' move, I created the illusion of switching Pokémon. In reality, I didn't recall Garchomp to its Poké Ball at all. Instead, I had it lie prone in a corner of the fifth-floor ceiling, silently using 'Dig' to slowly carve a tunnel leading to the top floor. Then, once on the top floor, I had Garchomp use its body to block the tunnel entrance, preventing moonlight from entering. In this way, its presence was completely concealed from the Tower of Heaven, allowing for that incredibly stunning high-altitude dive magic."

"When Chimchar battled the builder on the fourth floor, I was actually in the nearby graveyard. The most dangerous place can sometimes be the relatively safest place; this is a blind spot in psychology. Volcarona and you just passed by where I was, one after the other, and went down to the next floor."

"Actually, the burrow where I was hiding had already been dug by Garchomp before we climbed the tower. The residual insect repellent spray on this jacket also protected me from the interference of wild Pokémon on the fourth floor. In fact, if you think about it objectively for a moment, you should be able to figure out how Chimchar could possibly judge the timing of commanding Pokémon in such a precise and intense Pokémon battle, relying solely on the sound transmission through headphones. If I hadn't been there in person, I would never have been able to achieve a victory like defeating the Constructor."

The elderly champion gazed intently at the detective for a long time before finally speaking—

"As the champion, I don't have the right to be picky about my challengers. But, consider this my whim, can you answer one question for me?"

"Please speak, but I cannot guarantee that I know the answers to all your questions."

Adek's weathered yet resonant voice rang out, and the question he posed surprised the audience: "Hugo, what is your reason for fighting?"

"There are many reasons."

Without a second thought, the detective in black answered with little interest.

"Someone asked me to come and see the Volcano Moth, someone commissioned me to go up to the fifth floor to do something, someone's arrogant ideas stirred up a little bit of my competitive spirit, and someone's invincible attitude made me really want to do something to surprise him..."

"But these aren't the real reasons, are they?"

Interrupting the detective, the elderly champion pressed on relentlessly—

"Your prior preparations, your tactical planning, your on-the-spot responses, your actions... all of these together constitute an unwavering and self-consistent 'awareness.' As your opponent, I can assert that this courage and determination do not stem from perfunctory reasons. It is both despicable and reserved, both soft and firm, both stubborn and fickle. I have never seen such a magical resolve, so I want to understand the reasons behind it."

"Wouldn't it be better to leave these things for after the match?" Hugo asked casually, avoiding the gaze of the champion, Aldace.

"After the outcome is decided, no matter how frank the communication is, people's words will always carry a hint of insincerity."

Adek stared intently at the detective.

"Just as some emotions can only be conveyed through battle, some heartfelt words can only be uttered when the outcome is uncertain—that is the meaning that Pokémon battles bring us."

“Mr. Adek, you’re getting more and more of a know-it-all. Even now, as we fight, are you still trying to teach me to listen to my own inner voice?”

When Hugo tried to evade the topic, the champion didn't respond. Instead, he strode forward with his three ace Pokémon—Sneaker, Agilebug, and Volcarona—and approached the detective's direction step by step.

The agile insect glided across the ground, its sticky, soft body leaving trails on the paving stones, the sound of water dripping imperceptibly; the knight snail dragged its heavy armor, producing a grating metallic scraping sound; the fire moth floated through the air, not touching the ground, yet one could almost hear the cracking of the rocks beneath its feet as they heated up… Amidst all these sounds, the firm and powerful footsteps of the Ardek champion echoed throughout, serving as the main melody.

Without using any tricks, the unique aura of the three powerful Pokémon overlapped with each step, like a "round," as if each step was treading on the challenger's heart. Their almost tangible aura was like a mountain collapsing before them, making them feel fear.

The Garchomp on the detective's side reacted immediately—

It widened its dark golden vertical pupils, spread its scythe-like arms in front of the trainer and the two beginner Pokémon, fiercely guarding them, and continuously emitted low dragon roars, as if in a show of defiance.

A flicker of fear crossed the eyes of the turtle and Piplup, but they still managed to stand firm.

Even far from the battlefield, Wanlong and Alice couldn't help but shift their gaze slightly away from Champion Adek, as if avoiding the champion's sharp edge; Bictini even fearfully hid behind Alice's heels.

Faced with such overwhelming power, whether out of fear, courage, a desire to protect companions, or a willingness to step forward, anyone would instinctively act on their own impulses. Just as celestial bodies simply follow their predetermined orbits under the light of a star that guides all things.

On the third floor of the Tower of Heaven, Hugo, the only one who remained motionless, sighed softly—

“A long time ago, I gave up on the thankless task of dissecting myself piece by piece with a scalpel, so before this, I really hadn’t thought about the reasons for what I was doing. Why did I have such a childish and boring idea as challenging for the championship? Only now have I finally remembered some things.”

The footsteps stopped, and all was silent.

"It was an agreement, I guess. I made an agreement with some guy who was about to die that we would pack up the problems that needed to be solved and hand them over to our future selves. I originally thought that package had arrived months ago, but when I stood in the distance looking at the Tower of Heaven, it felt like I received a second delivery across time."

Information conveyed by facial expressions is much harder to recall than information conveyed by sound. It wasn't until now that the detective had finally managed to unearth that amber-colored friend from his long-forgotten memories.

Looking up at the crater in the ceiling where Garchomp had smashed it, Hugo gazed at the starlight reflected from the moon, a look of nostalgia on his face.

"As expected of the renowned Tower of Heaven in the Unova region, it's truly a wonderful place for souls to return..."

Fortunately, the timing of this second attempt was not uninteresting either.

Halfway through Hugo's reminiscing, just as Adek thought he had something more to say, the detective took action.

Taking advantage of the confusion surrounding his inexplicable words, the detective in black suddenly changed his tone and gave an order to his partners standing there—

"Turtle, Flash, Swagger; Piplup, Ultrasonic, Feather Dance; Garchomp..."

Hugo looked at his first and least destined partner, who was also looking at him seriously, his eyes burning with a star-like flame.

""earthquake"! "

Chapter 251 Afterglow - Ancient Fading Lament

At the detective's command, the Turtwig's tender shoots emitted a white light. Before the opposing Pokémon could react, a fist-sized seed had already sprouted between its leaves.

"Hah!"

Obeying its trainer's command, the grass-green starter Pokémon seized the opportunity and used the "Bluff" move, making a face at the opposing Scavenger with an expression full of mockery.

The grass turtle waved its large head in an exaggerated motion, and taking advantage of the opportunity, it swung the seed that had grown on its head precisely at the opponent's position, which exploded in an instant like a flashbang with its fuse pulled.

A white light exploded in front of the Knight Snail. The blinding effect caused by the "flash" combined with the emotional guidance of "bluffing" to finally tint the Knight Snail's eyes under his helmet with a chaotic color.

On the other side, Piplup, also a beginner Pokémon, seemed to have its fur standing on end. The originally soft, light blue fur on its body stood up straight, almost making the entire Pokémon look bigger.