Pokémon Detective Case Files.

"I see. To completely shatter the rumors, we can only bring Lian Wu, who is now practically the symbol of the alliance... cough cough cough... to actually exploit the evil-type king's kindness as a weakness. No wonder he is the schemer who instigated the robbery in Flying Cloud City."

The sage neither confirmed nor denied the detective's explanation, but merely waved his hand holding the dagger and wearing a ring, offering a scathing comment: "Utterly foolish. The thought that Vio was defeated by such a character makes me feel sorry for my friend."

"Leaving aside the topic of our current situation, may I ask you a question, Mr. Quixote?" Hugo asked.

"Please speak. Considering the 'sleeping powder' I sprinkled in the hospital break room pillowcase, we both have plenty of time. Before sunset, we can leisurely discuss the various aspects of our cooperation."

"No, that's not what I wanted to ask. It's about your ring."

"Oh?" Quixote raised half an eyebrow.

“According to my past investigations, cough cough, before Your Excellency unearthed the treasure of the underwater ruins, the Harmenia family had been in a rather undignified state of decline for a noble family. However, you previously said that this gold ring of yours is a family heirloom passed down through generations, which I find somewhat puzzling.”

"Heh, is that a contradiction? Since you possess a miraculous item that allows you to become invisible at will, why have you fallen into mediocrity? Could it be because you consider yourself noble and disdain using the ring for profit?"

The descendant of royalty asked a sarcastic question, without offering any explanation.

“No,” Hugo said.

“Even if a generation might not wear rings for this reason, their descendants might not follow their elders’ teachings when faced with the temptation of inheriting an estate. I think it’s more likely to be due to some kind of coercive reason.”

Moreover, a family so noble as to abandon wealth for honor could never raise a descendant like Quixote, who is a collection of lust for power—Hugo did not elaborate on this point.

"Oh, so what is your opinion, Detective?"

Quixote examined the ring on his left knuckle and asked cautiously and slowly.

"Let me think... cough cough cough, what kind of environmental conditions did the Harmonia family possess since the ancient kingdom era, which slowly disappeared in modern times, but were regained in your generation, Mr. Quixote?"

Hugo noticed a fleeting flash of anger on Quixote's face, and his grip on the dagger tightened. Clearly, the truth he was about to reveal was something even this habitually stoic and ambitious man couldn't tolerate. This further solidified his belief in his own answer.

"Bloodline".

Before the sage in his long robes could respond, the frail detective forced himself to sit up and began to answer in a torrent of words from his parched throat—

"The ring in your hand can only be used by a pure-blooded heir of the Harmenian royal family. This bloodline, however, has been gradually diluted over the long course of history for various reasons. Therefore, in order to resist this almost irreversible historical trend, or simply to maintain the crumbling dignity inherited from their ancestors—the Harmenian royal family, on the verge of decline and forced to take a desperate gamble—ultimately chose an extreme approach that seems illogical today..."

"Nonsense, enough already."

The words that reached his ears sounded like harsh "metallic sounds." Quixote waved his magnificent sleeves and growled from the depths of his throat, trying to interrupt Hugo's well-organized narration.

But the detective ignored him—

"Marriage between close relatives".

Hugo raised his voice, drowning out the sage's chatter, and weakly raised his index finger from his sickbed.

"Generally speaking, according to modern scientific knowledge, couples with close blood ties and higher genetic similarity are more likely to give birth to children with defects. However, in order to make the ancient keepsake shine again and to restore the noble bloodline of the ancient royal family, the Harmenia family began generation after generation of inbreeding. Distant relatives were incorporated into the main family, cousins ​​married their sisters, nephews married their nieces, and even more unbearable pairings were made... Such deformed marriages continued to play out in the last generation of the ancient royal family—until your bloodline finally reached the standard recognized by the ring, only then could the bloodline of the ancient kingdom be revived... cough cough cough..."

The coughing finally interrupted the detective's explanation. When he looked up, he saw only Quixote's angry red eyes.

Hugo ignored the knife the other man had already raised and continued calmly—

"After deducing the above information, many previously unresolved mysteries have been answered logically. For example, why did you use such a contemptuous tone when you mentioned the ring; why did you only use your left hand to threaten me from beginning to end; why did you wear an eyepatch over your right eye; and finally, why did Mr. Quixote, a direct descendant of the ancient kingdom, choose N, an adopted son with no blood relation, as the successor of the cult... The reason for this is that you, the heir of royal blood, are also a victim deeply bound by bloodline. You are ambitious, yet you utterly loathe the blood flowing through your veins, which is why you aspire to become the puppeteer who manipulates everything from behind the scenes of the world."

The detective's reasoning ended there, but the unspoken truth was even more ironic—even the purest Halmenian bloodline of Ghetsis still needed to install an adopted son with no blood relation as the puppet emperor of the new era.

Doesn't this illustrate that the result of the family's centuries-long twists and tribulations is merely a ring that can make a person invisible?

The glory of the ancient kingdom, whether black lightning or white flames, did not reappear in the world because of the arrival of the person with the bloodline—in this sacrificial ritual, he, Quichis, was nothing more than a wasted offering, a counterfeit who did not even qualify to become a puppet.

At the height of his anger, Quixote suddenly calmed down. He looked at the detective—

"Aren't you afraid I'll kill you right now?"

"What will happen to the world after I am killed is something you must have considered before you stepped into this hospital room. If you weigh your momentary anger against the losses and costs of the broken negotiations on the two sides of a scale, I think you should be able to tell which is more important."

"not to mention--"

The detective raised a second finger, but his words were weak and feeble.

"When it comes to... the ability to vanish into thin air in a secret room, I'm not... inferior to a pathetic fellow who suffered from paraplegia in his right hand and optic nerve atrophy in his right eye due to a genetic disease..."

Before the words had even finished, or rather, before the intermittent speech was even complete, the detective suddenly lifted the white sheet from the hospital bed and flung it into the air, covering Quixote's face, which was covered by a single red eye patch.

In the sudden darkness, the mastermind of Unova, renowned as Team Plasma's top sage and hailed by the underworld as the "Foolish Mass Carnival," struggled to wave his left arm, only to hear, in a daze, the hoarse yet condescending voice of Unova's new champion—

"I will give you a final answer regarding the cooperation within a month. Until then, I allow you to send one of your subordinates to monitor my actions."

As the white curtain fell, the ward was empty except for Quixote.

Neither the door nor the windows made any sound of unlocking, and they remained locked from the inside. The space under the bed, the wardrobe, and all other possible hiding places were completely empty, and there were no blind spots in the room.

The ailing detective vanished from the locked room without a trace, like smoke or an invisibility ring.

Chapter 303 A New Era in the Unova Region

Every era, when it struts onto the stage, proclaims itself as a promising new age.

However, when dynasties fall and the tide recedes, people gradually realize that everything in the world develops in the same way, and the old era that just passed may not have been as novel as people had hoped at the time.

Adek's era ended with the discordant chirping of insects.

The red-haired old man returned to his wooden cabin by the ranch in Suanmu Town, beginning his long-awaited retirement. It is said that he plans to build a small dojo there to guide novice trainers in the mysteries of training.

Faced with a barrage of interviews from the news media, the elderly man adopted a relatively conservative attitude, only accepting written interviews from a few authoritative media outlets closely associated with the alliance.

Faced with the highly anticipated question of who would succeed him as champion in Unova, the old man's answer was both affirmative and ambiguous. He merely offered a profound praise for his opponent, stating that although the format of the title match deviated slightly from the norm, the outcome of the fight was absolutely indisputable.

"To be honest, I'm a little ashamed," said the champion, Adek, in an interview.

"I thought that given my old partner Volcarona's condition at the time, it was impossible for any opponent in the entire Unova region to defeat us. So, that night at the Tower of Heaven, I only planned to settle for second best and choose a relatively promising guy from among the defeated challengers to inherit the championship title... But, I really didn't expect that the trainer who completely defeated me and Volcarona would actually appear."

So, does this mean our new Unova Champion is overwhelmingly powerful, even among Champion-level Trainers? – The reporter pressed.

"Haha, hahahaha!" Former champion Adek burst into laughter.

"Indeed, that guy is really strong. Calling him a genius wouldn't be an exaggeration. I imagine he would crush any champion he faced without hesitation. However, don't overestimate him. At least he paid a heavy price to defeat this old senile me."

"I see," the reporter concluded based on the current intelligence.

The other day, Elite Four member Wanlong released footage of your battles against the four Elite Four members at the Tower of Heaven, revealing that at that time, your old partner Volcarona, who was past her prime, was still hidden in her Poké Ball as a trump card. Presumably, Mr. Alder, you unleashed your strongest power, surpassing even the Champion's, in your final battle. To be able to pass on the Champion title in such a peak-level competition can perhaps be considered a fitting end.

"Uh...yes, that's right, that's it."

The old man hesitated for a moment, but finally nodded firmly and gave a polite smile.

The reporter faithfully recorded the former champion's expression at the time in the report—

Mr. Ardek hesitated at first, as if recalling a great battle from the past, his mind reeling from the glorious years of fighting alongside his comrades to defend the championship. From now on, these memories would end with this desperate defeat—perhaps the fate of every champion. But even a former champion is still a champion trainer. Mr. Ardek only hesitated for a moment before accepting his defeat with equanimity and composure. He nodded repeatedly, his attitude growing increasingly firm and confident, his expression gradually relaxing and calm, offering a smiling blessing to the future of Unova who would inherit his will and resolve.

The magazine that published the interview included an update on the champion's successor at the end, but the useful information in it was barely worth mentioning.

The newly crowned Unicron Champion remains a mystery, having never made a public appearance in any media outlet since winning the title.

This person's identity and gender are unknown, and the Pokémon they specialize in has never been revealed. Their battle record against the former champion, Ardek, is completely untraceable due to the aftermath of that battle. The only thing we know is that this new champion's strength is unfathomable. Not only did they defeat Mr. Ardek, who was beyond his prime, in a fair and square all-out battle, but they also earned the unanimous recognition of the four Unova Elite Four members.

The reason why this trainer has not made a public appearance may be because he was too exhausted in the battle with former champion Ardek, or it may be because there is something else going on with the new champion.

Regardless of the champion's true identity, one thing is certain: after half a century of trials and tribulations, the Unova region's championship title has finally been passed on to a newcomer.

The fiery and unrestrained dynasty has come to an end. Whether those who cherish that era accept it or not, a new era full of unknowns, but undoubtedly more vibrant, is about to arrive.

United Frontiers is about to turn a new page!

.

"Tsk tsk tsk, we colleagues in the Unova region are really capable."

Dragging a suitcase full of interview equipment, Mary from the Hoenn region slammed the newspaper she had just bought at the airport exit shut with one hand, grumbling to her companion—

"This is clearly a major news story about a change of champions, yet they didn't conduct any in-depth investigation at all, merely asking the parties involved a few questions before hastily concluding the report. With such a lack of information, how could they so shamelessly pad it out as a report, even ending with a condescending tone and some kind of 'hope for the future'? This completely violates the neutral principle of objective reporting. As a formally published print media outlet, what's the difference between publishing such a report and those short video platforms filled with meaningless gossip, conspiracy theories, and repetitive, garbage videos?"

"Alright, alright, Mary. Let's not worry about these local news stories in United States. Let's focus on our work."

The photographer, Dai, who was following behind, was panting as he tried to comfort his partner.

Worried that the camera equipment would be damaged in the trolley suitcase, he carried the huge camera bag by hand the whole way, carefully dodging the crowds of people in Feiyun City as if playing an obstacle course game.

"It's a disgrace for a photographer to be unable to carry a camera bag. You usually rely too much on Magneton and the like, and now that you're in a crowded place where you can't release your Pokémon, your physical weakness has been exposed."

Reporter Mary sighed, took the shoulder bag hanging on the photographer's other shoulder, and shared some of the weight with her companion.

"Speaking of our main job, let's find a place to rest first. Unobstructed City in the Unova region is a megacity even bigger than Mauville City. Before we look for our destination, it would be best to check a map app."

.

Modern cities may have many problems such as high housing prices, traffic congestion, serious pollution, fast pace, high pressure, and heavy economic burden, but there is one thing you can trust: when you want to stop and catch your breath, you can always find a place to spend money that suits your taste.

"Excuse me, may we sit in these two seats?"

We finally found an open-air cafe where we could rest. Although it was packed with people, there were a few empty seats left.

After obtaining permission from the two young men opposite him, the photographer, Dai, placed his luggage on the floor inside the seat.

"I'll have this vanilla latte. What do you want, Dai?"

The reporter stood her suitcase upright, shoved her shoulder bag back into the photographer's arms, and started scanning a QR code on her phone to place an order.

Dai removed the camera hat that was worn backwards from her head, glanced at the menu on Mary's phone screen, and hesitated—

"Do we have enough budget for this interview? The prices of those items seem quite expensive."

"Of course, that's enough."

The reporter quickly pressed the order button, not giving her partner time to place the order, and said nonchalantly—

"Don't forget, our travel expenses in Unova were recorded by Mr. Daigo. Besides, even if we can't get reimbursed, it's not a loss to pay out of our own pockets. Experiencing afternoon tea at an open-air cafe in Unova is a rare experience... Damn it, if it weren't for the need to maintain my figure, I would definitely order that tempting-looking Flying Cloud Cheesecake."

Dai objected: "The cost of desserts can't be included in the travel expenses. Even with Daigo's permission, Devon's finance department wouldn't approve such a bill. I'll just order a lemonade..."

"Excuse me, gentlemen."

Suddenly, a young man sitting opposite them stopped whispering with his female companion and started talking to the reporter and photographer.

"I overheard a bit of your conversation. This must be your first time in Unova, right? May I ask, is the Mr. Daigo you're referring to the Champion Daigo from the Hoenn region?"

Mary and Dai exchanged a glance.

Although their part-time assignment for this reporting trip was not confidential, it was not so unrestricted that they could casually discuss it with others on the street.

Finally, it was reporter Mary who cautiously broke the silence—

"Could you please tell us why you raised this question? Based on your answer, we will consider whether to share the information we have and decide whether to tell you the truth or remain silent."

"Oh, I'm sorry, my childhood friend seems to have startled you."

The girl sitting next to the black-haired youth, wearing a green round hat and red glasses, tried to smooth things over.

"First of all, let's introduce ourselves. Hello, my name is Bai Lu, and I am a trainee Pokémon research assistant. This is my good friend, his name is Helen, and he was one of the top four in last year's Higanbana Tournament."

"They seem to be a pair of talented young people from the Unova region. It's a pleasure to meet you. This is Mary and Dai, a reporter and photographer from the Mauville TV station in the Hoenn region."

The reporter skillfully handed over her business card.

"Ah, so you really are guests from the Hoenn region—that's impressive, did you two just get off the plane?"

Looking at the logo of Violet TV on the back of the business card, the girl's bright green eyes widened in admiration, as if taking a transoceanic flight was something incredible.

"Yes, this is our first time in Feiyun City, and we're currently looking for our interview subjects. The two of you sitting in this café seem to be waiting for something..."

Photographer Dai then noticed that Heilian and Bailu had equally heavy travel bags next to them, so he tentatively asked, "Are you also waiting for your flight?"

"Correct."

The young man named Hei Lian nodded calmly. Although he was young, he gave people a very composed feeling.

"We plan to travel from here to the Alliance headquarters in the Unicron region. For some reason, we are currently waiting for the next flight."

"I'm so sorry!" The girl clasped her hands together and bowed her head to apologize to her companion. "It's all because I was late that Hei Lian had to rebook the next flight."

On the other side, the reporter's eyes lit up instantly upon hearing a certain keyword—

"Alliance Headquarters!"

She stood up excitedly, startling the waiter who brought her the vanilla latte.

"So, does that mean you'll have a chance to see that mysterious new champion in person?"

Hei Lian and Bai Lu exchanged a glance and sighed simultaneously.

"In fact, the reason I asked you about Steven's championship in the Hoenn region is related to this matter."

"how do I say this?"

Before she knew it, Mary had a pen and a notebook in her hand. While gazing kindly at her interviewee, she jotted down one sketch after another in her notebook.