Pokémon Detective Case Files.

"Could he have known all along that he had been poisoned?"

"The test results are not yet available, so it is impossible to determine whether it was suicide or homicide. All we know for now is that the toxin that caused the death of Voodoo and his Pokémon is not the same as the venom found on those Poison-type Pokémon."

N sighed and shook his head, unsure of what expression to make as he faced the corpse of the human who had slaughtered countless Pokémon.

"Even if it was murder, from Team Plasma's perspective, it seems unnecessary for us to seek justice for this worthless guy, right? Sigh, although it's a bit unfair that things ended like this, the man is dead, what else can we do?"

A short, wise man with a mustache advised the king, his magnificent robes signifying his noble status as one of the Seven Sages.

Another white-robed elder beside the sage bowed to N and said—

"Suicide or murder, let's get these bodies out of here as soon as possible. Although this path isn't the main route to the depths of the Giant's Cave, the bodies are already interfering with the other explorers' work—it'll be even more troublesome once the bodies start to decompose. Your Majesty, should I temporarily freeze this person with geometric snowflakes?"

Pachira observed N's reaction with great interest, wanting to see how the young king would interact with his subjects.

"What you said makes a lot of sense."

N spoke in a calm tone, as if he were having a casual chat with his elders.

"However, I feel that the cause of this person's death is not simply poisoning. The matter of his brutal killing of elves cannot be simply dismissed because of the murderer's death; at the very least, the details should be clarified. What do you think?"

"Excuse my bluntness, but Your Majesty seems to be spending far too much time on this case."

The tall, thin old man in the white robe shook his head and said.

"I do not mean to interfere with Your Majesty's schedule, but please note that the cause we are working on is in dire need of rebuilding. While you are bogged down in meaningless trifles, there are thousands of abused Pokémon crying out in despair... Please... consider your actions."

For some reason, the old man's tone as he offered his advice gradually became sluggish, as if he had encountered some kind of invisible pressure.

N didn't seem angry at all; he simply stretched out his hand to stop the yellow-robed sage from arguing with the old man.

Then, the king of the Plasma Group issued a decree—

“Professor Vio, what you said makes a lot of sense. Different tasks should indeed be assigned to more specialized people. As far as I know, Father seems to have recently recruited a collaborator who is currently under evaluation, right? How about hiring this person to solve this case?”

With his usual calm expression, N looked directly into the eyes of the person at the "forefront" and saw the astonishment within them.

Just as the puppeteer of "Fooling the Masses" can grasp the subtle tremors of human nature, how could a king who can listen to the thoughts of all Pokémon be like a puppet, completely unaware of the actions of his subjects?

Chapter 325 Poison Rampage – Nemesis

After climbing the seemingly endless staircase, what appeared before them was the deepest room in the United States headquarters, the final end of the regional championship path.

The brick house, nestled at the end of a narrow mountain road, is simple and unadorned, not as dazzling as its name suggests.

However, due to its unique location and the glory and heritage behind it, the entire room looks like the crown of the Alliance headquarters, exuding a solemn and sublime presence.

In front of the house are several white marble archways.

These architectural structures, weathered by time, have long been covered with a mottled coat. Time has carved lines of varying depths on their surfaces, like the marks of time, and every trace of frost tells a story of the past.

Beneath the archway lies a spacious passageway.

Sunlight streamed down, casting a golden glow on the white paving stones. Trainers who weren't fully prepared would likely feel apprehensive stepping onto them.

At the end of the corridor was a large door.

Throughout history, all the best trainers in the Unova League have passed through there without exception; while those who are weaker have been turned away by this door without exception.

This is where the league champions rest.

This is the place that all trainers in the Unova region yearn for.

Feeling the increasingly clear and loud heartbeat deep in his chest, Hei Lian gently closed his eyes.

Finally, I'm about to face that legendary new champion...

I placed my hand on the red tie I'd worn since my student days, took a few deep breaths, and let my excitement gradually cool down—

Then, Blackie turned around and walked straight towards an indoor building carved into the cliff face of the mountain road, in the opposite direction from the champion's room.

.

The club owner's assessment will certainly not be conducted in that champion's room.

After all, according to the Unova League's challenge system, only trainers who have defeated all the Elite Four members are qualified to step onto this stage, which symbolizes the pinnacle of strength, and compete against the current champion.

As for the champion's usual sparring and practice, as well as the guidance and sparring with ordinary visitors and junior members of the league, these will take place in a private practice room outside the champion's room—which is also the destination of this gym leader candidate from Deer Town.

At this very moment, the newly crowned champion, who has just reached the pinnacle of the Unova League, is waiting there to assess whether he is qualified to become a Gym Leader.

However, in reality, neither the championship room at the league headquarters nor the private practice room behind it has been used for a long time.

Former champion Mr. Ardek enjoys a free and unrestrained life. Rather than staying in the dull League headquarters, he prefers to wander around like a cloud, measuring every inch of the Unova region with his own feet.

Therefore, Mr. Ardek's championship matches, including the Elite Four title match, were always held in public arenas throughout Unova, whichever was most convenient. This was especially true in the later stages of his championship career when his partner was injured.

His coaching style was equally unrestrained. Whenever the champion was in the mood, any place, whether it was a school playground or any open space, could immediately become the venue for this former champion to instruct his juniors. And Black Lian was one of the juniors who received kind guidance from Adek.

Perhaps in a sense, this test wasn't just assessing Black Lian's combat strength; for the newly crowned champion of unknown origin, this battle was also a test of his magnanimity. "Is that guy who just ascended to the champion's throne feeling as hesitant and uneasy as I am right now...?" Black Lian thought to himself, without any apparent reason.

"You must be Mr. Hei Lian. Please come this way."

Near the entrance to the practice room, a staff member from the league headquarters reached out to guide Black Lian.

Hei Lian presented the candidate's application documents, which Hei Lian glanced at casually before warmly welcoming him inside. It seemed the other party had already confirmed his appearance and identity beforehand.

The young man, dressed in a United States uniform, said as he walked—

"I'm sorry, the previous candidate's assessment battle exceeded the scheduled time, so the indoor venue needs to be repaired for a while. Please wait in the lounge for a moment."

"Hmm, that's good news..." Hei Lian nodded, subconsciously analyzing the situation.

Because the written exam was conducted individually, Helian subconsciously overlooked the possibility of other test takers being present.

If the previous test taker's battle exceeded the time limit, it means that the champion's Pokémon may have consumed more energy as a result. This gives the trainer in the next test more room to demonstrate their strength.

The renovation of the arena also benefits Blackren. Although this is the champion's home ground, with the arena repaired, he no longer needs to fight in a battle space that his opponent is already completely familiar with...

So, should we readjust our battle strategy based on these conditions?

No, against champion-level strength, any amount of scheming might be futile. Excessive strategy can easily give the impression of being opportunistic. Should we adopt a more aggressive approach to pass the test...?

Once the thought started, it couldn't be stopped. Before he knew it, Hei Lian had arrived at the waiting room of the training room.

When he came to his senses, the scene inside was beyond his expectations—

A dark-skinned, blue-haired young man, wearing only swim trunks, stood in the room, humming a song as he treated his Pokémon with medicine provided in the training room.

This person could never be the new champion, right? Judging from the way he's healing his injuries, could he be the candidate who took the test before me?

Upon seeing the staff member enter, the robust young man immediately looked up expectantly and asked in an innocent tone—

"Ah, it's the referee! Referee, are the test results out yet? Can I become a gym leader?"

"First of all, I am not a referee."

The staff member, looking perplexed, apologized to Hei Lian before turning to explain to the young man in front of him—

"I am merely a supervisor assigned here by the alliance to observe and record this assessment battle. I have no duty or obligation to decide the outcome of the battle. Whether you pass the assessment depends solely on the evaluation of the person inside and the final decision of the alliance's higher-ups after reviewing the records. Neither of these matters has anything to do with me."

"I see, Supervisor. Have the test results come out yet? Am I eligible to become a Gym Leader?"

The young man's expectant expression remained unchanged, and he tilted his head along with Mambo, the nanny he was holding in his arms.

"So I already said. I'm just an observer and supervisor; I don't have the authority to decide whether you pass the assessment. But..."

The supervisor sighed and scratched his cheek.

"If we disregard the damage you caused to the venue, as a spectator, I personally think... that match was quite exciting."

The blue-haired youth beamed with a wide smile: "Great! Now I can become the Gym Leader of Qinghaibo City!"

"Can you even understand what people are saying...?"

The staff member frowned, rubbed his cheek as if in pain, raised his voice, and shouted at the brash young man in front of him with great force—

"There's one more thing, and this last point is crucial for you to understand, Mr. Xizi Yi from Boshi, Qinghai. Now stop those azure-blue fantasies in your head and remember this clearly!"

The young man, dressed only in swim trunks, immediately adopted a well-behaved demeanor, his two blue eyes blinking rapidly as he looked at the supervisor in front of him.

"Listen carefully! Even if you successfully pass the practical test to become a gym leader, your score on the written exam is still below par. Although the written exam is only a perfunctory part of the overall gym leader assessment, your score is still appalling. If you don't want to waste the valuable recommendation from Qinghai Bo City and Mr. Hachiku, you'd better hurry up and study, so you don't fail in the next final make-up exam! Do you understand?"

"Yes!"

Mr. Xizi, holding the giant pink fish Pokémon, stood up straight to accept the order, but after less than two seconds, he tilted his head in confusion again.

"But sir, could you please give me a heads-up? What was the content of that written exam again?"

The young man with short blue hair scratched the back of his head sheepishly.

"After that exam, I focused all my attention on the upcoming skills test. Before I knew it, I'd almost completely forgotten everything I'd prepared. Even if I were to start reviewing all at once now, it would be a real struggle..."

"..."

Veins bulged on the staff member's forehead; overwhelmed with mixed emotions, he could only manage a clenched response—

"That's why I said I'm not the referee! Just how bad is your memory?!"

"Mr. Xi Ziyi, is that right? Nice to meet you. My name is Hei Lian, and I am also a test taker for this museum master qualification examination."

Seeing that the situation was becoming deadlocked, Hei Lian took a step forward and spoke to the candidate who was in trouble—

"If our exam content is the same, the exam scope should be divided into two parts: the code of conduct for gym trainers and an ability test related to Pokémon knowledge. I just prepared for this exam a while ago, and I still have all the materials. I can lend them to you if you need them."

"but……"

Just as hope was rekindling in Xi Ziyi's eyes, Hei Lian walked straight up to the tall young man and said in an unusually serious tone—

"You need to know that the written test for the Gym Leaders was not set up by the League to deliberately make things difficult for us. Whether it's the rules that you need to follow as a Gym Leader or the mastery of the basic abilities of various Pokémon, these are all things you can't be unaware of before becoming a Gym Leader."

"The Gym Leader represents more than just an honor; often, they are the first impression many beginners have of the Pokémon Trainer profession. A bad Gym Leader might make beginners think that Pokémon Trainers are nothing special, leading them astray in their overconfidence as they embark on their journey; while a knowledgeable and virtuous Gym Leader will guide such children in the right direction, filling them with aspirations for their future selves."

"While this might sound like meddling, I don't want the help I offer to others to become a shortcut for trainers like those who cheat their way through the exam. Knowledge that has already been learned should not be forgotten. I believe the people who recommended you to become a gym leader don't want their recommendations to result in an incompetent gym leader either... Ah, sorry, I might have been a bit harsh."

Realizing his slip of the tongue, Hei Lian abruptly stopped lecturing, but just as he was about to subconsciously begin to reflect on his words, someone took his hands.

"Mr. Hei Lian, no, Mr. Hei Lian! What you said is absolutely right!"

The nanny Mambo in Xi Ziyi's arms had been put back into the Poké Ball at some point. The young man in swim trunks stared intently at Black Lian, whose hand he was holding, his sea-blue eyes full of passion, making the latter somewhat at a loss.

"I'm not very bright. I prefer surfing and swimming to reading. When I was preparing for exams, I would often fall asleep as soon as I opened a book... But that won't do."

Xi Ziyi gestured excitedly as she said, "Just like you said, the world of trainers is like the ocean, full of storms and reefs. Gym Leaders are the lighthouses and guides for travelers, and sometimes they even have to act as lifeguards. It's not enough to just know how to battle and do what you like. I need to learn, to become more reliable, and to rely on my own strength to pass this exam!"

"It's a makeup exam..." the supervisor muttered to himself, then looked at Hei Lian—

“Mr. Nishiko and the dojo you applied to are not from the same dojo, so there is no competition between you. Mr. Kurei’s written test score was excellent. If you have time, you might as well teach this guy.”

Blackie straightened his tie, which had become a little disheveled from being pulled, and said confidently, "Even if there is competition, I am happy to play along. A trainer aiming for the gym leader cannot be afraid of a strong opponent."

The blue-haired youth laughed heartily: "Hahaha, it seems I've hitched a ride on a great ship that's sailing through the waves."

"Speaking of which, Mr. Xi Ziyi, what was your previous practical assessment like? Was that new champion formidable?"

Hei Lian was not infected by the young man's simple-mindedness—this was a tenacious quality he had cultivated since childhood. Seeing that the topic of the written test had come to an end, he asked the previous test taker, who had just finished the practical test, about the specific details of the battle.

"Huh? Was that person inside the champion?"

Upon hearing Hei Lian's question, it was Xi Ziyi who widened his eyes. He looked at the supervisor beside him, who did not stop the two examinees from exchanging information, but simply turned his face away with an expression that suggested he was too lazy to pay attention to him anymore.

Xi Ziyi scratched her cheek: "To be honest, I was beaten pretty badly, and the opponent even deliberately changed the arena to a watery environment that was more favorable to me in order to take care of me. Even under those conditions, my partners and I were still no match for that person... Although we received praise from the opponent after the match, we still couldn't defeat a single Pokémon in the end."

"So, the strength is indeed worthy of the title of champion..." Hei Lian pondered and continued to ask, "Judging from your description and the fact that the previous battle lasted longer than scheduled, was the format of that assessment battle a six-on-six all-out battle?"

"Yes, the other side said that since they went to so much trouble to change the venue, it would be a shame not to have a full-scale battle."

The supervisor looked like he was about to vomit, indicating that the last-minute request to change the venue had really caused a lot of trouble for the league's staff.

Just as Hei Lian was about to ask more about the details of the battle, the supervisor's instant messaging device on his waist rang.

The alliance staff member answered the communicator, and after a few replies, looked seriously at Black Alliance.

"Has the venue been prepared?" Hei Lian asked.

"That's right, the temporary water arena has been restored to its original state. Your examiner has also finished restoring and is waiting for you behind this door..."

The supervisor arrived at the metal door leading to the battlefield. As he opened the door, he turned and glanced at Black Company again.

"I wish you good luck in your assessment. I think you will become an excellent gym leader," he said softly.

"Lend your auspicious words."

The black-haired youth answered with a smile, walked through the metal door, and strode into the training ground exclusively used by the league champions.

"Keep it up, Mr. Hei Lian!"