Pokémon Detective Case Files.

"Even so, there are still some inexplicable aspects, aren't there?"

However, the detective's explanation, which reversed everything, did not convince everyone. The Dark-type Champion, Blueberry, remained calm and raised questions—

"If that extract is indeed some kind of vaccine, how does it work? There are many trainers in Unova, but only a few of them know how to collect discarded medicine to heal Pokémon, right? If we rely on the herd immunity formed by these people to resist a virus, it probably won't be very effective."

"No, what Servilik made was not a typical viral vaccine that needs to be injected into the body to take effect, but a kind of environmentally targeted fungal vaccine."

Hugo looked out the window again, as if searching for something on the azure sea—

"In fact, the spread of this vaccine does not require the participation of trainers who collect medicine or Pokémon that use medicine. He simply treats each discarded medicine as a petri dish, using the nutrients in the medicine to cultivate fungi that can spread from the opening of the medicine bottle to the outside world on their own. Basically, as long as those discarded medicines are left unattended, the flowing air and wild Pokémon running around will naturally become a better medium than traveling trainers."

"Champion Hugo." The news anchor's voice held a rare hint of tension, given the gravity of the situation. "If what you've said is true, then is the Unova region currently exposed to the danger of some unknown disease?"

“If there were really danger, I wouldn’t be leading you away from Unova at this time.” The detective in the white coat remained calm.

"In fact, based on the intelligence I obtained from other incidents, the kind of germ that Selvik was guarding against has actually spread in Flying Cloud City. And so far, apart from Selvik himself and another Hoenn trainer who came to Unova from elsewhere, there haven't been any cases of people getting sick or dying. This suggests two possibilities: either Selvik himself has some kind of misunderstanding about the germ, and perhaps that thing doesn't cause people to get sick at all, or the defense system he built within three days has successfully taken effect. Which one do you prefer to believe?"

Paqira was speechless for a moment, her fingers unconsciously tapping the armrest of the seat, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes.

At that moment, Champion Carlos suddenly realized something, his voice filled with tension: "Speaking of which, Flying Cloud City is located at the southernmost tip of the Unova region, so the kind of germ that Selvik is trying to fight... could it be that it will spread from the sea?"

"Yes, the formula draft that Akromar left at the Alliance headquarters was precisely for calculating the flow of those poisons. The reason why our plane has a clear destination is also due to this."

Hugo sighed and said—

"At the League headquarters, when Blacklink first saw that draft paper, he mistook it for Acromorium calculating the power of a Pokémon's specific move—his guess was actually very close to the answer. However, he misunderstood the scale of that 'move'."

"Hugo..." Bulbasaur, who hadn't spoken for a long time, suddenly spoke up, her voice cold, "The research goal of that Acromorma, it seems, is to unleash the potential of Pokémon, right?"

The detective nodded silently.

Time flows on, the land and sky expand—

Where exactly are the limits of life?

……

The cabin fell into a deep, still silence, with only the roar of the engines echoing in our ears.

A terrifying thought simultaneously surfaced in the minds of these champions.

Just then, the plane broke through a layer of dark clouds, and the boundless sea reflected golden sunlight into the sky. Through the porthole, they saw that…

"Oh, what's going on?"

Pilot Feng Lu exclaimed in surprise in the cockpit, while the Heart Bat beside her tilted its head, looking at the scene before it with confusion.

round.

From 10,000 meters above the ground, they saw a circle in the ocean.

Even separated by a vast distance that would make a city look like a thumbnail, that perfect circle remains crystal clear, standing motionless on the turbulent sea, like a street artist's graffiti on a wall, or a giant totem used by an ancient civilization to worship the heavens...

But it could never be the product of some unknown civilization, for obvious reasons—

The circular shape that appeared on the sea surface was red on top and white on the bottom, with a hollow circle in the middle that was white with black patterns. It was clearly the symbol of a Poké Ball.

The striking design is so eye-catching that any flaw in it will attract special attention.

For example, the small black dot inside the white part of the Poké Ball.

Chapter 354 Resolution - The Secret Base on the Lava

What is the largest life form that has ever existed on Earth?

Many people will immediately think of those amazing behemoths, with Wailord, the water-type Pokémon known for its enormous size, being the most typical example.

Thanks to the buoyancy of seawater, these filter-feeding organisms do not need to limit their size to support their own weight like terrestrial organisms. Given enough time, they can easily grow to over thirty meters tall, resembling skyscrapers lying horizontally in the sea.

Of course, when discussing body size, it's inevitable to talk about those legendary creatures that roamed the mythical era—

How tall were the giants that dragged the tectonic plates? How much did the behemoths that created the earth weigh? And the bodies of the ocean avatars that could carve out the seas in ancient times were probably no smaller than the Wailord mentioned above…

However, even these gods who govern the laws of nature do not seem to regard expanding their own size as the ultimate pursuit in their long lifespan.

Sometimes, it is the simpler creatures that are able to create miracles of life without anyone noticing.

Take plants, for example—

In the White Forest of the Unova region, there stands a tree that is said to be the largest in the world.

Its trunk is over ten meters in diameter, and its height is equivalent to more than ten Wailords stacked together. If you add the volume of its branches, leaves, and roots, even those giant legendary Pokémon, amplified several times by the Dynamax energy of the Galar region, can only droop their heads in embarrassment when they stand under the shade of this towering tree.

But these are still far from the limits of life.

Just as Snorlax, no matter how big, can never surpass Wailord in the sea, the ocean, which covers 70% of the Earth's surface, also provides its inhabitants with the opportunity to surpass land-based creatures—

In terms of sheer size, a giant tree might not be able to compare to a delicate seaweed.

On the edge of the Alora Sea, there lies a seemingly ordinary seagrass field lying quietly in the warm waters, which has long been regarded by the locals as a common underwater landscape.

However, when the Ethereum Foundation's research team went deep into these waters for a routine survey, they unexpectedly discovered a biological miracle—this vast seagrass field was actually a single organism.

Each seaweed plant carries the exact same genetic sequence and is interconnected through a vast and continuous network of rhizomes, together forming this enormous living organism.

This creature is unbelievably large – it is 180 kilometers long, enough to span multiple cities, and covers an area of ​​200 square kilometers.

Even more astonishing is that this creature is still expanding slowly and steadily, extending outward at a rate of about one centimeter per year.

According to the Ethereum Foundation, this seaweed has existed for five or even six thousand years, witnessing countless centuries of change.

This seems to be the limit that life can achieve...

However, some people were still not satisfied with this and turned their attention to life forms that were smaller and more fundamental than plants—such as fungi.

.

"What exactly is that island platform that's the same color as a red and white Poké Ball? There's never been a map of it marked on any aviation map!"

The owner of the Wind and Dew Pavilion gripped the control stick tightly, staring dumbfounded at the enormous circular outline that was gradually enlarging ahead of the channel.

"Based on our current flight altitude, its area is probably even larger than Fuyuki City," she muttered to herself, watching the Poké Ball symbol become clearer as they approached.

"That's the Lava Team's secret base, and the source of this series of poisonings."

Detective Hugo's voice came from behind the pilot.

"This island was used as a deep-sea base by the Lava Team, so it needed to transport large amounts of supplies frequently. Since that organization hated the ocean and lacked sufficient maritime transport capabilities, it is highly likely that an airport capable of accommodating large aircraft was built on that base."

"Are you asking me to land right there?" The Fuyu City Gym Leader's hand trembled slightly, but fortunately it didn't affect the flight. "That's Team Magma's base! How could they possibly allow a strange plane to land there?"

“Don’t worry, there will be people on the island to meet us. We’ll circle above the clouds and wait for their signal before landing,” Hugo replied calmly. “Even if we encounter enemy attacks during the process, we have enough firepower on board to ensure a safe landing.”

"That's true, but what kind of signal will the person receiving the message send?"

The female pilot felt a little relieved. As she pulled up the side stick and approached the island, skimming close to the clouds, she asked in confusion.

"You'll find out then." The detective gripped the cockpit armrest, bracing himself against the sudden acceleration, and replied casually, "Let's plan our landing direction first."

As the plane drew closer, the Poké Ball-like island became increasingly clear. It wasn't a simple circular plane, but rather a hemisphere rising above the sea.

As Hugo stated, this place is a fully equipped maritime base—factories, dormitories, and research facilities are all available, and Team Magma's volcano-like M logo is visible everywhere. And indeed, beneath the white portion of the Poké Ball, there is an airport large enough to accommodate aircraft takeoffs and landings.

Just then, the heart-shaped bat, which was acting as radar in the passenger seat, suddenly widened its eyes, and its heart-shaped nose began to twitch uneasily.

"What's wrong? Have we been discovered?" King Pachira, sitting opposite Hugo, asked with a furrowed brow and a look of alarm.

“No,” Miss Wind and Dew replied, her back to the passengers as she checked the dashboard. “The Heart Bat says it seems to have seen something incredible.”

"Poor thing," Elite Four member sighed softly. "Its ultrasonic waves probably detected the underwater part of that giant Poké Ball."

"Hugo, what exactly is that thing?"

Champion Carlos, standing beside the detective, looked solemn, his gaze fixed on the distance through the mist-shrouded porthole.

"An artificial island of this size could not possibly have been built quietly in the middle of the ocean. What role did Team Lava and Akromma play in it?"

"It all started last year when Team Aqua's manipulation of Hoenn TV was exposed... However, if we're talking about Akroma's collaboration with Team Magma, we have to go back even further."

Hugo gazed at the Lava Team's base, faintly visible below the clouds, and slowly spoke while awaiting a signal from his contact—

"Team Plasma once engaged in smuggling transactions with Archie, who was disguised as the director of Hoenn TV. Since they can cooperate with Team Aqua, they will naturally try to contact another major organization in the Hoenn region to see if they can gain more benefits from it."

"You mean Team Lava?" King Pachira's gaze was as sharp as a hawk's, his question hitting the nail on the head.

The detective nodded.

"Unlike Team Aqua, Team Lava lacks the capability and channels for transoceanic transportation, making it impossible for them to do the same thing. Therefore, Team Plasma adopted a different approach to cooperation—sending scholars for technical exchanges. Akroma, who is currently unconscious at the United Federation headquarters, is one of the scholars assigned to liaise with Team Lava. The reason he was able to win Ghetsis's appreciation and trust in such a short time is precisely because he demonstrated irreplaceable talent and knowledge in this cooperation."

What technologies can be exchanged between the Lava Team and the Plasma Brigade?

Champion Karuni frowned slightly, her tone filled with doubt.

"Even disregarding Team Plasma, Team Magma, as an extremist organization based in Hoenn, has always operated with a xenophobic and closed-off style. How could they possibly tolerate Ghetsis and Acromantium interfering in their research?"

“Akromar…this madman has given Team Lava an irresistible fantasy.”

Hugo shook his head, his expression grave.

"Everyone here should know what Team Magma is desperately pursuing in the Hoenn region, right?"

“Of course I know.” Blueberry’s tone was disdainful. “To expand the land area and increase the scope of human activity. If any human or Pokémon stands in their way, they will not hesitate to destroy them.”

"So, Akromar has brought Team Lava a plan to expand human territory?"

A thoughtful glint flashed in the news anchor's eyes.

"That's pretty much it," Hugo nodded.

"The Earth's surface area is limited. To expand the land, we must compete with the unfathomable ocean. However, to artificially create habitable space on the ocean, we either need to spend a long time and huge sums of money to reclaim land, or we can only build floating islands that cannot last—neither of these methods can meet the Lava Team's ideal need to expand the land area."

"So you can imagine the sheer elation the leader of that extremist group must have felt when Akromar, dressed in his iconic white lab coat, swaggered up to the Lava Team leader and declared that he possessed a solution that could solve all problems..."

The detective's voice was deep and captivating, as if it could draw everyone into a world full of sin and conspiracy.

"The scholar showed the lava team a grand plan that would allow land to conquer the sea—a crazy idea that could overturn nature."

"What exactly is that plan?"

Karuni pressed on directly, her expression more serious than ever before.

Hugo did not answer immediately, but slowly raised his hand and pointed out the window of the airplane—

"To create the largest creature in the history of the world."

Amidst the clouds and mist, the giant "Poké Ball" appeared and disappeared intermittently.

"Its body will be so enormous that even standing in the deep sea, it can break through the surface and be exposed to the sunlight, becoming a huge island that humans can live on. This plan not only satisfies Team Magma's ambition to expand the land, but also coincides with Akromama's research project to challenge the limits of Pokémon potential. Faced with such an ultimate goal, even the most closed-off and xenophobic extremist organization cannot refuse the cooperation bait thrown out by Team Plasma - and this is exactly what happened six years ago."

"So, that... that Poké Ball..."

The news anchor looked out the window following the detective's finger, and her usually eloquent speech suddenly seemed somewhat speechless.

“It’s a Shroom,” the detective sighed and explained. “That huge Poké Ball is its cap, and the part below the surface is its white stem.”

"This Agaric's mental structure was completely different from its kind from birth. According to dream expert Dr. Makomo's speculation, each hyphae in its body seems to have an independent consciousness, which makes it appear dull and taciturn to others. Six years ago, influenced by a campus speech on the Pokémon liberation movement, it was released by its former owner in a forest next to Route 16, and was later found by the Pokémon Containment Center established by Team Plasma—there, this Agaric met Acromima."

"The owner of that Ayakashi mushroom... could it be Miss Mia, whom you met on the beach in Flying Cloud City? How is she now?"

"Karuni asked with concern."

“She’s currently at the Dream Research Institute in Flying Cloud City, accompanied by Dr. Makomo and her sister Truffle,” Hugo replied. “With the help of the doctor’s dream research, she has, to some extent, resolved the misunderstanding between her and the Ayaka Mushroom from back then. However, I haven’t told her about the current situation of this Ayaka Mushroom yet…”

"Wait! Hold on, that's not the point!"

Fire Queen Pachira excitedly shouted at Hugo; if it weren't for the seatbelt, she would have pounced on the detective opposite her.

"Oh dear, the original size of the Agaric was only the size of a palm, right? Even if it evolved into the Agaric, its height couldn't possibly exceed one meter. How could it have been modified into such a huge size?"

“I don’t know the specific principles, after all, I didn’t participate in that insane experiment. However, in my opinion, Akromama may have altered the genetic structure of Agaric through gene induction, making it more adaptable to the marine environment on the one hand, and making its growth pattern closer to those non-Pokémon giant fungi on the other hand,” Hugo explained calmly, arms crossed.

"A giant fungus that isn't a Pokémon?"

Pachira stared at the detective through her orange-red sunglasses, her eyes full of confusion.

"This is a little-known fact—in existing records, the largest creature on land is not any Pokémon, nor those giant ancient trees, but a huge fungal community discovered near the Snowflake Wetlands in the northwestern Unova region. In that fungal community, which covers nearly ten square kilometers, every mushroom has the exact same genes, which means that they all belong to the same single individual."

The detective held up one finger and continued.

"Of course, that fungal community didn't grow into mushrooms as huge as the ones we see now. Instead, it spread underground through a dense root system, forming a vast network of hyphae. These hyphae are interconnected, and after thousands of years of growth, they eventually covered the underground space of the entire forest. If all the fungi were excavated, the total weight would exceed 3.4 tons. And Akroma obviously used this case as an important reference for transforming the Ayya mushroom."

Pachira looked shocked again, while the Dark-type Elite Four member mocked, "Now you know what a huge mistake it was to describe that guy as a 'somewhat famous scholar' back then."

“Besides the growth potential of the fungus itself, I think that Ayya Mushroom’s strange split personality is also an important reason why Akromar chose it for modification,” Hugo continued.

"Imagine if there were millions of hyphae inside a shroom, each with its own independent consciousness. If Akromage simply removed the growth restrictions on these consciousnesses, allowing each hyphae and each spore to grow rapidly like a normal shroom, wouldn't this Pokémon's size expand a million times in a short period of time?"