Pokémon Detective Case Files.

"That was merely using photos of Karuni and the others to create a sense of shared hatred online, diluting the negative public opinion against the league. In reality, these so-called 'suspicious points' are nothing but unreliable evidence that cannot withstand rigorous scrutiny. The public always harbors excessive fantasies about a world-class champion that is so far removed from their own lives..."

He suddenly turned to Lian Wu: "King Lian Wu, ask yourself honestly, if there really were a bomb hidden in this car right now, could you and your partner really guarantee that you would discover it in advance?"

Lian Wu frowned, then shook his head after a moment: "I might not be able to, but perhaps it would be better for Gadalia..."

"That person probably had a premonition because of her superpowers, so she was reluctant to get on this car from the beginning. But she can't explain why she had this idea. Maybe she just thinks it's her morning grumpiness."

Hugo, who was no stranger to Cattleya, smiled and took over the conversation, leaning back lazily in his chair.

“A clear threat is certainly easy to prevent. If we had told that the Elite Four member that there were dangerous items in the car beforehand, she would have been able to find such a target in an instant. Just like when we warned Elite Four member Pachira that the League might be attacked, her Houndoom immediately smelled out the type of explosives.”

Hugo paused for a moment.

"But trainers and Pokémon have different levels of vigilance in different scenarios... If the attack occurs in an ordinary daily situation, when danger is hidden beneath the surface, even champions and elite Pokémon are not much less likely to be affected than ordinary people."

Lian Wu's pupils contracted slightly as he couldn't help but recall the underground arena in Fanba City and the battle that had taken place there—

"So, Hugo, you still believe the bomb was planted in the car?"

"It's hard to say. While the reactions of the champions can't be taken as direct evidence to deny the existence of explosives, they still have some reference value. In addition, there are other doubts in this incident..."

The detective, gazing at the scenery rushing past the car window, continued—

"Why did the bomb make a strange noise before it exploded? Why did the explosion occur at the front of the car instead of the fuel tank, as if the perpetrator was deliberately controlling the scale of the explosion? And why did the driver immediately and decisively begin to disperse the surrounding crowd when he heard the strange noise?"

"Could it be that the Plasma Group intentionally controlled the number of injured people, and therefore planned these details?" Lian Wu tried to ask. "After all, that organization is, on the surface, a religious society that encourages people to do good, so perhaps it would be inclined to avoid unnecessary killing."

"Hmm... something still doesn't feel right."

Hugo shook his head decisively—

"The Plasma Group's recent actions have been somewhat erratic. From their perspective, their top priority right now is to undermine the Alliance's credibility as quickly as possible. At this critical juncture, it's hard to imagine that they would have any normal moral compass."

The atmosphere inside the carriage grew heavy as the detective analyzed the situation. Lian Wu rubbed his bare hands, now devoid of boxing gloves, when suddenly, his eyes sharpened as if he had detected a weakness in the enemy—

"Could there be something wrong with that driver?" he asked shrewdly.

"The whole explosion could have been staged by him, which would make sense. The explosive power was controlled so precisely because he didn't want to be fatally injured."

"If that's the case, perhaps we could solve it quickly by simply questioning the person—but I have a feeling things aren't that simple. We'll have to wait until we arrive at the hospital and see the driver in person before we can draw a conclusion."

Hugo narrowed his eyes and said thoughtfully—

"However, according to internal information provided by Director Gage, this driver is a hardworking and long-time employee with a happy family, a virtuous wife, and two children. The possibility of him being involved with the Plasma Group is extremely low, let alone risking losing his job and family for the cult."

"When exactly did it start... that the Plasma Group's spies became almost everywhere? How did the once glorious alliance fall to such a state?"

Listening to the detective's analysis, the fighting king sadly closed his eyes, his knuckles turning white from clenching his fist so tightly—

"Was Master Aldeck really wrong back then?"

"You can't think like that." The current Unified Champion shook his head slightly.

"While the League Champion is nominally the representative of the region and in fact has the power to make suggestions on various League affairs, he is ultimately just a Trainer. Expecting Mr. Ardek from twenty years ago to have seen through Team Plasma's ambitions is as unrealistic as expecting him to have persuaded the entire League to impose a comprehensive sanction on Team Plasma ten years ago."

Hugo explained to Lian Wu in a clear and logical manner—

"Moreover, Mr. Alder was not entirely without restraint against the Plasma Group back then; it's just that his offensive was only scratched the surface due to the Alliance's constraints, and the results were not very significant."

"Most importantly, Mr. Ardek accomplished a feat that only he could have done during his tenure—that is, he devoted all his efforts to cultivating a large number of outstanding Unova trainers, represented by you four Elite Four members."

"It is because of his gardener-like hard work that the seeds he planted back then have now become pillars that can stand alone. Team Plasma is indeed expanding, but under the care of that champion, the power of 'justice' is also constantly growing. He hopes that you in the future can take over from him and lead Unova out of this crisis."

"Are you looking forward to... us?" Lian Wu gave a self-deprecating bitter smile. "Can we really defeat Team Plasma?"

Hugo's gaze drifted forward, but his answer was concise and to the point—

"As long as we stand united."

.

The car slowly drove into the medical center's parking lot.

After saying goodbye to Mr. Khachi, who was temporarily acting as his driver, Hugo walked quickly toward the hospital building where the injured driver was being treated.

The hospital near this Alliance Airport is famous for treating injured trainers who challenge the Champion Road year-round, and its medical level is among the best in the entire Unova region.

According to the latest report from the League Police, the injured man's condition has stabilized. Although he suffered multiple fractures and internal organ concussions due to the impact of the explosion, and also had minor burns on his right arm, his injuries are recovering rapidly under the careful care of the League Doctors and numerous medical Pokémon such as Optimus Prime.

Although he is still in a coma, he may regain consciousness at any time.

"If only I could hear the victims' firsthand testimonies..."

Standing at the door of the ward, Hugo muttered to himself.

Just then, as if in response to his expectations, a commotion suddenly broke out in the ward.

A weak and hoarse voice pierced through the doorway: "I was forced, you must help me..."

Then came the hurried footsteps of medical staff, their voices growing increasingly urgent—

"My wife and daughter... they've been kidnapped!"

Hugo and Lian Wu exchanged a serious look, then immediately pushed open the door and entered.

The driver on the hospital bed was struggling to get up, his pale face filled with fear.

The monitoring equipment emitted urgent alarms, and the almost-doll beside the bed was releasing "healing waves," anxiously trying to soothe the patient.

"Please calm down, we're here to help you." The detective in the white coat strode forward, grasped the patient's unburned hand, and said in a steady and powerful voice, "Tell us everything you know."

Chapter 382 Kidnapping Case

The driver, who was seriously injured in the explosion, was named Morikawa Shigeaki.

This morning, as usual, he accepted the routine mission assigned by the Alliance—to safely transport Champion Karuni and her group to the airport. After completing the mission, an unknown number suddenly called his phone.

"Drive the car back to the airport exit."

Just as the car was about to leave the airport, a voice that was neither clearly male nor female came from the other end of the phone.

The voice was cold and precise, as if an invisible eye was watching Morikawa's every move through the phone.

The driver naturally wouldn't do as the other party said. He sternly questioned the other party's identity, but at that moment he heard a heart-wrenching cry coming from the phone—a voice he knew all too well; his wife was suffering some kind of torture.

Immediately afterwards, the sound of keystrokes came from the other end of the phone, followed by the innocent voice of his young daughter.

The eerie voice was using some kind of toy to lure his elementary school-aged daughter to a certain place.

“Do as I say, don’t notify anyone, especially the Alliance, otherwise…” The other party paused deliberately, then played his daughter’s crying voice again, “You know the consequences.”

Morikawa's identity as a government official allowed him to retain his last shred of rationality. In this era of rampant digital crime, scammers have countless ways to mimic someone else's voice, so one should never completely trust what the other person says.

He quickly dialed his wife's number, but only heard a message that the phone was switched off.

So he then contacted his son, who was attending school near his home. When the call connected, Morikawa immediately told his son to go home and check on the situation. However, when his son did as he was told, he only found an unlocked door – his wife and daughter had vanished without a trace.

When that unfamiliar number flashed on his phone screen again, Morikawa's blood froze. He was finally certain that this wasn't a clumsy scam, but a kidnapping orchestrated by someone.

.

"So, you were forced to drive near those Karuni fans under threat from the kidnappers? They specified where you were to park?"

After clearing away the others, Hugo sat down next to Morikawa's hospital bed and asked in a tone that was as calming as possible for the victim.

Lian Wutian stood silently behind the detective, arms crossed, like a statue.

"Yes. Although I knew that person was definitely planning something bad, all the passengers had already gotten off the bus, and I... I took a chance, thinking that if I did what he said, maybe my family would be safe..."

Morikawa's voice was hoarse, and his face beneath the bandages was taut with pain and self-reproach.

"Please...please save my wife and my daughter! I'll accept whatever punishment you give me afterward!"

"This isn't your fault. The alliance and the police have mobilized maximum resources and will definitely find your family. Do you remember any more details about those two phone calls?"

Hugo skillfully comforted the patient, encouraging him to reveal more clues—

"Your phone was severely damaged in the explosion, and the technical team is trying to recover the data. Although we were able to trace the caller ID through the carrier, the other party was clearly prepared, and the signal was completely blocked. Therefore, please try to recall as many details as possible; even the smallest clue could be a breakthrough. For example..."

The detective wagged his finger: "How did the kidnapper tell you the exact parking location?"

“It’s a painted arrow on the ground,” Morikawa said without hesitation.

"That person told me to drive to the third arrow starting from the entrance of the passage, and warned me not to let the front of the car go beyond the area marked on the ground."

"Does it have to be that precise..." Hugo's eyes flickered. "What were those strange noises you heard before the explosion?"

"It sounds a bit like a beeping sound."

The patient closed his eyes and concentrated, trying to extract details from his hazy memories—

"It sounded like an electric current coming from inside the front of the car. I had a bad feeling, so I got out of the car to check it out."

The situation matched the accounts of other eyewitnesses at the scene—Hugo nodded calmly and continued to press, "Did you already sense that it was a bomb?"

"No, I completely panicked at the time. I was just worried that the kidnappers' plot might involve the people nearby, so I tried my best to evacuate them, but that damn 'beep beep' sound was still going on... I don't know why, but I was like I was possessed, and I subconsciously wanted to open the hood to see what was going on."

“I understand, you did very well back then,” Hugo reassured him at the right moment, while observing the other’s expression. “Did you see anything the moment you opened the hood?”

"No, my memory is completely blank."

As if recalling that terrifying moment, Morikawa's face showed fear.

"Okay, let's try a different approach. When you were on the phone talking to your son, did he notice anything unusual?"

The victim shook his head: "I only remember him telling me that no one was home. It was too shocking. I don't remember what he said after that."

"I see."

Hugo took a deep breath, turned around and exchanged a glance with Lian Wu, then looked at Morikawa again—

"Alright, that concludes our questioning for now. Rest assured, the Alliance will prioritize this kidnapping case. More police officers will likely come to question you later. Until then, please get some rest."

.

"So, does the victim seem to be lying?"

After leaving the ward and walking a short distance away, Hugo asked Lian Wu.

“It doesn’t seem like it.” Lian Wu shook his head. “He doesn’t have the bluffing that liars often have, and his concern for his family is very genuine—especially when he talks about his daughter.”

“I basically agree.” Hugo nodded, his fingers unconsciously stroking his chin. “If Morikawa was indeed coerced, then many of the contradictions in the bombing incident can be reasonably explained.”

"The driver's reason for dispersing the crowd can indeed be explained. But why did the explosion occur at the front of the car instead of the fuel tank?" Lian Wu asked, puzzled, recalling the questions Hugo had raised in the car.

"Unlike the engine at the front of the car, the gasoline in the fuel tank is sealed."

Hugo turned on his phone screen and found the diagram of the car wreckage that the police had just prepared.

"The perpetrator probably designed a timer device—likely an Electric-type Pokémon that receives commands to periodically unleash a move in a specific direction, thus remotely controlling the car to explode. This is why the kidnappers specified the parking location in such detail over the phone."

"You mean... there wasn't actually a bomb in the car to begin with, and the killer remotely detonated the car's engine?" Lian Wu frowned, his thick eyebrows furrowing.

“This hypothesis is highly accurate.” Hugo turned his phone screen towards Lian Wu, tapping a few key details with his fingertip. “Did you notice? The on-site investigation has not found any remnants of conventional explosives. But look at this fuel nozzle—”

He zoomed in on the image, and the clear traces of electric arc residue on the metal parts were clearly visible under the high-resolution camera: "It remained in an abnormally open state, and these radial burn marks perfectly match the characteristics of an electric spark igniting fuel gas."

"Why can't the same method be used on fuel tanks?"

Lian Wu was still puzzled; his connection with cars was probably reduced to something as simple as "knowing how to wear a seatbelt."

“The fuel tank is actually the worst choice,” Hugo said. “Firstly, the amount of fuel is unpredictable, so it may not be able to successfully trigger an explosion; secondly, the fuel tank is made of insulating material, and it would take too long to melt a hole in it.”

"But the scene was an open area surrounded by a crowd. How could the killer's spirit have applied an electric current to the car? If the distance was really that far, how could no one have noticed the electric light from the skill?"

"No, you've overlooked one thing."

United Champions swiped his phone to show photos of the aftermath of the explosion—

"It's below the third arrow starting from the entrance of the passage. Judging from the depth of this crater, a simple explosion could never have blasted such a deep mark into the concrete."

Hugo covered his forehead in regret—

"Sigh, I really shouldn't have taught them this trick in the first place."

Chapter 383 Breakthrough

The detective's complaint was clearly unfounded.

He's not the only one in the world who could come up with the trick of planting traps on the ground. Rather than saying that the Plasma Team's bomber got his inspiration from the Shippo City Museum incident, it's more likely that this method is exactly the same as the rock cone murder case caused by the Coral Sun six months ago—it's more probable that he learned it from Team Aqua.

"Two distinguished guests of the alliance, Mr. Khaki is looking for you."

Just as they turned the corner of the hospital corridor, a nurse with Miss Skirt hurriedly stopped Hugo and Lianwu. Miss Skirt was holding a stack of medical records with a rattan whip, and upon hearing this, she gently shook the flowers on her head.