Pokémon Detective Case Files.

“The church stronghold in Shuanglong City is also deserted.” Officer Jenny continued, tapping her fingers lightly on the table.

“While Lionel’s past as a high-ranking member of the church is a new discovery, what about his successor, Virgil…” She flipped to another file, “This Plasma Group executive disappeared before the bombing. Could it be that you’ve found a lead to him?”

“No,” Hugo said. “The most important part of this testimony is the box of ‘discarded documents’ that Lionel deliberately concealed.”

The air in the room seemed to freeze.

The detective slowly rose, his finger pointing to the center of the testimony transcript: "No matter how strict the Alliance is, they wouldn't fire an employee for a few expired documents. So, the question is—"

His gaze swept over everyone present like a sharp blade.

"What kind of secret could possibly require a single driver to escort it on a rainy night? And why was a vice president able to suppress this matter so easily?"

He turned to Officer Jenny, his voice quick and firm: "Contact Gloria immediately and verify two things: First, whether any high-ranking Alliance officials with classified information have recently gone missing; second—"

Hugo's eyes sharpened: "Immediately interrogate former Vice President Lionel Skolatos."

Chapter 397 The one who steals the country becomes a prince.

Hugo met Lionel in the detention center's meeting room. Only a few weeks after his arrest, the vice president of the alliance's hair had already begun to turn gray.

"Did you use hair dye before?" the black-haired detective asked with great interest before the interrogation officially began.

“Yes, after all, it makes older people look more energetic.” Lionel Scaratos, dressed in a simple prison uniform, nodded without feeling offended by Hugo’s casual conversation, as if he were still the vice president of the league sitting in his office. “Mr. Champion, what brings you here? I have already told you everything I know.”

“I have faith in Gloria and the others’ interrogation skills.” Hugo nodded through the glass of the meeting room. “However, there must be some things about the Plasma Cluster that you don’t fully understand, but that you vaguely sense are amiss, right?”

“Although I’ve amassed some influence, I’ve never truly entered the core of that organization. My only effort was completely wasted because of your intervention. There are just too many strange and incomprehensible things.” Lionel shook his head. “You’re suddenly asking me these questions because something happened?”

"You're quite adept at getting information out of people, Mr. Vice President, but at this point we have no reason to hide anything from you." Hugo spread his palms. "You should still remember the name Morikawa Shigeaki."

"Morikawa, what foolish thing did he do?" Lionel's face showed a rare hint of hesitation.

The detective calmly stated, "To repay your kindness, their family staged a kidnapping, but their real purpose was to assassinate me, the rookie champion."

“This…” Lionel opened his mouth in surprise, then slowly uttered the words, “...This makes absolutely no sense.”

“Of course it’s meaningless.” Hugo nodded calmly, almost coldly.

Even Lionel himself didn't harbor much hatred towards Hugo, yet the Morikawa family wanted to repay their benefactor by assassinating the champion... What word can describe such behavior other than "stupid"?

"The reason you went to prison was because the murder of Team Plasma scholar Akroma in the Alliance was exposed. It was all because of your power struggle within Team Plasma. You only have yourself to blame for this end. But Morikawa thinks you were arrested because your identity as a Team Plasma member was exposed, and he regards me, who was the last one to capture you, as his enemy... What an undeserved disaster."

"You said 'their family'... Does that mean Ms. Rinko and Sayuri were also involved?"

"Oh?" Hugo raised an eyebrow slightly. "You seem particularly interested in this family?"

Under the cold incandescent light, Hugo clearly saw the changes in Lionel's expression.

"Ms. Rinko assaulted a League driver to create a false impression during the kidnapping, and her daughter, Sayuri, gave false testimony to the police. Considering her minor status, Sayuri might receive leniency, but Rinko faces at least four to five years in prison. As for Morikawa—" He paused deliberately, "from faking a bombing victim to personally assassinating the League Champion, each one is a serious crime. In comparison, your attempt to eliminate Akroma's murder, also an attempted murder, can be considered doing a service to the people."

"The Morikawa family... are very good people." It was clear that the former vice president was trying hard to remain calm. "There's no point in subjecting them to excessive punishment."

"Are you and Morikawa good friends?" Hugo suddenly asked.

“To say there was absolutely no friendship would be a lie.” Lionel shrugged and sighed helplessly. “Perhaps it was initially just to win people’s hearts in the church, or maybe it was just to observe the ecology of the lower-level employees of the alliance, but after all, we’ve been dealing with their family for so many years… I really don’t want to drag them down with me.”

This was the moment Hugo had been waiting for.

“Then you have an opportunity now.” The detective leaned forward slightly and lowered his voice. “We are investigating a case file that you handled. If we can find out the hidden story behind it, we will consider reducing the charges against the Morikawa family and treating the entire assassination as a forced execution under the misleading influence of the Plasma Group.”

What kind of file is it?

Without hesitation, the former vice president, who was determined not to miss any opportunity, asked the champion directly.

"The document that was lost on the night Morikawa had his car accident, because of the slippery roads due to rain, and which you later completely erased from your record," Hugo said. "Ultimately, this is a disaster you left behind yourself."

“I remember it was just an ordinary document…” Lionel’s brow furrowed almost imperceptibly. “I just mentioned it to one of my clerks and that’s how the whole thing was resolved.”

"Is it really that simple?" The new champion's voice suddenly turned deep, like an undercurrent in a deep pool. "Gloria just finished questioning the crew leader who assigned the mission. Following this lead, we found a former Inspectorate official named Holt—it was this man who issued the escort order."

The lights in the visiting room flickered, casting eerie shadows on Hugo's face: "Interestingly, this Mr. Holt suddenly submitted his resignation two years ago, and since then... he's vanished without a trace."

Lionel's eyes changed. Years of political instinct immediately made him realize something was amiss—a missing official, a deliberately concealed shipping record, and that perfectly timed "accident" on a rainy day…

“While we cannot release you from the detention center during the investigation,” Hugo paused, “I will coordinate with the Alliance Security Department to cooperate with your investigation. Make sure to use all the intuition and insight you’ve honed while navigating the Alliance’s officialdom and the Plasma Group to thoroughly uncover the truth hidden behind this file.”

“Okay, I will do my best,” Lionel said firmly.

A long-lost glint flashed in the eyes of the former vice president of the alliance—for this friend who could hardly be called a friend, he decided to gamble away the last bit of value and chips he had left.

.

While Detective Hugo was making a deal with the attempted murderer in the detention center, another deal was also successfully completed in another secret room.

"This is the prop you're looking for, but it looks like it might be fake—I warned you beforehand."

A figure shrouded in a black hood silently approached the long table, and gloved fingers pushed a black round stone to the center of the table.

Although the person wearing the hood had a somber appearance, the voice sounded like a woman's.

"To be honest, even if you didn't distract the Alliance's police, I could still steal it out easily. The security there is very lax. Judging from the level of importance they attach to it, it's highly likely that this thing isn't genuine."

The stone rolled on the smooth tabletop with a dull thud.

"It's better to believe it exists than to believe it doesn't."

The Plasma Sage, dressed in a deep blue robe, extended his palm and precisely stopped the rolling of the black round stone.

"The final payment has been transferred to the account you designated."

"Oh? Don't you need to check it?" A cold laugh came from under the hood. "Aren't you worried that I might have switched this thing?"

"The Founding Stone will spontaneously visit the people it is destined to be, and once it is born, it will move towards where it is meant to go."

"Ha, charlatan."

The woman scoffed, turned around, and waved to the sage behind her.

“Good deal. Although the United States Alliance’s defenses are full of holes, your ability to distract that detective has certainly made my job much easier.”

"Speaking of that detective..."

Asura, one of the seven sages of the Plasma Group and known as the "Soul Thief," narrowed her eyes and called out to the other party.

“He’s been really tough lately. I heard you used some means… to expel Hugo from the Sinnoh region. If we were to hire you to do the same thing again, what would be your price?”

"Unreliable information is the root of failure. That was pure rumor, it didn't exist at all."

The figure under the hood showed no interest, and his voice was filled with obvious boredom.

"Besides, I'm just a thief, I don't do anything other than stealing." She casually tossed a Poké Ball. "I have a deal in the Galar region tomorrow, and I've already sent out the notice. I don't have time to waste in Unova."

"He who steals a hook is punished, but he who steals a country becomes a prince..."

Amidst the cryptic words of the sage Asura, the thief nimbly leaped onto the windowsill. The night wind whistled as it lifted the hem of her hood, revealing a grappling hook, smoke bombs, a master key, and various Poké Balls at her waist.

The Poké Ball in her hand suddenly opened, releasing a pink Mosquito. Using the Pokémon's levitation ability, it leaped from the air into the night.

In the dimly lit chamber, only the figure of the blue-robed sage holding the stone remained—

"The True Dragon, transformed from the Light Stone, is carried by Master N daily. The fake Dark Stone is here... but where is the real Founding Stone?"

Chapter 398 Traces of Falling Snow

Snowflake City is located in the northwest corner of the Unova region, surrounded by mountains on three sides. To the north stands the ancient Dragon Spiral Tower, and to the east is the winding Route 8, which leads to the vast Snowflake Wetlands and the surrounding forests.

Most of the city's buildings are built on higher ground, because the lower areas are damp and often teem with wild Pokémon like tadpoles and mudskippers that roam the city's ponds. The windmills to the south turn slowly, providing energy for heating and adding a touch of life to this otherwise cold city.

It was springtime, but the chill of Snow City lingered. A cold wind swept past the blue coat, causing the detective's assistant, who was on a business trip, to instinctively pull his coat tighter.

She stood at the entrance to Route 8, looking at the slightly sloping bend ahead—the spot where Morikawa had lost control of his vehicle.

From afar, Bilan could see two figures, one large and one small, standing by the streetlight at the scene of the crime.

One of them was a tundra bear covered in white fur, and the other was an assistant called in by the Alliance—the man wore a blue mask, and his bare-chested appearance seemed particularly out of place in this season, with the cold wind making the hem of his single haori sleeve flutter loudly.

The man was looking down at the scratches on the lamppost when he heard footsteps and slowly turned around.

"Are you the detective sent by Hugo the Champion?"

The man's voice was deep and steady, as if he was already used to being recognized.

“Yes, Mr. Hatchku.” The girl nodded, her tone calm. “Nice to meet you. My name is Azure.”

She certainly knew who he was—a household name in the Unova region, whose roles as "Hatch Cool" and "Robocop" were once wildly popular. But unlike her landlord at the Feather Residence, Azure only had a general, knowledgeable understanding of these films and TV shows; she wouldn't get particularly excited about them, nor would she deliberately pretend to be a fan.

“I’m here to investigate a case from two years ago where alliance documents were lost in a car accident. I’m very grateful that you took the time to come and assist me.”

Hatchku seemed pleased with her calm reaction, a slight smile playing on his lips: "Looks like the detective appointed by the champion is quite professional."

“The champion himself is more professional.” Azure shrugged. “Hugo said you are very familiar with the terrain here, and…” She paused, “you also seem to know something about the plasma cluster?”

Hachiku's gaze shifted to the distant Dragon Spiral Tower, his eyes darkening slightly.

"Yes, it's not just about understanding."

The dojo leader's gaze swept over the distant mountains and landed on the Dragon Spiral Tower to the north.

“Eight years ago, when I first became a Gym Leader here, Mr. Alder and I battled Team Plasma in that tower.” His voice was low, tinged with resentment. “Those people took advantage of the chaos to steal the White Dragon Stone from the tower—the legendary incarnation of Reshiram.”

"When we arrived, a chaotic battle had already broken out inside the tower. The flames released by Ardek's Volcarona illuminated the entire tower, but Team Plasma had too many people, and the police and the League were unable to send enough support."

At this point, Hachiku's voice became somewhat hoarse in the cold wind—

"At the most crucial moment of the battle, I... was a beat slower because of a recurrence of an old injury."

Bilan couldn't help but look at the tough actor's right hand. According to a report she had seen on TV, it was an old injury he had sustained from a fall from a great height while filming "Ultimate Fighter".

The film was a joint production between film companies in Unicron and Kanto. Perhaps due to the chaos caused by shooting in different locations and mixing technical teams, Hatchku did not receive enough protection during a high-rise chase scene with a flock of birds and ended up falling and getting injured.

Clearly, the battle at the Dragon Spiral Tower not only aggravated his old injuries but also touched upon the actor's psychological trauma.

"Those three people dressed in black ninja outfits broke through our defenses in the chaos. By the time we reached the top of the tower, the white dragon stone that was enshrined on the altar there was gone."

So the Dark Iron Triangle had already started operating nine years ago...? Azure pondered silently. That white Dragon Stone must be another mythical item that was paired with the black Founding Stone. She wondered how that thing was doing on Mount Silver now.

“After that, Team Plasma’s activities became increasingly rampant.” Hatchku turned to Azure, his eyes filled with a complex emotion. “Sometimes I even feel that perhaps what they stole that day wasn’t just a rock, but something that maintains the ‘balance’ of the Unova region.”

"And now about your hand injury..."

“Of course I’m fully recovered.” Mr. Hachiku smiled and said, “Otherwise, I wouldn’t have proposed giving up my position as gym leader at this time and planning to return to the film industry.”

Azure looked at Hatchik: "Have you really decided to step down as gym leader?"

“Yes.” He nodded. “I was never a professional trainer.”

“But you’re clearly very strong.” The girl looked at the callus on Hachiku’s tiger’s mouth, and then at the tundra bear standing next to him.

“Strong?” Hatchku chuckled. “I’m just an actor. Although I’ve played heroes, the real heroes are like Mr. Adek.”

He looked south, where the windmills of Snowflake City were slowly turning, and continued—

“I became the dojo leader because Mr. Ardek helped me out when I was at my lowest point. At that time, I had just finished filming 'Ultimate Fighter,' for which I paid an unimaginable price—broken ribs and torn ligaments, but the box office was dismal. The double blow made me want to retire... At that time, it was the former champion who told me that I could choose another path.”

Azure listened quietly.

“But now, even Mr. Ardek has retired, and my acting career is back on track.” Hatchku spread his hands, his tone calm and firm. “The dojo assessment needs someone more focused to manage it. We can’t hand it over to someone who’s always out filming. I’m no longer suitable for this position. It’s time to pass the baton.”

A certain Psychic-type Gym Leader from the Kanto region flashed through Azure's mind... but she didn't say it aloud, instead raising a more practical concern—

"But the plasma cluster is still active. Would it be...?"

The man chuckled and interrupted Azure: "Interestingly, Team Plasma's influence in the film and television industry is far more deeply rooted than that of trainers."

The outgoing dojo leader flashed a carefree smile—

"Like Mr. Adek, neither a temporary break nor a change of stage means we are running away. Perhaps... we have just chosen another battlefield that needs us more."

Azure was still somewhat worried: "But if the Snowflake Gym here closes, won't that affect the enthusiasm of the local trainers?"

“A trainer’s passion won’t be extinguished by a gym.” Hatchik shook his head. “Snowflake City is preparing to establish a wetland wild Pokémon reserve. When the Safari Zone opens in the future, it will definitely attract more trainers. And I will also use the movie screen to let more people understand the bond between trainers and Pokémon.”

"I now believe that Pokémon and humans should have a mutually healing relationship." His voice was firm yet gentle. "Just as humans heal Pokémon's injuries from battle, Pokémon can heal the wounds humans suffer in life."

Bilan was stunned, not expecting this actor, known for his tough-guy image, to say such a thing.

.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, the two finally turned their attention to the main point of their trip—the strange car accident that Morikawa had encountered two years ago.

For traffic safety reasons, the alliance had already cordoned off the scene of the incident in advance.

Because the damage was not severe in the accident, the street lamp that was hit still stands quietly, with only the mottled scratches on the metal lamp post silently telling the story of the impact.