Pokémon Detective Case Files.

Upon appearing in the room, Count Leclerc withdrew his scrutinizing gaze and greeted the guest who entered, seemingly wanting to project an image of humility and respect.

"It seems you are the helpers Luna has found... No need for formalities. Rather than those empty titles circulating outside, you can simply call me Count Leclerc."

Unfortunately, his deliberately humble demeanor didn't seem to garner much attention from the travelers.

"Count Black Moon Dachm, I feel like the name is a bit perfunctory... and the surname is also somewhat reminiscent of a former vice president of a certain alliance."

"I thought it was Detective Hugo, but it turns out to be just an ordinary NPC?"

"So where is the emperor?"

Faced with the utterly unsuspecting ramblings of Yueju and the others, the Count's forehead, which was completely exposed due to his hair being tied up, showed faint blue veins. His impression of this group of travelers immediately plummeted.

"Isn't this a case of using public office for private gain?"

"It's a case of using public office for private gain."

"So where is the emperor?"

Leclerc took a deep breath, as if trying to convince himself not to bother with these homeless people, and finally maintained a calm demeanor as he spoke—

"If you are seeking an audience with His Majesty the King, he is currently in the audience chamber's lounge. Also, please allow me to remind you..."

The count, as if possessed by someone, spoke in a tone that carried a distinct sense of correction within his otherwise straightforward manner.

"Generally speaking, a country can only be considered an 'empire' when multiple languages, cultures, and ethnicities coexist, and its monarch is called an 'emperor.' The United States we are currently in is still just a kingdom, and our monarch does not call himself an emperor."

"So he was really possessed by an evil dragon?" Gadriya cut straight to the heart of the matter without mincing words.

“I know this is an absurd rumor that has been circulating widely outside the palace recently.” The count turned his slightly reproachful gaze to his spies. “Luna, didn’t you clarify this with them?”

Luna, not to be outdone, puffed out her chest and declared confidently, "Of course not, my mouth is sealed tight!"

"Sigh... let's just leave it at that."

Leclerc sighed again at his unreliable subordinate, then turned his gaze to the three travelers—

"So it seems you are also investigating this absurd rumor... You have come to the heart of the palace, standing before me, a court count, neither seeking power nor coveting wealth, yet you are so fixated on this baseless rumor. Can you tell me why?"

"Uh, in terms of the setting... it seems like we're destined to become heroes and save this country?" Lian Wu scratched his cheek, answering somewhat awkwardly.

Lingju smoothly took over the conversation, as if reciting a pre-prepared character introduction—

"As for me, I came to the capital to collect evidence of corruption that could bring down those despicable academic cliques because I suffered injustice when I graduated from the magic academy; Lian Wu obtained a treasure map that is said to be related to the royal family's secret treasure and wanted to try his luck here; and Cattleya came here on her master's orders to investigate a vague 'oracle'."

He paused, a smile that belonged to a "player" rather than a character appeared on his lips.

"Of course, for the sake of the game experience, we each have some 'hidden purposes' that we haven't made public. But in the end, this is just a role-playing game—even if we completely abandon the preset rules and regulations, choosing a free life that belongs only to ourselves is perfectly fine. However, in that case, we have to be prepared to directly challenge the authority of the host."

"Well... to achieve your goals, it seems you need a court spokesperson."

The Count selectively ignored the explanations that seemed deliberately addressed to the audience, and a smile characteristic of those in high positions appeared on his face.

"In that case, our interests are aligned. Your insistence on investigating the rumors suggests you hope to use this as an opportunity to reach the court and gain the royal family's approval and support, right?"

“That’s not how it works. We came here purely out of a sense of justice to serve our country,” the cunning mage said frankly in a tactful tone. “However… it would be a lie to say that my companions and I have no desire for even the slightest reward.”

He changed the subject, smoothly advancing to his real purpose—

"Moreover, our desire to meet the king is not false, and it is also related to the 'oracle' that Cattleya's master foresaw. Although the content of the prophecy is ambiguous, it does mention the word 'throne,' which seems to be related to the recent rumors."

"I see. No wonder that monk was so eager to make the request earlier."

Leclerc showed a somewhat understanding expression—

"By the way, although it's just nonsense, our His Majesty is, after all, a somewhat eccentric person in the eyes of ordinary people. If, after meeting the King, you disrespectfully come to the conclusion that the rumors are true, what will you do?"

He raised his gray eyebrows, revealing an enigmatic look in his eyes—

"In the worst-case scenario, would you... assassinate His Majesty?"

—She asked the same question as Luna had asked before.

"Haha... Is this kind of joke popular in the capital lately?" Even the magician couldn't help but be a little surprised. "Of course we wouldn't do that. Whether it's the real king or the fake king, killing him when we meet him would do us no good."

Both Wu and Cattleya nodded in agreement, not understanding why Leclerc would ask such a question.

"is it?"

Earl Black Moon smiled slightly, seemingly quite pleased with the group's slightly flustered expressions.

“Since it’s not an assassination attempt, then it shouldn’t be a problem to let you go to the audience chamber—but in exchange, after you have an audience with the king, you will need to agree to one condition of mine.”

“Speak freely.” It was the young female warrior who spoke, being the one among the three who needed to meet the king the most.

"While the absurd ramblings of a drunkard in a tavern are certainly not fit for polite society, words can sometimes be sharper than swords. If given time to ferment, they can even shake people's hearts and erode the foundations of this kingdom."

The thief Lian Wu frowned, his thick brows looking completely out of place with his profession: "Are you asking us to deal with that rumor about the evil dragon's possession? But why doesn't the royal palace take action itself, instead needing us civilians to do it?"

“Proving one’s innocence is the most ridiculous thing in the world.” Leclerc shook his head slightly. “If the court were to officially intervene, regardless of the outcome, the action itself would only fuel public suspicion, playing right into the hands of those spreading rumors. Therefore, I need a pair of hands… that are not official, to cut off the root of this rumor.”

"That bearded man?" Cattleya realized.

“I don’t care what you call that person, someone has to pay the price for this disrespectful and false statement.”

Count Leclerc said solemnly—

"It would be best to capture him and bring him back to the palace for public execution. Even if it doesn't completely set things right, it will at least deter those with ulterior motives in the palace. If you can accomplish this successfully, I will offer a generous reward. Luna will also assist you in this matter."

"Luna will be there to help you~"

Luna Silvia, who had been observing the entire meeting from the sidelines, chuckled and echoed the sentiment lightly, like a parrot.

Should we accept this task?

The three exchanged glances and nodded in unison.

While challenging the host in a board game can be quite fun, going against the grain will only disrupt the story's flow and immersion—there's no reason to refuse in this time and place.

"Then, I will continue to lead the way for you."

Seeing that the travelers had reached an agreement with Earl Black Moon, Luna, the gardening apprentice, returned to the game and resumed her duties as a court guide.

She led the way out of the side room, guiding everyone to the audience hall where the king was seated, her tone carrying a solemn air of announcement—

"Now, it is time for you all to pay homage to the supreme ruler of our kingdom—the wise and supreme King, His Majesty Hugo XVI!"

"...?"

"...?"

"...?"

A silent, bewildered look descended upon the emperor...

Just then, the king appeared from the lounge.

"The thought that this country has had fifteen rulers named 'Hugo' before makes me feel that it should just be destroyed as soon as possible."

—These were the first words spoken by the wise and supreme Emperor Hugo XVI upon his entrance.

Chapter 438 The Dawn Sun Shines on Two People Standing Together

The king who appeared in the audience chamber was surprisingly young, a somewhat lazy dark-haired youth.

The man was dressed in a white royal robe covered in patterns, holding a scepter in his hand. His steps toward the throne were casual yet full of majesty.

"The train carrying Asura and Team Aqua has returned to Raven City. With the Gym Leaders guarding it, apart from Team Aqua executives trying to jump off the train several times to escape, there were no other unexpected situations along the way, so it went relatively smoothly."

"As for Interpol, their operation in Kagome Town was too 'lucky'; they stumbled upon Team Plasma's delivery of the sealed Pokémon, transported by a modified destroyer. Fortunately, the Interpol agents were reckless enough to accidentally capture Vio and another Team Aqua executive who had infiltrated Unova. The only downside was that Acrom, who was also present, used his comrade as a shield and escaped alone with the Pokémon by water. However, for a large-scale operation that was more of a warning than a deterrent, the results were already quite gratifying..."

"By the way, Azure, who was attacked by Archie, has also woken up from her coma. Just now, she was assisting the Snowflake City police in clearing up the riots caused by the Plasma Group church."

This strange king lived up to his reputation, uttering incomprehensible "madness" upon first meeting. Perched high on his throne, he seemed completely immersed in his own fabricated, fictional world.

"...Perhaps because of the events in Snowflake City and Giant's Cave, Team Plasma finally became vigilant at nightfall, and the disturbances by Team Plasma churches in various places ended with the troublemakers withdrawing on their own. The Alliance police have begun to follow the clues and eliminate the subordinate forces of Team Plasma in various places, but because they have just experienced a major battle, they are limited in police resources and may not be able to expect much results in the short term."

His Majesty seemed particularly fond of his scepter, spinning it around as he spoke.

"So, does that mean we Four Heavenly Kings have nothing to do now?" The magician shrugged and asked the kingdom's ruler without fear.

“Let’s just say that’s how it is.” Hugo XVI yawned. “Anyway, whether Team Plasma decides to retreat or make another move, we can’t afford to be careless at this juncture. Tonight is destined to be a sleepless night—in a sense, Wanlong’s board game is quite fitting.”

After speaking, the king glanced at the three people standing in the audience hall, his gaze solemn, as if waiting for the roll of a die...

"Cough cough."

Ultimately, he seemed reasonably impressed with the group of travelers, so he casually waved goodbye.

"Travelers, you've come because of the recent rumors in the capital, haven't you? You mean that... evil dragon that supposedly resides on the throne and can possess people?" The king's lips curled into a half-smile. "Honestly, if such a creature truly possessed me, I'd be quite interested in seeing it—it would be far more interesting than spending all day reviewing official documents. Is there any among you who can make it reveal its true form here?"

"Then, please forgive my rudeness."

Without consulting anyone, the mage Yueju raised his hand and waved his staff. As he chanted a short incantation, a blinding beam of light shot straight at Hugo XVI—it was the [Holy Light] spell, which is mastered by intermediate mages and has a strong exorcising and purifying effect on spirits and demons.

Almost simultaneously, Cattleya activated her Monk skill [Mind's Eye], focusing intently on the king. The slightest abnormal fluctuation from him would instantly reveal the true nature of the so-called "evil dragon."

"Hey, did you guys just communicate using superpowers?"

The thief Lian Wu muttered something, then, a beat slower, took a bundle of licorice coated with a special oil from his bag. He first bowed to the king to apologize, then lit it with a flint and steel, placing the smoking bundle of licorice at Hugo XVI's feet.

The burning licorice emitted wisps of white smoke, and the king curiously sniffed the not-so-pungent aroma: "What is this?"

“This is dried wormwood soaked in candlelight wax,” the thief explained earnestly. “It’s a recipe passed down from the thieves’ guild I used to belong to. It’s said to be able to repel most Pokémon. If the evil dragon possessing His Majesty is some kind of Ghost-type Pokémon, this might have a miraculous effect.”

He paused, then added, "In one of our previous adventures, we used this item to successfully navigate an underground labyrinth."

"Unfortunately, it seems that it is not working in our 'Royal Capital Chapter'."

Hugo XVI shook his head, his voice lowering—

"Gentlemen, I'm not usually one to care much about court etiquette, but when I'm in a bad mood... I might just chop off someone's head. And you two travelers over there, if you end your inexplicable exorcism ritual now, I might just laugh off your disrespectful behavior as a clown's foolish performance."

Under the king's warning, Yueju turned pale and withdrew the [Holy Light] spell she had just cast, clearly having exhausted all her magic power.

The female monk glared fiercely at the king, but neither of their skills had any effect—it seemed there was no room for a miracle in this matter.

The king spread his hands, revealing a smug smile: "It seems there's nothing to be excited about from the supernatural—I am still me. If you have nothing else to report, it's time to leave my sight."

He raised his hand, beckoning Luna, who had been hiding in a corner of the audience hall for who knows how long—

“Another group of ignorant and prejudiced people. It seems there’s no need to treat them seriously. Luna, take these people back to where they came from. Leclerc seems to have given them some instructions. Just do as Count Black Moon wishes.”

"Wait a minute! There's also Cattleya's prophecy..."

The thief tried to say something more, but was interrupted by the capricious king raising his scepter. The next moment, a large contingent of fully armed guards surged in—

"I'm tired," the king said gently, gesturing firmly. "Let's leave it at that. It seems like a fine day to enjoy the garden."

Thus, the travelers were "invited" out of the audience hall and found themselves once again standing before the magnificent main gate of the palace.

"It seems Wanlong isn't planning to let us end this game easily." The mage leaned against the city wall, holding his staff, and sighed. "There's absolutely no sign of the king being possessed. Now, we can only follow Earl Black Moon's instructions and search the capital like a needle in a haystack for that bearded man who spread the rumors."

"Could it be that the exorcism failed just now simply because our level wasn't high enough?" Lian Wu cautiously suggested.

Yueju shook her head: "If it were just a numerical difference, the host would at least give us a chance to be judged as a 'great success'. However, that possibility does not exist. The only reasonable explanation is that the so-called evil dragon possession is completely fictitious, and no matter what methods we use, we cannot find out the problem."

“However, the King seems to trust Leclerc very much,” Cattleya rarely participated in the analysis.

“It’s more than just trust?” The magician pointed to Luna beside him. “With just one word from the Count, Hugo XVI allowed three armed strangers into the palace. This is less a matter of trust and more a matter of him becoming a complete puppet of the Black Moon Count.”

“Even the gardeners in the palace are his spies,” Yueju sneered. “It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that Leclerc is the actual ruler of this country.”

“And yet he has managed to govern the kingdom into this state.” The thief, who had once struggled in the darkness of the lower rungs of society, shrugged.

“That’s not something we should be worrying about right now,” said the graduate who had been suppressed by the magical community. “Since we’re looking for someone, we should probably go back to the Black-Eyed Crocodile Tavern to gather some clues. However, if we want to find a specific bearded man in the densely populated capital, we’ll probably have to rely on the Thieves’ Guild in the end.”

"But our relationship with the Thieves' Guild... seems pretty tense right now, doesn't it?" Lian Wu frowned, arms crossed. "After all, in the last underground labyrinth, we repaid kindness with enmity, using smoky herbs to drive the giant steel snake, the final boss, right in front of them, and then pocketed the treasure for ourselves..."

"Well……"

Just before Cattleya was about to say, "Let me have an [inspiration]", an unexpected figure appeared in front of the three travelers in a panic.

"Ah, you're here! Something terrible has happened!"

The waitress at the Black Crocodile Tavern looked disheveled and came running towards Yueju and the others, panting heavily.

—To be more precise, her target was not the suspicious homeless people she had met less than a day ago, but Luna Silvia standing behind them.

"The Black Crocodile Tavern has been shut down by the royal guards! Luna, don't you have connections in the palace? You've even met the king! Please, please help me think of a way!"

Chapter 439 Intertwined Bloodstained Branches

At the same time that the travelers were meeting the king, the Black Crocodile Tavern was suddenly surrounded by a large number of royal guards. The leading officer, citing "spreading dangerous remarks and disrupting the kingdom's order," announced the tavern's closure on the spot, drawing stares from passersby.