Pokémon Detective Case Files.

As dusk fell, the end of the corridor seemed to be suppressed by something, and the light stopped at the entrance.

"And you?" he asked the empty air. "Would you be willing to make a good deal?"

Beneath the dazzling golden light, deep within the shadows—

A cold laugh echoed from the void where Reshiram's gaze had once swept.

Chapter 492 Opening the Market in the Eye of the Storm

What emerged from the shadows was not a Pokémon more powerful than Reshiram.

It is one person.

Although the hospital downstairs was now deserted, it had once served as the Alliance's temporary command center, and it was equipped with all the necessary surveillance cameras and infrared sensors. There was probably only one human in the entire world capable of infiltrating this density of people so silently.

"As expected of Detective Hugo. I thought I had hidden myself quite well."

The man emerged from the shadows, still wrapped in his grey hooded cloak as always.

The phantom thief who once made a deal with Team Plasma has now made a grand appearance—but unlike when she faced Asura and Akromma last time, there is a subtle difference in her appearance this time.

“If you had taken off that new monocle, and there was no glare, I would have noticed you two minutes later,” Hugo said, his tone clearly contemptuous.

"Hmph, this is that mad scientist's prototype—it can analyze the current emotions of the person in the lens based on their facial color, breathing rate, and other characteristics. It is said to be inspired by that King N and created out of competitiveness as a low-quality substitute... It also has a lie detection function with a success rate of nearly 90%."

She flicked the glasses that reflected the setting sun, casually gesturing in the direction the green-haired king had gone, her face bearing the lingering pleasure of having seen something interesting.

Hugo ignored the man's rambling and asked directly, "So? In Unova this time, should I call you 'Information Broker' or 'Special Project'?"

"Huh? Are we being too formal?"

The cloaked thief nimbly darted forward, taking the initiative to approach Garchomp.

Relying on the rubber gloves he was wearing to prevent fingerprints from showing, he fearlessly raised his hands and began to scrub the faucet, which, like Hugo's, was full of impatience.

Garchomp snorted annoyedly, exhaling a burst of dry, sandy air from its nostrils, and then shoved her back with a flick of its head.

The thief landed lightly, sighing in disappointment. "I thought that after more than two years, we would have plenty of interesting things to talk about."

"You've already heard my conversation with N."

Hugo raised the tablet in his hand. On the screen, three spiral-shaped weather maps, their bloodshot eyes gleaming red, slowly rotated like some kind of creature. The map's scale didn't show any sign of their movement—but both men standing there knew they were approaching every second.

The "Special Project" shrugged unmoved.

“I am not like that king; I am now just a petty thief.”

“Ordinary thieves wouldn’t steal from Carlos and all the major museums in the city.” Hugo’s voice wasn’t loud, but it was enough to keep the wind at bay. “They also wouldn’t take advantage of Team Rocket’s downfall to ruthlessly empty Silver Company’s vault at Kanto Bank.”

He stood in the fading twilight, his gaze never leaving the tablet screen.

"Besides these, you've also left quite a few scattered traces in Hoenn and Unova. The prey you've handled includes, but is not limited to, cash, precious metals, cryptocurrency private keys, rare gems, fossil samples, ancient artifacts, and some prototype products involving cutting-edge technology—I must say, you have a pretty good eye. As for the methods of crime, they mainly consist of theft, fraud, and intimidation, but there have also been a few violent conflicts."

"It's just that in those two regions, Team Magma, Team Aqua, and Team Plasma made too much noise, which allowed you to fish in troubled waters and leave no trace... But looking back now, it was like a meticulously planned theft pilgrimage by a phantom thief."

"Haha...Being a champion really makes a difference; you've certainly done your homework thoroughly." The thief's smile became somewhat stiff.

Even though she had sold countless secrets as an "information broker," she never imagined her criminal record would be dug up to this extent here. According to the information channels the thieves originally had, the alliances in various regions should not have been able to trace such detailed records.

'Special Project' is never the kind of phantom thief who uses flashy methods and crime announcements to gain fame—although she has occasionally used exaggerated announcement letters for various purposes, those were just smokescreens.

As a true thief, her motto has always been "the safest bet is the best bet." For the same reason, the "Special Project" has always carefully avoided the Sinnoh region, after all, that's the territory where the detective in front of her used to be active.

If possible, she hopes that she will never have to experience a scene like this, where her crimes are exposed to her face.

However, at this moment, the phantom thief still stood on the rooftop of the hospital in this twilight.

All of this is because—

"After all, your fingerprints from your last activity in Kanto were discovered two years ago."

Hugo spoke calmly, but the content of his words was like a Dark-type Pokémon unleashing a precise "Pursuit Attack".

"In modern society, although the police still have many limitations in their on-site investigation methods, their record-keeping systems have become increasingly detailed. Even for those unsolved old cases, every piece of physical evidence collected by forensic personnel from the scene—fingerprints, hair, fibers, footprints—is meticulously preserved in the form of photos, text, and digital documents. Once the first piece of evidence is matched, the rest of the criminal records will fall one after another like dominoes."

Even the person in front of me, even the mysterious phantom thief who was once known in the underworld as a "special project", even though the Carlos police even set up a special countermeasures department for her, ultimately failed to achieve anything and was disbanded after spending a huge amount of tax money from the residents of Carlos.

Even she couldn't escape this slow but never-ending tracking system.

She certainly had a long and clean criminal record—but cleanliness is a characteristic in itself.

Once the first fingerprint is successfully matched, the rest is just a matter of time.

This level of intelligence gathering doesn't even require the help of the grass turtle.

In a sense, this is also the fate of serial criminals.

The more you do, the more loose ends you leave behind, each one waiting for someone to bend down and pick them up.

While Hugo's departure from the Sinnoh region was certainly due to his own various considerations, it is undeniable that part of the reason was the chain reaction triggered by this theft—although that's another story.

Are you going to use this to threaten me?

The phantom thief raised an eyebrow under his hood, and his monocle slid off due to gravity, hanging on his earring and flashing a sharp reflection.

"There are actually quite a few capable people in the Alliance's police department," Hugo said calmly, putting the tablet back in his pocket. "Investigating this kind of thing mainly relies on patience. Considering that most of what you stole was ill-gotten gains, I'm not really interested in making an extra trip for the Alliance. However..."

He paused for a moment.

"Although Carlos's Phantom Thief Countermeasures Department has been disbanded, Officer Jenny, who was in charge back then, is still relentlessly pursuing the case. It's only a matter of time before your past is dug up and sorted out."

"Ha, it's that old lady—she's still a long way from catching me."

Seeing that Hugo had no intention of pursuing the matter, the phantom thief seemed relieved. In any case, she didn't want to become a true rival to the detective before her.

"But to be honest, the current situation in the United States is about to result in countless deaths and injuries. As a kind-hearted righteous thief, I have always taken it as my duty to promote the equitable distribution of human wealth. If the situation allows, I certainly don't mind helping out in any way I can."

She added a sentence as if to ease the tension.

"But you want me to defuse a hurricane? Don't be ridiculous. Although I've handled quite a few incredible things, my skills haven't reached the point where I can silently steal away a low-pressure cyclone with a diameter of hundreds of kilometers over the ocean."

Without the power of a legendary Pokémon, it would be impossible to resolve this crisis—on this point, the conclusion reached by the phantom thief and Hugo in the temporary command center was completely consistent.

Moreover, air travel to and from the United States is currently almost completely cut off in half of the region. Even if Hugo does send some champion-level reinforcements from other areas, such as his own sister, those people would most likely not be able to arrive in time. After all, with the hurricane blocking their way, they can't possibly circle half the globe and land on the other side—there simply isn't enough time.

However, the detective in the white coat shook his head very seriously.

"There is one thing—in the current Unova region, only you can do it."

"Oh?" The eyes of the 'Special Project' member narrowed slightly.

She knew that the detective in front of her, while occasionally making polite, perfunctory remarks, would never speak irresponsibly on such crucial matters.

Hugo spoke up—

"According to observations from frontline personnel, the forms of Landorus, Thundurus, and Tornado have changed. We believe that Team Plasma's Yoggs forcibly altered the forms of these legendary Pokémon through some means, causing them to enter their current berserk state."

"And to change the form of a legendary Pokémon, you often need special items—that's what you're talking about, isn't it?" The thief keenly grasped the core of Hugo's words.

“That’s right.” The detective snapped his fingers in his signature gesture.

"If that thing exists, it must be with Joggs, the one who caused this commotion—in that underwater pyramid that rose up east of Ripple Town. Stealing the most treasured possessions from already wicked people should be your specialty, right?"

"If it's just about climbing an underwater pyramid and retrieving a trophy from an old man, it's not that difficult—even if the other party is the infamous 'Exiled Ocarina' of the Unification. However..."

She fiddled with the high-tech lens she had taken off—

"You haven't forgotten—between us and that pyramid are the lightning clouds and the hurricane that's forming, haven't you? Even if the former can be held back by the lingering clouds you sent out, crossing a sea area where a hurricane is forming will still be a near-death experience. Besides, even if we managed to steal that kind of item, what use would it be?"

"In fact, that's exactly why I need your 'special project'."

Hugo's expression remained unchanged.

"That pyramid is located directly behind the hurricane cloud of the thundercloud, not far away. If we can seize the legendary item from Yoggs there and use it again to reverse his ritual of changing the form of the cloud god, there's a high chance that we can restore the legendary elves to their senses. Let's leave aside the land cloud and tornado cloud that have already gone far away, but if it's that thundercloud that's so close by, with the item's guidance, it might be able to help us defuse the oncoming hurricane."

“But… that ritual should only be known to the old man who ‘exiled the ostracized pieces,’ right?” the thief frowned. “What if he refuses to tell us, or has already left the pyramid?”

"Joggs also couldn't get through that storm."

Hugo answered without hesitation, clearly having considered this question beforehand.

"Moreover, at this moment, the Plasma Group has already demonstrated sufficient destructive power against the United States. Joggs has achieved his goal. He doesn't really want this continent to be devastated—cooperating in this situation would actually align with the wishes of the king he serves."

"But I can't get through that hurricane either!"

The volume of the "Special Project" was increased.

The thief, who had experience piloting small planes, protested vehemently to the detective—

"You know, unstable air currents are the biggest killer of high-altitude flight. Whether you're using a vehicle or a Pokémon mount, going straight into a chaotic hurricane cloud is certain death. What's more, that's the territory of a thundercloud—if you encounter a thunderstorm or lightning during your flight, everything will be over."

"I will have the Homiga Pavilion owner on site distract the lightning cloud."

The detective poked his downward-facing palm with his index finger, making a "calm down" gesture.

"As for hurricanes, if you cut into the hurricane from the side along the direction of the air mass's rotation, and with the help of a Psychic-type Pokémon, you can avoid the turbulent vortices inside, which should greatly reduce the difficulty of flying—this is a method that the Gym Leader of Fuyu City once told me in a casual conversation."

The thief nodded thoughtfully: "Although it's still dangerous, this level of infiltration isn't entirely impossible for a heist. But the most crucial question is—why should I risk my life here?"

“Like I said at the beginning,” Hugo said, casting an earnest look at the thief before him, “would you be willing to make a worthwhile deal?”

"I don't think you can offer a suitable price."

"Special Project" shook its head.

Thanks to her past ill-gotten gains and the income from her work as an "information broker," she was never associated with the word "poor," no matter where she was. Stealing was more like an inseparable habit for her; thrilling adventures were what she truly pursued.

But crossing a thunderstorm or hurricane is still too thrilling.

“Unlike back in Sinnoh, now as the Unova Champion, I have something that only I can give you in the whole world.”

Hugo's gaze calmly fell on the phantom thief's face, hidden by his hood—

"In fact, the reason you came to this place at this time was to steal that thing, wasn't it?"

Unlike when he faced N—he knew from the beginning why the phantom thief had come.

"The great detective might as well make himself clearer."

The "Special Project" member put away the deliberately pouty expression on her face, and the curve of her lips became more serious.

"Although it may sound somewhat arbitrary, for someone who makes a living by lying and pretending, the essence of a person is ultimately nothing more than the sum total of all the social relationships he cultivates."

"That's quite insightful." The thief tilted his head. "Then can I also say that, in the eyes of a detective, humanity is nothing more than a series of unsolved mysteries?"

Hugo ignored the other person's unyielding teasing and continued speaking.

"After the failure in Kanto, your fingerprints were exposed to the police. The social relationship that you had painstakingly maintained in your past life, which kept you isolated from the 'Special Project' and the 'Information Broker,' was torn apart—the human identity that constituted the other half of your sunny life completely disappeared. From then on, you could only rely on selling information and theft to travel around, living a life that, while not exactly homeless, was ultimately one of constant wandering."

"Such a life must be very inconvenient, right?"

"The detective asked in a low voice."

His tone was gentle, almost persuasive.

It was precisely because Hugo knew what this phantom thief was like in the past—before becoming a "special project," she was a person with a fixed address, a legal identity and profession, who would spend her afternoons in cafes—that he was absolutely certain that this thief, known in the underworld for her greed and eccentricity, could never completely sever her second life as an ordinary person.

"Whether it's living, traveling, using public facilities, or dealing with the endless trivial matters in life—having lost your legal identity in the Alliance system, although you have escaped the pursuit of the law by chance, you have become a lonely ghost who can only survive in the underworld."

“You couldn’t possibly be content with this way of life.” Hugo looked at her, his voice not loud, but very firm. “That’s why you came here.”

Hugo took half a step forward, closing in on the thief.

"With the United Alliance headquarters destroyed by the Plasma Group, the temporary command center is bound to be riddled with loopholes—this is the perfect opportunity for a seasoned opportunist like you. Therefore, all you need to do is follow the trail and find the physical port of the database that the Alliance had moved out of headquarters in advance, and you can legally establish a new identity for yourself in this world."

"In the end, we gained nothing."

The phantom thief shrugged calmly, showing no intention of putting up a last-ditch effort.

"I originally thought the Alliance would set up a temporary data center here. But in the end, those armored trucks you went to so much trouble to move into the hospital were just empty boxes—aside from a few old, fake monitors, there wasn't even a server that could connect to the cloud. It's obviously a trap set specifically for me."

"If one party is robbed, the deal can't be finalized."

The detective said matter-of-factly—

"And now I have that authority. Right now, everything is urgent and we should act expediently. As long as the league champion intervenes in the originally cumbersome administrative process, we can help you get what you have been dreaming of for the past two years—a clean resume, a family background that no one will question, and a full set of documents that can get you through the police system and league agencies without any obstacles."

"Oh my, just hearing about it makes my mouth water."

The phantom thief genuinely wiped the corner of his mouth—

"But that doesn't change the fact that it's still a trap, does it? If I accept this deal, it means that from now on, I'll be under your watchful eye, the champion, right?"

"Then we can each take a step back."

Hugo did not persist and continued speaking at a steady pace.