Pokémon Detective Case Files.

However, Mega Electamon's forward speed was nearly halted by Houndoom's suppression, and its once bright yellow, lightning-like mane was now covered in charred black. And on the other side, Houndoom—

That bastard once again managed to get the PP potion that spawned, and the evil, devilish dog was once again full of energy, opening its mouth and spitting out purplish-red flames, using the skill "Flame Emission" again.

Given that the script had completely malfunctioned, it was now Old Man Tiexuan who personally took to the field. Being so wronged and beaten like this, one could only say that the sense of immersion was extremely strong, and the veins on his fists gripping the handle were already bulging.

The renowned hacker master, the gym leader of Mauville City, the founder of Mauville City, the electric-type battle expert, the white-bearded old man, Iron Spin, sighed heavily.

The defeat is inevitable; continuing to persist will only bring more shame. As one gets older, one naturally becomes more accepting of certain things. Only children would throw tantrums over trivial wins and losses.

However, the willfulness of the elderly can sometimes be even worse than that of children.

Hugo finally heard his opponent's reply—

"Excuse me, children, but I've suddenly come to a realization..."

"?" The detective was somewhat bewildered by the situation.

"The power of technology is truly amazing!"

After saying that, the old man in the earphones didn't speak again, and instead, there was the clattering sound of keyboards.

At the same time, the little fire monkey witnessed a horrifying scene.

The lightning beast on the television screen suddenly took flight and began to fly towards the finish line at rocket speed.

Chapter 080 The Detective's Gift

Sinnoh region, Canal City.

The ancient book storage room of the Water Vein Library was deserted. In the quiet lending area, Rotom's red cell phone jingled restlessly in his pocket. Zhulan Champion received an unexpected call.

"Hugo? It's quite unusual that you would take the initiative to call me."

This remark stems entirely from prejudice. The detective does use a cell phone frequently, but out of a strange sense of pride, he rarely calls to contact his family.

The detective on the other end of the loudspeaker kept talking, and Zhu Lan listened for a long time but was still puzzled.

She gathered a few strands of golden hair that had unconsciously fallen onto the table while she was reading, and softly asked the floating phone a question—

"I understand that you have to duel the Hoenn Ironspin Gym Leader, but why are you asking me how to comfort Pokémon?"

More explanations followed—

Hugo replaced himself with the little fire monkey in the game, the old man Iron Spin used a game script to gain an advantage, how everyone almost won by using strategies, and how the old rascal finally won by being unreasonable and forcibly taking the victory... all these messy details were explained to the champion.

Then--

"The little fire monkey actually cried? That child was so upset?" Zhu Lan pressed her forehead, both amused and exasperated as she confirmed with the other person.

She still remembered the scene when she first adopted this little Flame Monkey and entrusted it to the Fire-type Elite Four member, Big Leaf, for basic training. The child practiced its moves rain or shine, and its perseverance was truly touching... How did it turn into a crybaby in Hugo's hands?

"Hmm, why don't you try giving it a battle item?" The Sinnoh Champion came up with a good idea. "Pokémon are usually happy to receive gifts. But we can't favor one over the other. We should also find an opportunity to give Piplup and Turtwig gifts in the future."

A voice on the other end of the phone suddenly realized that Hugo seemed to have a suitable elf item on hand.

Zhu Lan felt relieved and decided to let the reliable detective handle the rest.

She was actually directing Chimchar to play games… The blonde woman smiled. It seemed those guys were having quite a good time in Unova.

.

"No need for you to make a special trip to the United States. If there's another surprise attack like last time, I might move to the Padiya region overnight to watch the bugs rolling mud and making dung balls."

The detective "politely and amicably" ended his call with his family, then turned his gaze to the teary-eyed little fire monkey on the sofa.

Unlike the previous narrow defeat against the Dark-type Elite Four member, this time the little monkey truly broke through its defenses. Having its carefully prepared match ended by a combination of advanced technology and ruthless tactics is a truly unpleasant experience.

The only lesson the detectives and their team could learn from this was that when you pin your hopes for victory solely on your opponent's moral character, you've already stepped one foot into the door of defeat.

While Officer Jenny and Miss Sera were still at Featherwood Residence, the little fire monkey was able to force a smile and barely manage to stay cheerful. But once the two guests had left, it began to secretly feel sad.

Actually, it was the two little guys, Bogaman and the grass turtle, who were the first to notice the monkey's strange behavior.

Beside the sofa, Azure was still frantically comforting the little Chimchar.

"Little Chimchar, you've done your best. Reaching this point in the match is practically the same as winning. And that old man agreed to help us investigate the dark web. We've achieved everything we wanted! This incident was resolved smoothly thanks to you, so there's no need to be so sad. Also, Hugo said that that shameless old man's game account was banned shortly after the match. From a moral standpoint, he's the one who lost miserably."

Eevee wagged its big tail and gently patted its companion's back, comforting its companion who had lost to the power of science with body language.

Eevee, who watched the entire competition, felt a deep connection with Chimchar. Anyone would feel their blood pressure spike if they saw their opponent, whom they had chased for so long, suddenly fly up and teleport to the finish line like a Psychic-type Pokémon.

Even when Ibrahimovic comes, it cries.

Just then, the little fire monkey, unable to stop its tears, suddenly noticed a familiar shadow blocking the light in front of it.

It looked up and saw the detective in his usual white suit jacket.

Just as the little monkey began to worry that its weakness would be witnessed by its owner and cause it to be disliked, Hugo, seemingly oblivious to the tear stains on the elf's face, nonchalantly patted the little fire monkey's head with its flame-shaped ahoge (cowlick).

"You did a good job this time, so here's something for you."

As he spoke, Hugo tossed a palm-sized purple stone to the little fire monkey. It was round and shaped like a flat egg.

That was the evolution stone that the old gatekeeper insisted on giving to the detective when solving the locked-room mystery.

"Could this be an evolution stone?"

Even though she could tell the type of item at a glance, Azure made a big fuss and exclaimed, "Could it be that item that can greatly increase a Pokémon's defenses before evolution? I remember it being quite valuable."

The little fire monkey was even more moved after hearing this, and looked at the detective with teary eyes.

"This item was passed down from a veteran trainer who has been competing for many years. I think it's more of a souvenir than a practical item."

Hugo nodded to Azure, thanking his assistant for her support, and then continued earnestly to the little monkey—

"Anyway, this item is yours from now on. Considering that I am your trainer, and you can probably use this item, which can only be used before final evolution, for a very long time, it seems quite appropriate to give it to you."

The little fire monkey's eyes reddened even more, and it almost turned into a crybaby again, tightly hugging the gadget the detective had given it.

The moment the little guy touched the prop, he felt a surge of energy flow into his body.

That's the boost from the Evolution Stone, which prematurely activates the evolutionary energy within the Pokémon. It was precisely this power that allowed the old gatekeeper's Hayok to play a crucial role in a match where he was ranked higher than himself.

If a favorability system existed in reality, the detective and assistant would definitely see the number skyrocketing above the little monkey's head.

Then, Hugo went to the Bogarman and the grass turtle that hadn't received any gifts and encouraged them, saying, "Work hard in the future, and I'll try my best to find some other interesting things to give you."

Although the trainer's explanation was rather perfunctory, the two Pokémon still showed expectant expressions.

After all, it was Hugo who made the promise, and both Pokémon understood that this great detective had exceptionally high standards for interesting things, so he would not show favoritism since he had said so.

The elves, having received their gifts and promises, returned to their usual lounge to play, occasionally glancing back at Hugo with expectant eyes.

However, the detective seemed to be in an awkward mood after delivering the gift.

He looked restless, as if he was very uncomfortable with this scene. He walked to the window furthest from the Pokémon, turned his face away, and refused to look at the Pokémon whose eyes were burning with gratitude and satisfaction.

Noticing Hugo's unusual behavior, Azure couldn't help but feel curious: Based on recent observations, the detective and the elf are actually quite frank when they are together, so why did he suddenly become awkward after giving the gift?

Just as she was about to ask, the assistant suddenly felt an unusually resentful gaze on her back.

Looking cautiously to her side, Azure saw that Eevee was also staring at her fiercely, its little face puffed out, looking resentful as if it wouldn't give up until it got some fleecing.

The assistant was a little troubled: "All my props were used by the elves before. If you really want them, we can go shopping together another day. We can also buy some delicious food together then."

Eevee nodded in satisfaction, feeling much better. As it turned to leave, Azure noticed its partner's fluffy tail swaying unconsciously from side to side, a sign that Eevee was in a good mood.

He's really an easy guy to deal with.

Chapter 081 Psychological Profiling

Having received the gift he wanted, the little fire monkey's mood improved considerably. The elves also returned to their usual selves, happily frolicking around the Feathered Residence once again.

The assistant scrutinized the detective from top to bottom and bottom to top, looking out at the night view of the flying clouds through the floor-to-ceiling window, trying to glean some clues from his affected posture.

Why did Hugo still have that awkward expression even though Chimchar had clearly cheered up? There shouldn't be anything worrying happening right now.

Was he angry because of the Pokémon's weak performance? No, that might be possible with other trainers, but that detective didn't care about the Pokémon's battle abilities.

The problem likely lies with Hugo; a certain quality about this detective in the white coat has given rise to these unusual emotions.

"How about we try to deduce it?"

Recalling the deductive reasoning and psychological profiling techniques the detective had previously introduced, the assistant's eyes lit up. Wasn't Hugo the perfect case study? Why not try using psychological profiling to deduce the detective's thoughts?

The girl crossed her arms and began to think—

To conduct accurate psychological profiling, one must first construct the subject's personality traits and life experiences from the known information.

The target's name is Hugo, and his profession is private detective. He is not good at using Pokémon, and his known hobbies are collecting and showing off all sorts of quirky knowledge.

His personality differs slightly between when handling cases and in daily life. When investigating, he is decisive and efficient, and likes to talk to himself, but unlike detective characters in artistic works, he won't leave all the mysteries unresolved until the end. Although he can be a bit unserious in daily life, he is generally emotionally intelligent and won't intentionally do anything to offend others.

Hugo's attitude towards money was somewhat subtle. On the one hand, he spent money extravagantly, renting the outrageously expensive Feather Residence as his office, and even pooling his money with Touko to plant fruit trees in the courtyard outside, hiring someone to maintain them regularly. On the other hand, the detective agency's cash flow always ran smoothly. In terms of business, this detective was quite adept at making money, always managing to earn the funds he needed within reasonable working hours.

Personality and attitudes toward money best reflect the character of a person's family of origin. Therefore, it's highly likely that Hugo was born into a wealthy and compassionate family. Hugo's habit of using honorifics to address strangers is likely a consequence of frequent interactions with adults during his childhood, indicating his precocious maturity.

Of course, the detective is by no means a perfect person. If there's one weakness to say, it's that he's incompatible with Pokémon.

Due to the detective's unique constitution, all sorts of hilarious and absurd disasters unfold daily at the Feathered Residence, causing great suffering to Eevee and Turtwig. Of course, from the detective's perspective, living under the same roof as the Pokémon also adds to his troubles.

However, the detective is not bad at getting along with Pokémon. He personally prepares food for the Pokémon with berries and is familiar with the various ecology of Pokémon. This is not just about knowledge; without the experience of spending time with Pokémon, one cannot reach Hugo's level.

Okay. The basic character setup is complete; now it's time to introduce the detective's persona and begin profiling.

Like a Yonjira trying to unleash its "psychic power," Azure pressed her index fingers against her temples, her brain working at full capacity, seemingly emitting a buzzing sound.

Hugo asked Chimchar for help playing a game. Chimchar cried after finishing the game, so Hugo made a phone call and gave Chimchar a gift, which Chimchar happily accepted. Then Hugo promised Turtwig and Piplup a gift, and everyone was happy, but Hugo felt a little awkward.

Is there anything unusual about this?

Of course! The key point is that phone call in the middle! The detective's call was probably to someone who can offer guidance on Pokémon breeding techniques. Judging from the events that followed, the only thing that could cause the detective trouble is that person whose true identity is still unknown.

On the one hand, that person told the detective that giving Pokémon gifts could resolve the immediate trouble; on the other hand, it also had some influence on the detective, making him feel awkward towards Turtwig and the others.

Unfortunately, without asking Hugo, it was impossible for him to know who the call was to.

"Is it truly impossible to determine their identity? Is my reasoning limited to this point?"

Despite a lengthy deduction process, the truth behind the detectives' tiff remains shrouded in mystery.

No, Azure recalled the information the detective had previously revealed—the Grass Turtles were adopted by the detective after he lost a bet with someone. In other words, the Grass Turtles originally had another owner.

When Chimchar cries incessantly and the detective is at a loss, who will Hugo turn to for help—someone who can guide him on Pokémon breeding techniques?

Once the person on the phone was identified, the whole story became clear.

It's important to know that the detective is a precocious and compassionate person who, despite being unable to successfully train Pokémon due to his physical condition, still devotes a great deal of love to the Pokémon.

With this in mind, Azure finally understood.

.

"I understand how you feel; it's a really strange feeling."

Azure walked over to the detective and sighed.

"The Pokémon work tirelessly for us all the time, sometimes even risking their lives in Pokémon battles, without ever asking for anything in return. Now we've only given them a few items, and they're already this happy. Looking at these kind and lovely children, Detective, what you're really planning is how to break the bet and return Turtwig and the others to their original owners, isn't it?"

"Hmm?" The detective in the white coat made a strange gurgling sound, remained silent for a long time with his back to the azure, and then slowly spoke—

"...If you use psychological profiling indiscriminately, you'll eventually become a detestable person."

Then, Hugo still didn't turn around, but he didn't deny it either. Following Azure's speculation, he readily admitted—

"Perhaps I'm being a bit sentimental, but I do feel a bit guilty towards Turtwig and the others. They are all exceptionally talented Pokémon, and no matter who their trainer is, they would definitely achieve great things. But now, they're with a private detective like me, who has no connection to battle, and the glory and honor that would have shone on their life's journey will forever be out of their reach."

The detective, unusually, fell into a negative mood, and his assistant became somewhat angry: "Do you intend to disregard the feelings of the Pokémon and pack up the Turtwigs and give them away?"

"I really didn't care about the Pokémon's feelings. Chimchar was sad for so long today and I didn't even notice. Haha, I even call myself the most professional private detective in Unova."

The detective gave a wry smile but still didn't turn around.

"Your profiling skills have improved remarkably. Observing others' words and actions and then thinking with the target in mind—being able to do this means you're already a qualified detective. I've also been training for over a month, but I still can't become a qualified Pokémon Trainer."

“But you…” Azure was speechless. Because of the detective’s bad luck, she couldn’t think of any benefits that Pokémon could gain from hanging out with Hugo.

It's likely that a detective with a quicker mind, more rigorous logic, and a better understanding of the nature of misfortune would have discovered this long ago; otherwise, he wouldn't have had such an idea.

“You are a true Pokémon Trainer, not a mere pretender like me,” Hugo said incisively. “Since you can think like me, you can also reach the same conclusion—it’s more harmful than beneficial for Pokémon to live with me. The best gift I can give them now is to let them return to their original trainers. Only in this way…”

The detective wanted to continue, but suddenly stopped.

Azure turned around in surprise and saw three somewhat forlorn figures.