Pokémon Detective Case Files.

The storm of wind blades finally subsided, and Gallade in the arena was forced to de-evolve, its cape and white scythes disappearing, returning to its original form.

Although he still stood defiantly in the middle, his eyes had already closed, and he had fallen into a coma while standing.

However, before the Great Leaf Heavenly King could even revel in his victory, he saw that his hero of the battle, the Wind-Following Ball, had not returned to his side to share the joy of the victory. Instead, it floated down from the sky and crashed into the ground, falling into a coma.

Amidst Da Ye's astonishment, the referee's announcement finally came belatedly—

"At the last moment, Elite Four member Wusong's Gallade used the move 'Destiny Bond', causing Elite Four member Daemon's Drizzle to lose its battle ability! With this, all of Wusong's Pokémon were unable to battle! The match ended with Elite Four member winning 4-6!"

[Bonus Chapter] The Road to Victory for King Ye (4)

How to defeat the bamboo orchid?

This is a profound question, one that has troubled all of Sinnoh's top trainers for many years.

After all, that woman was terrifying.

Ten years ago, people thought this upstart little girl would become the shortest-serving Sinnoh champion.

According to past practice, these talented players usually win titles by using unexpected tricks. Once their playing style is figured out, hundreds of challengers will set up targeted teams to launch an attack on them.

Inexperienced champions are often dethroned during this period and given a harsh lesson by the hidden talents of their predecessors.

This is what is known as the "rookie wall" or the "rookie champion curse".

However, the bamboo orchid did not encounter this difficulty.

A spider web may catch a few small, hopping insects, but it cannot hinder a bird from soaring through the air in the slightest—this statement is not meant to belittle insects.

When people from the past began to enthusiastically review the competition records and analyze the woman's weaknesses, they were surprised to find that this little girl champion did not have a single weakness.

A master of hybrid attributes, excelling in both offense and defense, with top-notch strategy and on-the-spot adaptability. He possesses both strength and skill.

Not just mediocre all-rounder, but perfect in every aspect.

Ultimately, any attempt to challenge the new champion's glory was thwarted by Garchomp's azure bone spikes.

Five years ago, people thought this seasoned beauty champion was about to experience a decline in her career.

This is a career bottleneck that every champion will encounter – battle injuries and illnesses are always the main theme of high-intensity competitive sports. After a trainer reaches the top level, he will inevitably experience a period when the main team is in a transitional phase and the overall combat effectiveness declines.

Zhu Lan is young and inexperienced. She is still a young person and naturally does not have a deep understanding of the ruthlessness of time. It is impossible for her to prepare a second main player so early.

It takes at least five years to train a main team. How could someone start consciously cultivating their second team while winning a championship in high spirits?

However, just as people were waiting to witness the tragic fall of a superstar, Ms. Cynthia introduced her second Garchomp.

Even more terrifying is that this Garchomp with the "Rough Skin" ability defeated Hipmon, the main force of Kikuno, the Elite Four member, in its first battle after its debut.

The victim, Ms. Kikuno, frankly stated that the new earth dragon's strength was in no way inferior to the old earth dragon that had retired at the peak of its combat power...

It's said that after hearing about the battle, the Sinnoh League changed the competition rules overnight, prohibiting teams from bringing more than one Pokémon with the same Pokédex number. They were afraid that one day in the league competition, two Garchomps would take turns appearing, resulting in a desperate scene where two Garchomps would clash and kill the match...

After that, Zhu Lan's new teams took shape one after another, gradually forming a diverse, youthful, and terrifying lineup with multiple core main forces, rich attributes, and abundant tactics.

They are becoming increasingly invincible.

And now, that woman has stood tall in the Sinnoh battle arena for a full ten years.

There are no dynasties that last forever, but people can no longer imagine what reason there is for the bamboo orchid to fall.

.

"You're the one facing Zhulan this year! You've come all the way to the battle zone, are you here to learn from me?"

A cheerful voice boomed in his ears, and the Fire-type Elite Four member, Da Ye, grinned as he looked at the blond man in front of him wearing a brown-green trench coat.

"Yes, I am preparing to challenge for the Bamboo Orchid Championship."

The tall, middle-aged trainer laughed, rubbing his forehead: "You've come to the right opponent in the Battle Zone. In all of Sinnoh, besides Gosho, the one with the most experience battling Cynthia is me, the pioneering leader of the Battle Tower. Back then, that girl would come here to challenge us from time to time, and those were truly unbearable days."

“Mr. Guanglang, actually I came here to ask you a question that I already know the answer to.”

Da Ye looked serious, but said something that was hard to understand.

"Oh?" Mr. Guanglang was taken aback, but then suddenly realized, "I guess you wanted to ask what the weaknesses of the bamboo orchid are?"

"No, I've already asked Wusong about that. Although that guy lacks competitive spirit and likes to ambush people at the end of the match, he's very good at seeing through his opponents' weaknesses. Even he said he has no weaknesses, so I guess your answer won't be any different."

"Wusong is right. But what exactly is your question?"

The Grand Lord, who was in charge of the entire battle zone, became increasingly confused and asked the Fire-type Elite Four member in front of him in bewilderment.

"Has Zhu Lan ever been defeated?" Da Ye asked seriously, without a hint of self-doubt or jest.

It's as if it's questioning some objective natural phenomenon—"Will the sun really rise again?" "Does Circle Bear hibernate?" "Was Zhulan really defeated?"

The question was absurd, but the responses were even stranger.

Guanglang pressed his large hand heavily against his forehead, then burst into uncontrollable laughter—

"That's a truly brilliant question! Da Ye, I used to think you were a reckless, headstrong bear who would charge into battle without thinking twice. But now it seems you're much smarter than Wu Song and the others, actually starting to ponder such profound philosophical questions!"

Please tell me the answer.

"If you asked Cynthia herself this question, she would definitely tell you in a gentle tone that she herself has encountered all sorts of failures, picking out some silly little stories, like not winning a gold medal in a grand contest when she was a child, being chased by a group of wild elves, or being at a disadvantage when facing mythical creatures that were difficult to resist, using these kinds of nonsense to dismiss your boring curiosity. But that's not the kind of answer you need, is it?"

“Exactly,” Da Ye said earnestly, his red afro. “I want your answer.”

"Then I'll be the one to destroy this unromantic fairy tale." Guanglang wore a bright, cold smile, the kind of expression adults often use when revealing the dark side of society to younger generations.

He slowly shook his head, declaring almost cruelly, "No."

"I, Cynthia, guarantee with my reputation against Lord Battle Tower that Cynthia Champion has never lost a Pokémon battle to date. Whether it's singles, doubles, all-out battles, or the various battle types here in the Battle Zone, whether she uses her own Pokémon or someone else's, no matter how much of a disparity in strength she faces, she has never lost. In the Battle Zone, she faced me three times. The first time was a draw where I was slightly at a disadvantage, the second time I narrowly lost, and the third time was a crushing defeat. She still hasn't lost once."

Da Ye sighed softly, whether with disappointment or relief, "So it really is like that? Although I witnessed her past battles firsthand, I didn't expect it to be true."

"Even so, I actually prefer Cynthia's younger brother's battles to Cynthia's." Guanglang suddenly mentioned a detective who wasn't in the Sinnoh region, leaving Daiye somewhat at a loss.

"I think his name is Hugo? Watching that guy's rental matches is a real treat. He can't use a single skill smoothly the whole time. No matter how obvious the advantage is, as soon as he gives an order, the situation will take a sharp turn for the worse, heading towards defeat and farce. Honestly, even a professional actor would have to put in a lot of effort to act like him."

Da Ye also knew what Hugo's situation was like in battles, and couldn't help but shake his head and say, "In terms of Pokémon battles, that guy is simply the opposite of Cynthia."

“No, I wouldn’t say that.” Guanglang suddenly became serious. “My brother’s clumsiness and misfortune are a matter of his constitution, a malice from some force deep in the universe that humans cannot understand. But my sister’s success and luck are not like that. The two cannot be placed on opposite ends of a scale.”

The Fire King's eyes lit up, as if he had grasped some fleeting inspiration. He excitedly asked, "Mr. Guanglang, what do you mean?"

Battle Tower Lord nodded: "Pokémon battles are where a trainer's entirety is revealed. What Pokémon they choose, what moves they select, what items they bring, what tactics they employ, their expressions during battle, their performance, their adaptability, and the outcome—all these things combined demonstrate a trainer's complete character and skill. That's why, despite having faced Cynthia so many times and losing every battle, I can frankly tell you today—"

Guanglang said in a deep voice, "Unlike Hugo's physique, Zhulan's talent is truly that of an ordinary person."

“It is something that comes from nothing, that can accumulate over time… and that can also be defeated by other humans…” Da Ye murmured, echoing the words of the Battle Tower Lord.

He recalled that afternoon when he first faced Cynthia. The atmosphere at the Twinleaf Town Youth Championship was in full swing, and Infernape was struggling against Garchomp's attacks, eventually losing.

The little brat who lost the match back then cried with such resentment, only regretting that he hadn't trained hard enough and hadn't performed perfectly in the battle. He didn't think at all that the victory should belong to the little girl in the lace dress on the other side.

"Oh? A good fire is burning in your eyes. It seems you have a good plan to deal with the championship challenge?" Guanglang's hearty laughter rang out again, but this time, Da Ye didn't find it so grating.

"Thank you, Mr. Guanglang." The Fire-type Elite Four member bowed deeply. "Please look forward to the upcoming Championship Challenge!"

Watching the Great Leaf Heavenly King depart on the Wind-Following Ball, Guanglang stroked his chin, his thoughts wandering—

"If this guy gets incredibly lucky and wins the championship, can I take the opportunity to snatch it? Isn't there a hidden rule? By defeating four Heavenly Kings and the newly appointed Da Ye in the League Tournament, I should be able to avoid fighting Zhu Lan and directly challenge for the championship title..."

As his thoughts drifted further and further away, the Lord of the Battle Tower suddenly remembered something—

The claim that Bamboo Orchid is invincible is not entirely unfounded.

When facing the Special Zone, Cynthia sometimes encounters battles that are theoretically almost impossible to win. Whenever this happens, that unlucky Hugo will suddenly appear as if strolling in a garden, whisper something in his sister's ear, and after that, Cynthia's battle style is like a landmine. At first, she will still play her usual steady and methodical style, but at a certain moment, she will suddenly change her mind and show off some unbelievable, yet effective, moves that are enough to resolve the crisis.

Guanglang had always suspected that it might have been a scheme devised by his younger brother before the competition began.

But how could a loser who couldn't even participate in a battle so accurately predict the outcome of a battle that hadn't even happened? This question remained unanswered. Guanglang and Hugo had limited opportunities to meet directly, and each time, due to unforeseen circumstances, Guanglang was unable to ask the question.

"Sigh, I should have told Daye about this too..." Guanglang scratched his head, looking at the empty sky.

Oh well, I heard that the younger brother seems to have left Sinnoh, so he shouldn't be able to affect the championship match here... I guess?

Thinking of this, the middle-aged man couldn't help but feel relieved again.

[Bonus Chapter] The Road to Victory for King Ye (5)

If scarcity increases value, then cheers and shouts are the least valuable things on the court during league games.

Amidst the deafening cheers, Da Ye spotted his rival.

Dressed in a black trench coat, with waist-length blonde hair, she bloomed like a dark golden rose where everyone's gaze met. Zhu Lan was still the same Zhu Lan, with no change in her demeanor from before.

This was perfectly natural. For Da Ye, the championship challenge was a rare opportunity, but for Zhu Lan, it was just an annual routine. Anything, once repeated many times and becomes a habit, will be taken for granted.

That scholar of Sinnoh mythology is already Sinnoh mythology himself.

Da Ye's ultimate goal this time is to break her arrogant daily routine.

The match is about to begin, and the referee has walked to the center of the field.

Speaking of which, what exactly is the purpose of referees in league matches? Many veteran trainers I know have transitioned to this profession after retiring, and it seems like the simplest of jobs—if you see a Pokémon lying unconscious on the ground, just raise a flag and announce the situation to everyone, nothing more…

Da Ye Tianwang tried his best to clear his mind to avoid thinking about things that would make him nervous, but his wandering thoughts were eventually pulled back to reality by the gravity of life. During the seemingly endless pre-match ceremony, he couldn't help but feel anxious again.

Cyndaquil will probably send out that Rockruff as usual, right? Its Dark and Ghost types make it immune to all types except Fairy, making it the perfect starter Pokémon for unpredictable situations... But will Cyndaquil suddenly change her starter for this tournament? Will her plan be able to proceed smoothly?

Her toes tapped nervously on the floor. The referee mechanically read out the rules of the game. The shouts from the audience gradually subsided like the receding tide. The champion of Bamboo Orchid stood casually in front of her, looking somewhat bored.

The sky was clear and the air was fresh, with a gentle breeze in late autumn.

Da Ye felt he should pat his cheeks to clear his head, but then thought it was unnecessary. He was Da Ye, the Fire King, not a rookie facing the League for the first time. Why would he need such physical stimulation to wake himself up?

He glanced towards the VIP stands above, where Kikuno, Ayuri, and Gosho were huddled together, eagerly awaiting the start of the match, just like him. Their words of encouragement for his departure were remarkably consistent—"I hope you lose with dignity."

Honestly, these old colleagues really show no mercy.

However, these three weren't the most outrageous. The most offensive pre-match message was Denji's: "I hope you can see Cynthia's penultimate handheld weapon." Was that Electric-type Gym Leader's mouth blessed by Grimer? How could he be so vicious?

"Now, both of you, please confirm the status of all six Pokémon in your team. This is your last chance to change your battle Pokémon—"

The referee's voice suddenly pierced Da Ye's ears. Confirming the handhold—this was a unique step in a six-on-six all-out battle.

Da Ye glanced at the six Poké Balls on his waist. Through the translucent red Poké Ball shells, the six Pokémon he had carefully selected for the competition raised their heads energetically, in perfect condition, and were all reliable partners.

At this moment, Zhu Lan was also performing the same action, but in Da Ye's eyes, the champion lady's behavior was somewhat strange. She seemed to have spent a few extra seconds on this part, and her expression seemed somewhat abnormal.

But Da Ye didn't have time to analyze the reason behind it, because this abnormality was fleeting. Zhu Lan then nodded to the referee, indicating that she was ready for battle.

Now, the last grain of sand has leaked from the neck of the hourglass.

The referee's five fingers, joined together like a knife, were raised high towards the sky—

"Five, four, three, two, one! The game begins!"

It's started...

While Da Ye was still pondering, his body acted before his thoughts could even process them. With a flash of his hand, the pre-selected Poké Ball was launched without hesitation, following the tactical sequence!

Pfft—

A loud, explosive sound rang out, and a bright yellow flame rose up in the center of the arena. A furry creature burst out of the red and white Poké Ball!

Its red skin and yellow mane make it look passionate and fierce; it is none other than Elite Four's Flareon!

As for the enemy it faced, just as Da Ye had predicted, Zhu Lan neither set up any deceptive tactics nor changed her strategy, and as always sent out her capable veteran, Hua Yan Guai!

In the past, Zhu Lan would say things like "Witness the bond" or "Let's see your determination" at the start of a match to liven up the atmosphere. This seems to be a habit she developed after becoming a champion. This change, influenced by her status, seemed cute back then, like a little girl being overly serious. But now, these fabricated catchphrases have become part of the legendary champion's identity.

However, today, Zhu Lan didn't say such words; instead, she immediately gave the instructions for her moves—

"Flower Rock Monster, 'Dark Pulse'."

The pitch-black malice coalesced into a sphere, and the ghostly figure emerging from the rock swayed as this wave of malice shot away like a high-speed bullet.

"Use Flamethrower to intercept, then proceed according to plan!" Seeing Cynthia give the order first, the Fire-type Elite Four member did not hesitate for a moment before giving Flareon the command to parry.

Flareon is even faster than Rockruff, and its "Flame Burst" strikes first, hitting the opponent before "Dark Pulse" can even fly across the field.

The explosion occurred just as Da Ye had predicted, and large swaths of smoke spread out. Due to the treacherous location of the explosion, the smoke partially obscured the vision of the Spirit Rockruff. Taking advantage of this opportunity, Flareon disregarded the aftershocks of its attack and leaped into the smoke.

The gears turned, and the final link was engaged. The plan has begun operation as scheduled!

"Granita, Flareon is to your right. Use 'Rush' on the side with the thickest smoke."

Cyndaquil's experienced command rang out clearly and accurately, pointing precisely to the location of the large-leaf Pokémon.

The combination between the Rockruff and the Champion was seamless. Before the last syllable had even finished, the purplish-black ghost claw had already struck the Flareon that had just emerged from the mist.