Pokémon Detective Case Files

Chapter 506 Opening the Market in the Eye of the Storm

Chapter 508 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 appeared openly. However, 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 instead of the 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 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—and it even 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? Is it being so 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 a dry, sandy smell from its nostrils with annoyance and 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'd 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."

17

"An ordinary thief wouldn't steal from Carlos and all the major museums in the city," Hugo said, his voice low but firm enough to keep the wind at bay. "nor would he take advantage of Team Rocket's downfall to ruthlessly empty Silver Company's vault at Kanto Bank."

He stood in the fading twilight, the light 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 isn't limited to cash,..."

The selection of items—precious metals, cryptocurrency private keys, rare gemstones, fossil samples, ancient artifacts, and some prototype products involving cutting-edge technology—was undeniably well-chosen. As for the methods of crime, they primarily involved theft, fraud, and intimidation, but there were also a few violent clashes.

"It's just that in those two regions, Team Magma, Team Aqua, and Team Plasma were making too much noise, which allowed your personal schemes to go unnoticed—but looking back now, it was like a meticulously planned theft pilgrimage by a phantom thief."

"Hahaha—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' has never been 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 "safe and sound." 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, two years ago, your fingerprints from your last activity in Kanto were discovered."

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 crime scene investigation, the archiving system has 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 matches, 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 has 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 beneath his hood, and his monocle slipped off due to gravity, dangling from 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 particularly 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 unearthed and compiled."

"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 to breathe a sigh of relief. In any case, she didn't want to become a true adversary with the detective before her.

"But to be honest, the United States is in such a state now that countless people are about to die. As a kind-hearted thief, I have always taken it upon myself to promote the equitable distribution of human wealth. If the situation allows, I certainly wouldn'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 phantom thief and Hugo reached the same conclusion in the temporary command center.

Moreover, air travel to and from the United States is almost completely cut off in half of the region. Even if Hugo did send some champion-level reinforcements from other areas, like 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's 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 as he did so.

"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 of already notorious villains must 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 that between us and that pyramid, there are thunderclouds 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 stole 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 spirits to their senses. Let's leave aside the land cloud and tornado cloud that have already gone far away for now, 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 ostracists,' right?" the thief frowned. "What if he refuses to tell us, or has already left the pyramid?"

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

Hugo answered without hesitation, clearly having considered the question beforehand: "Moreover, at this moment, Team Plasma has already demonstrated sufficient destructive power against the Unova. Joggs has achieved his goal. He didn't truly 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 phantom thief, who had experience piloting small planes, protested vehemently to the detective, "You know, unstable air currents are the biggest killer at high altitudes. Whether you're using a vehicle or a Pokémon mount, crashing directly 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: "While 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 into the thief's eyes, "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 irresistible 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 it to steal that thing?"

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

"The great detective might as well put it more clearly."

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 a bit arbitrary, for someone who makes a living by lying and pretending, the essence of a person is ultimately nothing more than the sum of all the social relationships they cultivate."

"That's quite insightful." The thief tilted his head. "Then could 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 throughout your 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 was completely destroyed. 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 someone with a fixed address, a legal identity and profession, someone who would while away 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 stream of trivial matters in life—

Having lost your legal status within the alliance system, you've narrowly escaped legal capture, but are now a lonely ghost forced to live only 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 States headquarters destroyed by the Plasma Group, the temporary command center is bound to be riddled with flaws—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 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 nonchalantly, showing no intention of putting up a fight. "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. Apart from a few old, pretentious 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've 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 will allow you to move freely in both the police system and league agencies."

"Oh my, just listening to 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—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.

"I can tell you the temporary location of the United Information Storage Center. According to the plan, if this hurricane crisis can be resolved smoothly, the emergency data center will be shut down in seven days; and if the crisis cannot be resolved, probably no one will care about this level of security risk."

"Seven days is like the blink of an eye for most people, but for a phantom thief like you, it's a bit too much. During this time, you can infiltrate the area on your own and create a completely new identity for yourself. I think that's no different from simply giving you a pre-made resume."

"Oh? You, the Unova Champion, aren't you afraid I'll leave a loophole there and use the stolen information to leak it widely?"

Are they forging or selling information?

Such favorable conditions were as tempting as a granary with its doors wide open, right in front of Rada, for both the phantom thief's "Special Project" and the information broker's "Information Shop."

"To be honest, I am a little worried, but I will contact relevant computer experts to ensure the protection of residents' privacy."

Despite saying this, Hugo seemed unconcerned—

"But I still want to advise you to be careful. As the saying goes, 'Everything leaves a trace,' and no matter which direction information flows, the traces left are always reciprocal. Therefore, if someone uses this channel to gain illicit profits, as their actions unfold, their own information will also be exposed and investigated—this is probably the last thing you, as a thief, want to see."

"That proverb sounds strangely familiar."

The thief whistled playfully and listlessly put Akromma's "mind-reading glasses" back on his nose.

If these are the terms of the deal, even if the other side of the scales involves the risk of plunging into a hurricane, it's not something that can't be considered.

After all, the value of treasure always lies only in its scarcity.

But Hugo hadn't finished speaking.

"Furthermore—as your former friend, I still have high hopes for your character."

Looking at the data reflected in the glasses, 'Special Project' paused for a moment, then let out a deliberately exaggerated laugh: "Hmph, legal status in the Unova region, huh? Looks like from now on, I'll have more and more opportunities to come and play with you."

"I'll take that as a yes." The detective shrugged indifferently.

"The temporary data center was set up on a converted ship at the Liyong City dock. The location of the dark web black market of the Water Fleet gave us a lot of inspiration, so we simply used it directly."

The data center relocation was carried out in secrecy on Hugo's advice.

The person currently guarding the place is a former trainer named Telt, whom he secretly hired. Interestingly, Telt's partner, Electivire, has a connection to the legendary Pokémon Thundurus currently attacking Ripple Town. Perhaps it is because of this external factor that Telt is said to have become a trainer of considerable skill after the explosion.

This extra background information can be left for Miss Phantom Thief to discover on her own—it's not too big or too small of a topic.

surprise".

The final confirmation of the transaction was completed at the last moment before the sun sank below the horizon.

The twilight transitioned from orange-red to deep blue, like a tablecloth being slowly pulled away. Just as the world slipped into darkness, the wings of the warrior eagle suddenly unfurled behind the phantom thief's cloak with a sharp, rustling sound.

Before Garchomp could even cast a hostile glow at the new intruder, the gray cloak had already gracefully leaped onto the eagle's back.

The next second, a loud eagle cry pierced the darkening sky.

As night fell, the gray cloak and its owner were swallowed up by the darkness, as if they had never existed.

"As expected, this guy has a completely different team of Pokémon hidden in every region."

Standing in front of the Garchomp that had started acting up again, Hugo looked at the empty rooftop and muttered to himself.

>