sonovelo Chapter 414 The Alliance's Countermeasures
Chapter 414 The Alliance's Countermeasures
Chapter 416 The Alliance's Countermeasures
"Azure, how's your investigation going?"
In front of the video communication terminal at the Pokémon Center in Snowflake City, facing the Unova Champion on the screen, Azure noticed a rare hint of anxiety on Hugo's face.
Normally, the head of this firm wouldn't call to urge progress during a case investigation, but this time, less than a day after the last report was submitted, Hugo sent an urgent message, indicating that the situation was indeed quite urgent.
"We're at a temporary impasse." Faced with the champion's persistent questioning, the girl could only shake her head. "After investigating the car accident scene with Gym Leader Hachiku, we went to the League office where Morikawa retrieved the file box to investigate. There, we found a registration book from two years ago, which did indeed contain information about items stored at the office, but—."
The Ditto beside her stretched out its pink body and handed Azure a copy of a document. The assistant placed it in front of the terminal's camera. "Although we can find the pickup record for the day of the car accident, tracing back to the storage record from the day before, the other party only wrote down the items entrusted for storage, without leaving any name or contact information."
The form was yellowed, with only the four illegible words "Confidential Documents" lying forlornly in the inventory, while the depositor information area was a glaring blank.
"Have you asked the staff at the office?"
In the video, Hugo appears to be communicating with himself in a cramped, makeshift communications room. Dust particles can be vaguely seen swirling in front of the camera.
"Of course I asked," Azure replied. "The clerk from two years ago is now the supervisor at the original office, and because of Morikawa's car accident, his memory of the incident is still quite clear."
"In that case, we should be able to find clues about the sender."
"No." Azure and Ditto shook their heads together. "According to the manager, the file box suddenly appeared in the office the night before the car accident. She was on night shift and had only left for a short while. When she returned, she found this mysterious box. It only contained the form I just showed you and a note with contact information."
"Was that call from some alliance official?" Hugo asked astutely.
"Yes, and that alliance official was Holt himself. It was on his guarantee that the Snowflake City office stored that file box on his behalf."
Bilan recalled her supervisor's testimony and said with certainty, "Up to this point, the news completely stopped. Hachiku and I also tried to check the office's surveillance records, but the records from two years ago had long been overwritten, and there was no way to find them."
"No." The detective on the other end of the terminal suddenly raised a finger. "The message in the file box already says a lot."
Having racked her brains, Bilan raised an eyebrow: "You're not suggesting I can identify handwriting, are you?"
"It is indeed related to handwriting, but it's not just that."
Hugo nodded and then shook his head. "The hasty handwriting seems somewhat weak and feeble, and it is very likely the work of an older person—but this is only a somewhat unreliable piece of circumstantial evidence."
Azure unconsciously sat up straight: "Then what is the key clue?"
"The contradiction." Hugo's fingertips tapped rhythmically on the makeshift table, producing a crisp sound. "The person who left the message specifically marked 'Confidential Document' on the form, indicating that they were well aware of the value of this information. If that's the case, why did they treat this file box so carelessly?"
He paused for a moment, letting the paradox simmer in the air: "If the person depositing the document really values it, even if they don't personally stay until the clerk on duty returns, they should at least fill out the form completely, right? What if the office doesn't notice the note with the phone number and just throws the box away as trash?"
"Could this mean that the people who deposited their items trust the people at the office? And that they have a social connection with them?" Azure vaguely felt that her thoughts had been opened up.
"That's not all," the detective said confidently. "The fact that that person is so at ease suggests that this is likely not the first time the depositor has deposited items at the office."
He pointed to the photocopy in Bilan's hand. "Look, the person who came here is not only familiar with the deposit process, but even knows to take the registration form from the counter. This practiced approach is enough to prove that this is not the first time he has done something similar at the Snowflake City office."
"I understand!" Azure clapped her hands suddenly, startling the Ditto next to her, which instantly shrank into a pink jelly.
"So that's what you meant by handwriting! If we compare the handwriting on this form with the past records at the Snowflake City office, we'll likely be able to find the mysterious person's past identity information! Good heavens, why didn't I think of that? I'll go there right now!"
"No." Hugo raised his hand to interrupt the excited detective assistant. "We now represent the United Federation, not a small detective agency with only two people. This kind of repetitive, mechanical work can be left to the Federation members. You and Mr. Hatchku have other things to do."
"Something else?" Azure tilted her head in confusion.
Hugo's expression turned more serious than ever before: "Lionel has made some groundbreaking discoveries. Holt's investigation before his death is likely related to the underground structure of the Alliance headquarters."
He lowered his voice and said, "If the car accident Morikawa was involved in and Holt's disappearance were indeed caused by Group Plasma, then the seriousness of this matter is probably far beyond our imagination."
"Have you sent out Pokémon to explore the League's underground area?"
The detective shook his head: "Wanlong Elite Four's Ghost-type Pokémon encountered a barrier when trying to pass through the wall, which confirms that there is something hidden down there. However, out of caution regarding Team Plasma, we did not send out a Pokémon to force its way through."
"I understand the seriousness of the situation." Azure shuddered at the thought of the detective in the white coat sitting atop a powder keg that could explode at any moment. "But Snowflake City and the League headquarters are separated by most of Unova. What can we do here?"
"Considering the worst-case scenario, the Alliance headquarters is no longer safe, so the location for fighting the Plasma Group must be set up outside the Alliance headquarters."
Hugo paused for a moment, then said solemnly, "Azure, I want you and Mr. Hatchku to put on a show—pretend you've discovered crucial evidence that needs to be urgently sent to the Alliance. We need to turn Snowflake City into the first battlefield to lure them out. I will have Ms. Fuyu from Fuyuki City and Mr. Kiku from Snorkel City cooperate with your actions, and you must completely crush Team Plasma's detachment in the battlefield."
The detective's assistant on the other end of the screen suddenly brightened up: "You mean you want us to become the next Morikawa Shigeru? To lure Group Plasma into attacking us?"
"Yes." The detective nodded. "Let's assume there's a massive weapon buried underground within the Alliance. Then, what Holt obtained from that mysterious figure in Snowflake City is most likely the method to control that weapon. Otherwise, there's no reason for Group Plasma to resort to such extreme measures as silencing witnesses two years ago, during that relatively conservative period. And since they were willing to take such a risk two years ago, there's no reason for them to remain indifferent now that they're acting even more brazenly."
People are always more greedy when they are about to lose something than when they are about to gain it. In order to recoup sunk costs and to ensure that giant weapon works properly, the Plasma Group will do everything in its power to prevent you and Hatchku from sending that important "intelligence" back to the Alliance—Hugo added.
"But how exactly do we get the plasma cluster's attention?" The girl asked, her fingers resting on her chin.
"No need to worry." Hugo smiled. "Just keep an eye on Team Plasma's church in Snowdrop City. League infiltrators will deliberately stir up trouble among the local Team Plasma members and lead them to attack League facilities. Once you see this, you and Gym Leader Hatchling should immediately ride your Pokémon as if heading to the Unova League, starting from the Snowdrop City Gym. Team Plasma will most likely intercept you along the way."
After all, in the eyes of the Plasma Group, this was undoubtedly irrefutable proof that the Alliance had successfully obtained crucial evidence.
"So, are we going to have to wage all-out war against the Plasma Group?"
A hint of fighting spirit flashed in the azure eyes, and the Ditto that had climbed onto the girl's shoulder also swayed its body, appearing very imposing.
"Yes, take good care of your strongest Pokémon." Hugo nodded, his voice like a drawn sword.
"The United States Alliance can no longer continue on a passive defensive posture. Taking advantage of the fact that this secret document incident might trigger their sensitive nerves, we should also launch an offensive. Even if the plan fails and you and the other librarians make a wasted trip, the Alliance can use this opportunity..."
"Clean up the Plasma Group's influence in western Unova."
"Of course I'm fine, but—are you alright at the Alliance headquarters?" Azure asked worriedly, looking at the detective on the other side of the screen.
"A wise man does not stand under a dangerous wall, and I will soon be gone from here," Hugo said casually.
"Akrom recently fell ill without warning due to poisoning, which aroused suspicion among many employees, and the turmoil has not yet completely subsided."
This is a perfect opportunity for us to assert our championship authority. Starting tomorrow, the United Alliance headquarters will be under full lockdown due to an "unknown virus infection." All matches will be suspended, work will be conducted from home, and everyone inside the alliance buildings will be evacuated.
The detective in the white coat lowered his voice, a hint of amusement in it, and said, "I'm just hoping that Team Plasma has actually planted a giant bomb beneath the Alliance."