Pokémon Detective Case Files

Chapter 339 Poison Chain - Target

Chapter 341 Poison Chain - Target

"By the way, Mr. Akromma's poisoning also happened in a very strange way."

Despite the already heavy atmosphere in the office, Mr. Gade, bound by his duty, could only continue speaking, adding insult to injury.

"No toxic substances were detected in the coffee residue on the table, and there were no traces of poison on the inside of the coffee cup. After all, that instant coffee was a standard item in the Alliance's break room, brewed for Mr. Akromma at his own request—it was entirely a whim of the visitor, and neither the break room manager nor the clerk in charge of reception could have imagined that someone would use this opportunity to poison him."

"I made myself a cup when I first came here," Douzi testified, sticking out his tongue. "The taste wasn't great, but it was pretty good at keeping you alert."

"Are there any signs of Poison-type Pokémon intrusion at the scene?" Ignoring the acting champion's statement, Blackie asked with furrowed brows.

The security chief shook his head: "The police are investigating the ventilation ducts leading to that meeting room. They've also brought in Ghost-type Pokémon trained by Elite Four member Wanlong to check for any signs of spirits penetrating the walls of the meeting room, but so far, we haven't found any clues."

"Are there any surveillance cameras on site?" Douzi asked casually.

"The champion's private facilities weren't equipped with that kind of equipment, but there was a camera in the hallway outside that could see the entrance to the meeting room. After reviewing the footage, no one other than Akroma was seen entering or leaving. However, the surveillance footage in the league headquarters lobby..."

All we could see was Mr. Akromma entering headquarters empty-handed, as if nothing was amiss.

"Does Mr. Akromma have a habit of biting his pen?"

After some deep thought, the girl with the high ponytail suddenly asked with an expectant expression, "1."

"Is it possible that someone deliberately smeared poison on the cap of his pen, so that whenever the scholar encountered difficulties while calculating those formulas and unconsciously put the pen tip in his mouth in frustration, the poison would unknowingly enter Mr. Akromma's body?"

"Hey, do you think this is some kind of detective movie you filmed?"

Hei Lian pressed his brow, a little embarrassed, feeling sorry for his childhood playmate's naiveté.

"Regardless of how low the success rate of such a trick involving poisoning a pen is, Mr. Akromma is, after all, an assistant appointed by the league champions. Judging from his neat appearance in the meeting room, he probably wouldn't have the kind of weird quirk that only a dim-witted person would have."

"And the pen evidence is with the police." Mr. Gade fiddled with his phone for a while, seemingly communicating with someone on social media. After Blackie finished speaking, he continued, "They checked the evidence when they bagged it, and there were no bite marks or poison on it."

"However, the fact that 'the injured party brought the poison into the Alliance headquarters from the outside' is indeed a worthwhile area for investigation."

The vice president of the alliance, who had remained silent until now, suddenly said, "It's almost impossible for the alliance headquarters to have a way to obtain poison. Could it be that Akromar was poisoned in some way beforehand, and because the poison was in a capsule or for some other reason, it needed a certain amount of time to take effect? ​​That is, he only showed symptoms of poisoning after arriving at that conference room, and then fell into a coma there?"

"I personally think this is highly likely. If that's really the case, then the whole incident has nothing to do with the Elf League itself," Director Gade said respectfully, nodding.

"However, whether this is the case or not depends on the final diagnosis from the medical department. As I mentioned earlier,"

The current test results are completely unable to determine the type of poison in Mr. Akromma's body.

"That's certainly more rigorous." Gloria nodded, her expression gentle as she continued, "So, Mr. Supervisor, is there anything else you'd like to ask these two trainers?"

"Yes, there is indeed one more thing—just in case, I have something else I'd like to ask you both." After thinking for a long time, the middle-aged man said, "Miss Douzi, Mr. Heilian, have either of you offended anyone recently?"

"What does this mean?" The champion's agent was a little confused and asked bluntly.

Gade coughed awkwardly twice: "Actually, it's nothing serious, just a routine social relations investigation. However, although it was Mr. Akromma who was poisoned in that meeting room, the method and means of poisoning by the perpetrator are still unknown. So I'm a little suspicious that the person they really wanted to poison might not be Mr. Akromma."

"You mean, Akroma's poisoning might have been due to the perpetrator's mistake, and that Douzi and I could also have been the targets of the poisoner?" Hei Lian's expression changed, and he immediately asked seriously.

"So, it's not impossible."

The security supervisor sighed and shook his head, saying, "We learned about the situation from combat supervisor Mr. Kachi. It was by an unforeseen coincidence that the two of you accidentally extended the combat assessment time, which caused you to arrive at the meeting room an hour later than scheduled. Perhaps it was this one hour of downtime that caused the poison to be directed at Mr. Akroma, who was sitting there quietly."

"So that's why you're asking if anyone harbors murderous intent towards me or Douzi?" Hei Lian asked.

Gade nodded: "That's right, please forgive my intrusion."

"After all, a case really did happen, so it's understandable." Touko waved her hand magnanimously, but then she became troubled again. "But speaking of which, I really don't have any mortal enemies. Even some unlucky guys whose prize money I took from them in battles..."

But those are the rules of competitive games, so they shouldn't blame me for it.

"Me too. I don't think I've ever done anything that would earn me such hatred," Hei Lian added. "Besides, it was by chance that I followed Touko into that meeting room; I didn't originally intend to join the meeting."

"Then the real target of the poisoning is me, right?" The girl pointed to herself in surprise. "Wait, could it be that Group Plasma wants to get rid of me? After all, I seem to have ruined a lot of their plans during our past travels. But, but it's too much of a gap before they suddenly think of killing me. That makes no sense."

"Group Plasma? Is that the organization that causes all sorts of incidents across Unova, yet enjoys the support of many fanatics?"

Mr. Gade, the security chief at the Union headquarters, asked with some confusion, seemingly unfamiliar with the massive organization lurking in the shadows of the Union.

"Yeah, that organization claims to be working to liberate all Pokémon, but in reality, they've committed many atrocities, such as stealing other people's Pokémon and deliberately destroying important public facilities. Could I really be being targeted by them?"

"I also know something about that organization. It's a terrifying organization that inspires fear the higher you climb, and it's something Mr. Alder and the Elite Four are very wary of." Ms. Gloria brushed a strand of hair from her forehead and then calmly continued, "However, speaking of a planned poisoning attack, compared to Team Plasma retaliating against Miss Touko for old grudges, is there another possibility?"

"What do you mean?"

Blackie had a vague idea of ​​what the vice president was thinking, but the assumption was too important and far beyond the scope of his ability as a prospective gym leader.

However, Gloria did not hesitate at all. With her usual calm expression, she directly stated the young man's guess: "What I mean is, neither Mr. Akromma nor Miss Touko may be the real target of this poisoning incident."

If Mr. Gade's "manslaughter theory" is true, then the poisoner's real target might actually be someone else—someone who, like Miss Touko and you, didn't show up at the meeting room on time for some unforeseen reason.

"Huh? Who is that person?"

Only Douzi remained completely oblivious to the somber atmosphere that permeated the scene.

The vice president of the United Alliance tapped the wooden desk of his office with his index finger, like the click of a crossbow bolt.

"It's the league champion who entrusted you to act as his representative, the one who doesn't want to reveal his identity to the public."