Chapter 14: Midnight Standoff
Amid the impressive convoy that the bank robber Ham spotted, one inconspicuous police patrol car carried Detective Hugo and Officer Jenny.
Hugo, dressed back in his white coat, was driving. Jenny sat in the passenger seat, her face etched with frustration.
"Is the head of the criminal division an idiot? How could he just believe your nonsense so easily? He even said that being your assistant would help me gain investigative experience and learn more! He spouted things about my dream of opening my own detective agency one day—utter nonsense! You already have a luxurious detective office that's as fancy as a mansion in the city!"
"That office is rented," Hugo replied while gripping the steering wheel. "Technically, I don't own the property."
"But why did you have to make me out to be some kind of brilliant detective prodigy? The one who figured out the robbers' real plan wasn't even me! And yet, you kept praising my deduction skills in front of the chief, and the fool believed you!" Jenny fumed.
Hugo gestured toward his eyes with one hand. "People see what they want to see. I merely nudged things along. Besides, it's an emergency right now. If you think wasting time to explain the misunderstanding to the chief would be helpful at a moment like this, feel free to do so."
Jenny slumped in her seat, defeated. "After today, it'll probably be impossible to explain anything…"
Hugo, on the other hand, was as gleeful as a schoolboy on a field trip. "Driving the police car as a detective's assistant—it's like stepping into a buddy-cop movie. What a unique role-playing experience!"
"Take this seriously!" Jenny snapped. "We're dealing with dangerous robbers. Zebstrika and I can't afford to worry about protecting you during the fight."
"Yes, ma'am!" Hugo saluted mockingly as he stepped on the gas.
The towering building of Castelia Financial Bank loomed ahead. Over the police radio, the chief's voice crackled:
"Attention, all units! Begin sealing off surrounding intersections. Officers on foot, wait until the perimeter is secure before advancing toward the bank. Deploy primary Pokémon teams immediately. Expect strong resistance!"
Inside the Bank
Ham, the leader of the heist, regrouped with his intellectual partner, a bespectacled strategist.
"The cops are onto us. Initiate Plan B. Load the gold we've got and move out now," Ham ordered calmly.
"But we've only moved about 70% of the vault's contents!" his partner spat on the floor, clearly annoyed.
Behind him, a group of Falinks—six spherical, armored Pokémon—carried massive gold bars, each weighing several times their own bodies, like a slow-moving miniature train.
"That's enough," Ham said. "Let's move. Live to fight another day, and we'll always have a chance. The cops are still busy forming their perimeter. This is our window to load the gold onto the truck."
The robbers didn't waste time. Ham released a green Copperajah from its ball. The steel elephant Pokémon used its shovel-like trunk to smash a hole through the bank's wall, revealing the truck parked outside.
The sound of collapsing walls reverberated, alerting the police. Heavy footsteps soon echoed outside, mixed with the thuds of released Pokémon.
Ham responded by sending out his Frosmoth. The white-winged moth darted out through the breach, erecting a barrier of ice around the truck.
Police Pokémon attacks—Thunderbolt, Flamethrower, and Leaf Blade—slammed into the icy wall, scattering snowflakes. Yet the Frosmoth quickly exhaled more icy breath, reinforcing the shield.
"Trouble," Hugo muttered, observing the battle from behind Jenny.
"It seems the robbers anticipated being discovered and prepared a powerful Pokémon lineup," he mused. "Judging by their species, they might be from Galar. Could even be ex-security personnel who turned to crime."
The robbers used the ice barrier to load the remaining gold onto the truck. Their Pokémon engaged in a fierce fight to hold back the police:
Ghostly blue flames danced as Runerigus unleashed Will-O-Wisp. A massive Stonjourner hurled boulders with abandon. A green dragon summoned a Leaf Storm that whipped through the battlefield. The six Falinks zigzagged deftly, evading capture.
The Castelia police, despite their full mobilization, found themselves outgunned. The nighttime battle highlighted their weakened state.
"Curse those robbers!" Jenny gritted her teeth. "If they're this strong, why bother with elaborate schemes? Hugo, can't your 'brilliant deductions' figure out a way to stop them?"
Hugo stroked his chin. "From the scene, I can tell there are two robbers. One is clearly the mastermind, and the other could be an ex-security officer. If one of them dies during the standoff, the survivor would gain all the stolen gold…"
He turned to Jenny. "Divide and conquer. Focus all firepower on one robber. In a critical moment, the other may abandon their ally."
Jenny's eyes widened. Hugo's plan, though risky, seemed plausible. She relayed the suggestion to the chief.
The police redirected their efforts toward the weaker robber, the one commanding Frosmoth.
Ham, realizing the danger, knew he had to act quickly. If the police's strategy succeeded, he and his partner would lose their advantage—and trust. The vast gold haul in the truck was a temptation that could shatter any partnership.
"Get ready to break through!" Ham barked. His partner, though hesitant, obeyed.
Cracks of betrayal began to form…
As the robbers' truck roared to life, a golden-haired figure emerged from the shadows.
Dressed in an elegant black gown, her high heels clicked against the ground as she stepped into the truck's path. The truck's headlights illuminated her striking silhouette: Cynthia, the Sinnoh Champion.
Her pendant gleamed, her black dress swayed in the night breeze. She radiated an aura of authority that froze everyone in their tracks—robbers and police alike.
What happened next would rewrite the night's outcome entirely.