Chapter 9: A Web of Traps, Waiting to Strike

The top priority was to immediately determine the suspect's current location.

Without hesitation, Officer Jenny gave her command:

"Zebstrika, use Plasma Shower!"

The black-and-white-striped majestic Zebstrika snorted, emitting faint blue arcs of electricity from its fur.

As a senior officer in Castelia City's Police Department, Jenny had trained her Zebstrika to master a unique skill specifically tailored for apprehending suspects in crowded urban settings.

Plasma Shower spread electrically charged particles, turning normal-type moves into electric-type ones for Zebstrika's next attack. This particular skill had been passed down in Jenny's family, known for their police lineage, and was genetically inherited by their Blitzle from birth.

Meanwhile, Hugo played his part in confronting a suspect, observing her nervous reactions with a knowing smirk.

"Disguising as a man—truly the classic misdirection," he remarked theatrically. "Although in reality, if a woman commits to a male disguise, it's often quite effective… By the way, how did you manage to mimic a male voice during your distress call?"

The suspect, now visibly uncomfortable, shifted uneasily on the bench. Her movements betrayed her as Hugo caught sight of a smartphone peeking out of her jeans pocket. He shook his head.

"A voice-changing app on your phone, huh? How cliché. You must be the trainer of that Liepard. How does it feel to commit murder and arson for the sake of a Pokémon?"

"Shut up! Stop looking down on me!" the woman snapped, grabbing a knife with surprising swiftness and lunging at Hugo.

"Hey, don't do anything rash! Committing more crimes will only make things worse for you!" Hugo yelled in alarm.

But his warnings were futile. The suspect's desperation had overtaken her, and she thrust the blade toward Hugo's abdomen.

Clang!

The sound of metal against metal rang out.

To her shock, the knife hadn't hit flesh but had been blocked by an aluminum soda can.

Hugo had quickly raised the can to deflect the blow. With a swift twist of his hand, he disarmed her, pulling the knife free along with the can.

Holding up the weapon, Hugo examined it nonchalantly.

"There's still blood on the blade. Couldn't find the right spot to ditch the weapon, huh? Or were you planning to reunite with your Liepard and make a run for it?"

The suspect, refusing to answer, kicked at Hugo in frustration. He ducked and rolled away, avoiding her high-heeled assault at the cost of dirtying his white suit jacket on the pavement.

Seeing Hugo's resilience, the woman clicked her tongue in annoyance and attempted to flee. But as she turned, her escape was halted—

Standing before her was Officer Jenny, her expression stormy after a failed initial capture attempt.

Behind her, a group of officers surrounded Liepard, which was bound and subdued by Zebstrika and other Pokémon from the police force.

"Sorry, but I've been waiting for someone here too," Hugo quipped from the ground.

He then took the chance to narrate the unfolding events in true detective fashion:

"You came to the hospital to retrieve your Liepard, but the police anticipated your intentions and set a trap. Splitting up with your Pokémon, you tried to blend in and wait for a chance to escape. Unfortunately for you, your appearance and actions have been noticed by the police, and now I, a key witness, stand before you. There's no escaping your fate."

The suspect, trapped between the advancing officers and Hugo's taunting monologue, felt her knees weaken and collapsed onto the ground.

"Uh, Hugo, who is this girl? A friend of yours?" Jenny asked in confusion as she approached.

"She's your missing suspect!" Hugo declared, jumping to his feet. "Quick, cuff her! And next time, don't trust anything detective novels say about confronting criminals!"

Though initially doubtful, Jenny's suspicions were confirmed when the woman instinctively clutched her handbag. A quick search revealed the victim's stolen phone, sealing the case.

Jenny then turned to Zebstrika for one final task.

"Zebstrika, use Screech!"

Zebstrika reared up, emitting ultrasonic waves that traveled across the area, pinpointing the Liepard's hidden location. Its amplified signal acted as a radar, surpassing even the detection range of a Zubat's echolocation.

Guided by Zebstrika's precise feedback, Jenny led the officers to corner the fleeing Liepard in a hidden alleyway, where it was finally captured.

With the web of traps set by the Castelia Police Department, the suspect and her Liepard were caught, ensuring justice was served.