Chapter 15: Tomorrow is a New Day

Cynthia swiftly dealt with the robbers—though it might sound like an oversimplification, it really happened that way.

The twelve mighty Galar Pokémon, supposedly a match for Gym Leaders' ace Pokémon, never even got a chance to emerge from their Poké Balls. As soon as the robbers' truck came into Cynthia's line of sight, a swift figure leapt into action, released in a flash of red light.

The Lucario, standing tall like a warrior commanding the battlefield, didn't need to use any elaborate moves. It simply extended its paw forward to meet the oncoming truck.

Instead of an explosion or the screech of impact, the truck stopped abruptly, as if a cosmic "pause" button had been pressed. Lucario's paw emitted a mysterious wave of Aura energy that brought the speeding vehicle to an instant halt.

The airbags inside deployed, squishing the two robbers into a disoriented mess. However, they still hadn't grasped the gravity of the situation.

Rather than surrender, they attempted to retaliate.

Two smaller Pokémon, Falinks and Frosmoth, had been left outside their Poké Balls in the truck. The robbers commanded them to leap out the windows and fight.

Before the Pokémon could even land on the ground, Lucario was already at their side, delivering iron-fisted strikes that sent them crashing back into the vehicle.

Lucario followed them into the truck, and in less than a second, the two robbers found themselves knocked out cold with a punch and a kick.

The entire process took no more than ten seconds. Lucario hadn't even used a single special move.

Thus ended the criminal careers of Ham and his partner in crime. Their journey on the bloodstained road of lawbreaking was cut short, and ahead of them lay the long, dark days of prison life.

By the time the police snapped out of their daze, the Sinnoh Champion had already recalled her Lucario and was standing by the truck.

And so, this shocking case that shook the entirety of Castelia City was resolved in such an unassuming yet decisive manner.

"Something feels off about this whole thing," Hugo muttered, squatting in a small corner near a police car as if trying to avoid someone's gaze.

"Does the case have more layers? Are there more accomplices? Or perhaps a mastermind?"

Having just been dismissed by her superior, Officer Jenny tensed at Hugo's murmuring, her nerves still frayed from the chaotic events of the night.

"A mastermind? Possibly. But that's not what I mean. Don't you feel like something is missing from this entire operation?" Hugo said, rubbing his chin as if savoring the puzzle.

Jenny tilted her head in confusion. "Missing what?"

Hugo pointed a finger towards the police cordon in the distance.

The police force had no shortage of leaks to the press. With such a high-profile operation, the reporters should have arrived en masse. Yet...

"They're unusually slow tonight. I haven't seen Unovan journalists this sluggish in years."

This suggested that some external force had deliberately delayed the reporters, creating a window of opportunity for the robbers.

Outside the yellow police tape, a large crowd of ravenous reporters had gathered, their late-night summons evident in their disheveled appearances and bloodshot eyes. Driven from their homes by their editors' shouts, they now looked ready to devour the police spokesperson whole to churn out tomorrow's headlines.

"Unova's news media are the dullest across all regions," Hugo remarked sharply. "Their writers only produce two types of stories: either insipid puff pieces or scathing scandals. Tonight's police work was decent, so they'll likely shower the department with praise."

"Isn't that a good thing?" Jenny had, by now, resigned herself to being Hugo's conversational foil.

"Not for those of us studying criminology. These reporters will turn real cases into adventure tales full of outrageous heists and ingenious detectives, while entirely ignoring or fabricating details of the investigation process." Hugo cast a knowing glance at Jenny. "You'll see it firsthand soon enough."

"What do you mean? They'll come for me?"

"Their primary target is, of course, Cynthia, who swooped in to end the fight. The second would be your charming and politically savvy superior, who wouldn't dream of stealing the Jenny family's credit. Which means... you'll be their third choice."

"Doesn't sound too bad."

"Normally, yes. But Cynthia's Togekiss can fly her out of any sticky situation, and your superior doesn't know the investigation details. So... good luck." Hugo grinned mischievously. "See? They might already be looking for you."

At that moment, Jenny's radio crackled: "Officer Jenny, please meet the chief at the western intersection. We need your detailed report on how the robbery was discovered."

Hugo smirked. "I won't keep you. Best of luck!"

Under the night sky, the detective waved casually, his white coat flapping as he walked away without looking back.

"Can I tell the reporters about you?" Jenny called after him.

A voice drifted back from his retreating figure: "Sure, but don't expect them to believe you."

Back at the Roost Estate office, Hugo didn't go straight to the door. Instead, he climbed the outer drainpipe to the rooftop, where he found his sister waiting.

"You've got a gray streak of dust on your coat hem, and brown specks of soil on your shoe heels from the Roost Estate's berry garden," Hugo began. "The rope marks on your hands suggest you rigged something using the fishing lines I keep in the office. My guess? A trap involving the door and three Poké Balls you showed me earlier today."

Cynthia sighed and smiled. "Your deductions are as quick as Lucario's punches."

"You wanted me to open the door, triggering the release of three Pokémon—Turtwig, Piplup, and Chimchar. They'd surround me and force me to care for them as their trainer, leaving you free to slip away unnoticed."

"That was the original plan," Cynthia admitted. "But now I've got a better reason."

Hugo's brow furrowed in confusion.

"You claimed to have solved the mimicry cases perfectly, but now that's impossible. Because I intervened and stopped the crime myself."

The realization hit Hugo like a brick. His face twisted as if he'd swallowed a fly.

"No matter what you tell the regional leagues, they'll award the Unovan Protector Medal to me. The honor won't go to the ones who deserve it, but under the circumstances, I'll have to let it slide."

Cynthia shrugged, her gray eyes meeting Hugo's identical ones. "So, will you fulfill your promise, Detective?"

Hugo stood silently, stewing for ten long minutes. Cynthia, patient as ever, stood with him, letting the cool night air wash over them.

Finally, Hugo descended the roof, his face resolute. He straightened his white suit and approached the Roost Estate's front door.

As he turned the key and pulled it open, three distinct clicks echoed. The Poké Balls released their Pokémon—Turtwig, Piplup, and Chimchar—who eagerly swarmed their new trainer.

"Hello, everyone," Hugo said softly. "I'm Hugo, a detective, and from now on, I'll be your trainer."

Inside the Roost Estate, the scene was warm and cheerful, while on the rooftop, Cynthia mounted her Togekiss and took to the sky.

Her time in Unova had come to an end.

Under the moonlit Castelia City, the commotion had settled. Tomorrow would bring new journeys, bonds between trainers and Pokémon, and perhaps even more perplexing cases.

And Hugo's detective agency would remain open to all who sought answers.