Pokémon Detective Case Files

Chapter 335 Poison Rampage – Nemesis

Chapter 337 Poison Rampage – Nemesis

After climbing the seemingly endless staircase, what appeared before them was the deepest room in the United States headquarters, the final end of the regional championship path.

The brick house, nestled at the end of a narrow mountain road, is simple and unadorned, not as dazzling as its name suggests.

However, due to its unique location and the glory and heritage behind it, the entire room looks like the crown of the Alliance headquarters, exuding a solemn and sublime presence.

In front of the house are several white marble archways.

These architectural structures, weathered by time, have long been covered with a mottled coat. Time has carved lines of varying depths on their surfaces, like the marks of time, and every trace of frost tells a story of the past.

Beneath the archway is a wide passageway.

Sunlight streamed down, casting a golden glow on the white paving stones. Trainers who weren't fully prepared would likely feel apprehensive stepping onto them.

At the end of the corridor was a large door.

Throughout history, all the best trainers in the Unova League have passed through there without exception; while those who were weaker...

Without exception, they will all be turned away by this door.

This is where the league champions rest.

This is the place that all trainers in the Unova region yearn for.

Feeling the increasingly clear and loud heartbeat deep in his chest, Hei Lian gently closed his eyes.

Finally, he was about to face the legendary new champion. He placed his hand on the red tie he had worn since his student days, took a few deep breaths to cool his excited mood. Then, Hei Lian turned around and walked straight towards an indoor building carved into the cliff face of a mountain road, in the opposite direction from the champion's room.

The club owner's assessment will certainly not be conducted in that champion's room.

After all, according to the Unova League's challenge system, only trainers who have defeated all the Elite Four members are qualified to step onto this stage, which symbolizes the pinnacle of strength, and compete against the current champion.

As for the champion's own regular practice, as well as the guidance and battles with ordinary visitors and junior league members, these will take place in a private practice room outside the champion's room. This is also the destination of this gym leader candidate from Deer Town.

At this very moment, the newly crowned champion, who has just reached the pinnacle of the Unova League, is waiting there to assess whether he is qualified to become a Gym Leader.

However, in reality, neither the championship room at the league headquarters nor the private practice room behind it has been used for a long time.

Former champion Mr. Ardek enjoys a free and unrestrained life. Rather than staying in the dull League headquarters, he prefers to wander around like a cloud, measuring every inch of the Unova region with his own two feet.

Therefore, Mr. Alder's championship matches, including the Elite Four tournament, were always held in public arenas throughout Unova, whichever was most convenient. This was especially true in the later stages of his championship career when his partner was injured.

His coaching style was equally unrestrained. Whenever the champion was in the mood, any place, whether it was a school playground or any open space, could immediately become a place for this former champion to instruct his juniors. And Black Lian was one of the juniors who received kind guidance from Adek.

Perhaps in a sense, this test wasn't just assessing Black Lian's combat strength; for the newly crowned champion of unknown origin, this battle was also a test of his magnanimity. "Is that guy who just ascended to the champion's throne feeling as uneasy as I am right now?" Black Lian wondered inexplicably.

"You must be Mr. Hei Lian. Please come this way."

Near the entrance to the practice room, a staff member from the league headquarters reached out to guide Black Lian.

Hei Lian presented the candidate's application documents, which Hei Lian glanced at casually before warmly welcoming him inside. It seemed the other party had already confirmed his appearance and identity beforehand.

As the staff member in the United States uniform walked over, he said, "I'm sorry, the previous candidate's assessment battle exceeded the scheduled time, so the indoor venue will need to be repaired for a while. Please wait in the lounge for a moment."

"Hmm, that's good news," Hei Lian nodded, subconsciously analyzing the situation.

Because the written exam was conducted individually, Helian subconsciously overlooked the possibility of other test takers being present.

The fact that the previous participant's battle exceeded the time limit suggests that the champion's Pokémon may have expended more energy as a result.

Trainers in the next assessment will have more room to demonstrate their abilities.

The renovation of the venue also benefits Black Lian. Although this is the champion's home ground, after the venue is renovated, he will no longer have to fight in a battle space that his opponent is already completely familiar with. So, should he readjust his battle strategy based on these conditions?

No, against champion-level strength, any amount of scheming might be futile. Excessive strategy can easily give the impression of being opportunistic. Should we adopt a more aggressive approach to pass the test?

Once the thought started, it couldn't be stopped. Before he knew it, Hei Lian had arrived at the waiting room of the training room.

When he came to his senses, the scene inside was beyond his expectations. Standing in the room was a dark-skinned, blue-haired young man wearing only swim trunks. He was humming a song while using the medicine provided in the training room to heal his Pokémon.

This person could never be the new champion, right? Judging from the way he's healing his injuries, could he be the candidate who took the test before me?

Upon seeing the staff member enter, the robust young man immediately looked up expectantly and asked in an innocent tone, "Ah, it's the referee! Referee, are the test results out yet? Can I become a gym leader?"

"First of all, I am not a referee."

The staff member, looking troubled, apologized to Hei Lian before turning to the young man and explaining, "I'm just a supervisor assigned here by the alliance to observe and record this assessment battle. I have no responsibility or obligation to decide the outcome. Whether you pass the assessment depends solely on the evaluation of the person inside and the final decision of the alliance's higher-ups after reviewing the records. Neither of these matters has anything to do with me."

"I see, Supervisor. Have the test results come out yet? Am I eligible to become a Gym Leader?"

The young man's expectant expression remained unchanged, and he tilted his head along with Mambo, the nanny he was holding in his arms.

"That's why I already said it. I'm just an observer and supervisor; I don't have the authority to decide whether you pass the assessment. But..."

The supervisor sighed and scratched his cheek. "If we disregard the damage you caused to the venue, as a spectator, I personally think that match was quite exciting."

The blue-haired youth beamed with a wide smile: "Great! Now I can become the Gym Leader of Qinghai City!"

"Can you even understand what other people are saying?"

The staff member frowned, rubbed his cheek as if in pain, raised his voice, and shouted at the carefree young man in front of him with great force, "There's one more thing, this last point, that I absolutely must make you understand, Mr. Xizi Yi from Bo City, Qinghai. Now stop those azure-blue fantasies in your head and remember this clearly!"

The young man, dressed only in swim trunks, immediately adopted a well-behaved demeanor, his two blue eyes blinking rapidly as he looked at the supervisor in front of him.

"Listen up! Even if you successfully pass the practical test to become a gym leader, your written exam score is still below par. Although the written exam is just a perfunctory part of the overall gym leader assessment, your score is still appalling. If you don't want to waste the valuable recommendation from Qinghai Bo City and Mr. Hachiku, you'd better hurry up and study, and don't fail in the next final make-up exam! Do you understand?"

"yes!"

Mr. Xizi, holding the giant pink fish Pokémon, stood up straight to accept the order, but after less than two seconds, he tilted his head in confusion again.

"But sir, could you please give me a heads-up? What was that written exam about again?"

The young man with short blue hair scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "After that exam, I focused all my attention on this upcoming skills test. Before I knew it, I had almost completely forgotten all the knowledge I had prepared. Even if I were to start reviewing all at once now, it would be a bit..."

......

Veins bulged on the staff member's forehead, and overwhelmed with mixed emotions, he could only manage a clenched retort, "That's why I said I'm not the referee! Just how bad is your memory?!"

"Mr. Xi Ziyi, is that right? Nice to meet you. My name is Hei Lian, and I am also one of the test takers for this Master Qualification Examination."

Seeing the situation becoming increasingly tense, Blackie stepped forward and spoke to the struggling candidate, saying, "If our exam content is the same, the exam scope should be divided into two parts: the code of conduct for gym leader, and an ability test related to Pokémon knowledge. I just prepared for this exam a while ago, and I still have all the materials. I can lend them to you if you need them."

"but--"

Just as hope was rekindling in Xi Ziyi's eyes, Hei Lian walked straight up to the tall young man and said in an unusually serious tone—

"You need to know that the written test for the Gym Leaders was not set up by the League to deliberately make things difficult for us. Whether it is the rules that need to be followed as a Gym Leader, or the mastery of the basic abilities of various Pokémon, these are all knowledge that you cannot be unaware of before becoming a Gym Leader."

"The Gym Leader represents more than just an honor; often, they are the first impression many beginners have of the Pokémon Trainer profession. A bad Gym Leader might make beginners think that Pokémon Trainers are nothing special, leading them astray in their overconfidence as they embark on their journey; while a knowledgeable and virtuous Gym Leader will guide those children in the right direction, filling them with aspirations for their future selves."

"While this might sound like meddling, I don't want the help I offer to others to become a shortcut for trainers like those who try to pass the exam without any real knowledge. Knowledge that has already been learned shouldn't be forgotten. I believe the people who recommended you to become a Gym Leader don't want their recommendations to result in an incompetent Gym Leader either. -.- Ah, sorry, I might have been a bit harsh."

Realizing his slip of the tongue, Hei Lian abruptly stopped lecturing, but just as he was about to subconsciously begin to reflect on his words, someone took his hands.

"Mr. Kurei, no, Professor Kurei! What you said is absolutely correct!"

The nanny Mambo in Xi Ziyi's arms had been put back into the Poké Ball at some point. The young man in swim trunks stared intently at Black Lian, whose hand he was holding, his sea-blue eyes full of passion, making the latter somewhat at a loss.

"I'm not very bright. I prefer surfing and swimming to reading. When I was preparing for exams, I would often fall asleep as soon as I opened a book. But that won't do."

Xi Ziyi gestured animatedly as she said, "Just like you said, the world of trainers, like the ocean, is full of storms and reefs. Gym Leaders are the lighthouses and guides for travelers, and sometimes they even have to act as lifeguards. It's not enough to just know how to battle and do what you like. I need to learn, to become more reliable, and to pass this exam on my own!"

"It's a makeup exam—" the supervisor muttered from the side, then looked at Kurei and said, "Mr. Nishiko and the dojo you applied to are not from the same one, so there is no competition between you. Mr. Kurei's written test score was excellent. If you have time, you might as well tutor this guy."

Blackie straightened his tie, which had become a little disheveled from being pulled, and said confidently, "Even if there is competition, I am happy to play along. A trainer aiming for the gym leader cannot be afraid of a strong opponent."

The blue-haired youth laughed heartily: "Hahaha, looks like I've hitched a ride on a great ship that's sailing through the waves."

"Speaking of which, Mr. Xizi Yi, what was your previous practical assessment like? Was that new champion formidable?"

Hei Lian was not infected by the young man's dim-witted personality—this was a tenacious character he had cultivated since childhood. Seeing that the topic of the written test had come to an end, he asked the previous test taker, who had just finished the practical test, about the specific details of the battle.

"Huh? Was that person inside the champion?"

Upon hearing Hei Lian's question, it was Xi Ziyi who widened his eyes. He looked at the supervisor beside him, who did not stop the two examinees from exchanging information, but simply turned his face away with an expression that suggested he was too lazy to pay attention to him anymore.

Xi Ziyi scratched her cheek: "To be honest, I got beaten pretty badly, and the opponent even deliberately changed the arena to a watery environment that was more favorable to me, just to accommodate me. Even under those conditions, my partners and I were still no match for that person. Although we received praise from him after the match, we still couldn't defeat a single Pokémon."

"As expected, the strength befits the title of champion," Hei Lian pondered, then continued to ask, "Judging from your description, and the fact that the previous battle lasted longer than planned, was the format of that assessment battle a six-on-six all-out battle?"

"Yes, the other side said that since they went to so much trouble to change the venue, it would be a shame not to have a full-scale battle."

The supervisor looked like he was about to vomit, indicating that the last-minute request to change the venue had really caused a lot of trouble for the league's staff.

Just as Hei Lian was about to ask more about the details of the battle, the supervisor's instant messaging device on his waist rang.

The alliance staff member answered the communicator, and after a few replies, looked seriously at Black Alliance.

"Is the venue ready?" Hei Lian asked.

"That's right, the temporary water arena has been restored to its original state. Your examiner has also finished restoring and is waiting for you behind this door..."

The supervisor arrived at the metal door leading to the battlefield. As he opened the door, he turned and glanced at Black Company again.

"I wish you good luck in your assessment. I think you will become an excellent gym leader," he said softly.

"Thank you for your kind words."

The black-haired youth answered with a smile, walked through the metal door, and strode into the training ground exclusively used by the league champions.

"Keep it up, Mr. Hei Lian!"

Xi Ziyi's voice rang out from behind, and at that moment, Hei Lian saw his interviewer.

"Yo! You've come."

The new champion's voice echoed powerfully and desolately across the vast, rocky arena: "You've finally arrived! I've been collecting Pokédex entries and searching for the perfect Pokémon! I've found valuable Pokémon of all types and combined them into a single Pokémon team! And now, I stand at the pinnacle of the Pokémon League! Do you know what this means?"

Regardless of the content of the words, the voice that uttered them sounded strangely familiar.

"—Alright! Let me tell you! I, this young lady, am the strongest in the world! Stronger than anyone else!"

Before him stood his childhood friend, a girl also from Deer Town, Miss Douzi, who had recently been causing a stir in the United Film Industry. She sat with her legs crossed, swaggering on the champion's throne at the far end of the room, holding a fruit platter provided by the Alliance.

He shamelessly declared war to himself.

"Haha, I saw your name on the list a while ago, Kuroren. How about it, doesn't it feel especially warm to run into your childhood friend here? I know your fighting level better than anyone, Kuroren. Don't worry, even if you get thrashed by me again this time..."

I'll still put in a good word for you with the alliance to help you pass this test.

Looking at the familiar figure of the girl with the high ponytail, Kuroren habitually pushed up his glasses, which were no longer there. "Although there are many things I want to ask, since the opponent is you, the questions have become simpler."

There's no need to choose whether to use appropriate tactics, no need to worry about how to showcase your full strength, and no need to think about how to act like a qualified gym leader.

If the opponent is Touko, then all I need to do is defeat her.

Defeat that guy with all your might, leaving no room for retreat!

"Hmph." The girl on the throne revealed her usual carefree smile. "Kuroren, you're still the same as ever. Perhaps the reason the problem has become simple is because it wasn't complicated in the first place?"

The red light of the Poké Ball flashed, and a four-legged blue sea monster appeared in the center of the battlefield. Its beige spear-like spikes were raised high in front of its forehead, like the sword blade raised by a duelist—it was none other than the Greatsword Ghost that Douzi claimed to be the best in the entire league.

Showing off the battle spirits first is the advantage of a strong player.

"Mr. Khaki, I'm sorry, but this match test will have to be conducted according to the six-on-six rule."

The supervisor's name was Kachi Ahelian. He didn't object to the temporarily changed rules, but instead looked at his childhood friend sarcastically: "What? Are you worried that you won't be able to beat me if you don't have enough Pokémon to fight?"

Whenever Hei Lian faces off against his childhood friend of over ten years, they inevitably find themselves bickering.

Douzi retorted, "After all, some people are prone to tears if they refuse to admit defeat, so it's better to let him unleash his full potential."

The determined young woman adjusted the angle of her baseball cap and slowly rose from her champion's throne.

"Miss Touko, you have another scheduled match later. If it's an all-out battle, you might not have enough time."

Supervisor Kachi looked extremely troubled, rapidly tapping his fingers on the instant messaging device, seemingly trying to adjust his schedule.

"It's alright, it won't take long to deal with this defeated opponent. If there's really no time, just let them wait a bit." Douzi waved his hand dismissively, seemingly quite the champion.

The black-haired youth nodded in unison, then swung the Poké Ball with a standard motion. "It won't take long. Go! Zangiegator Chop!"

Following the advice of two reporters from the Hoenn region, Blacklink found this Normal-type Pokémon among the Pokémon stored at the Julius Research Institute.

The reason for capturing this Pokémon in the first place was to assist Professor Juniper's Pokémon ecology research. However, because Zangoose's personality was too ferocious, Blackie did not take it with him on his journey.

After his trip ended, in order to prepare for obtaining the qualification of Gym Leader, Blacklink stayed at Dr. Julius's research institute for a long time, learning about various Pokémon while also taking the opportunity to build a good relationship with this Zangoose.

Now is the time for this bond to blossom and bear fruit!

There were no referees on site; the battle began the moment both Pokémon entered the arena.

The large white cat with red markings extended its sharp claws and, as soon as it landed, pounced straight at the greatsword demon in front of it!

A flash of purple light disappeared between its fur.

"Something's wrong! Greatsword Demon, 'Protect'!"

Only the girl with exceptionally keen intuition loudly reminded her partner.

Before she could finish speaking, the Mongoose Slash suddenly accelerated, transforming into a white lightning bolt that slammed into the Greatsword Demon's shell armor.

! Taste, taste, taste!

A massive sonic boom erupted, and the Greatsword retreated several meters while maintaining its defensive stance. Its two hind legs, used for support, plowed two deep furrows into the rocky ground—at the critical moment, it heard its trainer's command and used the move "Protect" to block the attack.

"How did that mongoose slash achieve such speed and power?"

Douzi's expression turned serious, and he sharply observed his opponent.

"In the distant Hoenn region, Zangoose and the Seviper family have been enemies for generations. To resist the latter's venom, some Zangoose have mastered the 'Immunity' ability, which helps them avoid the harm of poison in battle. However, a very small number of Zangoose..."

Then you've mastered another characteristic!

As Hei Lian lectured, he shortly called out the names of various body parts, precisely directing the Mongoose Slash to attack the Greatsword Demon's various weak points.

For a time, Douzi's water-based partner was caught in a dilemma, struggling to cope with the situation.

"That's 'Poison Surge'! Rivals are easy to defeat! Pokémon with this ability gain a 50% attack power when poisoned or severely poisoned. Combined with Zangoose's STAB move 'Quick Attack,' you can unleash a barrage of overwhelming, instant-cast attacks!"

"I see." The girl suddenly realized, "That purple hue at the beginning, was it a poison orb that was deliberately placed there to put the Mongoose Slash into a poisonous state? Using such a self-harming tactic, no wonder you said this battle wouldn't last long."

That's not what I meant.

The young man, aspiring to become the dojo leader, clenched his fist and thrust it forward, forcefully uttering the name of his next move to his formidable rival with the high ponytail: "Hardcore!"

Normal attacks are doubly powerful when the user is in a state of burn, paralysis, or poisoning!

As if going into a frenzy, the Zangoose Slash, shrouded in poisonous mist, seized the moment when the Greatsword Demon used "Protect" and launched a desperate, last-ditch attack!

"Let's go!"

Bathed in the poisonous blood of his nemesis, Hei Lian launches a revenge attack on his former rival.