novel-bin Chapter 393 The Tipping Point
Chapter 393 The Tipping Point
Chapter 395 The Tipping Point
Just as the United Champions' statement sparked a new wave of discussion on the internet, Hugo Champions, the instigator, was sitting in a black limousine heading to the medical center that was treating the murdered driver.
"Is this the model of limousine used to pick up and drop off Champion Karuni and the others?"
Sitting in the back seat, Hugo looked around the interior of the carriage, his gaze finally settling on Lian Wutianwang, who was wearing a seatbelt beside him.
"Yes." Lian Wu nodded, and for some reason, he said somewhat awkwardly to Hugo, "According to the investigation data submitted by the Alliance Police, it is indeed the same gasoline-powered vehicle. Of course, please don't worry, we conducted a thorough check before getting in the car, and there is no way there could be any kind of bomb inside."
"I don't doubt that. But if the car that exploded was a regular gasoline-powered vehicle, the location of the explosion seems a bit strange." Hugo thoughtfully flicked his finger across the car window. "I remember the bomb was installed in the front of the car where the engine is located, which is a bit unusual—if the perpetrator wanted to cause a larger explosion, it would have made more sense to place it near the rear seat chassis close to the fuel tank."
He touched the soles of his feet, and a muffled thud echoed from the carpet inside the car—this was the spot where Hugo was sitting.
"Hugo, didn't you already rule out the possibility of a bomb being planted in the car in your statement? Why are you still worried about this?" Lian Wu asked, puzzled, after having read the public statement.
"That statement, although it seems to have had a good effect so far, is actually mostly just sophistry."
Hugo casually shrugged and said something startling: "That was just using photos of Karen and the others to create a bit of camaraderie online, diluting the negative public opinion against the league. In reality, these so-called 'suspicious points' are nothing but unreliable evidence that can't withstand rigorous scrutiny. The public always harbors excessive fantasies about a world-class champion who's so far removed from their own lives—"
He suddenly turned to Lian Wu: "Lian Wu, ask yourself honestly, if there really were a bomb hidden in this car right now, could you and your partner really guarantee that you would discover it beforehand?"
Lian Wu frowned, then shook his head after a moment: "I might not be able to, but perhaps Gadriya could."
"That person probably had a premonition because of her superpowers, so she was reluctant to get on this car beforehand. But she can't explain why she would have such a thought. Maybe she just thinks it's her morning grumpiness."
Hugo, who was no stranger to Gadriya, chuckled and took over the conversation, leaning back lazily in his seat. "A clear threat is certainly easier to prevent. If you tell that the superpowered Elite Four member that there are dangerous items in the car beforehand, she can certainly find such a target in an instant. Just like when we warned Elite Four member Pachira that the League might be attacked, her Houndoom immediately smelled out the type of explosives."
Hugo paused for a moment.
"But trainers and Pokémon have different levels of vigilance in different scenarios. If the attack occurs in an ordinary daily situation, when danger is hidden beneath the surface, even champions and elite Pokémon are not much less likely to be affected than ordinary people."
Lian Wu's pupils contracted slightly as he couldn't help but recall the underground arena in Fanba City and the battle that had taken place there. "So, Hugo, you still believe the bomb was planted in the car?"
"It's hard to say. While the reactions of the champions cannot be taken as direct evidence to deny the existence of explosives, they still have some reference value. In addition, there are other doubts in this incident."
The detective, watching the scenery rushing past the car window, continued, "Why did the bomb make a strange noise before detonating? Why did the explosion occur at the front of the car instead of the fuel tank, as if the perpetrator was deliberately controlling the scale of the explosion? And why did the driver immediately and decisively begin dispersing the surrounding crowd upon hearing the strange noise?"
"Could it be that Group Plasma intentionally controlled the number of injured people, and therefore planned these details?" Lian Wu tried to ask. "After all, that organization is, on the surface, a religious society that encourages people to do good, so perhaps it would be inclined to avoid unnecessary killing."
"Hmm—something still doesn't feel right."
Hugo shook his head decisively. "The Plasma Group's recent actions have been somewhat erratic. From their perspective, the most urgent task at this stage is to quickly undermine the League's credibility. At this critical juncture, it's hard to imagine that they would have normal moral values."
The atmosphere inside the carriage grew heavy as the detective analyzed the situation. Lian Wu rubbed his bare hands, now devoid of boxing gloves, when suddenly, as if sensing an opening, his eyes darted around. "Could there be something wrong with that driver?" he asked sharply.
"The whole explosion could have been staged by him, which would make sense. The explosive power was controlled so precisely because he didn't want to be fatally injured."
"If that's the case, perhaps we could quickly solve it by simply questioning the person—but I have a feeling things aren't that simple. We'll have to wait until we arrive at the hospital and see the driver in person before we can draw a conclusion."
Hugo narrowed his eyes and said thoughtfully, "However, according to the internal information of the Alliance provided by Director Gage, this driver is a hardworking and long-time employee with a happy family, a virtuous wife, and two children. The possibility of him being involved with Group Plasma is extremely low, let alone risking losing his job and family to take risks for the Cult Key."
"When exactly did the Plasma Group's spies become so ubiquitous? How did the once glorious Alliance fall to such a state?"
Listening to the detective's analysis, the fighting king sadly closed his eyes, his knuckles turning white from clenching his fist.
Was Master Aldeck really wrong back then?
"You can't think like that." The current Unified Champion shook his head gently.
"While the League Champion is nominally the representative of the region and effectively wields the power to advise on various League affairs, he is ultimately just a Trainer. To expect Mr. Ardek twenty years ago to have foreseen Team Plasma's ambitions is unrealistic."
Just as expecting him to persuade the entire Alliance to impose comprehensive sanctions on the Plasma Group ten years ago was unrealistic.
Hugo explained to Lian Wu in a clear and logical manner—
"Moreover, Mr. Alder was not entirely without restraint against the Plasma Group back then; it's just that his offensive was only scratched the surface due to the Alliance's interference, and the results were not very significant."
"Most importantly, Mr. Ardek accomplished a feat that only he could have done during his tenure—that is, he devoted all his efforts to cultivating a large number of outstanding Unova trainers, represented by you four Elite Four members."
"It is because of his gardener-like hard work that the seeds sown back then have now grown into pillars that can stand alone. Team Plasma is indeed expanding, but under the champion's protection, the power of 'justice' is also constantly growing."
He hopes that you will be able to take over from him and lead Unova out of this crisis.
"Are they looking forward to us?" Lian Wu gave a self-deprecating bitter smile. "Can we really defeat Team Plasma?"
Hugo's gaze drifted forward, but his answer was concise and to the point—
"As long as we stand united."
The car slowly drove into the medical center's parking lot.
After saying goodbye to Mr. Khachi, who was temporarily acting as his driver, Hugo walked quickly toward the hospital building where the injured driver was being treated.
The hospital near this Alliance Airport is famous for treating injured trainers who challenge the Champion Road year-round, and its medical level is among the best in the entire Unova region.
According to the latest report from the League Police, the injured man's condition has stabilized. Although he suffered multiple fractures and internal organ concussions due to the impact of the explosion, and also had minor burns on his right arm, his injuries are recovering rapidly under the careful care of the League Doctors and many medical Pokémon such as Optimus Prime.
Although he is still in a coma, he may regain consciousness at any time.
"I wish I could hear firsthand testimonies from the victims."
Standing at the door of the ward, Hugo muttered to himself.
Just then, as if in response to his expectations, a commotion suddenly broke out in the ward.
A weak, hoarse voice pierced through the doorway: "I was forced, you must help me—"
Then came the hurried footsteps of medical staff, their voices growing increasingly urgent—
"My wife and daughter—they've been kidnapped!"
Hugo and Lian Wu exchanged a serious look, then immediately pushed open the door and entered.
The driver on the hospital bed was struggling to get up, his pale face filled with fear.
The monitoring equipment emitted urgent alarms, and the almost-doll beside the bed was releasing "healing waves," anxiously trying to soothe the patient.
"Please calm down, we're here to help you." The detective in the white coat strode forward, grasped the patient's unburned hand, and said in a steady, strong voice, "Tell us everything you know."