novel-bin Chapter 308 Poisoning – A Dark and Cruel Criminal Method
Chapter 308 Poisoning – A Dark and Cruel Criminal Method
"Why is Azure reacting so strongly? Could Hugo really be involved in some trouble, which is why he can't produce an alibi from a few days ago?"
To avoid the alarm sounding in front of the Yuxi Mansion, the police duo and the interview duo joined forces and awkwardly turned into a narrow alley behind a tall building in the distance.
"Judging from the current situation, it seems very likely that we will not be able to get support from the detective agency for the time being."
Sera adjusted her square-rimmed glasses, turned to Mary and Dai apologetically, and said—
"I'm sorry, because of our situation, neither of you can enter the Yuqi Residence."
"It's alright. After all, Detective Hugo isn't at the agency right now, so even if he's nitpicking about the interview efficiency, we haven't lost anything. By the way, my name is Mary, and this is my partner photographer, Dai. We're reporters from the Hoenn region."
“My name is Sera, and this is my superior, Officer Jenny. We are from the Criminal Investigation Division of the Flying Cloud Police Department. Welcome to Flying Cloud City.”
After exchanging brief greetings, Mary instinctively blurted out—
"By the way, regarding that heinous case you mentioned earlier, would you two be willing to tell us about it? Is Detective Hugo really involved in that incident?"
The deputy looked at her superior, seeking his opinion. Officer Jenny, in a very unconventional manner, crossed her arms and shrugged, replying nonchalantly—
"This matter cannot be kept secret any longer, and the police station's announcement will be issued soon. At this time, it should be alright to reveal a little bit to you."
"What exactly happened?" Mary asked curiously.
"Sigh...it was poisoning."
Sera said with a heavy expression.
“Someone has set up a large-scale poison trap in the suburbs of Feiyun City, and the method is extremely vicious.”
Because it involved internal information from the United States Police Department, Mary cooperated by not taking out paper and pen, but continued to press for answers based on speculation—
"A poison trap... It doesn't sound like a crime involving polluting water sources. Could it be a trap like a bear trap? Or a concealed miniature device like a poison needle?"
"Oh? You guys sound like you're quite experienced with this kind of thing."
Officer Jenny raised her eyebrows and looked the reporter up and down.
"Yes, after all, Team Aqua and Team Magma have both used this kind of poisoning method before."
The reporter sighed helplessly.
"These kinds of sabotage activities used to be particularly common in the Hoenn region, and recently their activities have become even more rampant. This is actually the main reason why we came to Flying Cloud City to seek advice from Detective Hugo. However, those evil organizations are not so depraved as to directly poison people, but they often use similar methods to make the employees of hydroelectric power stations and shipyards fall into comas in large numbers, and then they wreak havoc on those public facilities, causing headaches for the League and the local residents."
“Every family has its own problems,” Officer Jenny sighed, shaking her head. “However, the predicament we are currently facing is not any of the methods you mentioned.”
“Yes,” Sera replied.
"Although I don't know much about the specifics of the Team Aqua and Team Magma you mentioned, I can clearly sense a certain purpose in their poisoning methods. But the case we are facing is definitely not like that."
"A non-purposeful...poisoner?"
Reporter Mary had a bad feeling and felt a chill run down her spine.
“There seemed to be no ulterior motive involved; rather, it was more like pure malice. That’s why we say it was an extremely heinous crime,” Officer Jenny said.
"What method did that criminal use?"
Seeing that the two United States police officers had been keeping him in suspense for so long, the photographer couldn't help but ask a question.
"Have either of you reporters ever experienced your Pokémon becoming exhausted while hiking in the wild due to battles with humans or attacks from wild Pokémon?"
Serra's deputy suddenly asked such a strange question that seemed completely unrelated.
"Of course it has." The reporter nodded matter-of-factly.
“Sometimes we even take the initiative to challenge some up-and-coming trainers to observe their strength and performance. Naturally, we lose more battles than we win. The Pokémon are exhausted from the battle – I think all trainers have experienced something like this to some extent.”
"Healing spirits often use healing potions, right?" Officer Jenny asked.
"Of course."
"So, what happens to the wound medicines you've used up?"
"If there are still most of the potions left, we will of course collect them for later use. If they are almost used up, we will not use them all up, but will throw them by the grass and wait for other trainers to pick them up—this should be common sense for trainers in the wild, right?"
Mary didn't understand why Officer Jenny was asking her this question.
The packaging for those stamina potions, like the Poké Balls used to catch Pokémon, is made of biodegradable materials, so even if they're carelessly discarded, they won't pollute the environment. But what does that have to do with the poisoning case?
“Yes,” Dai chimed in.
"I remember some trainers struggling financially would often search for these discarded medicines, collecting the remaining liquid to treat Pokémon's wounds. Some even continued this collection out of interest, even when they had plenty of medicine. Nowadays, it's become as common as picking up used Poké Balls from other trainers, repairing them, and reusing them—almost a part of the adventures for novice trainers... Wait, could it be...?"
The photographer broke out in a cold sweat; he had realized the extremely heinous and almost completely aimless method of the crime.
"It seems you've already figured it out."
Officer Jenny sighed. The reason she had kept everyone in suspense for so long was, in a sense, because this female detective couldn't bear to directly reveal such cruel and heinous criminal methods in front of the two guests from Hoenn.
"Could it be... that the criminal put poison in those discarded medicine bottles?" Mary asked cautiously.
“Unfortunately, your guess hit the bullseye,” said Sera, the deputy, expressionless.
"Last night, a Cinnamon was brought to the emergency room of the Pokémon Center in Flying Cloud City. Prior to this, its wound had become severely infected due to improper treatment, and it remained unconscious. The Pokémon's trainer was in great distress, saying that the injury suddenly worsened after using medicine. Subsequently, hospital tests revealed that the remaining liquid of the medicine contained toxic components."
"How awful!" Mary couldn't help but stomp her foot.
"This is not the end of the matter."
The police deputy, in his unchanging voice, continued to explain the current situation—
"After the first poisoning incident was reported to the police, three more victims with identical poisoning symptoms were sent to the hospital. Like the Cinnamoroll before, all three Pokémon suffered secondary damage to their original wounds due to contaminated medicine. Of the three Pokémon, only the Rock-type Marble suffered less severe poisoning due to its special constitution; the other two were seriously injured and are currently in the hospital, their fate unknown."
"After questioning all four victims and comparing the wound medicines they all used, the police finally determined that this was not an accident caused by the medicine deteriorating or wild elf venom mixing into the medicine bottle—but a poisoning case with a clear perpetrator."
After summarizing all the police work so far, Officer Jenny sighed and said—
"Sigh, the police announcement should be released soon. After this incident, I'm afraid no trainer in the entire Flying Cloud City, or even the entire Unova region, will dare to pick up roadside medicine for their Pokémon."
"This method is too heinous! No, it's downright vicious! What could the perpetrator possibly want to achieve by doing this?"
Blinded by anger, the reporter couldn't help but raise her voice. Only after she spoke did she realize that it was precisely because these two detectives couldn't solve this mystery that they had come to the large iron gate of that detective agency.
"At present, all we can investigate is that the contaminated wound medicines all came from the outskirts of Feiyun City. The police have already dispatched personnel to collect all the abandoned items in that area on a large scale, and they will be tested one by one afterwards."
Officer Jenny, like Psyduck, clutched her head in exasperation and said helplessly—
"However, such efficiency is still too slow. Because of the previous incident with the financial bank, the police cannot easily spare all the manpower of the police station. Moreover, even if we recover all the props in the suburbs, we may not be able to find the murderer - there is too little information left behind."
"That's why we wanted to ask the detective for help, but he wasn't at the office today. Considering he can't provide an alibi from a few days ago, he must have been missing for the past few days."
Sera demonstrated the qualities of an excellent assistant, making an accurate prediction.
"Isn't there that detective assistant in the agency?" photographer Dai asked curiously. "Why don't you ask her opinion first?"
“Even I find this case incredibly difficult. After all, that detective assistant isn’t their director, and I don’t think he’s up to the task of providing consultation…”
Miss Officer Jenny crossed her arms and shook her head repeatedly.
"Moreover, they lack a service mentality. They don't even ask about the customers' needs before turning us away."
Sera couldn't help but complain, it seemed she was still holding a grudge about being turned away earlier.
"Ahem, it seems some people have some misunderstandings about me as the acting director."
The voice they had heard not long ago, the detective's assistant's voice, suddenly rang out above the four of them.
Everyone suddenly realized that a huge shadow was now hanging over their heads. Looking up, they saw an enormous pink sphere floating in the air above the narrow alley.
The sphere slowly descended, revealing itself to be a chubby creature with its belly bulging with air. And standing atop the chubby creature was the acting director of the Hugo Detective Agency.
"My service spirit is in no way inferior to that good-for-nothing detective. At least, he can't catch up with a client who has fled the office in a Pokémon-fueled manner."
Azure jumped off the round, chubby Jigglypuff, which deflated like a punctured balloon, gradually transforming into the limp, ditto-like form before being returned to its Poké Ball by the trainer.
"This case is on our Hugo Detective Agency! No matter who that heinous poisoner is, I will bring him to justice as quickly as possible!"
"I'm so cool," Azure Detective said, as an Archaeopteryx hopped out from the corner of the alley and landed on her shoulder. It was this Pokémon that had "bounced" to a high place earlier, pointing out Officer Jenny's location to Azure.
"Are you sure you can handle this?" Officer Jenny looked at Azure with suspicion, still unconvinced of her competence. "You've probably never solved such a serious criminal case on your own before, have you?"
“Indeed,” Azure readily admitted, “so I have an accomplice this time.”
Clang!
Azure took out the Pokémon that she had been hiding behind her back and presented it to Officer Jenny as if she were pulling out a secret weapon.
"Hugo's grass turtle?"
Officer Jenny tilted her head in confusion, giving the same expression as the elf in front of her.