harleyscars Chapter 53 Smearing and Taking the Blame
Chapter 53 Smearing and Taking the Blame
With the help of the police, Hugo used a steel bar he picked up as a crowbar to pry open a crack in the floor directly below the display case. Then the police elves dug up a whole block of cement from the floor.
The unearthed cement was a cube about half a person's height. The detective unplugged the wire connected to the cube, revealing its back to everyone.
"The stone inside this small hole is what we call the Founding Stone, which is also the real target of the Plasma Group's robbery. The reason it can project its image upwards is because this cube has a light source and a mirror. When the museum is on normal display, this device will project the real Founding Stone's texture onto the fake through the convex mirror."
"So, the person who went berserk and attacked the display stand didn't actually get the treasure's location wrong, but rather the projector's orientation was off?"
Azure suddenly realized and clapped her hands, saying, "That person dug out the projector used to project the explanatory text, and thought he had been tricked. Little did he know that there was actually another projector placed vertically in this position, and the Dark Stone he was so eager for was inside."
“Exactly, the logic is very clear.” Hugo nodded with satisfaction, as if praising a student who had performed well. “As the second principle of concealment says, you should hide the trees in the forest. If you want to hide a projector, you should at least prepare two projectors.”
"What a brilliant anti-theft design." Ms. Aloe paced around the wreckage of the display case. "So, when we were clearing out the Plasma Group's minions, it was these elaborate tricks that held off the strongest trio of ninjas?"
Hugo's face darkened, his expression turning grim: "No, even so, my anti-theft design still has flaws, and I myself almost fell for it."
The assistant was the first to find it unbelievable: "How is this possible? No matter what kind of thief comes, it's impossible for them to break through such security measures in just one night!"
"There is another fatal flaw."
Covered in blood and with disheveled hair, Hugo slowly pointed his index finger at himself: "That's me."
Everyone was puzzled, except for Azure and Aloe, who recalled the detective's disheveled appearance when he appeared outside the window, and asked almost in unison—
"They want to capture you directly?"
"They want you to hand over the stone directly?"
"Isn't it ironic?" The detective shrugged. "I arranged for the defenseless Deputy Director Kidate to go on a long journey to seek refuge, but I never expected to become the target myself."
"But outsiders don't know that you designed the anti-theft plan for our museum! How could they be targeting you?" Aloe stared intently at the detective, a vague answer in her mind, yet unwilling and unable to believe it.
"Sigh." Hugo sighed. This was precisely the moment when the detective should have disregarded the situation and consequences, and single-mindedly pursued the truth.
"When the operation began tonight, I was ambushed in the curator's office by a group that called themselves the Dark Iron Triangle. They are top assassins trained by Team Plasma. This morning, they defeated Aloe Vera and King Cranberry by overwhelming numbers."
"Although I managed to escape the ambush by all means, I still have doubts about how they were able to find me."
Hugo glossed over his own escape from trouble and raised a crucial question.
"I think their timing of the intrusion was too precise, and they rushed straight to the curator's office as if they knew our entire plan. It's almost like..."
“It’s like the enemy planted an inside agent.” Upon hearing the detective’s statement, Officer Jenny made the judgment without hesitation.
Hugo nodded, but his face showed no sign of relief, and asked the crowd:
"Haven't you all noticed that one person is missing from tonight's operation?"
Azure had already discerned the truth that the detective was about to reveal.
Was that man she had met once before actually an undercover agent for the Plasma Group? She suddenly felt how cold the night air was, and how distant the people present were from each other.
"You mean, that person was... supposed to be... Mr. Blueberry, the last resort?"
A dry, hoarse voice came from Ms. Aloe's throat. For the first time in all the years since she became the leader of the dojo, she was experiencing a collapse of her understanding.
"During the breakout, I used the location of the Founding Stone as leverage and asked those people the same question as Ms. Aloe."
Hugo's voice remained calm as always, but at this moment it only sent chills down one's spine.
"The other side's answer was affirmative—which means that King Cranberry betrayed us and leaked the museum's battle plan to Team Plasma. As a gambler, he chose to bet against the United States, that is, on Team Plasma's side."
"Hugo, please at least don't do it in front of so many people... Sigh!"
Officer Jenny had intended for Hugo to keep the matter a secret for the time being, but she eventually gave up. All her unspoken words turned into a heavy sigh, because she could already see the bewildered and helpless faces of her colleagues around her.
What's done is done, there's no going back.
Moreover, that elusive evil king still hasn't shown up, and his indifferent silence is confirming his betrayal, making him increasingly suspicious.
"Could Lady Yueju really be... from over there?"
"I heard he used to be a ruthless gambler...that's why he's good at befriending evil Pokémon."
"I've heard that gamblers are best at betting on both sides..."
—The officers began to whisper amongst themselves.
The betrayal of a Champion Trainer is a fatal blow to the League's prestige, and civil servants within the system are particularly acutely aware of this. To Hugo, the police officers' anxiety at this moment was like a Bug-type Pokémon trembling before a typhoon due to its "Danger Sense" ability.
"shut up!"
A clear, girlish voice pierced through the murmurs and resounded throughout the hall.
"Mr. Lanju is definitely not that kind of person, Detective Hugo. What you're saying is all one-sided. Why should we believe you? Mr. Lanju must have been delayed at the museum by other important matters. Perhaps right now, while you, Detective, are relentlessly slandering him, Mr. Lanju is still fighting the enemy. How dare you slander our King of Men without any evidence?"
The girl who angrily rebuked the detective was the high school girl Hugo had met on the train. This girl from Fukiyori High School had now joined the operation as the Gym Leader of Shippo Gym.
Of everyone present, besides Hugo and Aloe, she was the only one who knew Bilberry well. On the train, Bilberry had even kindly accompanied the little girl in a doubles match to earn travel expenses. If you were to ask who among those present was least willing to believe that Bilberry was a traitor, it would undoubtedly be her.
“Although I am a detective, I don’t want to only arrive at the scene after a case has occurred,” Hugo explained, looking into the girl’s eyes.
"All I know is that Mr. Yueju disappeared after our strategic meeting, and then the enemy predicted our actions and told me that the king was a traitor—but they had no reason to lie."
"I don't believe it!" the girl said firmly. "Mr. Blueberry is a good person, there must be a reason for what he did..."
However, at that moment, another girl's voice suddenly rang out: "Eevee, 'Iron Tail'!"
Eevee's tail, which had been perched on Azure's shoulder, transformed into a sharp steel blade and slammed into the air above Detective's head.
With a clang, an unpleasant metallic scraping sound erupted, and Ibu screamed as he was sent flying a great distance.
Only then did everyone see a Pokémon covered in armor and resembling a samurai fall from the ceiling through a large hole.
"It's Commander Cleave, that Dark Triangle Iron is back again." Aloe, who had experience fighting him, immediately warned everyone and sent out Longhair Dog.
However, the dojo leader immediately changed his mind: "No, no, it's not that one, it's..."
Seeing the Seven Treasures Gym Leader waver, Officer Jenny immediately understood the meaning behind his words. She gritted her teeth, turned to her subordinates, and roared, "That's the Elite Four member's main Pokémon! He's come to steal the Founding Stone himself! Protect Hugo now!"
Mr. Dark Knight began his operation. This wasn't supposed to be part of the plan. What a dramatic man... Hugo silently watched everything unfold before him, letting the police surround him, still clutching the cube containing the Founding Stone in his arms.
In contrast to the detective, the gym leader girl was also stunned as she stared at the ferocious Bisharp, tears welling up in her eyes.
Who on earth came up with such a despicable plan...? Hugo tried desperately to appear cheerful, but failed. He could only shout at the officers with a strange, ambiguous expression that was neither a smile nor a cry—
"Lingju is on the ceiling! He's been hiding on the roof eavesdropping on our conversation! Quickly, send a team to capture him!"
The first bucket of mud has been thrown; now it remains to be seen how things will develop.