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20% Pokemon: Detective / Chapter 4: Chapter 4: The Impersonator

Bab 4: Chapter 4: The Impersonator

Inside a cozy café, Cynthia pointed at a stack of documents spread out on the table before her.

"Last June, there was an attempted bombing on the Battle Subway. Witnesses reported seeing a Spiritomb and a Gastrodon fighting off the culprits, but the trainer commanding them was nowhere to be found. The criminal who planted the bombs was later caught by the Subway Bosses and claimed that two Pokémon suddenly appeared to stop him. These Pokémon were powerful, but no one, not even the criminal, saw their trainer."

Hugo listened thoughtfully, nodding along as the Sinnoh Champion spoke.

"A Spiritomb and a Gastrodon," he mused. "Both are not only key Pokémon in your roster, Cynthia, but are also rare in Unova, especially the former. Even in Sinnoh, Spiritomb is exceptionally rare and highly recognizable. By the way, in the photos taken, what color was the Gastrodon?"

"It was the pink West Sea variant, the same as the one I've trained. If it were any other color, I wouldn't have been so troubled by the matter," Cynthia replied succinctly, moving on to the next document.

"Last July, there was a theft at the Dreamyard Laboratory in Striaton City. Dr. Fennel's research tool, the Dream Mist, was stolen but later returned by a Togekiss."

"I was present for that case," the detective interjected, tapping his forehead in recollection.

"I got word in Mistralton City that an unknown group was planning to use some form of technology to manipulate the collective subconscious of wild Pokémon. Naturally, I connected this to the Dreamyard's ongoing Dream World research and rushed over.

"The crime had just occurred when I arrived. Although we caught the thief, the Dream Mist had already been taken by their Pokémon. If not for that Togekiss retrieving the stolen item, the group's plan might have succeeded. Whatever the impersonator's motives, resolving the case was thanks to their intervention."

"Togekiss is another of my signature Pokémon," Cynthia sighed. "After this incident, people started associating me with this anonymous hero. Since then, this figure has prevented three traffic accidents, apprehended two thieves, and stopped a kidnapping. If such a person exists, they truly deserve the Guardian of Unova Medal."

"Hold on," Hugo corrected quickly. "We can't yet conclude that the same person was behind all these events. It's entirely possible that the one using Spiritomb and Gastrodon is not the same individual who sent Togekiss to return the stolen Dream Mist."

"So, you're saying you already have a theory based on what I've told you?" the Sinnoh Champion teased.

"Not a deduction, per se, but I do have a highly probable hypothesis," Hugo said, lacing his fingers together and leaning in with a piercing gaze.

"Traveling across Unova to fight crime so frequently would be incredibly difficult. Normally, even an impersonator dedicated to fighting injustice wouldn't encounter so many incidents in a single year. However, if we broaden our perspective and consider the possibility of multiple people, it all starts to make sense."

"A group impersonating me?" Cynthia's eyes narrowed with intrigue.

"To act as vigilantes, the group wouldn't need every member to fight in every scenario. As long as one person used one or two of the same Pokémon as you, they could successfully impersonate you."

"But why would they do this? What's their motive?" The perplexed champion frowned.

"Let's profile these impersonators," Hugo suggested, wagging a finger dramatically.

"First, this is a group of people who harbor strong admiration—or some unique sentiment—toward you. Second, they are well-acquainted with your Pokémon team. Third, their actions thus far suggest they don't want to tarnish your reputation; on the contrary, they seem intent on enhancing it."

"And what does that tell us?"

"I have a theory," Hugo said, smirking mischievously. "Tell me, Cynthia, have you ever heard of fan clubs?"

"You mean fan communities?" Cynthia raised an eyebrow.

"Exactly." Hugo snapped his fingers.

"With the advent of television and the internet, regional boundaries have dissolved. A Sinnoh resident can watch live broadcasts of the Kanto League matches, and similarly, countless Unova viewers have followed your brilliant performances in the League challenges. Even that Berry Cultivator, Rena, whom you met outside Feather Roots, is one of your Unova fans."

Cynthia nodded, unfazed by this seemingly trivial deduction, though she still didn't see the connection to the impersonation incidents.

"You must be wondering how this relates to the impersonations," Hugo said smugly.

"In this interconnected world, a strong and beautiful Champion like you naturally has an enormous fan base across the globe. These fans often form online or offline communities to share their enthusiasm, engaging in activities such as buying merchandise, voting in polls, sharing match footage, and documenting post-match interviews."

"I'm aware of such groups in Sinnoh."

"Now imagine a group of men and women from Unova, separated by thousands of miles from you. They gather in their free time to watch your matches, surrounded by snacks and Cynthia-themed merchandise. When magazines hold 'Strongest Champion' polls, they fervently campaign for your votes. However, they may never have the chance to see you in person."

Hugo fiddled with his phone and displayed an online community devoted to Cynthia's fandom in Unova, filled with photos and enthusiastic posts.

"It's amusing, isn't it?" Hugo teased.

Cynthia shook her head. "They're not so different from spectators cheering during my matches. It's just that, removed from the proximity of live events, they express themselves more uninhibitedly. Although…" She trailed off, her brow furrowing. "The discussion board seems to feature an alarming number of fanfiction titles."

"Let's not dwell on that," Hugo quickly interjected.

"Now, imagine some of these fans, inspired by you, acquire Pokémon like Gastrodon, Togekiss, or Spiritomb—species tied to Sinnoh and your team. Finally, unable to suppress their admiration, they come up with a plan."

"This is another highly probable hypothesis, I assume?" Cynthia asked absentmindedly, still perturbed by certain discussion board content.

"Exactly. If I were to infiltrate their private chat groups disguised as a fan, I might uncover some leads—though I might not even need to go that far…"

Just then, Cynthia's Rotom Phone buzzed. The screen displayed a trending post titled Cynthia-Inspired Pokémon Recruitment—Overseas Hero Initiative.

"This post has been gaining a lot of traction," Hugo said with a mischievous grin.

Cynthia smirked wryly. "They're dreaming if they think this will make me notice Unova more."

"People in Eterna City hold festivals every year," Hugo mused.

"And my fans want to throw their own festival?"

"Exactly. They might not have succeeded in bringing you here directly, but from a certain perspective, they achieved their goal," Hugo concluded.

However, Cynthia wasn't convinced. As Hugo reached for his Turtwig's Poké Ball, she stopped him.

"But the truth isn't that simple, is it?"

Cynthia revealed the fatal flaw in the impersonators' operation:

"The last reported incident involved my Garchomp—a Pokémon I retired after winning the League. And on the day of that incident, I returned home to Celestic Town."

Hugo's confident expression faltered. He realized their elaborate deception had just been unraveled.


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