บท 19: Chapter 19: Detective Hugo's Business Card
"Thanks to the detective, I managed to purchase the property rights to Feather Roost Manor from a real estate tycoon at an unbelievably low price," Hilda said cheerfully.
Green facepalmed. "That probably included some kind of hush money for the tycoon."
"Then it hit me—even though I'd bought the property, I couldn't immediately start shooting films. To raise funds, I had to travel across Unova participating in competitions, leaving me barely any time to stay at Feather Roost Manor throughout the year."
"Next time, think before buying a manor!"
Having never owned a manor herself, Green was exasperated. Unlike Hilda, who was fixated on competition prize money, Green only cared about having enough to get by.
Hilda stuck out her tongue and continued. "While I was sitting in the empty, still-unfinished Feather Roost Manor contemplating life, someone pushed the door open. The detective appeared before me once again."
"He probably figured out your situation at the tycoon's place and came early to rent the place, didn't he?" Green speculated.
"Exactly! We happily signed a contract, officially becoming landlord and tenant."
"So that's why the building turned into a detective agency. The person living there is the detective named Hugo, right?" Green asked casually, glancing through the glass at the agency sign hanging on the second floor.
"Exactly. Once you move into the second floor, don't even think about taking that sign down. He added a specific clause in the lease prohibiting its removal," Hilda warned.
Green quickly waved her hand. "I'm just a temporary tenant; I wouldn't do that."
"Enough about that. Let's head over to Feather Roost Manor and check it out. We can talk to Hugo directly about sharing the place." With that, Hilda jumped up and rushed out of the café, brimming with excitement.
She hadn't paid the bill yet! Was she planning to skip out on it? Typical of someone saving up to become a famous director!
Green watched her fleeing figure with a stiff smile. In the end, she paid for both their drinks. Fine, I'll count it as a middleman fee for her efforts.
It only took them one street to reach the courtyard of Feather Roost Manor.
"It felt extravagant from a distance, but up close, this place is outrageously luxurious," Green remarked.
As Hilda pressed the doorbell outside the courtyard, she proudly replied, "The surrounding skyscrapers enhance the contrast, making this two-story house with a courtyard feel so spacious. That's exactly why I bought it!"
Before she could finish, someone came to open the door.
To their surprise, though they clearly heard the doorknob turning, there was no one inside the courtyard when the door opened.
"Oh, it's just a Turtwig."
Green quickly realized what had happened, pointing at the grass-green turtle Pokémon on the ground, which was retracting its extended vines.
"A Pokémon?! That's amazing!" Hilda exclaimed, even more surprised after figuring out how the door had been opened.
The detective, dressed in a white coat, arrived late. Turtwig rushed back to his feet upon seeing him but accidentally bumped into Hugo's outstretched left foot.
Thankfully, Hugo's agility prevented a fall. He wobbled on one leg like a circus performer before stabilizing, much to the amazement of the two girls, who almost applauded.
"I lost a bet recently and ended up having to take care of these three Pokémon," Hugo explained, gesturing toward Turtwig at his feet, as well as Chimchar and Piplup lounging in the living room behind him.
"Who would make a bet like that? How cruel!" Hilda sympathized.
"It's my own fault for being careless," Hugo replied nonchalantly.
Changing the topic, Hugo addressed Green, "Are you the one planning to rent the second floor? Have you decided what form your Eevee will evolve into?"
Green stared wide-eyed. "How did you know?"
Eevee's Pokéball was still in her bag. There was no way this stranger could have seen it.
"I complained to Hilda about the rent last month, and now she's back with a young person. I couldn't think of another reason besides a new tenant. I didn't expect it to be a lady, though, so I figured you'd separate the manor into two floors for gender privacy," Hugo explained his reasoning.
He then continued discussing the rental arrangement. "I couldn't be more delighted about this. Splitting the place into two floors works perfectly. I rarely use the upper floor anyway. After moving some of my favorite furniture downstairs, it'll be entirely yours. Let's call the renovation team this afternoon. You could move in tonight; I even have some spare guest bedding."
Hilda stepped in on Green's behalf. "I think she's more curious about how you knew about Eevee."
"Oh, that." Hugo scratched his head apologetically. "It's the fur on your shoulder and pant leg. The color and texture unmistakably belong to Eevee. As a detective, I should at least notice that much."
"How did you know I was considering evolution?" Green asked.
"Every Eevee owner thinks about it," Hugo said, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
Hilda shrugged at Green as if to say, See? That's just how Detective Hugo is.
Hugo stepped forward, pulled a card from his pocket, and handed it to Green. "Nice to meet you. I'm Hugo from Hugo Detective Agency in Castelia City. Here's my card. But if you decide to stay on the second floor, I'll need to reprint these with 'First Floor' added to the address."
"Nice to meet you. I'm Green from Pallet Town, currently traveling through Unova," Green replied, taking the card. "No need to modify the address. I'm just staying temporarily and will leave after experiencing the region's sights."
"A traveling trainer from Pallet Town? I've heard trainers from there have a knack for connecting with Pokémon. Is that true?" Hugo asked casually.
Hilda jumped in again. "Every trainer feels connected to their Pokémon, don't they?"
"I mean more specific connections, like hearing their thoughts," Hugo clarified.
"No one from Pallet Town has such a talent. If you're talking about telepathy, there are rumors about Viridian Forest nearby, but they're just baseless gossip," Green answered.
"Why do you ask?" Hilda inquired.
Hugo pointed to a low coffee table in the living room. "Because of that."
Green and Hilda followed his gesture and gasped.
The table was covered with photos of people, magazine clippings, and handwritten notes, all interconnected with vibrant strings, forming a massive web.
"You've heard about the recent bank robbery, right?" Hugo said calmly. "The mastermind behind that case is a huge criminal organization entrenched in Unova, known as—"
"Team Plasma," Hilda interrupted, her gaze fixed on specific photos. Her stern tone hinted that she had encountered some of them before during her travels.
"And everything they've been doing lately ties back to one mysterious individual. According to online rumors, this person can hear Pokémon's thoughts and communicate with them as if they were human."
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