Pokémon Detective: Cynthia Forces Me to Adopt a Pokémon

Chapter 311 Poisonous Fog – A Successful Yet Tricky Capture Operation

"I never expected it to go so smoothly."

As evening approached, the setting sun was mostly obscured by the afterglow of the cloudy sky, and the scattered light dyed the city orange-red, making the world appear exceptionally heavy and gloomy.

On the city skyline, homing pigeons lined up in scattered rows, brushing past the bats that had just taken flight, as if symbolizing the alternation of day and night.

Outside a cheap neighborhood on the east side of Feiyun City, the encirclement of the arrest operation has narrowed to its final stage.

Plainclothes police officers silently appeared near the various entrances and exits of the community, while the police station's Pokémon, disguised as wild Pokémon, patrolled the surrounding area. Officers were also positioned in hidden corners and lurks around the apartment building where the target was located. They were just waiting for the order to launch a full-scale assault on the perpetrators of the poisoning case in Feiyun City.

"As expected, once the direction of the investigation is determined, the well-staffed police station can unleash a level of efficiency far exceeding that of individual detectives. I didn't expect that it would only take an afternoon to narrow down the suspects to this extent."

Bilan stepped out of an inconspicuous van, shading her eyes with her hand with deep emotion as she gazed at an apartment building in the community.

"Hey, don't make such obvious moves."

Officer Jenny quickly reached out and pulled the detective to the other side of the van, reminding her—

"The suspect might be using binoculars to be wary of the police right now. Even though we're far away, we still have to be careful about that possibility. If we alert the suspect and make them suspicious beforehand, the arrest will be much more difficult, and it could also drag the surrounding residents into the mess."

Azure obediently hid behind the car and saw Miss Joey who had come with them.

The temporary forensic pathologist, specializing in toxicology, was half-squatting on the ground, organizing and confirming the potent antidote he had just prepared before setting off, while simultaneously smiling and making excuses for the detective—

“Little Officer Jenny, don’t blame Azure. She’s different from us. She doesn’t have the kind of face that would scare criminals just by showing her face. It’s normal that she lacks that kind of awareness.”

"Anyone would be suspicious if they saw someone peering into their window. It has nothing to do with what they look like."

Officer Jenny kept anxiously confirming the information; the wait before the arrest was always so agonizing.

As if to pass the time, the officer reiterated to Azure the key points and challenges of the operation—

"Since the suspect recently infiltrated Flying Cloud City using a false identity, his current identity remains unknown, and we have no way to investigate the number of Pokémon he possesses. However, given his ability to poison all the discarded medicines around Flying Cloud City within just three days, he must have a considerable number of helper Pokémon."

“Yes,” Azure echoed.

"Considering that, apart from the repeatedly administered poison, the dosage of toxins in other wound medicines is basically the same, those Pokémon are very likely to have limbs that are flexible enough to at least use a syringe. Moreover, the fact that those Pokémon frequently traveled around the city of Flying Cloud over three days without arousing the suspicion of the surrounding citizens and trainers suggests that they are likely Pokémon commonly found in Flying Cloud... However, even with this kind of screening, there are still too many types of Pokémon to choose from."

"Yes, it could be Catpoo, Scrub, Slicker, or any other Pokémon whose appearance is completely unimaginable. It feels like it's going to turn into another chaotic battle like the one in the locked room incident."

Miss Officer Jenny sighed and took out her phone again to check the current time and the police station's notification messages.

"Is it really okay for us not to participate in the front lines of the capture operation? Eevee and I will definitely not hold them back," Azure asked.

“Don’t underestimate the police, you amateur detectives,” Officer Jenny said, deliberately feigning disdain.

“Even if you join the frontline operation, you can’t coordinate with your colleagues like a professionally trained detective, right? Our usual practice is for this kind of situation to come in handy. Besides, if the suspect breaks through the cordon and runs down from upstairs, we can still get there to provide support from our current distance.”

“However, Miss Officer Jenny, from what I just saw, the rooms on the target floor don’t seem to have the lights on.”

After a moment's deliberation, Azure decided to share this information, obtained in a moment of rashness, with Officer Jenny.

"It's so dark outside now. If we don't turn on the lights, it'll be completely dark inside. Isn't that a bit strange?"

"You mean the prisoner might not be in the room?"

Officer Jenny put down her phone and asked seriously. Then, as if answering her own question, she shook her head—

"That's absolutely impossible. The police checked the surveillance footage from nearby intersections beforehand, and at least today, they didn't see any footage of the suspect leaving the community. Moreover, a neighbor living next door to the suspect also testified that he saw the suspect open the door and return to his residence last night. That person did not have the opportunity or time to flee."

"Could it be that the neighbor notified the suspect, allowing him to hide in advance?" Bilan asked.

“That’s impossible,” Officer Jenny said impatiently.

"The police just questioned him and have temporarily placed the neighbor under surveillance for his safety. He won't be released until the arrest operation is over. Azure, are you sure you didn't miscount the floors?"

"Bluey Girl has a very good eye; her observation is correct."

"Joey spoke up. The forensic pathologist had already organized all the medical supplies. She handed her phone to Officer Jenny; the screen displayed a high-definition photograph that Ms. Joey had taken sometime during the procedure—"

"Look, this is the floor where the criminal lives. From the window, his apartment is indeed completely dark."

Looking at the blurred image after multiple zooms, Officer Jenny frowned deeply: "Could it be that they overslept during their afternoon nap? Or is the prisoner engaged in some kind of special activity that requires a dark environment?"

"A nap wouldn't last this long. And if it's dark inside, how can you cook? That criminal hasn't left yet; is he planning to go hungry tonight?"

With her expertise in nutrition, Miss Joy used her knowledge to astutely point out the anomalies in the current situation.

Officer Jenny's brow furrowed even deeper.

Now it was Azure who comforted Officer Jenny: "Oh, don't overthink it. Maybe it's just that the suspect has an irregular lifestyle. And even if he's not home right now, he couldn't possibly escape this community while surrounded by the police."

"I hope so." The female detective took a deep breath, but the ominous premonition in her heart could not be dispelled.

finally--

Officer Jenny and Joey's phones vibrated simultaneously. They glanced at the messages, then looked up at each other.

"The advance team has arrived at the target floor and is ready to break down the door."

Officer Jenny stepped out of the car and, just like Azure had done before, shaded her eyes with her hand as she looked towards the room where the suspect was.

Now, they no longer need to hide their whereabouts.

"Is the other person inside?" Bilan asked anxiously.

“We’ll have the results soon,” Officer Jenny said. Now that the arrest operation had officially begun, she was actually less anxious.

As if echoing what the female detective said, her phone vibrated again.

The police officer looked down at his text messages, but then, as if he had used "instant amnesia," he froze for a moment. His expression was as unpredictable as a floating bubble.

"What's wrong? What happened?"

The detective, who was excluded from the police system of Feiyun City, pressed her for answers.

"We need to go to the crime scene with Miss Joey."

"Crime scene?" Azure noticed the oddity in the officer's wording.

"Yes, the crime scene."

Officer Jenny looked at the temporary forensic doctor among the three and said with a somber expression—

"The suspect in the poisoning incident was already dead before officers broke down the door and entered the room."