Chapter 149: Did the League Actually Send Diantha After Them?

Chapter 149: Chapter 149: Did the League Actually Send Diantha After Them?

"The captain’s reasoning was that the S.S. Saint Warren is a luxury cruise liner carrying numerous distinguished guests."

"They come from all over the world, and every one of them is either wealthy or influential."

"He can’t delay departure over something so minor."

"Unless," Diantha said, "I can provide sufficient evidence."

Evidence.

That was the key issue.

Diantha wanted the ship held for inspection because she suspected smugglers were onboard.

But where was the proof?

Just based on a few words from Emma?

That wasn’t enough to force a vessel like the Saint Warren—with powerful backing—to submit to a League investigation.

Or was Diantha supposed to invoke her authority as Champion and simply order the ship not to sail?

"There’s definitely something wrong with this ship."

Sora was nearly certain.

After almost two years in the Pokémon world, he had developed a deep understanding of its people.

Individuals like Diantha, Cynthia, and Ash—

Kind-hearted people through and through.

For people like them, they wouldn’t even need evidence.

A mere suspicion would be enough for them to willingly accept an inspection—or even investigate themselves.

They’d rather inconvenience themselves than risk letting criminals escape justice.

"I think so too."

At first, Diantha had assumed a group of smugglers had simply snuck aboard.

"Now it seems more likely that the Saint Warren itself occupies a very important position in the smuggling network."

"Ugh, this is troublesome."

Diantha wasn’t afraid of criminals.

What truly bothered her was how she was supposed to explain this to Emma.

"And because of my mistake, we’ve probably already alerted them."

By contacting the captain too directly, she’d inadvertently revealed her presence.

The smugglers now undoubtedly knew that the Kalos Champion was aboard.

"Still, I’ve deployed some Pokémon to monitor the ship."

"Anyone who leaves at this point will immediately become a suspect."

With less than twenty minutes before departure, anyone suddenly disembarking would attract attention.

The smugglers couldn’t possibly be stupid enough to expose themselves like that.

"I’ll help."

Sora stood up.

"Once we’re out at sea, they’re trapped here with us."

"As long as they’re still on the ship, we’ll find them eventually."

That had been Diantha’s plan as well.

"It’s just..."

She glanced toward the sleeping girl.

"How am I supposed to explain this to little Emma?"

"Just tell her the truth."

Sora shrugged.

"She’s a pretty sensible kid."

So they waited for Emma to wake up and explained the current situation.

Just as Sora had expected, she didn’t blame Diantha in the slightest.

If anything, she was sincerely grateful.

A girl as insignificant as herself—

Yet the Champion of Kalos was willing to help her so earnestly.

Emma was genuinely touched.

"Thank you, Champion Diantha."

"And... thank you too, Mister."

She didn’t forget Sora.

For a child who’d grown up on the streets, she understood social etiquette surprisingly well.

"Thank you for the cake."

"It was really delicious."

Sora looked toward Diantha.

"I’ll leave her to you."

"Come on, little Emma."

Diantha waved.

"You’ll be staying with me for now."

As long as the criminals remained aboard, they couldn’t escape.

There was no need to rush.

Sometimes applying pressure and forcing criminals to stew in uncertainty produced better results.

"Huh?"

Emma’s eyes widened.

"Really?"

"Of course."

"My cabin is quite large."

Listening to this strange conversation, Sora couldn’t help feeling amused.

Still, he searched his memories regarding Emma.

Unfortunately, nothing came to mind.

Before transmigrating, he hadn’t played the newest Pokémon game, Pokémon Legends: Z-A, and therefore didn’t recognize her.

Of course, this point in time was still over a decade before the events of that game.

Compared to the mature detective Emma of the future, the current Emma was still just a little girl.

She hadn’t met Looker.

She hadn’t become involved with the International Police.

Her story had barely begun.

Hummm—

At that moment, Sora felt a slight tremor beneath his feet.

The cruise ship had departed.

Meanwhile—

Inside a secluded cabin elsewhere aboard the ship—

"You idiots!!"

A scar-faced man was furiously berating three underlings.

"Which one of you failed to clean up the evidence?"

"Who was it?!"

The three men stood frozen, not daring to meet their boss’s furious gaze.

"Enough."

A voice suddenly emerged from a communicator.

"The ship has already left port."

"We’ll do our best to keep that woman occupied."

"For the next few days, all of you stay low and keep your heads down."

"Yes, sir!"

The scar-faced man immediately switched from rage to flattery.

"It’s all because my useless subordinates caused trouble for you."

The person on the other end wasn’t just anyone.

It was the vice-captain of the Saint Warren.

And by extension, he represented the captain himself.

Just as Sora and Diantha had suspected—

The Saint Warren was involved.

Both the captain and vice-captain were links in the Pokémon smuggling chain.

After ending the call, the scar-faced man finally relaxed.

"Damn it."

"Just a glorified first mate."

"Still somebody else’s dog."

"What’s he acting so arrogant for?"

Turning back to his subordinates, he ordered them to stand.

Then he carefully questioned them regarding Diantha’s investigation.

Unfortunately, the ship’s crew hadn’t provided much information.

Diantha had approached the captain.

But she hadn’t been able to present any evidence.

More importantly—

She’d never mentioned Emma.

As a result, the smugglers had no idea how they’d been exposed.

"In any case, lie low."

"Once we reach Galar and unload this shipment..."

"We’ll have a good time over there."

The boss warned his men.

Internally, however, he was seething.

Especially toward the Kalos League.

"Damn the Kalos League."

"All this over us?"

"They actually sent the Champion?"

Wasn’t that overkill?

Like using a cannon to kill a mosquito?

Sure, Diantha was a woman.

But strength among Trainers had nothing to do with gender.

A Champion was a Champion.

They had no chance of winning against her.

The only thing these smugglers could do now was hide and avoid direct conflict.

"But how exactly were we discovered?"

No matter how hard he thought, he couldn’t figure it out.

They’d been extremely careful recently.

If there was one potential problem...

He suddenly remembered.

Back in Lumiose City, they’d run into a little girl around eight or nine years old.

And they’d stolen her Espurr.

"Could it have been her?"

The thought surfaced briefly—

Only to be immediately dismissed.

"Impossible!"

"Absolutely impossible!"

"Lumiose is half a region away from here!"

"How could some street rat from the underground tunnels possibly chase us all the way to Shalour City?"

Not to mention boarding the Saint Warren—

A luxury cruise liner reserved for the rich and powerful.

Just thinking about it sounded absurd.

A little girl crossing half of Kalos for a Pokémon.

Sneaking onto an international cruise ship.

Tracking a smuggling ring by herself.

"What’s next?"

The boss sneered.

"You expect me to believe we’re living in some movie?"

"If she actually managed to do all that..."

He slapped the table and laughed dismissively.

"Then I’ll eat this table on the spot."

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