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Kalos Region – International Police Headquarters
Oleander finished processing the last of the documents stacked neatly in front of her, then glanced wearily at the clock on the wall. The hands pointed to 7:30 PM.
The Safety Department of the International Police operated differently from the other divisions. At this hour, many departments still had agents on duty. But here, the entire floor was cloaked in silence and darkness, save for the warm glow from Oleander's office.
The meal on her desk had long since gone cold. It was a simple lunch from the cafeteria, untouched since noon. Oleander didn't mind. She took a few absent-minded bites, washed them down with a sip of water, and leaned back into her chair for a brief rest, letting her fatigue settle.
After a moment, a thought came to her. Rising from her seat, she walked over to the filing cabinet and retrieved a sealed dossier. She hesitated, then broke the seal and slid the file out.
This was the confidential report that had bypassed her desk, a report intended to go straight to the Black Hole Squad's operations manager. It bore the signature of Ruiyan, a prominent field officer with the Black Hole Squad.
Ruiyan and two other agents stationed in the Unova Region had confirmed troubling intelligence: a deeply embedded organization operating under the guise of "Pokémon Liberation" was actively attempting to ignite conflict between humans and Pokémon.
Their recommendation was clear: they urged the International Police to abandon its cautious approach and launch a large-scale operation across the region.
The file contained a wealth of data Ruiyan had personally compiled, painstakingly detailed and thorough.
Oleander still remembered the frustration on Ruiyan's face when she sealed the report instead of acting on it.
"Still too young," Oleander murmured to herself.
"Pokémon Liberation" was not a term to be taken lightly. In a world where the bond between humans and Pokémon was sacred, anything that challenged that foundation was dangerous. And in such cases, the worst thing to do was to rush.
Increasing forces in Unova, conducting deep covert surveillance, and identifying the organization's inner circle before coordinating a sweeping crackdown was the right approach.
Any premature strike would only scatter the group, driving them underground or into other regions, spreading the threat further.
And Ruiyan's eagerness to test the waters with a frontal push? It was naive and reckless. Did he not realize that a failed assault would only make the enemy harder to trace? Once alerted, they would vanish like smoke, deeper, quieter, and more dangerous.
Oleander respected the strength and drive of the Black Hole Squad. But that didn't mean she trusted them. Even their hatred for crime couldn't guarantee their judgment was sound.
She absentmindedly touched her abdomen, the scar hidden beneath her uniform. The person who had left it there… had once been one of the International Police's finest.
She had trusted him completely.
When she woke up in the hospital, freshly revived, her first thought had been that she was dreaming. That man? A traitor? Impossible.
But when he was finally captured alongside a notorious Pokémon poaching syndicate, the truth crushed her. Something inside her had died that day. And along with it, her ability to trust.
Some within the agency thought that even a broken heart could serve a purpose, if placed correctly.
Just as those who'd suffered unspeakable losses at the hands of criminals often became the Black Hole Squad's sharpest weapons, so too could Oleander become a tool to purge rot from within.
It was Yew, Director of the Safety Department, who had made the case. She believed that someone who had been betrayed would have a sharper instinct for uncovering internal threats.
And she was right.
Over the past two years, Oleander, now Deputy Director of the Safety Department, had rooted out no fewer than thirty internal leaks. Over ten agents had been removed. Thanks to her, the International Police had been revitalized. It was a record that couldn't be ignored.
But what Oleander failed to notice… was how deeply her obsession had taken hold.
Diantha once described Oleander as someone who, after being betrayed, had completely lost her sense of safety.
People like that often develop an intense need for control because control is the only thing that makes them feel secure.
Her past betrayal had left her unable to truly trust anyone within the International Police. That deep-seated suspicion became both her greatest strength and her most dangerous flaw. Yew had used that sensitivity to uncover internal moles, but now he failed to see that the same blade was starting to cut into the agency itself.
But Oleander didn't believe she was in the wrong. If her actions could prevent even one more colleague from ending up with a scar on their abdomen, or worse, dead, then they were justified.
Even if the whispers of doubt about her were starting to drown out the praise she once received for rooting out traitors.
She knew her end would not be a pleasant one. That she'd be seen as cold, cruel, and perhaps even feared. But she had no intention of stepping back.
There were genuine irregularities in Cyrus's record. His recklessness during the operation had led to collateral damage and could easily be interpreted as intentionally provoking the target to flee.
Why was no one questioning that? Was it because Cyrus was a respected veteran?
But hadn't her own betrayer once worn that same badge of honor?
Cyrus's departure hadn't eased Oleander's nerves in the slightest. Her instincts screamed that more traitors remained hidden within the International Police, operatives who had yet to reveal themselves.
That feeling wrapped around her like a suffocating darkness, the same kind that engulfed her when she was bleeding out after being stabbed. A fear that never left.
Her health was already on the decline. Though only twenty-five, her reflection in the mirror looked closer to forty. Words like "pretty" and "beautiful" had long stopped applying to her.
The toll of her high-intensity work was gradually wearing her down. More than once, she'd felt dizzy and faint during her shifts. She didn't know how much longer she could keep going. And even with this relentless exhaustion, she still needed sleeping pills just to find a few hours of rest. It was miserable.
A wave of dizziness swept over her again, forcing her to sink back into her chair. Every time it happened, it felt like she was a tiny skiff tossed about on stormy waters, barely staying afloat.
Even the move Spinning World couldn't quite capture the nausea twisting in her stomach.
As the dizziness slowly ebbed, the ringing in her ears dulled. That's when she heard the sharp trill of the office phone.
"Safety Department, Oleander speaking,"She answered, trying to keep the quiver from her voice.
"All nine Inspectors of the International Police have called an emergency meeting. Please report to the third-floor conference room immediately."
Oleander's heart dropped. She gently placed the receiver back on the hook and made her way to the elevator in silence.
The Nine Inspectors were considered the original architects of the International Police. It was through their negotiations with various regional Pokémon Leagues that the organization had come into being, forging a united cross-regional law enforcement alliance.
Although the Inspectors no longer managed daily operations, their influence remained formidable. When they chose to intervene, their authority was absolute.
Since joining the agency, Oleander had never once seen the Inspectors convene a formal meeting.
When she pushed open the conference room doors, the flood of bright lights made her squint. As her vision adjusted, she saw that the large oval table was already surrounded by attendees.
Additional seats on the perimeter were filled with observers, their attention locked onto her.
On the left side of the table sat three elderly men. Behind the six remaining chairs stood younger agents, each holding a high-tech communication device.
Though not all nine Inspectors were physically present, the rest were patched in via secure real-time transmission.
At the head of the table was Yew, the Director of the Safety Department. He leaned on a cane and gave a light cough, signaling for her to approach.
Only once she'd taken her seat did Oleander finally glance across at the three individuals occupying the right side of the table.
"Now that the Nine Inspectors, Miss Oleander, and the attending observers are all present, we may begin."
The speaker was the first to rise among the trio seated across from Oleander, an elegant gentleman with sharp eyes and a calm demeanor.
"I am Harold, representing the Sinnoh Pokémon League's Department of International Affairs, currently stationed in the Kalos Region."
He gestured to the poised, professionally dressed woman beside him. "You likely recognize her, this is Winona, also with the Kalos Pokémon League's Department of International Affairs."
Then, Harold motioned to the petite girl quietly leaning beside Winona, her appearance neat but reserved. "And this is Minami, personal coordinator and representative of Champion Diantha."
The Nine Inspectors exchanged glances with the three delegates and gave a subtle nod of approval. One of the Inspectors spoke, "Then let's proceed. What is the purpose of this joint oversight hearing initiated by the Champions?"
Harold gave a small, polite smile. He drew a document from a sleek folder, unfolding it with deliberate care.
"These are the formal questions submitted to us by Champion Cynthia of the Sinnoh Pokémon League. I will read her words exactly as written."
He read aloud, "May I ask the Nine Inspectors why I am being monitored and followed by Ruiyan of the International Police's Black Hole Squad?"
A ripple of surprise passed through the Inspectors. The three present wore expressions of disbelief, eyes narrowing slightly as they processed the statement.
Without waiting, Winona rose next. Rather than referencing a paper, she placed a smartphone flat on the table. Minami tapped the screen, and a recorded voice filled the room:
"Please help me ask, why is the International Police investigating my private affairs? What is Ruiyan's purpose in following me?"
A stunned silence fell across the chamber. Even the experienced agents seated in the audience blinked in disbelief.
They turned to one another, exchanging nervous glances. Minister Yew cleared his throat, eyes shifting toward Oleander, who sat frozen, clearly shaken and unsure how to respond.
The Inspectors rapped their fingers on the table. The subtle but firm tapping brought the room back to order.
"To clarify," One asked, "Was Ruiyan solely responsible for tracking both Cynthia San and Diantha San?"
Winona nodded. "Yes. Champion Diantha is currently on personal leave and is traveling with Champion Cynthia through the Sinnoh Region. According to the account, they noticed suspicious surveillance at approximately 6:40 PM. They identified the individual as Ruiyan from the Black Hole Squad. The Champions restrained him temporarily, but in consideration of the circumstances and his affiliation with the International Police, they chose to release him."
Harold immediately stood again. His voice, while composed, held a sharp edge.
"The Sinnoh Pokémon League was deeply alarmed upon learning of this. We strongly denounce the International Police's unauthorized surveillance of our Champions. We demand to know, does the International Police regard Champion Cynthia as a suspect in a criminal case? Or is this an internal operation that involves violating her privacy for some other motive?"
Winona blinked at Harold, visibly taken aback by the forcefulness of his statement.
Wait… wasn't the focus supposed to be on Oleander? she thought. How did we end up putting the entire International Police on trial? That accusation might've gone a bit too far…
(End of Chapter)