Pokémon Detective Case Files

Chapter 272 The Residents of the Mansion

Chapter 274 The Residents of the Mansion

"Let's get back to the main topic, Miss Zhulan."

Officer Jenny cleared her throat, like a cherry blossom receiving sunlight, adjusting herself back to her original shrewd and capable demeanor.

"Since there are no roads leading into the mansion from any part of the forest, perhaps the people living inside use flying Pokémon to enter and exit the building. You see, although there is a pointed tower in the middle of the mansion, the lower roof at the back is flat, enough to be used as a small helipad. If we search around there, we should be able to find the entrance to the mansion."

"So it's assumed that someone lives there—but the mansion is surrounded by dense, dark woods on all sides, such a layout is quite troublesome."

Zhu Lan glanced at Officer Jenny, then continued to gaze absently at the rooftops beneath the layers of shade.

"Such trouble is naturally for a reason. The people living inside probably want to cover something up, which is why they deliberately didn't remove the obstacles outside the mansion. Otherwise, they wouldn't have settled down in such a remote forest."

Officer Jenny made a simple deduction, then continued, "In any case, the trees have now completely blocked all entrances, so this is the only way to get into the mansion. Let's ride our Pokémon and fly in."

A flash of red light, and Staraptor with bright head feathers appeared in front of Officer Jenny; it was Officer Jenny's partner Pokémon.

However, just as the policewoman was about to straddle the back of the Hawk, someone said, "Speaking of which, isn't it polite to knock on the door before visiting someone's house?"

With a wave of her hand, Cynthia Champion also released her Pokémon.

However, unlike Officer Jenny, the elves she sent out clearly did not have the ability to fly.

Instead, it is Roserade, a Pokémon that resembles a bouquet of delicate roses.

"Iaijutsu."

The champion spoke calmly, without the slightest hesitation, his words revealing only the decisiveness born of careful consideration.

Before Officer Jenny could realize the meaning of the phrase spoken by Orchid, a green leaf blade had already flashed by.

"Mmm. That should make me feel a bit better."

Cynthia nodded, then raised the red and white Poké Ball again, returning Roserade to its original position.

As the champion made his move, a crackling sound gradually came from the leaves high up, like a waterfall cascading down, growing louder and louder as it approached.

"Huh? No, wait, wait, wait!" The policewoman instinctively hid behind the Hawk, making a sound that was almost a wail.

These evergreen branches survived the harsh winter, but they couldn't withstand the Champion Pokémon's casual attack. The moment the command was given, they began to fall from the sky like a gentle drizzle.

Several startled crows took flight, while flocks of grasshoppers and round-faced mages fell from the trees and fled in panic into the nearby bushes.

Then, the noise seemed to reach a certain threshold, suddenly turning into a deafening roar. The trees in front of the two people, which grew densely and wildly like giant vines, were torn to shreds like a photograph, turning into a pile of broken wood.

With just one move, the forest that could have completely submerged the mansion was reduced by almost a quarter in an instant.

Is this really the effect that a single strike can achieve?

...

Officer Jenny felt that her understanding of the "Iaijutsu" move had been overturned.

"Luckily, it's the side with the main entrance. But the direction of the spire should be considered a hint."

With her gaze withdrawing from the spire located on the building's central axis, Orchid turned her head without looking back, avoiding the leafy branches overlooked by Roseradore, and stepped onto the path leading to the Forest Mansion with her black high heels on the fallen tree trunks.

At the end of this road paved with wood chips stands the dark wooden gate of the mansion.

Although the gate, which was originally sealed by trees, has been eroded by the years, it is not dilapidated.

Near the door frame were some slightly mottled gold patterns carved, but they didn't seem to have any specific mythological significance. Perhaps due to preconceived notions, Zhu Lan only felt that they resembled a spiral structure like interlocking chains.

From what has been revealed so far, this mansion, like the Feather Residence where Hugo rented in the United States, is a two-story building. However, a sharp tower stands out abruptly in the middle of the building, making the overall style of the mansion seem incongruous.

The brick walls were originally white, but they turned brown after being covered with moss. There were signs of human cleaning on the roof under the spire, but it was still covered with a layer of yellow silt made of rotten leaves. Only when you look up from where you are standing can you make out the red roof tiles.

Yes, the style is distinctly different from the traditional dwellings of the Sinnoh region, feeling somewhat like a product of cross-regional cultural exchange during the early days of the League. However, the spire also lacks typical features of the Kalos or Galar regions, perhaps originating from some more distant area.

Shaking off distracting thoughts, the Sinnoh champion gracefully raised his hand, his knuckles tapping on the ancient door.

Socket, socket, socket.

They knocked on the door of this secret room that had been silent for countless years.

For the past year, Zina has been doing a rather unusual job.

The job itself is nothing unusual; it's just the usual work of a full-time maid—cooking, laundry, house cleaning, and other ordinary household chores.

The benefits and conditions are also very good. Meals and accommodation are provided, there are fixed holidays every month, and the salary is relatively generous compared to others in the industry.

However, the location of this workplace is rather complicated—it is a mysterious mansion located deep within the Hundred Forest. Without a map or by simply flying through the air in a flying Pokémon, outsiders would have no way of discovering the existence of this building.

Even though the housekeeping service was certified by a legitimate organization, it still exuded an eerie and suspicious atmosphere.

Almost no one wanted to take on such a job—deep in a remote forest, where no one could help them, and safety was simply not guaranteed. Even the agency that offered the job had rumors circulating that working in that eerie mansion might lead to some terrible thing happening any day.

Before mustering the courage to contact the owner of the mansion, Zina thought the same thing—

However, having worked at the Mori Mansion for over a year, she was no longer afraid of anything in the mansion.

Before the familiar yet unfamiliar knocking sounded at the door, the maid, Zina, was so confident.

"We might have a few guests today, and we'll need Ms. Zina to take care of them."

In the morning, the mansion owner, who usually buried himself in his research in the basement, made a rare appearance and instructed Zina in this way.

Although the mansion was located in a remote area, it was not entirely deserted. At least, according to the maid, besides herself and the mansion owner, there were two other people who frequently visited the mansion.

One was the daughter of the manor owner, Miss Vinnie, who was still in school. Whenever school was out, or during long holidays like Golden Week, she would come to the Mori Mansion to visit her father.

The other was the museum owner's assistant, a young man named Neil. All the living supplies in the museum, as well as the research materials needed by the museum owner, were transported into the forest by the wind under Neil's command.

However, Neil doesn't seem to like the atmosphere of the mansion and doesn't usually live there.

Therefore, when she heard that the manor owner was planning to entertain guests, Zina subconsciously thought that perhaps Miss Venetian was about to take a vacation, or that the next supply of resources would arrive ahead of schedule.

However, after a moment's thought, the maid dismissed this idea. Because in the past, even when those two had visited, the owner had never given her such instructions beforehand.

Besides, even if Neil, the assistant, is one thing, the museum owner isn't so heartless as to refer to his own daughter as a guest.

The person who would be so valued by the owner of the mansion must be a more important guest.

However, regardless of what kind of guest they are, due to the special environment of the Mori Mansion, they will only land on the roof of the mansion.

To serve the guests promptly, Qi Na made sure to finish her chores before the afternoon. She pretended to be diligently sweeping the floor and waited on the second floor near the hidden door to the roof.

The reason for such preparations was twofold: firstly, to leave a good impression on the distinguished guests who had come from afar and to dilute the strange atmosphere of the Forest Mansion; secondly, because Zina herself was also a little curious about what kind of person the fifth guest who would appear at the Forest Mansion would be.

Socket, socket, socket.

Ah, the guests have arrived!

Out of professional ethics, Qi Na subconsciously put down the broom, turned around, and prepared to go downstairs to greet the guests.

What bad luck! I happened to be sweeping the second floor of the mansion; otherwise, given my usual work rhythm, I could have opened the door right away.

Wait a minute! Something's not right!

As she descended the stairs, Qi Na froze, shivering. A chill ran down her spine, and cold sweat broke out on her back.

The mansion's only entrance was on the second floor, near the roof. I had specifically come to the second floor to wait for the guests!

The gates of the Forest Mansion have been sealed off by dense trees for over a hundred years, haven't they? How could someone be knocking on the door? Was what I just heard just a hallucination?

Thinking of hallucinations, Zina suddenly remembered the suspicious, dense, and tinnitus-like noise she had heard on the second floor before!

What exactly is that thing standing in front of the main gate of the Forest Mansion at this moment?

Beside her, in the painting hanging by the stairs, there seemed to be a pair of red eyes staring at the maid, who was secretly laughing.

For the first time in her year of work, Qi Na felt a sense of fear.