32. Ash's Reborn Story

Chapter 153 Hoop's the Culprit Part 2

Chief: This is a most lamentable turn of events... After all of our work, how could we still have failed to secure the orbs...?

Ash and the others are now back where the Orbs are stolen, and Ash decides to ask some information from the chief.

Chief: It's completely baffling... The orbs were secured in this case, to which only I have the key. No one has taken the key from me, yet there are no signs of damage on the case... How could they have just disappeared? And where are they now?

Ash: Did you see something?

Chief: Indeed, I was keeping a close eye on the passengers in the time leading up to the blackout. Not too much of anything happened, but I'll tell you everything I did notice. The child, Eustace, seemed to be making a fuss about everything he could- ordering even my officers this way and that for the most trivial of things! I had wondered if he had been trying to occupy their attention for something- but he is just a child after all... Ms. Craudburry was making a similar stink. She kept walking out to the center car, but as soon as she saw me, she would just yell something about the food being miserable, and head back. I saw several others pass by, to and from the dining cart... But thinking about it, a couple of them, such as Sandy and John, may have ended on the opposite side from where they started... I also noticed Julia and that gang leader consorting- whispering a bit here and there. I couldn't hear what they were saying, but I felt it best not to intervene on a date without more evidence. After a time, the lights went out. I sent my men forward just in case and went to check on the engine room at once. It's as you know it from there.

Ash: And what about the suspects?

Chief: Our initial investigation has turned up six possible suspects. First, Ms. Craudburry. A shrewd shrew, we're aware she's engaged in illegal underground trading in the past. Second, Sandy, the Ground Type Gym Leader. While it's a shame to suspect a league member, she's shown a past willingness to violate the law for admittedly well-intentioned activism. Third, former Magma Gang leader Maxwell. His gang has been dissolved, but he has an extensive history of heists, and it's hard to deny the orbs could have a particular relevance to him... Fourth, a former Orderly and Team Meteor operative named John. He was released on bail after being captured during the Agate City raid- lord only knows how he got the funds for it... He claims to have left Meteor behind, but I find it difficult to trust him nonetheless. Fifth, Electric Reborn Gym Leader Julia. We've let her get away with a lot due to her status and influence, but forget thinking twice- we'd be lucky if she thought once about blowing something up. The state of the engine room unfortunately makes her a prime suspect. Finally, Eustace, a child from the Lapis Ward. Eustace has no documented criminal record, but he seems to be a particularly... troubled... child, as well as an intelligent one. A dangerous combination- and it manifests in an apparent total ethical blindness that has led him to skirt several laws already. In each incident, he's been completely absolved of legal technicalities. To be honest, the child is terrifying when he wants to be. That's it- regrettably, it's a full house of fools. There's always a chance that someone else could be involved, but to our research, these six seem the most likely by far.

Ash nods and he has been going through the train and this is all he can get from the other passengers. The first one is the Motives.

Craudburry: What motive could I possibly have to- Ohh, you must mean the motives of the other MAGGOTS on this train! Well, how about that Sandy girl? That RAVENOUS ANIMAL flooded my entire office! I hear she goes to extremes to get what she wants, with no regard to the SENSELESS DAMAGE she causes! She's always going on and on about environment this, environment that- I swear even a MIGHTYENA with a DISLOCATED JAW yaps less than she does! I bet a mangy MUTT like her would jump at anything to get her grimy mitts on the Blue Orb! Imagine the TERRORIST ACTIVITY she could pull with that thing! The statistics she could BIAS! All that power for what?! For a stinking MYTH. BAH.