Great Detective Officer Jenny (Please bookmark)

"Na, na."

A Hoppip bounced out from behind Dian, gently chewing on a blade of grass covered in white fuzz.

Hoppip had eaten quite a bit of this grass along the way. It seemed fairly common.

Dian thought for a moment and realized his reference materials contained no record of this grass, so he picked a blade as well, planning to look up its species later.

Suddenly, a black-and-white police car sped toward him, then swung its rear around in a graceful skid and stopped right in front of him.

Dian stared at the car in exasperation. Did the driver used to be a street racer?!

"It's you, isn't it? The one who abducted Hoppip!"

The voice arrived before its owner appeared.

The door swung open, and an Officer Jenny in a blue police uniform jumped out. She immediately produced a pair of handcuffs, ready to arrest Dian at any moment.

Dian's eyes flickered, and he held back Beedrill, who was about to attack. "Officer Jenny, haven't you mistaken me for someone else?"

"Come back, Hoppip."

He took out a Poké Ball and recalled the adorably clueless Hoppip. "As you can see, this is my Hoppip."

"Impossible. Based on my years of experience as Great Detective Officer Jenny, you must have stolen the Poké Ball too, then used your wicked lies to deceive that innocent Hoppip."

Officer Jenny flicked the blue-and-black cap on her head with a slender finger and declared confidently, "Heh-heh, I've brought the key witness this time. You won't escape the long arm of the law. Surrender, phantom thief!"

What the hell did she mean, phantom thief?!

And was the League so short on unpaid labor these days that they'd started forcibly conscripting people?!

Countless retorts surged through Dian's mind, but by the time they reached his lips, all he could manage was a sigh. "Come on out, Hoppip."

He raised the Poké Ball and let Hoppip out again.

"Na, na?"

Hoppip still looked adorably clueless, with no idea what was happening.

"Hoppip?!"

Just then, a pale-faced, green-haired woman emerged from the police car. Holding the door for support, she slowly stepped out, then a look of delighted surprise crossed her delicate face.

"Na, na?"

Hearing someone call, Hoppip tilted its head and glanced at the green-haired woman who had just gotten out of the car, then ran over to Dian's feet.

"That should settle it, shouldn't it?"

Dian spread his hands helplessly.

What could he do when he'd run into an Officer Jenny who solved cases through wild speculation?

She could have solved cases using experience and Pokémon, yet she insisted on relying on her imagination. Dian had to hand it to her.

At that moment, the green-haired woman crouched down and stroked Hoppip's ears. "I'm sorry. I frightened you."

"Na, na."

Seemingly sensing something, Hoppip touched her hand with a leaf and gave a soft cry.

"Officer Jenny, this isn't my Hoppip."

The green-haired woman stood and shook her head at the supremely confident Officer Jenny. "We've got the wrong person again."

Again?!

Dian immediately caught that crucial word. So he wasn't the only victim.

"Ahem, ahem."

Officer Jenny's gaze shifted evasively. She coughed and offered a smile. "Yes, that's exactly what I've been meaning to say."

"How could a young man with such a strong sense of justice possibly be a thief?!"

She raised her hand with righteous conviction. "The thief must be someone else!"

"Sigh..."

Azisa sighed.

She rose to her feet, clasped her hands in front of her, and bowed to Dian. "I'm sorry for causing you so much trouble."

Dian was just about to respond when he heard a pop. Red light flashed, and a lively-looking Oddish with five leaves atop its head and a deep blue body popped out on its own.

"Odd!"

It pattered over to Hoppip and touched Hoppip with the leaves on its head. "Odd..."

Oddish seemed a little disappointed. It shook its head at Azisa.

"It's all right. We'll find Hoppip."

Azisa gently picked Oddish up and spoke softly.

"Na, na?"

Hoppip gave her a puzzled look, then glanced around before suddenly running off to one side.

"Odd!"

Oddish also seemed to sense something and immediately followed.

"Beedrill!"

Without hesitation, Dian ordered Beedrill to follow, just in case.

"Heh-heh, leave this to Great Detective Officer Jenny!"

Wearing an expression that said she had everything under control, Officer Jenny threw a Poké Ball. "Go, Growlithe! Follow Oddish and the others."

A majestic black-and-orange Growlithe leaped out of the red light and swiftly raced into the undergrowth.

"Growlithe..."

Dian watched enviously. Weren't there supposed to be wild ones? How come I haven't seen a single one after exploring practically the whole forest, even after spending so much time near water?

So much for living in forests near towns in Johto and Kanto! There wasn't so much as a trace of one!

Yet another Pokémon only the rich and beautiful got to own.

Great Detective Kogoro... no, Great Detective Officer Jenny cut a dashing figure as she ran into the forest after Growlithe. Then... then came a scream.

Officer Jenny had tripped over a vine at her feet.

Dian covered his face and silently turned away.

Beside him, Azisa blinked, seemingly unable to process what had happened. Only after Dian coughed did she hurry forward to help Officer Jenny up. "Are you all right, Officer Jenny?"

"Ahem, ahem, ahem!"

Great Detective Officer Jenny quickly got to her feet, tugged at the hem of her skirt, and lowered the brim of her cap. "I was merely checking the footprints."

"Ah..."

Azisa nodded. Gentle as she was, she chose to believe that explanation.

Only then did Dian turn back, staring ahead expressionlessly. His image of Officer Jenny as a swift investigator, wise and decisive, as intelligent as she was beautiful, shattered in an instant, leaving nothing but the ashes of defeat.

So real. This was just too real, wasn't it? More convincing than pinching someone else's cheek.

He spoke somewhat stiffly. "Officer Jenny, let me take the lead."

Dian took out Misdreavus's Poké Ball and summoned the young lady, who was still fast asleep.

"Mis?"

Misdreavus yawned, rubbed her barely open eyes, and lazily floated above Dian's head. Grabbing his hair, she prepared to go back to sleep.

"One skewer of candied hawthorn!"

Dian immediately brought out his trump card.

Yes, a one-hit knockout!

Misdreavus snapped awake and looked at him expectantly.

"Use Shadow Sneak to clear away the vines on the ground."

As he spoke, Dian quickly ran forward.

They had already wasted quite a bit of time. If they didn't hurry, they really would lose Hoppip and the others.

Strands of black shadow flashed ahead of him, slicing through the vines hidden in the undergrowth and even thoughtfully pulling the dense, tangled branches aside, allowing all three of them to pass swiftly.