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Chapter 15: Startling

(Several Hours Later, Headquarters of the International Police's Galarian Branch, Galar)

Heading to the Galarian Branch as soon as he heard that a suspect has been found, Mateus was making his way to a downstairs room to question him. "Are you sure this is a good idea? He may not tell us a thing." Asked Prof. Alva. "Normally in a scenario like this, no suspect will give any information willingly, that's why you have a plan to work around them." Said Mateus. Prof. Alva then turns to Mateus. "I hope you won't do anything too harsh." Mateus then closes his eyes. "I'm hoping so too."

(Mateus then enters the room, where a male figure is sitting down, handcuffed to a table.)

Mateus then sighs. "Good evening, I am Detective Mateus Cobalt. I'll the one questioning you today. Please state your name." Said Mateus. "The one from of Alola. I've heard of you. I am Johnathan Myle." Said the Male Figure. Mateus then tosses one of his Poké Balls in the air. "Well then, Johnathan, we both know why you're here. I'm going to need you to tell me the truth, the full truth." What happens if I refuse?" Asked Johnathan. The Poké Ball then hits the ground, drawing out Mirai. "Then Mirai here will be sure to drag it out of you, and she'll know if you are. Female Meowstics are known for using their psychic power to give brutal headaches if they're angry." Mirai then gives an ice cold stare to Johnathan, before Mateus sits down on a chair. "First off, what were you doing in Wedgehurst?" "Bold of you to assume I was there, Detective." "This is no assumption. There were two kidnappings last night, One in Wedgehurst and the other in Wyndon, given that you were found in the Wild Area, you were much closer to the former than the latter." "I'll admit it. Me and my partner were in Wedgehurst following our orders." "Orders from who?" "Our boss, obviously."

(Mateus then slams his right hand on the table in great anger.)

"Listen here, you! 150 people from the ages of 6 to 24 are missing! Their families are worried feverishly for them! You're going to tell me where they are, you sick bastard, or else I'm going to drag it out of your mouth! And in this situation, I'm willing to do so by any means necessary!" Yelled Mateus. Johnathan then chuckles. "Quite the uncharacteristic tirade from you, Detective Cobalt. However, I can understand why you're angered. Was it not five years ago?" Asked Jonathan. "What?!" "Yes. It was five years ago when you found out your close friend and Commissioner of the International Police, Anabel Lilacita, was a spy for Team Rocket. The fallout from that revelation was fierce, and you personally worked hard to try and reestablish the trust people had in the International Police. We obliviously put a damper on that. Not our original intention, but an unforeseen byproduct of our actions." Mateus, now red-faced looks at Johnathan with fury. "Why are you bringing up the past?" "I have my reason. If Serena caught us sometime earlier, your job would have been much easier." "Why are you bringing up Serena's hybrid abilities?" "Sometimes, some things have greater connection than you imagine." Mateus then turns his eyes towards Mirai, who was worried about him. He then takes a deep breath. "Your ass is going to a holding cell for the time being!"

(Mateus then leaves the room with Mirai.)

"You lost your temper in a really bad way." Said Mirai telepathically as they were walking. "I know, and I'm not proud of it." Said Mateus. "Given that he was part of an international kidnapping ring, it was strange that he was somewhat cooperative." Mateus then turns to Mirai. "You didn't even have to use a semblance of your power." "The last thing he said. 'Sometimes, some things have greater connection than you imagine.' It worries me. Could our perpetrators have ties or even be a part of Team Rocket?" Mateus then stands still. "Serena did bring up her case file several weeks back."

(Flashback, Several Weeks Ago, Unova)

"So you're saying that the circumstances of your disappearance are similar to the one that have happened recently?" Asked Hilbert. "Yes. Eon." Said Serena. "While there are clear similarities between the recent cases to your own kidnapping, Serena, and one could make a correlation using them, there is not enough evidence to believe that they are linked. However, the possibility should not be ignored." Said Mateus.

(Flashback Ends)

"Personally, I don't even want this possibility to even be considered to be true. But if this is the case, we cannot afford to ignore it." Said Mateus. "We'll have to discuss what to do with the group before we can proceed." Said Mirai telepathically.

(Half an Hour Later, with the rest of the group)

Listening to a recording of the questioning, Mateus was sulking, filled with cringe over the loss of his composure. When the recording ends, he returns to the group. "I know you all have many questions. Believe me, I am just as confused you all are. We have 150 people missing that we have to ensure their safety and return home. What conclusions could we even make from this?" Asked Mateus. "That last line. Eon. 'Sometimes, some things have greater connection than you imagine.' It was stated in the case file that Team Rocket did have plans to expand the 'Project XYZ' program once they finished with me. Also, the way those children disappeared, it's eerily similar to the description of my kidnapping." Said Serena. Ash then turns to Mateus. "You have to admit, she does have a point." Said Ash. Prof. Alva then places a hand on Serena's shoulder. "Even if the similarities are there, Team Rocket could not possibly pull something like this from a maximum security prison." Said Prof. Alva. "What makes you think that?" Asked Goh. Mateus then sighs. "Me and Ash put them there with Serena and Professor Alva's help." Prof. Alva then turns to Mateus. "We still have Zager's hard drive, right?"

(One Hour Later)

Mateus then enters the room holding a box. "Here it is. Zager's hard drive and a few other technical components." Said Mateus. You used also these in the case against Team Rocket?" Asked Goh. "Yes. There's a lot more information in that hard drive than meets the eye." Goh then turns to Mateus. "And you used all of it to put Team Rocket behind bars?" "Not all of it. There are heaps of information we haven't accessed because it's encrypted and the only way to break through it is to enter the password. Problem is, we haven't been able to guess the correct password. If there's any slight connection between this case and Team Rocket, that hard drive likely contains that information. I'll have the Analysis Team look into it tonight." Goh then raises his hand. "Is it alright if I help them with breaking into the hard drive?" Mateus then ponders for a second. "I'd suppose the more hands, the merrier in this case. Everyone else, you're dismissed for the night." Everyone then leaves save for Professor Alva, Clemont, Bonnie, Sophocles, Molayne, and Goh. Clemont then briefly stops Korrina as she about to leave with Bonnie. "Korrina, do you think you can watch Bonnie for tonight?" Asked Clemont. "Of course." Replied Korrina. Clemont and Korrina then share a quick hug before he returns to the Analysis Team.

(The Next Day)

Mateus walks in to see a tired Analysis Team struggling to keep their heads up. "How are things going?" Asked Mateus. "Not good. We tried everything we could, but Zager encrypted this hard drive very well. None of our efforts have been able to crack its security." Said Prof. Alva. Mateus then sighs. "It's unfortunate, but you all worked very hard over the course of the night. Take a rest. You all worked hard throughout the night." "Very well then." Mateus then leaves the room.

(Meanwhile, In another Room.)

The rest of the large group was waiting on the results of the Analysis Team's efforts by Mateus. With everyone doing their own thing, it was a bit of time before Mateus entered the room. When he finally did enter, the group quickly gathered around him. "I'll get to the point. Unfortunately, The Analysis Team was not able to crack through the hard drive." Said Mateus. "So, what do we do now?" Asked Rosa. Mateus then grips his head. "I have a last resort. Ash, Serena, I'll need you two to come with me. We're visiting an old fiend."

*End of Chapter 15*


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