I went back to the Looker Bureau, and met up with Looker, who told me that he's grown concerned about Emma. He told me that she's been running off somewhere on her own, quite often. He said that he was hoping she could watch the office for him today, and once again she's nowhere to be found. Furthermore, it looked like she didn't return the night before.
Looker told me that her former gang friends were legit, so he hoped it wasn't anything bad, but he wasn't sure. Before he could continue though, I got a message on my Holo Caster, some news from Lumiose City, telling me that an intruder broke into the Lumiose Musem and damaged a painting. Security staff at the museum claimed that breaking into the museum is impossible, and the report ended saying that the culprit remains at large.
Looker wanted to run off to the Lumiose Museum to get on this case, but said he had an appointment soon that he couldn't miss, and so was stuck at the office. He asked me to start the investigation without him, and I had a strong urge to tell him of the need to get PAID for any investigations we might handle, but I just went to check things out and let him deal with running the place.
I went to the museum, and was stopped at the entrance by a red-headed girl. She told me that a piece of graffiti was left on some artwork on the third floor, and that the museum director was up there too. I headed up to the third floor to see the damage and talk to the director, hoping to get some kind of information.
The piece was completely ruined by the blue spray paint, and the museum director was just standing there taking in the damage. The director asked me what feelings rose up within me when I looked at the graffiti, asking if I felt that the value of this glorious artwork had been affected. I told him that I felt it had been sullied, and he went on and on about how terrible it was that this historic piece had been damaged like that.
The director was torn, because trying to restore the original work may worsen the damage, and thought they may need to just leave it as it was. About the only silver lining the the whole thing was that the damage might bring more visitors curious about the graffiti.
I left the museum, and got a message on my Holo Caster about thefts of Poke' Balls, and that the thief strikes after Pokemon battles, when Trainers let their guard down. The thefts are all believed to be the work of a single individual, but reports differed greatly on the suspect's features, so authorities were struggling to identify the culprit.
With news that these crimes were occuring in back alleys and in other quiet places, I was about to walk around the city to explore the alleyways when I got a call from Looker, who asked me to return to the Looker Bureau.
I got there, and Looker told me he had devised a sting operation, hoping that by laying a trap in an alleyway we could lure the thief out. I would go and put myself out as bait, waiting for other Trainers to come to me while Looker would wait nearby for my signal.
I left the office and made my way to the nearest alleyway, and I found a woman who was itching for a battle. She sent out Jellicent while I sent Jack out against it. Jack managed to take it down with Night Slash, and after that he took out her Volcarona with a Waterfall attack. Brody grew to Level 76, and the battle was over.
Suddenly the woman disappeared, and in her place was a woman wearing a black and orange suit. Looker came running to help me, but before we could catch her the woman managed to escape, leaving us with several questions and no answers.
I made my way to the next alleyway, and this time I found a little girl. We battled, and her first Pokemon, a Whimsicott went down from Gabriel's attacks, then Gabriel took out her next Pokemon, Mawile, then finally Logan took down her third Pokemon, Granbull. Through the battle both Jack and Logan grew to Level 76.
The girl disappeared, and the woman in black appeared once more, wanting my Pokemon. Before she could try anything, Looker came running to help me. The woman ran off again, jumping right out of the alley, and Looker healed my Pokemon before I headed to the next nearest alleyway.
When I got there, I found a Trainer who was upset, and Looker came running to talk with him. We found out that the woman struck with powerful Pokemon, and after the battle was over she stole all his Pokemon. We managed to get a lead on her whereabouts, an alley on South Boulevard, and I headed there immediately.
I found a woman in the alley, and I challenged her to a battle. She sent out a Persian, and I sent Axel out against it. A Nuzzle and Thunder were able to take it down, and the battle was over.
The woman revealed herself to be the woman in black, and Looker came running once more. He stood in front of me to protect me from her, and told her the odds weren't in her favor between my Pokemon and his combat training.
Suddenly Mimi, Emma's Pokemon came by, and ran up to the woman in black. Looker told Mimi to get back because the woman was dangerous, but it just kept running around excitedly. The woman was confused by Mimi, while Looker and I were wondering why she reacted like that to this woman.
The woman tried to attack Mimi, but Looker protected her, and when she went to fight, Looker realized that it was Emma. The woman denied this, and said her name was Essentia, but Looker knew the truth. He asked her why she was doing these things, but she didn't respond, only crying out in agony when her suit began flashing and making odd noises.
She ran off, and I helped Looker back to the office. Looker talked about going to visit the hospital, and told me to go home and rest. I headed off to Vaniville Town to relax at home after that sting operation, leaving Looker to get some medical help.
Current Team:
Axel (Raichu, Electric, Lv. 75)
Gabriel (Talonflame, Fire/Flying, Lv. 75)
Jack (Greninja, Water/Dark, Lv. 76)
Logan (Venusaur, Grass/Poison, Lv. 76)
Brody (Diggersby, Normal/Ground, Lv. 76)
Cadence (Florges, Fairy, Lv. 76)
