Chapter 192: Our League Has Always Been Lenient to Those Who Confess
Asahi looked at the Eevee Brothers before him, his gaze lingering on the red-haired Aki for a moment.
Feeling uneasy under Asahi's stare, Aki couldn't help but speak. "Yes, that's us. Who are you?"
"You want to know who we are?"
Asahi snapped his fingers in the air.
Like a magic trick, an investigation order appeared in his hand.
"Stonetown is suspected of smuggling Evolution Stones and evading taxes. All present, please step away from any electronic devices and cooperate with the League Audit Department's investigation!"
"To the trainers attending this event, this may take some time. We appreciate your understanding."
At these words, everyone turned their surprised gazes toward the Eevee Brothers.
Smuggling? Tax evasion?
Most of the attendees weren't locals; they had simply received online invitations to this Evolution Stone party and knew little about Stonetown's affairs.
As for Asahi's statement that the investigation might delay them, the trainers quickly expressed their willingness to cooperate with the League.
Upon hearing Asahi's words, the Eevee Brothers—except for the youngest, Taiichi—each displayed expressions of shock, disbelief, and guilt.
They knew exactly what they had done. They really had been involved in smuggling.
But putting the facts aside…
They had only smuggled a few Evolution Stones and evaded a little tax. Did it really warrant such a grand operation, with helicopters in the sky?
"You must have the wrong people. We've never been involved in smuggling…"
Raizou, the eldest, stubbornly denied it while signaling his brothers to quickly send a message and have their family destroy any incriminating evidence.
However, before Mizuki, the second brother, could act, a shadow flashed by.
A Sneasel snatched the communicator right from Mizuki's hand before he could send the message—so fast that even the Vaporeon beside him didn't have time to react.
Taking the device from Sneasel, Asahi glanced at the half-written message on the screen and clicked his tongue. "Still trying to pull tricks? Looks like you didn't take my words seriously."
"Mark this down: obstruction of investigation—fine increased by 20%."
This surprise raid was meant to catch them off guard. If they had managed to send out a warning, how would he gather evidence?
Putting away the investigation order, Asahi's gaze briefly landed on Aki, the red-haired brother standing beside a Flareon.
Being stared at again, Aki felt a chill run down his spine, growing increasingly anxious.
He had no idea why Asahi kept looking at him, but he had a bad feeling about it.
Asahi swept his eyes over the three brothers before stepping up to the large table in the center of the party. He picked up one of the Evolution Stones on display and examined it. "Quite the wealth you've got here, huh?"
"Stonetown has never been involved in smuggling…" Raizou forced himself to insist.
Admitting guilt was out of the question. Maybe if they denied it enough, they could still get away with it.
"I've caught plenty of poachers before, and they always claimed they weren't poaching when they got caught."
Asahi put the Evolution Stone back. "Do you really think I'd bring such a big operation here if I didn't have solid evidence?"
Then, turning to the eager audit team, he ordered, "You guys handle the evidence collection."
"Yes, Special Agent Asahi!"
The auditors, having worked with Asahi before, quickly split into teams and entered the mansion.
Seeing the investigators at work, Raizou, Mizuki, and Aki all looked grim.
But Asahi had already presented a search warrant. They had no grounds to stop them.
As for Taiichi, although he didn't fully understand what was happening, seeing his brothers' faces turn pale told him it wasn't anything good.
At that moment, Asahi turned his gaze back to Aki.
"Anything you want to confess? Our League has always been lenient with those who confess… 'Flareon Is the Best'."
Asahi's words made everyone turn to Aki, who froze in shock.
Flareon Is the Best?
That was his online username! How did the League know about it?
Behind Asahi, Green pursed her lips. She knew Asahi wasn't just randomly helping Lance out of kindness.
Just then, one of the auditors came over holding a ledger.
"Special Agent Asahi, we found this record book in a hidden safe."
Seeing the ledger in the investigator's hands, the three brothers' faces changed instantly.
No longer caring about how Asahi knew Aki's online alias, they hurriedly said, "We confess! We'll talk!"
Asahi smirked. "Oh? Now you're willing to confess?"
"Too bad. You're too late."
Opening the ledger, Asahi skimmed through the detailed records of Stonetown's tax evasion and smuggling operations. It even listed where the Evolution Stones had been trafficked.
Not a small amount, but not enormous either.
Under normal circumstances, the League wouldn't bother too much with something like this—after all, they had their hands full dealing with Team Rocket.
But unfortunately for the Eevee Brothers, they had run into Asahi, someone very dedicated to upholding the law.
All crimes would be punished accordingly.
With a wave of his hand, Asahi signaled the auditors, who had already prepared a document in advance. Based on the figures in the ledger, they calculated the total tax evasion and smuggling amount and issued a massive fine.
Asahi smiled as he handed the fine to the brothers.
Upon seeing the number on the document, the three of them nearly blacked out.
The fine was large enough to shrink their family's assets by two-thirds.
"As this is your first offense and no major harm was caused, we're only issuing a fine… You should be grateful you're not connected to Team Rocket. Otherwise, there'd be a spot waiting for you in the newly emptied League prison."
Hearing this, the three brothers broke into cold sweats.
Suddenly, the fine didn't seem that bad.
Justice had been served, and Asahi felt quite pleased with himself.
Just as he was about to say something else, a voice came from the entrance.
"Excuse me, we found an Eevee in the forest. Is it yours…?"
Turning toward the voice, Asahi was surprised to see Ash and his friends.
The moment they saw him, Ash's eyes widened in shock.
"Asahi? What are you doing here?" Ash asked. "Are you here for the party too?"
Brock tugged at Ash's sleeve—Does this look like a party atmosphere to you?
Besides, he had recognized the League auditors. Given Asahi's presence, it was clear what was going on here.
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