The pieces are coming together…
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Hmmm. Why was the video taken down? It just happened to have been uploaded before the theft? That can’t be a coincidence, unless it was already public knowledge. I think this video is definitely related. Mr. Gyarados? Sounds like Water Master and Mr. Fuji. Also, for a motive, Water Master is very competitive.
Also, who is the real Rocket Grunt. He was there in person when PFM gave the tour of his collection, so the other 4 should be able to identify him.
Just my thoughts. Not really picking up a scent yet….Nurse Joy is oddly quiet though.
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It seems like both of the cards were on display so why only the Darkrai was stolen? Rarity wise both the cards should be equal.
For now my personal leaning are that The Holo Prophet is just a member of the Rocket_Grunt88 cabal. Possibly they have an elaborate scheme of stealing the card and framing Mr.Fuji for it, by leaving the card.
Maybe the video was a signal of some kind to execute the theft and after the act was done, promptly deleted.
However, I cannot seem to place Nurse Joy in all of this. Is Cresselia considered a healing Pokemon?
Cheers!
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Good work detectives I’ve been following up on some of your leads and questions. Nurse Joy is quiet. I have been trying to confirm their alibi. Still no leads on what the Fugi card is all about. The poliwag is an interesting angle. The video was removed to allow for unbiased investigation. Rocket_Grunts88’s attorney requested the video be removed as it shed a negative light on their client. @mrbubbles the Cresselia is still with PFM. It is curious why that one was not also taken being so close by at the time of the crime…
While following up on the Cresselia I did find this in the case that had held the Darkrai DPt-P.
It appears the thief meticulously removed the stolen card from its holder and left this cheap played energy in its place!
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Cresselia’s feathers protect against bad dreams, and both of its signature moves restore HP and cure status conditions. Also the card itself does have a healing effect:
While Water_Master is definitely suspicious, the fact this fire energy was blatantly left behind could potentially be a frame job since Water_Master very publicly loathes misaligned fire energies. Also the fact it’s played is rather odd for such a cheap card.
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Pokémon lore is good. What is it about Darkrai? Nightmares and something else? Where are all our Darkrai experts I need some info on this Pokémon! @F22_Raptor @doomrai
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I have exclusively conjecture and speculation about Nurse Joy to offer. But specifically being known for “healing” poor condition cards seems…convenient when pfm’s cards are themselves in good condition (a 9 is good losers)
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Finally found something. I have confirmed Nurse_Joy alibi . Well sorta. They were at a charity gala hours before the reported theft.
Dang! @DarthEevee what can you offer? I’m stuck.
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How much good can an alibi be if it doesn’t place her at the time of the crime hmmm. The access code is somewhat compelling but completely circumstantial. At the same time, I’m a bit hung on motive.
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I feel like a lot of people forget about Darkrai’s ability to spawn legs in a style reminiscent of Patrick Star
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This is what I have on the suspects
Here is a summary of the suspects in “The Pokémon TCG Heist,” including their public personas, secrets, quirks, and potential motives: I’m going to try to find one more clue to link the theif
| Suspect | Public Persona | Secret | Quirk | Potential Motives |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ‘Water_Master’ | A fiery “true collector” who despises investors and lost a coveted card auction to PFM Secretly purchasing sealed cases of modern cards—a classic “investor” move that contradicts her public purist stance. | Irrational hatred for off-center fire energy symbols, which Theyviews as a “metaphor for the hobby’s decline.” | Jealousy, anger, hypocrisy, a desire to “save” the hobby from PFM/investors. | |
| ‘Rocket_Grunt88’ | A new, aggressive “investor” who uses financial jargon and asked detailed questions about PFM’s security. | The account is accessed from multiple cities, suggesting a larger operation or bot net, not a single person. | Constantly uses financial jargon in everyday conversation (e.g., “de-leverage my schedule,” “ROI for my time”). | Pure financial gain, market manipulation, belonging to an organized crime group. |
| ‘Nurse_Joy_Collection’ | A sweet, long-time friend of PFM known for her kind nature and collection of healing Pokémon. | They had a spare key code for PFM’s collection room, but claims They was at a gala the night of the theft. | Buys ‘played’ (PL) cards and attempts to “heal” them with gentle cleaning techniques Theycalls ‘card first aid’. | Financial desperation, using her spare code to commit the crime or letting someone else use it. |
| ‘Mr_Fuji’ | A respected but grumpy card authenticator who had a public disagreement with PFM about a fake card. | He and PFM were secret business partners in a failed card shop venture years ago that ended very badly. | Carries a high-precision jeweler’s scale everywhere and subtly tries to weigh people’s cards. | Revenge for professional embarrassment |
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I am guessing Oak here signifies PFM yes? Thanks for the summary.
Cheers!
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Yes. Opps
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Subject: FINAL CLUEs
Enhanced photo from the charity gala
The Smoking Gun Is Hidden In This Thread…
Detectives, the time has come. The final piece of evidence that will definitively identify the thief is hidden in the forum thread log below.
The discussion is a common one: the pros and cons of using magnetic card holders. All four suspects participated, each offering their own unique, in-character perspective. One of them, however, said more than they should have.
PFM confirmed that the stolen “The SuperRank Darkrai DPt-P” was housed in a specific brand of sleeve inside its magnetic holder— an Utra Pro Premium,a detail never made public.
Find the slip-up, and you’ll have your thief.
Screenshot of Forum Thread:
Topic: Are Magnetic Holders (“One-Touches”) Actually Bad for Cards?
Posted by: CardCollectorChris
Hey all, I keep seeing conflicting info. People say magnetic one-touch holders can damage the corners or surface of a card over time if the card moves. Is this true? Are they safe for high-value cards, or should I just stick to Card Savers and toploaders?
Reply by: ‘Water_Master’
If your card is a real WOTC vintage card, it’s tough enough to survive a hurricane. I have my Shining Gyarados in a one-touch and it’s perfectly safe. Modern cards, though? They’re so flimsy a gentle breeze could give them corner wear. It’s not the holder that’s the problem, it’s the pathetic quality of modern printing.
Reply by: ‘Rocket_Grunt88’
It’s a simple risk-mitigation calculation. The potential for corner damage represents a marginal, but quantifiable, decrease in Expected Value (EV) upon grading. For any asset valued over $1k, a graded slab is always the superior play. Using raw storage for a grail card is just accepting unnecessary capital risk.
Reply by: ‘Nurse_Joy_Collection’
Oh, I think the magnetic holders look like they give the cards a nice, cozy little home! As long as you check on them and make sure they’re happy, I’m sure it’s fine. Maybe you could put a little piece of soft cloth in there with them for a pillow? Every card deserves to be comfy!
Reply by: ‘Mr_Fuji’
Amateurs. The holder itself isn’t the primary issue. The real problem is micro-abrasions from the card shifting during transit or handling. People who put cards in one-touches raw are committing a cardinal sin of collective care. You must use a sleeve. But not just any sleeve. The standard penny sleeves are too loose. For a perfect, snug fit that prevents any and all movement, you have to use the Ultra Pro Premium penny sleeves. Anything else is just amateur hour.
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Just messaged my accusation. Thanks to all who made this possible!
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I think I’m ultimately wrong, but the final clue makes me just further double down on my irrational dislike of my chosen culprit. You are faaaaaaaaaaaaaake
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The moment of truth has arrived! Who stole PFM’s Super rank Darkrai DPt-P?
Mr_Fuji’s is our thief!
@mrbubbles and @KantoHustle found our thief. I will post the correct guesses and some of my favorite responses following this post.
Motives
Mr_Fuji’s motive is a deep-seated resentment stemming from a failed business venture with PFM decades ago. The public argument was merely a pretense for a much older grudge. Stealing the card and replacing it with a worthless one was an act of profound disrespect, mocking PFM’s reputation as a purist and violating the sanctity of his collection.
Ruling out suspects
Water_Master: While a fierce rival with a secret investment agenda, their jealousy doesn’t extend to specific card-handling techniques. Their response focuses on a general complaint about card quality rather than specific sleeve types.
One accusation linked the Shining Gyarados to the Youtube comment implying Water Master was using an alias. That was really quite good, though even if confirmed it does not give any more evidence that they committed the crime.
Rocket_Grunt88: This account is focused on market value and financial jargon. The reply dismisses raw storage as a “capital risk” but doesn’t mention specific sleeve brands, indicating a lack of physical handling knowledge. It was surprising that no one wanted to know where the account was pining from. Since that would have given their location at the time of the crime and proven their innocence
Nurse_Joy_Collection: Her alibi is solid, and her response shows a general, almost naive, approach to card care rather than specific, expert knowledge. This naivety makes her an easy target to be manipulated into sharing the code. She suggests putting a “little piece of soft cloth” in the holder, which is incorrect and shows a lack of expertise. Their grip on reality when it comes to Pokemon cars is a bit loose and I would recommend that they seek professional help.
Clues
The note reads, “You can’t catch what you can’t see.” This is a direct reference to the stolen Pokémon card itself:
- The Pokémon’s Ability/Move: The stolen card is “The Super Rank Darkrai DPt-P”. Darkrai is a Dark-type Pokémon known in the games and anime for its ability to cause nightmares and, more importantly, its elusive nature, often described as a shadow or as becoming invisible.
- The Thief’s Persona/Knowledge: The person who left the note is taunting PFM using language directly related to the Pokémon on the card they stole. This indicates they have knowledge of the Pokémon’s lore, suggesting they are a genuine fan/collector and not purely an investor (which points away from Rocket_Grunt88, or indicates they are putting on an act).
| Clue | Description | How It Was Introduced | Interpretation & Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. The Mr Fugi Card | A blurry photo from the thief showing the stolen card alongside a corner of a card from their personal collection. | Game Master’s initial post after setting up the case file and suspect bios. | Narrows the suspect pool to those known for collecting water trainers, or cards, with ‘Mr_Fuji’. Could also have been a gift or set up. |
| 2. The YouTube Market Hype | A screenshot from a now-deleted YouTube video’s comment section where suspects discuss the financial implications of a rare card “disappearing.” | Game Master’s second post, designed to be a red herring that plays on the “collector vs. investor” theme. | Puts ‘Rocket_Grunt88’ in the spotlight for his open interest in market manipulation and asset value, making him the obvious financial suspect. |
| 3. The Card Holder Anomaly | A photograph of the empty card holder, which the thief replaced with a battered, ungraded, off-center Fire Energy card from a modern set. | Game Master’s third post, designed to force players to think about why the thief would leave such a specific, insulting object. | This clue interacts with the suspects’ quirks. It’s a direct insult to PFM’s OCD and ‘Water_Master’s’ hatred of off-center fire energies, making her look very guilty. |
| 4. The “Penny Sleeve” Slip-Up | A detail from a later forum post by ‘Mr_Fuji’ where he mentioned the exact brand name of the “penny sleeve” the card was in, a detail only the thief would know. | This is the final, concrete piece of evidence that the players must connect. It’s the “smoking gun” that leads to the true culprit. | This is the unassailable fact that proves ‘Mr_Fuji’ committed the crime. It is the only clue that cannot be explained away by quirks, red herrings, or public personas. |
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@mrbubbles
"My final verdict for the Halloween Mystery is that the thief is none other than Mr.Fuji.
Being a former business partner of PFM, Mr.Fuji possible knows all of PFMs associates and also knows the locations of his most prized possession.
He is also known to carry high precision instruments and discreetly weigh peoples decks and cards. This means he is very smart with his hands and also maybe quick. This would mean being able to get codes from Nurse Joy without her suspecting anything. Having sensitive tools also means also mean he has some gloves handy which he can use to commit crimes and leave no trace."CC
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I’m glad to see such similarities in our answers. @mrbubbles 
Thank you so much @niece it was fun to play along! I had read through the previous years hoping you were cooking up something for this year!
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Fun game @niece. In my defense I did my best while skimming through the clues while watching the Jays lose the WS
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