I think it was the Sophia puppet reason since it's the only explanation for her puppet being there and why Geppetto was left unharmed. Simon probably knew she was close to dying He also invites P to the Isle of Alchemists after the Victor fight, so it's not out of the question that he also planned to lure P by kidnapping Geppetto. But there could also be strategy to it too. Simon might have anticipated Geppetto would try to stop him and retrieve the Arm of God, so kidnapping him and destroying the hotel would buy him some time and would allow him to keep Geppetto from instructing P in any way
I think it was the Sophia puppet reason since it's the only explanation for her puppet being there and why Geppetto was left unharmed. Simon probably knew she was close to dying
He also invites P to the Isle of Alchemists after the Victor fight, so it's not out of the question that he also planned to lure P by kidnapping Geppetto.
But there could also be strategy to it too. Simon might have anticipated Geppetto would try to stop him and retrieve the Arm of God, so kidnapping him and destroying the hotel would buy him some time and would allow him to keep Geppetto from instructing P in any way