Pokémon: My Titles Know No Limits! [562]

August had no idea that because of the roster he’d submitted, Lance was now gripped by a sense of crisis and had resolved to undergo a round of intensive training before the World Championship began.

As for August himself, after handing in that list, he only felt lighthearted and refreshed.

Blue and Sabrina exchanged glances—both could read the thought in the other’s eyes.

Rose, of all people you could’ve messed with, you just had to mess with August.

It seemed inevitable that this year’s World Championship, hosted by Galar, would go down in the history of the entire League…

At this very moment, August opened the group chat, sharing this delightful piece of news with everyone.

---

Kanto Branch.

Gary, enjoying life while August was away, was half browsing forums, half grooming Volcarona’s snowy-white fluff, when suddenly a notification from the group chat popped up.

He tapped it open—and saw what August had sent.

Immediately, Gary’s face filled with question marks.

[PleaseCallMeYoungMasterGary]: …August, is this some kind of April Fool’s joke?

He’d thought August was only talking before, never expecting that August truly intended to enter Pryce and Giovanni into the World Championship.

Gary had been counting on this tournament as his shot to break into the Eight Masters.

But now, with August pulling this stunt, Gary felt that even cracking the top ten might be a problem!

[GardevoirSupremacy]: What good would lying to you do me?

Seeing August’s reply in the chat, the last shred of hope in Gary’s heart died.

Images of Pryce’s Swinub and Giovanni’s Nidoking flashed through his mind. He collapsed onto the sofa, mind blank, eyes empty as he stared at the ceiling.

Why am I here? Just to suffer?

He had clenched his teeth through August’s hellish training, thinking he could shine brilliantly at the World Championship, show off the gallant image of Young Master Gary. But before the tournament even began, his dream was already shattered!

Beside him, Volcarona tilted its head in confusion at its trainer’s sudden expression.

It didn’t know why Gary’s mood had plummeted.

But sensing his unhappiness, Volcarona fluttered its wings and moved close, radiating warmth from its body to cheer him up.

At first, Gary was touched by the comfort.

But after a while, something felt wrong—why was there a smell of burning?

On instinct, he reached up and touched his hair—

And immediately, a bloodcurdling scream rang out through the living room.

The sound was so tragic that even Slowbro and Psyduck, who had been watching Swampert and Gyarados spar at the poolside outside, flinched.

Losing their footing, both toppled straight into the water.

Compared to Gary, though, Silver’s feelings were far more complicated.

After August’s talk with him last time, Silver had quietly reflected on his relationship with his father Giovanni.

Just as August brother-in-law had said—whatever else could be said, Giovanni’s care for him wasn’t fake. All these years, Giovanni had never stopped searching for him.

This World Championship… I’ll use it as an opportunity to observe him. I just hope Giovanni has truly reformed. Silver thought to himself.

It would be a chance for Giovanni—and for himself.

Just then, Gary’s agonized scream from the living room pulled him out of his thoughts.

What happened? Could an enemy have attacked?

Rushing into the room, Gold and the others arrived at the same time. All eyes turned to Gary, about to ask what was wrong—

And then they saw it.

Gary’s carefully treasured hair, the one he pampered like a precious jewel every day—was now completely frizzed, curled into something that looked exactly like a natural perm.

Especially paired with that expression of pure despair on his face…

Instead of sympathy, everyone felt the urge to laugh.

In the end, it was Gold who spoke, trying to console him: “Gary-senpai, don’t be sad. What’s done is done… how about we at least take a picture to remember it?”

He pulled out his phone as he said it.

Gary: “….

Everyone: “…”

You call this comfort? You’re rubbing salt into the wound!

---

Galar.

August stared at the suddenly quiet group chat, puzzled.

Was the news about Pryce and Giovanni entering the World Championship not explosive enough? Why did everyone’s reaction feel so flat?

Just as he was puzzling over it, a clamor rose in the distance.

A group of Trainers dressed in punk fashion, faces painted with big × marks, were parading with megaphones and placards.

“What are they supposed to be?” Zinnia asked curiously.

They looked like a biker gang—but missing the actual motorcycles.

August glanced over. “Them…”

“You know them, August?”

“Team Yell. Their disgrace level is only just below Team Star. That’s why I call them supporting characters, not real villains.”

Because honestly, what they did didn’t even come close to qualifying as villainy.

At their core, they were just Marnie’s rabid superfans.

In terms of harm done, even the random poachers he’d casually thrown into prison ages ago had done more damage by far.

Hearing this, Blue, Sabrina, and Zinnia grew even more curious.

After all, villainous organizations wreaking havoc were common—but ones famous for being embarrassing were rare.

The three of them began looking at Team Yell as though they were rare Pokémon specimens.

And watching them, an idea suddenly came to August.

As the three girls observed Team Yell, the grunts themselves noticed August’s group.

“Who are you lot?”

The one in front—a so-called squad leader, though “fanclub leader” was more accurate—shouted over.

“You mean us?” August pointed to himself.

“That’s right! Were you just mocking us!?”

August denied it outright, putting on a face of surprise. “How could you think that! I’m a Marnie fan too!”

“You? A fan of Miss Marnie?” Team Yell’s leader looked skeptical.

Caught red-handed and then claiming to be a Marnie fan? Did he think they were Gengar, easy to trick?

“If you say you’re a fan, then you must know her very well, right?”

“Of course!”

“Then let’s test you!” The leader narrowed his eyes at August. “What is Miss Marnie’s most beloved Pokémon!?”

“Morpeko!” August answered without hesitation.

“Hm?” The leader hadn’t expected him to actually know. He froze, shaken, but tried to keep his composure:

“…Anyone who’s watched her matches would know that. That doesn’t prove anything.”

“Then tell me, besides Morpeko, what other Pokémon does Miss Marnie have? Just name one!”

“Her other Pokémon? Toxicroak and Scrafty.”

“Damn it, he knows that too!” The leader was shaken further. Now he was starting to believe August really was a Marnie fan.

“You’ve asked me enough questions. Now it’s my turn—to see if you are truly fans of Marnie.” August’s tone turned serious.

The Team Yell members all exchanged glances. Then, bursting out laughing, they waved it off.

They were Marnie’s most devoted fans. What question could possibly stump them? What a joke—

“Then answer this. What was Marnie’s childhood name by Piers?” August asked with a smile.

Their brains collectively blue-screened.

What Marnie was called by her brother Piers when she was little? How would they know that!?

“Looks like you don’t know. To not even know your idol’s childhood, and still call yourselves her loyal fans—shameless!” August’s voice dripped with scorn.

The accusation stung. In an instant, Team Yell’s members bristled. “Then do you know!?”

“Yeah! Prove it!”

“Bet you just made up a question you don’t know the answer to yourself!”

The mob shouted, riled up.

August only smiled faintly. “Of course I know.”

“Then say it!”

“Before she was five, she was often called a crybaby by her brother Piers. It wasn’t until he gave her Morpeko that she brightened up.”

“Who can prove that’s true!?” The Team Yell members shouted their disbelief.

Though, in truth, the idea of their idol being a little crybaby made her sound even cuter.

Still, without evidence—

Then one Team Yell member raised a hand timidly. “Uh… I think it’s true. One time when Boss Piers was drunk, he kind of mentioned it. I thought he was joking.”

The moment he said this, the rest of them gasped.

Someone who knew Marnie better than them!?

Impossible. This kind of person must be recruited into Team Yell at all costs!

“May I have your name, sir…?”

“Gary.”

Zinnia: “…”
Blue: “…”
Sabrina: “…”

Poor Gary—he had no idea what August was scheming this time.

The leader, however, suspected nothing. With absolute sincerity, he said, “Sir Gary, we sincerely invite you to join Team Yell… as our strategist!”

“Hm…” August pretended to ponder.

“With your knowledge of Miss Marnie, you must be her most devoted fan! To tell the truth, we’re heading out to cheer her on right now! Join us, and every match she plays, you’ll have free tickets from us!”

Seeing the timing was right, August nodded under the leader’s expectant gaze.

Successfully infiltrated Team Yell √

But just then, Blue’s curious voice sounded in August’s mind.

[JigglypuffIsCutest]: Who is this Marnie? You seem to know a lot about her…

August: “Ahem…”

[LordRayquazaIsNumberOne]: August, are you coming down with something?

August: “…"

Now, having slipped into Team Yell’s ranks—

August struck a deal with Mew: if she kept herself hidden, she’d get ten little cakes afterward.

[PsychicPrettyGirl]: August, what exactly are you planning…? Weren’t we here to collect evidence of Rose’s crimes?

So how had they ended up blending into some weird little group?

[Dealing with Rose requires the right methods.]

August waved a Team Yell placard as he replied telepathically: [The moment we arrived in Galar, Rose’s people must have spotted us. He’s already on guard.]

Gathering evidence required catching him unprepared.

Now that Rose was cautious, it wasn’t impossible to find proof of his crimes, but it would be troublesome.

From the scraps of intel August had pieced together, Rose most likely intended to revive Eternatus during the World Championship.

If he succeeded, he’d be the hero who solved Galar’s energy crisis.

If it backfired, the consequences would fall on the people of Galar and the trainers at the tournament—someone else would clean up after him.

That fit Rose’s character perfectly.

And with some time still before the Championship, August wasn’t in a rush.

[PsychicPrettyGirl]: So your plan is to use this as cover to slip under Rose’s radar?

Looking at the Team Yell members around them, Sabrina admitted—if she were Rose, she’d never imagine August would disguise himself among a bunch of small-time nobodies like this.

[JigglypuffIsCutest]: Then what’s our next step…?

[GardevoirSupremacy]: First, we follow Team Yell to meet Marnie.

At those words, August instantly felt both Sabrina’s and Blue’s eyes turn toward him.

[GardevoirSupremacy]: Ahem… not because of her. I want to see her brother, Piers.

[PsychicPrettyGirl]: No need to explain, August. We don’t mind.

Sitting between them, one on either side, August sighed.

“…You’re telling me you don’t mind, but do you think I can’t tell?”

“Mm-hm.” Blue and Sabrina nodded together.

At that moment, Team Yell’s leader turned back toward August. “Strategist Gary, design us a cheering plan—one that can catch Miss Marnie’s attention without making her mad at us!”

“That? Leave it to me! Back in Unova, I even filmed a movie at Pokéstar Studios!” August boasted, thumping his chest.

Hearing this, Team Yell’s members gazed at him in awe.

“First, we’ll do this… then like this…”

As he laid out his plan, their awe slowly shifted to doubt.

“…Are you sure this will work?” they asked again, uneasy.

Not that they distrusted their strategist, but still…

“Trust me—it’ll definitely work! Marnie will be moved to tears!” August said with absolute certainty.

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This is a fan translation of 我，宝可梦称号大师！ by 落唯 白良. All rights to the original work belong to the creator. Please support them by exploring their original work or sharing it with others if you can. Thank you for reading and supporting my efforts to bring this story to a wider audience!