Pokémon: My Titles Know No Limits! [551]

The three Regis turned their heads away guiltily under Mew’s gaze.

Mew had asked them to watch the house, and yet they went and lost the house. Of course they had to bear the main responsibility.

Just as Mew’s face was brimming with fury, the dots on Registeel’s head began flashing. Then, with both arms, it carefully placed a huge pile of bits and pieces in front of Mew.

In that instant, the previously furious Mew widened her eyes.

These were her treasures!

The little statues she had carved when bored and scattered all throughout the Tree of Beginning, and even some of the toys she had collected long ago.

To think these had all been preserved so well… Mew forgave the three Regis at least halfway.

The remaining half—only something tasty could earn that forgiveness.

Elsewhere…

Meeting once again, August found himself surrounded by a crowd of Clefairy on Mt. Moon. Every single one of them was scrambling to squeeze in next to him.

But as more and more Clefairy rushed toward August, the number of Clefairy guarding the [Moon Stone] naturally dwindled.

Larvitar looked left. Then looked right.

And then—taking advantage of the distracted guards—its stubby legs made a brief sprint. In the Clefairies’ stunned stares, it launched into a flying leap, landing squarely on the [Moon Stone].

“Pii!”

A Clefairy pointed at Larvitar and shouted.

At once, every Clefairy’s gaze was drawn over.

“Pii!” “Piipii!” “Pikushi!”

Clefairy or Clefable, all of them scrambled in a panic, trying to stop Larvitar.

But Larvitar had already opened that abyss of a mouth—wide enough to be half the size of its own head.

And then—

Chomp!

The [Moon Stone] now bore a missing chunk.

Gulp.

Larvitar swallowed it in one bite, and just as it was preparing to gnaw a second mouthful, the Clefairy and Clefable—finally reacting—rushed in, flustered, dragging Larvitar off the [Moon Stone].

Still struggling wildly, Larvitar was carried like trash and dumped right in front of Tyranitar.

Tyranitar hadn’t expected her child to return to her in such a way, and for a moment she just froze.

Meanwhile August looked at Larvitar, then at the diamond set on Diancie’s forehead.

He had reason to suspect that Larvitar hadn’t been deliberately brought along by Diancie at all. More likely, Larvitar thought the diamond on Diancie’s head looked delicious—and had followed her all the way because of it.

Hearing August’s words, Diancie froze, then exclaimed in surprise:

“Eh? So that’s how it is?”

The two Carbink beside her fainted outright.

They’d thought their princess knew. But Your Highness—you didn’t know!?

Diancie scratched her head, her face showing embarrassment.

That adorable look pierced through everyone present in a single instant.

Including Mew!

She was that cute—of course she had to be forgiven!

And as Mew lingered longer inside the Tree of Beginning, her bond with it was rapidly knitting back together.

At this moment, she could once again wield the Tree’s power.

As expected—the Tree still liked her best!

Watching Mew’s smug expression, August didn’t have the heart to puncture her mood.

Are you sure the Tree chose you again… not because it sensed Diancie was about to leave?

Just then, Tyranitar brought Larvitar over to August’s side.

“Ban!”

“Is Tyranitar thanking you?” Koga asked.

Hearing this, August shook his head. “Not entirely.”

“Not entirely? What do you mean?”

“Tyranitar says she wants to bring her child and join my team—becoming my Pokémon!” August answered.

Koga: “?”

Just like that—being begged by a Pokémon to capture it?

Koga suddenly felt that the gap between people… was even bigger than the gap between a person and a Rattata.

He’d been a Pokémon Trainer for so many years, and never once had this sort of thing happened to him.

Damn it, you really don’t deserve to live!

After capturing Tyranitar and Larvitar, and once Mew had settled the three Regis, the Regis patted their chests and swore that they would absolutely never again let a single unfamiliar Pokémon step foot into the Tree of Beginning. Only then did Mew finally put her mind at ease.

August returned to the Johto League headquarters. On the road, he could see League staff constantly coming and going.

Every person who saw August would stop and salute him.

“Giovanni-san seems really popular here?” Diancie asked.

She had seen people dressed like this before. The ones chasing her—every time they saw people in this kind of uniform, they would run far away.

Who would have thought that the people who made those bad guys so scared would treat Giovanni-san with such respect.

“It’s nothing, really. Just happened to help them a little, by chance.” August said.

Koga, hearing that: “…..That was not just helping them a little by chance.”

Whether it was Pryce’s Masked Corps, or Giovanni and his Team Rocket—without August stepping in, the League would have spent who knows how much effort… and even then, might not have accomplished anything.

You could put it this way. August, with his own strength, had helped the Johto League reduce at least half their workload.

That was the real reason he was so respected here in Johto.

Diancie didn’t quite understand, but felt awe anyway.

Meanwhile, Hoopa had pulled out a whole pack of Moomoo Milk from who knows where and began passing it around.

Hoopa really enjoyed the feeling of sharing.

“Thanks!” Koga took one, drank a sip.

He felt that every one of August’s Pokémon had a better temperament than August himself.

August: “…..”

You’ve just never seen Hoopa when it’s pulling one of its pranks.

Internally grumbling, August picked up a bottle to look at it—and then saw a sticker of Whitney’s smiling face stuck to the bottom.

August: “…..?”

Don’t tell me this Moomoo Milk was stolen from Whitney.

But since they’d already started drinking, there was no point dwelling on it. Anyway, Whitney probably wouldn’t mind… right?

Drinking their Moomoo Milk, they arrived at Lance’s office. August saw Lance waiting inside.

Already informed ahead of time, Lance was straining to keep a straight face, forcing himself into a serious posture to match August’s performance: “Mm. Giovanni-san, thank you for the contribution you’ve made to the Johto League.”

August waved his hand, face calm: “It was nothing but a trifle.”

“Then, ‘Giovanni’-san, what are your plans now?” Lance asked.

“First, to help Diancie search for August.” August said with complete seriousness.

Lance gave him a thumbs-up.

What he admired most was August’s ability to lie without batting an eye. He was practically born for a job in the International Police, where you’re always dealing with disguises and criminals.

“Well, then, looks like there’s nothing more for me here. If that’s all, I’ll be going back on vacation,” Koga said.

Just when he thought he was free, Lance mercilessly called him back.

“The League Council is holding a meeting soon. Each League is required to send a representative. I happen to be occupied right now, so…” Lance didn’t finish, but the implication was clear.

Koga: “?”

With so many people in the Johto League, why was he the only one being squeezed dry?

“What about Bruno…?”

“Bruno just went on assignment to Hoenn yesterday.”

“Agatha, then?”

“She’s in charge of the Johto–Kanto Maglev Line 2 construction.”

“And Lorelei?”

“Lorelei’s with her.”

Hearing this, Koga realized that, indeed, he was the only one free.

But he still didn’t want to work.

August patted him on the shoulder: “Think of it this way—Lance entrusting you with this is also a kind of trust. Koga, this means you’re advancing!”

Koga: “…..”

Advancing? He just wanted to vacation. He had no desire to advance.

That cake was way too big. He couldn’t digest it.

In the end, though, Koga went off alone to attend the meeting.

“That’s the life of a wage slave,” August said, folding his arms and shaking his head.

Good thing in the Kanto branch he was the one calling the shots!

Just as August was about to take Diancie to “find August,” Lance stopped him.

Seeing August’s puzzled look, Lance handed him a box.

“This is a thank-you gift for helping with Tyranitar.”

“We’re friends—no need for this kind of thing.”

Although he said that, August’s hands were not slow at all. On matters like this, he never stood on ceremony.

Leaving the Johto League headquarters and walking down the road—

Before August could even open the box, Mew—curiosity overflowing—dove into his arms, seized the box with both hands, and dragged it out of his grasp.

“Mew!”

What is it?

Full of anticipation, Mew opened the box.

And inside, Mew saw… a card, with a name and a phone number written on it.

Realizing it wasn’t food, Mew’s face twisted with disappointment, and she tossed the card at August with disgust.

August caught it, looked down—and when he saw the name, he froze.

“Mustard?”

The moment he saw the name, August understood Lance’s meaning.

Was he supposed to contact Mustard, and then, leveraging Mustard’s influence in Galar, work together to take down Rose?

To be fair, it was indeed an excellent plan.

Lance really had put in thought.

But still…

To need someone else’s strength just to deal with a Rose—if Giovanni knew, he’d laugh his head off.

Even so, this was Lance’s goodwill. Meeting Mustard was certain. But the timing—he would decide that himself.

August handed the card to Gengar for safekeeping.

Then he turned to Diancie.

“Let’s go. I’ll take you to find August.”

“Mm!” Diancie nodded, eyes shining with hope.

If she could find August, then she could find Xerneas. If she could find Xerneas, then the crisis of her kingdom could be saved!

Carrying that belief, Diancie skipped along at August’s side, following him into the journey.

“Are we here already?” Diancie asked, looking at the manor ahead. Her face was full of unease.

“That’s right. This is August’s base.” August said.

Beside him, Mew nodded, a lollipop in her mouth.

Hearing this, the quiet and peaceful manor instantly turned into a dragon’s lair and tiger’s den in the eyes of Diancie and her two Carbink.

Diancie subconsciously took a step back.

But thinking of her mission—finding Xerneas, saving her kingdom—she forced herself to muster courage, stepping forward to stand beside August.

“Giovanni-san, I’m ready!” Diancie’s face was serious.

“Are you sure you’re ready?” August asked.

“Yes!”

Diancie nodded earnestly. She bore her entire kingdom on her shoulders. No matter how dangerous the road ahead, nothing could stop her.

“In that case…”

August stepped forward and pushed open the gates.

As the gates opened, the manor within came into view.

Diancie stared intently.

But what she saw was nothing like the scenes she had imagined—where countless Pokémon were oppressed by the villain August.

The manor was peaceful, even harmonious.

Following “Giovanni-san” inside, she saw a massive Snorlax dozing under a tree, while Togepi bounced on its belly like a trampoline.

She saw a Psyduck practicing backstroke beside the pool.

A blazing red Gyarados spraying water across the lawn, sunlight refracting through into a rainbow.

In the sky, a Pidgeot was performing aerial acrobatics, each high-speed turn tearing the air with a booming sonic crack.

And many, many more Pokémon she didn’t even recognize—but every one of them radiated overwhelming power.

Just looking at them, she felt her body freezing.

Trembling, Diancie thought surely they would attack her for intruding.

But after staring at her for a moment, they simply turned away, going back to their own business.

Diancie was left bewildered.

Why hadn’t she been attacked? Why was this place the lair of the great villain August?

Still confused, Diancie followed August until they reached a building.

She watched as “Giovanni-san” pushed open the door.

Inside—she finally saw a second human.

“You must be August!” Diancie exclaimed.

Sabrina looked at her with a face full of question marks. “I’m August? What are you talking about…?”

Then she turned to August. “August, what kind of Pokémon did you trick home this time?”

Behind him, Diancie froze at her words, her mind short-circuiting.

“Giovanni-san… is the villain August?”

Diancie’s face filled with disbelief.

She never imagined the person who had been kindly helping her all along was actually August himself.

Sabrina understood at once—August was pretending to be Giovanni again. But to trick such a cute Pokémon too…

She crouched down beside Diancie, and said to August: “Scumbag!”

August: “?”

Passing by, Zinnia didn’t know what had happened, but hearing Sabrina call him that, she joined in: “Scumbag!”

And before August could react, she bolted away in a flash, vanishing without a trace.

August: “…”

A hit-and-run, huh. Just you wait.

He turned to look at the wary faces of Diancie and Sabrina…

Diancie’s reaction, fine, understandable. But Sabrina—why were you joining in too?

Grumbling, August said to Diancie: “That’s right. I am August. Everything you’ve heard—it was all done by me!”

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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!