Pokémon: My Titles Know No Limits! [523]

Icirrus City lay just east of Opelucid.

In winter, this city was known for its picturesque snowscapes, but since it wasn’t the right season, visitors could only appreciate its scenic beauty nestled amidst lakes and marshes.

“August-san, where are we going next?” Iris asked, though her expression practically screamed, I really, really want to see Rayquaza.

August checked his phone map. “Hmm... the Pokémon Fan Club. We’ll meet the others there.”

“Pokémon Fan Club?” Giovanni raised an eyebrow skeptically.

He hadn’t expected August to be interested in a place like that.

“Why are you looking at me like that? I’m a Pokémon lover, okay?” August protested.

Granted, his platinum membership card at the club had been a gift from Scott after his Battle Frontier victory, but his love for Pokémon was absolutely genuine.

While August argued with Giovanni, Mew had stealthily pulled out her own phone, quickly searching the Pokémon Fan Club online. Her eyes lit up instantly upon discovering they provided free drinks and snacks.

“Mew!” She tugged eagerly at August’s clothes, eyes sparkling in excitement.

She was already fantasizing about swimming in a sea of snacks, devouring everything in sight.

“Mew, what are you doing? You’ll rip my clothes...!”

...

When August arrived, he noticed a crowd gathered outside the club’s entrance.

“How could they do this?”

“It’s outrageous!”

“All we do is genuinely love Pokémon!”

August approached curiously, pulling aside a bystander. “Hey, what happened?”

Rather than being annoyed, the person replied indignantly, “It’s Team Plasma again!”

“Our club has always promoted protecting Pokémon, but those guys insist we don’t truly love Pokémon unless we release them all! Before it was just arguments, but now they’ve escalated to this…”

Following the man’s pointing finger, August saw the club’s sign had been violently torn in half, likely by some slashing move.

Given the damage, August guessed it was probably [Air Slash] or a similar attack.

As August examined the sign, the man he'd stopped suddenly stared at him, recognition dawning on his face.

“Wait a second… aren’t you Mr. August?”

August paused, slightly surprised.

He recognized me?

Well, that wasn’t unusual given his current fame. Still, he was puzzled by the man’s sudden fanatical expression.

Aren’t Pokémon Fan Club members usually uninterested in battles?

Before August could voice his confusion, the man burst out enthusiastically, “Mr. August, I’m a member of the Gardevoir Protection Society! We’ve admired you and your Gardevoir for ages!”

“Wait, wait—!” August quickly interrupted.

Is this something to loudly discuss in public?

Realizing people were already casting curious glances their way, the man coughed awkwardly. “Sorry, I got too excited meeting my idol. Let’s talk inside.”

Once inside, August learned through staff interactions that the enthusiastic man—named Ida—was not only an honorary director of the Gardevoir Protection Society but also vice-president of this Fan Club.

Yet around August, Ida behaved entirely like a starstruck fan.

“Mr. August, our Gardevoir Protection Society has wanted to meet you for a long time. We sincerely invite you to become our society’s chairman!”

“Is your organization even legit?” August recalled the weirdness of Gardevoir Protection Society members he'd encountered during the Johto Silver Conference.

He couldn’t shake the feeling something was off.

“Of course we’re legitimate!” Ida proudly flashed a certificate on his phone. “We’re officially registered with the League. Our mission is to protect Gardevoir, Kirlia, and Ralts—”

August cut in, “Hold on…what about Gallade?”

“Oh, Gallade has its own separate protection society,” Ida replied dismissively.

But isn’t Gallade also part of the Ralts evolutionary line? Why the discrimination?

August shuddered inwardly.

Is this world beyond saving?

He quickly decided he needed firm boundaries with this suspicious organization.

“Give me your contact information, and I’ll think about it,” he said vaguely.

Ida eagerly handed over his details.

Seeing August glancing around, Ida continued, “At our peak, the club had around ten thousand registered members across Unova, and it was always bustling. But recently, due to Team Plasma, attendance has drastically dropped.”

Ida's voice carried a mix of anger and sorrow.

Clearly, Team Plasma’s impact on the Fan Club had been significant. August gathered from Ida that only a minority of members had genuinely released their Pokémon after being influenced by Team Plasma’s ideals. The majority stayed away simply out of fear and harassment.

“I've encountered similar issues throughout my journey in Unova,” August sighed sympathetically.

Hearing August recount the Minccino incident in Castelia City, Ida looked furious yet helpless.

Everyone knew Pokémon Fan Club members weren’t exactly battle experts—they had passion, sure, but when it came to actual battles, most were utterly hopeless.

“The League will eventually handle Team Plasma, right?” Ida said, helplessly hoping.

August hadn’t even replied when Giovanni sneered loudly from the side:

“Heh, still living in fantasy, are you? How can you still not understand that only those with power can determine their own fate?”

Ida frowned deeply, turning sharply toward Giovanni.

“And you are…?”

Only Giovanni’s association with August kept Ida from snapping immediately.

“Me?” Giovanni raised an eyebrow incredulously. “You seriously don’t recognize me?”

Ida studied Giovanni’s face carefully. Now that he mentioned it, Giovanni did seem familiar—but where exactly had he seen him before?

He glanced pleadingly toward August.

August answered casually, “Oh, him? Giovanni.”

“Ah, Giovanni-sa— Giovanni?!” Ida echoed instinctively before realization hit him hard.

Like a startled Lopunny, Ida jumped back several steps.

“Giovanni?! As in, Team Rocket’s leader Giovanni?!”

He finally realized where he'd seen this man—League wanted posters!

He’s even more dangerous than Team Plasma!

Seeing the club’s vice-president scared witless, August glared accusingly at Giovanni.

Look what you've done—scaring him half to death!

Giovanni’s expression remained perfectly indifferent.

Eventually, August took pity and reassured the terrified Ida. “Don’t panic too much. Giovanni’s basically half a good guy now.”

“Half?” Ida gulped nervously.

Meaning the other half’s still bad?!

Not remotely comforted, Ida forced himself to calm down, realizing Giovanni probably wouldn’t harm him with August around. Still, he wasn't staying a moment longer than necessary.

“Mr. August, please feel free to look around. I just remembered some urgent business at home!” Ida vanished before anyone could respond.

Watching Ida flee, August sighed dramatically, “This is the first time someone’s been this terrified of me. Giovanni, Giovanni…”

Giovanni scoffed inwardly. Others might fall for August’s act, but Giovanni knew exactly how rotten his personality was.

Disliked by people and Pokémon alike—well, not far off anyway.

Feeling his burden grow heavier by the second, August sighed again and wandered deeper into the club.

The interior was spacious but nearly empty—just a handful of staff and scattered club members. Still, fewer people meant more snacks for Mew, who joyfully dove into the dessert area.

“Mew~!”

Seeing Mew’s enthusiasm, August worried for his wallet again.

He let out Hoopa, Victini, Eevee, and Gardevoir, and pulled out a holographic Pokémon Monopoly set he'd recently bought, stored conveniently inside Gengar.

“We’re just hanging around anyway. How about a board game?”

Iris immediately perked up with excitement.

Only Giovanni looked cold and uninterested.

...

“Using an Attack Card, my Garchomp uses [Draco Meteor] to destroy your Mew-themed amusement park…”

As the holographic Garchomp roared and meteors rained down, August ground his teeth, seething at Giovanni’s smug expression.

This evil Team Rocket leader… He’s too despicable!

Across from August, Giovanni had fully reversed his earlier disinterest, clearly savoring his victory.

For once, Giovanni found a board game thoroughly enjoyable—defeating August here somewhat eased the sting of constantly losing actual battles.

“Another round?”

“No thanks!”

“Sore loser?”

“Who’s a sore loser?!”

“Oh? Getting worked up now?” Giovanni smirked, echoing August’s favorite phrase back at him.

August nearly cracked his teeth.

Suddenly, Gary’s voice rang from across the room: “August!”

Gary, along with Black and the others, entered the lounge, looking around curiously. “Why did you choose to meet here?”

“Forget that for now. Come here—I have a task for you!”

“A task?” Gary asked curiously.

“Pokémon Monopoly. Beat Giovanni.” August seriously patted Gary’s shoulder. “Win, and Landorus is yours permanently!”

Gary’s eyes lit up instantly.

“Really?!”

During the Relic Castle mission, he'd firsthand experienced Landorus’s power. For a Ground-type specialist like him, the legendary Ground/Flying Pokémon was a perfect fit.

August nodded solemnly, “When have I ever lied to you?”

He’d never really cared about the Forces of Nature trio taken from the Shadow Triad; handing Landorus over to Gary was always part of his plan.

Defeating Giovanni was just a spontaneous condition he’d added on.

Though tempted to retort, Gary wisely remained silent, already rolling up his sleeves eagerly.

Giovanni sighed inwardly.

No one even asked if I wanted another round…

Still, he found himself curious about Gary—this talented trainer from Kanto who had inherited his “Secrets of the Earth.”

With mild interest, Giovanni began setting up the next game.

Meanwhile, August turned to Nate and Looker, asking quietly, “So, got any intel from those Team Plasma grunts yet?”

---

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!