Pokémon: My Titles Know No Limits! [517]

Kanto Branch.

A golden ring materialized in the middle of the Kanto branch headquarters, and August casually stepped through.

However, the scene that greeted him made him freeze in place.

He saw Sabrina firmly holding a squirming Minccino in one hand while brandishing a [Shiny Stone] menacingly in the other. The Minccino clearly didn't want to evolve into Cinccino, desperately struggling to escape Sabrina's clutches.

Obviously, the tiny Pokémon was no match for Sabrina.

Just as the [Shiny Stone] was about to touch Minccino’s body, Sabrina heard August's voice from behind her.

“Sabrina, what are you doing?”

Caught off-guard, Sabrina hastily masked her expression, pretending innocence. “Nothing at all.”

Seizing the moment, Minccino bolted behind August’s legs, clutching at his pants and furiously pointing an accusatory paw at Sabrina.

“Mi-nee!”

Minccino loudly denounced the wicked woman who'd attempted to evolve her against her will.

“And you say you weren’t doing anything?” August shook his head. “Even Minccino is calling you a bad person.”

If it were Zinnia, she would've guiltily averted her gaze by now. But Sabrina was on a completely different level.

She gave Minccino a deceptively gentle smile. “Minccino, am I really such a bad person?”

Terrified, Minccino shrank even further behind August.

Seeing this, August helplessly picked Minccino up, comforting her gently. “If you’re really that bored, you could come with me to Unova and help deal with Team Plasma.”

Sabrina stretched leisurely, showcasing the elegant curves beneath her sleeveless pale-gray sweater.

With an amused look, she teased, “If I went, wouldn't I be interrupting you meeting new girls?”

“New girls? What new girls?” August immediately denied it.

After thinking for a second, though, he realized he'd actually met quite a few women during his time in Unova—Professor Juniper, White, Dr. Fennel, Elesa, Lacey…

Okay, perhaps it was more than just a few.

But they were either professional acquaintances or genuine friends.

By now, Minccino had calmed down in August’s arms. He finally thought to ask, “Where’s Blue and the others?”

“Blue and Cogita went with Lusamine to Alola to relocate those Pokémon you sent back. Oh, your new friend Dr. Fennel went along too,” Sabrina replied.

“Huh? Why didn’t Minccino go along...?”

August glanced curiously at Minccino in his arms.

“She said she wanted to wait here and become your Pokémon once you returned. I said she was too weak, so I offered to make her stronger. We’d even agreed—then she panicked once she saw the [Shiny Stone].” Sabrina spread her hands innocently.

August looked down at Minccino, who timidly nodded, feeling wronged.

She had her reasons! Sabrina never mentioned evolution when she promised to help her get stronger!

What if August didn’t like her anymore after she evolved?

Seeing Minccino’s pleading eyes, August softened. He never realized Minccino actually wanted to become his Pokémon.

Well, keeping a Minccino wouldn’t be so bad. With that thought, August gently patted Minccino’s head.

Minccino immediately rubbed her fluffy ears and tuft of fur affectionately against August’s hand, looking utterly blissful.

“Mi-nee~!”

Watching Minccino’s dramatically different treatment of her and August, Sabrina clicked her tongue in mild irritation.

“You didn’t come back just to check on Minccino, did you...?”

“Of course not. I returned to prepare a big gift for Team Plasma…” August trailed off, eyes catching sight of Sabrina’s somewhat revealing sweater. “But about your outfit…”

Even if she was alone in the house, wasn’t this a bit too daring?

“How is it? Cute, right? I bought it together with Blue—she has one too, you know~” Sabrina deliberately swayed slightly as she spoke.

There was something dangerously playful about it.

August: “……”

It's daytime, Sabrina. Please behave.

“I meant, someone might be coming soon—”

Before August finished his sentence, Sabrina instantly Teleported away from the couch, disappearing in a blur.

Well, that was fast.

...

Returning to the basement alone, August met varied reactions from the group of prisoners.

Pryce continued carving something quietly, offering a gentle nod when he saw August.

Maxie and Archie both stared eagerly at August.

Ariana, though she'd spoken with Matori before, remained indifferent, barely acknowledging August’s arrival with a brief glance.

Lysandre had calmed down, observing August with cold, wary eyes.

Only Giovanni’s lips curled into a mocking sneer upon seeing August alone. “Coming alone? Don't tell me your attempt to capture Team Plasma was a failure?”

Giovanni had good reason to mock him.

Considering the recent headlines concerning Team Plasma, coupled with August’s sudden departure to Unova, Giovanni had easily figured out August’s goal was to dismantle Team Plasma’s operations.

Yet here August was—alone, empty-handed, without a single captured enemy. Giovanni strongly suspected he’d failed.

“Nice imagination,” August said nonchalantly, shrugging off Giovanni’s mockery. “Unfortunately for you, things are going perfectly fine for me in Unova.”

“You weren't seriously hoping Team Plasma could pose a problem for me, right?”

“On the other hand, if Team Plasma actually managed to give me trouble, wouldn’t that mean your Team Rocket is even weaker?”

“How could Team Plasma possibly compare to Team Rocket!” Matori interjected heatedly.

Giovanni fell silent, unable to argue.

Even at the peak of Team Rocket’s power, he'd barely hindered August—when August was far less formidable than now.

He didn’t believe for a second that a mere Team Plasma could surpass his Team Rocket.

Seeing Giovanni rendered speechless so easily left August feeling oddly disappointed. He suddenly missed the old Giovanni, the one who hadn't yet been captured.

That Giovanni had so much spirit, unlike this deflated version.

Had confinement really depressed him this badly?

August glanced around thoughtfully. The place did seem rather bleak.

But if Giovanni was depressed, then perhaps this operation would be the perfect chance for a little therapy.

“Hey, Giovanni—I’ve got an opportunity for you to stretch your legs. Interested?” August offered.

Giovanni’s expression remained stoic, feigning indifference. Yet August, who knew Giovanni well, easily noticed the subtle spark of intrigue hidden behind that poker face.

Before Giovanni could respond, Maxie and Archie jumped in enthusiastically. “We're interested! August, just name the target. We'll guarantee he won't live to see tomorrow!”

August: “…”

We're supposed to be International Police, a proper organization. Why do you two sound like villains right now?

Provoked by Maxie and Archie’s eagerness, Giovanni could no longer play aloof.

“You want me to work for you?” Giovanni finally asked.

August grinned. “Not for me—for the Pokémon League. Think of it as making up for all the damage you’ve done.”

Giovanni inwardly sneered at August’s righteous façade.

Noticing Giovanni’s skepticism, August decided to throw out the decisive blow.

“Or think of it as doing it for Silver.”

Giovanni’s expression visibly shifted.

“Giovanni, you wouldn’t want Silver to feel ashamed because of you at the Kanto branch, would you?”

Giovanni’s face turned slightly green. August seized the opportunity.

“So? Interested in playing hero for once?”

Indeed, Giovanni was August’s special “surprise” for Team Plasma.

Taking a deep breath, Giovanni steadied himself.

“You’d actually let me out?”

Giovanni scrutinized August carefully, searching for any hint of deception.

“Why not? I caught you once—surely you don’t think you can escape from me again?” August exaggerated mock surprise.

Giovanni, barely composed, felt his blood pressure spike again at August’s provocative tone.

But he didn't refuse.

Going outside offered at least some chance—staying imprisoned meant none at all. Even knowing August was using him, Giovanni willingly took the bait.

“If you have the guts…” Giovanni stared at August challengingly.

August snapped his fingers.

Hoopa casually tossed out a golden ring, creating a portal.

Giovanni stepped forward without hesitation. In the next moment, he was standing outside the cell.

Only a wall separated him, but Giovanni inhaled deeply, savoring the taste of freedom he hadn’t known for ages.

“Here are your Poké Balls,” August tossed him six Poké Balls—Giovanni’s main team, minus Necrozma.

Giovanni quietly stored the balls in his coat. Just as he pocketed the last one, August suddenly added:

“Silver’s watching, so don’t disappoint him~”

Giovanni paused, voice tense. “I don’t need your reminder…”

Emerging from the basement with Giovanni, August bumped into Sabrina, now changed into casual attire.

She stared from August to Giovanni, rubbing her eyes incredulously.

“August, did you come back just to let Giovanni out?”

Giovanni—the Giovanni?

After all that effort capturing him, August casually set him free?

“Giovanni’s temporarily starring as an ally of justice. Silver would be proud, right Giovanni?” August patted Giovanni’s shoulder cheerfully.

Giovanni felt his eyelid twitching.

He wanted to lash out but could only swallow his pride at the mention of Silver.

Watching this scene, Sabrina—once a Team Rocket Executive herself—gave August a thumbs-up.

Only August could pat Giovanni’s shoulder and survive.

“Take care of the house!” August waved at Sabrina as Hoopa opened another portal, stepping through with Giovanni.

Sabrina snapped out of it only after they disappeared, quickly opening her phone.

She messaged the chat named “August's True Fans Group”:

[Psychic_Pretty_Girl]: Shocking! August's secret weapon against Team Plasma is HIM!

[August’s_#1_Loyalist]: Wait, who?

[August’s_#1_Loyalist]: Oh god, I see it. Poor Team Plasma.

[Don't_Call_Me_Dummy]: Terrifying. RIP Team Plasma.

[August’s_#2_Loyalist]: Tell me who!!

[Photo sent]

[August’s_#2_Loyalist]: HOLY CRAP, IT'S GIOVANNI!

[Chat disbanded.]

Back at Driftveil Gym, August smiled innocently at Looker’s shock.

Yes, Giovanni was indeed August’s special surprise for Team Plasma.

---

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!