Pokémon: My Titles Know No Limits! [503]

Even August hadn’t expected Black to find Team Plasma’s trail so quickly.

[GardevoirSupremacy]: Where are you two now?

[Munna_Jinchuuriki]: We just arrived in Nacrene City! White’s busy expanding her agency’s business!

Alongside the message came a video call request from Black.

August tapped to accept, and two enormous nostrils filled the screen.

“Tep, move aside!” came Black’s hushed voice.

With a grunt, Tepig finally cleared away from the camera.

Three figures wearing Team Plasma uniforms appeared clearly on August’s phone screen.

Black whispered urgently, “Boss, it’s them!”

However, seeing the three familiar figures on-screen, August fell silent.

He sighed deeply. “You’ve got the wrong people. They’re not real Team Plasma members.”

“But…they’re wearing Team Plasma uniforms,” Black replied, puzzled.

“It’s complicated.”

August genuinely hadn’t expected Team Rocket’s trio to disguise themselves as Plasma grunts and casually infiltrate Nacrene City. These guys were brazen enough to stay after attacking Team Plasma?

August once thought these three were hopeless incompetents, but now…

Maybe those three actually have a chance at reviving Team Rocket.

“Huh? Boss, what did you say?” Black asked, confused.

“Nothing. Just ignore those three. Go challenge the Gym as planned. Contact me if you spot other Plasma members. That’s all.” August promptly ended the call.

Holding his phone after August abruptly hung up, Black remained confused. But if Boss August said they weren’t a problem, then it was fine.

“Next up, challenging Nacrene Gym Leader…Lenora?” Pulling up the International Police database, Black began to carefully review Lenora’s information.

---

Meanwhile, completely unaware they'd been spotted, Team Rocket’s trio excitedly discussed their latest discovery.

Initially, after betraying Team Plasma, they’d planned to try their luck in Castelia City, hoping to stumble across the twerps and Pikachu.

But midway there, they ran into a Team Plasma leader named Ghetsis, who mistook them for surviving Plasma grunts. After all, who else besides Plasma grunts would travel with a Meowth outside a Poké Ball?

Soon enough, they were dragged into Plasma’s mission and dispatched to Nacrene City.

“That old geezer mentioned something about searching for a legendary black dragon and a hero destined to save the world,” Jessie whispered.

Using her elite Team Rocket skills, she easily gleaned this information from unsuspecting Plasma grunts.

Meowth scoffed, “Prophecies are all nonsense, meow! Heroes destined to save the world? Those Plasma fools are too naïve.”

“But that legendary black dragon must be a seriously strong Pokémon,” James mused, stroking his chin thoughtfully. “If we manage to get our hands on it…”

“All together: Then we can save Boss Giovanni!” the trio declared simultaneously.

Exchanging firm glances, they began energetically plotting how to snatch the legendary Pokémon before Plasma.

---

Castelia City.

Bustling as ever, the city brimmed with activity. Office workers clutching briefcases filled the streets.

“Ah, watching other people go to work really makes me happy,” Gary remarked pleasantly.

His words drew murderous glares from passing office workers.

Gary, feeling their angry gazes boring into him, quickly shrunk back, pretending nothing had happened.

Seeing Gary’s awkward reaction, August shook his head lightly. Zinnia laughed heartlessly, and even Caitlin’s lips curled into a subtle smirk.

They continued down the busy street until a familiar figure appeared.

Standing roadside in a cheap suit, enthusiastically handing out business cards to passersby, was none other than the talent scout Gary had mistakenly knocked out earlier.

“Interested in starring in a movie? You might become the next global superstar!” the scout called out brightly.

August stepped forward with a grin. “Talent scout-san, we meet again!”

The scout’s eyes widened upon seeing August, and especially Gary—plus Hoopa floating nearby—immediately shielding his head in terror, evidently traumatized by their previous encounter.

Recovering quickly, he eagerly turned toward Gary. “Have you reconsidered acting in my movie?”

“Who’d ever want to play a clown!” Gary shouted indignantly.

The scout immediately grew serious, correcting Gary passionately, “Clowns are iconic roles! As the hero’s greatest rival, you’d get plenty of screentime! Charming villains attract tons of fans!”

“Fans?”

“Exactly!” the scout insisted confidently. “Trust me, once this movie airs, you’ll gain at least this many followers!” He raised five fingers.

“Fifty thousand?” Gary cautiously guessed.

For someone whose social media following peaked at just 18,331 and had recently dropped to 9,732, this was genuinely tempting.

His heart fluttered a bit.

“No, no, no!” The scout waved his finger.

“Oh, only five thousand...” Gary immediately deflated. Winning just one Indigo League had given him triple that. Five thousand meant nothing.

“No, not five thousand, and not fifty thousand—but five hundred thousand!” the scout declared dramatically.

“Agree to play the clown, and I guarantee your followers will surpass half a million!”

Gary, previously disinterested and dismissive of fame, froze mid-breath.

Half a million followers?!

If he recalled correctly, among the Kanto branch, only Sabrina—the Saffron City Gym Leader—had surpassed 400,000 followers thanks to her psychic “magic” gimmick, aside from August, the World Champion.

If he gained 500,000 followers, wouldn’t that officially make him the Kanto branch’s number-two celebrity?!

Gary’s heart raced with excitement.

The scout immediately saw through him. “How about it? Tempted yet? Sign this contract, and you’ll become the rising star of cinema!”

Gary instinctively turned to August for advice.

“Don’t look at me,” August shrugged. “As long as your job is done, your private life is none of my concern.”

“The film crew seems reputable,” Caitlin offered calmly as a local.

“Do it! I haven’t seen you dressed as a clown yet!” Zinnia egged him on mischievously.

Hearing everyone’s encouragement, Gary carefully reviewed the script, confirmed the clown was a serious role, not comedic, and finally gritted his teeth:

“I’ll do it!”

With determined haste, Gary signed his name across the contract and asked eagerly, “So, when does filming start? What preparations should I make?”

He was ready to give everything for his art.

“We can start anytime! The clown is the film’s final puzzle piece—” the scout started cheerfully, only for his phone to ring suddenly. His expression immediately fell. “What? Our lead actor broke his back? Even with Chansey’s treatment, he’ll need at least a year to recover?!”

Gary stared blankly. He’d just joined the production, and already the project faced problems. Was it the protagonist’s fault—or his own?

Thinking quickly, Gary suggested, “Why not make me the protagonist instead? You can cast someone else as the clown?”

This was an extraordinary opportunity.

“Absolutely… not!” the scout shot him down bluntly. “You don’t fit the protagonist’s image at all!”

His eyes shifted toward August…

August certainly fit the role, but August’s indifferent expression made it clear there was no chance of that happening.

Yet at that moment, August suddenly spoke up. “The protagonist, huh? Actually, I have someone in mind.”

A certain image formed clearly in August’s mind—a champion of justice, sworn enemy of evil. There was nobody better suited.

Smiling lightly, August took a business card from the scout. “I’ll have him contact you shortly.”

...

Ultimately, Gary’s Hollywood dreams stalled temporarily…

The crew first had to recast their protagonist:

The heroic Golbat Trainer.

“August, you aren’t talking about Silver, are you?” Gary guessed.

Gold was too goofy, Diamond had a totally different vibe; only Silver matched the dark knight persona well enough.

“Not Silver. Looker,” August replied calmly without suspense.

Gary had recently checked Looker’s file through International Police systems and knew he was a strong ally currently heading toward Unova.

But recommending Looker to star as the movie’s protagonist?

Though his look matched, would Looker actually agree?

“Will he really do it?” Gary asked skeptically. Looker was an elite International Police officer, after all.

“Trust me, he will!” August assured confidently.

Firstly, in the original plot, Looker’s performance as Dewott Kid had been outstanding—proving his acting skills.

Secondly, August was currently Looker’s superior officer.

And finally, the Director himself had recently asked August to address Looker’s personality flaws. Acting in this movie was a perfect opportunity to do exactly that.

The only question was when Looker would arrive in Unova. August considered contacting the Chief for an update—

—but suddenly, a grayish-white blur flashed past him at incredible speed.

“Hm?” August raised an eyebrow.

A Pokémon had just sprinted past them at lightning speed.

Gary noticed it too, though less confidently. “August, did you just see something run past?”

Zinnia missed it entirely, staring curiously. “Something ran past?”

Caitlin confirmed calmly, “I saw it clearly. It just stole Hoopa’s donuts!”

At Caitlin’s words, Hoopa glanced down, finally noticing its pouch was empty. It was always the one doing the stealing—who dared steal from Hoopa?!

“Hoopa is mad!” it declared, angrily tossing its golden ring ahead, opening a portal.

Hoopa thrust its hand into the ring, gripping something tightly. After a fierce struggle, a fluffy Cinccino clutching Hoopa’s donut bag was yanked out.

“Mine!” Cinccino cried defiantly, refusing to let go even as Hoopa menacingly approached.

Hoopa pretended kindness, reaching out forgivingly—but abruptly scared Cinccino into fainting.

Laughing mischievously, Hoopa still couldn’t pull away the donuts.

Sighing, August gently used the [Power of Viridian] waking the unconscious Cinccino.

As soon as Cinccino opened its eyes, Hoopa swiftly seized the bag.

Hoopa happily munched its donuts, triumphant.

---

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!