Pokémon: My Titles Know No Limits! [501]

White emerged victorious from her battle.

As she took the Trio Badge from Cress’s hand, White felt an unprecedented exhilaration. If she had to describe the feeling in one phrase, it would be…

Battling is amazing!

She’d never realized Pokémon battles could be so thrilling!

Holding her Tepig, White's mind raced excitedly.

But soon, her thoughts drifted further.

If my Pokémon talent agency could also offer Pokémon battle performances, wouldn't that vastly expand our business?

At this realization, White’s eyes practically shone.

“My turn!” Watching White’s victory, Black eagerly stepped forward, tossing his Poké Ball.

Another Tepig appeared on the battlefield.

Now, the Striaton Gym leaders faced a dilemma. According to their rules, trainers with Tepig usually fought Cress and his Panpour, but Cress’s Panpour had just fainted…

The three gym leaders exchanged glances, eventually deciding on Chili, who sent out his Pansear.

As the protagonist of the Black and White saga, Black's skill in battle was unquestionable.

Under his command, Black’s Tepig took even less time than White’s to defeat Chili, securing the Trio Badge.

“Young trainers nowadays are really something…” Chili sighed ruefully.

Turning his gaze to Gary, he asked, "Are you a new trainer here to challenge the gym too?"

"Huh?"

Gary looked utterly perplexed.

Just what kind of eyesight do these guys have? How do I look anything like a rookie trainer?

He was, after all, the Indigo League Champion…

August couldn’t suppress a smirk. He teased, “Rookie trainer, hurry up and take your challenge! You’re the only one left to beat all three gym leaders!”

Hearing August's words…

Gary: “…”

Noticing Gary’s strange expression, the last remaining gym leader, Cilan, found it puzzling. After all, Gary clearly had a Tepig by his side—wasn’t he here for the gym challenge? Then why did he look so irritated?

However, since the match had started, Cilan didn't ask further.

He threw his Poké Ball, declaring confidently, “Allow me, an expert on Grass-type Pokémon, to be your opponent!”

Even though Gary’s starter was Tepig, Cilan refrained from commenting, instead offering Gary an encouraging smile.

A gym leader’s role is to give rookie trainers confidence, Cilan thought.

Then, in the next instant, he saw Gary hold back his eager Tepig, pulling another Poké Ball from his pocket instead.

"Planning to use a different Pokémon?"

Was it a Pidove? Or perhaps a Lillipup?

As Cilan speculated, Gary threw his Poké Ball.

A flash of white light appeared, followed by a thunderous roar and a powerful tremor underfoot. Staring wide-eyed at the imposing Nidoking before him, Cilan's pupils shrank dramatically.

...

On the road afterward, fiddling with the Trio Badge in his hand, Gary’s earlier reluctance had entirely disappeared.

It wasn't for any complicated reason; he'd simply discovered that bullying weaklings was incredibly satisfying!

No wonder August always dragged him off to the training grounds for practice!

Gary decided then and there:

He'd challenge every gym in Unova, collect all the badges, and compete in the Unova League!

“You alright? Why’re you grinning like an idiot?” August asked, eyeing Gary suspiciously.

“Ahem… Nothing!” Gary coughed awkwardly.

August shrugged, ignoring him, and pulled out his phone, opening a news article.

A bold headline stood out immediately:

[Aether Foundation Condemns Team Plasma]

Lusamine had acted faster than he'd expected; the story had already hit trending topics.

Clicking into the article, August noticed that Lusamine’s Aether Foundation hadn't directly exposed Team Plasma’s true intentions.

Instead, they'd targeted Team Plasma’s so-called Pokémon liberation movement, labeling it as false activism. Using detailed data from their Pokémon rescue operations, the Aether Foundation argued that releasing Pokémon accustomed to human care into the wild was dangerously irresponsible, as these Pokémon had lost their ability to survive independently.

They harshly condemned Team Plasma's actions as not only unhelpful to Pokémon liberation but actively harmful, inevitably leading to tragic outcomes.

Reading this, August had to admit that only a genuine Pokémon welfare group could properly dismantle fake activism…

While he'd opted to fight fire with fire, bypassing direct factual arguments, Lusamine attacked Team Plasma’s logic using hard scientific data.

Combined with the Aether Foundation’s prestigious standing, the article quickly routed Team Plasma's supporters. The comments were now reduced to a handful of stubborn holdouts desperately defending Team Plasma.

---

Meanwhile, at Team Plasma headquarters, Ghetsis was losing his mind.

Before he could even resolve his suspended accounts issue, the Aether Foundation had jumped in to complicate things further.

Ghetsis couldn’t recall any direct conflict between Team Plasma and the Aether Foundation—what had prompted that insane, widowed woman Lusamine to act?

He was beside himself after reports came in that several new members—whose brainwashing wasn’t complete—were beginning to doubt Team Plasma's philosophy.

Forcing himself to calm down, Ghetsis asked his subordinate coldly:

“Where’s N?”

“N-sama is currently in Castelia City...”

Ghetsis frowned. “What's he doing there?”

“N-sama heard the Unova Academic Conference was relocated to Castelia City. He said he wanted to meet the renowned Pokémon researcher Professor Oak…”

Ghetsis's expression drastically changed. “Foolishness! Tell him to return immediately! The organization desperately needs him to steady morale!”

Although Ghetsis genuinely needed N to stabilize Team Plasma internally, his greater fear was N contacting Professor Oak and potentially slipping out of his control.

Team Plasma members around him, who idolized N, bristled at hearing Ghetsis speak this way about their leader. But since Ghetsis was N-sama's adoptive father, they had no choice but to swallow their dissatisfaction.

“I'll inform N-sama right away!” the subordinate hurriedly replied.

Ghetsis nodded curtly.

Subordinate: “Ghetsis-sama, what should we do next? Should we counterattack against the Aether Foundation publicly?”

Under these circumstances, Team Plasma’s internal resolve was already faltering, let alone their public image.

If things continued this way, Team Plasma’s theory of releasing domesticated Pokémon back into the wild would lose all credibility in Unova. The subordinate suggested a decisive response to silence the Aether Foundation before things spiraled further out of control.

Now calmer, Ghetsis answered coldly, “Do you really think any media outlet would still take our side?”

The subordinate’s expression froze.

Right—after recent events, all Unovan media knew Team Plasma had crossed August. Now, they kept their distance, fearing retaliation.

It would be impossible to get their voice heard now.

And Team Plasma’s own social media channels had just been wiped out…

Everyone realized the gravity of their situation.

Ghetsis clenched his fists. He knew very well that public opinion was a blade capable of killing without drawing blood.

Yet he'd never expected this blade to turn against him one day.

It hurts! It hurts far too much!

Despite his distorted expression, Ghetsis made his decision. “Intensify internal preaching; have N publicly reassure our core supporters. Also, inform Colress… I require his assistance!”

If ideology failed, he'd have to seek compensation elsewhere!

Behind Ghetsis’s monocle, a cold gleam flashed in his eye.

“August… I’ll remember this!”

---

“Achoo!”

August sneezed, then turned suspiciously toward Gary. “Gary, are you secretly cursing me in your head?”

Gary: “?”

August, aren't you going too far? Since when did I secretly curse you?

Gary felt utterly wronged, even more than a Slowpoke peacefully sunbathing on the beach only to have its tail bitten by a Shellder.

Seeing Gary’s indignant expression, August asked doubtfully, “Really not you?”

If Gary were truly guilty, he'd have turned away nervously, avoiding eye contact.

Unless Gary's acting had somehow reached Oscar-worthy levels, able to deceive even August himself.

But that possibility was less likely than getting hit by a random meteorite falling from the sky…

Since it wasn't Gary, it must've been someone from Team Plasma.

Looks like his combo punches had seriously rattled some of them.

August had only one thing to say about that: Don’t panic yet, the real panic is yet to come!

In a good mood, August turned toward Black. “Want to join our Kanto branch of the International Police?”

Seeing Black hesitate, August quickly added:

“Joining our Kanto branch means excellent benefits and the opportunity to train alongside colleagues with rich battle experience~” He pointed at Gary. “See this guy? He might look weak, but he’s actually the Indigo League Champion!”

Gary, being pointed out so casually, was furious but didn’t dare voice it.

“And this one here might not seem too bright, and well, she really isn’t!” Ignoring Zinnia’s angry glare, August continued cheerfully, “But she’s legitimately an Ace-level trainer. If you join, you can ask them for advice anytime!”

“And most importantly, once you join the International Police’s Kanto branch, you'll officially become an ally of justice! Against criminal organizations like Team Plasma, you'll automatically hold the moral high ground!”

By now, Black was genuinely tempted.

With conditions this good, he really couldn't think of a reason to refuse!

“I’ll join!” Black declared.

Smack!

August clapped a hand onto Black’s shoulder. “You won't regret this!”

“From now on, you’re officially an intern with the International Police!”

August handed him a badge and a communicator representing his membership in the Kanto branch.

After inviting Black into their chat group, August said, “Pick a nickname!”

Looking at all the weird and wacky names in the chat, Black scratched his head uncertainly.

Seeing Black hesitate, August generously offered his help.

Under Gary's sympathetic gaze, Black innocently nodded in agreement.

[User ‘Black’ has been renamed ‘Munna_Jinchuuriki’.]

Considering Black could only achieve absolute calmness with the help of Munna, this nickname was quite fitting.

Black: “…”

He didn’t exactly know what a Jinchuuriki was, but… could he change it back?

Of course, changing back was impossible.

After a futile struggle, Black gave up. “So, what's my task now? Fight Team Plasma?”

“Dealing with Team Plasma is naturally part of your duties, but a new trainer like you won’t need to act directly yet,” August explained. “Your current tasks are to strengthen yourself, gather intelligence, and help your teammates with their undercover identities.”

“Help teammates with undercover identities?” Black asked, confused.

“That’s right!” August answered cheerfully.

Then, Black saw August turn toward White with a smile: “White, from today onward, Black is officially an employee of your BW Entertainment Agency!”

“Huh?” came two startled voices simultaneously.

...

After sending Black and White off on their journey, Zinnia watched their retreating backs with concern. “Is it really okay to let those two go alone?”

August raised an eyebrow. “You trained White yourself. Why ask me?”

“I… I just wanted your opinion,” Zinnia muttered awkwardly.

Even though Zinnia had only trained White for two days, she already considered them close friends…

Well, at least Zinnia unilaterally thought so.

Based on August’s observation, White’s actual goal was probably to recruit Zinnia into her BW Entertainment Agency.

Sigh… Idiots sure are a rare resource these days—everyone wants to exploit them.

August briefly wondered if he should institute a fee system within the Kanto branch someday: charging people to scam idiots. It’d probably boost revenue considerably.

Keeping these thoughts strictly internal, August outwardly comforted Zinnia instead. “Relax! I saw her Gym battle earlier; White’s training career is already on the right track.”

Although White was still relatively weak, Zinnia had imparted the correct mindset for becoming an outstanding trainer.

Well… even if Zinnia is a bit ditzy herself, she’s definitely qualified as a trainer.

As for Black… August had absolutely no worries about his potential to become exceptional.

“Besides, even if they do run into trouble, Hoopa’s with them, isn’t he?”

Hoopa, busy munching donuts, nodded vigorously.

Mew chirped insistently, wanting to help too.

August saw through Mew’s intentions instantly—recently, she’d been pestering him endlessly about starring in a movie.

“Celebrities have to stay slim. Want to star in a movie? Lose that little belly first!” August mercilessly declared.

Junk food had ruined Mew.

Today’s Mew was definitely not the same elegant Pokémon he’d first encountered.

“Mew!” the little Pokémon protested indignantly.

Her little belly was clearly adorable!

---

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!