Pokémon: My Titles Know No Limits! [494]

"I feel like I've seen those three somewhere before…" Walking along the road, Gary suddenly spoke up, as if struck by realization. "Aren't they those three weirdos always following Ash around?"

"You actually noticed?" August replied, his face exaggeratedly shocked.

Gary’s face immediately darkened with annoyance. You're definitely mocking me, aren't you?

Beside them, Caitlin tilted her head curiously. "Who were those three just now?"
Apart from the talking Meowth, they didn’t seem particularly special.

"You've heard of Team Rocket, right?" Gary asked.

Caitlin nodded. Team Rocket was a notorious criminal organization, so of course she'd heard of them—but…

"From what I saw on a TV report recently, wasn't Team Rocket completely dismantled?"

She was referring to a celebratory broadcast from Johto TV two weeks earlier, declaring Team Rocket's total defeat after decades of activity in Kanto and Johto.

"Well, I don't know either. Maybe they're just unemployed now and working odd jobs?" Gary said uncertainly.

He'd occasionally encountered those three while traveling with Ash. Although they'd claimed to be elite Team Rocket operatives, he'd faced plenty of real Rockets before—and none had ever obsessively chased Ash and Pikachu all day. Rather than elites, those three were more like comedic side characters.

So Gary's logical assumption was that after Team Rocket's collapse, they'd quit and headed to Unova to make a living with part-time jobs.

"What do you think, August? Did I guess right?" Gary asked confidently.

August gave Gary a slow, exaggerated applause.

Clap Clap Clap!

Just as Gary started to bask in the supposed praise, August spoke with a straight face: "It wasn’t completely wrong… just totally irrelevant."

Gary froze, speechless. But after spending years around August, he’d learned a thing or two—like never admitting defeat:

"How would you know I'm wrong?" Gary stubbornly retorted.

"How?" August chuckled mildly. "Because I was the one who personally let those three go—and I even provided them with funds to rebuild Team Rocket."

"…" Gary was left utterly speechless.

Who could possibly beat you in these games of yours?

But, as the Chief of the International Police’s Kanto Division, wasn’t it a bit irresponsible to support Team Rocket’s resurgence…?

As if sensing Gary’s thoughts, August smiled softly and spread his arms in a dramatic gesture: "Don't you think a world without Team Rocket would be rather boring?"

Boring?

Gary didn't think so at all—he thought a world without Team Rocket would be pretty nice, actually. But he certainly didn't dare voice that thought aloud.

August continued, clearly amused. "Besides, I don't think mere imprisonment is sufficient punishment for Giovanni. For someone like him, watching those three fools squander the organization he painstakingly built is a far greater torment. Even worse, Giovanni knows perfectly well the Team Rocket they rebuild will never match his vision."

Imagining Giovanni’s heartbroken, anguished expression, August couldn't suppress a laugh.

Gary exchanged silent glances with Zinnia. They read each other’s thoughts instantly:

Not just defeating enemies physically, but crushing their spirits too. As expected of August—he's way too twisted!

Meanwhile, Caitlin listened thoughtfully to August’s methods and nodded approvingly. She rather agreed with this strategy. Enemies deserved exactly this kind of treatment.

August felt genuinely pleased at Caitlin’s approval, sensing he'd found a kindred spirit.

Gary and Zinnia, however, exchanged another wary glance: No matter how much time we spend around August, we’ll never reach his level of twistedness…

Noticing August and Caitlin about to launch into deeper conversation, Gary hastily changed the subject: "What’s next? Accumula Town’s pretty big—how do we find traces of Team Plasma?"

"Next?" August gave Gary an odd glance, waving the flyer he'd received. "Did you think I took this flyer just for fun?"

"This performance…?" Gary stared blankly.

"Exactly," August nodded. "It's hosted by Team Plasma."

---

While August and Gary were discussing Team Rocket, the trio themselves were currently facing their greatest crisis since arriving in Unova.

Jessie, James, and Meowth stared at the Team Plasma grunt before them in disbelief.

"What did you just say?! You’re withholding our entire pay?"

"You can't do this! We worked seriously all day—we only took a short break!"

"Exactly! On what grounds are you holding back our wages, meow!"

The trio was furious. As elite members of Team Rocket, they'd done part-time jobs from Kanto to Johto, the Battle Frontier, and even Hisui. Yet this was the first time they'd encountered an employer who would confiscate their entire salary over a brief rest—and it wasn’t even deliberate slacking off; they’d merely hidden after being scared witless by August.

The Plasma grunt frowned arrogantly at their protests. "Rules are rules. We at Team Plasma weren't originally looking to hire outsiders, but we gave you this chance because you treated that Meowth well. Instead of gratitude, you’re slacking off, so withholding your pay is entirely justified!"

The trio stared indignantly. His argument was nonsense!

"Who cares about your ridiculous Pokémon liberation nonsense?!" Jessie growled, gripping a Pokéball.

"No one cheats us out of our wages!" James said firmly, adopting a battle stance.

"Hand over our money right now!" Meowth demanded, brandishing his claws menacingly.

The Plasma grunt sneered. "How dare you insult Team Plasma’s ideals! You three must pay the price!"

At his signal, several more Plasma grunts appeared, throwing Pokéballs. Pawniard, Purrloin, and Sneasel surrounded Jessie, James, and Meowth.

Jessie and James exchanged glances and hurled their Pokéballs simultaneously.

Pop!

A flash of white light, and Weezing and Arbok appeared, immediately activating [Intimidate]. The Plasma Pokémon recoiled instinctively.

Realizing they’d flinched at mere part-timers, Plasma’s grunts grew furious and embarrassed.

"Who are you really?" the lead grunt demanded sharply.

His question seemed to trigger an ingrained reflex. Detecting their cue, Team Rocket’s eyes sparkled intensely, unable to suppress their excitement.

"Since you've asked us so sincerely—"

"We'll answer out of compassion!"

"To protect the world from devastation!"

"To unite all peoples within our nation!"

"To denounce the evils of truth and love!"

"To extend our reach to the stars above!"

"Jessie!"

"James!"

"Team Rocket, blast off at the speed of light! Surrender now, or prepare to fight!"

"Meowth! That's right!" "

After reciting their catchphrase with enthusiastic precision, the trio felt refreshed, tears nearly springing to their eyes. Since their journey to Hisui and back, how long had it been since they'd delivered their iconic lines so proudly?

The Plasma grunt frowned deeper. "Team Rocket? You mean that organization that was completely wiped out still has survivors?"

Without waiting for their answer, he sneered, "Whatever. Whoever you are, challenging Team Plasma means facing defeat. We’ll be taking your Pokémon!"

He ordered the Pokémon forward to attack.

Infuriated by the grunt’s dismissive tone, Jessie, James, and Meowth attacked simultaneously. [Acid], [Poison Gas], and claws flew chaotically around the alley.

A few minutes later…

Jessie, James, and Meowth stood victorious over the fallen Plasma grunts, who lay groaning on the ground.

Meowth pointed smugly. "Never underestimate Team Rocket—or the determination we've forged chasing Pikachu, meow!"

They were elite Rockets who'd returned from hell itself (the Hisuian wilderness), bearing the grand mission of rebuilding Team Rocket and capturing Pikachu. They wouldn't fall here!

After reclaiming their withheld wages from the defeated grunts, the trio immediately began plotting their escape. Now that they'd attacked their employers, their days working part-time for Team Plasma were over. If they didn't flee, Plasma would soon hunt them down.

Since Team Rocket was still rebuilding, direct conflict with Plasma was out of the question.

Checking a map, the trio decided to return to Castelia City. A large city offered more opportunities—and perhaps they'd run into Pikachu and the twerps again.

---

Meanwhile, walking through Accumula Town, Gary remained puzzled.

"Why would Team Plasma host a public performance? That doesn't sound like typical criminal activity."

August explained calmly, "Team Plasma differs from other criminal groups. They're experts at using Pokémon liberation as cover for their crimes."

Of all the groups he'd encountered, Plasma was unmatched in hypocrisy and double standards. With Ghetsis manipulating behind the scenes, they promoted their cause, enticing trainers into releasing their own Pokémon.

"Who’d fall for that kind of manipulation?" Gary scoffed skeptically.

Yet as they reached the town square, they saw crowds gathering around a large stage, guarded by numerous Plasma members.

"What do you think?" August asked Caitlin.

"Team Plasma is starting another of their provocative speeches," she replied coolly.

She'd seen countless reports on Plasma’s methods—dangerous, yet difficult to counter legally. And with Alder missing, the League’s responses had grown increasingly passive.

Caitlin opened her mouth to ask what August planned next, when suddenly, she, Gary, and Zinnia watched as August calmly adjusted his jacket and smoothly swiped a hand over his face—instantly changing his appearance to that of Giovanni.

August casually approached a nearby Team Plasma grunt in charge of security. Wearing Giovanni’s famously charismatic smile, he spoke warmly: "Excuse me, who's the main speaker today?"

The Plasma grunt stared blankly for a second. He hadn't expected someone to just casually walk up and ask who the speaker was. Yet the genial smile on "Giovanni’s" face quickly disarmed him, and the grunt found himself answering before realizing it:

"Today's speaker is Lord Asura, one of our Seven Sages. But why are you asking—"

Hearing it wasn’t N, Ghetsis, or even Colress, August felt a small pang of disappointment.

One of the Seven Sages… Well, at least it’s someone important.

"No particular reason," August replied gently, maintaining Giovanni’s reassuring smile. "I’m simply looking forward to today’s speech."

The Plasma grunt’s eyes lit up, mistaking August’s polite interest for enthusiasm towards their cause. "You find our ideals inspiring too, don’t you? If you're interested, I could introduce you to Team Plasma!"

August immediately classified him as a rookie grunt—obviously inexperienced, enthusiastic, and clueless about the truth behind Plasma’s ideals.

Internally, August couldn’t help but wonder: Is Giovanni’s smile really that effective? But outwardly, he readily agreed.

Under the grunt’s eager gaze, August carefully exchanged contact information, then walked back towards Gary and the others. When no one was looking, he swiftly reverted to his original appearance.

Returning casually, August flashed the others a simple thumbs-up.

"Confirmed—the main speaker today is Asura of the Seven Sages."

"August, you’re amazing!" Zinnia exclaimed, lavishly praising him without hesitation. After all, August had lent her Lord Rayquaza himself; a little flattery cost her nothing.

Caitlin quietly clapped in approval, clearly amused.

Only Gary, stubbornly competitive, muttered under his breath: "I could’ve done that too…"

---

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!