Pokémon: My Titles Know No Limits! [474]

Gary was filled with bitter resentment. Had August tricked him fewer times in the past, he’d definitely have believed him just now!

August: Oh, now it's my fault?

Meanwhile, the Magnemite—unable to escape August's grip—had completely given up struggling, its magnets drooping lifelessly.

It had accepted its fate!

Looking at the Magnemite in his hand, August smiled warmly. “Want to become my Pokémon?”

Hearing this, Magnemite immediately showed resistance, clearly uninterested.

August wasn't bothered. Still smiling, he said, “As a Magnemite, you must like electricity, right? If you join me, I’ll give you plenty to eat every day.”

Magnemite’s eye widened instantly.

Gary, having just recovered from paralysis, rolled his eyes.

Here we go again—August’s specialty: Pokémon kidnapping by bribery!

Countless Pokémon had fallen victim to this trick, and this Magnemite was no different.

Watching Magnemite's attitude shift rapidly, Gary outwardly grumbled but inwardly seethed with envy.

After Magnemite joined, August telepathically learned something rather surprising from it.

This Magnemite was actually wild, not affiliated with Team Rocket.

The reason it was hiding in Goldenrod Radio Tower was simple—it loved the taste of electricity here and had sneaked in to steal some…

“Then why not just go to the power plant?” August asked. “Isn't the electricity there even richer?”

Hearing this, Magnemite’s eye sparkled mysteriously, looking like an expert connoisseur.

Gary couldn’t understand Magnemite’s cryptic language, but August's expression grew strange.

“You’re saying you don’t like the ‘flavor’ of thermal-generated electricity?”

Gary stood there, deeply puzzled.

Wait… Electricity has different flavors?

With Magnemite captured, August concluded the on-site investigation. From the evidence left behind, it was clear Koga had put up a fight—but against Team Rocket’s targeted ambush, it hadn't been enough.

Meanwhile, Malva and DJ Mary had struck up a friendly conversation. Mary shared a suspicion with Malva:

“I think there's a Team Rocket mole in the radio station.”

Though she lacked concrete proof, Mary’s conclusion wasn't mere speculation; she'd reasoned it out logically. Even with detailed building blueprints, Team Rocket had managed to control the entire building in just ten minutes—far too quickly to be a simple invasion.

Mary mentioned this theory hoping that August, representing the International Police, could root out any hidden threats. She didn't want to live with lingering anxiety at work.

Hearing Mary's concern, August replied lightly, “You don't need to worry, actually.”

“Huh?” Mary looked confused.

“After tonight, Team Rocket won't exist anymore,” August stated plainly.

Mary froze in shock.

“Keep that to yourself.” August raised a finger to his lips, signaling secrecy.

Mary quickly nodded.

Turning to Whitney, August said, “Whitney, I’ll leave the cleanup here to you.”

Whitney nodded vigorously. August was off to destroy Team Rocket, after all—handling cleanup was the least she could do.

...

Temporary Base | Goldenrod City

Sitting on the couch, staring intensely at his phone, August made Gary nervous.

Though yesterday’s incident was already behind them, Gary hadn't forgotten the trouble he'd caused. Was August plotting some elaborate revenge?

Just as Gary considered starting a casual conversation to distract August, August’s phone buzzed with a text.

[Archer]: You didn't bring Boss Giovanni at all. Is Koga really worthless to you?

Seeing Archer’s message, August wasn’t surprised. In fact, he'd been waiting for Archer to contact him.

[GardevoirSupremacy]: Seems like you've got quite a few spies in Goldenrod Radio Tower.

[Archer]: If Boss Giovanni isn't there tonight, you're responsible for what happens next!

Responsible for what?

Was Archer planning to rough up Koga?

August had zero faith in Archer's threats.

Still, he didn’t want to push Archer too far. Tonight was a rare opportunity. If he messed it up, who knew how long it would take to flush them out again?

Thus, August glanced meaningfully at Gary.

Gary paused, realizing August’s intent a moment later. Following August’s instructions, Gary put on the mask, his appearance shifting quickly into Giovanni’s.

Though the disguise wasn't perfect, it was about seventy or eighty percent as good as August’s.

Gary found the transformation fascinating.

But August, ever the perfectionist, wasn’t satisfied…

“Gary, come here,” August beckoned.

Gary approached cautiously. “What’s wrong, August?”

“Do me a favor,” August said casually.

Hearing those words, Gary’s PTSD immediately flared. Every single time August said that, Gary inevitably ended up in trouble.

Reflexively, Gary tried to flee.

But August moved faster, his fist rapidly approaching Gary’s face.

Then—

Bam!

“What was that for!?” Gary yelled furiously, his eye swelling up visibly.

Taking advantage of the moment, August quickly snapped a photo.

Click!

The flash captured ‘Giovanni’s’ enraged expression perfectly on August’s phone screen.

“Perfect!” August admired the photo. “Everyone knows Giovanni hates my guts. He wouldn't look happy being captured.”

He promptly sent the photo to Archer.

Gary stood there stunned.

“You punched me just for that?! Look at my eye—it’s already bruising!”

“It’s a necessary sacrifice for justice,” August replied solemnly.

“You could’ve just told me! I can fake anger without getting hit!” Gary whined, aggrieved.

“That wouldn’t work,” August shook his head. “It wouldn't look genuine enough to fool Team Rocket.”

August held up the photo. “Look carefully—could you have pulled off such a realistic expression?”

Gary grudgingly admitted he couldn't fake such authentic rage.

Wait, no—that wasn't the point!

He'd nearly been manipulated again. The issue was why he always had to get hurt!

Gary was certain August was just seizing the chance to retaliate.

August sighed helplessly at Gary’s suspicion. “If you insist on thinking that way, fine.”

Feeling vindicated, Gary lifted his chin proudly, like a victorious general.

Malva watched the exchange, deeply shaken.

So this is what the International Police do every day…?

Just then, Archer’s reply arrived.

[Archer]: Let go of Boss Giovanni! Come at me if you dare!

Through those words, August felt Archer’s genuine fury and loyalty.

Giovanni had some truly devoted followers.

The thought lingered only briefly. In the next second:

[GardevoirSupremacy]: Make me!

Archer didn’t reply immediately.

Instead, a few moments later, he sent a photo of Koga with a similarly swollen eye.

Koga’s expression was defiantly resolute, clearly different from Giovanni’s furious one.

However—

“Wait, this collar looks familiar…” August narrowed his eyes, studying the photo closely.

Beside him, Gary was losing patience.

Shouldn't the real concern be Koga getting hurt?!

Not to mention, they hadn’t even faced Team Rocket yet—the ones injured so far were all League members!

“It’s fine,” August reassured calmly. “Koga’s a ninja, trained specifically for situations like this. Just a minor injury…”

Gary: “…”

This is modern times! What ninja trains specifically to take beatings?!

…

Gary was right, though—only their own people were getting hurt. Continuing this way would just please their enemies!

So August decided not to escalate the situation further.

After some back-and-forth with Archer, the hostage exchange was set for midnight. Team Rocket would reveal the location just half an hour prior.

Why only half an hour?

Simple: Team Rocket had calculated August could reach any location quickly via flying Pokémon, but League reinforcements couldn’t follow as swiftly.

They hadn't considered August didn't need backup against them—or maybe they'd considered it but had no better options.

Feeding a Pokéblock to Mew, August checked his phone again.

[Archer]: Location—Mahogany Town.

Mahogany Town?

Team Rocket had picked quite a symbolic location.

August stood, calling out, “Let’s move! To Mahogany Town!”

Dressed as Giovanni and reluctantly shackled, Gary stood up sullenly.

Malva trailed August closely, her gaze fixed on Mew’s swishing tail dangling behind August’s head.

Hearing it was time to go, Hoopa hastily stuffed donuts into its mouth until its cheeks bulged like a hamster’s, barely managing to stop itself.

“Woopa!” Hoopa mumbled incoherently, patting its chest to signal readiness.

August seriously doubted Hoopa could fight like that—but its abilities were essential tonight.

...

Mahogany Town

Thanks to August’s involvement, Pryce’s previous battle here hadn’t caused any lasting damage—unlike Anistar City in Kalos.

The nighttime Mahogany Town was quiet, with only occasional Hoothoot calls echoing through the trees.

Following Team Rocket’s instructions, August and Malva escorted ‘Giovanni’ to a secluded woodland area outside town.

There stood Archer and Petrel, surrounded by Rocket grunts.

“Yo! Long time no see, Archer, Petrel!” August waved casually.

Archer glowered silently, while Petrel shrank visibly but still politely waved back.

Seeing Petrel’s manners, August mentally noted to instruct prison guards to give him extra cake once captured.

Archer and Petrel, unaware they’d already become prisoners in August’s mind, tensed at his appearance, vigilance at maximum.

“Where’s Boss Giovanni?” Archer demanded.

August gestured forward, and ‘Giovanni’ stumbled into view.

Archer, despite the darkness, saw Giovanni’s blackened eye clearly.

Ditto transformations couldn’t mimic such realistic injuries, easing Archer’s worries slightly.

“Where’s Koga?” August called back.

Not wasting time, Archer motioned, and Koga was promptly pushed forward by two Rocket grunts.

Seeing Koga dressed in a Team Rocket uniform, August narrowed his eyes dangerously.

Koga’s initial irritation quickly turned sheepish when he saw August’s skeptical expression.

“August, I can explain—”

“Save it. Let’s trade.”

August nudged Gary forward as Rocket grunts released Koga.

As the two hostages approached each other, Koga’s eyes widened.

August really traded Giovanni for me?!

Realizing the implication, Koga panicked internally—August was making a huge mistake! If Giovanni was freed, they'd never capture him again!

The moment they passed each other, Koga suddenly grabbed Giovanni (Gary), trying to drag him toward August.

“Let go!” Archer shouted.

“Let go!” August echoed.

Koga froze. Was this really the time for such honor?

Seeing Koga trying to drag Giovanni away, Archer immediately unleashed a Houndoom, charging straight at them.

August sighed. He’d intended Gary to infiltrate Team Rocket disguised as Giovanni. Koga’s misguided attempt at heroics had turned their subtle infiltration into a direct confrontation.

Snapping his fingers, August signaled.

Mew instantly created a barrier around Koga, stopping Houndoom.

An Ultra Ball fell from August’s belt, revealing a majestic Xerneas.

Everyone stared in shock.

“What Pokémon is that?!”

Before they could react, Xerneas’s antlers blazed brightly, illuminating the entire forest.

---

T/N: lvl 100 player vs lvl 20 noob

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!