Pokémon: My Titles Know No Limits! [441]

Upon hearing Malva’s introduction, August remained perfectly composed despite the live cameras.

As the World Champion, what big scene hadn't he experienced? Just a mere interview…

“Rumor has it Mr. August is quite close with many female trainers. Today, we're fortunate to have Mr. August himself here—let’s find out directly from him!” Malva smiled cheerfully.

In the studio, the cameras immediately shifted to August.

August: ?

Is this what they call an unscripted interview?

This topic…woman, you’re playing with fire!

However, August had learned much from Giovanni during his time in Hisui—especially how to maintain his composure. Even though internally he was already planning exactly how he’d dismantle Team Flare, outwardly he merely wore a calm, mild smile, as though these questions didn't bother him in the slightest.

Malva was also an expert at controlling her expressions. Though she appeared composed, she was carefully gauging August’s reaction, terrified of accidentally stepping on a landmine.

Seeing August’s relaxed expression, Malva breathed a sigh of relief.

Clearly, this topic wasn’t off-limits. Perfectly suitable for broadcast!

Her courage surged, her professional instinct urging her to probe further.

“I hear you came to Kalos accompanied by two female trainers. Could you tell us what your relationship with them is?” Malva continued gently.

“Of course… if this question makes you uncomfortable, you’re free not to answer.”

Malva's tone was considerate.

But in August’s eyes, this was obviously a trap.

Not answering would effectively confirm suspicions.

But answering…

August, who always prided himself on emotional management, now felt an enormous headache coming on.

Someone is going to pay for this.

---

At the same moment, Sabrina and Blue were watching the live broadcast. They exchanged glances, reading the same emotion in each other’s eyes.

A touch of nervousness mixed with anticipation.

While Sabrina and Blue were feeling hopeful, Gary had burst into laughter the moment he realized what today’s interview was about.

Malva had really hit August’s weak spot dead-on.

Quickly, he shared the livestream link into a group chat titled [Has August screwed you over today?].

Everyone knew employees enjoyed having private chats to complain about their bosses, and this group was precisely the Kanto Branch’s secret space dedicated to griping about August.

[YoungMasterGary]: @everyone Quick, come watch August embarrass himself!

[LordRayquazaSupremacy]: Where? Where? (DiglettPeeking.jpg)

[GoldieBoy]: It's an interview livestream, and the host straight-up asked August about his relationships with female trainers… Finally, someone asked the question I've never dared!

[LordRayquazaSupremacy]: August doesn’t look very concerned... Wait, female trainers by August’s side? I'm technically a female trainer… she wouldn’t mention me, would she?!

Zinnia reacted slowly.

[YoungMasterGary]: …Relax, I doubt August even sees you that way.

Zinnia didn’t fully grasp Gary’s implication but felt relieved by his words.

[LordRayquazaSupremacy]: Whew... That's good!

Gary: …

He used to doubt August whenever he called Zinnia dense. Now he understood completely.

[GoldieBoy]: This is huge! She’s already mentioned Sabrina and Blue right off the bat!

[YoungMasterGary]: Lol.

[LordRayquazaSupremacy]: Lol.

"Wait… Sabrina?"

Gary laughed reflexively, then suddenly recalled something, quickly moving to delete his message.

But it was too late…

[‘YoungMasterGary’ has been muted by the group admin ‘PsychicPrettyGirl’.]

[GoldieBoy’ has been muted by the group admin ‘PsychicPrettyGirl’.]

[‘LordRayquazaSupremacy’ has been muted by the group admin ‘PsychicPrettyGirl’.]

Gary: "…"

Muted in August’s main group.

Muted in the group dedicated to complaining about August.

Is there no justice left in the world?!

---

At the hotel, Blue, engrossed in the broadcast, noticed Sabrina picking up her phone and asked curiously, "Sabrina, what are you doing?"

Sabrina set the phone down calmly. "Maintaining online order."

Maintaining online order?

Blue was confused.

Sabrina didn’t elaborate. She’d secretly created that group herself—if she told Blue, it would inevitably reach August’s ears.

And if August ever found out… Sabrina shuddered at the thought.

Seeing Sabrina remain silent, Blue felt an invisible barrier had grown between them, unlike their past closeness.

But the ongoing broadcast quickly recaptured their attention.

August’s response was formally neutral.

"We’re just colleagues, naturally!"

Hearing this, Sabrina and Blue felt disappointed yet understood.

Malva, noting that August’s answer wasn’t quite what she hoped, prepared to speak again.

But before she could, a sudden chill ran down her spine.

She instinctively glanced at August, who still smiled gently without any visible change in expression.

Why, then, did she feel she’d just dodged a bullet?

Unsure, Malva trusted her instinct and swiftly moved to the next question.

"Then, Mr. August, how do you respond to rumors circulating during the World Championships that you and Sinnoh Champion Cynthia were dating?"

August: "…"

You still dare to bring that up? The trouble your reporters caused back then is still fresh in my memory. Are you reminding me just so I won’t forget?

Nevertheless, he had to respond.

"Cynthia and I have a perfectly simple relationship," August replied firmly.

He wasn’t lying—at least, not yet. The future might be uncertain, but currently, his relationship with Cynthia remained entirely uncomplicated.

Malva didn’t buy it for a second.

Reports from the Lumiose Press’s correspondents indicated clearly that something special existed between August and Cynthia—far beyond ordinary friendship.

"There were eyewitness accounts of you entering and leaving villas and training grounds with Cynthia. Is that true?"

August sighed inwardly. "You media people always chase sensational stories… Everyone stayed at the villa. And training grounds? That’s just standard pre-match practice."

Malva, though bold, was cautious enough not to provoke August too much.

Satisfied with her skilled hosting, she believed she'd furthered Team Flare’s interests today.

After chatting briefly, Malva asked again, "I hear you have a close relationship with Lusamine, chairwoman of the Aether Foundation?"

When she first learned about this, she’d been genuinely shocked, though the information had come from reliable sources in Paldea.

August answered evenly, "Chairwoman Lusamine, huh… I’m her daughter’s teacher."

Although Lusamine constantly called him "husband," August had never acknowledged it.

"Oh, is that all?" Malva sounded disappointed.

August: "?"

Why do you look so disappointed?

...

After two hours of pure torture.

When the interview finally ended, the forced smile on August’s face vanished the moment he stepped out of the TV station building.

For the past two hours, Malva had repeatedly tested the limits of his patience.

Right now, he was burning with fury.

Team Flare, huh? Malva, huh?

I’ll remember you all!

“Mew!”

Beside him, Mew waved its tiny fists indignantly.

Why mention only trainers in an interview?
Are they discriminating against Pokémon?!

The more August thought about it, the angrier he got. He had even captured Giovanni—yet here in Kalos, he was being toyed with?

Did Team Flare really believe they could do whatever they pleased?

“I can’t let their arrogance go unchecked. It's time to teach Team Flare a lesson!”

His mind set, August changed into Giovanni’s outfit, had Mew transform into Persian, and then found Looker to head to their agreed-upon location.

…

“This is the place?” August turned, asking Looker, now fully disguised in a Team Rocket uniform.

Looker truly lived up to his status as a professional agent—after donning the Rocket disguise and making slight adjustments, he was virtually unrecognizable.

“Yes, right here!” Looker pointed at the warehouse ahead. “Should we just kick the door open?”

Perhaps it was just his imagination, but Looker felt his whole manner of doing things had changed ever since he donned this Rocket outfit.

Kicking open doors…?

He would never have considered such a thing in the past.

Who exactly had influenced him…?

Looker raised his head, just as—

BANG!

The warehouse door was suddenly kicked open. August waved at him casually. “Let’s go!”

Looker glanced from the broken door to August, deep in thought.

---

Lysandre was receiving Malva’s report.

“Leader, I've completed my interview with August. I’m confident he’ll be too distracted by the aftermath to pay any attention to us,” Malva said confidently.

“Did he suspect you?”

“I doubt it. I watched his expressions closely throughout the interview, and he was perfectly natural,” Malva said. “Unless August also has professional broadcasting experience like me, which is unlikely since he was just a Pokémon Ranger a few years ago.”

Malva sounded utterly sure.

Lysandre nodded thoughtfully.

Just as they spoke—

BANG!

The warehouse door was violently kicked open.

Instantly, every Team Flare grunt in their trademark orange suits spun around, hands reaching for their Poké Balls.

But Lysandre raised a hand, stopping them.

“Mr. Giovanni, you seem unfriendly?” Lysandre calmly addressed the ‘Giovanni’ standing before him.

‘Giovanni’ wore a pleasant smile, standing beside a Persian, looking entirely unlike a ruthless crime boss.

“Oh?” Giovanni smiled gently. “Maybe I do.”

He appeared entirely at ease—as though he wasn’t surrounded by enemies but on a leisurely stroll instead.

Without another word from Lysandre, a Pyroar suddenly leapt from the side, pouncing aggressively toward ‘Giovanni’.

Giovanni’s expression remained unchanged. He didn't even blink.

In a blur of movement, the Persian at his side, who’d been lazily grooming its paw, jumped out swiftly, intercepting Pyroar’s attack effortlessly.

Pyroar hadn't expected Persian to be so fast.

We’re both feline Pokémon—I even attacked first! How did you manage to counter that?!

Confused and stunned—

CRASH!

Pyroar smashed into a storage shelf, sending it crashing down.

Meanwhile, Persian gracefully landed and settled back at August’s feet.

Only then did Giovanni speak again, calmly and pointedly, “Between the two of us, wouldn’t you say that Mr. Lysandre—who attacked first—appears more unfriendly?”

Their gazes locked.

Lysandre could see at once that Giovanni would be trouble. As for ‘Giovanni’…

August silently pondered exactly how he'd deal with Lysandre.

Looker stood behind August, observing the exchange between August and Lysandre.

Earlier, Looker had thought he’d done a pretty good job impersonating Team Rocket during his phone call with Malva.

But compared to August…

Looker felt ashamed.

August portrayed Giovanni flawlessly. Without a deep understanding and prolonged observation of Giovanni, no one could pull off such an authentic, knife-behind-a-smile demeanor. He looked exactly like the genuine, cunning boss of Team Rocket!

In other words… it didn’t even look like acting.

Lysandre finally asked, “Mr. Giovanni, may I ask your purpose in coming all the way to Kalos?”

This was precisely why Lysandre had personally chosen to meet ‘Giovanni.’

He wasn’t overly concerned—after all, what threat could Giovanni and a single subordinate pose to Team Flare’s deeply entrenched influence in Kalos? Even if Giovanni was indeed powerful.

Seemingly oblivious to Lysandre’s underestimation, Giovanni simply replied, “You've heard about August arriving in Kalos, right? Now we have a common enemy.”

Lysandre scoffed lightly, “I don't consider August much of a threat…”

Unlike Team Rocket, a criminal organization, his own Lysandre Labs was a fully legitimate commercial entity.

Hearing Lysandre’s continued stubbornness, Giovanni’s smile twisted slightly with mockery.

“Don’t tell me you actually think August came all the way to Kalos just on a whim to accept an interview from a second-rate TV host?”

Lysandre’s expression darkened at those words.

But Malva’s reaction was different—she was fixated entirely on the phrase ‘second-rate TV host.’

She was Kalos’s top TV host, the very face of regional journalism! What right did he have to call her second-rate?!

Looker, having also watched the interview broadcast earlier, silently concluded that August was definitely settling a personal grudge.

Not that he dared to say that aloud.

Lysandre: “What sort of cooperation are you suggesting?”

“To deal with August together,” Giovanni answered simply.

---

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!