Pokémon: My Titles Know No Limits! [392]

Zinnia’s gaze flickered between August, Lusamine, and Lillie, an endless stream of wow’s escaping her lips.

A vein throbbed on August’s forehead.

Realizing she’d drawn too much heat, Zinnia shrank back, awkwardly laughing as she hurried to change the subject. “Uh, anyway, maybe we should hurry up and figure out how to calm down those rampaging Pokémon...”

To her relief, August seemed magnanimous enough not to hold it against her.

August produced the list Kamado had given him—the “Nobles” that needed subduing.

“The Lady of the Ridge, Lilligant, in the Crimson Mirelands; the Lord of the Isles, Arcanine, at Cobalt Coastlands; the Lord of the Caverns, Electrode, in Coronet Highlands; and the Lord of the Tundra, Avalugg, in the Alabaster Icelands.”

Great... Other than Kleavor, the one I already calmed, all the remaining Nobles are here.

“August, what’s the plan? Are we supposed to make special Poké Puffs or something?”

“No need. This time, we’ll try the Hisuian way.” August began mentally reviewing how to craft balms for calming the Nobles.

Thanks to Sapphire—who’d spent the last few days gathering materials like the pro field researcher she was—August didn’t need to spend extra time foraging.

He blended berries and spices in precise ratios, crafting balms specifically tailored for each Noble Pokémon.

Four mounds of aromatic balm soon sat before them. Zinnia’s face brimmed with astonishment.

August was just too efficient!

“So, we head out now?” Zinnia asked.

“What do you mean ‘we’?” August looked genuinely confused.

Zinnia paused. “Aren’t we all going to calm down the rampaging, sparkling Pokémon? Like with Kleavor last time...”

“Oh, you got one thing wrong,” August said, a faint smile curling at his lips.

“Huh?” Zinnia suddenly had a bad feeling.

August nudged the balms toward her. “The one going to calm the Nobles isn’t us—it’s you!”

He turned away, calling out to Cynthia, who was poring over a book. “Cynthia, want to go explore inside Jubilife Village with me?”

Stunned, Zinnia stared after him in disbelief.

He’s really leaving me to handle four rampaging Nobles—by myself—while he goes sightseeing?!

No wonder Blue always said August was a natural at shirking responsibility!

...

Watching Zinnia stomp out the front gate with an overstuffed pack, Blue looked uneasy. “Are you sure it’s safe sending her out alone?”

She didn’t know what these “rampaging Nobles” were like, but Kamado’s nervousness and August’s own description didn’t make them sound easy to handle.

August, by contrast, looked entirely unbothered. He bit into a Hisuian persimmon pastry and said, “Trust me—the balms I made are effective. With her strength, she’ll be fine.”

August had actually tested the balms on Mew the other night. He’d woken Mew up—who’d gotten so cranky it clung to his hair and wouldn’t let go. But as soon as he let Mew sniff the balm, it was rolling around on the bed like a cat with catnip, completely forgetting its anger.

So yeah, the balms really work.

“As long as she doesn’t mix up which balm goes with which Pokémon—she wouldn’t make a mistake that basic...right?”

As he spoke, a sliver of unease crept in. Zinnia wasn’t exactly known for her attention to detail...

Just to be safe, August summoned Darkrai and quietly gave it instructions, sending it off after Zinnia.

He clapped his hands. “Alright, now it’s foolproof!”

Just then, Akari came striding up.

“Akari!” August called.

“Mr. August?” Akari’s face lit up in surprise.

And then—

“She really does look just like Plantinum!” Sabrina observed, eyeing Akari.

Blue and Cynthia turned, nodding in agreement.

Even Mew floated over, pinching Akari’s cheek in curiosity, as if to check for disguises. “Mew!” it exclaimed.

Akari looked so wronged, she was nearly in tears.

August grimaced. “Mew, what are you doing? Let go already...”

Mew poked out its tongue, releasing Akari.

Akari cradled her cheek, looking utterly pitiful.

“Sorry, she’s just like that...” August said. “Let me heal you.”

He summoned the [Power of Viridian], pressing his hand gently to Akari’s cheek.

A soft glow spread from his palm. Akari’s face flushed warm—whether from embarrassment or the aura boosting her circulation, she wasn’t sure.

August, meanwhile, could feel several pairs of eyes boring into him like knives.

But he didn’t panic. It’s just ordinary healing—only looks suspicious if you act guilty.

While August and the others were sampling the culture of ancient Sinnoh in Jubilife Village—

---

Alola
Po Town

Team Rocket was transforming the whole of Po Town at breakneck speed.

The ruined, abandoned houses had been flattened, replaced by new structures with all sorts of functions.

The old Pokémon Center, once commandeered by Team Skull, was reconnected to the power grid and fully renovated.

All League insignia had been scrubbed away, replaced by Team Rocket’s bold red ‘R.’

But these were just details.

Giovanni’s main concern remained the Ultra Beast Project.

From high above, Giovanni looked down at the former Skull headquarters—a suspicious old manor, now overtaken by a massive construction site.

A sci-fi looking archway was already half-built.

Doctor Nanba touched down on a small hovercraft beside Giovanni. “The project’s moving fast—should be finished in another two days.”

“How’s the research on simulating Cosmog’s energy going?” Giovanni asked.

Theory and practice were two very different beasts.

“We’ve built a small-scale prototype...” Nanba tapped his tablet. The display switched to a lab feed.

Researchers operated a miniature device, which began to glow with shifting colors. A tiny Ultra Wormhole gradually took shape...

But moments later, the energy fluctuated, and the wormhole collapsed.

“That’s just due to insufficient power,” Professor Nanba explained. “With Deoxys providing a steady energy source, we’ll have no problem stabilizing the portal.”

Giovanni nodded, satisfied.

From a corner nearby, Faba watched Giovanni and Doctor Nanba in intense discussion, his fists clenched, face dark with frustration.

This was supposed to be my project. Now I’m totally sidelined!

Jealousy and bitterness gnawed at him. He regretted joining Team Rocket more with every passing day—he’d lost nearly everything.

And then, a bold idea occurred to him.

If I could backstab the Aether Foundation, why not Rocket too?

The first time had been nerve-wracking. After a while, you just got used to it...

He stealthily pulled out his phone, messaging his “former colleague” Wicke.

Acting casual, Faba wandered off into Po Town, as if nothing had happened.

---

Cynthia stayed behind at Jubilife Village, reading up on ancient Sinnoh history in the Galaxy Team library. Gold and Silver had their hands full tending to all the Alpha Pokémon in the ranch.

Sabrina, Blue, and Lusamine lingered in the village, soaking in the atmosphere.

August, meanwhile, set off with Akari and Lillie on a training journey.

...

Crimson Mirelands

“So cute!”

Lillie gazed adoringly at a white Hisuian Zorua, its head crowned with a little puff of reddish “fur.”

Akari, seeing this, started to panic. Lillie was reaching out to touch Zorua!

Hisuian Zorua were Pokémon who’d died after being driven from their homes by humans, unable to survive the harsh environment. They’d returned as Ghost-types, bearing a deep grudge against people and Pokémon alike. If you got fooled by their cute appearance, you could be in real danger!

Just as Akari was about to warn her, she saw Lillie effortlessly scoop Zorua up into her arms.

Zorua made no move to attack!

“Huh?” Akari froze in shock.

Since when are Zorua this friendly with humans?

Looking closer, Akari realized the Zorua in Lillie’s arms was trembling—a subtle, nervous shiver.

It’s...scared?

Akari glanced at August.

At some point, a Gengar had appeared at his side, its red eyes fixed unblinking on Zorua.

Clearly, that was why Zorua hadn’t tried to attack.

Noticing Akari’s look, August smiled. “After all, Lillie’s my disciple. I can’t have her getting bullied by a Zorua.”

Akari’s face lit up with envy.

As a Galaxy Team investigator, she’d never experienced this kind of protection. When she’d first joined, a few seniors had shown her the ropes for a few days, but after that, she’d been on her own—no one had ever pampered her like this.

Noticing her mood, August gave a sly grin and asked, “Want to join Origin Rocket Team?”

Akari hesitated, tempted for a moment, but the thought of her Galaxy Team friends made her shake her head.

August just smiled. He didn’t mind.

The seed’s been planted. Sooner or later, it’ll sprout.

Lillie, still holding Zorua, ran over: “Um... Teacher, can I catch it? It really seems to like me. I think it wants to come home with me...”

“Of course—if it’s willing, there’s no problem.” August glanced at Zorua.

He was smiling, but to Zorua, that smile screamed: Just try saying no and see what happens.

Zorua shook with fear—then, without waiting for Lillie to even reach for her Poké Ball, it nosed open her bag, pulled out a ball, and butted the button itself.

Fwoosh!

Zorua vanished into the Poké Ball. With a quiet “ding,” the ball clicked shut—capture complete, not a second’s hesitation.

Sometimes, being a coward is just common sense for a wild Pokémon.

Lillie’s face lit up with joy.

August’s expression, however, turned mischievous. “Hey, Lillie, did you know? That Zorua you just caught—it’s a Ghost-type.”

“Gh—Ghost-type?!”

Lillie, moments ago glowing with happiness, turned to stone.

...

For a rookie Trainer, there’s nothing more devastating than discovering the Pokémon you just caught is a Ghost-type.

It took Lillie a good while to come to terms with it.

But, kind-hearted as she was, she couldn’t bring herself to release her first capture—especially when Zorua seemed to like her so much.

The trembling Zorua: That’s not true, I don’t!

Akari watched the whole thing unfold.

Zinnia had often grumbled to her about how petty and wickedly mischievous August could be.

She’d thought Zinnia was just bad-mouthing him—but now, it seemed Zinnia might’ve been telling the truth?

Akari stole a careful glance at August, only to realize—

She really couldn’t tell what he was thinking at all...

August glanced at the sky. “Time to head back.”

It was nearly dinner—Cynthia and the others were probably done touring Jubilife by now. Zinnia had likely calmed one of the Nobles already...

Just as this thought crossed his mind—

BOOM!

A thunderous explosion rocked the Mirelands, sending wild Pokémon scattering.

August snapped his head in the direction of the blast and saw smoke rising from deep in the wetlands.

He was still puzzling over what had happened when his phone rang—Zinnia calling.

“August, help!!”

August: “.....”

I was joking before—surely she didn’t actually mix up the balms?!

Wait, but he’d sent Darkrai to keep an eye on her, hadn’t he?

Surely Darkrai wouldn’t have trouble with a Lilligant, even one amped up by Arceus...

---

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!