Pokémon: My Titles Know No Limits! [387]

As the Aether Foundation staff looked on in shock, Lusamine gave the order to release Cosmog.

The moment Lusamine spoke, the staff snapped out of their stupor.

A research supervisor, summoning his courage, stepped forward to plead,

“President... are you sure you want to let it go? Our research is on the verge of a breakthrough…”

They simply couldn’t understand her decision.

If Cosmog was released now, everything they’d worked for would be ruined!

From their perspective, it had to be this newly-arrived International Police agent who’d bewitched the president into such irrational behavior.

But Lusamine—who’d been so gentle and obedient toward August—suddenly turned cold, her gaze like ice as she stared at the supervisor:

“You have a problem with my husband’s suggestion?”

Faced with that look, the supervisor’s awe and dread of Lusamine surged up, and he stammered,

“N-no… none at all…”

“Then do your job.” With that, Lusamine turned, instantly dropping the frosty act and clinging to August’s side like a shy lover.

“How did I do, dear?”

“...” Four pairs of eyes felt like knives stabbing August’s back.

He could only stress again,

“I’m really not your husband…”

But the moment he said it, Lusamine covered her face, voice breaking in a sob:
“Dear, are you abandoning me and Lillie?”

Lusamine pulled Lillie into her arms, both of them looking heartbreakingly pitiful.

In front, Lusamine was crying; behind, Blue, Sabrina, Cynthia, and Gardevoir…
August felt his head was about to split in two.

How long is this going to last? He couldn’t take another day!

If he got to choose again, Lusamine’s rescue could go to whoever wanted it...

Fortunately, the Aether Foundation staff finally released Cosmog.

Once freed, Cosmog was terrified—staring at its former captors in panic.

Shrinking back, instinct took over, and Cosmog shot toward the person it trusted most.

“Eh?”

Lillie watched as Cosmog burrowed straight into her arms, a look of confusion flashing in her eyes.

She hadn’t expected Cosmog to fly to her—especially after her mother had kept it captive...

She instinctively looked up at August.

Everyone from the Kanto branch was watching August too—this was the first time they’d seen him lose a “Pokémon affinity” contest to someone else.

August himself didn’t mind.

In the manga storyline, Lillie had always shared a deep bond with Cosmog… It wasn’t surprising she’d have some quality that attracted it.

Besides, August had only asked Lusamine to release Cosmog to protect it—not to capture it for himself.

As for Cosmog staying with Lillie, August trusted she’d take good care of it.

He smiled at Lillie, then turned to Lusamine and Wicke,

“We should hurry and clear out the last of Team Rocket’s grunts in Aether Paradise. This place belongs to the Aether Foundation.”

Lusamine nodded at once, “I’ll do whatever you say, dear!”

August: “...”

You really didn’t have to add those last two words.

---

Po Town

After a battle that was disastrous for Team Skull and nothing but a warm-up for Team Rocket.

Guzma, the leader of Team Skull, knelt on the ground, staring at his hands in disbelief.

“So I’m really this weak?”

The whole reason Guzma had founded Team Skull was to prove his strength to all those who’d ever looked down on him.

But now, after being crushed by Deoxys, Guzma felt his dreams and everything he’d fought for come crashing down.

Just then—

A pair of shoes appeared in Guzma’s blurred vision, casting a long shadow over him.

“No one’s born strong… Here in Alola, you’re already pretty good.”

Guzma looked up to see the man who’d just defeated him—Giovanni—standing with his back to the sun, rays slanting in through the ruins of Po Town’s shattered wall.

“Want to get stronger? Join Team Rocket.”

Giovanni offered his hand.

Rocket had lost too many key members; to replenish his ranks, Giovanni planned to recruit Guzma, who was still strong by Alola standards.

Guzma, caught up in Giovanni’s charisma, was just about to take his hand—

When Giovanni’s comm device suddenly buzzed at his waist.

Annoyed by the interruption, Giovanni’s face darkened as he answered coldly, “Faba, you’d better have a good reason for calling.”

On the other end, Faba sounded both frantic and strangely relieved:
“Boss Giovanni, someone broke into Aether Paradise! The whole facility’s fallen! I’m the only one who made it out with the Ultra Beast research data!”

Giovanni, just about to lose his temper, froze mid-breath, his voice low and tight:
“What happened? Where’s Ariana? Why didn’t I get any earlier reports?”

But Faba didn’t know much himself:
“I was tied up with the research… Ariana called to warn me about intruders, told me to be careful. Then I couldn’t reach her anymore, figured something happened, so I grabbed the data and ran!”

“As for why there were no reports… it’s because all communications to and from Aether Paradise were completely blocked. I only got through after I’d run several kilometers away!”

“Cutting off communications…”

That method brought back some unpleasant memories for Giovanni.

And just as Giovanni’s face grew darker, a familiar name popped into his mind—

His phone chimed with a new message.

[GardevoirSupremacy]: Long time no see, Giovanni. Is this the welcome party you arranged for me? Not bad, I like it.

[GardevoirSupremacy]: [image] [image]

Looking at the photos August had sent—Team Rocket grunts in custody, Ariana among them—Giovanni’s fists clenched tight, his blood pressure spiking.

He’d expected August to show up in Alola eventually, but he hadn’t thought August would move so fast, striking right when Giovanni had left Aether Paradise to deal with Team Skull—sneaking in and taking everything.

That kind of move was just what Giovanni expected from August—the sort of shameless, underhanded trick that was his trademark.

But Giovanni had no idea how much his expression had changed—Guzma, still kneeling before him, saw it all. To Guzma, whose self-confidence had just been shattered by Giovanni’s overwhelming power, seeing Giovanni so rattled was a seismic shock.

Who could possibly shake up someone as strong as Giovanni?

Awe for this mysterious figure August welled up in Guzma’s heart.

I want to become his disciple!

The thought leapt into Guzma’s mind and refused to leave.

If I could apprentice under someone that strong, nobody would ever look down on me again!

Giovanni, for his part, had no idea what Guzma was thinking.

He was busy typing.

[Giovanni]: August, Alola isn’t Kanto’s jurisdiction. Don’t stick your nose where it doesn’t belong!

[GardevoirSupremacy]: Lmao, Giovanni, you’re not making any sense. The International Police goes wherever we want—doesn’t matter which region.

Giovanni really was rattled.

August’s ambush at Aether Paradise had completely upended all his plans.

Controlling the Aether Foundation, ruling Alola, opening the Ultra Wormhole to summon the Ultra Beasts… All those plans had come to nothing!

The thought of all his hard work being handed over to August made Giovanni’s heart bleed.

But at least—Deoxys was still with him, not left behind at Aether Paradise for August to claim.

As long as he had Deoxys, he still had a chance to beat August!

[Giovanni]: We’ll see about that!

Giovanni switched his phone to Do Not Disturb and refused to read any more of August’s messages.

Looking back at Guzma, he saw the man staring at him—no longer lost, but as if he’d found a new purpose in life.

Giovanni frowned. “Are you joining Team Rocket or not?”

But Guzma, who’d been tempted before, now kept silent. Compared to Rocket, he was more inclined to track down that mysterious powerhouse and become his student.

Giovanni, seeing Guzma’s hesitation, felt as if he’d swallowed a fly.

Out of sight, out of mind—he waved for his men to lock Guzma up.

Then he ordered his subordinates to start repairing the wall Deoxys had smashed earlier. With Aether Paradise lost, Giovanni could only use Po Town as Rocket’s temporary base for now and regroup.

Looking at the gaping hole in the wall, Giovanni felt a headache coming on. The thrill of smashing through it just moments ago was nothing compared to the frustration he felt now.

And there was only one person to blame.

“August!!!”

Now Giovanni faced two choices.

He could either stay in Alola and keep fighting August, hoping to win back everything—or retreat, regroup, and gather his strength elsewhere.

For Giovanni, the second option was more appealing.

Not that he was afraid of August—just that it was the smarter move.

But before he could decide, another message popped up on his phone.

After reading it, Giovanni’s expression shifted—uncertain and conflicted.

---

Aether Paradise

It didn’t take long to clear out the last remnants of Team Rocket.

Watching August tap away at his phone, Blue knew immediately—August was at it again, taunting Giovanni.

After a while, seeing August grin like a victorious Heracross over a defeated Vikavolt, Blue could tell—August had won another round on this front too.

“Geez, after all this time, Giovanni’s still the same as ever…” August put away his phone.

He’d thought Giovanni might surprise him after all these years of being blocked, but it was the same old story.

At that moment, Lusamine approached August, carrying a plate of neatly sliced fruit.

“Dear, have some fruit!”

Blue watched as August, who’d just been ruthlessly roasting Giovanni, suddenly fell silent.

August cleared his throat and said gently, “President Lusamine, I really think you should see a doctor. Get a full checkup.”

“I just did—doctor says I’m perfectly healthy!” Lusamine beamed at August.

She picked up a slice of berry with a tiny fork and tried to feed it to him.

August: “......”

Please, ma’am, give it a rest.

Don’t you see Gardevoir’s eyes are looking pretty dangerous right now?

August quickly took the fork and fed the fruit to the Eevee in his arms.

Then he changed the subject:
“President Lusamine, have you found your son yet?”

Aether Paradise was completely liberated from Team Rocket—but there was still no sign of Gladion.

Hearing this, Lusamine’s expression shifted to anxious concern.

With her attention diverted, Gardevoir also relaxed her glare, and August let out a silent sigh of relief.

This is so hard.

Even someone who prided himself on emotional management, like August, had nearly been derailed by Lusamine’s “straight ball” approach.

But honestly, this wasn’t his fault. Who would’ve thought he’d get called ‘dear’ out of nowhere?

Just then, Silver entered the room.

He came over and whispered something in August’s ear.

August: “I’ll leave that to you.”

Silver nodded and left.

In the distance, Lillie’s voice rang out, “Cosmog, wait for me!”

August looked up—out in the garden, Mew was teasing Cosmog with a Pokéblock, leading it on a merry chase while Lillie hurried after, worry written all over her face.

Mew, catching Lillie’s anxious look, only made a face and stuck out her tongue.

“Bleh~!”

Then she darted off again, Cosmog trailing after, innocent as ever.

Lillie, anxious about Cosmog, kept running after it.

The two Pokémon and Lillie played their little chase through the garden.

Suddenly, the sky above Aether Paradise darkened. A swirling black vortex appeared overhead, spilling out waves of iridescent energy.

Everyone turned their eyes to the sky.

“What is that…?”

Lusamine looked up too, but her reaction was different—something about the vortex seemed to trigger a buried memory. She clutched her head, face twisted in pain.

August noticed instantly.

He used the [Power of Viridian] to soothe Lusamine. Gradually, her pain eased and her expression calmed.

And just then, the vortex in the sky began to change.

---

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!