Pokémon: My Titles Know No Limits! [141]

“That Crobat from earlier seemed a little strange,” Blue remarked, turning to August.

August chuckled. “Of course it did—it’s one of Koga’s Pokémon, keeping an eye on us.”

Hearing this, Blue immediately glanced around cautiously.

“No need to worry. He’s probably just confirming our movements,” August reassured her.

Knowing that Koga was a poison-type specialist, August had been on high alert as they approached Fuchsia Gym, using his [Aura] to scan for anything suspicious.

So far, he had only detected the Crobat.

Blue let out a small breath of relief but still seemed uneasy.

Seeing her expression, August raised an eyebrow. “What’s wrong? Don’t tell me you still don’t trust my skills?”

Against Sabrina, he wouldn’t claim a guaranteed victory. But against Koga, a poison-type user? That was easy. Even if Koga tried to escape, he’d have to get past Gardevoir first.

But this time, August had guessed wrong.

“I was thinking… if we take down Koga, wouldn’t Team Rocket immediately suspect us?” Blue voiced her concern.

They had just arrived at Fuchsia Gym for the evaluation, and if Koga was arrested shortly after, anyone in Team Rocket with half a brain would link it back to them.

Once their identities as International Police agents were exposed, they’d have to deal with Team Rocket’s retaliation.

“That is a valid concern…” August admitted, nodding thoughtfully.

“Then… do you have a solution?”

Blue looked at August expectantly. When it came to things like this, he always had a plan.

However, his response was completely unexpected.

“We lie if we can. And if we can’t… well, then we just let them find out,” August shrugged.

“…And Team Rocket?”

August waved a hand dismissively. “Team Rocket has its hands full with the Masked Man’s Army right now.”

“You don’t understand how organizations like Team Rocket think, Blue. Sure, the League is their enemy—but when it comes to these criminal groups, their real hatred is reserved for rival factions.”

“They won’t have time to deal with us until they settle their conflict with the Masked Army.”

Blue found herself reassured by August’s confidence, her worries easing slightly.

Then, as if remembering something, August added, “Oh, by the way—there’s something else.”

“Blue, you mentioned before that another person escaped from the Masked Army with you. Can you still contact him?”

Blue blinked in surprise. “You mean… Silver?”

“Exactly. Kanto Division could use someone like him.”

“But when we split up, I didn’t get his contact information…”

Back when they escaped, they had nothing on them except their Pokémon—let alone a communication device.

“…No problem, I’ll ask Lance for help.”

It had been a while since he last contacted Lance the Doraemon. He also wondered if Lance had managed to find that Togepi egg he had asked about.

With that in mind, August sent a message to Lance.

He also casually mentioned his suspicions about Koga and his upcoming plan to deal with him.

After putting his communicator back on his belt, he looked ahead at the wooden bridge leading to Fuchsia Gym.

“Fuchsia Gym… finally here.”

---

Fuchsia Gym

August didn’t barge in and fight his way through. Instead, he presented himself as an official examiner, letting one of the ninja apprentices lead him inside.

As he took in the carefully arranged decor of the gym, he made some comparisons.

If Cerulean Gym was an aquarium and Celadon Gym was a botanical garden, then Fuchsia Gym was a trap exhibition hall.

While following the apprentice on a tour, August used his [Aura] to scan the area. He detected 27 different traps and 41 distinct presences hidden throughout the gym.

Good thing I didn’t storm in recklessly. Even with [Aura], disarming all these traps would’ve been a hassle.

Feeling pleased with his decision, August nodded to himself.

If he had charged in headfirst, Koga might have found an opportunity to escape.

Still, after wandering around the gym for so long without Koga showing up, August was starting to lose patience.

Turning to the ninja apprentice guiding them, August suddenly remarked, “I’ve heard that ninjas in ancient times specialized in assassination. I haven’t seen a single challenger on the way here—could it be that Fuchsia Gym has eliminated them all?”

Hearing this, Blue instantly realized—August was about to stir up trouble.

The ninja apprentice, who had just led them into the reception hall, froze.

What kind of nonsense is that?!

Sure, they were ninjas, and they sometimes took on morally gray missions, but this was the modern era! Assassinating challengers? Absolutely not!

“We—”

Just as the apprentice was about to explain, a puff of smoke exploded in the center of the courtyard, and a voice emerged from within.

“Examiner August, I can’t pretend I didn’t hear that…”

As the smoke cleared, Koga stepped forward.

Clad in a purple ninja outfit with a red scarf, his appearance strangely reminded August of the Team Galactic investigators from Hisui.

So, mentioning the gym’s reputation finally got him to show himself?

“Ninja Master!” The apprentice immediately dropped to one knee.

“Stand down.”

At Koga’s command, the apprentice threw down a smoke bomb, and with a poof, disappeared into the shadows.

Once his subordinate had left, Koga turned to August. “I must ask you not to make such jokes.”

Even though he was with Team Rocket and had done plenty of questionable things, he did not want to be labeled as an assassin of challengers.

“Ah, my bad, my bad.” August waved him off dismissively. “I was just curious why there weren’t any challengers around, that’s all…”

“But speaking of which… Koga, do you ninjas always move around with these dramatic smoke explosions?”

As he spoke, August even mimicked the motion of something bursting into smoke.

Koga had originally planned to explain why there were no challengers at the gym today.

But the moment he heard August’s question, his expression stiffened for a split second.

Was August always this unpredictable? Why wasn’t this in the reports?

However, Koga was skilled at controlling his emotions. Quickly regaining his composure, he replied, “That is called ninjutsu.”

“Ninjutsu? But I clearly saw that guy just now sneak into a hidden passage while using the smoke as cover. That’s just a basic sleight of hand, isn’t it?” August pointed out.

Koga: “…”

You saw everything so clearly, yet you’re still asking me?!

Koga was starting to feel that August was deliberately provoking him.

But considering August’s status as an examiner, Koga held back and patiently explained, “A ninja’s ninjutsu is about using tools to divert the enemy’s attention and deceive them.”

“If you’re interested, Examiner August, I could teach you some basic ninja techniques.”

To avoid offending August, Koga was willing to endure.

“But what’s the point of learning mere sleight of hand?” Blue asked, genuinely puzzled.

Koga: “…..”

You two are messing with me on purpose, aren’t you?

If not for his years of ninja training, Koga might have already ordered Crobat to attack these two.

Silently, he recited a ninja’s mantra.

Let them think whatever they want. Let them think whatever they want…

Deciding not to get tangled up in this conversation, Koga changed the subject. “You’re here to conduct the gym evaluation, are you not? Let’s not waste time on unrelated matters.”

He still needed to head to Indigo Plateau to capture Moltres.

Seeing that Koga remained unfazed, August was a little disappointed.

As expected of a ninja—his patience is solid.

“Well, since you’re so eager, I have no objections.” August scribbled something in his notebook before stepping forward.

He deliberately tilted the notebook just enough for Koga to see.

Koga’s sharp eyes caught the words:

"Gym location is too remote—recommend relocation."

At that moment, Koga’s patience snapped.

I’ve already endured so much, and you’re still nitpicking?!

How did the League end up with an examiner like this? Is this organization beyond saving?!

...

Koga stood at one end of the battlefield, his expression dark as he stared at August.

Originally, his plan was simple—send out his ace, Weezing, to take one win, then follow up with two of his secondary Pokémon and end the match with a respectable 1-2 record.

That way, he could maintain appearances for August, an official examiner, while still passing the evaluation without revealing too much of his strength.

But now?

He had changed his mind.

He was going to win.

Not for strategy. Not for the Gym’s reputation.

Just to teach this guy a lesson.

“Examiner August, I suggest you be careful,” Koga said coldly.

Yet, August still wore his signature smile, as if completely unaware of Koga’s mood. “As per the standard rules, this will be a 3v3 match. No objections, Gym Leader Koga?”

Koga didn’t respond. He simply tightened his grip on the Poké Ball in his hand.

August, unfazed by his silence, gave the referee a small nod.

The flag dropped.

With a bang, a flash of white light revealed Koga’s first choice—Weezing.

Its bloated, purple body floated slightly above the ground, its hollow eyes empty of emotion. Wisps of poisonous gas seeped from the pores on its body, carrying a sickly sweet scent.

As a poison-type specialist, Koga had unparalleled mastery over toxic Pokémon. Even the color of Weezing’s poisonous mist hinted at its lethality.

Koga was confident in his Weezing.

In fact, apart from Sabrina, it could overpower most Gym Leaders in Kanto.

But today… he had picked the wrong opponent.

On the other side, August snapped his fingers.

One of the Poké Balls at his waist automatically unlatched, bursting open in a dazzling white light.

An elegant Gardevoir landed gracefully on the battlefield.

Seeing this, Koga didn’t panic.

After all, in the intelligence Sabrina had compiled on August, it was clearly noted that he possessed a Gardevoir of Elite Four-level strength.

While Gardevoir’s Psychic typing was super effective against Poison, its Fairy typing was also weak to Poison.

From a type matchup perspective, Koga wasn’t at a disadvantage.

As long as he could find an opening—

But before he could finish that thought, something unexpected happened.

August calmly placed his hand on the multicolored stone embedded in his wristband.

The stone responded, synchronizing with the [Keystone] floating in front of Gardevoir.

A brilliant seven-colored light enveloped Gardevoir’s body.

Koga: …?

When Gardevoir reappeared, the black gown of its [Mega Evolution] flowed around it like an ominous shadow, rippling with an overwhelming psychic force.

“…[Mega Evolution]?”

Though Koga had spent years secluded in the mountains at his Gym, he kept up with important developments from the outside world.

He had heard rumors of this [Mega Evolution] phenomenon, discovered recently in the Kalos region.

“Correct answer! But no prize,” August replied with a grin.

At the sight of that smile, Koga’s gut told him things were about to go very badly.

Just how strong was an Elite Four-level Gardevoir after [Mega Evolution]?

“Weezing—!”

He barely had time to shout before Gardevoir’s eyes flared with blue light, and the mystic plate it held trembled.

A Psychic attack, amplified by both [Mega Evolution] and the [Mind Plate], crashed into Weezing—a Pokémon already weak to Psychic.

It was like getting hit by a speeding truck.

Weezing didn’t even get the chance to react.

A shockwave erupted around its body, and in an instant—

It vanished from sight.

BOOM!

A deafening explosion followed a moment later.

“What… just happened?”

Ignoring the sting of wind-blown debris against his face, Koga instinctively turned around.

Where a solid wall had once stood, there was now a massive hole.

Through the rubble, he could see Weezing embedded in the back wall, its body riddled with cracks—completely unconscious.

The referee stood frozen, mouth agape, too shocked to even declare the battle result.

August turned to Blue, who was holding a notebook. “Make a note—referee lacks professionalism.”

For a long moment, Koga simply stared at August.

At this point, he didn’t care about August nitpicking the referee.

What really concerned him was something else entirely.

Sabrina’s report had never mentioned that August’s Gardevoir could [Mega Evolve].

Which meant there was only one explanation—

August hid this ability when fighting Sabrina.

Yet, here he was, using it against him, right from the start, with no hesitation—instantly obliterating his Weezing.

Koga’s thoughts raced.

From the way August had provoked him upon entering the Gym… to how he had now immediately unleashed such overwhelming power…

Could it be that this so-called League examiner… had already discovered something?

Just as that possibility took root in his mind, August’s voice cut through his thoughts.

“Gym Leader Koga,” August said casually, “I bet you’re wondering why I came out swinging with full force from the very start.”

Koga’s heart skipped a beat.

He instinctively looked up—only to see August smiling at him.

Then, in an almost lazy tone, August continued:

“The reason is simple…”

“Koga—you’re busted.”

---

T/N: YEE BEAT HIUS ASS!!!

This is a fan translation of 人在实教，一之濑你会后悔的 by 作者：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!