Pokémon: My Titles Know No Limits! [128]

Agatha—Kanto’s Ghost-type Elite Four member and Professor Oak’s former rival.

But rather than calling her a Ghost-type Elite, August felt it would be more fitting to call her a Poison-type specialist.

Golbat, Arbok, Gengar…

Not every one of her ace Pokémon had the Ghost typing, but they all had the Poison typing.

And with Lance being a Flying-type specialist disguised as a Dragon-type Master, it was clear that Kanto’s Gym Leaders weren’t the only ones who were less than conventional.

By the time August arrived at Agatha’s estate, night had already fallen.

The eerie-looking manor loomed ahead, and at just a single glance, Eevee immediately buried its head back into August’s arms.

Without August even needing to ring the doorbell, the large iron gate creaked open on its own.

“Did Agatha know we were coming?” Blue asked, a little surprised.

August wasn’t.

Ever since they had entered Lavender Town, he had felt the weight of multiple gazes watching them from the shadows.

Most likely, they were Agatha’s scouts, stationed throughout the town to keep watch.

She’s certainly cautious…

For someone of her generation to still hold onto her position as an Elite Four member, she clearly had something that set her apart.

As August and Blue stepped into the grand entrance hall, the large doors behind them slammed shut with an echoing boom.

Eevee flinched violently in August’s arms.

Kukukuku…

A chilling, eerie laughter echoed through the darkness.

“V-Vee…”

Eevee, still buried in August’s embrace, let out a trembling whimper.

Blue, unfazed, pulled down her scanner goggles and swept her surroundings. “Four Gengars,” she reported.

The eerie laughter didn’t stop even after their presence was revealed—if anything, it only grew closer.

August’s eyes swept across the dimly lit hall, his expression unchanged.

“Agatha, please don’t play these kinds of pranks.”

“My, my… Young people these days really are getting bolder.”

As the voice rang out, the chandeliers above suddenly flickered to life, illuminating the hall.

Seated beneath them was an elderly woman, leaning on her cane with an amused expression.

Though she looked like an ordinary old lady, this was Agatha, one of Kanto’s strongest trainers.

The laughter ceased the moment the lights came on, and the Gengars lurking in the shadows all vanished from sight.

But August could still sense them with his Aura—they hadn’t gone anywhere, just retreated deeper into the darkness.

“So, you’re August?” Agatha said, eyeing him with interest. “Lance and Bruno have spoken highly of you. You’ve done well.”

As the longest-serving Elite Four member in Kanto, Agatha had been around far longer than Lance and Bruno combined.

She understood the significance of August uncovering Team Rocket’s base and capturing the traitor, Lt. Surge.

Hearing Agatha’s praise, August replied humbly, “You’re too kind, Lady Agatha. I only did my part.”

“Bah! False modesty is annoying.” Agatha scoffed. “If what you did was minor, then no one in the League is actually doing their job.”

“Now, tell me—what does a kid like you want with this old lady?”

“It’s nothing too urgent,” August replied. “I just finished up some work in Saffron City and thought I’d stop by to pay my respects.”

“Of course, there is a small matter I’d like your help with.”

“Oh?”

“I was wondering—where in Lavender Town can I find a particularly strong Gengar?”

Agatha raised an eyebrow. “You’re looking for a Gengar?”

From the shadows, the previously hidden Gengars now peeked out curiously, gazing at August with mischievous eyes.

Many trainers avoided Ghost-types due to their eerie nature. Finding someone eager to train one was rare.

“That’s right.”

“If you had asked me earlier, I would have told you to check Pokémon Tower at night…”

August immediately caught onto the implication.

“Earlier?”

Agatha sighed.

“Pokémon Tower is currently closed.”

She leaned back slightly, tapping her cane against the floor.

“Half a month ago, Team Rocket barged into Pokémon Tower and caused significant destruction. Whatever they did there triggered some kind of unknown reaction.”

“They were eventually caught and thrown into the League’s prisons, but their actions provoked the wild Ghost Pokémon living in the tower.”

“Seventeen people have been attacked after entering the tower. None of them have fully recovered yet.”

“So, I had no choice but to seal off the area and deploy Pokémon to keep watch over Lavender Town—to make sure none of those enraged Ghost-types start attacking people outside.”

“Team Rocket again…”

No wonder Lavender Town had felt so empty.

This also meant his plan to catch a Ghost-type here had just gone up in smoke.

August frowned.

“Even you can’t handle whatever’s happening in Pokémon Tower?” Blue asked.

Agatha’s answer surprised her.

“Of course I can.”

“…Then why—?”

If she could fix the problem, why wouldn’t she?

August, having once worked as a ranger, immediately understood. He explained for Agatha, “Because there’s no need.”

“It’s easier to wait for them to calm down on their own than to waste energy trying to subdue them while they’re still furious.”

“The Elite Four’s time isn’t limitless. Since Pokémon Tower isn’t a critical facility, it makes more sense to simply monitor the situation and ensure the wild Ghost-types don’t harm anyone.”

Back when he was a ranger, he had used this exact strategy.

Some Pokémon, when angered—usually by poachers—became incredibly difficult to deal with. Rather than forcing a confrontation, it was often smarter to just leave them alone for a week or two.

Once they cooled down, negotiations became far easier.

Blue nodded in understanding. “I see…”

Agatha gave August an approving look.

“You’re absolutely right,” she said. “It’s only been about two weeks. Going in now is still too risky—it’s best to wait a little longer.”

But I can’t afford to wait…

August had originally planned to catch a Gengar here before heading straight to Celadon City.

But if he delayed any further, Mewtwo might already be completed by the time he was done.

At that point, staying in Kanto would mean playing by Giovanni’s rules.

Still, he couldn’t let this trip be a waste.

So—

“Lady Agatha,” August said, his voice calm but resolute.

“I understand that waiting might be the easier solution. But Pokémon Tower has been closed for half a month now—I imagine there are many trainers who would like to mourn their Pokémon but have been unable to.”

“Let me handle the situation.”

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T/N: August you're such a noble soul!

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!