Pokémon: My Titles Know No Limits! [96]

Strange? You were the one who orchestrated the Pokémon riot. What’s so strange about it?
Prevent attacks on passing Trainers? You’d be lucky not to attack those Trainers yourself.

Even so, August felt a bit relieved that Giovanni wouldn’t be accompanying him. It was too stressful being around Giovanni.

Of course, he put on a regretful expression. “Then I’ll leave it to you, Leader Giovanni. See you at the Viridian Gym.”

After saying this, he bid farewell to Giovanni with Blue in tow.

For Giovanni, this trip had already achieved its purpose—he’d met the Gym Inspector, August, and got a sense of his strength.

Watching August and Blue’s departing figures...

Gardevoir... not much of a threat.

But being chosen by Lance as a Gym Inspector means he’s closely connected to him... Better keep an eye on him.

Having made up his mind, Giovanni took out his communicator and issued orders. A group of black-clad Trainers swiftly sealed off the passage and released their Pokémon to start digging up the collapsed pit.

Those Geodude were Team Rocket’s assets, after all, and could be reused.

Since the Celadon Game Corner—one of Team Rocket’s major sources of income—had been shut down, even Giovanni had to be more frugal.

It seems I’ll need to speed up my plans with the Silph Co.

Lost in thought, Giovanni left Mt. Moon, heading in a different direction from August.

Once outside Mt. Moon, August looked up at the clear sky and finally let out a long breath.

Blue shot him a curious look. “You’ve been acting weird today. Was it because of Leader Giovanni? Are you his fan?”

“Fan?” August was momentarily stunned by her question, then chuckled. “In a way... yeah.”

Putting aside their differences in ideology, Giovanni was undeniably a charismatic person.

Countless members of Team Rocket rallied around him. No matter how many times they were defeated, as long as Giovanni reappeared, Team Rocket could quickly rise again.

But for August, who stood on the side of the Pokémon League, Giovanni was a very troublesome opponent.

Gardevoir has held onto the [Mind Plate] for a while now. It’s close to reaching Champion-level strength. If we can combine that with Mega Evolution... facing Giovanni’s Beedrill... it might not be impossible.

After all, Beedrill’s Bug/Poison typing is weak to Psychic.

Psychic just happens to be Gardevoir’s strongest attribute with the [Mind Plate]!

Although Gardevoir’s Fairy/Psychic type was also weak to Poison moves...

But Giovanni’s Beedrill couldn’t possibly have a [Toxic Plate].

Thinking this through, August concluded that he could almost consider himself someone who could defeat Giovanni.

His mood brightened. “Let’s go, we’re heading to the Pewter Gym!”

---

Compared to the bustling cities of Cerulean, Celadon, and Vermilion, Pewter City felt rather plain as a mining town.

Aside from a science museum, there weren’t any notable attractions.

The Pewter Gym, which looked like a giant rock, stood out as the main landmark. August only brought Blue with him.

“Shouldn’t we find an audit team first?” Blue asked.

August waved it off. “No need.”

Now even more curious, Blue pressed, “Then why did the Cerulean Gym need an audit team?”

“Obviously because I know their finances are perfectly fine,” August answered matter-of-factly.

“And Pewter City...?”

“Well, Brock’s been working hard all these years, without his parents around, raising nine siblings. What’s the harm in him using a bit of League funding?”

Blue: “...”

You make such a good point I can’t even argue.

But why do I feel like you’re just covering for Brock because you know him?

Following August, Blue entered the Pewter Gym.

Unlike the bustling Cerulean Gym, which was full of Trainers, Pewter Gym had only a few scattered challengers.

August even spotted a boy working as a staff member at the gym, his face a near-perfect copy of Brock’s.

Seeing them enter, the boy—Forrest—called out, “Are you here to challenge the Gym? Please register over here first.”

“Challengers? No, I’m here to see your brother,” August said. “I’m a friend of his.”

“Friend?” Forrest looked skeptical.

Two of his brother’s friends had already visited today, and now there were two more?

However, August didn’t seem to be lying, so Forrest led him and Blue inside the gym.

Pewter Gym’s interior was almost austere. There were no decorations on the battlefield, and steel beams were exposed in the ceiling. Only a few spotlights provided illumination.

It didn’t even compare to the aquarium-themed Cerulean Gym, and it was a far cry from the facilities of the Vermilion Gym.

This was despite Brock often going to Mt. Moon to find evolutionary stones to supplement his income.

“The League should really provide more support for dedicated gyms like this.”

It didn’t make sense for corrupt or apathetic gyms to live comfortably, while honest, hardworking ones struggled.

Wasn’t that just bullying honest people?

He decided he’d bring it up with Lance later.

Following Forrest, August and Blue finally met Brock.

To August’s surprise, there were two familiar figures in the room.

One was Gary Oak, whom he’d recently parted ways with in Lampurchi City. The other was... Pikachu?

Oh, and Ash Ketchum too.

August shifted his gaze away from Pikachu’s commanding presence and finally noticed Ash beneath it.

Gary and Brock both looked surprised to see him.

“August?!” they exclaimed in unison, then exchanged a look.

You know August too? ×2

Standing to the side, Ash suddenly felt like an outsider.

Who’s August? And why am I the only one who doesn’t know him?

Fortunately, Gary quickly recovered. “What are you doing here, August? Weren’t you in Lampurchi City?”

“I came to see Brock, of course.” August spoke as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

“But why are you two here...? You must be Pikachu and Ash, the ones Professor Oak mentioned. Nice to meet you, I’m August, and this is my companion, Blue.”

August shook hands with the stunned Pikachu before offering his hand to Ash.

Although Ash couldn’t understand why he’d been introduced after Pikachu...

Hearing August’s friendly words made him feel relieved—at least he wasn’t an outsider anymore.

Brock finally came to his senses and was touched. “August, are you here because of the gym assessment?”

He’d consulted August about gym inspections not too long ago, and now August had shown up.

To Brock, it was clear—August must be worried about him as a friend.

---

T/N: HEHE YES PIKACHIU!!!

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!