Pokémon: My Titles Know No Limits! [289]

“Th-The basement?!”

The moment Zinnia heard August’s words, she shrank back slightly, her eyes filled with unease.

So it’s finally happening. After all this time, he’s really going to do something to us...

August noticed her reaction and sighed, exasperated. “What are you imagining? I’m going to check on the prisoners.”

What does she think goes on down there all day?

Is that really the kind of image she has of me?

If Zinnia had known what August was thinking, with her self-destructive tendencies, she probably would’ve nodded without hesitation and said, Yes, exactly that.

But she didn’t know. So instead, she remained half-skeptical.

Courtney, on the other hand, blew a bubble that popped with a snap, her lips curling into a teasing smile. “If it’s you, August, I wouldn’t mind~”

August felt Blue’s glance shift toward him—casual on the surface, but unmistakably alert—and felt a headache coming on.

“.....”

What kind of people have I let into this place...

...

The manor’s basement was exactly as August had left it—minimalist and impeccably clean. Clearly, Indeedee hadn’t forgotten to tidy up or feed Matori during his absence.

The moment August stepped inside, both Matori and Pryce looked over.

Pryce gave him a brief glance—curious, perhaps, at his return after so long—then resumed carving away at a stone Lapras sculpture with his chiseling tool.

Matori, on the other hand, had a lot more on her mind.

Her gaze lingered briefly on August before shifting behind him—first to the striking woman trailing him, and then to the three unconscious bodies suspended in the air by Mewtwo’s psychic power.

At first, she merely thought they looked familiar. But as someone who had once been Team Rocket’s Chief Secretary in charge of intelligence, she quickly identified all three.

“These people are…”

If she wasn’t mistaken, the woman walking behind August was none other than Courtney—one of Team Magma’s executive officers.

And the unconscious woman levitating behind them? That was Shelly from Team Aqua.

But the two men—

“Maxie and Archie...” Mad Bird’s eyes widened in disbelief.

Did August really wipe out both Team Magma and Team Aqua in just the few days he was gone?

August didn’t bother responding to her reaction.

He calmly placed Maxie and Archie in the cells to the left and right of Pryce, then had Mewtwo rouse them.

When the two regained consciousness, they took one look around and locked eyes on the smiling August outside their cells.

“August!”

“You bastard! Let us out!”

Their loud shouting made Pryce’s hand slip mid-carve, a sharp gash cutting across the Lapras’s nearly completed surface.

The old man, who had previously resigned himself to his circumstances, now frowned deeply.

His expression turned frigid. He slammed his cane into the floor.

“Silence!”

His voice was like a cold wind, slicing straight through bone.

Instantly, both Maxie and Archie shuddered as if their souls had been frozen over.

Of course, they quickly realized it was only a feeling—but still—

They both instinctively turned to glance toward the central cell, and promptly clammed up.
All they could do now was glare daggers at August.

Watching all this, August gave a satisfied smile.

Placing them beside Pryce had been a deliberate move. He’d counted on the old man’s presence to intimidate these two blockheads—and clearly, it worked like a charm.

Sometimes it takes a villain to tame a villain.

With Pryce acting as a natural deterrent, those two would stay quiet for a while.

Now it was time to deal with the remaining prisoner—Team Aqua officer Shelly.

August gave her a long look... and then unlocked Matori’s cell.

Matori, still reeling from shock, stared as August tossed the unconscious Shelly into her cell.

Realizing what he intended, she couldn’t hold back. “Why is she in here with me—?!”

“Cell shortage. You two’ll have to squeeze,” August replied, spreading his hands innocently.

“There are plenty of empty cells left!” she snapped, glaring at him. “You’re doing this on purpose.”

She was right—there were plenty of empty cells.

“No no, those are all pre-reserved...” August shook his head as he looked at the unoccupied rooms.

Ghetsis, Cyrus, Lysandre, Giovanni... He already had a guest list planned.

Sure, most of them weren’t caught yet—but August was nothing if not forward-thinking.

Here, single-occupancy cells were reserved for the leaders of evil organizations. Matori just didn’t meet the threshold.

Even though resentment burned in her chest, she knew exactly where she stood—a prisoner with no bargaining power. So she forced herself to swallow it.

Instead, she made a request. “I’d like a newspaper.”

She needed to know what had been happening outside.

What had August done while he was gone? How had he captured so many enemies? And what about Giovanni? Had he caught Sird yet?

August saw through her instantly.

Still, he didn’t mind. “Sure, I’ll get you a paper. Oh, and some good news—Giovanni did receive the message you smuggled out. He acted on it just a few days ago.”

Matori visibly relaxed.

It felt like her suffering hadn’t been in vain. And maybe... just maybe, she’d made a real contribution to Team Rocket after all.

Surely Giovanni-sama would be proud.

August watched her slip into her own little world and chuckled.

He hadn’t lied—not exactly.
Giovanni had seen her message.
He had made a move against Sird.
...And Sird had escaped.

...

Life at headquarters was peaceful.

Blue handled the mission reports. August slept in. There was no imminent threat of global destruction.

He played with Eevee. Bullied Slowpoke a little.

The only disappointment was that Mew had taken Celebi to go play near the World Tree...

Which meant August had no chance to properly punish Mew for ruining his reputation the other day.

Was I too obvious? Did Mew sense my intentions?

August rubbed his chin in reflection. Have I gotten rusty at hiding my motives...?

As he brooded, Zinnia slid up beside him with a fawning grin.

“August...”

“Speak.” His tone was brief.

“I was wondering... if I could help take care of Rayquaza again—just for one more day. No—half a day!” she quickly amended, watching his face nervously.

August stroked his chin. Under her hopeful gaze, he finally nodded. “Fine.”

“Yes!” she squealed, like a child who’d just gotten their allowance.

August simply shook his head, baffled by her enthusiasm.

That was when Gary pushed open the door.

“August, I’m back!”

Fresh from Pallet Town, he looked radiant. Clearly something had gone well.

Did Ash finally return from the Orange Islands and Gary managed to one-up him?

Before August could ask, Gary was already speaking—

“August, this is the person Grandpa asked me to bring. He said she has the same ability as you. Might be... related?”

August turned to look.

Gary stepped aside and pulled someone forward.

All eyes turned to the newcomer.

A small child stepped forward, dressed in yellow, a wide-brimmed straw hat pulled low over shy eyes.

In an instant, all eyes turned back to August.

Under the weight of that silence, the child clutched the hem of her shirt. “Um... my name is Yellow.”

Yellow. August recognized her instantly.

He just hadn’t expected to meet her like this.

“You’re saying Professor Oak asked you to bring her?” August looked at Gary, already forming a guess.

It must be because she also possesses the [Viridian Power].

Oak must have noticed something—and sent her here for that reason.

Gary opened his mouth, but before he could speak, Yellow summoned her courage.

“It was actually my idea,” she said. “Professor Oak told me you had the same ability. I wanted to understand this power better.”

Her voice was quiet but resolute.

Gary nodded in confirmation. Truthfully, he hadn’t been thrilled when his grandfather first asked him to escort some random kid.

This was August they were talking about.

The man who judged you based on your “remaining value” the moment you walked in the room.

Gary still had nightmares.

If August laid eyes on this kid with special powers, what then?

He’d tried to hint to his grandfather that it wasn’t a great idea—but Yellow had been firm.
She wanted to meet the person who shared her ability.

August had no idea what Gary was thinking. He just looked at Yellow, intrigued.

Based on her original timeline, Yellow—having never met Red—should’ve still been wandering the Viridian Forest, living peacefully as the mysterious “Hat Boy”... or rather, Hat Girl.

“So,” he asked, “did your family agree to let you come?”

Yellow hesitated, then nodded. “My uncle said it was okay...”

August smiled. “Alright then. From today on, you’re my student.”

Technically, he was still a lecturer at Rainbow University.

He’d never taught a single class in years.

Maybe it was time to fulfill at least one teaching obligation.

Yellow’s eyes lit up with joy.

She was still a child after all.

Gary, however, looked deeply confused.

This wasn’t the August he knew at all.

Wasn’t he the type to pile on impossible trials, break your spirit, and only then declare, “You barely pass”?

Has he turned over a new leaf...?

“Hey, August,” Gary asked tentatively, “about those two favors I still owe you... can we just call them off?”

August turned slowly. A familiar glint lit up his eyes.

“You tell me.”

“And actually, thanks for reminding me. I almost forgot.”

Gary: “.....”

He wanted nothing more than to slap himself.

Why can’t I keep my mouth shut?!

...

Yellow’s arrival brought a new spark to August’s otherwise idle days.

Now, in addition to slacking off, he had teaching duties too.

“Like this—channel your power inward, then release it toward the Pokémon...”

Slowpoke, his designated practice dummy, wore an unexpectedly blissful expression.

Once Yellow finished projecting the [Viridian Power], Slowpoke slowly opened its eyes.

Yellow, having used a large amount of energy, yawned with exhaustion.

August handed her a specially-prepared Pokéblock.

After eating it, Yellow’s fatigue instantly faded.

“Alright, next stage.”

August led her to the lawn outside the manor.

There, in the wide open space—

Rayquaza lay coiled on the grass, while Zinnia enthusiastically scrubbed its massive body clean.

When she saw August approaching, she tensed—worried he might recall Rayquaza into its Poké Ball.

But seeing that he merely brought Yellow over and had no such intention, she relaxed—then looked curiously at the child beside him.

From her recent observations, she’d already gathered that Yellow possessed some sort of special power.

“Don’t be afraid,” August said softly. “Try using the [Viridian Power] to sense Rayquaza’s emotions.”

He gestured for Rayquaza to cooperate.

Using the power to connect with a legendary Pokémon was a great way to develop one’s ability.

As Yellow released the [Viridian Power]—

Rayquaza’s gaze shifted from indifferent to curious, and finally to gentle.

Zinnia felt like she had just stumbled onto a huge secret.

Could this be... the key to how August earned Rayquaza’s trust?

She grew visibly excited. Her eyes locked onto Yellow with new intensity.

Startled by her stare, Yellow broke concentration.

Rayquaza blinked at her in confusion, then turned its gaze to Zinnia.

It exhaled once—

And with that, blasted Zinnia clear across the lawn.

Zinnia lay sprawled in the grass, half-winded and stunned—

But somehow, she only became more convinced.

I knew it... I’ve uncovered the truth!

---

T/N: YELLOWWWWWW AAAA MUST PROTECT!!!

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!