Pokémon: My Titles Know No Limits! [279]

While Giovanni was en route to Kanto…

A live interview was airing from the Mossdeep City Hoenn TV studio.

The guests: International Police agent and Indigo League Champion Gary Oak, seated across from a local TV host.

“Everyone’s wondering—what caused Groudon and Kyogre to return to their slumber? Can you share anything about that?”

Gary: “Well… I can’t say too much. What I can tell you is that it had something to do with the third legendary Pokémon of Hoenn—Rayquaza.”

The host looked a little disappointed—not quite the juicy exclusive she was hoping for.

Still, she quickly pivoted: “Champion Gary, what kind of conviction drove you to stand against Groudon in battle?”

At this, Gary’s eyes lit up. He straightened his back and launched into a full speech:

“As an International Police officer, it was my duty—no question. I owe my strength to the guidance I’ve received since childhood from my grandfather, Professor Oak. And of course, my own perseverance and unwavering effort…”

Watching the previously stiff Gary suddenly become animated and eloquent, the host was caught completely off guard.

Only the furious hand signals from the director behind the camera snapped her back to reality. She quickly cut in:

“Ah, well—time’s short. Thank you, Champion Gary, for taking time out of your busy schedule to join us today, and thank you for your contributions to peace in Hoenn! Now let’s cut live to our reporter Gabby in Sootopolis, who’s on the ground with firsthand coverage of the Groudon and Kyogre battle!”

“Wait… this is Sootopolis?”

Seeing the near-total devastation onscreen, the host was stunned.

When she turned to look at Gary again—someone who had fought Groudon—her gaze carried a newfound respect.

…

Gary stepped out of the TV studio still riding a bit of a high.

Such a perfect chance to shine… and they cut me off!

He wondered whether Ash or his grandpa had seen the broadcast.

Outside the Pokémon Association building—

Thanks to August restraining Groudon and Kyogre using the [Red and Blue Orbs], the HQ here had survived intact. After some minor repairs, it was back in full operation.

He pushed open a conference room door.

August was lounging on a sofa, holding Gardevoir’s hand—possibly applying sunscreen.

Blue was whispering something to Sabrina, while occasionally shooting weird glances at Zinnia sulking in the corner.

As Gary entered, everyone turned to look.

“So, how does it feel being the great hero of Hoenn?” August asked, amused.

Gary, trying to play it cool despite his internal glee, gave a casual shrug. “It was alright.”

But the grin tugging at the corner of his mouth gave him away.

August saw right through him.

“You looked like you were enjoying yourself plenty during that interview…”

He pulled out a remote and clicked it.

The screen lit up with Gary’s broadcast.

“Even though my grandfather is Professor Oak, everything I’ve achieved is thanks to my own hard work…”

Watching himself brag on TV, Gary froze—his whole body cringing with secondhand embarrassment.

Watching the interview is ten times worse than giving it…

Elderly man, subway, smartphone.jpg

Face twisting in horror, Gary lunged and snatched the remote to turn it off.

August chuckled. “Well, since you’re so good in front of the camera, why don’t we make you the Kanto branch’s official spokesperson?”

Gary blinked.

“You’re being… nice?”

This wasn’t like August. Giving away such a spotlight-grabbing role with no strings? There had to be a catch.

August just waved it off.

Gary’s paranoia was nothing new.

“Just say yes or no.”

Tempted, wary, but unable to resist the offer, Gary gritted his teeth. “Fine. I’ll do it.”

…

This time, August really was being generous.

He’d heard from Steven how Gary had held his own against Groudon. Not a legendary takedown, but respectable—and worth rewarding.

So he’d arranged the interview… and now made him spokesperson.

Leaning back on the sofa with his head on Gardevoir’s lap, August opened the system interface.

He reviewed his latest reward options.

Faced with a choice between the [Draco Plate] and the [Red Chain], August hesitated… then picked the [Red Chain].

Not that the [Draco Plate] wasn’t powerful—but the [Red Chain] was far more practical for what lay ahead. He’d been getting updates from Sinnoh. Team Galactic was stirring again, and Cynthia had brought it up during their recent chats.

He’d promised to head to Sinnoh once the Hoenn crisis was over. He had no intention of breaking that promise.

He accepted the Red Chain into his inventory, then took a deep breath.

Now for the good part.

[You have singlehandedly stopped the battle between Groudon and Kyogre. Title Unlocked: “Please Stop Fighting!”]

August: “…”

Using a dead-serious tone to deliver peak sarcasm—this system is really fluent in passive-aggression.

He had stopped the fight, yes. But the cost?

He got double-teamed by Groudon and Kyogre. If not for taming Rayquaza and unlocking [Mega Evolution] with [Dragon Ascent], he’d have been smeared.

Whatever.

No point arguing with the system.

He turned to the reward options:

[1. Adamant Orb]
[2. Lustrous Orb]
[3. Griseous Orb]

“…Seriously?”

Didn’t I just defeat Hoenn’s ancient Pokémon? Why are the rewards all from Sinnoh’s legendaries?

It had to be related to choosing the [Red Chain].

Still, he wasn’t complaining. That jade orb had helped him tame Rayquaza—maybe these three could do the same for the Sinnoh trio?

Too bad he could only pick one.

Just as he was deciding, someone knocked at the door.

Steven walked in.

…

Groudon and Kyogre might have gone dormant, but that didn’t mean everything was settled.

“We’ve conducted emergency interrogations on the captured Magma and Aqua members. We’ve compiled a list of fugitives…”

Steven handed August a file.

Glancing through it, August raised an eyebrow.

Quite a few.

Magma still had two officers—Tabitha and Courtney—on the run. Aqua still had one, Shelly, unaccounted for. As for grunts, they were countless.

“…You shouldn’t have any trouble dealing with these guys, right?”

Honestly, August was confused.

Sure, half the original officer corps were still at large. But with the bosses captured, Groudon and Kyogre beaten, and their ideology shattered, these remnants couldn’t stir up much trouble.

So why show him this?

“August, I’d like to ask a favor…” Steven said. “I want to hand Maxie and Archie over to the International Police.”

August blinked.

“…You’re giving them back to me?”

He was a bit stunned.

These were Maxie and Archie—leaders of the two biggest crime syndicates in Hoenn.

Sure, he’d captured them. But Steven was seriously just handing them over?

It felt… oddly intimate.

“Magma and Aqua are too deeply rooted in Hoenn,” Steven explained. “We can’t clean them out overnight. If we keep their bosses here, there’s a risk their subordinates will try to break them out.”

He was being blunt.

Steven wanted to prosecute and imprison them locally.

But Hoenn was in tatters. Rebuilding was the priority—and they didn’t have the time or manpower to babysit these two.

Steven looked apologetic, clearly feeling like he was dumping a headache on August.

Which… wasn’t far off.

August mulled it over.

Kanto was his turf. Even Team Rocket played nice under his watch. He wasn’t remotely worried about Magma or Aqua causing problems there.

And hey—right now his villa’s underground prison only held Pryce and Matori. Felt kind of empty.

Why not turn it into a cross-regional villain hall of fame?

“Sure. I’ll take them.”

“…You will?” Steven looked stunned.

He’d fully expected a rejection.

August’s easy agreement made him feel even guiltier.

“Are you sure? You could sleep on it—”

August: “...?”

---

T/N: SHELLY IS SO FINEEE AND COURTNEY??? AUGASFIG

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!