Pokémon: My Titles Know No Limits! [267]

Zinnia slowly woke up.

As her consciousness returned, the first thing she saw was an unfamiliar ceiling.

Where am I...

She blinked, staring blankly at the unfamiliar surroundings, her mind foggy as she tried to recall what had happened.

The Sky Pillar... the League agent... the Dragon God...

The last thing Zinnia remembered was flailing and shouting as the Dragon God grabbed her and they soared through the sky.

"....."

How humiliating.

A member of the Draconid people... and she had passed out like that. Right under the Dragon God’s gaze, no less.

A failure like her could never earn the Dragon God’s approval.

The thought cast a shadow over her heart, leaving her feeling utterly despondent.

Just then, the infirmary door was pushed open.

A girl walked in, followed by a Chansey. Upon seeing Zinnia awake, she looked a little surprised.

"You're awake? Judging by your condition earlier, I thought you'd be out a while longer."

On instinct, Zinnia reached for the Poké Balls at her waist—only to grab at empty air. "Who are you?! Where's that League lackey?! Where’s the Dragon God?!"

Before the girl could reply, a voice all too familiar—and all too hateful—sounded from behind her.

"Right here."

Zinnia looked up—and immediately saw that detestable face, wearing that detestable smile, walking in with those detestable steps. As he entered, he even waved the Master Ball in his hand at her in that detestable way.

...

The atmosphere inside the infirmary grew extremely tense (at least, according to Zinnia).

Zinnia glared at August with the kind of murderous look that could pierce steel, while August, completely unfazed, chatted with the girl about what to have for dinner.

Minutes dragged on like this. Zinnia tried to maintain her seething fury, but the delicious descriptions coming out of August's mouth kept luring her in. Before she realized it, she had secretly swallowed several mouthfuls of drool.

Finally, she couldn't take it anymore.

"What exactly do you want from me?!"

Hearing her outburst, August and the girl finally stopped their conversation. August looked at her strangely.

"What do you mean what do I want? Weren't you the one who blocked me at the Sky Pillar and interfered with official duties?"

Zinnia retorted indignantly, "The Sky Pillar is the sacred land of the Draconid people—"

"Do you have property rights?" August shot back without hesitation.

Zinnia stiffened, her comeback stuck in her throat.

"Anyway," August said breezily, pulling out a handful of Poké Balls—Zinnia's Pokémon—"I’ll let bygones be bygones. Take your Pokémon and leave."

After all, Zinnia hadn’t really done anything malicious. August had only restrained her earlier to prevent any disruptions during his capture of Rayquaza.

Hearing she was being released, Zinnia froze again.

But there was still something she couldn’t let go of.

"What about the Dragon God—"

"You mean my Rayquaza?" August said with a casual wave of his hand. "Blue, escort her out."

...

After leaving the infirmary, August was headed back to his office when he spotted Gary in the lounge.

Gary was sitting in front of a computer, grinning like an idiot.

Curious, August walked up behind him. "What are you laughing about?"

"It’s Ash..." Gary started, but halfway through his sentence, he realized who was speaking. In a panic, he scrambled to shut down the computer.

But before he could move, he felt his arm stiffen, frozen in place.

Glancing sideways, he saw Sabrina standing there with a cup of coffee, smiling at him with wicked amusement.

Gary was doomed.

Meanwhile, August leaned over and looked at the computer screen.

The foremost window was a chat app.

[Call Me Champion: [Video]]

[Call Me Champion: Just teamed up with August to beat Rayquaza today! So much for being the Indigo League Champion, huh? (hands-on-hips, chin-up emoji)]

[Ash: Rayquaza? It looks really strong!]

[Call Me Champion: Awesome, right?! August managed to capture it, but it was thanks to me holding off a powerful enemy...]

[Ash: Really? Tell me more!]

[Call Me Champion: Well, it was like this...]

"...Powerful enemy, huh?" August turned to look at the stiff-faced Gary.

Even though he was currently paralyzed by Sabrina’s psychic power, Gary still couldn't help but shudder at August’s words.

"August, I can explain—"

August waved a hand dismissively.

"No need. I understand perfectly, Champion Gary..."

No, you don't understand...

The calmer August sounded, the less secure Gary felt.

Before he could try begging for mercy, August thoughtfully stroked his chin and said, "Actually, it’s perfect. We’re short a volunteer for an infiltration mission into Team Magma. Since you’re so capable, the organization has decided—you’re our man! Good luck, Champion Gary!"

The glint in August’s eyes was merciless.

"NOOO—!"

Gary tried to struggle, but August had already turned and walked away, leaving behind a despairing silhouette.

Of course, before he left, August thoughtfully forwarded Gary’s Rayquaza battle video to his own phone.

Got to admit, Gary’s camera work wasn’t half bad. Maybe he had a future as a cameraman if this Champion thing didn’t work out.

Nearby, Sabrina, feeling very pleased with herself, sipped her coffee and turned another page in her novel, idly stroking her Espeon.

...

Having finished assigning Gary’s "new job," August returned to Giovanni’s office.

The moment he opened the door, he saw Mew and Celebi chasing each other around like it was a playground.

During the Rayquaza capture operation, August had brought not only Mew but also Celebi. In the end, though, Mewtwo and the [Verdant Orb] had been so effective that Celebi hadn't even needed to lift a finger.

August asked Gardevoir to make him a cup of tea.

Then, he shoved Slowpoke aside, scooped up the napping Eevee from Giovanni’s chair, and sat down to check the system notifications.

[By channeling Mewtwo’s power and using the Verdant Orb, you earned Rayquaza’s recognition and successfully captured it, unlocking the title "Sky Sovereign."]

Having long grown used to the system’s passive-aggressive tone, August even found normal praise suspicious now.

Is the system being sarcastic again...?

After a moment’s reflection, he gave up trying to figure it out and turned his attention to the rewards the system had offered:

[1. Dragon Ascent TM]

[2. Red Chain]

[3. Draco Plate]

Hissss...

All thoughts of sarcasm forgotten, August's eyes lit up.

The system's actually being generous this time!

He wanted all three rewards.

The first one, the [Dragon Ascent TM], could teach Rayquaza a move that would allow it to [Mega Evolve] immediately, skyrocketing its strength.

The second, the [Red Chain], was a legendary artifact used to control Palkia and Dialga.

The third, the [Draco Plate]... well, no need to even explain that one.

Staring at the choices, August was genuinely torn.

"Eevee, which one should I pick?" he asked, looking down at the little fox in his arms.

"Eevee?" Eevee tilted its head blankly.

"Right... you’re just an Eevee."

Hearing that, Eevee immediately puffed up its cheeks in indignation.

August hurriedly apologized and spent a long time coaxing it back to happiness.

At that moment, his phone rang.

The caller ID showed it was Steven.

He probably finished smoothing things over after the Rayquaza incident, August guessed.

He picked up.

Steven’s voice came through immediately. "August, how’s the situation on your end?"

August patted the Poké Ball containing Rayquaza. "All wrapped up."

Steven: "All wrapped up as in...?"

Captured by Rayquaza—or captured Rayquaza?

August simply forwarded the video he had taken.

There was a long silence on the other end before Steven finally squeezed out two words:

"Impressive."

Just two words, but packed with disbelief, admiration, and awe.

"Not bad, huh?" August replied, modest but not too modest.

No sense pretending otherwise—you capture a Rayquaza, you deserve some pride.

Steven couldn't help but chuckle, though his heart was full of complicated emotions.

He had always known August was destined to reach the top—but this? It was happening way faster than expected.

Calming his emotions, Steven filled August in on the situation at the Pokémon Association.

To put it simply, some folks at the Hoenn Pokémon Association were extremely displeased about August’s "reckless" capture of Rayquaza.

They dredged up memories of the Association’s past failed attempt to capture Rayquaza—which had ended disastrously when Rayquaza broke free and rampaged.

And they worried that if August had failed, Rayquaza might have gone on a revenge-fueled rampage.

August scoffed at that.

Oh, so the Association can use high-tech capture devices, but I can’t capture it fair and square with strength and recognition? What kind of double standard is that?

Naturally, Steven had already shut down that line of thinking on the spot.

And now that August had successfully captured Rayquaza, there was no longer anything to argue about.

As for the lingering grumbles inside the Association—

"Tell them," August said lazily, "they can either take it up with my Rayquaza, or file a complaint with my bosses at Interpol."

Steven burst out laughing.

"Now that you have Rayquaza, even if Team Magma and Team Aqua really awaken Groudon and Kyogre, there’s nothing to fear," Steven said.

"...Don’t jinx it," August said, half-joking.

The words had barely left his mouth when he heard hurried footsteps and urgent voices from Steven’s end of the call.

August: ".....?"

No way. I didn’t just curse us, right?

Five minutes later, Steven’s voice returned—but it was much heavier than before.

"I just got the reports. Team Magma attacked the Slateport Shipyard. Despite the workers and guards fighting back, they still managed to steal the Submarine Explorer 1..."

"And at the same time, the Mossdeep Space Center—the one you warned me about—was hit too. The attackers were confirmed to be Team Rocket, and Giovanni himself might have been involved. They pulled off a textbook rapid assault and retreat. We’re still counting the losses..."

"August, you really jinxed us."

Steven’s voice grew smaller and more defeated with every word.

But honestly, you couldn’t blame him. Anyone who just heard such a perfect storm of bad news after celebrating a huge success would be devastated.

August: "....."

I really was just joking...

But reality didn’t care about human intentions. What was bound to happen would happen, joke or no joke.

"So what now?"

As for Team Magma, that was one thing—but Team Rocket...

August felt certain that Giovanni had taken advantage of the chaos to snatch Deoxys’ core.

Steven quickly steadied himself. "I’m calling an emergency online meeting. We’ll gather the Elites and the Gym Leaders of Hoenn to discuss countermeasures."

"When?"

"Tomorrow. Everyone needs a bit of time to prepare."

"Count me in," August said. "But before that, I’m heading to the Mossdeep Space Center. I want to confirm exactly what Giovanni stole."

"Got it. I’ll notify Mossdeep to cooperate with you."

They went over a few more details, and then August hung up.

He opened his comms app and sent a message to Doga, asking if he had managed to install the transmitter on the Submarine Explorer 1 as instructed.

Taking the cup of tea Gardevoir handed him, August downed it in one gulp—startling Gardevoir—then sent a quick message to Sabrina and Blue to watch over the base.

Leaving Slowpoke and Eevee behind, August grabbed Gardevoir, Mew, and Celebi, and headed for the helipad.

After thinking it over, he released Rayquaza.

Climbing onto the mighty dragon's back, August shot into the sky, flying straight toward the Mossdeep Space Center!

---

At the same time, in the cafeteria—

Having just finished a huge meal, Zinnia, led by Blue, was preparing to leave when she caught sight of August soaring into the sky atop Rayquaza.

For some reason, she found herself rooted to the spot, unable to move.

After a long hesitation, Zinnia turned to Blue and asked, a little awkwardly:

"Um... are you guys at Interpol still hiring?"

---

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!