Pokémon: My Titles Know No Limits! [253]

“The device that Team Aqua stole is gone!” Roxanne said grimly.

Under normal circumstances, with both her and Officer Jenny keeping constant surveillance on Team Aqua, the stolen device should’ve still been in the warehouse.

Now that it was missing… there was only one explanation: the device had already been moved before they discovered this group of grunts.

The realization made Roxanne frustrated. She had locked in on this Team Aqua hideout as quickly as she could, but even then, they’d still slipped away with the goods.

August, however, didn’t seem particularly surprised.

Mainly because taking down this batch of Team Aqua members had been too easy—he hadn’t encountered a single officer.

Team Aqua attacked the president of Devon Corp and stole a critical device, and they didn’t even send an executive?

Even though August usually looked down on Hoenn’s Team Aqua and Team Magma, they surely weren’t so incompetent that they’d neglect something this basic...

As for the missing device, it was almost certainly taken by the executive who should have been here.

Still, August expressed regret cooperatively and offered Roxanne a few words of consolation.

With the culprits apprehended and the item unaccounted for—

“I’ll leave the rest of these Team Aqua small fry to you and Officer Jenny,” August said.

Roxanne blinked. “Leave them to... us? Mr. August, you mean—?”

“Mhm, we’ve got something else to handle. We’ll be heading out now. Let Steven know I went to find a place to stay,” August replied with a smile.

Roxanne didn’t understand—why would August, who had Steven Stone as a close friend, go find lodging on his own?

August simply smiled without explaining. Then he waved to Gary—who was still locked in battle with a particularly stubborn Spheal—and strolled away with the others, leaving Roxanne and Officer Jenny behind in the warehouse.

In an instant, the once-bustling warehouse was left with nothing but a pile of unconscious Team Aqua members and a few straggling Pokémon, most of which Gary had already dealt with.

Exchanging a glance, Roxanne and Officer Jenny sighed and quickly radioed in for reinforcements to help transport the captured criminals.

...

After leaving the warehouse, the group—now dressed like casual tourists—walked down the road.

Mewtwo, far too conspicuous, had been returned to his Master Ball for the time being.

Gardevoir looked around with curiosity. Born in Kanto, this was her first time visiting the Hoenn region.

They say there are lots of Gardevoir in Hoenn… I wonder if I’ll meet any of my kind.

Gary, meanwhile, tossed a Poké Ball and knocked out a wild Zigzagoon that had been happily munching on a tree berry.

He turned to August. “We’re really not going back to Devon Corp?”

There was a hint of regret in his tone. If they stayed until evening, maybe they’d be treated to a fancy dinner. He’d been curious what a Devon banquet would be like...

August’s gaze shifted from Eevee, who was now chasing a Chimecho in chaotic circles, back to Gary. “Steven’s got too much on his plate—let’s not add to it.”

The truth was, August didn’t return to Devon for two reasons. First, Steven was already swamped juggling League duties and company business. Second, August was conducting a covert operation this time—staying too long with Steven could risk exposure. Even if Team Aqua and Team Magma were incompetent, loose lips were always a risk.

Gary nodded in understanding.

Yeah… Steven’s dad was just attacked and hospitalized. Trying to mooch a meal off them right now would be beyond tactless.

As this thought crossed his mind, Gary casually threw another Poké Ball and caught a passing Wurmple.

Sabrina raised an eyebrow. “I’ve been meaning to ask… Gary, why are you catching all these wild Pokémon?”

Since they’d left the warehouse, he’d already caught six or seven random wild Pokémon—common ones you’d find pretty much anywhere.

Even if Gary’s strength was middling at best, he was technically a Champion. From her perspective, there was no value in catching such ordinary Pokémon.

Gary puffed up his chest. “This is my contribution to improving human-Pokémon harmony!”

Sabrina, Blue: “?”

August didn’t hesitate to call him out. “His grandpa told him to catch more local Pokémon while he’s in Hoenn to help with behavior studies and expand the Pokédex.”

And just like that, Sabrina and Blue understood—it was a task from Professor Oak.

“Speaking of which, Gary,” August said casually, “do you really not remember that employee forum site you mentioned earlier?”

“Of course I rememb—wait, I mean, don’t remember!” Gary nearly slipped up before scrambling to correct himself.

August didn’t push him on the obvious contradiction. Instead, he sighed with exaggerated disappointment.

“That’s a shame. I was hoping to get in touch with some of those former Mauville staff members… Even if they were laid off, they were still top-tier talents and know Hoenn well. If we could recruit some as informants, it’d make our work a lot easier.”

“If anything comes of it, you’d get partial credit too.”

“Too bad…”

As he spoke, August shook his head and sighed, playing the part perfectly.

Wait a second…

Gary suddenly felt a wave of guilt. Had he misjudged August? Was he actually doing something serious here?

If that were the case, then he was the one getting in the way by withholding info.

The thought made Gary nervous.

August, noticing the change in expression, was inwardly amused but kept his face puzzled. “Something wrong?”

“No, it’s just… if it’s that important…” Gary hesitated, then clenched his jaw. “Maybe I can dig through my browser history—see if I can find it.”

He pulled out his phone and began searching with theatrical determination.

The truth? That URL had been bookmarked in his favorites the whole time.

Behind his back, August casually flashed an “OK” gesture to Sabrina and Blue.

Both of them sighed in unison.

Poor Gary...

Completely played by August.

As the two girls watched, Gary slapped his thigh dramatically and exclaimed, “Found it!”

“August, I just sent you the forum link!”

He turned, beaming, ready to bask in some well-earned praise—

And saw that familiar smile creep onto August’s face. A smile Gary had seen countless times before.

The kind that always meant—

He’d been had.

---

T/N: i was gonna say poor gary but i realized bro does this to hismelf

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!