Pokémon: My Titles Know No Limits! [198]

Hearing August’s advice, Misty nodded repeatedly, fully intending to follow through.

She was well aware of just how terrible her sisters were as Gym Leaders.

With the reassessment complete and everything sorted, August was just about to leave when a familiar notification rang in his mind.

[As an official Gym Assessment Officer, you have successfully completed the evaluation and reassessment of all Kanto Gyms. You have earned the title: "Competent Gym Examiner."]

Huh?

For once, the system wasn’t throwing shade at him.

Has it finally developed a conscience?

August felt a rare sense of satisfaction.

But now wasn’t the time to check his rewards.

Looking at Ash, who was preparing to leave, August casually remarked, “By the way, Ash, Gary’s gotten a lot stronger lately. You should step up your training unless you want to lose to him.”

Lately, he’d been cranking up the difficulty for Gary—might as well give Ash a heads-up so he wouldn’t fall too far behind.

Ash, however, blinked in confusion. “Gary’s been getting stronger? But he’s been texting me all this stuff about how exhausting being a Trainer is, saying he just wants to take it easy and that I’ve already left him in the dust…”

“…Was he lying to me?”

August nearly laughed out loud.

Oh, Gary. You’re even playing mind games now?

Still, technically—

“He’s not exactly lying,” August said with a smirk. “He really has been exhausted lately.”

“But that doesn’t mean he hasn’t been improving. Quite the opposite—he’s progressing fast.”

“If you want to level up your game, head to Cinnabar Island and look for Blaine. Just mention my name—he’ll help you.”

If Blaine could properly discipline Ash’s Charizard, then even against Gary, Ash might stand a chance.

“Thanks, August!”

Ash beamed with gratitude.

If August hadn’t warned him, he might’ve actually believed Gary’s bluff.

“Keep at it—I’ve got high hopes for you.”

August gave him a pat on the shoulder before watching Ash and the others depart.

“You’re really piling on the pressure for Gary,” Blue teased.

August scoffed. “What pressure? I’m just stating facts.”

“And honestly, with how Ash and Gary are, Gary might even thank me for this.”

Blue had been about to argue, but then she remembered seeing Gary and Ash at Pewter Gym—arms slung around each other like old friends.

…Okay.

August might have a point.

“So, where to next?” Blue adjusted her hat.

“Back to Saffron City. I need to discuss our next move with Sabrina.”

August released his Salamence and tossed it a Pokéblock.

But the dragon shook its head.

This wasn’t enough energy to fly all the way to Saffron.

At least two blocks.

August raised an eyebrow.

His Pokémon were negotiating now?

Still, he sighed and handed over another block.

Fine. A hundred kilometers for two blocks—I can afford that.

With Salamence now satisfied, August turned to Blue and Silver.

“Team Rocket and the Masked Corp are already clashing in Johto. We can’t just sit back and watch—where’s the fun in that?”

…Is ‘fun’ really the issue here?

Blue internally sighed.

But truthfully, she had been looking forward to taking on the Masked Corp.

---

Johto—Goldenrod City, Team Rocket Base

Giovanni turned a small fragment of a broken mask between his fingers.

“So this is what’s been controlling my men?”

After Petrel and Ariana’s disastrous failure, many of Team Rocket’s captured operatives had turned against them—attacking their own allies.

Following an investigation, Giovanni had identified the culprit—

The masks the captives had been forced to wear.

“Yes, Boss,” Archer confirmed with a respectful nod.

As one of Giovanni’s most trusted executives, Archer had remained steadfast in his loyalty.

“What did the research division find?” Giovanni asked, absentmindedly stroking his Persian.

“There’s evidence of psychic influence, possibly hypnosis,” Archer replied.

“For now, our best countermeasures are Dark- and Ghost-type moves that target psychic abilities. A more effective solution is still under development.”

Giovanni set the fragment aside and nodded.

Though Team Rocket had lost a number of researchers during the New Island incident, the organization still had a solid foundation.

“Prioritize retrieving our men,” Giovanni ordered. “And what about our probe at Mahogany Gym?”

Archer hesitated before answering.

“No irregularities detected. When we sent a test subject, Pryce turned them over to the League immediately—no extra steps, no hesitation. We have no solid proof connecting him to the Masked Man.”

Giovanni frowned.

The results seemed too clean.

His instincts told him Pryce was suspicious.

After all, there was no way an Ice-type specialist could suddenly appear in Johto without reason.

There was only one solution—

“I’ll go myself,” Giovanni declared, standing.

Hearing this, Archer looked uneasy. “Boss, your health—”

“It’s nothing,” Giovanni dismissed, clearly unwilling to discuss it further.

He knew his own body.

But that was exactly why he was in a hurry.

He had to find Silver—

Everything else could wait.

His expression darkened with resolve.

Seeing Giovanni’s determination, Archer had no choice but to comply, making arrangements to mobilize their forces.

---

By the time August returned, Sabrina was already seated in the garden, sipping afternoon tea alongside her Alakazam.

She looked up as he approached, tilting her head in curiosity.

“Weren’t you all out for a family dinner? Why are you back so soon?”

August blinked.

“…Family dinner?”

Where the hell did that come from?

“We were working,” he corrected. “Helping Lance with some minor issues.”

“Didn’t tell you because you had Gym duties to handle.”

“Hmph.”

Sabrina clearly did not believe him.

“…”

August sighed. “Believe what you want. But if you’re so eager to join group activities, we’ve got a big operation coming up.”

Sabrina raised an eyebrow.

“Oh? What kind of operation?”

“We’re heading to Johto—”

“To take down the Masked Corp.”

---

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!