Pokémon: My Titles Know No Limits! [177]

“…So you just left Gary alone at the Viridian Gym?” Sabrina asked curiously.

August was indignant. “What do you mean left him there? This is training—training!”

“Sure, if you say so.”

Sabrina glanced at the group chat, where Gary had already changed his nickname to “Beware of August’s Endless Scams.” She made no further comment.

“Let’s not talk about that…” August turned to Blue. “Lance told me there’s been a sighting of Silver in Azalea Town, in Johto. Do you want to come with me?”

Blue’s eyes lit up at the news, but after a moment of thought, she shook her head.

“The two of us together would be too obvious. If Team Rocket or the Masked Man’s group spotted us, it might ruin your plans. I’ll stay in Saffron City and wait for you instead.”

August had been deliberately provoking a war between Team Rocket and the Masked Man’s faction.

There was no need to worry about Team Rocket, but if the Masked Man discovered that August was behind the manipulation, the situation could quickly turn into both factions uniting against him. That would be a complete disaster.

Blue’s concern was valid. Besides, August’s main goal this time was simply to recruit Silver into the Kanto branch—he wasn’t planning to get directly involved in the conflict between the two factions just yet.

“Alright, I’ll go alone then,” August said.

Azalea Town… if he remembered correctly, Kurt, the Poké Ball craftsman, lived there.

Professor Oak seemed to have a good relationship with him…

...

“I am quite familiar with Kurt… Are you looking to commission some Poké Balls from him?”

When August called Professor Oak, that was the first thing the professor asked.

“That’s part of it, but mostly I have some other matters to take care of in Azalea Town.”

August didn’t specify exactly what those matters were, and Professor Oak didn’t press for details. It was natural for an International Police agent to have secret missions.

Speaking of the International Police…

“I appreciate you looking after Gary all this time.”

Professor Oak had already heard about Gary joining the International Police from the boy himself.

Of course, based on Gary’s version of the story, August was basically a demon who had tricked and tormented him to no end.

But Professor Oak had seen the changes in his grandson.

The sports car was gone. His cheerleading squad—who used to pretend to be his girlfriends—had been reassigned to take care of his Pokémon instead.

And just now, Gary had even called to complain that August had “tricked” him into becoming Viridian Gym’s temporary Gym Leader.

Yet in just a few short months, all of Gary’s bad habits had disappeared.

It was obvious who had played a major role in that transformation.

August waved off the gratitude. “This was all Gary’s own hard work. I just helped unlock his potential.”

Finally, someone who understood his good intentions!

“Oh, by the way, how’s Ash doing? I haven’t heard anything about him for a while,” August asked.

He had been so busy dealing with Team Rocket that he hadn’t seen Ash since Pewter City.

“Him? He just told me he earned the Marsh Badge not long ago. You didn’t run into him in Saffron City?” Professor Oak replied.

“?”

August turned to look at Sabrina, who was lounging on the sofa. He raised an eyebrow in question.

Sabrina thought for a moment, then shook her head. “I haven’t heard of any challenger named Ash.”

Ash was the kind of idiot you’d never forget after meeting once. If Sabrina said she hadn’t seen him, then he must have earned his badge while she and August were away on New Island.

Missing him was a bit of a shame, but there would be plenty of opportunities in the future.

After chatting with Professor Oak about some of the League’s recent academic discoveries, August hung up the call once the professor promised to put in a good word for him with Kurt.

August turned back to Sabrina. “You heard that, right? Even Professor Oak agrees—I was doing this for Gary’s own good!”

That was the Professor Oak Seal of Approval!

Sabrina, still flipping through her book, gave him a perfunctory nod.

Do you even believe that yourself?

August: “.....”

One day, I’ll make you admit it.

---

Johto Region – Azalea Town

When it came to Azalea Town, the first thing that stood out in August’s memory wasn’t the Azalea Gym—it was Slowpoke Well.

As the town’s symbol, Slowpoke were revered as sacred beings here.

Adapting to local customs, August—having already altered his appearance—released his own Slowpoke.

The newly released Slowpoke stretched lazily and then… flopped onto the ground.

“…I’m talking to you. At least pretend to have some energy. What happened to the hardworking Slowpoke I used to know?” August nudged the yawning Pokémon.

He had caught Slowpoke in the Safari Zone back in Fuchsia City, but with everything going on with Team Rocket, he had neglected its training. And now… it had turned into this.

“Slow~?”

Slowpoke blinked at August drowsily and then… rolled over.

“…..”

Watching his Pokémon completely slack off, August wondered if he had been too soft on it lately, letting it become this shameless.

Feeling August’s scrutinizing gaze, Slowpoke shivered.

Sensing impending doom, it quickly scrambled to its feet, forcing itself to look alert.

August finally nodded in approval.

At least my authority still works.

“Alright, let’s go meet the contact.”

August led Slowpoke to the edge of Slowpoke Well, where another trainer stood with a Slowpoke of their own.

The two made eye contact before the stranger spoke first. “Slowpoke tail?”

August responded, “Cloyster crab stick.”

The passphrase confirmed their identities.

The trainer handed August a map and a Poké Ball.

“The map marks locations the target has frequented recently. The Arcanine inside the Poké Ball has memorized his scent.”

August took the items and nodded. Then, he glanced at the Slowpoke at the trainer’s feet. “That Ditto’s pretty good.”

“…Was it that obvious?” The trainer looked down at his ‘Slowpoke.’

A moment later, the ‘Slowpoke’ wobbled and shifted—transforming back into a beady-eyed Ditto.

“It’s hard to notice, but a real Slowpoke’s tail gives off a distinct scent,” August said with a smile.

With that, he turned and left, leaving the other trainer standing there in deep thought.

So that’s why the Slowpoke I met before always ignored my Ditto in disguise…

Meanwhile, August ducked into an alley. After verifying the map’s authenticity, he stowed it away.

Then, altering his appearance once more, he made his way toward Kurt’s residence.

---

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!