Chapter 7: Chapter 7: Jarilo-VI, Frozen Tundra
Amon received a hounding from Pom-Pom due to turning the broom closet into a whole apartment. Pom-Pom initially believed that he had carved out the wall of the express and attached a whole room to the carriage.
It took a while to explain that the space within the carriage was the exact same and only space was expanded within the broom closet. When asked how he did it Amon simply smiled and replied, "If you have a problem, just hit it. Usually works."
Everyone soon gathered at the parlor car ready to make the jump. Amon sat down on the comfy sofas as he admired Pom-Pom's dedication to furnishing quality. Strangely the desire to dress Pom-Pom in different outfits started blooming. He remembered that Ruan Mei would have a few cake pets. He would snatch one later on, the Shader Cat would be his.
The lurch of the train suddenly starting caused a small feeling of discomfort as the warped to a frozen planet. "The stability of the rails is not suitable for continuing. Most likely the presence of a stellaron."
Amon gazed at the frozen planet. The historical void had shown that the planet was not always a frozen wasteland. How pitiful, the blind leading the blind. If the stellaron wanted to play god, he would kick it down a notch.
Dan Heng, March, Stelle and him were assigned to go down while Welt looked disappointed with Himeko comforting him. Amon left a note in front of the Herta doll before leaving and sealing his room leaving it as a normal broom closet.
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Stelle and March 7th were shivering as the blessings of the trailblaaze was not enough to withstand all of the cold. Dan Heng looked used to adapting to situations while Amon was... There was no point in talking about Amon. He had too many different methods to make himself warm.
The continued walking until they discovered someone hiding under a pile of snow. Amon waited for the others to approach as he discreetly released several ravens to keep an eye out on the city of Belebog. The man jolted up with a howl as Dan Heng poked his spear into the man's rear end.
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//Nanook Aeon of Destruction//
Nanook watched on as multiple legions of anti-matter soldiers swarmed the galaxies. However especially after the encounter with that thing, nothing seemed right. The soldiers swarmed the lands and spread destruction. However something was amiss, something wasn't quite right.
Everywhere in space his anti-matter legions roamed around yet he felt something off about his troops. Suddenly they all froze for a moment, those that did not freeze were killed by those that froze before returning to acting like a statue. Nanook watched in confusion as every frozen anti-matter legion soldier turned their head at the same time to look at him.
Nanook was spooked but what happened after left him avoiding anywhere with the hint of Amon. The anti-matter legion didn't have monocles, but they raised their hand and cupped a circle around the right eye. It was obviously clear to Nanook. It was the scary bastard with the monocle.
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//Jarilo-VI//
The man instantly howled in pain after Dan Heng's spear met his rear end. He introduced himself as Sampo. Amon admired the man, he was the spitting image of a swindler, he would know. Sampo's hands rubbed together like a shady business man as Amon deducted a few points. A true swindler does not look like a swindler but does it elegantly.
The man rambled on and on about some silvermane guards. That was until Amon stepped up.
Sampo observed Amon with a bit of a shiver. Something about the monocled man didn't sit right with him, this was coming from a masked fool.
The glint in the crystal monocle made him shudder as Amon started speaking.
"I see you have the workings of a true businessman. Just from our short few exchanges I can assure you, that you have one of the finest business acumen I've ever seen." Sampo had not expected such praise considering Dan Heng's stern face, March 7th's disgust towards Amon and Stelle who was taking notes due to a sticky note on Amon's back reading "Swindler get's swindled."
Amon raised his hand for a handshake as he patted Sampo's shoulder. "Dear friend, I've noticed that you've likely been salvaging for opportunities within this cold blizzard. It must be tough for you. I can sympathise, I too was once like you."
Sampo was feeling praised and also confused. It felt like his spirits had become lighter although in reality his pockets became lighter as Amon offered his Sampo his money back.
"You see friend, we exited from a different area but somehow ended up lost. Perhaps for a small fee, you could guide us back?"
Sampo looked at the bag of shields before agreeing not knowing that he simply was returned his money.
His face grinned wide as he had never been treated with such respect before and nor had such business come by often. "No worries my friends, dear Sampo Kowski never leaves friends lost in the cold."
His hands rubbed together furiously as he signaled for them to follow. Amon's smile never left his face, it was always fun swindling someone once in a while. His act wasn't done yet as his ravens signaled the presence of silvermane guards.
The sound of clanging boots echoed from the direction they were heading as Sampo saw them "Quick the silvermane guards, hide!" March 7th was the only one that attempted to hide only for Amon to stop her. Sampo was caught quickly as a blonde man who Amon realised was Gepard took the front.
"Stop criminals and state your identity!"
Amon looked at the caught Sampo who was trying to explain that he was doing legitimate business. Gepard didn't look convinced as Amon's monocle glinted in anticipation for Sampo's look of despair.
"My dear guards I assure you my business this time is legitimate! I even have proof of our dealings~ We had a deal that was to guide them back in return for a small payment."
Gepard raised an eyebrow before asking Amon who signaled the rest to keep quiet.
"What that gentlemen is saying is only half correct. In fact, we suspect he was trying to swindle us as we came from beyond the sky. We have proof of that as well. The man approached us after we had caught him hiding in the snow. We deemed it extremely suspicious and hence went along with him to what he claimed as a city."
Sampo's face became ashen then betrayed and then furious as he struggled "Lies guards, we had a deal."
Amon waved March over to show Gepard the photos as the man took it all in. The evidence was too perfect however the mention of a dealing and Sampo's evidence was not taken into account.
Gepard looked at Sampo "You say that you have the payment as evidence of your dealings?" Sampo nodded and pulled out the sack of shields. "You see? This is the bag of shields that they paid me in return for guiding them to Belebog. I didn't know that they were from beyond the sky."
Amon coughed "It does not change the fact you approached us with suspicious intent and behavior." Gepard stared at Sampo in disbelief before pointing it out as Sampo's last hope ran out.
"Sampo, you're coming with us to be detained." Sampo looked shocked "But I showed you the payment!"
Gepard pointed to the sack, "As far as I'm aware and can read, the name tag on the sack spells Sampo Kowski."
Amon's grin grew abnormally wide as it was hidden by his tilted wide hat. However, his own fellow trailblazers saw the stuff of nightmares. They had watched a professional swindler at work, and the skill in which he did it was terrifying and they had no idea when it happened.
Sampo finally realised it was Amon. His spirits had been lifted when in fact it was his pockets. With the very same sack of money that had been returned to him, the weight of that money had been marked with interest and had sunk his spirits six feet under.
Amon's interest was never paid with money and Sampo found out.