Before the blond man could finish counting, our old Sampo had already sensibly jumped out on his own. He was just about to rub his hands together and say a few flattering words when the man suddenly waved his hand, forcing Sampo to swallow the words that had reached the tip of his tongue.
"Hehehe, Sampo, you don't recognize who I am anymore?"
Just as old Sampo stood there awkwardly, he suddenly heard the blond man chuckle lightly. And at that moment, his voice had undergone a drastic change from before.
Because from the mouth of a man came the clear, crisp, bell-like voice of a young girl—and it was precisely this voice that caused Sampo's body to tremble.
"You—you're... Sparkle?!"
...…
"No way, what the—! You're actually Sparkle?!"
Recognizing the owner of this voice—this voice that had once broken him—Sampo was completely stunned.
He had clearly used the power of the Path of Nihility just now, but Sparkle wasn't a Pathstrider of Nihility! What the hell was going on here?
And if he remembered correctly, wasn't Sparkle supposed to be having fun on the festival star Penacony right now? How had she suddenly come to Jarilo-VI?
Looking at Sampo's utterly dumbfounded expression, our Lady Sparkle couldn't help but laugh happily. Her crisp laughter jingled like silver bells, swaying and drifting~
"Old Sampo, that expression of yours is really something~"
Since she had already revealed her identity on her own, there was no need for Sparkle to keep hiding. The illusory blond man's figure blurred, and the false appearance shattered like flowers in a mirror or moon on water.
"Long time no see, Sampo~"
Sparkle gave a playful smile, then casually stepped forward with light steps until she was in front of Sampo. She reached out as if to pat his shoulder—but unfortunately, the girl was simply too short. Even on tiptoes, it was hard for her to manage the effort.
"Hmph~!"
The girl huffed lightly, then placed her hands on her hips.
"Looks like you're pretty confused~ If you have anything you want to ask, hurry up and do it while Lady Sparkle is in a good mood~"
"Haha, since Lady Sparkle has put it that way, it would be too disrespectful if old Sampo didn't ask something."
Sampo rubbed his hands, slightly bending at the waist with a sleazy, fawning look as he asked, "I remember Lady Sparkle isn't a Pathstrider of Nihility, right? So that Nihility power just now was..."
"Hmm~"
At this, Sparkle proudly lifted her chin, crossed her arms, and—under Sampo's expectant gaze—said,
"Guess~"
Sampo: '...…'
Family, who gets it? I'm freaking out!! Old Sampo got played again today!!
"Hahahaha…! Alright, alright, I'm not teasing you anymore, old Sampo~" Seeing Sampo's defeated look, our Miss Sparkle couldn't help but clutch her stomach and laugh heartily. After laughing for a good while, the girl finally wiped away the tears of joy that had formed at the corners of her eyes from laughing too hard.
"Feel this power. I think you should recognize it—because right now, on your body, old Sampo, there's also power coming from that lord."
As she spoke, Sparkle slightly released the Path power within her body. Instantly, a familiar yet strange Path aura entered Sampo's perception.
"This aura... hiss~! You've stepped onto the Path of Causality?!"
Sampo opened his mouth in disbelief, then numbly pulled out the pocket watch from his chest—the one containing a portion of Causality power, the one that could only be used three times.
He looked down at the pocket watch in his hand, then up at Sparkle who was smiling at him. Suddenly, Sampo felt like the thing in his hand had lost all its appeal.
A trial card that could only be used three times—how could it compare to Sparkle, who had permanent access?
"Um... Lady Sparkle, who possesses both wisdom and beauty—may this little one ask one question? How exactly did you obtain your power of Causality?"
"How did I get it? Hehe~ Sampo asked a very boring question~"
Hearing this, the girl spread her hands to indicate that old Sampo's question was terribly uninteresting. However, our kind-hearted Miss Sparkle ultimately took pity on him and graciously answered old Sampo's question.
"This power was naturally bestowed upon me personally by the Aeon of Causality, the 'Lord of Samsara.' Thanks to that lord's favor~"
"Although this power hasn't reached Emanator level, it's still enough to place me at the very top among Pathstriders. As for the Nihility aura from earlier—I can only say that the power of Causality far exceeds your imagination, Sampo~"
Sparkle's words pierced old Sampo's heart like a sharp sword. Last time, he had worked himself to the bone helping Yun Fan kidnap an Interastral Peace Corporation executive just to obtain a Causality Path item that could be used three times.
Yet Sparkle had done practically nothing and received the Aeon's favor—not only stepping onto the Path of Causality but directly obtaining power that was practically the strongest below Emanator level...
What the—! Old Sampo doesn't want to live anymore!! Sampo hugged his knees and squatted down, his face ashen as he buried his head.
"Hehe..."
Taking in old Sampo's reaction fully, Sparkle felt an exceptional sense of delight at this moment. She hadn't even used any schemes, yet she had effortlessly broken a Masked Fool.
Hmph hmph~ It has to be me, Sparkle~
"Alright, alright, old Sampo~ Don't be so down. If you also want to become a Pathstrider of Causality, I actually have a way~"
The girl lightly patted old Sampo's head. Upon hearing that Sparkle had a way for him to step onto the Path of Causality, the ashen old Sampo's body jolted. In an instant, he sprang up from the ground, his entire being radiating rays of hope.
"Hahahaha!! May I ask what method Lady Sparkle is referring to?"
Old Sampo rubbed his hands again, reverting to his usual sleazy purple-haired self. Though he harbored a thousand or ten thousand doubts about the words of the Masked Fool Sparkle, as long as there was even the slightest chance, he had to try.
After all, this all-purpose power of Causality was something old Sampo truly coveted.
"Hehe~ Actually, it's very simple. The reason I came to Jarilo-VI this time is on Lord Yun Fan's orders..."