Outside the Fight Club.
March 7th and Zeig were both looking at Dan Heng.
"So, why are you here boxing?" March 7th widened her pink-blue eyes, completely baffled.
Given Dan Heng's personality, he wouldn't come to a shady place like this just out of interest, right?
Dan Heng shook his head, arms crossed, and explained: "Sampo said that to get clues about the Stellaron, I had to win the championship in the Fight Club matches. At the time, you weren't awake yet, so I thought I'd do something."
March 7th said in shock:
"So you just came here? You even believed that blue-haired guy's words? Are you okay?!"
Dan Heng: "..."
Zeig was also pointing and gesturing from the side:
"Exactly, exactly—that blue-haired guy is totally untrustworthy. Next time we see him, we should just empty the magazine!"
March 7th glared at Zeig:
"If you hadn't insisted on healing those automaton soldiers, he would've come down ages ago."
Zeig immediately raised both hands and exclaimed:
"My lady, this humble one is wronged! It was Dan Heng who insisted I stand on the opposite side!"
Dan Heng: "..."
"If you don't believe me, ask him!"
March 7th turned to Dan Heng, her expression turning unfriendly: "Dan Heng, is what this Emanator of Elation said true?"
Dan Heng nodded and faintly replied with an "Mm."
Then, another bump appeared on his head.
Dan Heng: "..."
In the distance.
A certain blue-haired guy was hiding behind a trash can, watching and laughing.
This person was none other than Sampo.
He had even pulled out a camera, aiming it at the trio of Dan Heng and the others. He wanted to capture photos of the two getting beaten by March 7th.
Suddenly.
He noticed only two people remained in the lens.
"Huh? Where did my good big brother go?"
Sampo scratched his head, realizing only March 7th was left lecturing Dan Heng over there.
The black-haired man's figure was completely gone.
"That's weird. He was just there a second ago."
Sampo rubbed his eyes. "Could I have seen wrong?"
"Buddy, want some peanuts?" A vendor's inquiring voice came from behind.
Sampo waved his hand: "No thanks, no thanks. I'm broke—don't bother me."
Seeing March 7th and Dan Heng still there, Sampo quickly pressed the camera shutter, taking several burst shots.
"Hey, buddy, your photography skills aren't bad. Want some peanuts?" the person asked again.
Sampo waved backward without turning his head, making a shooing gesture: "Scram, scram, scram. I already said I'm out of money—don't ruin my good time."
The vendor behind him shook his head and sighed: "Brother, times are tough for everyone. Just buy some peanuts to support the business, yeah?"
Sampo was speechless and roared without turning around:
"I already said no! Stop bothering me, okay? What's so great about peanuts? Go away, go away!"
The person let out a sigh, sounding very dejected:
"But if you don't buy the peanuts, they're all going to expire."
Sampo stared at the two in the distance, growing increasingly impatient: "Let them expire then. If you really can't sell them, give them away—someone will definitely take free stuff."
After hearing Sampo's words, the vendor didn't get angry. Instead, his eyes lit up, and he excitedly said:
"Really?!"
"That's great, truly great! Buddy, hold on—I'll give you all the peanuts right now."
As he spoke, the sound of bullets being chambered came from behind Sampo.
"???"
Sampo whipped around.
He saw the vendor excitedly licking his lips, eagerly loading bullets one by one into the magazine.
"Hold on... the peanuts will be ready soon! Just a sec, just a sec..."
His movements were so fast they left afterimages. In just a few seconds after Sampo turned, the magazine was fully loaded.
Then he excitedly prepared to attach the magazine to the AK.
Sampo's eyes widened in terror. He immediately slid into a kneel in front of the vendor!
His hands tightly gripped the magazine, begging for mercy:
"Big brother, big brother! I don't want peanuts anymore—I really don't...!!"
"No can do!" The vendor tried to pry away his hands that were clutching the magazine tightly, earnestly persuading him:
"These peanuts are delicious—and free!"
"Big brother! I was wrong, big brother! Please don't get worked up. I'll buy the peanuts, okay? Hurry and put the gun down!"
"Buy?" Zeig looked puzzled. "Didn't you just say only free ones would get takers?"
"How could that be, haha... I, Sampo Koski, swear to the heavens I've never said such a thing."
"Oh, I see."
Zeig nodded. "But my peanuts are very expensive."
He ejected one bullet and showed it to Sampo.
"Look, the craftsmanship is pretty good, right?"
Sampo's face went pale as he nodded repeatedly:
"Yes! Haha! Absolutely beautiful!"
He quickly dug into his pocket, pulled out some Winter City Shields, and sincerely said: "Good big brother, your little brother here didn't mean anything else—I just wanted to support your business! I'll take all these peanuts, Sampo will buy them all!"
Zeig stared at those Winter City Shields, frowning slightly: "Tch, that doesn't seem right. We clearly agreed to give them away for free. A businessman keeps his word worth a thousand gold. I appreciate your kindness, but today, it's my treat—free peanuts for you."
As he spoke, he started prying Sampo's hand off the magazine again.
"Wait, wait, wait! No... no, big brother. How could I, Sampo, take advantage of you? How about this—I'll trade something else for these peanuts!"
Sampo immediately rummaged in his pocket, pulled out a piece of paper, and hurriedly handed it to the kind-hearted peanut vendor in front of him.
"Big brother, this is info on Cyrille. Rest assured, it's definitely real—I went through a lot to get it."
Sampo grinned awkwardly:
"Big brother, you must be very concerned about the impact on her and her family after you revived Cyrille and brought her here. Actually, there's no need to worry at all—she's living much better here than before. And now that she's lost her memories, it's even better!"
Zeig took the document with some skepticism and raised an eyebrow: "Oh ho, you've got this too, huh."
Sampo nodded frantically:
"Of course! How could I not pay attention to someone my good big brother brought!"
Zeig immediately started reading the document.
"..."
The document stated that Cyrille was once the Supreme Guardian.
Sampo quickly explained: "I, Sampo, have been traveling for years and found many clues in the river of history. Actually, Cyrille was just a naive sweet girl. All the bad political things back then were done by some minister manipulating her—that guy was truly vile and scum!"
"Big brother, you probably encountered her when those soldiers tricked her into a container and threw her off a cliff, right when she was on the verge of death. Then you healed her back to life—that's a great deed!"
Zeig looked at the paper, puzzled:
"This can trade for peanuts? My peanuts are very expensive, you know."
Hearing this, Sampo immediately understood and continued:
"Good big brother, don't worry. I've already handed that girl over to a clinic here—she's working as a nurse now and doing great. I've taken care of all the follow-up for you! Hahahaha."
Hearing this, Zeig finally put away the AK and magazine, smiling kindly:
"Oh come on, we're practically family—who's keeping score? Treating you to peanuts, and you want to pay?"
As he spoke, Zeig pulled out a handful of actual peanuts from his pocket and handed them to Sampo.
"Here, try some quick."
Sampo let out a sigh of relief in his heart, hurriedly grinning awkwardly as he grabbed a handful, popped a few into his mouth, chewed carefully, and swallowed:
"Delicious—milky flavor too! Big brother's peanuts are the best, hahahaha..."
His heart was still pounding wildly.
He heard footsteps approaching from behind.
Dan Heng and March 7th had also walked over.
"Huh, why's this blue-haired guy here? Zeig, what are you doing?"
"Big brother is treating me to peanuts." Sampo forced a difficult smile, nervously saying.
"His peanuts?" March 7th suddenly realized. "Those are bullets—how haven't you run yet? Scared stupid?"
"..."
…