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The Diamond Rise, Sleekhill Village, Time: 12:00 PM (3 hours ago.)
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Sugar and Dy'va walked down the path of Sleekhill Village, heading toward their destination, Icicle Keep. A group of dark purple-armored knights accompanied them, their eyes exhibiting a suspicious, money-focused gleam, and their movements seemed almost controlled. The villagers couldn't help but murmur amongst themselves.
"Who are they?"
"They look rich, are they royalty?"
"What business do they have in our town?"
"That blue-haired guy looks so familiar..."
Sugar smirked, "Well, Dy'va, once you have the look and the power, you can scare off people by just existing." Dy'va raised an eyebrow at his boss as they continued down the path to the castle.
"You sure are a wise one, boss," Dy'va commented sarcastically.
"Not with that attitude!" Sugar scolded.
They finally arrived at Icicle Keep, with a crystal exterior that radiated absolute beauty, shining like a double mirror.
Dy'va marveled at the sight. "Wow, seems like something out of a fantasy." He even grabbed binoculars to examine the tip of the castle.
"Alright, Dy'va. You stay here, in case any shady black-wearing robe assassins try to end my life..." Sugar ordered, slightly irritating Dy'va.
"Aw, come on. I know you're strong, boss. You could split a mountain," Dy'va protested.
Sugar turned his head to the side, "You know, I don't like my hands getting dirty, Dy'va," he stated with a sudden cold tone as he proceeded further into the gates, which closed behind him, leaving Dy'va and the dark knights outside the castle.
"So, poker?" Dy'va suggested to the knights as one of them pushed some crates, initiating a game of poker.
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The Diamond Rise, Icicle Keep: Throne Room, Time: 12:30 PM
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"Ah, Emperor Hildebrandus. I assume you have my protection money? Am I right?" Sugar said, poised to receive his protection money from the emperor himself. The throne room seemed even more beautifully decorated despite being located in the icy castle.
Emperor Hildenbrandus was dressed in cyan royal attire, his gray hair slicked back, and a gray beard indicating his age. He held his trusty ice staff.
"Goda, unfortunately, we are running low on gold at the moment. The miners are still struggling to find valuable gems due to the hazards of the cavern. So, please, may we have a few more days to gather the gold for your payments, if you're okay with that?" Hildebrandus pleaded, hoping Sugar would grant him a brief extension to collect the required gold.
"I think I will lose the trust of my hardworking knights if I don't get my gold right now, Emperor," Sugar replied, insisting on receiving his protection money immediately.
"But, I will return your men right away if you want the payment right now. Besides, some of my Vikings received training from your men too, so we don't need them anymore," Hildebrandus offered, showing his willingness to return Sugar's men if that was his preference.
Suddenly, Sugar threw a lance that narrowly passed by Hildebrandus's face, leaving a small blood trail.
"Listen to me, Hildebrandus." Sugar slowly advanced toward him. "My boss made this deal so she could expand both hers and mine men's for hire, and I am here to collect her debt from you." Hildebrandus attempted to cast an ice spell, but it failed to work.
"Emperor, did you think that would work?" Sugar was now in front of him, grabbing the ice staff and shattering it completely.
"So, either you give me the money, or I am telling The COU what you did." Sugar's threat made Hildebrandus start sweating.
"You wouldn't..."
"Who do you think I am? I know that you fed your father to a yeti because you were partnering with a doomsday cult," Sugar stated boldly in front of Hildebrandus's face, causing his eyes to widen.
Sugar chuckled, "Oh, that look on your face! Is fear settling in, Emperor? Or should I tell your wife that you didn't lose your first child to a bear attack?"
Hildenbrandus stood up from his throne, "Fine, I give in," he stated, reaching into the chest nearby, "Here's the second-last remaining treasure I have." Sugar swiftly took it and began counting.
"Please, keep my kingdom safe from them," Hildebrandus continued, prompting Sugar to laugh in his face.
"It's a deal." Sugar smirked as he left the throne room, leaving Hildenbrandus to ponder to himself.
"How much does he know... what is he?"
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The Diamond Rise, Sleekhill Village, Time: 12:40 PM
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As the gates opened, Sugar stepped out with a smirk on his face, "Alright, Dy'va. Debt money has been acquired, let's move."
Dy'va, still in the middle of a poker match, looked over, "Royal flush."
He laid his cards down, leaving the Dark Knights groaning and weeping at the loss of their money. "So, you want me to go get the wagon, or are we walking back?"
Sugar shook his head, "What do you mean, we walk back? We are already here."
Dy'va was confused, but after blinking for a moment, he realized they had returned to the golden wagon instantly.
"HUH?"
Sugar went inside the wagon and sat down on his seat, "We are heading home. I will have to send this money in the meantime," he stated as Dy'va, not wanting to hurt his head from the sudden events, sat down.
"So, where did you even send those two? You know they have those bad bones with each other," Dy'va said, with Sugar lying on his wooden throne.
"Going after my brothers-in-law. He stole something precious to me."
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Desert Kingdom of Sanhara, The Thundering Badlands, Time: 12:40 AM
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A loud slashing sound, "SWOOSH!", reverberated through the desert.
Rosco, a dark-skinned man cloaked in a black robe with Dark Knight armor adorned with an omega symbol, his left eye patched, wearing a white leather glove, and carrying a sword with an eye-shaped cross guard and an omega symbol in the middle of the central ridge, attempted to swing down at someone but ended up missing.
"Miss me again, Rosco? Jeez, sometimes I wonder if you're doing it on purpose or just experiencing genuine bad luck, huh?"
The man who deftly dodged the attack taunted. This man wore a clockwork brown hat, had a long white ponytail, and was dressed in a tie, white shirt, and brown sneakers.
"Nick, I'll make sure you end up six feet under for this," Rosco threatened, pointing his sword toward Nick.
Nick, who could let his tongue out and make silly faces, "Oh, catch me if you can, Mr. 'I suffer, so everyone should as well.'"
"Oh well, guess it's time for you to chase me again. OH CRAP-" Nick activated his barriers in quick haste as a bolt of large black lightning crashed against the barrier.
Nick quickly deactivated and started to skip away, "Haha! November can't hit me!" Nick jeered as he ran into the misty desert.
November, a woman with pure white skin and black hair, wearing crimson rose ornaments on her hair, a black coat with golden trim and fur on its shoulders, a black knee-length dress with a black-yellow necktie adorned with a glossy golden brooch, along with knee-high boots.
"We've been chasing him for hours. God, I want this to end already," thoroughly frustrated with Nick's little games. "And here I thought I could improve my synergy teamwork with you!"
Rosco could only stare at her, "What do you want me to do, you damn witch? Because your method of a successful mission is to yoink their eyeballs out of their skulls."
November growled from above, as she was reading some kind of black fur rotund creature.
"So, what are we waiting for? Go after him!" The black cat with a wizard hat perched on November's shoulder, encourages both Rosco and November to give chase.
"Shut up, Toodies!" November and Rosco gave chase after Nick, who seemed to be having the most fun in his life.
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