Sampo: Oops, Ran Into My Real Boss.

Sampo's expression shifted when he saw Theresa stand up. As a Masked Fool of Joy, Sampo could clearly sense the potent Power of Joy emanating from Theresa, along with other powers he couldn't identify. He secretly compared it to his own Power of Joy, estimating he didn't even possess one percent of hers.

{Sampo is very mysterious in the game. Perhaps the author will betray this perception later on. For now, let's treat Sampo as an ordinary Masked Fool.}

Still, Sampo managed to conceal his surprise, clutching his backside in pain as he looked at everyone. Sampo was less of a prankster and more of a businessman. "Ouch, my butt! Seriously, you guys didn't have to do that. What did I do hiding in the snow? That hit came out of nowhere, and it was so accurate!"

Sampo cried out, still clutching his backside in pain, his expression making everyone feel quite awkward.

"Um, sorry about that. I was just trying to poke you with a branch, but I tripped on a snowdrift, and the branch ended up poking your butt," Theresa said with a slightly embarrassed laugh. Her cute, beautiful face and gorgeous formal attire made Sampo's eyes dart around.

"Hmm, that's fine, then. You can compensate me. After all, with my butt injured, I definitely can't continue treasure hunting. How about a thousand Belobog Shields?" Sampo asked with a smile, testing the waters.

"We only have Credit Points, and we're not from around here," March 7th said casually. Dan Heng and Theresa sighed at her words, thinking March 7th was far too naive.

"Huh? What do you mean, are you aliens or something?" Sampo asked, looking them over with feigned surprise.

"Have you ever seen a local dressed as lightly as we are in this freezing weather?" Dan Heng asked calmly, looking at Sampo. He instinctively felt that this person's demeanor was somewhat similar to Theresa's—a kind of cynical, prankster-like attitude.

Sampo scrutinized them carefully. He definitely couldn't afford to offend Theresa. After all, he had a wild guess: could she be an Envoy of Joy? As for Dan Heng and March 7th, they were calmly observing him, while Stelle stood with her hands on her hips, looking at him with a defiant, somewhat silly expression.

Sampo's previously annoyed expression immediately turned timid. "Credit Points... I think I have a terminal for that. I found it and repaired it earlier." Sampo lied through his teeth, quickly pulling out a terminal. Dan Heng looked at Sampo, who had revealed his true colors, with a knowing glint in his eyes but didn't expose him. Theresa, meanwhile, squinted as she studied Sampo, feeling that his demeanor was somewhat similar to her own.

"How many Credit Points do you need then?" Stelle asked innocently, her expression so naive and easily fooled that Sampo instinctively rubbed his hands together like a fly, his spirits lifting. His eyes darted around. "One thousand Belobog Shields is equal to one hundred thousand Credit Points. Just give me one hundred thousand Credit Points!"

"Ouch, my butt hurts so much~" Sampo exclaimed softly, stealing glances at their expressions.

"Do you think we're too easy to deal with? Do you want me to give you another shot?" Dan Heng glared at Sampo, who was trying to haggle and deceive them.

"Ah, my apologies. I'm not too clear on the exchange rate between Belobog Shields and Credit Points. How about ten thousand Credit Points then?" Sampo said with a fawning smile, because he genuinely felt he couldn't defeat them.

"We can do that, but only if you also take us to Belobog. The environment out here in the snowfields is too harsh!" Theresa said, looking up at the tall Sampo. For the first time, she felt that looking up at him strained her neck as she shouted.

"Uh, fine. After all, I need to go back and rest for a few days to recover from my injuries anyway," Sampo thought, deciding it was acceptable. Guiding them and earning ten thousand Credit Points wasn't a bad deal. It would have been even better if his butt hadn't been injured.

Sampo slowly began to cover his backside and lead them towards Belobog. Perhaps it was his unlucky day; first, he was impaled, and then he ran into the Silvermane Guard.

"Oh no, we've run into the Silvermane Guard!"

"Everyone, run!"

"Ouch! My butt! I can't run!"

Just as Sampo was about to flee, the pain from his injury caused him to collapse to the ground, wailing. "Help me up, quick! I don't want to get caught!" Sampo shouted urgently.

"Suspects and their accomplices have been spotted. Commence arrest!" the leading Silvermane Guard shouted.

"Looks like we have no choice but to fight. Let's go," Dan Heng said, giving Sampo a helpless glare. He, March 7th, and Stelle began to move. As for Theresa, she seemed to have realized that Sampo was part of the Masked Fools.

"Why aren't you going?" Sampo asked, still trying to sneak away, but he noticed Theresa smiling and looking at him curiously.

"Oh? Letting you sneak away, Masked Fool?" Theresa's words made Sampo's face change drastically. He rolled his eyes, contemplating an escape plan.

"Don't even think about escaping, Judas, bind him!" Theresa threw Judas, which landed on the snow. The soulsteel spear and chains that shot out immediately bound Sampo, leaving him sprawled on the snow like a caterpillar.

"Grandma, I was wrong! I don't want the Credit Points either, just let me go! If the Silvermane Guard catches me, I'm doomed!"

Sampo shouted in panic, but Theresa ignored him. Instead, she yanked the chain, and Sampo was immediately pulled by the chain onto the snowy ground in front of Theresa.

"It's all over..."

Sampo cried with a bitter expression.

"Taste my power!"

Dan Heng, Stelle, and March 7th were preparing to take down the Silvermane Guards. Suddenly, an ice arrow shot by March 7th was blocked by a handsome young man who stepped forward with a cold expression. He held a guitar case in his left hand and opened his right hand, projecting a transparent layer of the Power of Preservation that stopped all of March 7th's arrows.

"We've got a tough one!"

March 7th shouted warily.

"Theresa!"

Stelle quickly called out.

The handsome young man walked up to everyone with a cold expression. Just as he was about to attack, he saw Sampo lying at Theresa's feet and immediately stopped, standing in front of everyone. "I, Gepard Landau, Garrison Officer of the Silvermane Guard, order you to cease your futile struggles!"

Gepard held his guitar case and solemnly addressed the group.

"Sorry, sir."

The defeated guards explained dejectedly to Gepard.

"The most important thing is that everyone is safe. We'll rest when we get back."

"As for you, hand over the suspect and explain your origins!"

Gepard glared at the group and shouted. The reason he hadn't attacked was that he felt these people didn't seem like bad guys.

After all, what kind of bad guys would tie up their own accomplice?

"Being mistaken for an accomplice for no reason is infuriating!"

March 7th exclaimed angrily.

"Give up your resistance and surrender!"

The guards also shouted in unison.

"Being treated like criminals is even more infuriating!"

"Why does everyone always misunderstand us as soon as we arrive!"

March 7th shouted in frustration.

"You'll have to ask him about that."

Theresa commented, lightly kicking Sampo, who was still lying on the ground.

Daily meme. Bishop Otto, stay strong!