"According to the coordinates, the target is just up ahead."
"Why didn't we land directly at our destination?"
Stelle was curious, so Ye Yan told her a story from the past.
"Once, a few old friends and I were driving a snowmobile around Planet Taikiyan and accidentally entered the Taikiyan Grand Stadium... We inadvertently disrupted the venue and forced the match there to stop."
Ye Yan remembered it vividly. "Oh, that was a spectacular game. I remember the attacking team's thrusters were about to burn out. At the very last moment... what should have been the winning shot missed because we suddenly barged in."
"As for how we got in... well, we smashed a huge hole through the facade, which meant all the Trailblazers had to do three months of unpaid labor alongside us to repair the severe damage to the stadium's exterior."
Dan Heng and March 7th exchanged a glance, and Dan Heng spread his hands.
"Looks like you really were born to be a Trailblazer. You even replicated the wisdom of your predecessors."
March 7th had also smashed a hole in the Taikiyan Grand Stadium.
"That way of the Trailblaze involving half a month of volunteer labor..."
"I told you not to bring that up~"
March 7th pouted. Having her embarrassing moments brought up was truly awkward, especially when Dan Heng did it without spelling things out.
"So you all have stories?"
Stelle hadn't expected them to have a past like that. Impressive, truly impressive!
"Times have changed. You only had to work for half a month. Back in our day, a whole vehicle full of people worked for three months."
"And during that time, someone caused trouble because they wanted to experience crashing a snowmobile again. Those three months nearly became three years."
Ye Yan shook his head gently, his gaze drifting into the distance as though it had pierced the curtain of time and returned to those long-buried memories.
"Now that's a real dedication to labor."
Stelle gave Ye Yan a thumbs-up. That spirit was worth learning from!
"We need to be cautious with every step we take. We know very little about this world, so we must be careful," Dan Heng reminded them.
"Well said! But the spirit of [Trailblaze] is all about bravely exploring the unknown. Let's go!" March 7th was brimming with energy.
The four strolled across the snowfield, dealing with several Fragmentum creatures spawned by the Stellaron along the way.
"Hey, this trash can lid is pretty handy for fighting monsters, though it's nowhere near as good as my bat."
"What kind of normal person throws a trash can lid like a Frisbee?!"
March 7th complained. Stelle had been using ranged attacks the whole way, even though she, the archer, was supposed to be the ranged fighter!
You're a baseball player, so get up there and fight in melee for me!
Dan Heng was similarly moved. Since the battle against the Doomsday Beast, the idea of fighting at range had taken root in his mind.
And the weapon in Stelle's hands seemed to have a suction cup. It could fly back on its own after being thrown.
"From now on, I'll be the righteous trash can hero!"
Stelle planted her hands on her hips. Her fondness for trash can lids was all because of the Aeon of [Eternity].
The sight of them beating up the Aeon of [Destruction] with a trash can lid had left a deep impression on her.
"Hey, did you see that? Something seems to be moving..." March 7th keenly noticed the snowdrift a short distance away.
"Stelle, at a time like this, a great Trailblazer needs to throw out some bait to scout ahead," Ye Yan said into her ear.
"Got it."
Without hesitation, Stelle threw the trash can lid at the snowdrift. It traced a perfect arc and landed precisely on the piled snow.
Clang!
"Ow!"
A piercing scream erupted from deep inside the snowdrift, and a blue-haired man jumped out, clutching his backside.
"Come on, sis, was that really necessary? Hiding in the snow isn't some terrible crime. You didn't have to hit me, did you?"
"Hey, you're exactly who I meant to hit! What were you spying on us for?" March 7th summoned her ice bow. What decent person would hide in the snow in weather this cold?
Sampo sized up the four of them. When he saw that familiar face, he couldn't help taking a step back.
"Uh, but I can't blame you heroes for that! Haha, I appeared too suddenly. I deserved that hit. It was warranted, absolutely necessary! How else would I have met three new friends? Hahaha..."
"Three? Aren't there four of us?"
"He said new friends, March." Dan Heng stared at Sampo. "It seems he isn't native to this planet."
"Exactly! Our own people fighting our own people-isn't that just unnecessary? Don't you agree, Boss Ye Yan?"
Rubbing his hands together, Sampo moved toward Ye Yan, but Stelle stepped in front of Ye Yan.
"Who's one of your people?! Give us your name first!"
One look at the blue-haired man told Stelle he was no good.
"Sampo Koski. A pleasure."
Dan Heng and the two girls introduced themselves as well, and in the end, all their gazes settled on Ye Yan and Sampo.
"I never would've guessed, Teacher Ye Yan. You actually know this guy too."
"We've met a few times." Ye Yan didn't explain further. "Don't worry. He's just a traveling merchant who resells goods. He took a commission from me."
"A commission? What was it?"
"To find relics of the Aeon of [Eternity]."
"Huh? An Aeon's relics? He's that capable?"
March 7th had underestimated Sampo. It seemed... the first stranger they met on every planet was no ordinary person!
"Uh, that really hurts."
Sampo kept smiling while inwardly grumbling, You're the real History Fictionologist here. You can make up a story at the drop of a hat.
This Aeon's mischievous tastes could rival those of his own God of Elation.
Considering that his own God of Elation was close to them and had even visited their church to spread [Elation], stirring up infighting and opposition...
Sampo couldn't really comment. After all, his [Elation] had limits.
"A merchant reselling goods, on this planet?"
Dan Heng hadn't lowered his guard. What worthwhile goods could there be in this snowy, frozen world, corroded by a Stellaron and crawling with Fragmentum creatures?
"What you don't know, my friend, is that this planet still has a place where humans live: our good old Belobog."
Sampo took on the role of guide and began explaining.
"[City of Preservation], [City of Everwinter], [humanity's sole bulwark against the Eternal Freeze]... Those titles sound intimidating, but every word is true. Humans can only survive within those iron walls."
"Now that I've said this much, you understand, right? I just wanted to get some ancient relics related to [Preservation] and take them back for a small profit... Then you made such a racket that I thought the Silvermane Guards had come."
"Business has been tough lately. Try to understand, friends. Don't worry, I, Sampo, never keep all the spoils to myself. This treasure's huge. We can all make a profit together, hahaha."
Sampo patted his chest and assured the four of them that he was a sincere and warmhearted man.
Hearing an unfamiliar term, Stelle asked, "What are the Silvermane Guards?"
"Ah~ The Silvermane Guards are Belobog's army, law enforcement, police... Those guys don't know how to be flexible at all. They just love dealing with people in my line of work."
"Let's skip the small talk. Running into someone familiar here is a bit of fate, but we don't know our way around either. Lead us into the city."
"You got it, Boss Ye. I'm always happy to help. Haha, kindness is practically my middle name! Boss Ye's friends are my friends."
"Follow me, friends. Keep it down, and don't let the Silvermane Guards spot us."
Dan Heng watched Sampo as he led the way. Stelle pulled out her phone to play games, while March 7th chatted with Ye Yan at the back of the group.
"He's pretty helpful. I never thought we'd run into someone you knew on this planet. What a small world."
"Hey, when we get to the next planet, do you think we'll meet someone you know there too?"
Ye Yan shrugged. "Hard to say."
Not many people on the Xianzhou Luofu knew him. After all, he spent all day holed up in his milk tea shop, only occasionally going to the Sleepless Earl for tea.