TN: And we're back! sorry for the week long hiatus, it was not intentional since I had to get my right leg in a cast after tripping 3 floors down a stairwell (like an idiot ://) and be unable to use my PC setup upstairs BUT I should be OK now.
Anyways, Thanks for Arcanic Madness, WeissAkumu and WolfWTF for becoming as Supporters!,
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"No, it has to be called the [Human Sovereign Banner]! Shopkeeper Sylvester already said so—it was originally called the Human Sovereign Banner!"
Huohuo gripped the banner tightly, arguing with Tail with a firmness she had never shown before.
Tail, on the other hand, clearly didn't care.
"Hey, little one, the owner of the banner isn't even him anymore. Why does it still have to use the name he gave it?"
"Calling it the [Ten Thousand Souls Banner] would be great. Just hearing the name is terrifying. In the future, when your reputation becomes fearsome, you just announce it and scare the enemy to death. Now that would be stylish!"
"And if it's called the Human Sovereign Banner…"
Tail sized Huohuo up from head to toe, his face full of regret. "Not to be rude, but with the way you look, calling you a Human Sovereign wouldn't scare anyone. People would laugh themselves to death instead."
"Calling it the [Human Sovereign Banner] is still very domineering," Huohuo said, naturally not convinced by this at all.
"And besides, even though the Ten-Lords Commission is gloomy, its most important rule is to uphold righteousness and cultivate the heart, not to indulge in delusions."
The moment she brought up the rules of the Ten-Lords Commission, Tail became dissatisfied.
He couldn't exactly say he hated the judges who sealed him, but his mouth had never once shown them mercy.
"Hey, you little thing. You're timid, but you sure have those rules memorized. That bunch's regulations are only worth listening to in passing."
"I'm the one possessing you in battle—that's the most important reason you've been able to climb the ranks so smoothly, got it?"
"You have to listen to me! Call it the Ten Thousand Souls Banner, Ten Thousand Souls Banner, Ten Thousand Souls Banner!!!"
Huohuo retorted just as forcefully, "I'll be able to fight on my own in the future. It's the Human Sovereign Banner, Human Sovereign Banner, Human Sovereign Banner!!!"
Sylvester cracked sunflower seeds leisurely, watching the pair of living treasures argue endlessly over a name.
After taking another sip of clear tea, he suddenly heard footsteps outside the shop.
A figure wearing a clown mask strolled in casually and, without any sense of propriety, cut straight into their conversation.
He burst out laughing and said, "Why don't you two compromise and call it the [Ten Thousand People Banner]?"
"Pff—cough!"
Sylvester spat out a mouthful of tea, nearly choking.
That name… was really damn good—How had he not thought of such a shocking, world-defying name himself?
So, this was what it meant by there always being someone better. Even with his imagination, he had to bow in defeat.
Luckily, the [Human Sovereign Banner] didn't have an ego. Otherwise, fainting on the spot would've been the least of its problems.
After hearing that, Tail's face twisted with rage. His eyes bulged unevenly as he ground his teeth and said, "Outrageous!"
"I can't afford to lose face like that," he said decisively, turning to Huohuo. "Fine. We'll call it the [Human Sovereign Banner]."
To prevent Huohuo from accepting that heaven-cursed name out of youthful ignorance, Tail chose to compromise on the spot.
"Okay," Huohuo replied crisply.
After so many years of back-and-forth with Tail, she had finally gained the upper hand once, and she couldn't hide her joy.
Tail floated a few circles around the foul-mouthed newcomer, his expression hostile. "Hey, flower-mask. What exactly do you do?"
"Oh~ I forgot to introduce myself. Truly my oversight."
Giovanni bent slightly at the waist, knees flexed, his left calf crossing neatly over his right. One hand rested on his lower back, the other on his abdomen—a textbook clown's bow.
"I am Giovanni. By the grace of the happiest, most benevolent, and greatest Aeon, Aha, I have the honor of standing among the Masked Fools. I've come today drawn by reputation, to open a few Curio Trash Cans and seek some fun."
Tail said with unconcealed disdain, "Oh, a follower of the Aeon of Elation. Figures…"
He glanced again at Sylvester behind the counter and muttered softly, "This time, a real believer in Elation showed up."
Sylvester frowned slightly, silently repeating the name, "Giovanni…"
Just hearing the name alone, he had almost forgotten it.
But seeing this getup made everything vividly clear.
This guy had once been entrusted by Hook to run a Pokémon event—also known as the Aetherium Wars—in Belobog, all to fulfill Hook's wish to meet the Astral Express Crew.
Still, in Sylvester's memory, although Giovanni followed Elation, he didn't seem like someone who was particularly fond of malicious pranks.
"Hey, hey, hey! A new customer's here—at least give a proper welcome, will you?"
Giovanni was clearly dissatisfied with the cold atmosphere.
Sylvester pointed at Huohuo and said calmly, "The previous customer hasn't said she's leaving yet. I can't allow customers to cut in line."
Giovanni tactfully turned toward Huohuo and spoke with refined courtesy and clear respect.
As if the person who had cracked that joke earlier had nothing to do with him at all.
"My apologies, adorable young lady. Once inspiration strikes, it's hard for me to remain rational. I sincerely apologize if I caused you any inconvenience just now. Please, continue opening the trash cans."
His attitude was so sincere that even the pickiest person would find nothing to criticize.
"No need. I'm already very satisfied with this Curio. If you want to open one, you can do so now."
Objectively speaking, her luck today had indeed been quite good.
But Huohuo understood all too well the lesson that greed leads to ruin. On top of that, Curio Trash Cans weren't cheap, and today's gains were already substantial.
So, she decisively ended her session.
She retrieved her Jade Abacus from Sylvester, hugged the Human Sovereign Banner, and trotted obediently to the resting area.
Tail followed closely behind. As he brushed past Giovanni, he even made a face at him. "Such a pretentious guy."
Then, watching Huohuo's retreating figure, he muttered regretfully, "Sigh… such a pity. Didn't get to turn the little one into a muscle-bound fierce fox."
Huohuo's ears twitched—she heard every word clearly.
The corners of her mouth twitched as well, her heart filled with complaints.
You've already gotten such a powerful Curio, and you're still thinking about your stupid muscles?
"Then, Mr. Giovanni, please," Sylvester said.
Despite his lingering doubts, he still gestured toward the shelves.
After handing over his phone, Giovanni tilted his head, staring at rows upon rows of trash cans, his finger tapping against the mouth of his mask.
Even without seeing his expression, anyone could tell at a glance that he was suffering from choice paralysis.
He muttered to himself, "Hmm… can't see anything. What's inside? I can't see it at all."
"Nonsense!" Tail snapped without restraint. "If you could see it, I'd have already made this little one eight feet tall with a tiger's back and bear's waist."
Huohuo weakly covered her forehead.
Was this ever going to end?
"Oh? Turning this adorable young lady into a muscle-bound warrior?" Giovanni seemed completely oblivious to the sarcasm. Instead, he laughed approvingly. "Heliobus, you're actually quite suited to walking the Path of Elation."
With that, he stopped hesitating. He casually grabbed a trash can and, without another word, opened it.
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