Selling (Somewhat) Magic Goods in Arknights

[Bigmogo]

The character I'm referring to isn't from Arknights. And if Niko is any indication, as well as many other crossover characters like Xiaohei (who actually does have magic and not Arts), R6 Characters, Dungeon Meshi cast, and Ave Mujica, then it can be a toss up on who actually fits Terra.

Hell, we're getting a My Little Pony collab soon. Shit's wild.

I thank you for giving your opinion though.

Click to shrink...

I think some kind of guard or crafter would be great like Gemma from monster hunter or the dwarf from dungeon meishi

 

[Paracsus]

I think some kind of guard or crafter would be great like Gemma from monster hunter or the dwarf from dungeon

Click to shrink...

Senshi already exists in arknights lol

 

[Paracsus]

Contract, Take Two

The walk back to the cart was quiet.

The afternoon sun had already started to dip lower in the sky, casting long shadows across the streets. Arno walked with his hands in his pockets, while Niko stayed close beside him, her small backpack bouncing lightly with each step. She hadn't said much since they left the warehouse.

Every now and then she would glance up at him, then look back down at the sidewalk.

When they finally reached the alley, Arno unlocked the cart's side door. The familiar smell of home greeted them as they stepped inside. Niko dropped her backpack by the table and sat down on the edge of her bed, swinging her legs slowly.

Arno locked the door behind them and leaned against the counter for a moment, watching her.

"You've been quiet," he said.

Niko shrugged, still looking at the floor. "I keep thinking about what Exusiai said. And Texas. And Sora…" She said. "They all looked really sad when we told them. Especially Exusiai. She tried to smile at the end, but I could tell she was forcing it."

Arno walked over and sat down on the stool across from her.

"They were sad," he said honestly. "But that's because they care about the both of us. That's not a bad thing."

Niko nodded, but she still looked troubled. She picked at a loose thread on her sleeve.

"I know. But it still makes me feels bad." She hesitated, then added softly, "Do you think they'll be okay without us?"

Arno thought about it for a second.

"Don't worry about that too much." he said. "Remember the new notice? This'll make things easier for the both of us without having to worry about our safety in the streets of Lungmen. Besides, if we move now, you might even get to make more friends now that we can open branches."

"Branches…" she repeated quietly. "Yeah… I guess so. It's just so scary that we'll be at a new place after how much time we've already spent here. Do you really think new branches will work out without us being there?"

"Yeah," Arno said. " These are places that can sell our food and drinks even when we're not there, headed by people that you and I trust. Penguin Logistics might be one of them, if Emperor agrees to the contract. Although I'm not really that good with these kinds of things, I have a good feeling about this one. At least, that's what my business degree back home thinks so…"

Niko tilted her head slightly. "Yeah, but how will this work when we're leaving though? And are you sure Mr. Emperor will sign the contract you prepared?"

"Possibly. He may look kinda silly, but Emperor is very smart with these things. Not only that, but he also cares deeply about his crew, so I get the feeling he'll agree because of how good our items are."

She looked thoughtful for a moment. She stopped swinging her legs and stared at the floor for a while.

"I guess that's good," she said softly. "At least they won't have to miss it completely. But… It still feels weird. New areas, new people, we don't even know if the customers we'll be getting will like our food the same way our regulars do now.."

Arno nodded. He understood what she meant.

"It does feel weird starting from scratch all over again." he admitted. "But this way we can keep some kind of connection without staying in one dangerous spot. We move. They stay. But the cart's stuff can still reach them."

Niko thought about that. She reached over and picked up the half-eaten apple from earlier, turning it in her hands again.

"But what about the others like Miss Lin and Miss Swire?" she asked. "Do you think they'll be okay even after we're gone?"

Arno gave her a gentle look.

"I think they will," he said. "From what we've seen, they seem to be pretty tough cookies."

Niko gave a tiny nod. She then went back to eating her snacks as she thought about how the recent calls went..

"Yeah, you're probably right." She said as she finished her food.

" Of course, I'm right. I'm me." Arno smirked as he went to prepare some more snacks.

Niko merely stuck her tongue out at him for that.

---

It was nearing night time now, and Arno and Niko have finished their last preparations (which mostly centered around watching the news on the current state of their destination), reading up on the laws and buying some extra clothes and other…necessities (read: snacks that Niko likes from the Tea House nearby). As Niko was playing around on some crossword puzzle books, Arno received a call.

' I hope it's not the police station again.' Arno thought as he washed and dried his hands before going to pick up the phone. 'As nice as Commissioner Swire was in our little discussion, her colleagues don't know how to quit.'

It wasn't them, thankfully. Instead, it was someone he didn't expect to call at least until tomorrow.

"Hello, Mr. Emperor."

"Hell, cart man. None of that 'Mister' stuff, please. " Emperor's laid-back voice came through. "I talked it over with the senior crew, and Croissant and Sora have agreed to be the ones to be the main people to sell your items alongside me.. We're in. We'll take the branch deal."

Arno's shoulders relaxed a little. "That was fast."

"What can I say? My people know good food when they see it. Your stuff is reliable, and having it on our routes would be a big help. Plus, the girls and Bison already like you too, so this is a plus in my book. We'll follow your rules according to the contract; no reselling, no messing with the products, everything stays the same. You deliver the refills, we sell what you give us, and my peeps get their cut. That right?"

"Yep." Arno said. "I'll send Niko over at some point to get the signed version of the contract. For legality sake and stuff."

"Sounds good." Emperor paused for a second, then added, "And hey… you two watch yourselves out there. I know it's obvious, but your next destination will be nothing like how it is around here in Lungmen."

Arno glanced at Niko, who was watching him curiously. He then turned the phone to loud speaker so that she could listen in.

"We will," he replied. "Thanks, Emperor."

"So how is this gonna work when you're leaving though? Are you gonna drop by here before you go with crates full of them bentos or something? You want me to send some people over to collect the items?"

"You'll see soon enough. Don't worry, it'll be a pleasant surprise to say the least." Arno inquired. "How about you, though? How will you guys sell it? Are you guys gonna just make a website or something?"

"Nah, man. You see, Croissant came up with this thing that we can do so people will be able to find us easily," Emperor said, chortling at the name. "It's called the Penguin Pantry."

He leaned back in his chair, clearly proud of the idea.

"It's gonna be a sort of snack depot thing. What we'll do is to make a small shop near the warehouse so that both employees and the outside population can access it. We'll set it up in a small corner to avoid making a hooplah about it and not cause issues with the restaurants around here. When drivers or warehouse staff have downtime, they can run the counter and sell your stuff. Bentos, juice, coffee, candy, all of it. Employees get first dibs on the available stock, and we'll let outside people buy too if they swing by."

Emperor tapped his flipper on the desk as he continued.

"On top of that, we'll let drivers carry a limited stock in their trucks. Sealed packages only. When they make deliveries to offices, construction sites, or regular clients, they can offer your food as an add-on. This way, even if we don't sell, word of mouth can still make it to nearby people."

He grinned.

"Three rules we'll stick to. First, your prices stay the same, so no discounting unless you tell us. Second is that I'll be keeping a close eye on the stock on the off chance that somebody tries to sell it on their own. Third, everything stays sealed and exactly how you make it. We don't touch the recipes or mess with the quality."

He paused for a bit to double check the contract before he continued.

"Our people get a cut of the daily earnings — we're thinking thirty-five percent for now, but we can negotiate. The drivers and staff who actually sell the stuff get a small personal commission on top of that. And yeah, they'll be allowed a reasonable daily allowance for themselves — one snack and a drink per shift, something like that. Nothing crazy."

Arno hummed as he pulled out his own copy of the contract to follow what Emperor was saying.

So far? Everything was on point..

"Yep. So for restocking, I'll handle that on my end, alright?" Arno said. "I'll just start small for now with a few crates as a sort of test run. People will be skeptical that someone else aside from Niko and I are selling the items, so I'll leave it to you to assure people on how to grab people's attention, okay?"

"So far? Everything was on point."

Emperor let out a short laugh on the other end.

"No problem, man. We got this. The girls all have their own talents when it comes to talking. Croissant especially since she's good at scam–-uhh, convincing people on the goods she usually hawks. But she's clean though, don't worry. Sora is an idol, so I'm pretty sure it'll be easy for her to shill your products to her fans. And it's not like they're the cheaply made items with her face slapped on it so I guarantee you that they'll take off, no sweat.

He paused for a second, then continued in his usual relaxed tone.

"We'll start with just the main warehouse depot and two regular routes. Keep it small like you said. If it moves well, we'll try and expand with other stuff that you have; at your discretion, of course."

Niko has already long left when the discussion devolved into business stuff. As Arno is watching her read a book about Originium Slug facts (written by some guy named Big Bob), he made an affirming sound as he reviews the notes he's been making.

As he glanced over at her for a second, making sure she was okay, before turning his attention back to the call.

"Sounds good," he said. "We'll deliver the first batch tomorrow in the afternoon. I'll also give you a copy of my guidebook that I use to keep track of prices, as well as a small catalogue on what I'll be selling through you. I trust you guys not to steal anything, but suddenly giving you access might seem overwhelming since Penguin logistics is a delivery service first and foremost."

Emperor gave an approving hum on the other end of the line. "Eh, we'll be fine. Misplacing stuff is a thing of the past now that we have stable internet and good computers. Croissant is actually pretty good at this kinda stuff too…if she isn't trying to automate the system with some sort of program that almost fried the computers."

"In my defense," a muffled voice shouted from somewhere in the background, " it sounded pretty efficient at the time."

Emperor replied in a flat tone, "That was Croissant. Just ignore her. "

"I heard that! And you and I both know it worked for a while!" Croissant called back loudly.

"And we almost lost some clients because your stupid program switched the month and day around!" He called back.

Arno let out a quiet snort as he flipped through the pages of the contract again. He could almost picture the scene at the Penguin Logistics warehouse.

"Works for me," Arno said. "I thin k we got it down pat already. Your really thorough about this business stuff, huh?"

"Gotta be. This was a dream of mine, y'know? To try and make something of myself that didn't involve the stiffs back at Columbia. I'm always open to try new things, as you should be if you're a business man. And look at me now."

'Columbia?' Arno wondered. 'Interesting origin. But then again, Niko and I just spawned here like we were starting a new game of MineCraft.'

"Actually… there is something else I wanted to ask you." He was snapped out of his ponderings by Emperor's statement.

"Go ahead."

"Are you really serious about this traveling plan of yours?"

Arno glanced over at Niko. She had curled up on her side on the bed, completely focused on her book about Originium Slugs. Every now and then, one of her ears twitched as she listened to the conversation.

"Yeah," Arno answered honestly. "We are. Even though things have gotten smoother lately, I still see people eyeing the cart when they think no one's watching. So much so that the granny from the tea house gave us a heads up when we visited her.."

Emperor let out a long sigh.

"Man. That sucks, and I mean it," Emperor went on." It's gonna be hard for everyone who's had your things go back to what they used to. Some businesses have even said that they're glad that your finally leaving because there's nobody there to steal customers."

From the bed, Niko looked up right away. "What happened?" she asked loudly so the phone would pick it up.

Emperor let out a short laugh. "Oh, hey kid. Exia was ready to play some rather nasty pranks on the guys if Texas and Sora hadn't stopped her. And believe me when she's no one to be trifled with when she gets upset."

"That sounds exactly like her," Arno muttered.

"Texas told her it was a bad idea and that you would never go for it. Then Exusiai accused her of not believing in friendship enough."

Niko burst into laughter. "Oh my god, she really said that?"

"She absolutely did," Emperor confirmed, sounding amused. "Texas did not get mad. She just looked really really tired.".

The mood on the call lightened after that exchange. Emperor went back to talking through the rest of the details while Arno took careful notes on the side of the contract. They discussed storage temperatures for the food, how much packaging they could use, how quickly they expected the stock to move, and when deliveries should happen.

It felt strange to Arno. Just a few days ago, the thought of turning the small cart into something bigger would have seemed impossible. Now he was discussing distribution plans across different areas with a penguin who ran a logistics company and made music on the side, while a twelve-year-old girl read facts about slugs a few feet away. Life in Terra could be very odd sometimes.

"…And one more thing," Emperor said after a while. "You got any plans for branding?"

Arno stopped writing. "Branding?"

"Yeah. Logos, signs, names. Stuff that people can recognize right away."

"Not really no. I didn't think that I would take off this well when I first started out." Arno replied.

"Come on, man. Do you have no eye for these things?." Emperor sounded more energetic now. "You already have a whole thing going with how special this stuff is! Plus, your mascot over there seemed to be one of the main attractions considering how people liked seeing her smile so much."

Niko flushed when she heard that and sank further into the sofa with her book.

"Besides, don't you know about the rumors on the mysterious cart of 14th street? Even people in the higher and richer districts are hearing about you. Some influencers have even tried to find you recently, but had to quit because of the shooting."

"I do not have a mysterious merchant vibe. You're exaggerating. " Arno said. "Besides, I have access to the internet. Don't you think I would've heard about that by now?"

"You absolutely do," Emperor shot back right away. "You live in a cart that seems like it came from nowhere and you sell food that fixes exhaustion problems. That is already most of a legend right there."

Niko nodded seriously from the sofa. "Yeah. People in Lungmen talk about you like you are some kind of cryptid. Besides, you're basically a caveman who barely uses your phone. What's with the brightness and amount of notifications on it?"

Arno looked at the phone and then at Niko with the same disappointed expression. "I regret becoming known. And I told you that I don't really use electronics all that much in confidence, Niko. We're having sprouts for dinner."

"Too late now, buddy," Emperor said with a laugh as he heard Niko start whining about the icky veggies.

He continued in his relaxed way. "What I am saying is, people remember names. If you are really going to travel around Terra, you should lean into it a bit. It does not have to be loud or flashy. Just enough so that when your stuff shows up somewhere, folks know it is from you."

Arno thought about it quietly for a moment. "I will consider it."

"That means no, but said more slowly,"

"Correct."

"Fine." Emperor grumbled, but new better than to pester his new business partner even further.

The conversation went on for another twenty minutes. It moved away from the strict contract details and into more practical matters. Emperor shared information about some safer trade routes that Penguin Logistics used regularly when moving through Yan and Columbia in case they went through those channels. Arno wrote those down carefully as well.

By the time the call began to wind down, the lights outside the cart had grown much dimmer. It was nearing midnight in Lungmen. And the regular foot traffic had died down..

"Alright," Emperor said at last. "We will get everything ready on our side. Try not to disappear before tomorrow.

"No promises," Arno replied.

"Man, everybody keeps saying that to me lately."

Arno gave a faint smile. "Goodnight, Emperor."

"Night, cart man. Night, kid."

"Goodnight!" Niko called out cheerfully from the bed.

The line clicked off. Silence settled over the cart once more. It was not a heavy silence, just thoughtful.

Arno placed the phone on the counter and stretched his shoulders, feeling the stiffness from the long day. From her bed, Niko slowly closed her book and set it aside.

"So," she said carefully, "it's that time, huh? Are we really ready to go?."

Arno looked over at her. The contract had been agreed upon. The routes were being prepared. Tomorrow they would make the first delivery for the new branch. For the first time since the attack, while still uncertain, at least they now had a good step in a certain direction. Is it the right one? That remains to be seen.

"Yeah," he said quietly. "We are."

---

The next morning, Arno received a short message from Emperor asking him to stop by the Penguin Logistics warehouse. The penguin wanted to show him the Penguin Pantry that Emperor was so excited about.. Arno agreed right away and went to wake up a sleeping Niko to inform her of the news.. After finishing a simple breakfast of ham and eggs together, he and Niko locked up the cart and walked over.

The streets were busy with the usual morning activity. Delivery trucks passed by, and vendors called out to early customers. Niko stayed close to Arno, her steps quick with excitement. She had been looking forward to this visit since the moment she heard about it.

When they reached the warehouse grounds, Emperor was waiting near the side entrance. The large penguin stood with his flippers clasped behind his back, looking pleased. "Sup Arno, hey Niko. Good timing," he said in his easygoing voice. "Come on inside. I want you to see what we put together before the rest of the crew starts crowding the area."

They followed him through the warehouse to the outside. The familiar sounds of work filled the space — boxes being moved, engines running in the loading area, and occasional laughter from the team. Emperor led them to a middle section of the wall that marked the property line. A clean, freshly painted sign hung above the entrance: "Penguin Pantry" in bold, friendly lettering while next to it was the Penguin Logistics Logo.

"This is the spot," Emperor said, waving one flipper toward the area. "We kept it straightforward and simple so it doesn't distract anyone here at work. What do you think? Kinda like your style, eh?"

Arno stepped inside and looked over the setup. It was a modest but practical corner shop. A solid counter ran along the front with shelves mounted neatly behind it. A small refrigerated display case stood on one side, and additional shelving waited for stock. The layout used the limited space efficiently. A chalkboard was on the far wall behind the register, most likely meant for the prices of items. with space left for daily items. The whole area felt clean and well-organized. It also seemed to go back around to the other side of the wall it was positioned on as he eyes the shutters on the opposite window..

"It's incredible." Arno breathed as he ran a hand across the shelves. "How did you manage to get this ready so quickly? It's barely been 12 hours since your call!"

"Ha! 'How did I do it so quickly?' He says." Emperor gave a short chuckle. "You, sir, really have no idea how big of a splash you made to the people in this district, do you?"

Emperor did a hop as he sat on the counter to look his business partner in the face.

"Dude, when I informed our usual construction guys that we were making this thing for you, they just ran out the door with tools and supplies in hand. Apparently, some of them have been regulars at your cart too, so they were extremely excited and immediately got to work. I'm pretty sure they didn't even sleep considering I received some noise complaints when I got to the office this morning."

'Also explains the numerous cans of the rumored coffee strewn about the worktable when I got there…' Emperor thought. 'Then again, it's the legendary Bolson company we're talking about here.'

"But enough about that, how about saying hi to the crew?"

Right on cue, Croissant came around from behind a stack of nearby boxes, toolbox in hand. Her orange hair was pulled back, and she had a bit of dust on her sleeve. "Hey, Arno! Niko!" she called out brightly. "You're here to check it out? Come on, tell me what you think!"

Arno ran a hand along the edge of the counter. "It's incredible, honestly. I never liked adding eye-catching decor on my cart since it looks garish. Good spacing and a pretty comfy interior too. This should be easy to work with during busy times."

Croissant grinned and gave a proud thumbs-up. "Glad you like it! Bison and I worked aaaalll afternoon just to make the plans. We even (made Bison) help out with the construction crew so that we could finish it on time!"

The aforementioned employee was on a nearby couch nursing a cup of coffee. He looked exhausted but still gave a thumbs up.

Niko walked behind the counter and looked at the empty shelves with wide eyes. "This is soooo cool!," she said, clearly impressed. "I can already picture how everything will look here."

Texas appeared from the main floor, hands in her pockets as usual. She gave the setup a calm, appraising look. "It works," she said simply. "Plenty of room behind the counters for one or two people. Easy access to the back storage area too. Should run smoothly. We even have some pretty strong fan units here during hot weathers, as well as a minifridge for our own snacks and drinks."

Sora joined them a moment later, her expression lighting up when she saw the finished store. "Sorry I'm late! I had to go back because I left my wallet by mistake. Wow, it turned out even better than I imagined! The sign looks cute. I was thinking we could put some small displays up front once we have stock. Nothing too crowded, just enough to catch people's attention."

Exusiai came running in shortly after, nearly sliding to a stop when she spotted Arno and Niko. Her halo glowed with energy. "You're both here! This is the new pantry spot, right?" She leaned over the counter, looking around eagerly. "It's perfect! I can already tell it's going to be popular. When do we start putting things on the shelves? I want to be the first customer."

Arno gave her a small smile. "We won't be opening today. We will handle the first delivery soon, but we wanted to see the setup first. We will be delivering though, so watch out for that."

Exusiai let out a dramatic sigh but kept smiling. "Aww, fine. But I'm still calling dibs on the some of that apple pie once it opens. This whole thing is going to be awesome. Everyone at the warehouse has been asking about it."

Emperor tapped a flipper on the counter as he explained the plan. "We'll keep most of the stock in the small room right behind here for easy access. Drivers can pick up sealed packs before their routes. We already printed out a simple log sheet and some ledgers to track what sells and what needs restocking."

The group spent time going over the small details. Arno asked questions about how they planned to handle payments and customer flow. Croissant asked if she could have some of the stock for her to sell on her own time, which was denied. Sora suggested a few ideas for making the display more inviting while even suggesting that she sponsor it to her fans.

Niko listened closely to everything, occasionally adding her own thoughts about how certain items should be grouped together. The crew's genuine interest and careful planning seemed to ease some of the worry she had felt about leaving their products in someone else's hands.

"This should work well for the test run," Arno said after they had gone through most of the details. "Welp, let's just see how it goes. If things move steadily, we can talk about adding more variety later."

Emperor nodded, looking satisfied. "Don't worry, man. We'll keep this side running properly while you're gone. I may joke around a lot, but I'm really good at these things. The crew already likes your stuff, so I expect it to do fine."

The warehouse behind them continued its normal activity , but the new pantry corner had a noticeable buzz of interest. A few other workers walked by, glancing curiously at the setup and asking quick questions. The atmosphere remained relaxed and cooperative, with Exusiai's energy and Croissant's jokes keeping things fun.

Arno stood back for a moment and took in the full picture. Seeing their products about to enter a new space run by people they had come to trust felt like a real step forward in his little business venture. It was strange and new, but not at all bad.

Emperor gave Arno a light pat on the shoulder. "Not a bad start, right? Take your time looking around. Once you're ready with the first batch, just let me know. We'll be here."

Arno nodded. "We will. Thanks for showing us this. I'm still suprised by everything. But I gotta say, it looks much better than I expected."

They stayed a while longer, discussing minor adjustments and answering more questions from the crew. The partnership now had a physical home, and everyone involved seemed ready to make it work.

---

Surprises

A few hours had passed since Arno and Niko left the warehouse. The Penguin Pantry stood ready in its corner, clean shelves empty and waiting, the new sign hanging straight and bright. Most of the crew had gathered nearby during their break time, lingering around the counter and the small back room instead of returning fully to their usual tasks. Emperor had disappeared into the main office with a stack of papers, muttering something about finalizing route schedules, so the rest of them were left to wait.

Croissant leaned against the counter with her arms crossed, tapping her foot. "What's taking them so long? They said they'd bring the first batch soon. I thought 'soon' meant, you know… soon."

Sora sat on a nearby stool, swinging her legs lightly. "Maybe they had to pack everything carefully. All of his merchandise looked really fresh when we saw the samples before. You can't just rush good food."

"Yeah, but it's been hours," Croissant replied. She glanced toward the warehouse entrance for the tenth time. "I'm getting hungry just thinking about it. I kept one spot open on the front shelf for the bentos. It's staring at me, asking me why it's still empty right now."

Bison stood a little further back, arms folded. "I mean, the boss did say they'll bring it in the afternoon. Plus, they probably have a lot to organize. It's barely 2PM anyways, so we have time to be patient.."

From the other side of the counter, Exusiai could barely stay still. She paced back and forth, her red hair bouncing with every step and her halo glowing brighter than usual. Her wings twitched with restless energy. "Patient? How can anyone be patient right now? Arno and Niko are leaving soon, so this will be the last time we'll probably get to see either of them. They even promised me some more apple pie and juice if I didn't follow them so I can't help but be excited!"

Texas, who had been leaning quietly against the wall with her arms crossed, let out a long sigh. "Calm down, girl. They always make good on their promises so they should be here any minute."

"But Texas!" Exusiai spun toward her, eyes wide and pleading. "What if they need help carrying everything? I'm super fast! I could run over to the cart right now, grab a couple of crates, and be back before anyone notices. It would speed things up! Come on, it's a good idea!"

"No." Texas's voice was flat and firm. She reached out and caught the back of Exusiai's jacket before the Sankta could take more than two steps toward the exit. "You are not running off to the cart. You'll just overwhelm them and ruin whatever surprise they're planning."

Exusiai tried to pull forward anyway, though not hard enough to actually break free. "It's not ruining! It's helping! Think about it; with all the commotion that happened, they might need someone to protect them while they head over here. My mouth is watering at the thought of hanging out with that apple pie I just mentioned, and I can even look at Arno's gun while he drives over here. We've been waiting forever!"

Croissant laughed. "She's got a point on the waiting part. I'm starving too. Emperor said they were bringing a proper first load, not just a couple boxes. I want to see how much space we actually need."

Sora nodded, smiling. "I already told some of my fans in the group chat that something good might be coming to the warehouse soon. If Arno takes too long, they're going to start asking questions."

Exusiai turned her pleading eyes back to Texas. "See? Everyone's excited! I'll be super quick and polite. I won't even ask to see his gun again… today. Please? Just let me check if they're on the way. I'll fly low and everything."

Texas tightened her grip on the jacket. "You will stay right here. The last thing they need is you bursting in while they're trying to load heavy crates. You know how you get when you're excited. You'll start asking a hundred questions and they'll never finish."

"But I'm dying here!" Exusiai dramatically clutched her chest. "This is torture. Real, actual torture. What if the coffee gets cold? What if those hand pies go sad and lonely? I can't let that happen to our friends' hard work."

Croissant shook her head, grinning. "You're laying it on pretty thick, Exusiai. Your Ceobe is showing."

"It's true though! And don't compare me to Ceobe; she's really sweet but she emptied out the fridge last time she visited. I'm not that bad!" Exusiai insisted. She stopped pulling against Texas's hold and instead turned to the group with wide, hopeful eyes. "Doesn't anyone else want to go with me? We could make it a team effort. Moral support! Strength in numbers!"

Texas gave her a tired look. "Sit down. They'll be here when they get here. Arno isn't the type to forget or back out. Have some faith."

Exusiai let out a long, exaggerated groan but finally stopped fighting Texas's grip. She slumped against the counter instead, resting her chin on her arms while still staring longingly toward the warehouse entrance. "Fine… I'll wait. But if they don't show up in the next thirty minutes, I'm officially declaring an emergency and going anyway."

Sora giggled. "You're going to scare them off if you keep this up."

"Impossible," Exusiai declared. "They like me. Arno told me his secrets (sorta) and Niko even laughed at my jokes last time. I'm basically family now."

The crew continued chatting among themselves, trading guesses about how much stock Arno might bring and what the best-selling items would be. Every few minutes, someone would glance toward the clock, and Exusiai's ears would perk up at the smallest sound from outside. Texas remained right beside her, ready to grab her again if necessary, though a small, amused glint appeared in her eyes whenever Exusiai's impatience flared up.

The crew's chatter continued as they lingered around the new Penguin Pantry corner. Exusiai was still slumped dramatically over the counter, occasionally letting out long sighs while Texas kept a watchful eye on her. Croissant had started fiddling with the empty shelves, adjusting their positions for the third time, and Sora checked her phone every few minutes. Bison stood nearby, trying to keep everyone calm.

Then Bison's phone rang. He answered it quickly. "Hello? Arno?" After listening for a moment, he nodded. "Got it. Niko is on her way with the first batch. Alright, we'll keep an eye out." He ended the call and turned to the others. "That was Arno. He said Niko is heading over right now with the delivery."

The news immediately lifted the mood. Exusiai shot upright, her halo flaring brightly. "Finally! She's coming! Wait, just her? How long do you think it'll take her?

"Shouldn't be too long," Bison replied. "Let's just wait here like normal people."

"And what's that supposed to mean!?"

But before anyone could settle back into their waiting, a sudden noise came from the small stockroom behind the Penguin Pantry counter. The sound of rustling and clattering echoed — the sound of something heavy being moved, followed by the faint rattle of wheels on the floor. The entire group froze.

"Wait… what was that?" Croissant whispered, her usual cheerful expression shifting to alert focus.

Sora's eyes widened. "Nobody's supposed to be in there yet. We haven't even put anything inside!"

Exusiai's hand immediately went to her gun. "Intruder? After we just built it?"

Texas straightened up immediately, her hand moving instinctively toward her weapon. "Stay sharp. It could be nothing, but we're not taking chances if it can sneak up on all of us like this."

Without another word, the crew moved into formation with practiced ease. Croissant and Bison stepped to the front, weapons drawn and ready. Croissant and Bison raised their shields and stood firm. Texas positioned herself slightly behind them, sword partially drawn, her eyes locked on the stockroom door. Sora stayed further back with her walkie-talkie ready to call for back-up , and Exusiai hovered nearby with her gun already in hand, though she kept it pointed safely downward for now.

"On three," Croissant muttered under her breath. The tension in the air was thick. After everything that had happened with Arno and Niko recently, no one was willing to take any risks inside their own warehouse.

Bison gave a short nod. "One… two… thr–!."

The door burst open on its own with a familiar, purple haired child moving through it.

"Surprise—!"

A small voice rang out brightly from inside, but it cut off mid-word.

There stood Niko in the middle of the stockroom, pushing a trolley loaded with several large sealed crates. Her face was lit up with excitement for the big reveal, but the moment she saw the entire Penguin Logistics crew pointing weapons at her, her expression shifted from joyful to startled, then quickly to confusion.

The crew stared at her in stunned silence for a second.

Niko blinked, looking at the weapons, the formation, and the serious faces staring back at her. Then a small, smug smile slowly spread across her face. She placed one hand on her hip and tilted her head slightly.

"Did I… surprise you?" she asked, her voice full of innocent satisfaction.

A long beat of silence followed.

Exusiai's wings drooped as she lowered her gun. "Niko?! You scared the hell out of us!"

Croissant let out a huge breath and lowered her hammer, rubbing the back of her neck with her free hand. "You coulda warned us, you know? Or called out or something? Almost smashed your head in…"

Texas sheathed her sword and let out one of her signature tired sighs, though the corner of her mouth twitched slightly. "You really picked the worst possible way to make an entrance. We thought someone broke in."

Bison slowly lowered his shield, looking equal parts relieved and embarrassed. "How did you get inside? There should be only one entrance into that room, and we're looking right at it…? "
Niko giggled, clearly pleased with herself despite the scare she had given everyone. "I wanted it to be a big surprise!"

She adjusted her grip on the trolley handle and looked around at the wide-eyed crew with a proud little smile. "Arno used his Arts to make a special door. It connects straight from our cart to this storage room. That's how I got in without anyone seeing me come through the front. Pretty cool, right?"

'Sorry, guys.' Niko thought, feeling slightly guilty. 'If I told you the truth, it would lead to too many questions that we're not sure how we can answer.'

---

Flashback

Back at the cart yesterday morning, Arno sat at the small table with a fresh cup of coffee, reviewing the latest system notice that had appeared after last night's disturbance. He expected the usual single-page document, but when he turned it over, he found a second page. That alone was enough to make him pause.

"Huh," he muttered, setting his coffee down. "Two pages this time?"

Niko, who had been rubbing the sleep out of her eyes while nursing a cup of cereal drink perked up at that. "Two pages? What does it say?"

Arno scanned the second page carefully. The text was clear and formal:


Additional Branch Functionality

The Primary Operator is granted the authority to establish secure points of entry connecting the Mobile Merchant Cart directly to the designated storage areas of approved branch locations. These access points are intended to facilitate efficient and secure restocking while maintaining product quality and operational discretion.

The following conditions apply:

• Points of entry may only connect to approved storage rooms within authorized branch facilities.

• Access is restricted to the Primary Operator and designated assistant.

• Points of entry cannot be used for unauthorized personnel, public access, or any purpose other than official restocking and delivery.

• Creation, activation, and management of these access points remain under the sole discretion and control of the Primary Operator.

• All existing security and confidentiality protocols shall continue to apply.

The primary cart's external operations will remain unchanged.

No public indicators of branch agreements or access points shall be displayed.

This authorization is granted solely to support measured stability and controlled growth — not unrestricted expansion.

Enforcement: Automatic

Override: Primary Operator Only

Duration: Indefinite until branch store is no longer deemed acceptable by Main Operator


Arno reread the section twice, eyebrows raised in genuine surprise. "It says I can create direct entry points into the branch storage rooms. Basically… a shortcut straight from the cart into their stockroom for deliveries."

Niko's eyes lit up with immediate excitement. She leaned over the table, practically vibrating as she read the words herself. "Really? We can just appear inside the storage room? That's perfect! We won't have to carry everything through the front where everyone can see. It'll be so much easier!"

She bounced on her toes, a wide grin spreading across her face. "We can surprise them every time we deliver! No one will know how much we brought until we're already there. Arno, this is amazing!"

Arno leaned back in his chair, still processing the information. "It is convenient," he admitted. "But we'll use it carefully. I don't want to cause any panic."

Niko was already nodding rapidly, though her excitement showed no signs of fading. "Of course! But think about it — we can bring big loads without anyone seeing us struggle with crates on the street. And I can help set everything up before they even notice. This is going to make the whole branch thing work so much better."

She looked up at him with bright, hopeful eyes. "Can we try it today? For the first delivery to Penguin Logistics?"

Arno glanced at the notice one more time before folding it away. A small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. "Yeah, we'll test it today. But make sure to text them first, okay? As I said, I don't want to cause a panic."

Niko let out a happy cheer and immediately started preparing the boxes with much excitement…only to crawl back into bed since she was still sleepy, and wanted to have all the energy for that day's visit.

The next day, as she had the phone in one hand and the cart in front of the opening, she was about to call them in advance, but decided not to.

'Hehehe…' Niko giggled to herself, a devious smirk on her face. 'Sorry Arno, but I don't think I'll call them. I wanna surprise them with an entrance that'll knock their socks off!'

She pushed open the door.

END FLASHBACK

---

The group stared at her in open amazement. Croissant's mouth actually fell open for a second. Bison lowered his shield completely, blinking in surprise. Even Texas looked mildly impressed, which was rare for her.

"Whoa…" Croissant breathed. "A direct door? Like, basically teleportation?I didn't even know Arts can do that!. No wonder we didn't see you coming."

Sora leaned forward, eyes sparkling. "So you can just… appear here whenever you want? That's amazing! It must make deliveries so much easier."

Exusiai's wings fluttered rapidly as she stepped closer, her expression shifting from shock to pure excitement. "Wait, so you can visit us anytime you want now?!" she asked, practically bouncing in place. "Like, you could just pop in during lunch or after we finish routes or even when we're just hanging out? That's the best thing I've heard all week!"

Niko scratched the side of her cheek, looking a bit bashful but still smiling. "Well, yeah. But not all the time, since I'm still Arno's assistant, you know. I have to help with the cart, prepare food, and handle a lot of the packing. I can't just leave the lunk to do everything by himself."

"That's fair," Bison said with a nod, though he still looked fascinated by the idea. "Still, having a direct connection like that is really convenient. It'll make restocking way smoother than we expected."

Exusiai was not ready to let the topic drop. She moved around the trolley, inspecting the crates with growing enthusiasm. "But still! Even if it's not every day, this changes everything. We could have surprise lunch deliveries! Or you could come hang out after closing time. Niko, this is huge. You're basically part of the warehouse now."

Niko let out another soft giggle as she started helping unload one of the lighter crates. "I'm glad you like the idea. Arno thought it would be useful for the partnership, especially since we're going to be traveling soon. This way we don't have to carry everything through the main entrance every time."

Croissant rolled up her sleeves and jumped in to help lift a heavier crate, her earlier tension completely replaced by cheerful energy. "This kid just keeps getting cooler. First the food, now secret Arts doors. What's next? Are you gonna tell us the cart can fly or something?"

'At this point, I wouldn't be surprised if it did.' Niko thought, then giggled as she imagined the cart growing rockets and wings.

Texas shook her head slowly, though the faint smile on her face showed she was amused. "Don't give her any ideas. Let's focus on getting this stock put away properly before Emperor comes out and sees the mess we almost made."

The crew quickly fell into a productive rhythm. Exusiai and Croissant took turns carrying crates into the stockroom while Niko and Arno (who eventually came through the door as well) directed them on where to place the different items — sandwiches on the upper shelves, drinks in the refrigerated section, and preserved snacks toward the front for easy access. Sora helped organize the labels according to the price list they had prepared earlier, occasionally asking Niko for details about shelf life and best storage methods.

Every few minutes, Exusiai would glance over at Niko with bright eyes and ask another question. "So does the door stay open? Or does Arno have to open it each time? Can I come see it sometime? Not today, obviously, but later?"

Arno's mind raced as he thought of an explanation on why they can't do that.. "I can only do it once a day." He fibbed. " And maybe some other time, once things settle down a bit. I'm still trying to get control of it because it's tiring, and I need to focus a lot. The first door I opened accidentally came into Senior Superintendent Ch'en's office. Thankfully, her back was turned so she didn't notice us."

(What Arno didn't know was that his slip up was caught on her office camera. And now, the people in the surveillance office were ready to give her a piece of their minds on how the hell she didn't notice something like that so she could stop Arno from leaving. Only to remember that she can assign them to patrol the most boring districts in all of Lungmen, so they can only grumble to themselves before going back to work.)

Exusiai cringed at the thought of intruding on the office of such a hardass, but giggled nonetheless at the mental image.

"That's understandable," Bison said. He positioned a crate neatly against the wall. "Security and all that. Still, it's impressive. Makes me feel better about the whole branch idea. We won't have to worry as much about delays or transportation issues. Not only that, but we also don't need to worry about protecting our product midtransport from scalpers and raiders alike."

As they finished arranging the last of the crates, the Penguin Pantry finally looked alive. The shelves were neatly stocked, the refrigerated unit hummed softly, and the counter area now had several attractive displays ready for customers. Niko stepped back and wiped her hands on her apron, surveying the results with clear satisfaction.

Exusiai threw an arm around Niko's shoulders, careful not to squeeze too hard. "You really got us good earlier. My heart is still racing a little. But this? This makes up for it completely. The pantry looks incredible."

Croissant gave Niko a thumbs-up. "Welcome to the team, guys. Officially."

Niko's cheeks flushed with quiet pride as she looked at the filled shelves and the friendly faces around her while Arno thanked her..

Texas gave the group a small nod. "Good work. Let's get the front area tidied up before the afternoon shift comes through. Thanks for giving us this opportunity guys.. This is going to work out well."

The warehouse crew continued chatting and joking as they finished the final touches, the earlier scare now just another funny story they would no doubt tease Niko about for weeks to come. The Penguin Pantry was soon to open for business, and the partnership had officially taken its first lively step forward.

---

Arno and Niko returned to the cart as the sun began to set over Lungmen after they said goodbye to everyone. They even went to visit Emperor in his office before they left.. The alley outside was quiet, with only the distant sounds of the city drifting in. They had spent most of the afternoon at the warehouse helping arrange stock, answering questions from the crew, and making sure everything in the Penguin Pantry was properly set up. Both of them felt tired but satisfied after a long and successful day.

Once inside, Arno locked the door and let out a slow breath. He removed his jacket and hung it on the hook by the entrance. Niko kicked off her shoes and climbed onto her side of the couch, sitting cross-legged while watching him move around the small kitchen area. She turned on the T.V. to open up a movie for them to both watch as Arno prepared some dinner.

"That went better than I expected," Arno said as he started preparing a simple dinner. "The pantry looks good. The crew seemed really happy with the first delivery. Even Texas looked impressed."

Niko nodded, swinging her legs lightly. "Yeah. Everyone was so excited when we started unpacking. Exusiai almost knocked over a whole shelf trying to help. And Croissant kept saying how professional it all looked." She paused for a moment, then added with a small smile, "It felt nice seeing our things there. Like the cart is still helping people even when we're not around. And they were so happy to know that we can visit them anytime now."

Arno hummed in agreement. He glanced around the familiar interior of the cart — the shelves that always seemed to hold exactly what they needed, the space that had grown with their business, and the quiet reliability that had supported them through everything. "The cart really has done a lot for us. More than I ever thought possible when we first started."

Niko stayed quiet for a short while, watching him work. Then she tilted her head and spoke again. "Speaking of that… maybe we should ask it for a guard."

Arno stopped what he was doing and turned to look at her. "A guard?"

"Yeah," Niko said, sitting up straighter. "Someone who can protect us. Especially after what happened before. It would make things safer while we travel, right?"

Arno shook his head slowly. "We don't know anyone who would be willing to just stand outside the cart all day, and I don't want to bring anyone we don't know into our home. That's not an easy job. Most people have their own lives and work."

Niko leaned forward, her eyes bright with the idea. "Then just ask the cart! Like how you thought about needing an assistant. That's how I ended up here with you. It worked out perfectly, so why not try the same thing for a guard?"

Arno rubbed the back of his neck, looking a little uncomfortable. "Niko… the cart has already given us so much. The extra space, the way it handles stock, those new access points for the branches. I don't want to push it any further. We should be grateful for what we have instead of asking for more."

"But it likes helping us!" Niko insisted, scooting to the edge of her bed. "It brought me to you when we both needed someone to help us. It gave us the branch notice exactly when we didn't wanna say goodbye. And the special door worked perfectly today. What's the worst that could happen if we just ask nicely for one guard?"

Arno gave her a long look. "Niko, I just want you to know that you are the best thing that has happened to me since I got to Terra–."

"Awww, thanks."

"But when I thought about getting an assistant, I didn't expect AT ALL to find you in the next box. I didn't expect ANYONE to be in a box. Who knows what thing the cart might give us?"

Niko puffed her cheeks out in a pout, refusing to back down. "Come on, Arno. Just try it. One little request. Think about it — a nice, strong guard standing outside. No more people staring strangely at the cart. No more worrying when we're sleeping or packing up. We could even travel to new places without always looking over our shoulders. It would be so much safer! And plus, we don't need to worry about them spilling our secrets to the outside world since this will be their new home!"

"Niko, that's called kidnapping."

"We're helping someone! Don't be such a downer!"

She hopped off the bed and walked over to stand right in front of him, looking up with wide, hopeful eyes. "Pleeeeaaaase? The cart has been really nice to us so far. One guard isn't that big of a request. What's the worst that could happen? It says no? Or maybe it gives us someone really cool? Either way, we won't know unless we ask."

Arno sighed, crossing his arms. He could tell she was not going to let this go easily. "You're really trying to tempt fate here, aren't you?"

Niko grinned, sensing she was close to wearing him down. "Maybe a little. But it's for a good reason! We're going to be traveling all over Terra soon. A guard would make everything better. Pretty please? We can ask together. I'll even say thank you out loud so the cart knows we're grateful."

She clasped her hands together and gave him her best pleading look, the same one she used when she really wanted extra snacks. "Just one try. If nothing happens, I won't bring it up again for a while. Promise."

Arno looked at her determined face for a long moment, then glanced around the cart as if expecting it to respond on its own. He let out another deep sigh, already knowing how this was going to end.

"Fine. You're right." He conceded, to which Niko whooped in victory. "After all…"

"What's the worst that could happen–?" He was cut off by a loud sound.

Arno and Niko were suddenly jolted as the entire cart rattled and shook violently for several seconds, as if something heavy had slammed into the side or the ground itself had trembled beneath them. Arno stood up instantly, heart pounding, and reached for the Remington Model 8 he kept nearby. Niko scrambled out of the sofa, eyes wide with alarm as she stood behind Arno and grasped at his shirt tightly.

"What was that?" she whispered, her voice shaky.

"I don't know. Stay behind me." Arno said quietly but firmly. He moved to the window, pulled the curtain aside just enough to peek out, and scanned the alley. The street outside was dark and completely still. No one was visible—no figures, no movement, not even a stray animal. The alley looked perfectly normal under the faint neon glow of the city. The shaking had stopped as suddenly as it began, leaving only an uneasy silence behind.

Arno kept watch for a long moment, rifle ready. Still nothing.

He was about to lower the curtain when a soft, familiar chime echoed inside the cart—the alert for a new official notice. A glowing document materialized above the small table near the window, flickering unsteadily for a few seconds before settling down.

Niko approached the paper cautiously while Arno stood guard to make sure nothing got into their home. She picked it up and started reading.

---

CART SYSTEM - OFFICIAL NOTICE

Branch & Security Authorization

Applicable Entity: Mobile Merchant Cart

Primary Operator: Arno

Due to the recent armed attack on the Cart and its inhabitants and confirmed ongoing risk to operations, the Cart System has dispatched a dedicated protection detail. One (1) qualified guard unit has been assigned to patrol and secure the immediate vicinity of the cart effective immediately. This measure will remain in effect for the forseeable to ensure the safety of the Primary Operator and Secondary Operator (Niko).

The assigned guard will maintain a visible presence during business hours and conduct regular checks during off hours. You are not required to provide any compensation or accommodation. Report any suspicious activity directly to the assigned guard or through standard channels.

This security detail is provided as part of standard protective protocols following—

█▓▒░ ERROR // TRANSMISSION CORRUPTED // INTEGRITY COMPROMISED// F0R3I6N T8REAT DETECTED!1!1 ░▒▓█

ThE aSsIgNeD gUaRd WiLl MaInTaIn a ViSiBlE pReSeNcE dUrInG bUsInEsS hOuRs AnD cOnDuCt rEgUlAr ChEcKs DuRiNg OfF hOuRs YoU aRe NoT rEqUiReD tO pRoViDe AnY aDdItIoNaL cOmPeNsAtIoN oR aCcOmMoDaTiOn ShOuLd YoU nOtIcE aNy SuSpIcIoUs AcTiViTy CoNtAcT tHe AsSiGnEd GuArD iMmEdIaTeLy

█▓▒░ SYSTEM ANOMALY DETECTED ░▒▓█

PrOtEcTiOn DeTaIl Is NoRmAl

PrOtEcTiOn DeTaIl Is NoRmAl

PrOtEcTiOn DeTaIl Is NoRmAl

nOtHiNg Is WrOnG

nOtHiNg Is WrOnG

shE iS hErE tO hElP

ShE iS hErE tO hElP

dO nOt Be AfRaId

S̵̱̣̀̅̇̑̽H̵̥̫͚̓́̈́̍͒̈́3̷̺̼͖̮͙̟̪͕̫̠̯͕̠͙̞̓̓̿͆͗̍̑̋̓̓͆ ̷͕̹́̋̉͊̀̀̓͐͘͝͝J̷̡̬͍͔̻͈̣̜͕͎͂̒͋̈́Ų̷̧̮̭̪̻͔̹͇̭͋̄͘͠5̷͎̞͙̲̕Ţ̵̨̺̞̝̦̰̠͚͇͓̦̬̽͐̇̓̽͌͌̅ ̶̪͌̈́͆̊̍͛̒̊̀͘͘͝Ẉ̶̨͉̲͓̣̯̬̯͖̳̰̭̮̺̌̏͊̂̀́͋͒̈̒̚͝A̷̢̞͇̥̤̞̯̲̻̙̗̞̱̳̒̈́̅́̓͊̾͌̅̾̈̑͌̍͜Ǹ̸̛̛͖̳͙̌̇͊̂̊̉Ṫ̶͕̫͍̮͉̬̦̬͎̖̣̌̂̊̀̀͑͊̒̀͐̌͘5̶̡̛̞̞̰̞̝́̋ ̷̖̪̬̆̅̒́̈̄̕T̷̨̘̬̹̥̰͕̪̼̰͓̱̿͂͆͊0̴̢̗͇͊̌͐͗̕͝ ̸̢̲͎̺̮̠̭̙͇̓̉̌̊͑͛̾͆̈́̅̃̈́̇Ḩ̸̡̛̺̳̤̖͕̗̪̙̣̠̟̺̖̉͗̈́̅͌̇2̸̜͇̲̥͚̳̬̀͂Ḷ̵̨̛͙̹̗̮̑̌́́̈́͠P̵̨̛͔͔̳̞̯͕̰̥̣̫̱̩͔̰̋̇̎͗̓!̴̬̔̃͒̉1̴̛͎̰͎͎͔̰̳͉͍̟̱̳̔̍̀͛̏̌͛̑͂̃̕ͅ!̵̲̲͓͇̙͈͎̺̭̖̊̂̉͘͝1̵̨̡̨̰͍̪̳͉̦͚̟̼̟̠͐̒̅̒͛́̈́͊̆́́͘͝!̶̯͖̐̒͌̈̈́̈́̂̂̄̈́̓͝

H̴̺͒3̷̮̀̔L̷̨͍͕̺͉̥̫͔̗̰̺̯̳̱͗̊̽̎̉̊͐͆͘͝P̶̲̄ ̸͍̪̥̆̈́̆̒̇̇͜ͅH̵̪͕̓͊̆̒̉̈̈́3̸̢̪̯̘͙͉̖̀͌̇̈́̇̃͗̈́̚͠ͅR̷̰̭̪̳͎͓͈̞̓̓̋̕͜͝͝ ̷̨̳͖̂̇̆͋̽̑͛͘F̵̻̠̪̼̟̗̗͚̬̰̞̳̼͂͗̊̈́̿̈̿͑̀̔̍͘͝ͅ3̴̛̠̯̰̻̖̲͎̲͈͎͍̦͛̏͌̊̔͂̋͊̓͗̊̓̈͝3̴͓̤̰̭͇̥͕̠̗̟̫̪̃̀͋̆͛̕͘̕͝ͅ1̶̡̙͙̩̰͙̣̪͎̱̙̳͕̯̝̀̓͗͛̈͋̀̌̀̓͘ ̷̧̝̟͓̼̑̊͆͗̾͑̆͝N̶̛̞̺̣͓̤̟͇̩̹̬̰̤̐̑̍̀̅̉̋̄́̂̆̀͝0̷̧̧̝̱̜̜̮̀̽̑̕͜R̵̦͓͑̂̔M̶͚̒̈́̊͗̾̀̎̂̃͑A̶͇̓̍͒1̸̝̗̈̒̓͂̆͐̓̓̆͒̋̓!!


Enforcement: Automatic

Override: Primary Operator Only

Duration: Indefinite until revoked by the main Operator

WARNING // CORE INTEGRITY 73% // RECONNECTING TO MAIN FRAME…

---

The paper slip burst into flames just as they finished reading it. By midway, Niko quickly passed it to Arno after being spooked at how th notice went from neat and orderly to outright gibberish.

Arno had only just begun to process the corrupted notice when he heard Niko yelling at something.

There should only be two of them inside the home.

"Hey! That's mine!" Niko exclaimed, her voice sharp with indignation. She rushed toward the kitchen area. "Those are the leftover sweets and juice I was saving!"

Arno turned quickly, still gripping the Remington Model 8. His eyes landed on the figure standing in front of the open refrigerator to see tHe MoSt BeAuTiFuL ThInG He HaS eVeR SeEn.

The words echoed strangely in his mind as he stared. A young woman with striking orange hair, large golden ram-like horns, and massive white-and-gray wings stood casually before them. She wore very little — a revealing black-and-white outfit(??) that looked more like elegant fur trim mixed with a bodysuit than proper clothing. Her glowing pink eyes with swirl-like pupils scanned the contents of the fridge with mild curiosity as she popped another piece of Niko's candy into her mouth, oblivious to the world.

Spoiler

Arno's breath caught. His grip on the rifle loosened. Without thinking, he took a slow step forward, then another. A strange, hazy warmth spread through his chest. The world around him seemed to fade at the edges, leaving only her in sharp, irresistible focus.

Niko's voice sounded distant. "Hey, put some clothes on! You can't just walk around like that in someone else's home! What if someone sees you? Am I right, Arno? Arno?"

The newcomer froze. Her glowing pink eyes darted between Arno and Niko, filled with clear fear. She let out a small, startled "Gao?!" and quickly backed away, nearly dropping the candy. Before either of them could react, she bolted toward the far corner of the cart, pressing herself against the wall. Her large wings curled around her body protectively as she crouched down, watching them with wide, frightened eyes. She looked ready to bolt again at the slightest movement.

"Arno!" Niko called again, louder this time. She grabbed his sleeve, but he kept walking forward as if in a trance, eyes fixed on the horned girl. Something was clearly wrong. His movements were too slow, too dreamlike.

Niko's ears flattened against her head. "Snap out of it! Arno, stop! You're scaring her!"

When he did not respond, she planted herself firmly in front of him and pushed against his chest. "Wake up! Something's not right with you!"

Arno pushed her aside roughly, almost mechanically, his gaze never leaving the newcomer. Niko stumbled back a step and fell, eyes wide with alarm and rising anger.

"Oooohhh, whatdoIdowhatdoIdowhatdoIdo!?" she shouted anxiously. She spun toward the counter to see a full, unopened soda can that the creature pulled out of the fridge. "Aha!" And hurled it with all her strength at the back of Arno's head.

THUNK.

The can connected solidly. Arno staggered forward with a sharp grunt, the daze shattering instantly. He rubbed the sore spot on his skull, blinking rapidly as reality rushed back in.

"Motherfucker–! Niko, what the…?" He turned toward her, confused and wincing. "Thank you… I think."

Niko stood with her hands on her hips, breathing hard. "You were walking straight toward her like a zombie! I told you asking the cart for a guard was a bad idea! Look at her — she's eating my snacks and you almost walked into her!"

'You're the one who wanted to summon someone though?' Arno mused as he rubbed. 'Dumb cat.'

Ignoring the "I am NOT a cat!" from the counter, he looked up to see the newcomer had curled up even smaller. Her wings trembled slightly as she hugged her knees to her chest, watching them both with those wide, fearful pink eyes. She made no move to approach or speak, only shrinking back further when their attention turned toward her. She meant no harm — that much was clear from her timid posture — but she looked utterly overwhelmed and scared.

Arno took a careful step back, still rubbing his head. The strange pull he had felt moments ago had completely vanished, leaving only embarrassment and caution. He slowly lowered the rifle and set it aside.

"Easy," he said gently, raising his hands to show they were empty. "We're not going to hurt you."

The young woman in the corner remained silent, her glowing eyes flicking nervously between them. She pressed herself tighter against the wall, clearly unsettled by the sudden chaos she had caused.

Niko let out a long sigh, glancing between Arno and the timid newcomer. "See? You scared her when you walking around like that…"

Once again ignoring the peanut gallery, he took another look at her. Now with a clear head, he suddenly realized what he was looking at.

This time, with a clear head, the realization hit him like cold water.

This… this is Beast Gudako, isn't she?

The crimson hair, the golden ram horns, the large wings, the distinctive white-and-black outfit — even the glowing pink eyes. It matched exactly what he remembered seeing in passing once on the internet back on Earth. He had always assumed she was nothing more than a meme, a piece of fanart that had circulated around certain communities on Reddit and other sites. A drawing that was made by some horny guy on the internet for fun.

Standing before him was a corrupted version of the female protagonist of Fate Grand/Order. She didn't have a biography, a file, or even a fan theory following her.

Yet here she was, real, crouched in the corner of their cart, trembling like a leaf while staring at him with those PiNk bEaUtIfUl EyEs.

He punched himself in the jaw much to Niko's shock before he focused once more.

Arno's thoughts raced. How is she here? Why did the notice burn up like that? What exactly did we just ask for?

The young woman — Beast Gudako — remained pressed tightly against the wall. Her large wings were curled around her body as much as possible, and her glowing pink eyes watched both him and Niko with visible fear. She looked small and fragile despite her imposing features, making no aggressive movements whatsoever. When Arno shifted his weight slightly, she flinched and pressed herself even further into the corner, clearly terrified.

"I'm… sorry about that," he said gently, keeping his voice low and steady. "We didn't mean to scare you. This is our home. We're not going to hurt you."

Beast Gudako said nothing. She only watched them with those wide, anxious eyes, her clawed hands clutching at the fur trim of her outfit. She looked lost, overwhelmed, and deeply uncertain about her new surroundings.

Arno exhaled slowly, trying to organize his racing thoughts. The corrupted notice, the sudden appearance, the strange pull he had felt earlier — everything felt wrong in a way he could not yet explain. And now this. A character he had believed existed only as internet humor was crouching in their cart, scared and silent.

Niko glanced up at him, her expression shifting from irritation to concern as she noticed how quiet he had become. "Arno…? Who is she? What do we do?"

A calm, elegant voice suddenly filled the interior of the cart without any warning.

"My apologies for the abrupt delivery," the voice said smoothly. "I did not intend to cause such a fright in your home."

Both Arno and Niko jumped. Niko let out a small yelp and instinctively grabbed Arno's arm, while Arno's hand aimed the rifle he had set aside moments earlier to the direction of the voice. In the corner, Beast Gudako flinched violently and pressed herself even tighter against the wall, her wings trembling.

A faint shimmer appeared in the air near the center of the room. It quickly took the form of an older man with long white hair and refined, old-fashioned clothing. He regarded them with a polite, slightly amused expression.

Spoiler

Arno's eyes widened in immediate recognition. "Zelretch…"

Niko stared at the translucent figure, her ears flat against her head. "Who? Arno, you know this guy?!"

Zelretch offered a small, courteous bow. "Kischur Zelretch Schweinorg, at your service. Though most simply call me Zelretch." He turned his gaze toward Niko with gentle warmth. "It is a pleasure to meet you, young lady. You must be Niko."

Niko blinked rapidly, still holding onto Arno's sleeve. "H-How do you know my name? What's going on?"

Zelretch chuckled softly. "I must apologize once more for the rather sudden manner of this introduction — and for dropping her off so unceremoniously." He glanced toward Beast Gudako, who was quietly nibbling on another piece of candy she had managed to keep hold of, watching the conversation with wide, nervous eyes. "The poor girl found herself in a difficult state. A friend of mine offered a solution on what to do with her. The same friend, I might add, who originally built this cart for you."

Arno exhaled slowly, the pieces beginning to fall into place. "The cart's creator…"

"Precisely." Zelretch gave a small, knowing smile. "They believed this arrangement might benefit all parties involved. She requires a safe place to recover and regain herself… and you required protection. A rather pragmatic compromise, in their view. How about we all calm down and take a seat?"

---

The Circumstances of the New Guest

While the two prepared to speak, Niko cautiously approached the timid girl in the corner. "Hey… it's alright now. No one's going to hurt you." She gently took Beast Gudako's hand. "Come on, you can't stay like that. Let's get you cleaned up and find some proper clothes."

Beast Gudako hesitated but eventually allowed Niko to guide her toward the small bathroom area, her large wings folded tightly and her head lowered meekly.

"T-t-thank…you…" She murmured.

"Wow, you have a pretty voice, miss." Niko said as she grabbed a spare towel.

"S-so…rry…" the Beast spoke slowly. "F-for…the candy. Hun…gry…"

"It's okay, miss. I get hungry too. Your name is Beast Gudako, right? Arno mentioned it earlier."

The Beast flinched at the title. "Just…Gudako. D-don't like…being called… a monster."

"Oh, I'm sorry. Gudako, then? Okay. Let's clean you up and get you dressed while the grownups talk. Dinner comes after, okay?"

Gudako pouted at that part. "I…I'm an…adult…too…" But followed the young girl anyway.

Arno watched them go for a moment before turning back to Zelretch. "This… is going to take some explaining."

Zelretch's expression softened. "The poor girl has been through a great deal. Allow me to explain."

He spoke with the measured cadence of someone who had witnessed countless tragedies and miracles alike. "In a timeline where Chaldea stood on the verge of complete annihilation, the Master known as Gudako Fujimaru and her brother Ritsuka confronted one insurmountable crisis after another. Faced with the potential loss of every Servant and colleague she had come to care for, she developed an unrelenting desire for a flawless resolution — one in which all those under her care would survive, thrive, and find lasting happiness."

Zelretch paused, his eyes distant for a moment. "This aspiration, born from genuine devotion yet intensified by desperation, represented greed and desire in its purest form: an absolute refusal to accept anything less than total possession of the ideal outcome."

"A corrupted Grail, warped by the accumulated vices of humanity and the distortions of the Incineration, answered her plea. No one knows where she got it; some say it was passed on to her by someone wanting her downfall, or she merely kept it on her person just in case, that matters little now. It granted her the capacity to strengthen and command her Servants with extraordinary effectiveness, securing victory after victory. Yet this power exacted a profound toll. It eroded her humanity and manifested her inner greed as a Beast-class entity."

He glanced again at the girl in the corner. "The Grand Beast of Greed thus emerged — a being compelled to claim and safeguard every bond, every life, and every future she deemed essential to her perfect victory."

After a brief silence, Zelretch continued, his voice quieter. "Even after she succeeded in defeating Goetia, she remained under the status of a Beast. Even though her brother and many Servants tried to defend her, the others deemed her too dangerous to remain, so she was exiled. She resents the reason for her banishment, yet she cannot bring herself to hate the people of Chaldea any longer. Deep down, she understood."

Arno's grip on his cup loosened slightly as she listened, her expression shifting from confusion to quiet sympathy. He didn't realize that he began gripping it hard when Zelretch described her transformation.

"I stepped in to help the poor girl find a new home and avoid being… disposed of," Zelretch said. "I wished to bring her somewhere she might feel even a tiny bit normal again — a place where she could have a genuine new start."

He smiled faintly. "That was when I was approached by a new entity. It was clearly benevolent, if a bit naive. This entity had heard of Gudako's situation and proposed bringing her to where 'his chosen' resided. I accepted the suggestion. After all, this cart was built by that very same entity."

Zelretch looked directly at Arno. "You were chosen for a reason, Arno. The cart believed you and Niko could provide the stability and kindness this girl needs, as well as help many people in this unfamiliar world. And in turn, she may become the protector you asked for."

Zelretch's expression was one of patient understanding as he looked around their dwelling.

Arno stared at the Kaleidoscope's figure, his mind still reeling from the flood of information. After a long pause, he spoke, his voice low. "So… what happened after? Last I checked, she was really brave and witty when interacting with her Servants. Why does she look so scared and timid now? And why does she talk like that?"

Zelretch let out a sigh he took a sip of the Cart's juice merchandise. He was quiet, as if thinking of a way to articulate it without seeming too blunt.

"Ah, you see," he began, his tone measured and scholarly, "she can speak in full sentences. However, the Beastification has left her mind in a rather fragmented state. It affects certain aspects of communication, making her slower and more hesitant than she once was. She is still very smart and remarkably sweet underneath it all, I assure you. But the process took a heavy toll."

He glanced toward Beast Gudako, who was quietly watching them with wide, anxious eyes.

"Additionally, she possesses a sort of… compulsion effect. It radiates from her very presence. You, yourself, were subject to it just now, weren't you? She speaks slowly in part because the corruption also influences her voice. She fears that if anyone truly heard her speak normally, they would be forced to obey her commands — even if she has no intention of issuing them. That fear has made her extremely cautious. Timid, even."

Arno frowned slightly. "Then how come Niko is unaffected?"

Zelretch's lips curved into a small, knowing smile. "The status of the Messiah carries many connotations… as well as certain benefits. Young Niko stands in a rather special position within this Cart and its purpose. Such influences do not take hold as easily with her."

Niko, who had finished dressing Gudako, blinked in surprise as they came back to the common area. "Me? Special? I'm just… me."

"Precisely why it works so well, and why you were chosen to uphold your mission before coming here. " Zelretch replied with a gentle smile. "Now then, I have intruded long enough. I will leave the three of you to become acquainted. Treat her with patience and kindness. She deserves a chance to heal."

Arno remained quiet for a moment, absorbing everything, before he finally asked the question that had been weighing on him since the beginning. "I have so many questions. How is any of this even possible? How are you even able to interact with this universe? Shouldn't you basically only be… you know? Part of the Nasuverse?"

Zelretch chuckled, a faint, almost nostalgic expression crossing his face. "Is that what you people called it back where your from? A fair question, though. Terra was Earth, once upon a time. Long, long ago. It simply followed its own path of evolution — much like how numerous other Earths have diverged across the kaleidoscope of possibilities. Different branches, different outcomes. Yours happened to cross paths with this one. The cart you received was built specifically to bridge such gaps. A nexus point for certain things. Why? The entity was most likely having some fun, for even I am unsure."

He gave a small, elegant shrug. "The details are… complicated, even for me. But rest assured, you are not the first traveler I have encountered, nor will you be the last."

'I wonder how Cirilla is doing?' Zelretch thought, his mind suddenly recalling a few other travellers. 'I hope she's doing alright, what with the Wild Hunt looking for her. Still, I hope she has met Geralt and Yennefer safely. Elizabeth would have my head if I didn't so much as check up on her from time to time.'

Before either Arno or Niko could press further, Zelretch raised his hand. A neatly wrapped package materialized in the air and floated gently toward Niko.

"For you, young lady," he said warmly. "A small token of appreciation for your kindness and resilience."

Niko accepted the package with wide eyes. She opened it carefully and let out a delighted gasp. "Whoa… these look so cool!" Inside was a brand-new set of adventurer-style clothing — a stylish dark cloak with a witch-like hat, sturdy boots, and practical yet charming accessories. Accompanying the outfit was a curious scepter topped with a glowing lightbulb, a bag filled with carefully sealed glass bottles clearly meant as throwables, and a note explaining their use.

Spoiler

There also contained a notebook on certain spells that she can use with the staff.


Niko's tail swished excitedly. "This is coool! Thank you so much!"

Zelretch chuckled softly. "I thought the scepter and those throwing implements would suit your rather impressive arm. Use them wisely."

He then turned to Arno. "Thank you for the food earlier — it was quite excellent. I hope you will take good care of Gudako. She needs patience, stability, and a chance to simply… exist without fear. I believe this cart, and the two of you, can provide that."

With a graceful motion, Zelretch produced a fresh, pristine document and placed it on the table. "A proper version of the notice that burned earlier. It should be far more stable."



CART SYSTEM - OFFICIAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF ASSIGNMENT

Subject: Gudako (Beast of Greed)

Origin World: Fate/Grand Order Alternative Timeline (Unrecoverable)

Status: Displaced (Permanent)

Due to the successful stabilization of multiple critical events and the subsequent loss of her original return vector, Subject Gudako has been relocated to an environment with sustainable support infrastructure.

Assignment: Dedicated Guard & Personal Security Detail

Assigned To: Mobile Merchant Cart

Primary Operator: Arno

Secondary Operator: Niko

Role Parameters:

• Maintain a visible presence around the cart during business hours
• Conduct regular patrols and security checks during off hours
• Provide immediate protection against any threats to the Cart, its operators, or authorized personnel
• Accompany and safeguard the operators during travel and operations
• Respond to hostile incidents as required

Compensation:

• Housing within the Mobile Merchant Cart
• Sustenance and basic necessities provided by the Cart System
• Full protection under Cart Protocols

This arrangement is non-negotiable and has been enacted under Cart System Authority for the continued safety and stability of the Primary and Secondary Operators.

Enforcement: Automatic

Override: Primary Operator Only

Duration: Indefinite until revoked by the Primary Operator

Note: The assigned guard is currently in a recovering state. Patience and understanding during her adjustment period is recommended.



He also gave Arno a ring. "This should help with the compulsion."

Zelretch gave them both one final, respectful nod. "Until we meet again. And goodbye, Gudako."

Gudako smiled softly and waved back. "Good…bye…!"

The air rippled once more, and Zelretch disappeared as suddenly as he had arrived, leaving the cart feeling strangely quieter in his absence.

Niko stood holding her new clothes and scepter, still processing everything. She glanced over at Beast Gudako, who was watching the whole exchange with wide, timid eyes, then back at Arno.

"Well…" she said slowly, "this has definitely been the strangest day yet."

Arno looked at the new notice on the table, then at the timid Beast in the corner, and finally at Niko's excited expression as she held up her new hat.

He let out a long, tired sigh. "Yeah. It really has. This is… a lot to take in."

Niko nodded, still processing everything. She turned back to the timid girl in the corner and offered a small, encouraging smile. "Come on, miss. Let's have some dinner!"

Beast Gudako hesitated for a long moment, her glowing pink eyes darting nervously between Arno and Niko. Eventually, she gave a tiny nod and allowed Niko to gently guide her toward the couch while Arno wore the ring and started preparing dinner.

While she was no longer semi-naked, she was still in some ill-fitting clothes. She currently wore Niko's old coat and Arno's shorts and shirt. They will be going on another shopping trip before leaving.

As the night drew to a close, they all sat together.

Arno offered a gentle nod and passed her a plate of rice and curry. "You're safe here. We'll figure this out together."

Beast Gudako looked at him for a long moment, then gave the smallest, almost imperceptible nod in return. She remained quiet, but there was a faint trace of cautious hope in her glowing eyes.

Niko let out a long sigh and crossed her arms. "This is definitely going to take some getting used to."

Gudako took the scene before her eyes and was still a bit shy, but she slowly receded her wings so as not to knock over anything. She took a spoonful of her food and chewed slowly.

As the taste of warm food and the feeling of a kind and understanding atmosphere fully drew upon her, she teared up a little but still smiled at both of them.

"Thank you…"

The two original occupants smiled at her and began to eat. When all was said and done, they turned in for the night, with Arno sleeping on the couch while Gudako took his bed.

---

After several days of urgent preparations, the time had finally come. The cart was fully stocked with supplies, emergency clothing for Gudako, and several history books about Terra that Niko gathere for Gudako to study. Gudako now wore simple but practical traveling clothes that fit her properly. She remained quiet and timid, staying close to Niko as the group made their final checks.

As the cart approached the outskirts of Lungmen, Arno slowed down and pulled out his phone. "One last call before we leave the city."

He dialed Lin Yuhsia first. The call connected after a few rings.

"Arno," Lin answered, her voice calm but warm. "I take it this is your farewell call?"

"Yes," Arno replied. "We're nearing the exit now. I just wanted to thank you again — for everything. For being fair with us from the start, and for understanding why we have to go."

Lin was quiet for a moment. "I understand. Take care of yourselves out there. The offer to join the LYEA remains open if you ever need it. Safe travels, Arno. And please look after Niko."

"We will. Thank you, Miss Lin. Oh, and I suggest you or your men head over to the Penguin Logistics warehouse in the district where I used to be. Just ask them about me and they'll hook you up."

Lin raised an eyebrow on her end, but nonetheless agreed to do so.

He ended the call and quickly dialed Commissioner Swire next. The conversation was shorter but no less sincere.

"Heading out already?" Swire asked.

"Yes. Thank you for your help during the incident. We won't forget it."

Swire let out a small huff. "Just don't go causing trouble in other cities. And if you ever need anything in Lungmen again, you know where to find us."

"Thanks. Oh, and head over to Penguin Logistics later with some of your men. Ask them about the new store and they'll hook you up with something nice."

"Is that so? Alright then. Thank you and goodluck."

With the final goodbyes said, Arno put the phone away. The tall buildings of Lungmen grew smaller in the rearview as the cart continued forward. The bustling noise of the city slowly faded, replaced by the open road stretching ahead.

Niko looked back through the window for a long moment before turning to Arno. "We really did it. We're actually leaving."

Arno kept his eyes on the path ahead. "Yeah. New places, new people. But we're not going alone anymore."

Gudako sat quietly near the window, her glowing pink eyes watching the city disappear behind them. She remained silent, but there was a faint trace of cautious hope in her posture as she stayed close to the two people who had taken her in.

The three of them — two original residents and one displaced guardian — traveled onward, leaving Lungmen behind as they began the next chapter of their journey across Terra.

Whatever awaited them on the road ahead, they would face it together.

---

AN: "Tuesday at the latest if everything goes according to plan." Me and my big mouth, huh? Hey, guys! Sorry for the late post. I basically had some stuff go on wherein I got exiled to the countryside with my mum to visit grandma. She was really nice and sweet, but I had barely any access to wifi there. I was also there with my relatives, but what happened was that one of them thinks fanfic is cringe (kinda is, but I love it all the same) and decided to delete my latest chapter because he didn't like that I was a writer. Of course, I told my mom, and I was free to delete something of his that wasn't related to school.

So, I deleted his save on Final Fantasy Rebirth. 60 Hours in, so I'd say it wasn't that deep. He bitched and whined, but hey. Respect the Golden Rule.

Anyway, I had to redo it from scratch, but thankfully I kept my chapter outline on a different device so I cobbled this thing together. It's admittedly a bit shorter than the original chapter, which sat at 19k words at the time with deeper stuff baked into it. Sadly, I can't remember the other stuff that was in it since some parts came during my caffeine-induced well-rested haze.


So it's finally here, huh? Departure from Lungmen. From now on, I won't be mentioning a specific time wherein I'll post the next chapter since they tend to get derailed. Hope that's alright with you guys.

And by the way. The other travellers that Zelretch mentions are Cirilla from The Witcher series, and Elizabeth from BioShock.

Thank you and enjoy! Kindly comment what you think; I like engaging with my readers.

 

[Ryven Razgriz]

Oh shit, Gudako but as a BEAST? If she still has access to abilities and skills as a BEAST then Terra is about to experience anal devastation should something happen to Arno, Niko, and the Cart.

 

[Paracsus]

Oh shit, Gudako but as a BEAST? If she still has access to abilities and skills as a BEAST then Terra is about to experience anal devastation should something happen to Arno, Niko, and the Cart.

Click to shrink...

She didn't have much abilities or skills as a Master though. In fact, most of the things skills she had were because of the command codes she wore. She might know some basic Reinforcement and such, but nothing else. Besides, those were Chaldean assets anyway, so she won't have them anymore due to being confiscated before her exile.

I gave her powers though. Something similar to how the other Beasts of Humanity lean towards their own sins.

 

[Dan O'von]

Man, I just like this story. I have very little clue about literally any of the source material you've included but the way you write makes me understand and enjoy without needing to know all the lore

delete my latest chapter

Click to shrink...

You can tell him I said he has very low PP energy. Crapping on people for liking something is the height of small penis compensation syndrome.

I was free to delete something of his

Click to shrink...

I suppose deleting system32 would interfere with school sadly. The save file was a good choice, I would consider deleting his YouTube history and searching a bunch of random stuff to fuck his algorithm up.

 

[Paracsus]

Man, I just like this story. I have very little clue about literally any of the source material you've included but the way you write makes me understand and enjoy without needing to know all the lore



You can tell him I said he has very low PP energy. Crapping on people for liking something is the height of small penis compensation syndrome.



I suppose deleting system32 would interfere with school sadly. The save file was a good choice, I would consider deleting his YouTube history and searching a bunch of random stuff to fuck his algorithm up.

Click to shrink...

Thanks bud. And I wanted something that would hurt him a lot more. He's a completionist, and wanted to get everything before finishing a game so made sure he had to go and collect every little thing he had to grind for AGAIN.