บท 2: The Merchant II

Dressed in an amethyst everyday Kimono, a pair of black trousers, and ankle boots. Gone were his regular merchant packs containing his wares but were instead replaced by a simple yet small satchel around his waist. He also wore a Pokeball on a chain connected to his satchel and a woven bamboo hat.

This man is Nemo, Nemo the merchant. a member of the Ginkgo guild and he is currently on a day off. Well, for him, money isn't really nodded as long as he is not in a village so he will be fine.

The young man had just finished entering from the western entrance of the village and brightened up as he saw a pair of teenagers dressed in a blue Kimono belonging to the members of the Survey corps. They were also the people he Convinced [Scammed] to promote him and spread his name. It might have just been a day since they last met but he was eager to know what they have in store for him. After all, it will help him choose what he should sell to them.

As the merchant approached them with surprising speed, he stopped at the sigh of the leaders of the two clans who happened to just have met.

"Oh, boy. This will get ugly." Nemo said as he watched the two clan leaders. With his attire, he was currently unnoticeable to anyone save for the members of the Ginkgo guild. Digging into his satchel, the young man took out a berry and ate it while watching the sight. It always did amuse him to see so many people arguing. Although, he would love it more if he was the cause and it wouldn't be traced back to him.

"Look who's being punctual!" Shouted a young man dressed in blue and black, his hair done in a ponytail that oddly looked like bananas. "Finally realized you're wasting almighty Sinnoh's precious time by bowing to a sham?"

"There you go again, insisting on your false image of almighty Sinnoh as a ruler of time!" Came from the blonde girl dressed in red and white reminding Nemo strangely of a certain mermaid but red and white. Also... What's with the chokers? "My people follow the true almighty Sinnoh- the font of all creation, the ruler of space!"

"Hah! You could have all the space there is and still not know what to do with it!" Came Blue banana head's retort, looking annoyed.

'Man, that's an adorable Wurmple.' Nemo thought as he saw the bug type chilling fondly beside the guard.

"The pearl clan- in our world's very basis? You wish!" Retorted the reject red mermaid in Nemo's eyes.

"I wish I hadn't let myself get dragged into arguing with you. Almighty Sinnoh, forgive me- What a waste of time! I'm off to Commander Kamado's office!"

"I believe it was you who started this!"

Nemo watched as the two walked towards the building while he finished his berry snack. 'Man, I can feel the tension all the way here. This is why it's a good thing to not be a part of a cult.' The young man thought as he turned around and waved at his wage-free walking advertisement banner... friends

"Hey!" He called out to the two teens, he was in a different attire and it made him less easy to be recognized.

"Uhm... excuse me? Do we know you?" Akari asked. Dear God! Why is it whenever he changes clothes he can't be recognized easily?!

"How rude. It's me, Nemo!" The young man said as he raised his straw hat to show the teens his eyes and face.

"Nemo?!" Rei's eyes widened towards the merchant that have given him such a rare item for his partner.

"Woah, I literally did not recognize you," Akari said as she looked towards the taller male, who just chuckled.

"No sweat, No sweat. So, let me guess. You're going to Commander Kamado's office?"

"Yeah. Rei woke me up just a few minutes ago."

"I see, would you mind if I come with you? The next time you come out of the village?" Nemo said much to their shock.

"Huh? Why would you want that?" Rei asked the merchant.

"Well, you see. My instincts are telling me to come with Akari here. I won't be a bother and I will even help you." Nemo said with a smile towards the shorter teen.

"Instincts?" Rei asked as he looked at Nemo.

"Yup! It's like a foresight towards a future for a merchant to be successful!" Nemo gave them a very bright smile. "But to be honest, while that is one of my goals, I just feel like it will be more interesting to travel with a person who fell from the sky."

"I see." Akari looked at Nemo, her eyes staring intently a the relaxed merchant. 'Is he really just a merchant?'

"Well, you should go report to your commander, who knows how angry he will get." He said with a smile. "I'll be waiting for you in Deertrack heights. Don't worry! I'll be fine." The merchant said with a smile. Unknown to them, a shadow merged itself on the girl's shadow as the young man left.

"Weird. Are merchants usually like this?" Rei asked as he watched the merchant go on his way. "Wait! Is he going there alone?!

"I think he is." Akari replied as she looked at her fellow survey corps member.

"But... he is alone!"

"He has a pokemon with him. Something also tells me that he will be fine and he is not the one in danger."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes," Akari said as she went on her way towards the building.

On his way alone towards the deer track heights, the young man smiled as he kneeled down in front of a rather adorable Bidoof. Showing it his hand, he let the normal-type sniff it, proving that he was not a threat, and rubbed its small adorable head.

As he did so, a white deer with a beard approached him confidently.

"Deer..." The deer asked as it looked at the young man.

"I'm letting the girl handle the others," Nemo said as he dug his hand towards his sachel, searching for something.

"Wy? Deer?" the normal/Psychic-type said as it looked at him.

"You can't expect me to do everything. I will just act as a last resort this time." He told the deer as he pulled out a bread. Gently patting the Bidoof away, the young man walked leisurely as he looked at the bearded deer.

It was bigger than normal and the alpha of its species. after all, it was a noble Pokemon. A descendant of the ten pokemon blessed by the real Almighty Sinnoh. That thousand-armed golden fence Llama. Not those who the clans thought of as the real ones.

"Wydeer."

"Scared? Why would you say that?" Nemo looked at the Noble and offered him the bread.

"Deer."

"Well, good point." Nemo's eyes softened as a sigh of relief escaped from his mouth. "Besides, it is a part of the girl's trial."

"Deer." Hearing his, the merchant just chuckled goodheartedly.

"Who knows. But I'm sure. The girl needs to overcome this to become stronger. Don't worry. I will help her once it proves too tough for her." He said with a smile. "Besides... Didn't you choose her for a reason?" He asked the pokemon as it only looked at him before its form slowly disappeared.

"Deer."

"Then, no need to worry! This humble merchant is sure that she will succeed." He said with a smile.