"What happened 2,000 years ago?"
"You really want to know?" Mammon's smile turned sly as he looked at Edward.
"Yes," Edward replied, his face impassive despite Mammon's devious look. He was now solely focused on uncovering the history of this place.
Mammon studied Edward for a moment, then spun around and resumed walking. "2,000 years ago... Hmmm." He paused, tapping his chin thoughtfully.
"I don't remember," he declared with a shrug.
"Just stop kidding me," Edward burst out, a flicker of frustration finally showing. Getting useful information from this devil was proving impossible.
"Honestly, I don't remember. It's been such a long time," Mammon insisted.
"Besides, why would you care about your past when you have no idea what tomorrow holds for you? I'd say your present and future deserve more attention. Dwelling on the past will only add more trouble to your already broken life."
Edward nodded, pretending to accept the logic, but inside, his thoughts were racing. He desperately needed information to survive this place. He had no special talent, no great strength or agility. his only asset was his mind.
"But even so..." Mammon interrupted Edward's internal struggle.
"I can sense you need something to get by in this place. However, your brain alone won't cut it. I think you need to use a little brawl too."
"So, let me make you a deal."
As Mammon spoke, they stopped before a massive, gaping pit. The bottom was invisible, the chasm so deep that no light could penetrate the darkness below. Edward's eyes widened, his heart began to pound intensely and his feet started to shake near the edge. It was obvious Edward was terrified of great heights.
"Why are we here?" Edward asked, his voice trembling.
"For a deal, of course."
Mammon summoned a small, wooden chest out of thin air. "Since I couldn't provide much information, I'll give you a little toy to play with."
He held it out. "But remember, I'm not taking anything from you in this exchange. So, the next time you come back here, the price for my asking will be truly immense."
"Really?" Edward said, slightly surprised.
"You're taking nothing from me? And what if I never return? Wouldn't that be your loss?"
At these words, Mammon let out a small chuckle that quickly escalated into a booming, devilish laugh that echoed across the desolate landscape.
"OH, YOU IMBECILE KID!" he roared.
"I NEVER MAKE LOSS-MAKING DEALS!"
A fierce gust of wind suddenly slammed into Edward, pushing him toward the pit. He managed to regain his balance, but then another, stronger blast hit him, sending him tumbling over the edge and down into the abyss. As Edward fell, Mammon tossed the wooden chest into the deep darkness after him.
The world above, the desert, Mammon, all of it vanished instantly, replaced by a terrifying, cold rush of air against his skin and an overwhelming darkness. He couldn't see the sides of the pit, couldn't see the bottom—it was pure, absolute blackness. The sheer drop stole his breath, making his phobia a hundred times worse.
His mind screamed, but no sound escaped his throat. He clawed desperately at the empty air, searching for a purchase that wasn't there. He was utterly helpless, a pebble dropped into an endless well.
"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!"
Edward woke with a loud shout, his eyes snapping open. He was shocked to find himself back in the familiar room of the mansion he had entered earlier. The terrifying abyss, the fall, and Mammon's devilish laugh felt like a vivid nightmare.
The loud noise brought Dew and Vant rushing into the room.
Seeing Edward was awake, Dew spoke first. "So, you finally woke up from your little nap, kid."
"What was that place I was in?" Edward asked, his voice still ragged from the phantom scream.
"Well, you could call it the realm between life and death—a sort of limbo," Dew explained.
"A limbo, huh?" Edward muttered, rubbing his head.
"I feel completely dizzy after that wild ride."
"No, I think that's probably because of the drugs we gave you," Dew said casually, glancing at Vant, who was glaring at him angrily.
"YOU F**KING DRUGGED ME, YOU THUGS!" Edward shouted, sitting up quickly.
"Well, of course, we drugged you! How else were we supposed to—
—Wait, did you just call me a thug, you rat!?" Dew looked genuinely furious. Being called a "thug" was a major insult; he clearly viewed himself as something far more important.
Vant quickly cut him off. "Yes, the drugs. They basically lowered your heartbeat to the point where you were medically considered dead. That's how you enter the limbo."
"Yeah, sure, whatever you say," Edward mumbled, his hand stumbling onto the small wooden chest placed beside him on the bed.
'A toy to play with, huh? I wonder what could possibly be in this chest,' he thought, his curiosity taking over. He carefully lifted the lid.
'HUH!?
REALLY? THIS!?'
Edward was utterly surprised. Inside the chest lay a pair of rectangular-shaped glasses with a dark platinum metal frame. On the side of the handle, letters were imprinted in gold, accompanied by a small, seal-like symbol.
Edward leaned closer and read the letters aloud: "Treasure Seeker."
"Huh, what could that mean?" he asked, looking up at Dew and Vant. Seeing their expressions, which were even more shocking than his own, made Edward pause.
"A... a Sin-Replica!?" Dew stammered, his eyes wide as if he'd just witnessed a miracle.
"With the seal of Greed!" Vant finished, sharing Dew's stunned look.
Seeing their combined awe, Edward understood instantly. The object he held was no ordinary pair of glasses. It was something genuinely powerful, something that could actually be helpful for his survival in this hellish place, Solveil.