Riding on Pidgeot, Aomori quickly arrived at Business Town.
To avoid drawing attention, he recalled Pidgeot and entered the town alone, draped in a black cloak.
Business Town was vast, divided into three horizontal and three vertical main streets, forming nine districts.
Aomori entered through the main gate and walked along the street. He encountered many Digimon along the way. Some familiar faces included Koromon, Tentomon, Togemon, Meramon, Monochromon, and so on.
Looking at them made him a bit envious; he wanted to take them back and train them properly. Especially the Koromon. The web-like evolution paths of Digimon gave them infinite possibilities. There was a saying: "All things come from Koromon," meaning that theoretically, a Koromon could evolve into any form.
Stay steady. You're here for intel. You haven't brought your full staff; don't start trouble recklessly.
Withdrawing his gaze, he began to observe the shops on both sides of the street. Most sold food and daily necessities, while others sold equipment like firearms.
When he reached the central district, the number of Digimon began to decrease. The quality of the goods for sale was significantly higher than what he had seen before; this area was clearly a high-end commercial zone.
Occupying the very center was a building of peculiar design. It was five or six stories high, and its area gradually decreased from the ground floor up, meaning the higher the floor, the smaller the area.
The top floor was a star-shaped structure that looked as if it were cast from solid gold. Under the sunlight, it reflected a dazzling, opulent light.
This must be the boss's territory, Aomori thought. As he approached slowly, he activated his Mind's Eye to silently observe the interior.
"Huh?" He seemed to see something very unique.
His heart was surprised, but his expression remained unchanged. After brushing past a Deputymon, Aomori pretended to be blinded by the golden light and left the area.
"Two Andromon, one SuperStarmon, and many Rookie and Champion-level Digimon. Their strength doesn't seem lower than Myotismon's or Etemon's. Why didn't they appear in the original story? Is this a parallel timeline, or did they leave Server Continent?"
While lost in thought, Aomori walked to the other end of the Business Town. Hearing a constant "clanging" sound, he turned toward the source and unexpectedly discovered a blacksmith shop.
A Minotarumon was at the forge. With the head of a bull and a humanoid body, its muscles were bulging as it swung a hammer larger than its head, striking the glowing red iron block in front of it.
Curious, Aomori walked into the blacksmith shop and carefully examined the weapons and armor hanging on the walls.
"Customer, what do you need? Everything displayed here is a finely crafted masterpiece. Absolute value for your money!"
The Minotarumon continued smithing; the one speaking was a Bearmon wearing a cap backward. Its voice was crisp, like a young girl's.
A strange pair.
"Is this all?" Aomori asked in a low voice from beneath his cloak.
"Yes, yes. All the finished products are displayed here. If you aren't satisfied, we can custom-make something for you," Bearmon said, rubbing its furry paws together.
"Do you have any weapons made of Digizoid here?"
"Digizoid?!" Bearmon shouted. Realizing its mistake, it quickly covered its mouth and whispered, "How could a small shop like ours have Digizoid weapons? Customer, you should check the Central District instead."
"If I had the Digizoid, could you make it?"
"You have Digizoid?" Bearmon's eyes widened.
"I said if."
"Well, about that..."
"I can!" Minotarumon walked over from behind, its voice deep and powerful. "As long as you bring it, I can forge it for you!"
"Very well. Remember what you said."
Aomori turned and left.
In a nearby corner, Deputymon nudged his hat with his revolver. After seeing Aomori leave, he cautiously entered the blacksmith shop.
"Lord Deputymon!" Bearmon called out respectfully, smiling flatteringly. "What brings you here? Are you looking for good armor? No problem, we have everything!"
Minotarumon ignored him and continued its grand work of smithing.
"Shut it. I ask, you answer."
"Yes, yes, yes!" Seeing the revolver pointed at him, Bearmon wisely raised his paws.
"What did that Digimon say when he came in?" Deputymon lowered his voice intentionally.
"It was about Digizoid! He asked if we had any, and then said he would bring some here," Bearmon told him everything.
"I knew something was wrong!" Deputymon had felt something was off when he brushed past that guy—sneaky and suspicious. Connecting it to "that" matter, a flash of inspiration hit him: Could he be one of them?
"Don't you dare tell any other Digimon about what just happened! Or else... hmph!"
After leaving a threat, Deputymon hurriedly chased after Aomori, who had just left.
Following behind him, he watched Aomori tour the entire Business Town. Just as Deputymon was losing his patience, Aomori finally headed out of town.
Deputymon's spirit rallied. He followed cautiously; he didn't intend to subdue Aomori, but rather to discover his destination and report back to Lord SuperStarmon.
Watching Aomori take a circuitous route ahead of him, Deputymon smiled confidently: Useless. You've already been locked in my crosshairs. You won't escape!
When Aomori ducked behind a large tree, Deputymon unhurriedly adjusted his position until he could see what was behind it.
However...
Gone? Why is he gone?
Aomori's figure had vanished from Deputymon's field of vision. Forcing down his shock, his mind raced through various possibilities.
Invisibility? Flight? Teleportation? A special skill?
Regardless of the possibility, Deputymon could no longer track Aomori.
Mission failed. Retreat!
He could only return and report to Lord SuperStarmon, and next time, bring more subordinates to restrain him by force.
Just as he turned around to return to Business Town, he came face-to-face with a cloaked figure. Beneath the hood, a pair of purple eyes shone brightly.
Oh no!
Just as that thought rose, his entire thought process ground to a halt.
Seeing that Deputymon had been successfully hit by his hypnosis, Aomori revealed the smile of a successful hunter. High-end hunters often appear as prey; he had known Deputymon was tailing him for a long time, so he had simply led him to a secluded spot.
"Now, tell me everything you know in detail."
"Yes... as you command, my Master," Deputymon murmured.
...
"Huh?"
Deputymon woke up in the wilderness with a splitting headache.
"What just happened?" He furrowed his brows for a long time before sorting out his thoughts. "Right, I was tracking a suspicious guy and got blindsided by him. I never thought I, Deputymon, would get 'dry-gulched' one day."
He brushed the dust off his clothes and ran toward Business Town. He had to inform Lord SuperStarmon about this immediately.