But the instant Ivankov saw what Amon was holding, his excitement dipped into disappointment.
"What is this, just some ordinary photo book?"
He'd been expecting a rare treasure. Faced with something that looked like a cheap little booklet, where was the thrill in that?
Amon caught his dismissive look and chuckled. "Who said it's ordinary... This is a true underground classic.. As for what's inside, well, it can be understood, not explained. Ivankov, once you read it, you'll understand. I guarantee you won't want to put it down."
He handed the album to Ivankov.
"So mysterious? What exactly is in here, anyway…?"
Ivankov took it in one hand, opened to the first page, and began to read on his own.
"Wres♂tling Philosophy...? It's teaching wrestling? Nothing special so far..."
At first he found nothing remarkable and wondered why Amon wore that knowing smile. But as he turned the pages, he slipped into it without noticing. His expression started to twist into something fascinated and strange...
Soon Ivankov was lost in the images, letting out meaningful little laughs and gasps whenever he hit a highlight. The thick makeup on his face trembled with his excitement.
"Ahem."
Seeing the state he was in, Amon had to remind him. There were kids here. And a young lady.
Called back to himself, Ivankov snapped the album shut, still reluctant, suddenly aware of where he was. The others stared, dying to know what on earth he had opened, though pride kept them from asking for a peek.
"Sorry, handsome boy. The content is just too brilliant. I got carried away."
"Understandable. It's a good album. Take it home and savor it."
Clutching the book, Ivankov praised it feverishly. "Excellent, excellent. I never imagined wrestling could be done like this. Muscle boys really are irresistible. I feel like my okama horizons just broke through to a whole new level."
He was buzzing with excitement, like his entire worldview had been rewritten. Once he got home, he fully intended to enshrine this album as a national treasure and have everyone study it.
"Hehe, and I haven't even shown you the better one." Amon, seeing Ivankov's fervor, produced the so-called philosophy video.
"Even better!"
Hearing that there was something beyond the album sent Ivankov's eyes shining. He had thought the booklet was the pinnacle, yet Amon claimed there was more.
"That's right. This video comes with a complete set of philos♂ophy dance. I guarantee satisfaction." Amon tapped the device, opened King Billy's Video, and passed it over.
"Lah meih, faka…"
Music thumped as a shirtless man in a red bandanna appeared on screen, launching into a rhythm-heavy sequence of movements that someone, somewhere, had decided to call philosophy.
"Heavens, I never knew dance could be like that. There's always someone on a whole other level, huh? I thought I'd already mastered the okama arts, but compared to them I'm not even close."
For a moment, Ivankov felt that next to the men on the screen, his own sass was child's play. This was the level that makes women nervous, the living proof that once a man gets sassy, no woman can compete.
Without noticing it, he sank into the video again until Bartholomew Kuma lumbered over and patted him back to reality.
"Ivankov, well? Better than the album?"
"Mmm, mmm, mmm, absolutely glorious. I love you, handsome boy. I plan to canonize both of these and have my citizens study them. Come visit my kingdom paradise sometime. My people would be thrilled."
Feeling he had struck gold, Ivankov nodded eagerly.
Faced with the invitation, Amon coughed and waved it off. "Another time, another time."
Philosophy aside, he had zero interest in visiting an okama playground like that. Just thinking of Sanji's miserable time after Kuma's paw sent him flying made Amon shiver. He had no desire to get that familiar with men.
Hearing the refusal, Ivankov's big, made-up eyes filled with regret. "What a pity..."
What pity. For a normal man that was a hard no. Amon switched the topic neatly. "Oh, right, the third item is this set of purple crystals. They may be small, but they are solid forging materials. If someone pulls a blueprint later, these might be exactly what you need."
"Forging materials?" Ivankov took the purple crystals, curious for a moment, then, finding nothing to fiddle with, tucked them away. He lifted the album again, ready for a second read, to slowly comprehend its inner essence.
After all, the content was simply too wonderful.