Inside the video—
[Sampo: What's with that look, Ratio? No need to frown… Oh hey, I just noticed—where's your handsome plaster head today?]
As Sampo stepped inside, he immediately spotted the True Doctor standing there with his arms crossed, brows deeply furrowed.
[True Doctor: You're late. Four minutes and sixteen seconds. I hope you spent that time solving the mystery of Akivili's fall—if not, then let me advise you: stop provoking the Nameless.]
The Doctor's tone was cool, precise, and biting.
[Sampo: Provoking? You too? Why does everyone assume I'm here to cause trouble? Can't I just… make friends?]
Sampo chuckled lightly, acting innocent.
[True Doctor: Noisy people rarely make friends. Fun fact—Ateni peacocks are among the ugliest-sounding birds in the universe, and your flamboyant little outfit resembles one…]
[…and it seems this peacock's feathers have been plucked clean. Let me guess—your luggage was seized by the Family?]
Ratio's eyes narrowed with sharp amusement as he appraised Sampo.
[Sampo: Yeah, everything got confiscated by that guy in the grey suit. All my gifts, and even the casket containing the Keystone—
…hm? Where are you going?]
Sampo paused mid-sentence when he saw the Doctor abruptly walking toward the door.
[True Doctor: I'm going back. I need to inform the company that some idiot has single-handedly ruined the entire mission.]
At the mention of the Keystone, Ratio immediately lost patience.
Without it, their entire operation collapsed.
[Sampo: It's just a rock. Why so dramatic? Keystone or no keystone, can't we still proceed?]
[True Doctor: Without that "Sampo Stone," you're nothing but a Ziganian slave the company already sentenced to death.
Or did you think that barcode on your neck was some kind of blessing from the Amber Lord?]
The Doctor's words cut like scalpels—sharp, clinical, intentionally cruel.
Teyvat & Others React
Furina: "S-Slave?!"
Furina: "Sampo was… a slave before joining the company?!"
Baizhu: "My, my. To think he climbed from slavery all the way to a corporate executive. His abilities are quite impressive."
Ningguang: "From such a lowly origin to a position of power… I admire that kind of tenacity."
Keqing: "Annoying as he is, he clearly has the ability to back it up."
Even Teyvat's finest couldn't help respecting Sampo's ascent—
though none forgot he was, undeniably, a dangerous man.
Back to the video—
[Sampo: Oh, wow. Hilarious. Looks like our esteemed scholar did his homework.]
Sampo's smile faltered for a moment—his eyes flickering with anger—
but the expression vanished just as quickly, buried beneath practiced calm.
[True Doctor: It's my job. Otherwise, how could a mere gambler hope to reclaim Penacony for the company?]
[Sampo: Relax, Professor. I've got plenty of tricks.
The Family only bristles at us because they fear the company interfering.
Wouldn't surprise me if Penacony itself was a grand scheme of the Harmony Path.]
[Sampo: That invitation? A staged illusion—perfect cover for something bigger brewing during the Charmony Festival.]
[Or maybe the inviter was someone else entirely… and the Family simply allowed it, planning to use the situation to their advantage.
Doesn't matter. Family or Clockmaker's legacy—if it's useful to me, that's enough.]
The gambler laid out his deductions with casual confidence.
[True Doctor: The point. State your plan.]
Ratio's patience was wearing thin.
[Sampo: No need to reveal everything yet—
it's not time to show my hand.]
[True Doctor: Damnable gambler. Cooperation requires trust—did Ziganian preschool skip that lesson?]
The Doctor's tone turned cold as a scalpel.
[Sampo: Do you trust me, then?]
[True Doctor: That depends on your conduct.]
[Sampo: Exactly. You don't trust me. So why should I trust you?
Besides, I didn't go to school. My parents never had time to teach me…
They died before they could.]
He said it lightly, almost casually.
But the Doctor paused—just a fraction of a second.
[True Doctor: …I did not intend to offend.]
Despite disliking Sampo, Ratio understood the line he had crossed.
[Sampo: Don't mind it. But they did teach me one thing—
"Friends are the Evenginners' greatest weapon."
With the Harmony Path watching us like wolves, the more 'friends' we gather, the better.]
[Let's see… The Garden of Recollection met the Express.
The Antimatter Legion—forget them.
Purebeauty Knights? Maybe.
As for the folks at the Tavern…]
[Oh right—I ran into this woman earlier. Called herself a "Cloud Knight Ranger." Something about her felt off.
Professor, go dig up her background for me—]
[…Professor?]
Sampo turned around—
Ratio had vanished.
[Sampo: No way he hates me that much…?
Sigh. Looks like I'll have to handle everything myself.]
The gambler slumped slightly, exasperated but not discouraged.
Chat Explodes
March 7th: "WHAT?! Sampo wants to take over Penacony?!"
Furina: "So the True Doctor is helping him! But… they seem to hate each other?"
True Doctor: "Hate is too strong a word. I simply do not acknowledge him."
Sampo: "Professor, that hurts my feelings."
Lumine: "Why does the company even want Penacony back?"
Nahida: "Earlier in the video, it said Penacony used to be a border prison owned by the IPC."
Himeko: "Correct. It belonged to the company until a large-scale uprising occurred."
Welt: "After that… ownership shifted. The Family controls it now.
The company attempting to reclaim it? Unlikely to succeed."
Sunday: "Heh. IPC dreaming of stealing the Family's territory? Absurd."
Sampo: "Territory? Sunday, be honest—did the Family really obtain Penacony legitimately?"
Sunday narrowed his eyes.
Sunday: "You're making accusations without evidence.
Are you slandering the Family?
Doubting the Harmony Path's righteousness?"
Sunday: "Is this your stance—or the stance of the IPC?"
Sampo: "Drop the act, Sunday. You know better than anyone how the Family operates."
Sampo: "No matter. Keep watching.
The truth the Family hides—"
He raised a hand, palm gleaming with phantom cards—
"—will become my next bargaining chip."
"And when the truth surfaces, the Family will have nowhere left to run."
"My luck has always been excellent."
"And this time will be no exception."
"Sunday… Family…"
Sampo smiled as if the entire world were his gaming table.
"Let's see which of us wins."
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