One was intimidated by the other's strength; the other had a scheme.
Thus, SuperStarmon and Aomori met with great cheer. Under the watchful eyes of the crowds in Business Town, they walked shoulder-to-shoulder back to the Superstar Chamber of Commerce reception room.
Once the door was closed, Deputymon stood guard outside. Inside, SuperStarmon and Aomori sat on opposite sides.
The smile on SuperStarmon's face gradually faded, replaced by a serious look. "May I ask what brings you to Business Town?"
"SuperStarmon, I am here to negotiate terms," Aomori said, returning to his cold persona, his voice devoid of emotion.
"Welcome. Business Town is exactly the place for terms. Especially our Superstar Chamber of Commerce—we talk terms, not feelings. What kind of terms are you looking for?"
"Naturally, the very thing you've been dreaming of: Chrome Digizoid."
"Oh." SuperStarmon showed no excitement. He nodded calmly. "A few days ago, you killed SkullMeramon and took over Ore Town. You must have harvested quite a bit of Digizoid. It makes sense that you'd come here."
"Very well. Digizoid has always been a seller's market. Our Superstar Chamber of Commerce is willing to buy your entire stock. Name your price."
"You misunderstand, President," Aomori said, wagging a finger. "I'm not talking about the Digizoid I have. I'm talking about the Digizoid Myotismon took from Ore Town."
"Are you joking?"
"I am very serious."
"Heh." SuperStarmon adjusted his sunglasses, his tone turning cold. "We like negotiating, but we don't like trading in empty promises."
"It's not an empty promise; it's a concrete deal." Aomori stopped beating around the bush. "I want to form an alliance with your Chamber of Commerce to subjugate Myotismon. Your spoils will be the Digizoid in his possession."
"With just you?"
"Is that not enough?"
"It is not. The gap between Myotismon and SkullMeramon is much larger than you imagine." SuperStarmon's expression was grave. "He is close to touching the key to evolution, reaching the Domain of the Gods."
If Myotismon hadn't been so powerful, SuperStarmon would have razed Ore Town himself long ago.
"Domain of the Gods? You mean the Mega-level? You're such a provincial country bumpkin," Aomori scoffed. "Even if it were a true god blocking my path, I would slay it with a single strike."
Deputymon, standing guard, pretended not to hear, intently studying his revolver as if there were a pattern inside the barrel.
If you were really that strong, why would you come looking for an alliance, you megalomaniac! SuperStarmon mentally sneered. On the surface, however, he didn't want to burn bridges just yet.
"We can discuss Myotismon later," SuperStarmon said. "Let's talk about the Digizoid in Ore Town. Our Chamber is very sincere; we will give you a satisfying price."
"It's not that I don't want to talk about it. It's that the amount of Digizoid I currently have probably won't satisfy your needs, President."
"What do you mean?" SuperStarmon felt there was more to Aomori's words, as if he knew something.
"How about this? I'll tell you a story. It might help you understand."
"Fine. I'm all ears." SuperStarmon leaned back into his soft sofa, adopting a listening posture.
"Then I'll begin. Long, long ago, far away in the heavens... specifically on the Moon that hangs over our heads at night... there lived a group of carefree Digimon."
The moment Aomori said this, SuperStarmon bolted upright. He snatched off his sunglasses, his expression shifting wildly.
Deputymon, sensing the atmosphere turning sour, predicted staying would be a bad idea. He quietly opened the door and slipped out, closing it behind him to stand guard in the hallway.
Aomori ignored them and continued: "Among them was a Digimon who yearned for the vast, colorful world before him. So, he secretly built a rocket and came from his lunar home to this strange continent."
"Perhaps he grew old, or perhaps he just got tired. After years of wandering, he missed his home terribly. He wanted to return every single moment. However, the rocket from those years had been damaged and required rare Chrome Digizoid to be repaired. For this purpose, he established the Superstar Chamber of Commerce next to the town with the Digizoid mines. He attracted more and more Digimon, and together they built Business Town."
"Years of patience allowed his faction to grow. Just as he was about to risk everything to seize the Digizoid by force, a strange Digimon beat him to it, claiming the town and the metal. Now, this strange and powerful Digimon has come to his Chamber of Commerce to negotiate. He must be quite excited in his heart."
"However, what he didn't expect was that the amount of Digizoid in Ore Town isn't enough to repair his rocket. His only way out is to cooperate with this stranger, defeat Myotismon together, and seize the metal in his hands. Only then can he return to his home and reunite with his family and friends."
Aomori looked at SuperStarmon, whose face was already covered in tears. "My story is finished. Do you have anything to add?"
SuperStarmon wiped his tears, his expression desolate. "I don't know where you got your intel, but since you've said it, I won't hide it. I am indeed a Digimon from the Moon, though I didn't come here on purpose. Back when I was a Starmon, I was playing around and accidentally hit the button, launching the rocket. I ended up here."
"Thirty years... do you know how I've lived through these thirty years?" SuperStarmon stared at Aomori. "My only wish is to return home. For that, I am willing to give everything. So... is what you said true?"
"It's true. The current finished Digizoid in Ore Town is only about the size of a fist. If you want to wait for us to mine more, you might have to wait eight or ten years."
"That's not enough." SuperStarmon's expression was wary. "I know nothing of your identity or your goals. The information you've shared isn't enough to make me resolve to face Myotismon head-on."
"How about this then?" Aomori hid his Violet-Gold Knight Set, revealing his true face.
"You... you're a human?!" SuperStarmon was shocked.
"Yes. I am a human. Like you, I am a wanderer far from home, a pitiful person longing to return." Aomori sought common ground.
"No wonder you insist on fighting Myotismon. Rumor has it there is a gate leading to the Human World hidden in his castle. It seems the rumors are true."
Having shared a similar plight and exchanged secrets, SuperStarmon looked at Aomori with a hint of kinship.
"Also, take a look at this first." Aomori handed him the grain-sized piece of Chrome Digizoid.
"This is...?" Seeing the perfectly square piece of metal, SuperStarmon was shaken. "Such exquisite craftsmanship exists?"
"I have the finest blacksmith in the Digital World on my side. He can help you repair your rocket quickly."
This sentence was the final straw. SuperStarmon made his decision. "Fine! I agree to your terms! Let's kill Myotismon together!"
"Excellent. We will definitely both get home." Aomori's smile was genuine.
"Yes... definitely!"