After teaming up with Partitio, he and Spirit Force travel the continent searching for any leads concerning to Roque or anything to help end poverty. One of these excursions leads them to the city of Sai.
"No way…" Partitio said, looking at an old wagon with the symbol of a circle with a leaf inside it. "This…is this the symbol of the legendary merchant Masoud?!"
"Who's Masoud?" Klonoa asked.
"The only merchant to walk all of the eastern and western continents. Any merchant worth their salt would give their own left kidneys just to read one of the chronicles he wrote down…the Mercantile Manuscripts." Partitio said. "Come to think of it, he was supposed to hail from 'round these parts. To think I'd have the chance to meet 'im in a place like this… I need to take a gander at that Mercantile Manuscript!"
"His house must be up this hill then." Ace said.
The group walked up the hill and approached the house that had the same symbol as the wagon, only to find it locked.
"Who are you people?" a voice asked as the group turned to see an older man approach.
"Howdy! You're the legendary merchant Masoud, ain'tcha? There's somethin' I'm dyin' to ask you." Partitio said.
"Don't you think it would be more polite to introduce ourselves, Yellowtail?" Hapi asked.
"The lass is right. It's polite to introduce oneself before shouting questions at strangers, you know." Masoud said.
"Oh, pardon me! Partitio at your service. I'm a merchant." Partitio said.
"And I'm Ace Neptune along with my team Spirit Force. We're his business partners." Ace said.
Masoud simply walked past before turning to them. "...So? What does Partitio the Merchant and his band of misfits want with a retired old man like me?" he asked.
"I've heard stories about you ever since I was a chickadee. Like that time you struck a deal with that horde of bandits, or when you saved that little kingdom in the west from famine. Oh yeah, and when you scuffed with the royal family! Hah! That story stuck in my ol' noggin!" Partitio said.
"I asked you what you all wanted with me. A merchant should know how to get to the point." Masoud said.
"Yeah, right again. Sorry, got carried away. I'll cut to the chase." Partitio said. "Let me read that chronicle you penned: the Mercantile Manuscript!"
"No. Now leave." Masoud said.
"Huh?" Partitio asked.
"Don't make me repeat myself. I have no obligation nor reason to let a nobody like you anywhere near it." Maroud said.
"'Nobody'?! Now listen here! That's hurtful. 'Sides, even a nobody's got a nobody's pride. And if I may toot my own horn, I've got some merchant chops to my name." Partitio said.
"Oh, you do, do you? Then I'll give you a test. Prove your worth to me, oh nobody of supposed talent." Masoud said.
"This is what I'm talkin' 'bout! You got yourself a deal, fella!" Partitio said.
"Good. As a merchant, there is one treasure I value above all else. Bring it to me." Masoud said.
"Huh?" Partitio asked.
"If you profess to be a merchant, the answer should be obvious." Masoud said as Partitio was silent. "Of course, if you think this test unfair, you could just give-"
"Interestin'. I always stock whatever it is my customer's lookin' for. That's my merchant's creed. I promise I'll figure out what your treasure is, fella, and bring it right here to you!" Partitio said as he flipped a silver coin.
"I'd very much like to see you try." Masoud said.
"Just you watch, mister!" Klonoa said.
The group soon exited Masoud's residence and headed out.
"We didn't get any clues about Masoud's greatest treasure. How do we even find what he covets the most?" Homura asked.
"Doncha worry yer kimono, little lady. Just leave that to me." Partitio said.
And so the group looked around town for Masoud's greatest treasure and encountered a woman who turned out to be his daughter. Thinking that Masoud's greatest treasure was his own family, Partitio convinced Masoud's daughter to follow him back to Masoud's estate.
"As promised, I brought you your treasure, Masoud!" Partitio said.
"You did, did you? Show me." Masoud said.
"Your greatest treasure is…her! Your daughter!" Partitio said as both father and daughter were silent.
"Incorrect. Try again." Masoud said.
"Wha?!" Klonoa asked in shock.
"It is true that many value their family above any jewel or gem. But that is not the answer that I am seeking for this particular test. Better luck next time." Masoud said.
A bit later….
"Tarnation! I was sure I had it!" Partitio said.
"Maybe family isn't the answer to the question of his test. It must be something else." Natyal said.
"What is this test that Father gave you?" Masoud's Daughter asked.
"Something about finding his greatest treasure." Al said.
"Ahh. What Father meant wasn't his treasure in particular, but what a merchant treasures most. The thing you treasure most as a merchant isn't leaves or sundries. Right?" Masoud's Daughter asked.
"A merchant's treasure…" Partitio said.
"I got it!" Shantae said. "It's not someone in particular Masoud values as his greatest treasure… maybe the greatest treasure he values is himself!"
"Why Shantae, y'might be onta somthin' there! It's worth a shot!" Partitio said.
And so the group returned to Masoud's residence, where he stood.
"We figured out the correct answer to your question, Masoud. Your greatest treasure… is just you." X said. "What else doesn't a merchant value to themselves more than their own lives? Right, Partitio?"
"Correctamundo, X. Connections they've built, book learnin', and experience. All these things are far more valuable than any material object, leaves included. Or are we wrong?" Partitio asked.
"Correct. I'm surprised you got it." Masoud said.
"Heh, 'course we did. My greatest treasure's the same as yours, after all! 'Sides, your daughter gave us a friendly push in the right direction. If I couldn't find the answer after all that, I'd have no right to call myself a merchant." Partitio said.
"I am honestly astonished that there are still merchants in this world who know how to see to the heart of matters. There have been dozens like you who have come here seeking my Mercantile Manuscript. Every one of them failed this test, and went home empty-handed. I started to think the world had gone dull since I retired." Masoud said before holding out a key. "Here. Take it."
"What's this?" Partitio asked.
"The key to the archive in which I placed my Mercantile Manuscript. Read to your heart's content." Masoud said.
"Yippee! Y-you sure it's all right?" Partitio asked.
"I've grown old. I don't have much time left. When I pass, so too will my greatest treasure. Correct? So I might as well pass on a part of that treasure to you, Partitio the Merchant. The sum treasure of those who came before you." Masoud said.
"You got it, fella! Thankee!" Partitio said.
After acquiring the key, the group took a peek inside the Mercantile Manuscript, and found shelves stacked with notes on places around Solistia.
"Look at all this! Masoud really archived the history of every single area in Solistia, east and west!" Klonoa said. "There's got to be locations of amazing treasures and other locations in these notes! Do you think maybe Masoud recorded where to find the treasure we're looking for?"
"It doesn't hurt to look. Let's check through these notes." Mari said.
They read through the manuscripts for a bit but while they were able to learn all they could about Solistia and its locations and creatures and items…there was not one mention of any bracelets or rings of any kind.
"Well, we should've known it wouldnt be as easy as that." Hermit said.
"C'mon now, fellas. Don't look so down. You'll find what you're lookin for eventually. Sides, where's the fun in rushin' to the end of a journey? Y'got all the time in the world." Partitio said.
"Partitio is right, and besides we've learned a chockful of information about places in Solistia along with what secrets and treasures lie in wait." Ace said.
"That's the spirit, Ace! Now c'mon, we still got some travelin' to do." Partitio said. "After all…still need to find Mr. Roque."
The rest of Spirit Force nodded as they departed, now with a new feat added to their list.