After being given the necessary amount of leaves by Alrond, Partitio and Spirit Force had set sail for Roque's private island, where he planned to unveil the steam engine.
"Roque Island, here we are." Partitio said.
"You nervous, Partitio? You're about to close the deal with Roque, the man you've always admired." Marino said.
"I'll admit, I am a mite. Course this wouldn't have happened if it weren't for Alrond. We'd never been able to make a deal this without his help." Partitio said.
"And now it's time to close it. You ready?" Weisz asked.
"Sure am. Hang on to your britches, Mister Roque…cause we're bringin' you eighty billion reasons to make good on our deal!" Partitio said.
"Let's go then." Ace smiled.
The group then headed to the Roque Island headquarters as they saw several reporters go in.
"Oh, I like the feel of this! Tension's buildin' 'n' energy's cracklin' through the air! Guess this is where we enter the announcement celebration." Partitio said.
"Though I don't think the guards will let us in willingly." Simon said.
"That's right! We have no formal documents!" Rebecca realized.
"Roque must've not given us any official papers on purpose so we'd be locked out of his announcement and be late to close the deal." Hermit guessed.
"How are we supposed to get in now?" Klonoa asked.
"Well, what do we have here! If it isn't Partitio and Co.!" a familiar voice said as Ori came into view.
"Ori! What impeccable timin'!" Partito said.
"Eh? Why's that? Have some sort of sensational story to spill?" Ori asked.
"Naw, we don't got no stories, nor any passes to get into this shindig, either." Partitio explained.
"Ah, you're all looking for passes, huh? Truth is, I didn't get one either." Ori said.
"That so…?" Partitio asked.
"B-but have no fear! I know of a hidden back route that'll get us into the event for sure!" Ori said.
"R-really?!" Partitio asked.
Ori chuckled. "Never underestimate a scrivener! So what are we waiting for? Come on!"
Ori led them to Roque Island's Tavern, where she cleared away a stack of crates to reveal a hidden back route that would take them straight to the event stage. Taking it, the group ran along to the west tower before they were close to their goal.
"We made it! The event's being held just past here." Ori said.
"This is Mister Roque's base of operations, huh…" Partitio mused.
"Hey! What're you doing over there!" a voice asked as two guards soon came by.
"Crap! If we're caught and arrested, we'll never be able to buy the steam engine rights!" Weisz said.
That's when Ori steeled herself. "Everyone, leave these guards to me." she said.
"Ori, what're you…?!" Rebecca asked.
"I'm glad we all met. It's been a riot. I've encountered many sorts in my days, but never anyone like you all. I wish I had a lifetime to report on your shenanigans, and cover the story of how you all will undoubtedly make the world a better place. But… it seems like our paths part here. Go on! The world's counting on you all!"
"Ori!" Partitio said.
"Go, everyone! And don't look back!" Ori said.
"Aww… heck!" Partito said as they ran ahead.
"You better be there to report our big deal, y'hear kid?!" Baozhai said.
And so, Partitio and Spirit Force ran ahead while Ori distracted the guards by feigning a stomachache. And soon enough, they crashed the event stage, just as Roque unveiled the steam engine and was giving a speech on its many uses.
"Hold your steam horses, Roque!" Klonoa said.
"You all…" Roque said. "What are you all doing here? This is no place for any of your tomfoolery."
"We are here to honor the deal Partitio made with you." Naga Rider said. "We have come to make our purchase, Roque Brilliante!"
"Our hard-earned money for the rights to your steam engine!" Partitio said as he pulled out the contract.
"What's this? These strange people say they're buying the steam engine?"
"Who is that man with them? Does anyone know?"
"I'm Partitio Yellowil! That's the name of the man who's gonna change the world! Remember it!" Partito declared. "C'mon Mister Roque, we had a contract. an agreement."
"A bluff. There's no way you could have obtained 80 billion in such a short amount of time." Roque said.
"Well read and weep, four eyes." Simon said as the group stepped up to the stand as Partitio pulled out the check. "This was signed for us the necessary amount of leaves by Alrond himself!"
"I see…I see….and…how do we know that this was actually signed by Mr. Alrond? Or if this promissory note is even genuine?" Roque asked. "Even if you could prove it, what guarantee do you have that said Alrond will even issue the money? From my experience, I can assure you all, you hold nothing but empty promises in your hands. In short, I cannot accept this. In fact, I cannot and will not accept anything."
"You selfish greedy bastard!" Simon said.
"Come back when you all got the funds in hand. Of course, by that time, you won't have any right to purchase anything from me." Roque said.
"Darn you, Mister Roque! You never had any intention-!" Partitio said.
"Now you wait just a moment." a voice called out from the sea. The group looked out in confusion which then turned to shock when they saw Alrond sailing towards then in a ship loaded with treasure and money.
"Mr. Alrond!" Klonoa said.
"I had a feeling something like this would happen so I decided to bring the amount in cash." Alrond said.
"You fit 80 billion on that ship?!" Shiki asked.
"Yes and we almost sank doing so." Alrond said.
Alrond then anchored his ship as Misha unloaded the necessary amount of leaves.
"Alrond, thank you for coming through for us." Ace smiled.
"Did he say, 'Alrond'?! Can that really be him?!"
"Explain yourself. I did not invite you to this gathering." Roque said.
"I believe I already explained myself, Mister Roque. I've brought in full the necessary payment for Partitio and his associates to buy the rights to your steam engine." Alrond said. "I, too, have met many sorts of people in my life… That experience gives me confidence in this declaration: eighty billion leaves is pocket change compared to Partitio and his associates' worth. I swear this on the Rondwell family honor. I hereby entrust this fortune of eighty billion to the people you see here before you: Partitio and Spirit Force!" he declared as the scriveners spoke to each other in excitement.
"Heh. Thankee kindly, Alrond." Partitio said.
"In your face!" Stoj said to Roque.
"Of all the hairbrained impossible schemes…! You expect me to believe you've brought such an unreasonable sum?!" Roque asked.
"You wound me, sir. Do you doubt the honor of the Rondwell family?" Alrond asked.
"Not a very smart move, especially in front of all these reporters." Simon said. "Just accept it, you're beaten."
"Now it's your turn, Partitio." Ace said. "We've led you to this very moment."
"And I thank ya'll for all you've done fer me, Ace." Partitio said, as he stepped up to Roque, and purchased the rights to the Steam Engine. "And that's that. I've purchased the rights to your steam engine, fair 'n' square!"
"Ridiculous… What a load of ridiculous spurious asinine drivel…! Eighty billion leaves? A pittance! This steam engine will change the world! It's priceless! It has the power to mass produce commodities and transport them in bulk to every corner of the globe! Do any of you realize just how momentous an effect that will have on the global economy?! O-on history itself?! But even that is only a fraction of its power! It can be turned to military uses, transforming the weak into the strong in the blink of an eye! The steam engine will metamorphose the very shape of warfare! I cannot sanction this deal… This transaction is null and void!"
"What?! We just purchased the damn thing, and you're just now goin' back on your word?!" Balthus asked.
"Mr. Roque! Isn't that a breach of your sacred trust?!" A scrivener asked.
"Bah! This ceremony is over! I have no more comments! None!" Roque declared as he made a run for it.
"He's getting away!" Kampan said.
"After him!" they all said as Roque shut himself up in the factory.
"Oh…guess…he's just locking himself away. Aw well. Let's let the guy wallow in misery and then…" Weisz said before they heard pistons pumping. "What's that sound?"
Kampan was the one who got close as she listened in before looking terrified. "Oh no. Everybody get back!" she said as they scattered as the doors were knocked down.
"You've gotta be kidding me…" Simon said as they looked to see it was a train. A massive steam powered train, made completely of metal and outfitted with a large cannon at the top. And Roque was right next to it.
"I don't believe it! Is that what I think it is?!" Ginseng asked in shock, as was Honey.
"Indeed it is! Behold the pinnacle of the Roque Company's technological wizardry… Steam Tank Obsidian!" Roque declared as the train sounded its whistle. "Though I've been forced to unveil it earlier than planned, I think the time is right for a little demonstration."
"All of you, get to safety, now!" Ace said as the scriveners ran to safety except for Ori.
"That means you too Ori, run!" Rebecca said.
"B-but…I s-smell a scoop…" Ori said.
"Can't publish a headline if you're dead, scrivener." Partitio said.
"You're right, Partitio. Thank you for talking sense into me." Ori said.
"We're the ones who should be thanking you for helping us all this time." Ace said. "For now you get to safety and make this a good story."
Ori did so, running to safety. Partitio and Spirit Force then faced down Roque and his magnum opus.
"Mister Roque… It's finally time for a heart-to-heart." Partitio said.
"Heh. I was right about you all along. You're a first-rate merchant. In every way except one." Roque said.
"Let me guess. He doesn't see wealth the same way as you?" Zero asked.
"Exactly. Things of value are not meant to be shared with the world. They're meant to be hoarded by those who deserve them. Only then can their true value be achieved."
(Cue: In Pursuit of Happiness ~ Decisive Battle *FF6*- Dissidia Final Fantasy)
At this, Partitio tipped his hat. "Y'know what, Mister Roque? I still admire you. Only a man like you could make something as wild as this steam tank here. But nevertheless, I and my pals can't find it in us to agree with you. So let's settle things once 'n' for all."
"I agree. Let's settle this dispute." Roque said. "Fight me, Partitio and Spirit Force! I swear I'll pummel capitalist common sense through your thick skulls, once and for all!" Roque said before boarding the Steam Tank Obsidian.
"Bring it on, old man!" Klonoa said.
Roque Company Magnum Opus
Steam Tank Obsidian
"Hermit, what do we need to do to smash this thing to pieces?" Ajna said.
"The Steam Tank's main body is protected by three components. The Glacis Plate, Smokestack, and Cannon." Hermit said. "The Glacis Plate is weak to swords, axes, staves, fire, and ice. The Smokestack is weak to spears, knives, axes, fire, and lightning. And the cannon is weak to swords, knives, bows, ice, and lightning. The main body is weak to spears, bows, and darkness."
"Everyone, pick a component and attack it with whatever your specialty is!" X said.
"You got it, X!" Klonoa said.
The steam tank fired its cannon as everyone dodged out of the way of its projectile. Homura then drew her soul blade and hacked away at the Glacis Plate, while Ajna leaped up to the Smokestack and slammed her axe into it.
"Myollnir!" Rime called as the cannon was struck by multiple lightning bolts.
"Chien Pao, please lend your aid!" Natyal said, calling out the Ruinous Sword. "Use Icicle Crash on the Glacis Plate!"
"Understood, Milady!" Chien Pao said as it pelted the plate with multiple icicles.
"Let me help too!" Mari said, calling out Iron Leaves, Iron Moth and Iron Bundle. "Iron Leaves, use Psyblade on the Glacis Plate! Iron Moth, attack the Smokestack with Overheat, and Iron Bundle, fire an Ice Beam at the cannon!" she said as the three future paradox Pokemon unleashed their respective attacks on their respective targets.
With that barrage, all three parts were destroyed, leaving its main body open for attack.
"Now! Attack its main body!" Zero said.
"Shadow Flare!" Ace called, casting a symbol as a portal opened from which orbs of darkness descended and pelted the main body.
"Here comes a storm!" Zebei said as he gathered three levels of iddhi and unleashed a flurry of six arrows in seven parts.
Roque did his best to shield himself from the barrage as his steam train was getting pummeled, he then growled, looking at Partitio. "I do not regret for an instant any of the decisions I have made. Except for one. That's you, Partitio. You were too dangerous of a foe. I should've squashed you when I had the chance…back when you were withering away with that disgusting little town!"
"I'm grateful to you, Mister Roque. Thanks to you, I experienced abject poverty beyond anything i could've imagined. That's what helped me realize the truth." Partitio said.
(Music Shift: The Journey for Happiness Ends- Octopath Traveler 2)
"That things of value deserve to be shared." Parrito continued. "I don't yet know how much of a difference I can make…but I plan to do all I can to share the wealth and make the world a happier place. That's what being a merchant means to me!"
"You simple naive ignorant foolish unsophisticated gullible churl! That dream's a fool's errand, Partitio! Sell off those useless ideals! Learn from history! No matter the time, place, or era, it is always the wealthy, the powerful, the deserving that define the course of history!"
"That's where you're wrong!" Ace said. "Each and everyone of us has a right to define our history, not just selfish people like you!"
Roque then swiftly repaired the steam tank obsidian's armor, and then prepared to accelerate the tank to full power. "I grow tired of all your meaningless preaches! If you won't get out of the way of progress, then I'll just run you all over! Be crushed by the progress of time, and the power of progress!"
The Steam tank let out a mighty whistle before it charged straight at the group.
"No!" Ace said as he ran in front of the group.
"Ace, don't do it! You'll be flattened!"
"What kind of person would I be if I can't protect my friends?! Your lives are worth more than mine!" Ace said.
"Don't give us that!" Shiki said. "Every life has value, and yours to us? It's the most valuable one of all!" he said as he got in front of the steam tank as it smashed into him, Shiki holding it back with a massive amount of gravity.
"He stopped the Steam Tank Obsidian when it's running at full speed?!" Roque asked in shock.
"Okay, I got it! Now what?!" Shiki said.
"Shiki! Do that thing we saw that one time!" Weisz called out.
"Oh yeah. Here we go. Magimech Attack…" Shiki said as he started lifting the train. "Gravity Suplex!"
Shiki then suplexed the steam tank, forcing it up into the air, as Roque was dislodged from his position on it, and then drove it with full force right into the factory from where it came, wrecking the train, and everything else as a huge explosion obliterated it all.
(end song)
"Tarnation! I've seen you guys do some crazy stuff, but wrestlin' a big ol' train?! That's nuts!" Partito said.
"Where did you learn to do that, Shiki?!" Rebecca said.
"Oh, that? When we were still in Kadic, I was watching David and the others play this game called Final Fantasy 6 in the rec room, and Weisz and I saw this one character do that exact same move on another Steam train." Shiki said.
"Ah, right. I believe you mean Sabin's infamous Meteor Strike on the Ghost Train." Mari said.
"Yeah! It was awesome, right?!" Shiki asked.
"That's one word for it…" Razmi said.
Everyone then looked to see Roque gazing into the destruction caused by Shiki's finishing move.
"You've got nothing left, Roque. Your ace in the hole, and the factory from where it came, have been demolished. I'd also imagine you banked everything on the steam tank to be successful. Meaning you have nothing else to rely on to bounce back." Yuri said.
"This is the first time something's ever slipped through my fingers… It was one measly pocket watch that changed my life, you know… I saw it glittering in a shop window one day, and I knew I wanted it more than anything in the world. I spent endless hours working as a bootblack, my hands stained with polish before I finally could afford it… Yet the moment it was mine, a deep dissatisfaction sprang to life within me, for a new trinket had caught my eye. So I went back to work, I struggled, and I acquired. Over and over again I did this…until one day. I no longer cared how I came by the objects of my desire. By the time I realized I only cared about myself and money, it was too late to turn back." Mister Roque said.
"What did you want so bad that you had to resort to such bad things to get it?" Ajna asked.
"I don't even remember anymore. Besides, thats all in the past now. My time has come and gone. The future belongs to Partitio now. He'll share his values of shadring value with all. Lead the merchants down a new path. This place is about to collapse. Go, all of you. Leave me. I wish to remain and watch it all crumble away. Goodbye, everyone." Roque said.
"I think… we have a better ending to this story, Mr. Roque. What if you were to join Partitio?" Klonoa asked.
"Klonoa's on't somethin' Mister Roque. After you rest a spell, how 'bout joinin' me on a new business venture?" Partitio asked.
"Unbelievable. You never change, do you? I've never met a merchant like you…" Roque said.
And so it was from here that, as time moved on, the company known as Partito and Roque would be born. Under Partitio's leadership with Roque's support, the heavy taxes on the steam engines use were abolished, granting job opportunities to people from the pprest regions of society. And a new business venture was planned: a steam train that can travel the continent and back far faster than anything they'd seen before. This would mark the beginning of Solistia's Industrial Revolution.
"Whelp, time to hit that dusty trail again." Partitio said. "And hey, Ace? Don't go putin' yourself on the line to save others. Shiki's right, y'know? You value your pals lives a lot as if they were money. But don't forget. Your life's got value too, and to yer friends, it's worth just as much as theirs."
"I know, Partitio. As long as we hold onto values we share, nothing can stop us." Ace said.
"Well said, Ace Nepture. You show the mark of a true merchant." a voice said as time stopped.
"Lord Bifelgan!" Ace said.
"Indeed it is I, Bifelgan the Trader. I must say, you have done an excellent job of helping Partitio goals be realized as he pushes his ventures into the future. It's no wonder Aelfric held such high regards of you from your last adventure into our domain." Bifelgan said.
"I'm honored, Lord Bifelgan." Ace said.
"I believe such compassion to helping others, as well as experiencing the path of the merchant for yourself in full, warrants a reward." Bifelgan said. "Henceforth, the powers of the Merchant class are now yours to command. But your journey isn't over yet."
"As I thought. There's a threat on this world like Galdera." Ace said.
"Uh…sure. Anyway…you must go and meet with your allies from the other teams. You all must assemble at a sacred spot in the Leaflands." Bifelgan said.
"Right, we still have to meet with Darksquad in Montwise as well." Ace said.
"Safe travels on your journey, Ace Neptune. And Good fortune as well." Bifelgan said as time resumed.
"Thank you, Lord Bifelgan." Ace said as he looked and saw Bifelgan's symbol next to Aelfric's. "Let's hit the dusty trail everyone. Our journey continues." he said as he, his group, and Partitio headed off.