Mammon

Mammon came into existence long ago, when ancient tribes first began fighting over treasure and territory. The Anomaly's true form is that of a massive black beast, yet it chooses to appear before people as a black cat with golden eyes, adorned with lavish jewelry. It is a omen of desire, with a keen nose that can sniff out the scent of greed. This elegant black cat prowls near wars sparked by avarice, seizing desires to satisfy its bottomless appetite.

Besides desire, Mammon also loves to devour money. After all, for thousands of years, humanity has never given up its pursuit and possession of wealth, so the greed attached to coin is often the richest and purest. In the modern times, conflicts have all but ceased. Once people's basic needs are largely met, the little desire they retain isn't even enough to serve as a snack for Mammon.

As the hungry black cat was searching for food, its gaze fell upon the wealthiest family in Hethereau, the Dvořák family, and the Anomaly that could bring infinite wealth, Ladon. Thus, Pink Paws Bank and Gold Apple Collection Hall became the two locations Mammon frequents most. Predictably, the deplorable act of devouring gold coins is absolutely intolerable to Ladon, who views Mammon as a natural enemy.

The moment Mammon's trail appears nearby, Ladon will mercilessly drive it away, refusing to stop until Mammon is nullified. To humans, the conflict between these two Anomalies appears to be nothing more than two bad-tempered cats fighting. Before long, their "guardians", representatives of the Dvořák family and members of ETD, will arrive with dried fish and balls of yarn to mediate. This is a common sight to see.

Apart from Fons being swallowed by Mammon, their disputes have not caused any real harm to other people or buildings. But from the perspective of the Anomalies, every time they roll up their sleeves and prepare to give the other a good thrashing, some meddlesome humans always show up to watch or break up the fight… This must give both cats quite the headache. In truth, Mammon may have arrived in this city much earlier than people realize.

Several decades ago, a massive and violent beast-type Anomaly suddenly appeared in the central area of Hethereau and attacked nearby residents, causing a great panic. The Bureau of Anomaly Control was urgently dispatched to contain this unknown Anomaly, but it fled after its defeat and its whereabouts became unknown. Personnel involved in the containment conducted a carpet search of the surrounding area but found nothing, with no trace of this monster surfacing again.

According to reliable sources, that Anomaly was actually Mammon's true form. After being defeated, it did not leave, choosing instead to wander the streets in the guise of a stray cat. For unknown reasons, its Wertheimer Index fluctuations are extremely low, so the Bureau of Anomaly Control never detected its presence. No one would connect the Fons thief currently running rampant in Hethereau with the black beast that once caused so much trouble…

But what brought Mammon to this city in the first place? Why does it truly linger here? The secrets hidden behind those golden eyes may only be uncovered by those who come after… In my opinion, even if Mammon were to devour the entire Dvořák family's fortune- no, all the wealth in Hethereau, or even the entire world, it would only temporarily appease its insatiable heart. Desire itself can never be truly satisfied.

One needs only look back at history: no matter how much desire is fulfilled, new desires will continue to emerge endlessly. Perhaps it is under this powerful catalyst that the wheels of our society keep rolling forward, never ceasing.