9th CARD › “The Totally Legitimate Beach Vacation”
Seven years ago Giotto Jaeger, Leon Kruger, and Faye Star, each climbed through the ranks of the Houses in record fashion. Gio and Leon managed to snag two freshly vacated positions as Kings, the youngest in the history of the Houses, while Faye joined Gio as his Queen.
Such a dramatic rise had never happened before. There was even some outrage among the Espers across New Eden. How could three teenagers barely old enough to drive rise to the ranks of King and Queen? Why had they not joined a House when their powers first awakened? Who did they think they were, taking the positions from others who had waited a lifetime for such an opportunity?
Questions continued for weeks and the lack of answers never quite satisfied the masses.
Instead of answering them directly the three decided to show their skill by action.
Leon found his chance early on when facing off against an A-Rank Chaotic. A-Rank was of course about the level of a King, creating a situation that could quickly spin out of control. Such a powerful Chaotic was extremely rare, especially near the city.
This beast, however, was even more troublesome than its rank already implied.
The Chaotic had rampaged for days in the outer areas of New Eden by digging underneath structures and causing them to collapse. Sinkholes were popping up all along the city’s borders, severely injuring and even killing those caught in the attacks. Unfortunately, since the Chaotic had the ability to dig at high speeds, he was able to evade the Espers by hiding underground outside the city.
It was then that Leon, with members of his new House backing him up, pursued the beast through its own tunnels.
In little to no time at all the Spades members had tracked the Chaotic to its nest.
The beast lashed out as they approached, trying to cave-in the tunnels around them and create their tomb – but Leon didn’t let that happen.
His ability, Leonhardt, lit up the darkness with a magnificent golden glow. His fists punched away all of the rubble that threatened to bury his team alive, using enough force to turn titanic boulders to dust. His speed, his power, his accuracy – no one had seen such a power or ability before. It was as if his strength surpassed all known limits.
With that same boundless power, Leon fought the Chaotic which had caused so much destruction – and within mere seconds the beast was nothing more than piles of fertilizer.
Golden light tore the A-Rank Chaotic asunder.
None questioned Leon’s position after that.
The easy going King, full of warm smiles reflecting his kind heart, became an instant idol to the citizens – both Normals and Espers alike.
Around the same time, Gio and Faye found themselves in a rather sticky situation close to home.
Hordes of Chaotics, resembling all manner of insects, began to swarm from within the heart of District Four. The same District near the center of the city that was assigned to the House of Hearts.
Many of the Chaotics took the forms of flyers such as venomous hornets or moth-like creatures. This created mass panic and was an attack that even Espers would have had trouble containing.
So, as Espers charged in to fight the Chaotics, it wasn’t long before the horde began to spread out. They weren’t going to simply stay in one place and it became obvious that if they weren’t stopped then all of New Eden would be engulfed in no time at all.
Luckily the newly appointed King and Queen were on the case.
Chaotics that began to escape towards other Districts were suddenly and violently struck down by swirling fire and shards of ice.
For onlookers it almost felt like these insectoids were hitting an invisible wall. Upon contact with said wall they would either burst into flames or be flash frozen, which led to them plummeting to the ground where they shattered like glass.
The Espers who had tried to contain the horde were unsure where the attacks were coming from. To them it was a battle that was overwhelming, but somehow a hero had risen to strike down the Chaotics which raged.
Flames continued to flare through the sky, streaking in between the Chaotics as glittering clouds of snow consumed the swarms. The blaze burned the insectoids to ash while the shimmering shards of ice froze them from the inside out, exploding them from within in the form of a swirling blizzard.
What was once a dire situation turned around in a flash of fire and ice.
Onlookers were greeted to the appearance of both Gio and Faye, the King and Queen of Hearts, standing back to back in the middle of the battleground. The last of the Chaotics fell just beside them as the flames and ice that filled the streets faded away.
It was the first time that the citizens caught sight of the top two members of Hearts in action and it was a time they would never forget. This was the might of the newly crowned King and Queen.
From then on Giotto Jaeger, Leon Kruger, and Faye Star were never questioned about their abilities.
Leon, King of Spades, became known as The Golden Lion. The ultimate fighter armored in golden light.
The duo of Gio and Faye, King and Queen of Hearts, became known as Blue Crimson – the ultimate fire and ice combination that no Esper nor Chaotic could ever hope to match. The unbeatable team.
Those days were a time of prosperity for not only their individual Houses but for the entire city. The three did great work across all of New Eden, bridging the gap between the Houses and creating a better daily life for both Normals and Espers.
How unfortunate that those days had long since fallen away to the past.
« — »
“Wonderful! Aren’t you glad I suggested a trip to the beach, slacker?” Sera’s voice was unnaturally chipper.
A groan was the only response Gio could muster.
The two were laying comfortably underneath a large, multi-colored beach umbrella. Their lounge chairs were secured in the sand beneath them with a remarkable view of the shining sea before them.
Well, what had appeared to be the sea.
Here in the Ninth District was the appropriately named Paradise Beach. Pearl-colored sands trailed for what seemed like forever while crystal clear waters washed up and down the coast. Thousands of patrons were here day in and day out, thanks to the round-the-clock perfect weather.
You see, this wasn’t an actual beach.
The sand, the sea, even the sky, was all artificial. It was deep within a city and not exactly near the coastline.
Paradise Beach was kept within a superdome, much like a stadium for various sports teams, albeit even larger.
Despite being artificial it was one of the most popular attractions in all of New Eden. Families would venture there for vacations and couples for a romantic getaway. Then of course there were the many who came to watch not the waves, but the beauties who lined the sandy shores.
Men and women, of course. Few could resist the sight of bronzed skin, be it male or female. Swimsuit weather was a great time for all involved.
Unfortunately for the shade wearer there was little wish to actually be at the beach. He was practically dragged there kicking and screaming.
“You could at least pretend to enjoy it, jerkoff.” Sera scoffed, not even bothering to look at him.
Gio shrugged and sipped from a half empty glass of the classic rum and coke mixture he knew and loved. A nice change of pace from whiskey since they were on a vacation of sorts.
“.. Not really a place for a wanted criminal, you know.”
He wasn’t wrong.
Though even with his protests Gio was somewhat relaxed, if only thanks to his cold beverage to lighten his mood. Both he and Sera were clad in their swimsuits, enjoying the protection from the artificial sun that their umbrella provided. Gio wore a pair of black swim trunks and a simple white t-shirt, while Sera sported her own red t-shirt over a one-piece blue and white swimsuit.
Both were dressed somewhat modestly, as if showing they weren’t especially fond of sunbathing. Sera in particular seemed to be going out of her way to hide the assets Gio was so quick to mock.
Obviously the trip wasn’t Gio’s idea in the slightest. Sera had bugged him for weeks on end to go to Paradise Beach, but he had turned her down at each and every turn. She wasn’t a kid, so surely she could have taken herself if she wanted to go that badly.
Unfortunately, the final nail in the coffin was the day that Sera took and hid every single bottle of Gio’s high-dollar whiskey. That wasn’t the stuff for everyday drinking, either. We were talking about high class events – like Tuesdays.
Rather than fight with Sera or tear his home apart in searching, he found himself actually caving rather easily to his manager and partner.
Shortly thereafter the duo were smack dab in the middle of the sun and sand.
“Oh shut up already, geez. No one is going to suspect you’re some criminal if you would stop bringing it up. Just act casual for crying out loud!” Her voice drew the attention of some fellow beach-goers nearby, but she simply laughed in hoping to make it seem like a joke.
“Right, right… Well we’re here, so go do whatever it is you do at the beach.”
Sera’s glare sought to pierce through Gio’s shades and through his skull.
“Why don’t you try having a better attitude once in a while?! You make enjoying myself impossible!” She then leapt up from her beach chair, crossing her arms and storming off towards a drink stand.
Poor Gio could only sigh and sip his own beverage. Sera had pushed for this trip for so long, but now that they were here she wasn’t even doing anything. She wasn’t trying to get a tan or even going for a swim. She didn’t even participate in some of the nearby activities like beach volleyball or Frisbee.
What was the point of coming here if she wasn’t going to do anything, was all that crossed Gio’s mind.
Meanwhile, Sera’s adventure to the drink stand had taken a turn.
As she waited in line, hoping to make it to the front and acquire her beloved root beer, nearby whispers began to catch her off guard.
“Pssst, did you hear? They say that Wild Card is actually here at the beach,” said one young man to another.
“What? No way! That guy’s a wanted criminal. It would be pretty stupid to show up here,” responded the second.
“No really, I heard that too!” A third, a young woman, joined in. “They were saying he caused trouble further up the beach at a bar. Refusing to pay or something while causing a scene about who he was!”
Sera was so engaged in the whispers that she didn’t even notice she was next in line.
“Miss? Excuse me, Miss, what’s your order?”
She snapped back to reality and shook her head.
“N-No, it’s nothing! Sorry, I have to go.” Sera then spun around and started speed walking back to Gio, all the while thinking; just what the hell is that idiot up to now?!
It didn’t seem to dawn on her that she had been with him practically the whole time. Surely he hadn’t caused a commotion in the mere ten or so minutes she had been away.
Up and down Paradise Beach, rumors of the Wild Card causing trouble were beginning to spread like wildfire. No pun intended. The whispers grew louder and spread faster as the seconds ticked by. News of other incidents, including a vandalized parking lot and stolen barbeque, added to the public disturbances.
The talk even reached all the way to Kenny Blume, King of Clubs, along with his daughter Clare and his Queen, Lenna Vermillion.
The three of them were enjoying Paradise Beach for their monthly trip in which Ken always took his daughter to play. Lenna, being the ever loyal Queen, always accompanied them. After all, with Ken acting more like a child than a King, he and his daughter needed someone to chaperone them appropriately.
It was practically a scene right out of a comedy to see the bulging muscles of Ken, flexing back and forth while playing cheerfully in the waves with his small daughter.
“Papa! The castle is in trouble!” Clare was frantically rushing to their small sand castle, poorly put together, that was right in the path of the waves.
“Not on my watch!!” Dramatically, Ken leapt into the air like a graceful swan.
The waves were seconds from smashing into the sand castle and there was no time!!
A loud thump then echoed as Ken’s large frame missed its target, crashing into the sand castle, while the supposed destructive waves didn’t even reach where the castle once stood.
“Papa, no!!”
Tears began to stream down Clare’s face as Ken realized his critical error.
“C-Clare-bear, I… I didn’t… No, there’s no excuses! I can never again show my face to you… I am sorry, for everything!!”
Both father and daughter were crying hysterically, catching the attention of others all around them.
Lenna could only hang her head in shame.
“.. I’m surrounded by id—” Her voice froze as the sprinting Sera came into view. “—Idols!!” Lenna’s cold demeanor was gone as quickly as the sand castle crumbled.
She leapt into the air, catching Sera off guard as the two went tumbling to the sand.
“W-What are you doing, lady?!” Sera was about to lash out with fists until she realized it was the Queen of Clubs. “You!? Get off me!” Even after realizing it was Lenna she almost resorted to fisticuffs.
Sera struggled to get free from Lenna, who for some reason found herself obsessed with Sera’s own petite frame. It was a side of Lenna that only Clare and Sera seemed to draw out from her. The stoic, monotonous Queen, would quickly turn into a childlike entity seemingly experiencing her first love.
“Oh, sweet, sweet Sera… Fear not, for I am here!”
“Oi! Everyone in your damn House is insane!!”
Sera finally pushed Lenna away and stumbled forward, breathing heavily as the Clubs members looked at her with more serious tones. The tonal shift seemed to hiccup as part of a sandy castle was still protruding from Ken’s forehead.
“.. Sera? What’s got you so frantic?” Ken’s attitude certainly didn’t match his situation, where he seemed incapable of noticing how silly he looked.
Clare playfully tried to knock away the part of castle still stuck to him.
“It’s nothing! Nothing that some members of a House need to concern themselves wit—”
“Hey, the Wild Card is fighting some kids up the beach! Let’s go check it out!”
Nearby patrons caught the ears of Sera and company.
Apparently a crowd was forming further up the beach where a fight had broken out – one that involved the Wild Card.
“What is that idiot doing now?!” Sera began to sprint, but a large hand was placed on her shoulder.
“We’ll be going with you.” Ken’s deep voice and serious tone was almost comforting.
Again, the tone didn’t quite match his situation, as pieces of what was once a sand castle now clung to his chest like an enlarged sand nipple.
At least his head was clean, now.
The King of Clubs gathered his jacket, and now he and his Queen were on the move alongside Sera and his own daughter.
If Gio had truly began to rampage, then there was no question that he needed to be stopped.
But, did Sera still really think Gio could have gotten himself into that much trouble so quickly? Sure, this was the same guy who drunkenly tried to fight a vacuum cleaner once, but there was at least some restraint in public… right?
While the crowds gathered just a stone’s throw away from his umbrella, Gio was contempt continuing to sip his beverage. He didn’t seem bothered by the nearby whispers of the so-called Wild Card, nor did he care about the commotion. All that seemed to pass his mind was the wish for Sera to have her fun and for them to be headed back home.
The beach wasn’t a bad trip, far from it, but Gio wasn’t really in the mood to go out and have a play day. Besides, he’d much rather experience the real ocean and real beach rather than this fully artificial substitute.
“Gio!!”
A voice that was perhaps the last Gio expected to hear made him perk up.
The crowd had grown so large that the backs of the onlookers had nearly engulfed his lounge chair – and just ahead of him, clad in a yellow t-shirt and white swim trunks, was his best friend Leon.
“Huh? What’s he…”
“Gio!” Leon was shouting into the crowd, surely trying to get his attention.
He hadn’t noticed Gio wasn’t in the crowd, but was lounging just beside him.
It seemed he had believed the rumors of the Wild Card were indeed about Gio.
“…” Gio face palmed with a heavy sigh accompanying the smack. “Leo! Why don’t you turn about seventy degrees to your left?”
It took a moment to register for Leon, but he soon stopped trying to force his way into the crowd and looked to the side to see his friend casually sipping his drink.
Leon then rushed him, grabbing him by the shoulder, with a rare look of exasperation washing over him.
“What could you be thinking, Gio?! All this time you’ve been working to stay hid—” His emotional outburst began to trail off as the sound of Gio slurping the remnants of his drink intensified. “.. been working to stay… hidden… what?”
Leon did a double take and let go of Gio slowly. He gave a slow turn towards the crowd gathered around the so-called ‘Wild Card.’
“Gio… what is… going on?”
The shade wearer simply shrugged and set down his now empty drink.
“Beats me, Leo. What I do know is this crowd is going to make it impossible to get a refill.”
“How are you so casual about this? You realize someone is causing trouble under the guise of the Wild Card, right?” Leon was a bit floored by Gio’s lackluster response. In turn, Gio was a bit surprised by his friend’s reaction to it all.
“It’s not like it’s actually me, right? Besides, maybe people thinking they’re the Wild Card will work out in my favor, ohoho.” Gio smirked, but his enjoyment faded when he saw the serious look emerge from Leon.
Perhaps letting things go on as they were wasn’t the best idea after all. Leave it to Leon to get Gio thinking all responsibly.
Gio swung his legs over his lounge chair and jumped to his feet, nearly head butting his umbrella. He then stretched a bit and stepped free of the shade, catching sight of a poorly hidden Kat Atwood back behind another drink stand further up the coast.
It seemed Leon’s Ocho, who was oddly infatuated with him, had decided to follow him to the beach.
“.. Hey, Leo, you know that girl is following you, right?”
“What?”
Leon turned, but the street clothes clad Kat had ducked back into hiding.
“Who?”
“.. You never did understand women.” Gio shook his head and decided to put his attention back to the large crowd.
“Look at that guy go! He’s an Esper, no doubt! Those kids are toast!”
“The rumors were true!? Whoa!”
The gathering crowd continued to whisper amongst themselves about the sights of the so-called Wild Card. Up and down the beach he had caused problems. From vandalism to thievery and now, assault.
While there was a part of Gio who would have loved for this imposter to take the fall for him, that would probably not be the best. In addition, it wouldn’t do anyone any good if the culprit was free to continue rampaging about.
So, with Gio forcefully making room through the crowd, he and Leon made a beeline right for the center of the commotion. They would put an end to this charade once and for all.
“Hey, jerkoff! Where the hell are you?! I’m going to tear you limb from fucking limb!!”
Gio’s progress was stilted at the sound of that familiar feminine screech.
Sera and the members from Clubs had made their way towards the center of the circle from the opposite side. The timing was so perfect, in fact, that the two parties spotted each other the moment they made it to their destination.
“L-Leon?!” Ken’s large frame nearly collapsed with his surprise. “Don’t tell me you’ve… you’ve been conspiring with Gio this whole time?! Another King has fallen?!”
Ken was beyond melodramatic as he fell to his knees, tears flowing like twin waterfalls to the pearly sand below.
“Papa, you can’t cry!”
Clare tried her best to comfort her hunched over father, but his tears became contagious. The two Blume’s were left to hold each other and let their outbursts continue.
“W-Wait, Sir Kenny—” Leon didn’t get a chance to respond before Sera was rushing both him and Gio.
“Watch it, mosquito!” Gio rushed into the open area to stop Sera from doing anything crazy, but as he ran in he nearly trampled a kid who just happen to get in his way.
Instead of running him over, both Gio and the child, a boy surely not a day over twelve, spun wildly into the sand.
Sera froze and her blue eyes seemed to shift to a red glow which showed her unrivaled rage.
“It was true?! You were beating up children?! You drunken jackass, worthless piece of camel shi—”
She was pulled back by Lenna before she could continue and a moment later the sand which she had been standing on turned to glass.
A surge of hot air had appeared right where she had been standing. One which may not have critically wounded her but it would have no doubt left her a brutal burn.
“You dare to cross my path?!” It was a high pitched yelp, cracking as it spoke.
Sera looked back, assured that it was Gio who just tried to attack her, but the uneven voice was from the boy who had just been knocked down.
Closer examination showed that the boy was wearing an outfit not unlike Gio’s typical attire, with a few subtle differences. Black shorts instead of long pants, a black t-shirt with a lone white stripe instead of a jacket, and atop his face the all-important black sunglasses mixing with long blonde – not brown – hair.
Gio jumped back up to his feet, as did the child he tumbled with.
“I am the hero of the night, on which this city both deserves and needs altogether! They call me the almighty Wild Car—” The kids totally epic monologue ended as the much larger Gio picked him up by the shirt collar and lifted him up to eye level. “H-Hey, what are you doing mister?! You better set me down before you face the wrath of my unstoppable flames of justice!”
A pale glow radiated from the kid’s left hand, but no mark appeared within the glow.
There was no doubt this boy was an Esper – but he had no House.
Gio allowed the kid to carry on, despite the apparent power he had which turned that sand to glass, but as the air became super-heated around him there was no sign of the attack hitting its mark.
“Huh?! Come on, stupid fire, work!”
The kid began to struggle, trying again and again to burn Gio, but the more he tried the more worn out he became.
An average onlooker wouldn’t have noticed, but the attack the kid tried to use was being countered by Gio’s own Fiery ability.
The crowds which had so quickly gathered to witness the Wild Card in action began to dwindle. The sound of laughter, of distant chuckles, seemed to echo all around the young boy as Gio held him in the air like it was no big deal. The so-called Wild Card was just a snot-nosed brat throwing a temper tantrum.
After just a few minutes the only ones that remained were the sobbing father and daughter from Clubs, the stone cold Queen Lenna, Leon, and Sera. Oh, and of course there was Gio and the kid.
“Let me– Let me GO!!” The boy could shout with everything he had but his body had given up.
Using his ability so frantically to try and earn his freedom from Gio had drained him dry.
“.. Where’s your mom and dad, kid?” Gio spoke softly, almost as if he was trying to comfort the child, but nearby Sera seemed unconvinced.
At the mention of a mother and father, the kid stopped struggling altogether. His head was hanging low.
Not even Sera felt like snapping at that point. She, like all those present, understood a reaction like that.
The boy was clearly on his own.
“Well then. How about your name?”
Gio finally set him down and kneeled down himself, getting on eye level with the kid. This time on the child’s own turf.
The boy was hesitant to do anything or say anything else, but when he looked up he realized Gio had removed his own shades. For a moment he almost felt like he was looking into a mirror instead of staring at the adult who finally caught and scolded him.
“.. Kai.”
The boy’s, or rather Kai’s, voice had grown quieter than a whisper. Even so Gio and the others caught it.
“Kai, huh? Not a bad name if I do say so myself. So then, Kai, how come you’re causing all this trouble? Saying you’re the Wild Card? Not to mention, using your ability like that.”
Gio’s left hand rested in the sand and silently motioned to Leon behind him. It was to get him to come on over.
“.. But, the Wild Card is a hero! But that smelly Diamond guy, he, he says that the Wild Card is evil!!” Kai was obviously referencing Victor Ferris and Gio couldn’t help but snicker.
“Hah! I can’t disagree with you there. He sure is one smelly guy, ya know? But even so. Doesn’t mean you can go causing trouble in his District.”
Leon at last stepped beside Gio.
“Listen, Kai… This guy here, you know him, yeah?” Gio pointed to Leon, the two smiling in hopes of comforting the child.
It took a moment but the boy’s solemn expression began to change to a brighter one.
“Y-You’re the, the, Golden Lion!! King of Spades!!”
He was suddenly full of energy, spinning back around to look at Lenna and Kenny – and he realized they were the Queen and King of Clubs.
In all the trouble he caused, Kai had somehow found himself in the presence of two Kings.
Leon reached down to shake Kai’s hand. Gio and Leon then shared a momentary glance and accompanying nod.
“Say, Kai…” Gio once again had the boy’s full attention. “How’s about you put that talent of yours to a better use? This fellow right here, Leon Kruger, you know he’s a King – and I’m sure he and even ol’ Kenny over there would be happy to have you join their House.”
Kai’s excitement exploded all at once as he began running wildly in a circle, arms trailing behind him as his own smile fueled his legs to reach greater speeds.
“A House! A House! I can join a House!!”
Gio’s own smile seemed to grow just as much as Kai’s, which caught the eye of Sera.
She had been so ready to tear Gio limb from limb just a few minutes ago. He had been stubborn for weeks about the beach trip and once they were there he was impossible to enjoy it with… but even so, seeing this side of Gio every once in a while made a trip like this worth it.
It was at that moment she couldn’t help but have her own smile.
Kai then slammed on his brakes and darted back to his counterpart.
“Say, mister, what’s your name? What House are you in?”
The question took everyone aback just a little, but Gio patted Kai on the head and just laughed.
“I don’t have a House, champ. But you can call me Gio. It’s nice to meet you.”
« — »
Their laughter was something to be jealous of, but not everyone looking on from afar would agree with the use of jealousy. For Victor Ferris and Rose Jalice that word would be more like disgust.
“Sire— I mean… father…” Rose spoke silently, nervously.
The two were hidden, watching the group from the inside of a darkened control room. They had been monitoring Gio and company for quite some time, or so it seemed, thanks to the multitude of monitors lining the wall frozen on various angles of Gio’s recent ventures.
Video and images of Gio and Sera the day Victor fought with them, of when they infiltrated the underground arena, from various encounters with Chaotics and even of their rescue involving Jay Willow – they were all there. Big brother had been keeping a watchful eye on them.
Victor had an obsession with Giotto Jaeger, with the Wild Card, and with completely and utterly destroying him. That kind of unnatural hatred was hard to understand. The reasoning behind it seemed to stem from his love of New Eden and his desire to crush any threat – which Gio was in his eyes – no matter the cost.
“Dear, sweet Rose. Know that the time of the beast, of the parasite that continues to infect my fair city, will soon come to an end.”
Victor turned from watching the scene at the beach, shutting off the larger monitor. He remained seated behind a large wooden desk in his black leather chair.
“Yes, father, I understand. As your fellow King I shall cleanse New Eden of his filth.”
Rose eagerly awaited recognition from her adoptive father, though it seemed this was a time she would be left wanting. You would think her becoming King meant something. It seemed that not even her position could draw the doting eye of her father. He was a different man since he became fixated on Gio four years ago.
“The time has finally come. We have the means, now. It’s time to stop letting that disease spread further. Let these coming nights be the last that the Wild Card finds salvation in his dreams.”
Victor’s typically grainy voice seemed to be full of electricity.
This was, after all, what he had waited for.
“What’s the plan then, father?”
Victor looked back to her, crossing his hands and resting his face against them.
“That’s being handled by our very special ally in this fight for our city’s livelihood. Starting tomorrow, I shall call forth the first emergency Roundtable in nearly four years. There, with this evidence to back it, I shall convince the Aces to finally let us act.”
Victor then leaned back slightly, slamming his gloved fist into the table. Cracks formed along table, nearly giving way.
“.. Leon, Kenneth, they will no longer be able to protect him.” Victor’s eyes pierced the darkness, then diverted towards Rose. “In just a few short days Giotto Jaeger’s world will crumble to pieces and nothing, no one, will be there to put him together again… Not this time.”
~ END 9TH CARD ~