Hey.
Are you here in Bell Land to sightsee?
Did you happen upon that card?
You're supposed to report found belongings to the police.
Oh, I know.
I'll take it to the police for you.
So—
Shut up!
Shoot me.
Huh?
Come on. Shoot me.
Go ahead.
Vijay!
This breakfast tea is a blend of Ceylon and Keemun.
It's the perfect cup to wake up to.
Th-Thanks...
Huh?
Well then...
What shall we do with him?
Pulling the 2 of spades with that 10 of diamonds feels like a lucky break.
How do you like it, Finn Oldman?
Oh, it's good.
How do you know my name?
It seems you've been up to no good.
You're 176 centimeters tall.
Born on January 3rd. You're ambidextrous and like to play piano.
You grew up in Sun Fields Orphanage.
Your favorite drink is soda, and there are two tiny moles on your right buttock.
Y-You people...
What're you gonna to do with me?
You!
I'm saying this for your own good.
Forget about last night and your card.
Hey! That's my—
I'd rather not do this, but...
It's my job, so no hard feelings, okay?
Yes, it's me.
Ah, so you saw.
Understood.
As you wish.
Hold it!
You're up!
Stop! Freeze!
This is what we call an X-Playing Card.
Currently, 52 of them are known to exist.
They may appear to be simple playing cards, but they are not.
They possess special powers.
And only those chosen by the cards can use those powers.
We call these people players.
What're you going on about all of a sudden?
My, I apologize for my rudeness.
A player can only use the power of one card.
In other words, a card chooses its player.
Huh?
Now then...
These cards are currently scattered all over the Fourland Kingdom.
That is, in the counties of Spada, Lozenge, Silphium, and Polostick.
This is a most concerning state of affairs.
Players can abuse cards, I'm afraid.
To avoid unnecessary chaos,
King Julius Fourland has ordered us to collect the cards discreetly.
It's something of a complicated story, but do you understand the situation so far?
Not at all.
Bernard, why did you tell him?
Exactly! I got nothing to do with this.
Oh, but you do...
As this is going to be your new place of employment.
Huh?
Did the president...?
You are currently on Old Maid Street,
abundant in tradition and grace, which runs through Shield, the capital of Spada.
Welcome to the Old Maid branch of Pinochle Automobiles.
Pinochle manufactures classic yet modern cars for the highest class of customer.
We serve as the sales operations department of the company.
Chris handles sales. Wendy is in charge of accounting,
Vijay does sales and systems management, and I handle administration.
At least... as a front.
That so?
We're permitted extralegal measures when it comes to retrieving the cards.
That said, we take our orders directly from the king.
Therefore we always solve our problems with gentility.
And you want me to be a part of this?
Why?
The man you chased off last night is named Bobby Ball.
He is a member of the infamous Klondike Family.
Seriously?
With connections to the government and police,
the Klondikes are the biggest mafia organization in Fourland.
It appears that they're also keen on collecting the cards.
The Klondikes will use any means necessary to achieve their aims.
I'm sure they could track you down quite easily.
If you work here, you can earn money and protect your card.
I believe this is the best deal for you.
But the decision is up to you.
So, uh, how much would I be making?
Since you'd be starting as an apprentice...
Oh man, I'm totally in!
Remember this always, Finn Oldman...
What's you need is manners, grace, and a readiness to risk your life.
That is all.
Everyone!
Finn will join us as a sales apprentice, starting today.
I guess money talks, hmm?
Yeah, say whatever you want.
First, we need to address your appearance.
Chris, if you will.
What? Me?
You will be his mentor.
I suppose we're colleagues now.
So let bygones be bygones.
Nice to be working with you, apprentice.
Shallow much?
You can call me Chris.
Say... You died yesterday, didn't you?
Was that also...
Yes. That was my card.
Each card grants a unique power.
Yours is "Neo New Nambu," and Vijay's is "Green Green."
Mine is "Calorie's High."
During play, I'm an immortal ladies' man.
Hitch is, it makes me really hungry.
Excuse me, sir!
Sure, that design'll do!
Okay, let's go get dessert!
Captain Young!
The officer who was attacked apparently just kept mumbling,
"That guy wasn't human."
Not human, huh?
We've seen some strange incidents in the past month,
like men turned into marbles and spontaneous combustion.
We should set up a task force right away and...
Listen, rookie.
For strange incidents, we need to call in strange people.
Strange people?
I can't believe you just asked me out.
Neither can I. I must be crazy!
But I think your charm made me do it.
"Dessert," huh?
Exquisite, right?
Hey!
How're you gonna pay for this?!
I-I'm so sorry.
Whoa!
I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry...
You ruined my best clothes!
I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry...
I'll kill you!
Chill, man. The poor guy's apologizing.
Huh?
Huh?!
You brat...
Get lost!
Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow!
I'll make sure to teach him some manners, so please let him go for today.
F-Fine! Just let me go!
Thank you, thank you, thank you...
Oh, I didn't do anything.
It was all him...
Dude.
Wow, Pinochle?
They're a major car manufacturer.
That's amazing, Finn!
It's a job only I can do, so they're paying me well.
I'm still an apprentice, but once I'm a full-time employee, my salary will go up.
I'm gonna make so much money it'll make your head spin!
Then there'll be nothing to worry about.
With that kind of cash, you won't have to vacate...
Oh.
So you did hear me talking to the landlord.
You need money, don't you?
I'd do anything for Sun Fields.
Sun Fields saved me when I lost my family.
Now it's my turn to help. Right?
Money is important, of course.
But it's not everything.
Still, things can't go too badly if you've got it, right?
See you later.
Okay.
To think that a little scamp like you would land a job out of the blue...
I'm seventeen, you know.
The choices we make are what determine who we'll be.
Best of luck to you, Finn.
It's way too early.
Is picking me up part of the whole mentor schtick?
The job starts early today, apprentice.
Hmm?
What the heck were you doing in a company car?
Ah, so our apprentice is a virg—
You ass!
I'm not some kid!
And stop calling me "apprentice"!
I can call you what I want, if you still need my help handling a drunk.
You just wanted to show off in front of that lady—
Chris, please hurry.
The target is still on the armored car, driving north on Route Three.
Understood.
Yikes! Whoa, whoa, whoa! Damn...
This isn't the sales job, but the other one?
That's the one!
Whoa!
Ouch!
Wait, whoa!
Hey.
Is that them?
What's going on?!
Play...
"Calorie's High."
Since this is your first job, maybe you should just sit back and watch, apprentice.
No way!
Play!
Aim for the tires.
We're going to stop that car.
What the?!
This guy!
You're...
the guy from before!
What in the world?
You know nothing, brat.
So back off!
"Rockin' Rock"?!
Don't bite your tongue!
Come on, come on!
The 3 of hearts, huh?
"Rockin' Rock."
His power is hardening his body.
How manly, being so rock hard...
Huh?
Wait, Captain!
The culprit behind the armored car robbery is that group of thieves.
We should go after them as well.
I told you, remember?
Gotta call in strange people.
Damn it!
This guy... Talk about a personality change!
It's useless, brat!
Th-This isn't working at all!
What's my power supposed to be?!
You have to use your head, apprentice.
Obviously, this guy's heavy.
Now hold on nice and tight!
No way...
I told you to hold on.
You bastard!
You gotta be kidding me...
I'd rather not drown right after I come back.
Mission complete.
Robert T. Thousand.
He acquired the card by chance a month ago.
Using its power, he became hired muscle for a ring of thieves.
He was working hard, but he got tricked into a debt.
He must have really needed money.
How the card is used is up to the player.
The decision is up to you.
The choices we make are what determine who we'll be.
Could I end up like Robert?
You've got some sharp eyes.
And your marksmanship isn't too bad.
The power of your "Neo New Nambu" is about shooting bullets in a straight line.
Perfect for a straightforward idiot like you, Finn Oldman.
Welcome to High Card, Finn!
Yeah, great to be working with you, Chris.
By the way, I was a real winner today, right?
How about a raise?
After all the trouble, could you really call that winning?
Man...
The card has been retrieved.
Does the boy meet your expectations, Master Theodore?
Fire him if he can't produce results.
Very well.
But I have high hopes for him.
He'll have a positive impact on the team.
Don't forget.
New member or not, High Card remains a motley of individuals.
They need to be made into a winning hand.
It's your job to bring them together, Bernard.
Yes, sir.
For the prosperity of Pinochle and the peace of Fourland, Master Theodore.
You did really well today, Finn.
For a 2 of spades.
I know, right?!
For a 2 of spades, indeed.
For a 2 of spades...
Hmm? What do you mean?
Twos are the lowest ranking cards of all.
In other words...
you're the weakest.
The weakest?
Wait...
What?!
Next time: "CRAZY RICH."