story_snakek_1_1

Hm... according to the map, this should be the street market.

Wow, there's so many stalls, way more than I imagined... Uh oh, I'm starting to worry maybe I didn't bring enough money.

Wow, crystal dumplings! And lotus seed buns! So much tasty food... I'll buy some just to try, they can't cost that much, right?

Om nom... Burp! I'm so full!

Oh no! I can't eat anymore! I came to buy gifts for everybody!

Sigh, this is all my fault. I got mad at Cardi when she stepped on my backpack...

I didn't mean to, but my backpack...

I finally made friends with everybody, I can't let it stay like this!

I'll pick a good present, and then apologize to Cardi!

The luster, the pattern, the weight...

No mistaking it, we're gonna be rich this time!

Hmph. That Columbian lady just looked at us funny.

Don't be so haughty! If you don't look after your stuff, somebody else will look after it for you!

Damn, daai goh. Barely three words and you scammed that right up...

That bitch has no clue what just happened to her!

That wasn't no scam, dumbass, I asked permission.

We do what we've gotta do to feed ourselves. Is it so wrong to ask Heaven for permission to snatch something?

Wow, you're right! But...

What is it, kiddo? Out with it!

I kinda wanna touch that pendant...

Here! Over by the window, in the sunlight, the patterns really stand out!

Wowza, this foreign stuff is way different from what we get in Lungmen.

Hm? This part... is it supposed to be some kind of beast? There's something on its back—

The young man's hand slips and the pendant drops out the window.

Excuse me! I want one of these and one of those!

Alright, alright, girl, let me wrap them up for you.

I don't need a bag, I can put them right into my backpack!

Oh, I need to pay though... Um, my wallet should be in my jacket pocket.

The pendant falls into Cuora's open backpack without anyone noticing.

You don't look like a Lungmenite. Are you here on vacation? Let me give you a discount! Here's your change.

You're buying a lot. Is it for your parents?

No, for my friends!

The girl here has a lot of friends, huh? Here, take some freebies.

It's all the best Lungmen has to offer, handmade. Share with your friends!

Thank you, mister!

Don't mention it! I hope you have fun in Lungmen. And uh, keep an eye on your things...

There've been a lot of pickpockets around here lately. They especially like targeting foreigners.

Got it! Now I know I may not look it, but I'm really good at fighting!

If I see a pickpocket, I'll send him flying!

I never knew the Lungmenites were so friendly! That guy gave me a ton of stuff...

I'll pick through it all when I get back and hand stuff out to everyone at Rhodes Island!

Those little animal figures would be perfect for Adnachiel and Steward...

And that Yanese silk cap would be great for May!

The music box would be good for Lava, and the scarf for Instructor Dobermann...

Sigh, but after going all over the place, I still don't have anything for Cardi.

What can I give her?

Wait a second there, girl!

Huh? What's wrong?

I dropped something out the window and it landed in that souvenir stall over there. A metal pendant, did you happen to see it?

Hm? No, I didn't.

I did. It fell right into your backpack. Would you mind opening it for me so I can take a look?

Just a sec, I'll check...

All the little souvenirs that guy gave me are metal thingies... You didn't come over to bother me just because you saw all that, did you?

How dare you!

Gimme that bag, I'll find it!

Hand's off! Don't touch my backpack!

Hmph! You're trying to steal from me? You'll have to ask my baseball bat first!

Half an hour later...

Hmm, yeah.

Good idea, ah goh, I'll start putting it together!

Don't mess it up this time!

Dammit, that little dumbass is short on success and long on failure.

I can't believe a little girl like that put him on the ground in just a couple of moves.

If you can't use your fists, you gotta use your brain. Let's change it up.

It's just like the souvenir shop guy said... do I look like such a clueless tourist?

I guess Lungmen's got a real problem with crime and safety...

You there, girl, hold up a second!

Who are you?

Hey, don't get the wrong idea. I just heard you talking about how Lungmen isn't safe, so I figured I'd ask what's up.

Here's my badge, these blocks are my beat here.

Lungmen... Block Manager? What do you do?

(I've got all kinds of stuff like this prepped and ready. Another badge, another bit of insurance. Let's try this one on for size.)

I keep order on the streets and help out the residents.

Did you encounter something that upset you?

We've gotten some reports around here of street vendors selling counterfeit goods to tourists at jacked up prices. I'm undercover investigating.

If anything like that happened to you, I might be able to help.

Well... The vendor guy over there was actually really nice. He gave me a discount and a whole bunch of freebies, actually...

I mean, I bought a whole bunch of stuff, and I don't feel like I spent that much. Definitely feels cheaper than back in Columbia...

Oh, but there was this guy back there who tried to steal my stuff!

Oh? Could you describe his appearance, what he was wearing maybe?

Uh... he was a man, taller than me, and well... um, I don't really remember what he looked like...

That's not much to go on. I don't think I'd be able to find him with just this.

Never mind. I need to focus on getting a gift for Cardi anyway. Thanks for the offer, Mr. Block Manager. I'd better get going.

You need to buy something for your friend? What kind of thing are you looking for?

I've been working these blocks for years. Maybe I can point you in the right direction.

I'm not sure how it is in other countries, but us Lungmen Block Managers, we work hard to help our citizens solve problems!

After all, as a Lungmen public servant, I can't let a foreigner leave with the impression that this city isn't safe.

If you've got anything troubling you, ma'am, just let me know.

Oh, okay...

Well, you see... I got into sort of a fight with a friend, and I want to get her an apology gift...

But I've been all over the place, and I still haven't found the right gift.

It's not like I haven't bought anything, it's just nothing I've bought feels right.

When you're giving your friend a gift, it's the thought that counts, right?

I've got a short temper and I blow up on my friends sometimes, but when it comes down to it, we're always cool after sharing a meal, a drink, and an apology.

So, did you apologize to that friend of yours yet?

Not yet... I mean, it's really hard to know how and when to start.

Do you know the kinds of things she likes?

Umm... what does Cardi like?

I think I remember Adnachiel saying that Cardi wants to be a skier.

And I saw some ski clothes gathering dust in her room...

Then you should get her a gift a skier would like, right?

Um... but I don't know anything about skiing.

Hah, yeah, I get the impression you're more into baseball.

Do you play? Or just watch?

I play! I love baseball!

Then why not get her a baseball gift? If it's something you like, that makes a good gift too.

Um... but I don't think Cardi is into baseball.

I put together a game on the Rhodes Island deck before, but she didn't show...

Yeah, speaking of baseball, I just remembered the mall on that block over there has some sort of game where you win prizes playing baseball. Want to check it out?

If you can't think of what to get her, you can just give her whatever prize you win.

A gift won by your own effort has more meaning to it than something you bought, right?

That makes sense. Lava did say that handmade gifts are better, but I don't have much talent for crafts...

Baseball is what I'm best at, so a prize won in baseball should be good.

Let's take a look! It's been a while since I played, and it'll be a nice chance to have some fun!

The games are over there. Looks like it's pretty quiet, so head on over!

You mean the place with the funny machine?

Step right up, swing the bat, hit the ball, and win a prize! Today's the last day, hurry on over!

(Ugh, that idiot's dressed up as an arcade worker. Looks convincing enough.)

(Making use of this arcade that just closed, getting the girl to take the bait, it's almost too easy... I really am a genius!)

Hi there! Is this the place where you play baseball? What are your prizes?

Oh, uh... prizes, yeah...

Wow! All that stuff behind the glass there? That's all the prizes?

How about that one! Can I get the snowboard?

You want the snowboard? Well, that's the grand prize. Pretty tough to win that one...

Hmm, why do I feel like this guy is kinda familiar...?

Miss, I gotta warn you, no matter how much you saddle up to me, I'm not gonna make the challenge easier for you.

See that pitching machine? When you hit the ball back, the scoreboard there will rate you based on where the ball hits.

So, if I hit the red center, I get the grand prize?

It's not that simple! You pay 40 Lungmen Dollars for a round, you get ten balls per round, and if your score is over 475, you get the grand prize.

Wanna try?

475 points means hitting the red center five times, isn't that a bit too hard? Are the other prizes easier to get?

(What are you doing, why are you making it so hard? Nobody would take a challenge that tough. She'll give up after she fails once!)

Sure, we encourage everyone to try a whole lot.

If you score less than 475, the threshold for the grand prize goes down a bit, to a minimum of 200.

(How good could the girl be? This'll definitely buy enough time.)

Hmmm... Cardi will probably like that snowboard, huh?

Now that I think about it, I really wanna see Cardi on the snow!

Okay, let's give it a try, I'll get it in one go. Bring it on!

Let's take your entry fee first, and we'll keep your bag for you in the cabinet back there.

It's true about Lungmen! We've been walking for ages and only covered two blocks. My feet are dying!

That's because you keep pulling us into every store, and spend hours picking and choosing without ever actually buying anything.

That's because my wallet is already basically empty!

Yeah, I remember seeing that baseball glove and bat you ordered a couple of days ago.

Those are apology gifts for Cuora! And I had to sell some old stuff to make up what I was short...

Oh? Have you and Cuora not yet reconciled?

I remember you two quarreling something fierce in the game room... First time I've ever seen Cuora bite a person.

Thinking back on it... it was my fault.

I can just be too carefree sometimes, assuming everyone's always out to have fun with each other, no joke that can't be made...

The medic operators say Cuora's obsession with protecting her backpack is subconscious. Since she's forgotten most of her past, no one knows exactly where it comes from...

She's even forgotten her family and friends... Pretty sad, when you think about it.

But she told me that after making friends at Rhodes Island, she doesn't feel so lonely anymore.

By the way, I haven't seen her since early this morning. Where's she gone off to?

Sigh... she's probably still avoiding me...

Ha-yah!

Wh... what? You hit the red zone again? How are you that lucky?

Hah!

You hit it again?!

No... is the difficulty set too low? I think I can adjust the ball direction and blocks here...

Again!

Wow! So you can throw out balls that change direction, and put up some more blocks... Hah, alright, I'll get serious too.

Phew! I feel fantastic. This is the joy of baseball!

Got some more balls? Send them my way!

Is... is this really happening?

I maxed out the difficulty!

Her stance, her strength, her precision...

Is this girl Ambrois Edwards?!

Hey, how many points did I get? Did I win the prize?

Um... the scoring system is overloaded or something, but just looking at it, you definitely cleared 475...

(Shit! Daai goh just left, he can't have found the pendant yet... What do I do? I have to buy him some more time.)

Then let me get that snowboard!

Err, okay... No, wait! I think you're not quite satisfied yet, miss. Would you like to hit a few more balls?

But I already won the prize... I guess I do want to play some more. Do I have to pay?

No, you got the prize, and since nobody else is around, you can keep playing until we close!

The ball flies toward Cuora, and in the split second before it passes through the corner of her vision, she swings her bat forcefully—

To the sight of the 'arcade worker' the girl's figure seems to overlap with all the baseball stars he's ever seen.

The ball once again nails the center zone. At which point the pitching machine malfunctions, emitting sparks and giving off an uncomfortable sound.

What... what's happening?

BOOM—

Good heavens! I heard that explosion just now, I'm sure we're getting caught up in another incident here now...

Sounds like it came from that mall over there. Say, what's that on the ground...?

That's Cuora's backpack!

Oh no... is Cuora in danger?!

Over here! Cuora's here!

Cuora! Cuora!

She's fine, just looks like she's sleeping. Oh? What's that she's holding...?

It's a... snowboard?

Ugh...

Where... am I? Rhodes Island?

I remember... I was playing baseball, and then there was a boom...

What happened next...? Where'd those two guys go?

I was having so much fun, I didn't get a chance to thank them...

But hey, I think Lungmenites are really friendly!

Oh! Yeah! My prize! Where's the snowboard I got for Cardi?!

Phew, it's not broken.

And my gifts for the others, they're all still here.

Come in!

Oh, Cardi...

Um...

You first, Cuora.

Um, okay! This snowboard I won at the mall.. it's for you! I'm sorry about that thing before!

So the snowboard was for me...?

I heard some of the others say you wanted to be a skier...

And I remembered you had some ski clothes, so I thought...

Oh, those clothes...

Heh, well, I kinda ran into a little financial trouble last month and, well... I sold them...

Well, I can get you some new ski clothes next time. Or is there something else you want?

Hmmm... let me think.

Sure! Just say the word!

Cardigan offers a new baseball bat to Cuora, then raises her other hand, waving it in front of the girl.

It is covered by a baseball glove.

Alright... I want you to teach me to play baseball! Starting today!