So, what did Truthers believe was the actual motive behind 9/11? They were divided on it.
Liberals who believed in the conspiracy blamed big corporations, thinking it was done by the Bush Administration to create an excuse to invade the Middle East and seize their oil reserves. In other words, "blame the terrorists to make Americans scream for Bin Laden's blood, invade Iraq, and reap the profits". Of course, that raises the question, "Why didn't they do that during the Gulf War?" (When asked that, Truthers claimed that Bush supported Saddam Hussein for some reason.)
Conservatives, on the other hand, played into general distrust of government and international agencies, like the UN. They quickly linked 9/11 to groups like the New World Order and the Illuminati (like I mentioned earlier) as part of a plan to create a fascist or communist (depends on who you asked) world government. This theory focuses on anti-terrorist measures like the US PATRIOT Act that were passed after the attack, which they claimed were the beginning of bringing the world into a "police state", something conservative politicians warned about frequently.
Then there are people who even most other Truthers viewed – and still view – as vile: Anti-Semitic Truthers. They blamed Israel, claiming that their government was the mastermind, doing it to gain support among Americans in their conflict against Arab nations. These people even claimed that agents contacted four-thousand Jews who worked at the Towers and warned them not to go to work that day. In truth, ten to fifteen percent of the 9/11 victims were Jewish, a number that nearly corresponds to New York's Jewish population.
There are other theories, of course. Some of them are rather ridiculous, like how it was a huge insider trading scam, or even a huge insurance fraud plot thought up by Larry Silverstein, the owner of the Towers (few Truthers believe he was actually the mastermind, but some claim he was "in on it"). The problem with that – other than the obvious – is that while he did own an insurance policy on the buildings, he originally wanted a much smaller one, and had been pressured by stockholders to increase it. If he had waned to commit fraud, he certainly wouldn't have done that. Also, due to his lease, he had to make payments on the destroyed buildings for decades after the attack, and even with the insurance he gained, he actually lost a fortune.
In the end, the Truthers may say that their theories make more sense than a terrorist attack, but the fact is, the terrorist attack makes FAR more sense when you look at the big picture.
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CHAPTER THREE
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Nick of Time
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The next morning, at 7AM, at Green Bay, the muscular guy who had killed the guy in the gym was at a greasy spoon, leaning back in a chair, sipping very strong black coffee.
Ugh, he thought. This stuff is terrible… Well, at least it has caffeine…
As he sipped it, he looked through the window at Lambeau Field down the road.
Been so long since I've been here… Can't imagine why I ever left… I mean, this city has…
He stopped.
It's got… uhm… Well it's got…
He looked around.
"Well, it has the Packers, it has cheese," he said aloud, "and… it's got Packers fans who wear hats shaped like cheese…"
Suddenly, he remembered why he left. He leaned back and put his feet up on the table.
"Well, I can think of worse places to spend the weekend."
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Elsewhere, and else-when, seven hours ahead via the time difference, across the whole United States, across the Atlantic, and several leagues inland, it was two in the afternoon in the historic fortress city of Pamplona, Spain.
The weather was much warmer than it was in Green Bay, but cooler than it was in Roswell, typical weather for the Navarre region.
In an empty store where a sign that said "Closed for Renovations" was posted on the front door, a silvery globe appeared in mid-air. It turned into a spiral, then into an opening.
A man stepped out. Well, maybe he was a man. His entire face was covered with bandages, and he wore dark sunglasses. He also wore a fedora, a heavy overcoat, and black gloves, and carried a satchel on his side.
He looked back and forth a couple of times.
"All clear," he said. It wasn't English, or Spanish, the local language, but Italian, oddly enough. Of course, that was where he had just come from.
Two more odd men stepped out of the portal. The first was a big, muscular guy with blonde hair and beige-colored clothing, with a lot of straps and pockets. The other guys was just as big, looked incredibly heavy-set, and had long, black hair, a long nose, and sharp teeth.
They nodded, and the most unusual member of the group came out, a small child – apparently – with neatly cut blonde hair, blue eyes, and a white suit that was obviously custom-tailored.
"Welcome to Pamplona, gentlemen," he said with a sigh, indicating that he probably didn't want to be here. "And I use the term loosely…"
The bandaged man jiggled the door for a few seconds, and then it opened. He held it open for the odd child to walk out.
"So, uhm, why exactly are we in Pamplona anyway?" asked the black-haired muscleman. "And what exactly is in this place?"
"Isn't this the place that has those toy bulls that they have at kids parties?" asked the blonde muscleman. "You know, they fill them with candy, then hang them from the ceiling, and…"
"That is called a piñata, Uccisore," snapped the child, "and they are in Mexico, not Spain, believe me, there is a difference! Now will you guys focus?"
It all seemed strange, of course, but there was far more to Cattivo Fanciullo – known in European underworld circles as one of the most influential mob bosses among Shadowkind – than he appeared. He was far older than he looked, and he wasn't human. Exactly what species of Shadowkind he was, well, that was a secret than may have been known only to himself. No-one had ever been able to see through the many layers of enchantment that disguised him, a big reason he had survived in this business so long.
The other men were three of his most powerful enforcers; the blonde one was Drago Uccisore, his bodyguard, the black-haired one Tormento Amare, his interrogator, and the bandaged one Picchiare Uomo, his top assassin.
"Now pay attention," he said. "As I attempted to explain before, not that you clowns were listening, the reason we're in this tourist trap is because Pierre LaRusse offered us a large supply high-grade smuggled crystalized adamantine for about a third the regular black market price. It was too tempting not to investigate."
"LaRusse?" asked Uomo. "I thought you hated that guy."
"I do!" replied Fanciullo. "And seeing as I don't trust the bastard any further than I can throw him, I need some people I can trust with me. Unfortunately, you three mugs are the best I have, so keep your eyes open."
He turned to Amare, who was looking closely at a vendor at the side of the street selling tamales.
"And you can eat later, Amare!" he shouted, grabbing the much bigger thug by the ear.
"Ow! Right, sorry boss…" he said, Fanciullo yanked him away.
The don let go, and the four mobsters hurried along at a brisk pace, past most of the cathedral-like, old-fashioned structures of Pamplona, towards the more modern buildings, and finally, towards the train station at the southern part of the city, the relatively recent addition that had been completed in 2015, linking Pamplona to Zaragoza, Madrid, and Barcelona.
As they reached a platform for the passenger trains. They waited for an express train to rush past, then Uomo stopped and held his left arm out. Then motioned, and they slipped past the security camera, towards a loading dock for the cargo trains. They went through there and through the train yard itself, towards a large maintenance garage.
Of course, none of this was unusual for them. Whenever Fanciullo or any other mobster met someone to buy or sell contraband, he expected them to want to meet in a secure area where the police weren't likely to notice.
Of course, when they stepped into the garage, and the doors slammed shut behind them, and then barricaded itself with not one, but two steel gates… Well, to be honest, while this wasn't what Fanciullo had hoped, he really couldn't say he didn't expect it.
Shadowy shapes started to move around them. His three henchmen formed a semi-circle around him.
"Like this was a surprise…" said Uccisore.
"Boss…" said Uomo.
He looked at a device resembling a wristwatch he was wearing.
"Either my watch has stopped, or this building is warded, and seeing as it isn't a watch…"
Fanciullo nodded. Of course, he had expected that too. It seemed the only way out would be the old fashioned way.
"Over there…" whispered Amare.
Fanciullo turned his head, towards a door with an Exit sign. It was unlit, and a guard was by it, but the don knew what he meant.
He nodded, and the clicks of several firearms came from the shadows. Uccisore pulled a Mateba Model 6 from his coat, Amare produced a pair of Glock pistols, and Uomo… He reached into his satchel and somehow yanked an AK-47 out of it. (It was much bigger than the satchel itself; explaining how it worked is something for another time.)
Then Fanciullo took off. Towards the door. Just as LaRusse's men opened fire.
As he'd hoped, they tried their best to focus on him, completely ignoring Uomo, Amare, and Uccisore as they returned fire. Hopefully, they'd be shooting at their backs while they tried to shoot at him, a strategy that had worked a dozen times.
Many would say this was dangerous, but in this dimly lit and wide-open area, he could conceal himself in the shadows even while moving at a full sprint, a talent he took pride in. He reached the door rather easily, knocked the guard out with a solid punch, and then slammed against the door with his shoulder, breaking it open.
The look on the guard's face had been priceless… Understandably, his punch came as a very big surprise to anyone on the receiving end. The door had been dead-bolted shut and barricaded from the outside, probably why only one guy was guarding it; for some reason, no-one ever expected him to be very tough. Still, he had to move fast; he was pretty sure that LaRusse had bribed a few people who worked here, and had to find a high ground or some way to call in backup before his foe did.
Of course, the thing on the front of his mind at the moment was what he planned to do to the guy when he got his hands on him…
I'll put him in cement shoes and dump him into the Caspian Sea, he thought. No, wait… On second thought, I'll string him up right outside Puerta del Sol, let everyone know I did it…
No, better yet… The fat bastard loves the Running of the Bulls in this city so much, maybe I can rig something up so they run him over… It's not until, what, July? I can think something up before then…
His angry thoughts were interrupted by a scream… A young girl's scream.
He stopped. He peered over his shoulder down the train yard, and saw a young girl struggling with a man-sized figure.
Logic told the crime boss to keep running, and ignore it… To most mobsters, an attack on your life by a rival meant the first things you should do is save yourself and then plan a counterattack.
But Fanciullo wasn't like that. A promise he had made years ago said that he'd never hurt a child, or through his inactions, let one be hurt.
Now was no exception.
He ran towards them, and this… This defied all logic. The guy trying to restrain the young girl – who seemed to be a typical street urchin in old clothing and dirty hair – was dressed in a jacket and pants that looked like they had been spray-painted silver, with platform shoes, gold chains, and a huge Afro haircut.
He was wearing a Duel Disk too, a streamlined model shaped like a sharp blade, much like the one Jack Atlas had.
What the… thought. Fanciullo.
"Gimme it, you little brat…" said the thug, to the struggling child (in English, oddly enough).
"Hey, Tinkerbelle!" shouted Fanciullo, quickly switching to English.
"What's this?" asked the weird man, turning around.
Fanciullo rolled his eyes. The guy actually had tinted sunglasses on top of it.
"Butt out, kid, I'm busy!" he said.
"I can't quite place the accent, there," said Fanciullo. "Are you from the States, or from Mars?"
"Hey, hey, hey! Don't get fresh there!" he replied. "Tell me kid, did your mom buy those clothes for you?"
Huh… He clearly doesn't recognize me… thought Fanciullo. Think I'll have some fun…
"Right," he said. "Says the guy wearing an outfit louder than Luciano Pavarotti with a bad hangover."
The thug looked at him strange. He lowered the shades to look at him.
"I don't like smart-ass kids," he said.
"I'm not too fond of big, ugly jerks who pick on people smaller than they are," replied Fanciullo. "If there's one thing I know about bullies, they tend to be cowards."
"HEY!" he shouted. "I ain't no coward!"
"I see you're a duelist," replied Fanciullo. "Why don't you prove it?"
The odd man chuckled a little, then looked at the girl.
"Sit still, little lady…" he said. "Antoine hasta teach this little runt some manners…"
Then he pushed down on her shoulder, and she fell on her behind.
"Kid thinks he's tough, huh? Well, the down train is about to leave, and Antoine here's the engineer!"
"Antoine, huh?" asked Fanciullo. "Hope your dueling is better than your material."
The Disco man activated his Disk, and then spun on his shoes.
"Bein' in this train station reminds old Antoine of an old tune, kid…" he said.
Then he stopped, and posed dramatically.
"A stranger lying on a bar room floor
Had drank so much he could drink no more
So he fell asleep with a troubled brain
To dream that he rode on that down bound train."
He shifted, then posed again.
"The engine with blood was sweaty and damp
And brilliantly lit with a brimstone lamp
And imps for fuel was shoveling bones
While the furnace rang with a thousand groans."
Again, he pivoted and posed.
"The boiler was filled with lots of beer
The devil himself was the engineer
The passengers were most a motley crew
Some were foreigners and others he knew
Rich men and lost beggars in rags
Handsome young ladies and wicked old hags."
"On second thought…" mumbled Fanciullo, "killing LaRusse after all this would be WAY too merciful…"
His own, smaller, collapsible Disk unfolded on his arm.
"D-Gazer, set!" he exclaimed, as he fit it over his eye. His foe, however, simply switched a lens on his sunglasses.
"Shall we?" he said with a smirk.
(Fanciullo: 8,000) - - - - - - - - - - (Antoine: 8,000)
"Oh, YEAH!" laughed Antoine. He drew, and spun in a complete circle as he did so.
"I'm calling Shining Angel out…"
As he played the card, the familiar winged Fairy in a toga appeared in a shimmer. (1,400 ATK)
"Then I'll use my Titan's Charity Spell Card," he said, setting up a Continuous Spell. "This card effect comes into effect when a Level 8 or higher monster is Special Summoned, and let's its controller draw once."
Whoa, thought Fanciullo. Now that's a card you don't see every day…
He knew what it did, but not many duelists used it unless their monsters were very powerful…
"Then I'll put too cards flat," said Antoine, as two set cards formed behind the Angel, "and that's that…"
And to think, I thought this was going to be a dull day… thought Fanciullo.
He drew a card, then took one quickly.
"You have more monsters than I do," he said, "so I can Special Summon the Toy Knight."
There was a rallying trumpet sound, and a knight – who was even shorter than Fanciullo – hopped out in front, one that looked like it had come from some Lego construction set. It had the typical helmet and a toy sword, its upper torso was blue and had a pink T on it, the lower torso pink with an upside-down blue T. (200 ATK)
"Hey… cute," said Antoine.
"Well… This next guy isn't so cute," replied Fanciullo, "I'll sacrifice Toy Knight…"
The little soldier disappeared.
"…and then I'll bring out Silent Swordsman LV5!"
Indeed, this Warrior was far from cute; he was overwhelming. Standing six-foot-two, he wore a long, dark blue overcoat over a matching shirt and trousers, with shiny silver buttons, and a belt with a large buckle. He had large, leather boots, and a helmet with a bladed crest over a handsome face with long, flaxen blonde hair. He hefted a sword over his shoulder that was as big as he was. (2,300 ATK)
"Okay, SO un-cool!" shouted Antoine.
"You haven't seen the half of it," replied Fanciullo. "I'm playing the Spell Card, Toy Box…"
He played the card, and a pine box with a happy, cheery face on the front with rubber arms bounced out.
"Unfortunately, it has no toys in it, so I'll just put a couple there…"
The box's lid opened, and he took two more of his cards, holding them aloft. They both turned into wispy motes, and flew upwards, then made two mid-air circles, and flew into the box, which closed.
"I don't get it…" replied Antoine.
"If you want the four-one-one, I just banished those two monsters," replied Fanciullo, "but, I can use the Toy Box to summon one of them once per round, starting right now."
The lid opened, and one of the two wisps flew out again. It formed into a cute-looking, plastic tugboat, about the size of Toy Knight, painted bright colors with a propeller. (1,000 ATK)
"And because I banished my Toy Boat before I summoned it, I get to summon a Toy Car in Defense Mode."
There was a cute-sounding automobile horn, and a car that looked like a wind-up Volkswagen Beetle with a turnkey on the rear chugged up next to the plane. (1,200 DEF)
"But we'll get to those later…"
Silent Swordsman held his weapon in front of him, and his expression turned dour.
"My Swordsman is about to go medieval on your Angel's candy-ass! Attack with Sacred Blade!"
The Warrior held the hilt in both hands, then moved like a blur, hitting Shining Angel with nary a sound, but an impact that Antoine certainly felt. The two pieces of the Fairy, bisected at the waist, dissolved a few seconds after his follow through.
(F: 8,000) - - - - - - - - - - (A: 7,100)
Antoine was surprised, of course, but the young girl at his feet even more so. She looked at the mobster with wonder.
"Amscray, kid!" shouted Fanciullo.
She did nothing. She just looked at him as the Disco man next to her coughed and held his chest.
"I mean it!" he shouted. "RUN!"
"Don't even think about it!" said Antoine, causing her to cover her head before he turned back to his opponent. "I don't like kids that talk back, but… At least I can initiate my Angel's effect, and bring Decago Knight to the field…"
There was a flash, and an… odd Warrior formed, a faceless creature with a bald head made of what looked like white ceramic, a smooth torso and limbs made of rubbery, black material, blue, blocky boots, gloves, and a cape with a very high collar, a sword, and a shield shaped like a decagon with red swirls on the surface. (1,000 ATK)
"…this one ain't plastic, like your Knight…"
"That's supposed to be a good thing, right?" asked Fanciullo, looking at the thing.
I don't know about "plastic", he thought, but it sure is strange…
"And 'cause it's Level 10, I get to draw one card…" continued Antoine.
The Titan's Charity card sparkled, and he drew once.
Ten? thought Fanciullo. Okay, odd…
"I'll set this card, and it's your move, Mr. Anachronism…" he said, as a face-down card formed in his Spell Zone.
"Mr. Anachronism?" asked Antoine.
As the guy drew, Fanciullo chuckled a little.
"Yeah, I know it's a little lame," he said, "it's just that I never thought I'd have to think up a witty insult for someone dressed like that…"
"Sit on it, kid," said the thug, "first, I use this… It's called Illegal Summon…"
Okay, never saw this before, thought the mobster.
"First thing Antoine does here, is take a monster from my deck, then summon it to your side," he said.
He flipped a second copy of Decago Knight around.
"You get to decide which Mode…"
"I have no idea what's going on, but I'll choose Defense Mode," replied Fanciullo.
The card appeared on his Disk, sideways, and another weird Knight appeared, kneeling and lifting its shield. (1,000 DEF)
"You do know, of course, that now I get to draw because of your Spell Card, right?"
He made a draw, and Antoine frowned a little.
"Well, once you do," continued the thug, "then you do the same with one of yours… As in, summon one of your monsters to my side."
"If I must…" said Fanciullo, with a sigh. "Toy Magician, you're up…"
There was a twinkling of stars, and a blocky-looking sorcerer made of plastic in a blue robe with a very tall hat, incredibly sharp features, and spiky, red hair appeared on Antoine's side. (1,600 ATK)
"Now, I can use a Trap Card," continued the thug, as his other set card opened. "Guard Off! It reduces the Defense Score of every monster on the field to zero."
"Oh… kay…" said Fanciullo. "I suppose there must be… Some benefit to reducing everyone's Defense Score to zero, even though my strongest monster is defending…"
"Indeed…" replied Antoine, "maybe even a couple, like the fact that for each of my monsters that was reduced to zero Defense, you take 400 points of damage!"
Two pulsating bursts struck Fanciullo in the chest. His smirk disappeared.
(F: 7,200) - - - - - - - - - - (A: 7,100)
"You like that?" asked Antoine. "Now I use A Rival Appears! Decago Knight is Level 10, so now it's time for one Antoine's big stars to take the stage!"
Another Trap lifted, and he held one of his cards in the air, spun again, then posed… Then threw it on his Disk…
There was an explosion of fire, dirt, and residue behind him, and the young girl at his feet screamed. The monster rising from the ground was huge, and it rose up into the air, causing a downdraft.
Fanciullo took two steps backwards to look at the thing… It was a dirigible, with scarlet metal – he assumed – plating over the balloon and rocket engines below. (2,900 ATK)
"The Supercolossal Airship – Giant Hindenburg!" he shouted.
Fanciullo looked at it for minute.
"Your monster seems to have been inspired by your tastes," said Fanciullo. "It's something that ended in a big disaster!"
"That's the whole point, kid," replied Antoine. "But first thing's first, I get to draw once…"
The Charity card sparkled again, and he drew.
"Now let's drive that point home… I sacrifice my Decago Knight and your Toy Magician…"
The two monsters disappeared, and there was another explosion. This time, even Fanciullo ducked and covered his head to avoid the debris.
"I summon Supercolossal Unsinkable Superliner – Elegant Titanic!" he shouted.
This one was just as big as the other, but it didn't quite suggest the notorious cruise liner. It brought to mind a cross between that and an old-fashioned galleon, complete with oars poling it on the stern. It had a fancy gilded design shaped like flames on the bow. (2,800 ATK)
"With both of my disasters on the field, I can in-it-i-ate my super-colossal combo!"
"Are you gonna do it, or are you gonna talk all day?" asked Fanciullo.
"Your monsters have zero Defense Points cause of my Trap Card," continued Antoine, "so Titanic's effect can wipe one of them out, and now it's rainin' pain! Go Depth Purge!"
Powerful bolts of blue lightning flashed, blowing Silent Swordsman to little pieces. Fanciullo actually winced in pain this time.
So maybe this guy's a little more serious than those clothes suggest… he thought.
He looked at the girl next to him.
Damn it, why is she still there and not, say, Copenhagen?
(F: 6,050) - - - - - - - - - - (A: 7,100)
"You also take damage equal to half his Attack Score," said Antoine, "but I'm not done… First my Airship is gonna take back that Decago Knight I gave you in spades! Attack!"
Twin missiles fired from the craft, and the Warrior burst into a cloud of dust.
"I guess putting him in Defense Mode was a good idea…" said Fanciullo, sounding a little irked now.
"Your Toy Boat isn't defending," replied the Disco duelist, "and my boat is bigger!"
Titanic started to advance as its bow started to glow…Then Fanciullo's Quickplay Spell shot up, and a totem pole burst out of the ground, a loud alarm ringing over the yard.
"What's going on?" shouted Antoine.
"My Command Silence, that's what," said Fanciullo. "It prevented Titanic from hearing your order to attack. Thus, my Toy Boat is safe, and I also get to draw once…"
He drew, and then looked up at the two huge Machines with a look of worry. He was almost sure LaRusse was watching somehow, and probably recording it.
"Take note…" said Antoine, "Hindenburg has an effect too… If either of us summons a monster that's Level 5 or higher, then any on the field that are Level 9 or lower move to Defense Mode."
Terrific, thought Fanciullo, You'd need a pretty powerful monster. If I lose to this dip, the entire Italian underworld will never let me hear the end of it…
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Two hours earlier, several leagues to the northwest, in his office in the main administrative building in Shadowchaser Headquarters, Martin Jabels stared intently at his computer screen at two pictures he had found of Yolanda and Ramón.
Neither of them was a mug shot. Looking into their history, he hadn't found any record of anything illegal that they had done other than a parking violation or two, up to now.
In fact, this was very confusing. Nothing in their past had suggested anything sinister; some people who had known them had described them as "eccentric", but then, most genasi were. Ramón had even graduated from the University of Michigan four years ago with a degree in engineering.
And their claims didn't hold up. A birth certificate he had found put Yolanda's age at forty-one, not even close to being old enough to have modeled for that painting, and Ramón's father was listed as her ex-husband, who was alive and well and living and living in West Virginia. (There was nothing suspicious about him either; in fact, this incident would more than likely convince a judge to revoke her alimony claims.)
There was only one thing that seemed even remotely off-key, and that was a two-week period that happened about a year ago, possibly the time that the waitress claimed they had changed. Both of them left Roswell for the two weeks, Yolanda's massage parlor being closed for that time, and Yolanda herself unwilling or unable to give an explanation to customers – many of whom had appointments at the time – when she got back. She simply refunded them and told them to drop it.
And until they wake up and are able to talk, it seems we won't have much to go on, he thought. Maybe if we asked Mr. Clayton nicely he'd let us look at the painting a little closer, but I'm not sure if he's anxious to let it out of his sight for the time…
Then the phone rang next to him. He tapped the intercom button.
"Go ahead, Dolores," he said.
"I found that information on Mr. Lupin you wanted," she said. "Like Ms. Witt claims, he seemed to disappear completely about five years ago, but he obviously planned it.
"Given what I have, he spent the month before he vanished preparing for something like this… He closed his bank accounts, credit card accounts, and then cashed in every insurance policy he had and liquidated almost everything he owned that he didn't take with him. He aborted every contract he could, including the ones with his cable, internet, and mobile phone providers. Even paid the early cancellation fees. He even went so far as to cancel his subscription to Time Magazine. I didn't even know you could do that."
"Contrary to popular belief…" said Jabels, with a slight chuckle.
"And as for where all his funds went… Well, the only thing anyone could tell me is, likely some Swiss bank account."
"Or a better one," added Jabels.
Indeed, he and Dolores knew that Swiss banks had a reputation for guaranteeing privacy, so much that opening an account in one would protect your funds not only from criminals and con artists, but other governments as well. Switzerland wasn't part of the European Union, and its neutral policy meant that anyone who had a reason to put money where nobody could even find it – let alone get their hands on it – should try there…
Except for Shadowkind who knew about certain other places who were even better as far as security was concerned. Most Swiss banks could do little to defend against magical intrusions, but there were banks staffed by wizards and other supernatural entities who were wise to that.
Still, right now, it would be hard to justify even making an inquiry to Philip's old bank. Jabels couldn't find any incriminating record on him either.
Interesting, yes, but not incriminating, he thought, looking at another file.
Philip had been working at the accounting department of some company that was working on experimental aircraft designs. That might have suggested the Ziggurat, but…
He sighed, and turned the computer off.
Sofia will be disappointed, he thought, but we aren't a bureau of missing persons…
He picked up a paper on the side of the desk, on which his "To Do List" was written.
Number 3 was "Find information for Sofia." He wrote a check next to it.
Number 4 was "Pick up order at Copek."
I have other things to do for now… he thought.
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"I'll set one more card, then it's your move, short-stuff," said Antoine, as he fit a new card in his Disk.
Fanciullo drew, and he stopped for a brief moment.
Now's my chance… he thought.
"I summon the other monster I banished!" he shouted, as the Toy Box's lid opened again. "My Toy Plane!"
This time, a plastic toy propeller plane with stars on the wings hopped out of the box. (1,800 ATK) Then the Toy Box itself faded away.
"This monster has a useful effect that works with Toy Boat and Toy Car," he continued. "If I sacrifice Toy Plane to summon a monster with one of the other two, I get to draw two cards. But if I sacrifice all three to summon a monster, I get to draw three times."
"A triple sacrifice?" gasped Antoine, looking over his sunglasses.
"That's right…" said Fanciullo. "Time for your two monsters to live up to their namesakes… I use Toy Boat, Toy Car, and Toy Plane…"
The three toys turned into spheres of light, there was a crackle, and a rumble of thunder… Then a flash, revealing a powerful figure with a mighty sword…
Gilford the Lightning was here. (2,800 ATK)
"Forget?" asked Antoine. "He's over Level 5, but under Level 10, so my Hindenburg moves him to Defense Mode!"
"As if," replied Fanciullo.
He played a card, and the Gilford dodged the surge of energy, causing it to his Fanciullo instead.
"My Devoted Defender card cost me 1,000 Life Points," he said, "but it protected Gilford from your monster's effect.
(F: 5,050) - - - - - - - - - - (A: 7,100)
"Now, where was I… Right… Those three draws, and Gilford's effect."
He made a soft chuckle, then made three draws. Gilford's eyes glowed, and he lifted his sword.
"Demolish them…" he ordered.
Lightning crashed down from the heavens, striking the two crafts… The whole train yard shook as the two of them collapsed behind Antoine, and flames and black smoke filled the air…
"Lord… I didn't expect that big an explosion…" said Fanciullo.
He held his hand over his eyes and peered at the two burning wrecks through the smoky haze. The smoke obscured Antoine for the moment…
But not the young girl, who was on her hands and knees just looking at him, with a strange, worried look.
"Kid, do I have to spell it?" he shouted. "Get up! Run! I can only hold him for…"
Then, he was interrupted as a diabolic laugh sounded over the field, then a bone-numbing chill…
What's going on? he thought.
There was an ominous whistle as the flames vanished in one final waft of smoke that assumed the shape of a skull, making a low howl. Antoine stepped out of the smoke.
"I activated the Trap Card, Ruinous Omen!" replied Antoine, pointing to his card. "My two Machines may have been big disasters, but they were both at least Level 8 and were destroyed at the same time, so I can summon something that causes disasters!"
A very large, dark hole appeared behind Antoine, and the sound of a train rushing forward came from it. Then he saw a light from the center…
It was clearly a locomotive's headlight, but it didn't look like a modern electric light or an old-fashioned gaslight… It was a threatening flame that reminded him of the fires of hell…
"So let's all have it up for the groovy, funky master of disaster, the loco locomotive with the Devil at the wheel… The Infernal Train!"
The thing that rushed out of the portal even gave Fanciullo pause. If one could imagine an old cathedral built in the shape of a train, with the overall design given a demonic theme and the entire thing shrouded in fire, well, then one might have the best description.
Of course, if one were to ask Fanciullo, he would say that this monster simply defied description.
"You think that's the train where the Devil is the engineer?" he asked, nervously. "I beg to differ fellah, that train is the Devil!"
"Flattery will get you nowhere, kid," chuckled Antoine. "First of all, my monster is higher than Level 8, so…
He made a draw.
"…and by the way, my train's got the same Attack and Defense Points as the strongest Machine in my Graveyard right now, so with Hindenburg there, that's two grand and nine C's."
(2,900 ATK)
"All right, all right…" said Fanciullo. "Let's see here…"
The three cards he had drawn couldn't make Gilford strong enough to defeat it… But…
"Since it's obvious I have to hold off on attacking this turn anyway," he said, "I'll use Pot of Dichotomy."
He used the card, and a weird jar rose above him, slowly turning around. One side looked like the Pot of Avarice, the other like the Pot of Benevolence.
"I have to take three monsters from my Graveyard of different Types, then send them back to my deck, and reshuffle… Then, much like Pot of Avarice, I draw twice."
Toy Magician, Toy Knight, and Toy Plane came out of his discard slot, and he pushed the three cards into his deck. The auto-shuffler shifted the cards, and he made two draws.
"I'll end with three face-down cards," he said.
And then hope for the best… he continued, as cards formed behind Gilford.
Then Gilford groaned, clutching his chest as he lowered his weapon a little.
"Gilford?" shouted Fanciullo. "What's wrong?"
"Oh, I'm sorry," chuckled Antoine, clearly not sorry at all. "Got a tummy ache? Well, get used to it, because the Infernal Train has that effect… Each time a player ends his turn, his monsters lose 600 points."
(2,200 ATK)
"It's one of those things that can rot and corrupt life with its mere presence…" gasped Fanciullo, just looking at it. "Where did this card come from?"
"Wouldn't you like to know," replied Antoine. "So…"
He made a draw, and then pointed at Gilford.
"Time to hit the road, jack! Attack that prep with Blazing Demon Steam!"
The engine started to rattle and hiss, and the front turned red hot. Finally, burning steam cascaded from the front of the horrid locomotive towards Gilford.
"As grateful as we are for the sauna," said Fanciullo, with a snarky look, "we have to decline… I use Bye-Bye Damage!"
"What the…" said Antione, as the Trap lifted. "OH fooey!"
The steam blaze turned around in mid-air, ramming into Antoine and knocking him on his back.
(F: 5,050) - - - - - - - - - - (A: 5,700)
"This card not only protects my monster, it sends the damage back to you and doubles it," said the mobster. "Uh, that outfit of yours is machine washable, right?"
Antoine got up, and cursed under his breath.
"You think you're hot stuff, dontcha?" he said.
"I'm 'hotter' than some, uh… jive turkey like you," replied Fanciullo.
The incredible look on Antoine's face showing that he had been sorely offended was proof enough to him that it was the right term. It had taken him awhile to bring the slang that this guy was using to the front of his mind, but if there was one thing he was, it was patient. Indeed, calling someone a "jive turkey" was a pretty low blow back in the 70's.
"I'll set a monster and this other card," he hissed, playing the cards, "and I'm done…"
Okay… thought Fanciullo, making a draw. That crazy train has 2,900 points, my monster has 2,200… This is going to be cutting it close, but…
"I'm using the Big Bang Shot Equip Spell," he said.
He fit the card in his Disk, and Gilford grunted, raising his sword again. (2,600 ATK)
"Is he gonna attack, or is he constipated?" asked Antoine.
"Shut up," he replied. "I summon Rocket Warrior."
As he played the card, a missile streaked in front of him, then upwards, then started to land, transforming into a cute-looking robot with a shield and sword. (1,500 ATK)
"You some sort of Katsuya Jonouchi fanboy, kid?" asked Antoine.
"I'll show you…" said Fanciullo. "Invincible charge!"
Rocket Warrior turned back into a rocket, then blasted towards the front of the train, hitting it right above the cowcatcher in a slam the shook the whole yard.
Rocket Warrior landed back on his side, and smoke started to rise from a very big dent made in the front of the Infernal Train. (2,400 ATK)
"Bogus!" shouted Antoine.
"Wreck that train, Gilford!" shouted Fanciullo.
The Warrior lifted his weapon and leapt at the giant Machine. Then Fanciullo saw the glint in Antoine's eyes, through the sunglasses.
Hell… he thought, as the Trap lifted up.
"I use Prideful Roar!" shouted Antoine. "Oh yeah! It just cost me 300 Life Points now, but…"
The Train let out a fierce bellow, its score rising to its full 2,900. Gilford struggled a little, but then the steam from the engine vaporized him, literally.
(F: 4,750) - - - - - - - - - - (A: 5,400)
"I'm on fire!" laughed Antoine.
"So you are…" muttered Fanciullo.
"You know why people call something a 'train wreck' if they think it's a really big disaster, kid?" asked Antoine. "Because it takes a really, really big disaster to wreck a train. Seriously, trains are tough. They don't derail very easily.
"In fact, if you wanted to intentionally wreck a train, trying to stand up to the train itself is just gonna get you run over. You'd have to do something like blow up a bridge in front of it to get anywhere."
"You don't say…" replied Fanciullo.
He looked at the huge monster. He hated to admit, but that was true. He remembered how kids used to put coins, or chains, or old keys on the railway tracks in train yards years ago… Whatever you put on the track became flatter than a pancake.
I'm not even sure if Superman could prove more powerful than THAT locomotive in a one-on-one brawl, he thought.
"Take… your… turn…"
"Don't forget kid," responded the thug, "that little guy loses 600 points now…"
Fanciullo made a slight sideways glance at Rocket Warrior. (900 ATK)
Antoine made a draw, and then used a card. A monster appeared, a large boxcar with an ugly demon's face. (500 ATK)
"Now that my Bokoichi is here, I'll flip my Dekoichi," he said.
His reversed monster flipped, and another fiendish locomotive, though dwarfed by the one next to it, strolled onto his side. (1,400 ATK)
"Now I can draw once," he said, as he drew, "then once again, cause I have Bokoichi…"
He made another draw. Steam started to pour from the Infernal Train's hellish engine.
"You wanted to fight kid?" he said. "My train has 300 kilos of horsepower, and I'm using them! Dekoichi, run his Rocket Warrior over!"
The Battlechanted Locomotive rushed at the Warrior like, well, a locomotive, then smashed him to little bits. Still, Fanciullo said nothing.
"Attack him directly!" ordered Antoine.
"NO!" screamed the girl next to him.
He didn't even look at her. The horrible blast of scalding steam blasted at Fanciullo, and the wave of heat covered the entire train yard.
The girl started to cry a little, and Antoine lowered his glasses a little to look through the haze.
"Something's not jack here…" he thought. "What…"
The steam quickly parted…
(F: 1,250) - - - - - - - - - - (A: 5,400)
Fanciullo was still standing there, looking at him… As if nothing had happened.
"What?" he asked.
Even the Infernal Train seemed a little nervous now…
"Did you expect anything different?" asked Fanciullo. "The idea is to reduce your opponent to zero Life Points, I believe…"
"What the devil are you made of?" said Antoine, slowly.
"None of your damn business," replied his opponent. "So…"
"Bokoichi, attack!" shouted Antoine.
A spinning blade of shrapnel shot from the boxcar, striking Fanciullo. Not that he cared.
(F: 750) - - - - - - - - - - (A: 5,400)
"You're almost funny," said Fanciullo with a slight smile. "Of course, I thought the prosecutor's case against Fortissimo Lamont was hilarious too. Never laughed so hard in my life…"
"Now I'm angry kid…" said Antoine. "It's your turn…"
Fanciullo looked at the young girl as he made a draw. He was starting to get the feeling that this meant something… What, he didn't know, but it was something…
"Those two guys didn't seem to lose any points," he said. "There any particular reason why the phrase 'all monsters' doesn't apply to them?"
"I said 'all living things'," replied Antoine. "Machines ain't alive."
"Ah, yes, a loophole to protect your own monsters, interesting…" replied Fanciullo. "Well… I don't usually do this for just any duel… but… I think this is a special occasion…"
One of his Traps turned up, then around.
"I'll use Reckless Greed to draw twice… I have to skip two Draw Phases, but hopefully it will pay of…"
He drew two, then made a small nod.
"I use Level Modulation!" he exclaimed, using one of them. "You draw twice, but I can bring back Silent Swordsman. Return!"
The ground cracked, and the Swordsman burst through, sword-first. (2,300 ATK)
"Big whoop," said Antoine. He made two draws. "He can't touch me!"
"I know how my own cards work," replied Fanciullo. "Maybe he can't attack because of that Spell's drawback… But if I play Level Up, then I can turn him into someone who can!"
The Spell Card appeared, and Silent Swordsman's features turned sharper, his cloak lengthening, and his sword becoming even larger with a glimmering shine. About a foot was added to his height along with two Levels. (2,800 ATK)
"I know what you're thinking, fellah, Silent Swordsman LV7 is still not strong enough, and because he nullifies all Spell Cards, it's hard to make him strong enough.
"Of course, if I don't attack your train right now, Swordsman will fall to 2,300 Attack Points on the end of my turn and I'll be in trouble, a sort of catch-22 there.
"But… I can beat that thing by taking a different route. I was listening to you a minute ago, and what you said rings true. Attacking a train in a frontal assault won't get anywhere… But like you also said, it can be destroyed more easily by attacking the rails… Or its power source."
"Say what?" asked Antoine.
"Know how Kaiba defeated his no-good stepfather's Exodia Necross?" asked Fanciullo. "He had no luck attacking its body, so he tried attacking its soul…"
"Machines don't got souls!" shouted Antoine.
"Wow," chuckled Fanciullo. "Bad style and bad grammar… Attack Bokoichi Silent Swordsman!"
The attack came so sudden and so fast that Antione literally yelped, falling over as the boxcar was sliced in half by Swordsman's blade.
(F: 750) - - - - - - - - - - (A: 3,100)
"That was a cheap shot kid!" he cursed.
"Your point being?" asked the mobster. "I'll set two more cards, and then you're up."
He fit two cards into his Disk, and they appeared behind Silent Swordsman. Swordsman himself groaned a little, his Score falling to 2,200. Then both he and Fanciullo looked at the young girl.
Why she was still there, he had no idea, but he was going to find out if it killed him. He just hoped that didn't happen.
"You're goin' down, squirt," said Antoine, drawing. "I'll sacrifice Dekoichi to summon the Mad Mechanic!"
The Battlechanted Locomotive disappeared, yielding to a bizarre and very ugly demon. It was certainly a mechanic… Right down to the dirty overalls and battered hat. Of course, its exposed skin was green and scaly and covered with sores and lesions that suggested some horrid skin disease, although, given how much it was giggling, that didn't seem to bother it much. It had a bandoleer with wrenches, pliers, screwdrivers, and unidentifiable tools, and an oversized tire iron that it waved like a club. (1,800 ATK)
"When I summon this monster, I get to choose one machine," he said, "and that machine can't be destroyed."
"Not by anything?" replied Fanciullo.
"That's right, not by anything!" replied the thug. "Nothing's gonna junk this Train so long as he lives. So… Waste his Swordsman, Infernal Train! GO!"
"Heh…" said Fanciullo. "Ordered an attack, did ya? Can't take it back…"
As the locomotive started to heat up again, one of his Traps lifted up.
"This is what I mean by 'attacking its soul', nimrod, a Trap called The Transmigration Prophecy. I may not be able to win by attacking that thing directly, but those Machines in your Graveyard are what makes it powerful, and they're vulnerable.
"So I'll send Supercolossal Unsinkable Superliner – Elegant Titanic and Supercolossal Airship – Giant Hindenburg back to your deck…"
"Wait a minute…" replied Antoine.
His face turned ghost white. Then his deck shuffled.
"That means the strongest Machine in your Graveyard right now is Dekoichi," continued Fanciullo, "which means…"
The Infernal Train plummeted to only 1,400 Attack Points. As the wave of steam hit Silent Swordsman, he simply plowed through it, striking the front of the train hard, leaving a giant scar on it, and knocking Antoine on his derriere.
(F: 750) - - - - - - - - - - (A: 2,400)
"You little…" he said. "Gah… I end my turn!"
Then the Mad Mechanic shouted and fell on one knee, clutching his chest.
"What's wrong, daddy-o?" quipped Antoine, looking up.
"What do you think?" asked Fanciullo. "He's not a Machine, so now he loses 600 Attack Points from Infernal Train's effect.
(1,200 ATK)
"That's truly ironic, you know… You said nothing would 'junk' that Train so long as he lived, but apparently, that devotion wasn't reciprocated.
"My turn now… I can't draw because of Reckless Greed, but… I use Call of the Haunted!"
The Trap flipped up, and a coffin rose to the surface under it. Then it shattered to pieces, Gilford springing out again. (2,800 ATK)
"Back from the dead, and now with an ally… Let's give this once more with feeling! Silent Swordsman, vanquish his Mad Mechanic!"
The Fiend shrieked and dropped the tire iron, but barely got one step before Swordsman struck, and the huge blade cut him in half. Antoine shrieked louder.
"Time to derail that mess…" he said. "Gilford, destroy his Infernal Train!"
Gilford rushed, leapt, and then formed a blur, running past the Infernal Train… The whole contraption shuddered from the cut down the middle…
You could barely even hear Antoine's scream as the thing erupted from the inside.
(F: 750) - - - - - - - - - - (A: 0)
The fires died down, and the Disco duelist sat up. He was seeing red.
"You wicked little boy…" he cursed. "I'm gonna…"
"Mr. Fanciullo!" shouted Uomo's voice.
Fanciullo turned to see his three henchmen running from where he had come from. Amare was holding a revolver now, likely having discarded the assault rifle when it ran out of ammunition rather than pause to reload. Uccisore was helping Tormento walk, a nasty wound in his thigh making that difficult. Other than that, he and Uccisore had a few bruises, and the clothes on all three of them were torn and dirty.
"What…" he said.
"Nothing a little iodine and spit won't fix," said Tormento. "I'll be fine…"
"We're a lot better off than they are, Mr. Fanciullo," said Uccisore, "but…"
Antoine turned white. Even whiter than he previously had.
"Fanciullo?" he stammered. "Cattivo… Fanciullo?"
The mob boss nodded, and crossed his arms.
"So, uh…" he said. "What were you saying just now?"
Antoine gulped…
"Err… uhm…" he said. "Bye!"
Then he ran the other way. Uomo pointed the revolver
"Boss, you want me to…" said Amare.
He lifted his weapon, but Fanciullo raised his hand with a tired look.
"Don't waste your bullets, he's not worth it," he replied.
He walked up to the young girl, who hadn't left the spot on the ground where Antoine had thrown her the whole time.
"Are you…" he said.
Then to his shock, she got up, and shoved something into his hands.
"What?" he said.
"Don't let them get it!" she shouted. "Whatever you do, don't let them take it from you! Please!"
Then she started to run in the other direction, incredibly fast.
"HEY!" he shouted.
It was too late. She was gone.
He looked at what she had given him. An old-looking, leather-bound book, with a locked clasp holding it shut. Strange runes were written on the cover, a language he couldn't read or recognize. He tried opening the clasp, but as he expected, it didn't open.
"What is it?" asked Uccisore.
"I'll tell you what it is," replied Fanciullo. "This is the Man Upstairs' way of telling us it's gonna be one of those weeks."
They were startled by the sound of sirens, only a few blocks away.
"Copa dosta!" shouted Uccisore. "Lovely, now the police decide to show up!"
"And unless you goons want to deal with them too, come on!" replied Fanciullo. "Is this place warded?"
Uomo shook his head, then tapped the watch-device, and the silvery orb appeared again, slowly turning into the portal back to Florence.
This book could be nothing more than some cookbook on orcish salads… thought the Shadow mobster. But it may be something important… Well… Hopefully Dominare can figure it out…
The four of them leapt through, and it closed behind them.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
COMMAND SILENCER (Spell Card)
Quickplay Spell
Image: A colorful Totem Pole with stereo speakers on the sides.
Effect: Activate when a monster declares an attack. Negate the attack and draw 1 card.
Note: "Command Silencer" was first used by Kaiba in the original anime episode "Clash in the Colosseum".
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
GUARD OFF (Trap Card)
Normal Trap
Image: Big Shield Gardna, Mid Shield Gardna, and Total Defense Shogun pictured in the same position they were in on "Defenders' Mind", but from a different angle (possibly suggesting a continuation of that scene).
Effect: The DEF of all face-up monsters become zero; then, inflict 400 points of damage to your opponent for each monster you control with a DEF of zero.
Note: "Guard Off" was first used by Vector in the "Yu-Gi-Oh Zexal" episode #136.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
SUPERCOLOSSAL UNSINKABLE SUPERLINER ELEGANT TITANIC (Monster Card)
Machine/Water/Effect/Lvl10/2,800ATK/2,000DEF
Effect: Once per turn, you can target an opposing face-up Monster with zero DEF. Destroy that Monster, and if you do, inflict damage to your opponent equal to half the destroyed Monster's base ATK.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
SUPERCOLOSSAL AIRSHIP GIANT HINDENBURG (Monster Card)
Machine/Water/Effect/Lvl10/2,900ATK/2,000DEF
Effect: When a Level 5 or higher Monster is Normal Summoned, switch all Attack Position Level 9 or lower Monsters on the field to face-up Defense Position.
Note: The two Supercolossal monsters were first used by Umimi and Tobio in the multi-part Yu-Gi-Oh Zexal episode "An Imperfect Couple".
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
TOY BOX (Spell Card)
Normal Spell
Image: A cubical toy box with arms and a happy, smiling face in the front, throwing toys into its top.
Effect: Select 2 Level 4 or lower monsters in your hand and/or your side of the field and banish them, then Special Summon a "Toy Box Token" (Machine/Light/Lvl1/0ATK/0DEF). A "Toy Box Token" cannot be targeted for an attack, cannot attack, and is not effected by Spell Cards. If a player controls no monsters except a "Toy Box Token", his opponent may attack directly. Once per turn (during your or your opponent's turn and starting the turn this card is activated) you may Special Summon a monster that was banished via this effect. If all monsters banished by this effect are Special Summoned, destroy the "Toy Box Token".
Note: "Toy Box" was first used by Yugi in the Yu-Gi-Oh R manga.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
DECAGO KNIGHT (Monster Card)
Warrior/Light/Effect/Lvl10/1,000ATK/1,000DEF
Effect: When there are 3 copies of "Decago Knight" in your Graveyard, you may shuffle them into your deck.
Note: "Decago Knight" was first used by Clark in the Yu-Gi-Oh 5Ds episode 116.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
ILLEGAL SUMMON (Spell Card)
Normal Spell
Image: A young man in a kimono riding a giant toad. (This is a reference to "The Tale of the Gallant Jiraiya" and also to the anime Naruto, which is based on that story.)
Effect: Each player selects 1 monster from their respective decks; the selected monsters are Special Summoned to the sides of the field opposite that of each monster's owner. (The battle position of each monster is decided by the controller of the side of the field it is summoned to.)
Note: "Illegal Summon" was first used by Mathmatica in the Yu-Gi-Oh GX episode "Pro Dueling".
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
TITAN'S CHARITY (Spell Card)
Continuous Spell
Image: Ancient Gear Golem kneeling down and handing a bouquet of wildflowers to The Unhappy Maiden.
Effect: When a Level 8 or higher monster is Special Summoned, the monster's controller draws 1 card.
This card was designed by Metal Overlord 2.0.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
RUINOUS OMEN (Spell Card)
Quickplay Spell
Image: The shadowy form of The Infernal Train rushing through the remains of a forest that has been destroyed by fire. The sky above is blood-red.
Effect: Activate when 2 (exactly) Level 8 or higher Machine-Type Monsters you control are destroyed at the same time. Special Summon 1 "The Infernal Train" from your hand or deck.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
DEVOTED DEFENDER (Spell Card)
Quickplay Spell
Image: Marauding Captain rushing to throw himself in the path of an armor flying towards Forsaken Maiden.
Effect: Activate when one of your Attack Position monsters is selected as a target for the effect of a Spell, Trap, or Effect Monster. Pay 1,000 Life Points to negate that effect. If this card would be countered or negated, you may banish 1 "Forbidden" Spell Card from your Graveyard; if you do, this card cannot be countered or negated.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
THE INFERNAL TRAIN (Monster Card)
Machine/Dark/Effect/Lvl10/?ATK/?DEF
Effect: Cannot be Normal Summoned or set. Can only be Special Summoned via the effect of "Ruinous Omen" and cannot be Special Summoned any other ways. The ATK and DEF of this card are both equal to the ATK of the Machine-Type monster in your Graveyard with the highest ATK. During each player's End Phase, every face-up non-Machine-Type monster the turn player controls loses 500 Attack Points if in Attack Position or 500 Defense Points if in Defense Position. If a monster's ATK or DEF is reduced to zero by this effect, it is destroyed.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
MAD MECHANIC (Monster Card)
Fiend/Dark/Effect/Lvl5/1,800ATK/400DEF
Effect: When this card is Normal Summoned, select 1 face-up Machine-Type monster. So long as this card remains on the field, the selected monster cannot be destroyed by battle or by card effects.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
TOY BOAT (Monster Card)
Machine/Light/Effect/Lvl4/1,000ATK/1,000DEF
Effect: If you Special Summon this banished card and you do not control a "Toy Car", you may Special Summon 1 "Toy Car" from your hand or deck. This card may not be used as Xyz Material for an Xyz Summon.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
TOY CAR (Monster Card)
Machine/Light/Effect/Lvl4/800ATK/1,200DEF
Effect: If you Special Summon this banished card and you do not control a "Toy Boat", you may Special Summon 1 "Toy Boat" from your hand or deck. This card may not be used as Xyz Material for an Xyz Summon.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
TOY PLANE (Monster Card)
Machine/Light/Effect/Lvl5/1,500ATK/1,800DEF
Effect: You may Special Summon this card (from your hand) if you control a "Toy Boat" and "Toy Car". If this card and a "Toy Car" or a "Toy Boat" are used as Tributes for a Tribute Summon of 1 monster, draw 2 cards. If this card and BOTH a "Toy Boat" and a "Toy Car" are used for a Tribute Summon of 1 monster, draw 3 cards.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
Jemorille: Mobsters like Fanciullo often consider themselves businessmen. The business they're in, just happens to be crime. Like all businesses, it has risks in investments, and unexpected opportunities come up when you least expect them. You have to decide on the spur of the moment whether taking advantage of one will be worth it.
The difference is, a risk that doesn't pay off may have deadly consequences.
Fanciullo had just survived taking a risk that did not pay off, which had actually been an ambush from a liar who had told him to meet for a deal. Now, a girl had simply shoved a book into his arms and pleaded with him to take it. It seemed to be even more of a risk.
Why did he take it? He'd later realize that even he didn't know.
Next chapter, there's some catching up to do, as some old faces return, and some new ones are introduced.
It might all seem strange at first, but it may make sense later… Well, it may.
"Both Sides Now" is coming soon.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
Shadowchaser Files: Sites of Power
The Azure Vale
Few remember the cruel Mongolian warlord Mana Su. When famed conqueror Genghis Khan united the Mongol tribes, Mana Su was executed, as were his advisors and the officers or his army, and all records of his deeds and accomplishments were destroyed – most of them. Mana Su was a man believed to have demon blood, and his cruelty may well have been without limit. The Azure Vale, located in a remote corner of the Dornod province, is one remnant of his atrocities.
The large town of Faenish-Kul once stood on this site. At the height of Mana Su's campaign, he raided and sacked this town, captured every one of the townsfolk – every man, woman, and child – and gave one to each of his soldiers. He commanded each soldier to execute his prisoner on his order.
On that day, five-thousand innocents were murdered, all at the same instant. Why did Mana Su do this? For no reason other than to prove he could.
His eventual death at the hands of Genghis Khan's hordes was… Unpleasant. Still, the Vale remains, and few come to the place now. No structures still stand, and the only plant life is dead trees, briars, and weeds. When one walks through the place, sad moans, angry howls, and foul curses can be heard in the chilling wind. You would swear the place is haunted, and it is.
This is just what those who come here during daylight experience. Those foolish enough to be here at night risk attack by the restless spirits of Mana Su's victims. While most experts on hauntings know that it's possible to appease a spirit and lay it to rest, none of these experts have been brave enough – or stupid enough – to attempt to deal with five thousand angry ghosts who lash out at anything that moves once the sun goes down. (Plenty of amateur ghost hunters have tried it; judging from the expressions on the faces of their corpses that are usually found the next morning when such people try, they never accomplish much.)
Still, there is one reason some dare come here during daylight hours. Legend says a powerful unholy weapon called Soulbiter, was left that fateful night. A scimitar forged in the Abyss, myths surrounding it say that the army of a general who holds it would be unstoppable. Why was such a weapon left behind? Supposedly, a condition that Mana Su could not meet was needed to activate its full potential, and he discarded it here once he realized that, believing it worthless to him.
If he could have figured out how to use it, it may well have been him, not Khan, who united the Mongols. A frightening thought indeed, for as cruel and merciless as Khan was, historians shudder to think what may have happened if other towns had met the same fate as the Azure Vale.