"You're right about that. No one before has faced a game with a difficulty level beyond nine suits," The Hatter agreed. In fact, on the wall where the cards were displayed, next to the cards with the number nine were the cards that followed those of nine.
So, that indicates that once all the preceding cards are obtained, the special games will come. The most challenging ones to overcome, and in turn, they'll meet the creators of those games.
"But the original world won't return, and you and your friends must understand that," The Hatter looked at Jacob and said, "Only one person can return to the original world."
"It's still your own assumption," Jacob knew that this man named The Hatter was a completely crazy fool, driven by his own rules.
"I don't agree... It's impossible for a single person to finish all the games and get all 52 cards." The Hatter raised his hands to the sky and said, "You can't leave this world if everyone works alone, and that's something Jacob understood when he sent me those cards."
"That's why we're all coming together so that person can leave this world. That's the goal of the Beach," The Hatter said, pointing. "This card you've brought is very valuable, so much so that you've filled in the most important gaps in our joint goal."
"Your help will benefit us, and you'll receive good treatment since Jacob and his partner Usagi have secured good cards for us. Therefore, we'll need your assistance to obtain the cards we lack."
"And if we refuse?" Karube said with a serious expression.
"You can't do that indefinitely; your visa will eventually expire. If you don't want to die, the best thing you can do is keep playing like the rest of us," The Hatter smiled upon hearing that question.
"Can we return if we gather all the cards? Is that true?" Arisu asked in an unnatural tone.
"I can't tell you everything yet," The Hatter said in a playful tone. "But I can assure you that the information came from a reliable source."
"Before you arrived, we had already thoroughly investigated everything about this world," The Hatter pointed out.
"Did you just refer to this place as a world?" Arisu asked this question in confusion.
The Hatter gestured around and said, "The fact that we have visas means it's a world. The people of Tokyo didn't just vanish; the hypothesis is that we accidentally entered another world."
"If that's the case, there must be a way to return."
"And we formed an organization," a woman said, looking at Jacob with a big smile.
"We use fuel to generate electricity and rainwater as a source of drinking water," another woman wearing sunglasses said.
"And we have weaponry from all around," The Hatter looked at Jacob's gun and said, "But very few can use them."
A man with crystal glasses said, "Our goal is to gather all the cards."
"And with that, there are only three rules on this utopian beach," The Hatter took a few steps and said, "Rule number one, you must always wear swimwear."
"How?"
"You can't conceal a weapon in swimwear. It's safer, right?" The Hatter asked. "You can drink, do drugs, or have sex. Feel free to enjoy life to the fullest."
"We broke the locks with granting, so nothing is hidden!"
"Number two, all the cards belong to the Beach!"
The Hatter said, "Although this isn't an issue with you, we'll keep the cards of others without any exceptions. Those who brought more cards will have a higher rank."
"When all of us work hard to bring the first person out of this world, if we gather duplicate cards, we can soon bring out a second and even a third. There will come a time when everyone on the Beach can leave this place."
"When will that be?" Arisu asked again.
"And why does that matter?" Jacob stood up without feeling intimidated.
"Exactly! Now we have the seven of hearts; we're one step closer to the exit." The Hatter seemed excited about this fact.
"Thank you very much, Jacob and his friends will have a much higher rank."
"Very well, enjoy your stay at the Beach."
Jacob received a lower rank than Usagi, simply a test rank, but he didn't mind as long as he was here. ... Seaside Paradise, Tokyo.
The beach, this place considered a paradise by outsiders, is the most important gathering point within the whole situation that surrounds them.
"Let's enjoy the place. If I'm sure of my calculations, the next game will be the most crucial for both us and the other players." Jacob left the meeting room, and his level was lower than Aguni's, which was why he could carry a weapon.
"Do you think the game will be here?" Usagi knew Jacob well, and it seemed she had familiarized herself with his way of thinking.
"You're right. The ten of hearts is a good time for the administrators or whoever is overseeing the games to reveal themselves to the players." Jacob smiled and walked towards a kind of bench with a large umbrella.
"In that case, we should wait. We have more than enough days to keep our eyes wide open." Usagi preferred not to play until the next game, not only to be mentally prepared but also to become familiar with the people in this place.