*劇情以《Rise of Eros: Desire》記載
*不會附上影片和圖片,有需要請下載遊戲觀看
*僅為了瞭解劇情和人物而做的整理(學習用途?)
*文字全照官方給出為主,有錯字、漏字或語法等問題不在此更正
【Story 1:All In】
The lunar year is once again coming to an end, and the streets of Celia are bustling with people everywhere you look. Everybody's faces are aglow with joy and jubilation as they soak up the festive atmosphere.
But on this important day when children in faraway lands return home to be with their families once again, however, Cartilla feels only hopelessness and despair.
【Cartilla】I'm... I'm broke...
Cartilla kneels down on the ground and hangs her head, her face crestfallen.
【Cartilla】How could this happen...? I had more than enough for presents and stuffing red envelopes with cash when I checked my account at the start of the month... How did it all vanish in the blink of an eye? Have I fallen victim to a scam?
Frustrated, Cartilla turns her head slightly and spies, piled up in a corner, the mountain of clothes, bags, and luxury goods she's bought on impulse. She stares for a few seconds before slowly turning her head back and pretending she hasn't seen anything.
【Cartilla】What am I going to do...? I promised the boys and girls at the orphanage that I'd bring them all kinds of presents for Lunar New Year...
(Selectable Dialogue)
①【Cartilla】Maybe I could borrow from my fellow concubine sisters?
②【Cartilla】Should I get a job?
(Choose①)【Cartilla】No, I haven't even repaid the money I owe Rouffe and Phoenix already, those old moneybags. And I always have to ask Inase and Miriam to pick up the bill when we go for afternoon tea together, too. There's no way I could ask them for that...
(Choose②)【Cartilla】I could pick up a few more mercenary assignments during the daytime, and break into a few more wealthy homes by night? No, that won't work. There's only so many hours in a day. And it's New Year, after all! The last thing I wanna be doing is working my ass off...
Cartilla stares at the dark space beneath her bed for a long while, then finally gets up and stretches a hand down there to feel about.
【Cartilla】Urgh... There must at least be a few old coppers that've fallen down here, right?
【Cartilla】Huh!?
Cartilla's hand brushes against a crumpled paper ball. She fishes it out with curiosity.
【Cartilla】A leaflet?
Cartilla unfolds the leaflet and spreads it back out, carefully studying it.
【Cartilla】Be the next Mahjong Supremo! Millions in prize money await you! This New Year at the Celia Casino, compete to be the next Mahjong Supremo...
The next day, the entrance to the Celia Casino is thronged with people hoping to soore a lucky break during this auspicious period of the year. Cartilla is wearing a formal, seasonal outfit appropriate to the occasion as she stands outside and observes the crowds.
【Cartilla】How damn, are all these people here for the Mahjong Supremo Tournament? Looks like getting my mitts on those millions of prize money won't be as easy as I thought...
【???】Cartilla!?
Suddenly she hears a familiar voice. Cartilla turns to look and is surprised to discover Eileen striding towards her, dressed up to the nines in a red evening dress.
【Cartilla】Eileen! What are you doing here?
【Eileen】Oh, working... I've been swamped with invitations to perform ever since I announced I was coming out of retirement to sing again. I've been so busy you'd think I was twins. I'm rushing off a show at the casino, and then at last I can finally stop and rest for a bit...
A helpless smile flits over Eileen's exhausted face.
【Eileen】What about you? Aren't you heading back to the Yoh orphanage to be with the kids this year?
【Cartilla】Uh, well...
Cartilla smiles awkwardly, the guilt written all over her face. She spends a little time explaining how, after spending every last bit of her money that should be used on gifts and red envelopes, which is why she's come to the casino, hoping to make a little extra cash back.
【Cartilla】Well, something like that, anyway...
Eileen is left flabbergasted by Cartilla's ridiculous reasoning.
【Eileen】(This girl hasn't got a clue about money...)
For the sake of comradeship between concubines, Eileen chooses not to speak her mind.
【Eileen】Sigh. You've got a real gambler's spiritm, but your reliance on that tournament money will only drag you down deeper and deeper.
【Cartilla】D-don't underestimate me! I'll have you know I'm something of a pro when it comes to mahjong...
【Eileen】Look, I'll be all alone in Celia for New Year as it is. I won't be needing much money. How about I just lend you as much money as you need right now, and you can go back to the orphanage straight away?
【Cartilla】For real!?
Cartilla's eyes immediately begin to sparkle when she hears that Eileen is willing to lend her enough money to pull her out of her dire situation. But soon enough she shakes her head with resolve and refuses Eileen's generous offer.
【Cartilla】That won't do/ I'm a woman with dignity, after all. I should at least be able to hand those kids some money that I've earned by my own hard work.
【Eileen】(Am I supposed to feel moved by that, or to roast her right here on the spot...?)
Faced with Cartilla's curious perseverance, all Eileen can do is sigh with resignation.
【Eileen】If you insist. I'll respect your decision. ANd fortunately I'm all done with my work here at the casino now. You'll have a better shot at winning the grand prize if you have a friendly face playing along with you, right?
【Cartilla】Hey, you mean...
【Eileen】I'm gonna sign up for the Mahjong Supremo Tournament too. We'll crush every last one of'em at the mahjong table and bag those millions to give to the orphanage!
【Story 2:Battle of the Tiles】
The Mahjong Supremo Tournament venue has been meticulously decorated by the organizers to look like a mahjong table. The floor is vast, accommodating almost one hundred competitors, and demonstrating how much importance the casino has attached to the event.
Having signed up for the competition, Cartilla and Eileen follow the crowds as they flood inside.
Cartilla coldly observes the other participants and speculates as to who might make the strongest opponents. Eileen looks cool, collected, and filled with a mysterious confidence.
【Eileen】Judging by the order we signed up in, you and me will be on different tables to start with, Cartilla. Let's both give it our best shots! Even if we're unlucky enough to be pitted against each other along the way, I'll find a way to help send you the tiles you need and carry you to the grand final!
Cartilla furrows her brows at Eileen's blooming confidence.
【Cartilla】For real though, I had no idea you played mahjong. Not to mention you seem pretty good at it...
(Selectable Dialogue)【Cartilla】Where did you learn?
【Eileen】Oh, you know, from those old movies they always show on TV~ I know most of the different plays. Ling "Peng!" for three of the same tiles, and "Gang!" for four. Easy as pie~
【Cartilla】Huh!?
Cartilla is about to say something when a burst of intense applause and cheering interrupts her. The host appears at the center of the stage and welcomes the guests in a rousing, booming voice.
【Host】Hello~ Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, spectators and competitors, one and all! Our exciting Mahjong Supremo Tournament is about to begin, is everybody ready?
【Cartilla】It's starting already? There's now way the tables here can fit so many contestants...
【Host】Oohh~ Is that the sound of someone throwing doubt upon the preparations we've made that I can hear? As it happens, this year, for the sake of our spectators, we've made a few adjustments to the competition proceedings... Mahjong titles, assemble!!!
The host gives a resounding snap of the fingers, and at once a troop of robots with mahjong suits and designs displayed on their faces file into the auditorium. Group by group they find their way to their designated places. At once the suits disappear from their face as they draw themselves up into four-sided square formations.
【Eileen】They look like the spitting image of... mahjong tables?!
【Host】That's right, these robots- disarmed and incapable of attacking, I assure you- will act as the competitors' tiles. Once the competitors have taken their places, the robots will run up to you in order and automatically display the hidden suits and numbers on their faces. With that aside, standard mahjong rules will apply. Whenever a player in a group has lost all their chips, the game will stop and the winners and losers will be determined. Once the chips in each group have all been counted, the player with the highest score will advance to the next round.
【Cartilla】So for each group of four players, only one of them will make it through...
【Host】So, we're all looking forward to seeing you do your best out there. Let the Mahjong Supremo Tournament... BEGIN!
The host snaps his fingers again. Receiving their cue, the participants move to take their places in the auditorium, as decided by the order they signed up in. Eileen looks at her number, then glances about and quickly finds her spot.
【Eileen】That's my place, over there! C'mon, Cartilla, we can do it!
【Cartilla】Oh, yeah... We can...
【Cartilla】...
【Cartilla】Hey, wait a minute-
Cartilla remembers what she was going to ask Eileen a moment earlier, but she's already on the other side of the room. Cartilla shrugs her shoulders helplessly. All that's left for her to do is find her group and step up to the competition.
Soon after, the games have begun and several tables are already engaged intile warfare. Cartilla's reached her mahjong group. The three other players she's faced with all appear to be fiendish mahjong sharks and hustlers, but her head is still swirling with doubts and concerns about Eileen.
【Cartilla】(Eileen sounded so confident. Will she really be okay? She's only seen mahjong in a handful of old films, and she believes she's got the knack of it already...)
Cartilla casts a furtive glance over to Eileen's table. Eileen looks relaced as she holds up a "Mahjong for Dummies" book with one hand and haltingly reaches for tiles with the other...
【Cartilla】Hmmm. Guess it's all up to me then. All right, let's give 'em a taste of the ol' Cartilla Kaboom!
Cartilla's first round is about to begin!
【Story 3:Switcheroo】
It's been just ten minutes since the competition began, and already there's a smattering of winners emerging from the tables, ready for promotion to the next round.
Back to Cartilla's table, where she and the other three players in her group are going back and forth at it, keeping neck and neck with one another. Cartilla's only a few chips ahead of the others, and could fall from pole position at any moment.
【Cartilla】(It's only the first round. It can't be good if I'm struggling already...)
A new set begins. The robots dash about and shuffle themselves around, then draw themselves up into formation in front of the participants' faces.
【Cartilla】Gyah!
Cartilla accidentally bumps into one of the robots that's making its way towards her. Caught off balance, the robot falls over onto its back, allowing the other players a momentary glimpse of its suit and number.
【Left Player】(It's the 5 Circles!)
Cartilla rushes to help the downed robot back to its feet and into place among the 16 tiles in front of her, ready for the new game to begin. Cartilla seems to be on a roll now, as if she has the gods helping her out. Whatever tile she needs seems to materialize before her.
【Opposite Player】East Wind.
【Cartilla】Peng!
【Right Player】North Wind.
【Cartilla】Peng!
【Left Player】West Wind.
【Cartilla】PENG!
Soon enough, Cartilla's assembled a set of three tiles for each of the four wind suits, and has picked up the last few discards from the other players, too. The other players are experienced enough to have worked out which tile she needs to win...
【Opposite Player】(She's still holding onto that 5 Circles, she won't give it up!)
【Right Player】(She's waiting for another 5 Circles, she has to be!)
Her three opponents have all come to the same conclusion. Whatever they do, they can't throw out a 5 Circles now, even if it's useless to their hands. The players continue to draw, and the remaining tiles are nearly exhausted. THe opponent sitting opposite Cartilla draws, then smiles an evil smile.
【Opposite Player】(Heheh, now I've got the other three 5 Circles tiles! You've got no chance of winning now.)
It's Cartilla's turn. There's just one tile remaining in the pile. If she can't win after taking it, then the game will be a draw.
Cartilla calls the fateful last robot over to her from the pile. And when the robot's face flashes up with its suit, a grin of victory spreads over her face.
(Selectable Dialogue)【Cartilla】Wassuuup!
【Cartilla】Comin' right at cha with the Four Winds, victory from the jaws of defeat with the very last tile!
Cartilla laughs as she lays out her hand and leaves the others wide-eyed with disbelief.
【Opposite Player】That's not possible! I've got the other three 5 Circles tiles right here, so how could you win with an extra one?!
【Right Player】Wait a minute, don't you know how to play? You can't make a pair using a 4 and a 5!
The right-side player points an angry finger at Cartilla's tiles. Aside from the four Wind tile trios she's assembled, she's rounded out her hand with a set of 4, 5, and 6 Characters tiles.
The final 4 Circles tile she's just drawn can't be paired up with the 5 Circles that's been in her hand all this time, so crucial for her to complete her winning hand.
【Cartilla】Ohhh, is that a 5 Circles? Look, it's a 4 Circles~ I guess when I crashed into it earlier I must have gotten a spot of nail polish on it and bumped it up from a 4 to a 5.
Cartilla walks up to the tile that everyone's mistaken for a 5 Circles and gives it a light rub-down with her sleeve. When the red mark on its face is wiped away, the 5 Circles is revealed to have been a 4 Circles all along.
【Left Player】What?!
【Opposite Player】You dirty little cheater!
Unwilling to admit defeat, the three opponents gradually press in on Cartilla and femand an explanation from her. Noticing a fight about to break out, the host quickly hurries over.
【Host】Calm down, everyone. Let me be the judge of this.
After pacifying everybody, he carefully scrutinizes the state of play...
【Host】Hmm... Strictly speaking... All that Miss Cartilla did was to get the tile a little dirty. She didn't change any tiles, and that can't be considered as cheating.
【Opposite Player】So what the hell is it, then?!
【Cartilla】It's a loss for you, of course. I won by drawing that last tile myself, and with the Four Winds to boot. When you add up all the points I've scored with that combo, you've all been knocked down to zero.
【Host】Miss Cartilla is right. The three of you are out!
【Cartilla】Hell yeah!!!
Cartilla joyfully strikes her victory pose. She watches proudly as her opponents withdraw from the competition.
【Cartilla】Oh yeah, how's Eileen getting on?
Cartilla looks for Eileen's grouping, where she's surprised to see her still leafing through a mahjong textbook as she slowly makes her plays?!
【Cartilla】Hey, you mean she hasn't been eliminated yet?
【Host】Miss Eileen is quite a ferocious competitor. She's discarded a fair few rounds after drawing the wrong number of tiles, but while she's not playing correctly, she's not letting the competition get ahead either. They're constantly drawing against one another. After all this time, all four of them have yet to win or lose a round...
【Cartilla】That's... a kind of beginner's luck, I suppose...
【Host】Anyhow, Miss Cartilla, please proceed to the second round of the tournament. But may I please remind you that I'm allowing that funny business with the Circles tiles for one time only. Should it happen again, I'll see to it that you are disqualified~
Having been warned, Cartilla now cheekily sticks her tongue out, defiant.
【Cartilla】This could get trickly if I'm not allowed to work any more of my mahjong magic...
【Story 4:On Thin Ice】
There's a saying among gamers, gamblers, and hustlers. A true master doesn't just have top-level gambling skills. They also know how to deceive others through their body language and facial expressions.
And so at the exact moment that you think Cartilla can't cheat, and that victory is therefore assured... You've already fallen into her trap.
【Opposite Player】I win!
(Selectable Dialogue)【Cartilla】I snatch your win!
【Cartilla】And I get an extra point for being the dealer with a single wait!
【Opposite Plater】Aaaaaah!
【Left Player】You're waiting for 2 of Characters, but you won't get it from me... 3 of Characters!
(Selectable Dialogue)【Cartilla】I win!
【Cartilla】You're right, I was waiting for a 2, but a 3 will do the job just as well!
【Left Player】Goddammit-!!
【Right Player】I...
(Selectable Dialogue)【Cartilla】I've drawn the last tie I needed!
【Cartilla】Gimme gimme gimme!
【Right Player】WHYYYYYYY-AHHHH-!
Cartilla flashes her mahjong mastery every which way until her opponents are ready to explode, knocking every last one of them out.
【Cartilla】Hmph. If you thought I'd be lost without my dirty tricks, then you seriously underestimated me! I've lived among grand masters as well as grand scumbags. You think I didn't learn a thing or two from them along the way?
【Host】That game was truly impossible for us to look away from. Miss Cartilla is through to the next round!
Cartilla joyfully throws up her arms and basks in the cheers of the spectators.
【Cartilla】And what about Eileen?
She looks across to Eileen's table, where she's shocked to discover that she's still reading an instruction manual while she plays.
【Cartilla】What the hell, how long have they been at it for now?! Uhh... That's a rather unusual game they're playing on that table... Miss Eileen has been the dealer for at least thirty rounds now. They've been locked in a stalemate for more that an hour. As long as she clings onto the dealer's position, there's no way for the others to win. Is she playing the long game here, or does she really just not have a clue how to play...?
Now the action moves over to Eileen's table. Facing down the enraged stares of the other three players, Eileen meticulously pores over each and every word of the "Mahjong for Dummies" book in her hand. After reading and digesting for a while, Eileen finally reaches cautiously for a tile.
【Eileen】Uhhhh... I'm discarding... a 3 of Characters...
Eileen timidly drops the tile, not anticipating the wrath she's about to unleash from the others.
【Left Player】The dealer has to start the game by drawing an extra tile! How many times are we going to do this?!?!
【Right Player】You've ruined it already!
【Eileen】Ehh... Did I make another mistake?
【Opposite Player】We've been through this so many times! Don't you have even the slightest clue what you're doing?!
【Eileen】I'm sorry, it's just that in the book...
Eileen nervously flips through the pages of "Mahjong for Dummies", her face on the verge of tears.
【Eileen】But they make it look so simple in all the movies, you make one move and you win just like that...
【Left Player】Oh gosh, I'll just win this round so you won't be the dealer anymore!
【Eileen】Wahh... I'm sorry...
A player who's disrupted the order of play has to sit the rest of the round out, unable to claim any more tiles or win. And so, once again, Eileen has to sit there and watch, but even then she's not ready to give up yet.
She studies while she plays, cautiously discarding tiles and praying she'll catch up to everyone else's level...
【Story 5:Lucky Break】
Perhaps she does have some kind of unfathomable talent of her own. While Eileen draws and discards, the others are no closer to declaring a win, and the draw pile eventually dwindles to its last remaining tile.
【Eileen】Ah... So now it;s another draw, nobody wins and nobody loses...
【Left Player】Nooooo! LET ME PLAY-AAHHH!!!
The player to the left suddenly explodes, stamping her feet with rage. The fury of the other two players is triggered, and they throw the mahjong robots in front of them to the ground.
【Opposite Player】Why must you deprive us of our gaming experience!?
【Right Player】Goddammit, I quit! I'd rather go spin the slot machines!
The players all abandon the game and leave. Eileen is left blinking innocently, unsure what to do next.
【Eileen】So... What happens now?
【Cartilla】Bwahaha, you've won of course.
Cartilla rushes up behind Eileen and gives her a joyful hug.
【Eileen】For real?!
【Host】That's right, the other three players have chosen to forfeit, leaving one player to go through to the next round. Congratulations, Miss Eileen.
Although she's being promoted to the next round, Eileen isn't the least bit happy about it.
【Eileen】Wahh, but I've lost all my self-confidence now... I've seen all those movies, Queen of the Tiles, Molto Mahjongo, all of them... They always make winning look so simple, like whatever they need comes right to them. But in reality it's so damn hard, I've read a whole book and I still don't get it...
【Cartilla】No, I actually think you might have some kind of real talent for this.
【Eileen】It's okay, you don't have to make me feel better.
【Cartilla】I'm serious. It's quite an impressive feat to force thirty draws in a row. Not to mention that the other three were gunning to be the dealer the whole time, too...
【Eileen】You mean it?!
【Cartilla】Maybe you're already realizing your potential just by knowing which tiles to discard so the others won't score. You've secretly been pulling the strings the whole time to make it so that they can't win. And controlling the game is what separates a good player from an expert.
Eileen turns over Cartilla's words in her mind. After a while, her expression gradually turns from crestfallen sadness to a proud smile.
【Eileen】Hmph. So I was right all along, I always knew I had a talent for this.
【Host】Miss Eileen, join your next table over here!
The host calls from nearby, where three other winners from the first round await her.
【Eileen】Relax, Cartilla. I was just a little unfamiliar with the flow of the game. But after scoring more than thirty draws in a row, now I know it like the back of my hand. Time for a true display of skill!
Eileen thrusts her "Mahjong for Dummies" into Cartilla's hands and leaves with a majestic turn on her heels.
【Cartilla】Wait a minute... You really sure you don't need this anymore?
Eileen doesn't reply. She's already striding into her next battle.
【Cartilla】I was only spouting all that baloney to encourage her. What if it ends up producing the opposite effect?
【Cartilla】Hmm...?
Cartilla looks at the cover of the book and scrutinizes each and every word... Her face instantlu pales.
【Cartilla】No wonder she couldn't get the rules straight! Hey, wait!
Cartilla hollers after Eileen, but she's already begun her next round. After rushing and shuffling around for a while, a line of robots rush up to Eileen and display their tiles on their faces.
Eileen looks at her tiles, and after a momennt's thought, she laughs out loud and reveals her entire hand to everyone!
(Selectable Dialogue)【Eileen】Gyahaha! I told ya I was the Chosen One!
【Eileen】Four Winds, Three Dragons, Circle, Characters, Bamboo- I've got one of each, heads and tails! Come take a look, it's the Thirteen Orphans with a Thirteen-Way wait!
Eileen beams with pride, having started with a hand of the Thirteen Orphans so often shown in the movies and in anime. But a moment later, she realiezs that everyone is staring at her awkwardly, and her smile gradually evaporates.
【Host】Miss Eileen, you've only turned over thirdteen tiles here. What about those other three?
Eileen glances over at her remaining three tiles with an innocent expression...
【Eileen】Hey, aren't those just spare cards? There's only thirteen tiles in the Thirteen Orphans, that's always how they do it in the movies...
【Cartilla】Eileen, you'vd bought the wrong book!
Cartilla sprints up to Eileen and points to the small print written above "Mahjong for Dummies". It clearly states "Suitable for Yoh Rules Mahjong".
【Cartilla】Yoh mahjong is played with 13 tiles, but we're playing Human rules here, with 16 tiles. Did you never realize you had the wrong number of tiles?
【Eileen】B-because the robots were sending them to me automatically, I thought those three extra ones were spares... So now what happens?
【Host】Now you have to pay the penalty for declaring a false win to all three players. After calculating the penalty based on the points you declared, here's the result... You're all out of chips, Miss Eileen. You're out of the running!
【Eileen】How could this happen...
Eileen is knocked to the floor by the heavy blow she's received. Cartilla shakes her head and smiles bitterly.
【Cartilla】So now it really is all up to me...
【Story 6:Triple Threat】
Now deprived of Eileen's helping hand (?), Cartilla is going to count on her own strength to pick off her remaining opponents by herself. At last, with her talents shining and revealing themselves, she makes it through to the Mahjong Supremo Tournament final. She's just one step away from getting her hands on those millions!
【Host】Welcome, ladies and gentlemen. After a long, ferocious tournament, we've finally arrived at the final round with four fantastic competitors. They'll fight for those millions in this hallowed hall, and the strongest of them will be crowned Mahjong Supremo! Let's give the four of them a big round of applause! Let me introduce them one by one- From the Yoh, she's known as Shadowswift, Vesperthorn, and plenty of other monikers in the underworld. She's a renowned mercenary active in Celia's underworld- it's Cartilla!
The air crackles with the spectators' applause. Cartilla strides out from a corner and waves to the audience.
【Eileen】Go, Cartilla, go! It's up to you to win this shebang now!
Eileen is long out of the running, but she's been standing in the spectator stands and cheering on her bestie the whole time.
After Cartilla takes her place, the host clears his throat again.
【Host】As for our next competitors... I believe I can introduce them all at once. They've devoted their minds, bodies, and souls to mahjong and its skills ever since they were young. They've even studies mahjong thought, emulated mahjong stances, and finally reincarnated themselves as mahjong itself...
【Cartilla】...
Astonished, Cartilla stares at the host with a "WTF are you talking about?" look on her face.
【Host】...And so, they've acquired the ultimate in mahjong skills. Known in the underworld as the "Mahjong Dames", let's give a big welcome to- the Dragon Sisters!
Now three girls dressed up like red, green, and white dragons come strutting in from the other three corners of the room. After exchanging glances with one another, the trio all leap into the air and land right in front of Cartilla and the host.
【Cartilla】Wait a sec, you mean these three weirdos all know each other already?
【Host】Yes. As I indicated in my introduction, these three competitors are sisters.
【Cartilla】I object! It's tough enough going toe to toe with just one mahjong master. And now you want me to fight off three of 'em who'll be working together to make this a family affair? This isn't fair!
【Host】Even so, the quota has been filled already. There's no way for us to change anything now...
【Red Dragon Sister】You're a real smart cookie, figurin' out schemes already~
【 Dragon Sister】There's no way in hell any of us are gonna give up our spots in the final, so you can forget about it~
【White Dragon Sister】If you don't like, there's still time for you to walk away now. Those millions in prize money are comin' our way anyway~
【Cartilla】Guh... Isn't there anything can do to make this a little more fair?
【Host】Well... I suppose I can allow you an assistant to discuss your tactics with. What do you say?
【Red Dragon Sister】Fine by us. We're happy to show some mercy to this poor little girl~
【Cartilla】In that case, for my assistant I choose-
With the dispute now settled, the hotly anticipated finale to the Mahjong Supremo Tournament is about go begin. The Dragon Sisters take their places. They fix their piercing gazes upon Catilla and her assistant behind her- Eileen.
【Eileen】Are you sure you want me for your helping hand, Cartilla? Maybe y'ought to swap me for someone who actually knows how to talk tactics, before the game starts...
【Cartilla】No. You're the only one who could ever be my assistant. Think about it. Even with all your mistakes and mishaps, you still managed to pull off the ultra-rare Heavenly Hand with Thirteen Orphans. Maybe you really do have some beginner's luck. With my skills and your luck, perhaps we might just swing this thing.
【Eileen】You think so? Well then...
【Cartilla】Now let's give it everything we've got!
【Story 7:Needle in a Haystack】
A few moments later, with millions in prize money hanging in the balance, the final round of the tournament is fully underway. The Dragon Sisters are living up to their name, abd even with Eileen's luck on her side, Cartilla is having a hard time of it. After a few back-and-forths both attacking and defending, Cartilla and Eileen's team has taken a bitter drubbing, and shows no sign of gaining the upper hand.
After pulling through to the end of another set, the robots begin shuffling themselves again, and Eileen and Cartilla finally have a moment to breath again.
【Cartilla】Phew... oof... ahh... How you doing back there, Eileen?
【Eileen】Phew... Still hangin' in there... It's just mahjong, so why do I feel like we've been through a big, bad brawl...
【Red Dragon Sister】Hmph~ Is that all you've got in you?
【Green Dragon Sister】We're just getting warmed up here~
【White Dragon Sister】I gotta hand it to ya, you've done well to make it this far already. But even cockroaches have a strong survival instinct, after all. This all ends now.
Her comment prompts Eileen to make a quick count of everyone's chips.
【Eileen】They're right... We're almost all out of chips now. If we accidentally chuck a winning tile to them, or if they self-draw a winning tile, it'll all be over for us.
The moment Eileen finishes speaking, the robots scramble back to their positions in front of the four competitors. The robots in front of Cartilla flash their faces. It's a total wipe-out, with no sets or groupings to build on.
【Eileen】There's no hope, our goose is cooked...
Eileen turns away, not able to even look at the terrible hand they've been dealt.
【Cartilla】It's too soon to give up! A great man once said:
(Selectable Dialogue)
①【Cartilla】The crapper the tiles, the sweeter the victory!
②【Cartilla】A hand is only as bad as its owner!
(Choose①)【Cartilla】As long as we keep our nerve, we can still make it. We just have to told out for an opportunity to flip the script.
(Choose②)【Cartilla】They think they've won this already. It's the perfect time for them to forget themselves and slip up. We'll use their carelessness against them to launch our counterattack.
【White Dragon Sister】Ooh-hoo~ Looks like they're drawing their last gasps now, Sis~
【Green Dragon Sister】Then we'd better do our duty and put 'em out of their misery, eh~
【Red Dragon Sister】All right, here it comes, get ready to go home empty handed!
Cartilla and Eileen's final battle begins!
Perhaps it's owing to Cartilla's dead-set determination that Eileen's lucky now finally begins to show. With their fate now hanging in the balance, whatever tile Cartilla needs now seems to come her way. Not only do none of her discounts aid her opponents, but the chaos of her starting tiles gradually takes the shape of a winning hand.
It's Cartilla's turn to draw!
Seeing a robo-tile approach with the a bird displayed on its face, Cartilla and Eileen both light up with glee.
【Eileen】(It's a 1 Bamboo!)
【Cartilla】(All right, now we just need one more 1 Bamboo! Then we'll win with a full set of Bamboos and really turn the tables on 'em! It's just that...)
Cartilla looks up. The trio of Dragon Sisters are leering at her like tigers after prey.
【Cartilla】(What can I discard without them pouncing on it and winning?)
【Eileen】(Now the true fight is on!)
【Story 8:All's Wll that Ends Well】
Having withstood another round of steely attacks from the Dragon Sisters, it's Cartilla's turn to draw again. But there's just a single tile left in the draw pile now...
【Cartilla】(This is our last chance. Is there any way for us to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat?)
Cartilla reaches for the final fateful tile, but for some reason it appears to her to grow smaller and smaller...
【Cartilla】(What the? Is it that I'm afraid? Afraid to reach for it, in case there's no way to win...)
While Cartilla hesitates, Eileen puts her hand on top of Cartilla's.
【Cartilla】Eileen, you...
【Eileen】Don't be afraid. I'm still here for you, aren't I? So let's bust this thing wide open!
With Eileen's encouragement, Cartilla's fear dissipates under the light of courage. Together, the two of them call the final robot in the pile over to them.
【Eileen】.........
【Cartilla】.........
(Selectable Dialogue)【Cartilla】I knew it. It was always going to be this way...
【Cartilla】.........
【Cartilla】Victory snatched from the jaws of defeat with the very last tile! I drew the winning tile from the bottom of the pile! And it's a Full Flush!!!
Cartilla turns over her tiles, including the 1 Bamboo she's just drawn. Every last one of them is a Bamboo!
The Dragon Sisters stare at Cartilla's tiles and fall to their knees in shock!
【Green Dragon Sister】What the frick?!
【White Dragon Sister】You mean... the three of us... actually lost...?
【Host】Incredible! It's the comeback of a lifetime, the stuff of legends we're seeing here, folks! I hereby declare the Mahjong Supremo of this tournament to be- Miss Cartilla!
【Eileen】Woohoo, go Cartilla!
Cartilla is ecstatic with joy as she basks in the cheers and applause of the spectators crowding around her. Out of the corner of her eyes, she glimpses the defeated trio of sisters.
【Red Dragon Sister】Mom, Dad, I've disappointed you. Now you won't be able to find a bigger home...
【Green Dragon Sister】Boohoo, now there'll be no money for our little brothers' New Year presents! They'll be so crushed...
【White Dragon Sister】So it's another year in a cold and frosty little shack, eating instant noodles for our New Year dinner?
【Cartilla】.........
With a few adjustments, the venue of the grand final is transformed into an awards ceremony.
【Host】Now let's welcome the Mahjong Supremo herself to the stage to collect her millions!
Step by step Cartilla approaches the podium amid whoops and cheers. She looks at the crowd all around her. Eileen and the rest of the spectators are all calling her name. And then there are the other competitors, their faces ashen with regret...
【Cartilla】(Are they all in the same position as the Dragon Sisters, carrying the wait of their families' expectations on their shoulders? If they go home empty handed, how will they ever celebrate the New Yeae? What would I do, if I'd been knocked out from the start...?)
With her heart swamped with mixed feeling, Cartilla ascends the stage goes to the host's side.
【Host】Miss Cartilla, do you have any thoughts you'd like to share with our spectators today?
Cartilla looks down at the despairing Dragon Sisters beneath her. The other competitors are equally dejected. Cartilla is torn...
【Cartilla】If I can be real with you, I grew up in a poor orphanage. Every New Year, I was so jealous of those who had the money to fill their bellies with rich and sumptuous family dinners. So, soon enough, I left the orphanage and started doing some shady things just to make some money. All I wanted was for the kids at the orphanage to live without worrying about where their next meal or shelter was coming from...
Cartilla's moving speech brings tears to the eyes of her audience.
【Cartilla】I've won the prize money, but I still want everyone to be able to celebrate the New Year. So I'm gonna split it equally with you all! Whether you're a competitor or a staff member, I want you to have a happy Lunar New Year!!
Cartilla's Buddha-like act of charity sends a wave of excited cheers through the audience. When Cartilla sees the big smiles on everyone's faces, she too starts to smile.
【Cartilla】(So this is how good it feels to give~)
Eileen pushes through the crowd and looks at Cartilla with alarm.
【Eileen】Have you lost your mind, Cartilla?! Don't you know how much you'll have left over once you've split that prize with everyone here?
【Cartilla】Yeah, like, at least a few dozen G's, right?
【Host】Between the competitors and the staff, there must be about 500 people sharing the prize money. On average, then, everyone should be getting a share of under 2,000 gold~
【Cartilla】.........
【Cartilla】Huhh?!?! Wait a minute, I take it back-
【Host】-Thank you, Miss Cartilla, for showing us such selfless generosity~~
And with that, the host jumps down from the stage and joins the merriment and partying now breaking out among teh audience. Cartilla, in the other hand, falls to her knees. It's back to square one.
【Cartilla】We worked our butts off and all for what? What the hell am I doing...
Eileen shakes her head and smiles a bitter smile.
【Eileen】(This girl just hasn't got a clue about money...)
Just as Eileen's about to go and comfort her, Cartilla suddenly leaps up again, full of energy as if nothing ever happened.
【Eileen】You're all right?
【Cartilla】Well, think about it. It's enough money to stuff a few red envelopes for the kids, and that's way better than what I had before.
【Eileen】Alright then~ You'd better hurry back to the orphanage. I think what they want more than anything is to see their big sis Cartilla again.
Suddenly, Cartilla thinks of Eileen's situation.
【Cartilla】What about you, Eileen? Are you gonna be all alone for New Year again?
【Eileen】Yeah... But it's fine, I'm used to it.
【Cartilla】That won't do! New Year's supposed to be bustling and noisy, there's no way you're spending it alone!
Cartilla grabs Eileen by the arms. The gesture almost overwhelms her.
【Cartilla】Come back to the Yoh Orphanage with me. There's a whole bunch of little monsters back there who'll keep you company. I can guarantee they won't leave you alone for one damn second.
【Eileen】Oh... Uhh... Well, I'd be honored to~ Thanks for inviting me to spend New Year with y'all.
【Cartilla】You're welcome, noe let's get going~~
Cartilla pulls Eileen through the reveling crowd and towards the casino exit. The whole thind may have been a bit of a farce, but when they think that there won't be any lonely souls forgotten on Lunar New Year, it all seems worth it.
And so we wish you a happy Lunar New Year too, one and all.