The return to the bar was an unexpected reprieve for Sherry. As soon as the orange-haired girl found herself back on dry land she found that there was a letter addressed to her waiting over the bar counter. Apparently, it was some kind of invitation which she had to attend urgently.

[b][color=9966cc]"Hey, guys, I'm sorry but I guess that I gotta leave for a while. It seems that there's some family business I must deal with. I'll be back as soon as I can,"[/color][/b] she said as she took the way out, leaving the White Masks with one less member.

However, that wasn't going to last...

[center][img]https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/354679963594784768/640596225653080065/Uy6VzGT.png[/img][/center][hr]As soon as Sherry took her leave, [url=https://i.imgur.com/ETkyhhI.jpg]another girl[/url] walked into the bar. She had an upbeat smile in her face while she pawed a pouch—clacking with the distinctive sound of gold coins—with a hand.

[b][color=gold]"Oh, hey! There's a lot of people here this time, you even got a new shopkeeper. Business must be going great, eh Kit Kat?"[/color][/b] Clair said as she took a stool at the bar and placed the sack of coins over it. [b][color=gold]"I'll have one of the usual, please!"[/color][/b] she said to the cat girl. Of course, the usual she asked about was nothing other than her favorite pineapple soda float with extra cream and cherry on top.

[b][color=gold]"Sorry for that, hehe!"[/color][/b] Clair said as she turned around to face the other "patrons" while scratching the back of her head shyly. [b][color=gold]"The name's Clair, the greatest thief in the land. Nice to meet'cha!"[/color][/b] she said, leaning against the counter as she waited for her order.

Meanwhile...
[hr][center][img]https://i.imgur.com/2N1h57f.jpg[/img][/center][hr][b][color=palegoldenrod]"Of course you wouldn't, dear. Harming the shopkeeper isn't going to do you any good, right?"[/color][/b] Emilia—who was now wearing a [url=https://i.imgur.com/MzBYlYj.jpg]newish-looking outfit[/url]—replied to Akiko as she set up shop inside of the left booth, leaving the right one still empty. Thanks to the Tower's mysterious properties the [url=https://i.imgur.com/FmBHXCq.jpg]shop[/url] was much bigger on the inside than it looked to, or could feasibly, be.

[b][color=palegoldenrod]"Now then, how about we set the past behind us?"[/color][/b] the Dollmaker said, looking at Kanbaru and Rose. [b][color=palegoldenrod]"All of you will find my services very worthy of your time and resources. Not only have I the best potions and trinkets you'll ever find. Furthermore, I can tune, modify, and even trade the cards that are your most beloved treasures."[/color][/b]

[b][color=palegoldenrod]"And, talking about cards, I have one here for the White Masks. A little token of their adventures through the World of Wasted Dreams. Short as they may have been, and despite not finding what you were meant to, your effort was not in vain,"[/color][/b] Emilia said as she drew a [url=https://i.imgur.com/KI4XzR5.png]card[/url] from her grimoire and then teleported it in front of both Caprice and Lin.

[b][color=palegoldenrod]"Wield her well. Lady Maria is as calm and collected as her undead countenance suggests. But, if you give her a chance, you'll find out that her Pandora's Box holds quite many spicy secrets,"[/color][/b] Emilia said, introducing the card as if she were an expert on it.
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