Packs, bundles, and booster boxes

After meticulously sweeping the entire storefront, Alucard contemplated the idea of hiring artisans to lay stone pavement around the exterior of his establishment. When he had inquired with the system the previous day about the possibility of remodeling the surrounding lot into concrete, it responded negatively, indicating that he would gain those rights after the store had reached a certain level. While he considered it fair, given that the system hadn't pressured him for sales or imposed unreasonable demands, he still desired a stable and flat storefront, easily maintainable compared to the hard-dirt lots and streets on the outskirts.

Upon entering, he discovered a group of kids, along with their parents and guardians, joyfully engaged in dueling. Rotations were already underway, with James facing off against Robin, Trell against Annie, and Elaine against Neon. The other children cheered from the sidelines, and even the ninja, whom Alucard thought was the silent type, was enthusiastically shouting as he battled with his Succubus Knight against James' Spike Seadra, a level 5 Sea Serpent/Normal WATER monster with 1600 ATK and 1300 DEF.

"How's the game? Are you finding it enjoyable? Any lingering suspicions about my shop?" Alucard smirked, addressing James, who was in shambles after losing to Robin. James glared at Alucard with gritted teeth; as the captain of the City Guards, he had a certain amount of pride. The multiple losses from his son, the other kids, and the other parents and guardians had taken a toll on his mental state. While he did have fun playing the game, even the most stalwart of knights would have it rough after consecutive setbacks.

James drew a deep breath and calmly asked, "My son mentioned that the cards we have here are the basic common ones, and there are a lot more powerful cards in those packs you mentioned. What's in these packs, and how much are they?"

"I'm glad you asked! You can get these cards from card packs, each containing 9 cards and costing 12 gold coins or 1 magicoin and 2 gold coins. A bundle of 10 packs is available for 110 gold coins or 11 magicoins, and a booster box, containing 30 packs, can be yours for 300 gold coins or 30 magicoins. The bundles and booster boxes contain a list of all the cards so that you can check which ones you already have. The booster box also gives you a bonus flip coin; the design of the coin depends on the booster box you pick."

He then displayed the available packs, bundles, and booster boxes. "As of now, the packs that I am selling are Legend of Blue Eyes and White Dragon; this pack mainly features monster cards and spell cards that empower monsters. The monster you want to pull from this pack is the legendary engine of destruction, The Blue Eyes White Dragon."

He showed the pack, which had Yami Yugi, the Nameless Pharaoh, with his iconic hairstyle featuring multiple layers composed of long blonde pointy locks resembling lightning bolts for his fringe. The rest of his hair was made up of five large black spikes with reddish rims on every edge. He wore a navy blue school jacket from Domino High, and underneath it was a sleeveless dark blue leather jacket with gold-studded buttons.

Behind him was the most powerful normal monster card available at this time, the Blue Eyes White Dragon. It stood tall on two hind legs with sharp claws, exuding an air of noble lineage with light blue scales gleaming with a pristine, pearly white hue, giving it an aura of purity and strength. Its wings were expansive, showcasing a membrane that, when stretched, emphasized its impressive wingspan. But its most captivating feature is the deep blue orbs radiating an intense, piercing gaze, reflecting the dragon's formidable nature. The overall body structure was sleek and muscular, conveying both grace and raw power. It had no horns adorning each side of its face, adding to its regal and fearsome countenance.

"Wow! So this is the dragon that you were talking about! It is the most fearsome dragon I've ever seen! Not even the legendary red dragon that was repelled 15 years ago was as fierce-looking as this one!" James quivered with excitement as he held the pack in his hands. He wasn't familiar with the material the pack was made of; it felt smooth like the glass walls the store had, yet it wasn't hard at all. It was clearly very thin, and he could feel the cards inside. The pack itself was full of details, from the undecipherable logo to the artwork to a few instructions at the back on how to open the pack and why it is not suitable for children below the age of 3.

The bundle of 10 packs was encased in a small box that fully showcased Yami Yugi at the front and Blue Eyes White Dragon at the back. The booster box instead had a special illustration of the Blue Eyes White Dragon that can be pulled from this set; the box itself shone like a sapphire, enhancing the majestic presence of the featured monster. The bundle of packs and booster box were vacuum-sealed by a thin, transparent, and fragile layer of synthetic ether which guaranteed its safety. James' eyes shimmered with excitement as he held the booster box before passing it to the others to see. Such a majestic presence! Even the box is a treasure! he thought.

"This is the one we have to get! Mama, Papa, we have to get Blue Eyes White Dragon; sir, the store owner says that this card is the pinnacle of destruction!" Annie excitedly said as she turned towards Elaine and Robin, who chuckled at the sight of their overzealous daughter.

After the group of kids and adults marveled at the products, Alucard then showcased the second set: "The next pack is Metal Raiders. This pack contains a lot of monsters with effects that can turn the tide of the battle and powerful traps that will leave your opponent's mouth hanging." He presented the Metal Raiders packs, bundles, and booster box. Yami Yugi appeared with another handsome pose, but this time the monster behind him was the Black Skull Dragon, a terrifying bony behemoth fused from the Red Eyes Black Dragon that you can get from the previous pack and Summoned Skull, who debuts in this set. The booster box features the alternate coloring of Black Skull Dragon in a special illustration.

"Such a cool-looking monster! It has black bones and a big, ferocious body, almost the opposite of the Blue-Eyed White Dragon!" Jiji exclaimed.

"Yeah, and it seems like it has a different look as well, where its black bones are bloody red, which makes it look like a bony red dragon, only cooler!" Failer added.

"T-this... This creature reeks of power and darkness! Not even the lich that my group defeated a couple of years back compares to it!" Trell exclaimed in shock as he recalled the perilous state he and his group were in during one of their exploration quests. However, the Black Skull Dragon was much more fierce and nefarious than a lowly lich. I think this card is worth getting, he thought.

Alucard interrupted Trell's reverie: "The last pack is called Spell Ruler. Aside from additional monsters, spells, and traps, this pack introduces ritual monsters, which can only be summoned by ritual spells also introduced in this pack." This time, Yami Yugi was not wearing his navy-blue jacket; behind him was a creature that looked more like a construct, the ritual monster Relinquished. The booster box was also showcasing the monster in a special illustration depicting the iconic scene where it took control of Yami Yugi's Curse of the Dragon, but with a bit more gruesome touch.

The creature, which resembled those artificially made golems from the ancient past, fascinated Neon. The difference is that this one had parts that looked organic and lifelike, adding an eerie quality. Nina felt creeped out and hoped that her sister would opt for packs from the other two sets instead.

"Okay, those are all of the packs; I've also put the list of cards per set on the previously empty board near the entrance. You can come find me at the counter once you've decided which product you'd like to purchase." Alucard stood up and went to the counter to take a small break while the kids and adults thought about which packs to get.

James stood up, a fierce aura emanating from him. "Owner! Please wait for a bit. If fate is on my side, I shall gather my money and come purchase a box or two. If not, then I wish your business success," he sincerely said.

For a second, I thought this guy is going to battle to the death. Alucard was puzzled by this city guard captain's intense proclamation.

"F-father, are you sure? Do you think you can convince Mother?" Jiji asked worriedly, his body shaking.

James kneeled down and patted his son's shoulder. "Son, there are times when, even though we know that death is inevitable, we must still stand strong."

Jiji took in his father's look of resolve, imprinting this memory for his life. He gathered his courage and resolve, then shouted, "Father! I'll go with you!"

James was surprised, then flashed a gentle smile and said, "Okay, be sure to act cute for your mother; it'll make things easier for us." They both went out of the store and rushed back home. This father-son duo's act baffled Alucard, he sighed, "There's really nothing more pitiful than becoming a henpecked husband; even a prestigious position like city guard captain isn't safe."

"Do they even have to be that serious? Gardenia isn't that strict and terrifying, isn't she?" Elaine muttered and turned to her husband, Robin.

Robin just coughed. My darling, you wouldn't understand... You're the same type of person as she is... He thought, but did not comment on it and blurted out to Elaine, "No way! Haha, she's very kind like you!" He then shifted the topic to, "Why don't we buy all of them? Annie seems to enjoy these cards very much, and we can play them every night before bedtime!"

"Really, Papa?! Mama, can we really?" Annie asked with twinkling eyes.

"But I only brought enough money for five packs," Elaine said. "Don't worry, darling! I've decided not to buy a new set of daggers; my trusty Wynhilde slicers are still good!" Robin replied back as he gave his money pouch to Elaine.

"Okay, but only this time since your father said so; go thank your papa." Elaine acquiesced. Annie then jumped in glee and kissed both Elaine's and Robin's cheeks.

Nina noticed her sister eyeing the Spell Ruler booster box; she knows that when Neon looks like this, then she's pretty much made her decision. "Sis, I really want Blue Eyes White Dragon," Nina pitifully said as she stared at her sister with big teary eyes as she tugged her robes. She isn't backing down this time, though; Nina is willing to employ every trick in her playbook in order to get her sister to buy her a Blue Eyes White Dragon.

Neon flinched at her sister's gaze. "Nghhh... Relinquished is very interesting... I feel like I will learn more about magic with it... let me think..." she scrunched her brows and put her hands on her chin. Should she buy Spell Ruler or Legend of Blue Eyes Dragon, which her sister had specifically asked her for? Then it hit her, I've brought all my research funds! I can just make the excuse of researching these cards as magic artifacts! "Don't worry, we will buy all of them." She assured Nina with a determined monotone voice and resolute eyes, giving off a look that said, 'This sister is loaded; adults always choose both!'.

Failer gazed at the Metal Raiders booster box for a moment or two before letting out a sigh. He turned to Trell and asked, "Uncle, which packs should we get? I really want the booster box, but since you mentioned you only have enough for 10 packs, that's fine."

Trell, amused by his nephew, replied, "Well, you're right, little Fai. I didn't bring that much money today, at least not enough for a booster box from this store. How about this? We'll get those 10 packs first, and if we don't get what we want, we can always come back tomorrow."

"Yahoo! Thank you, uncle!" Failer exclaimed with joy, giving Trell a tight hug. The two of them stood up, joining the others at the counter, just as Alucard finished his brief break.