• cards | nct 2018 •

MEMORIES OF CARDS #1

Special Episode ONE

Two years ago.

Mark was eighteen that year.

He had been living eighteen years of his life rather happily, with both his loving parents, and his grandfather, who maybe...didn't exactly fit the description of 'loving'.

He, at that age, was already aware of the power struggle between pure blood families, and how important he was to his own. Being the only heir meant that he had to be nothing but the best, and that was probably why his grandfather was so harsh on him.

But he never complained, because he knew it was part of his responsibility. However...his parents seemed to think otherwise.

Or rather, his parents never shared the same ideologies as his grandfather.

"Dad!" Mark yelled, climbing up the wooden tiled stairs to the third floor of our mansion. The hallways were lit up with bright lights which made the third floor seem much livelier than the rest of the house. It was the only place Mark knew he could relax.

The floor consisted of his own room, as well as a large space for reading, and his parent's room.

He jogged into the reading room, and his gaze fell onto his father who sat comfortably on a navy blue couch. His mother wasn't home as she was out for...business.

"What is it, Mark?" The man who had a kind smile on his face glanced up at his own son with curiosity. His name was Hyuk Min.

"It's grandpa. He's looking for you."

Instantly, his facial features turned sour.

"What for?"

"He said he needs to discuss something with you. I don't know what."

Discuss something...

The older man didn't even need to think to know what the subject of the discussion would be.

He closed his book in his lap and got off from his seat. "Very well. You remain here, Mark."

His son nods.

Hyuk Min makes his way down the stairs and quickly reaches the first floor.

He walks through a long hallway that lead to a dead end, but then he places his palm on the wall and easily enters the other side of the wall.

Turning right, an oak door is seen, and he twist the door knob and pushes it open.

He goes down a flight of stairs again and reaches a space where tall shelves of books were there. It was Mark's grandfather, Minjoon's office.

"Hello, father." Hyuk Min greets politely as soon as his eyes landed on the person he was supposed to meet.

The man looked up from his desk. "Hyuk Min. You came."

"Of course I did. Why did you call me over?"

He stares fearlessly into his stone cold eyes.

"It's about Mark. You have to stop being so kind to him, Hyuk Min. He's becoming weaker."

Hyuk Min's eye twitched.

I knew it. This was what he wanted to talk to me about.

"Weak? I don't think I understand, Father." He flashes a serene smile.

"Hyuk Min! Do you not realise? The house of Lee — our rivals. Their daughter's powers have awakened. She's a time controller user, the most powerful of all abilities! Mark cannot afford to lose to her. He needs to be stronger."

He tears his eyes away, breaking their gaze.

"Father...please." He mumbles.

"Otherwise, Hyuk Min...there is something else I need to discuss with you."

"Something else?"

"I'm planning to form up a team of elites...you could say that they'll be our allies,"

"They'll be made up of the heirs of the other pureblood families we have good relations with. Which would be..."

"One, from the house of Chittaphon, Ten,"

"Two, from the house of Suh, Johnny,"

"Well, those two houses have agreed to the alliance. There's still two other houses that haven't, though. But it's really only a matter of time of them joining,"

"Three, the house of Dong, Winwin, or Sicheng."

"And lastly, from the house of Kim, Jungwoo."

"What are you planning, Father? From forming this alliance..."

Hyuk Min had a bad feeling.

Nothing that comes out from his own father was good.

He laughs in amusement. "You know the government organisation, blackjack?"

Hyuk Min's breath hitched. It was the organisation where his good friend, Moon Taeil, headed.

He hides his surprise by quickly saying, "Yes, why?"

"The alliance will serve as that organisation's enemy. With it, we can aim to extinguish the half bloods from blackjack. And...finally gain more power,"

"The organisation's name will be...joker."

Hyuk Min stares at his father in disbelief. "What on earth..."

He had a cynical smile on his face, as if he was absolutely proud of his plans.

The man chose to ignore his son's terror that was shown on his face.

"So, Hyuk Min...I want Mark to join the alliance."

Hyuk Min frowns. "I-I can't. He can't, Father. That is not what I want for him."

"Hyuk Min...this is what I meant by making him stronger. He will be. So accept it."

"Father, please stop using Mark as your pawn! He's your grandson. Please stop it right now, and be freed from your greed..."

He tries reasoning, but this time, it was Minjoon's face that turns stone cold.

"This is not something you choose. I am merely informing you. Now take your leave, Hyuk Min. Come back when you're calmed down."

He pursed his lips, his body shaking in anger.

He eventually huffs, and turns on his heels to stride out of the room.

Minjoon watches his infuriated son stalk out of the room and his lips curved into a grin.

His gaze moves back onto the stack of papers in his hands.

It was the profiles of the four future joker members.

He chuckles. "Though, I seem to be missing a good leader..."

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A/N: may or may not continue writing more bonus chapters...hehe a gift for y'all since my exams ended :p