"Prepare yourself, Yugi! In just five turns, my ultimate insect beast will crush you!"

"I will never lose to a duelist who resorts to such underhanded tricks!"

The inevitable clash between Insect Sage and Yugi on Battle Island began after the former failed to come up with a way to defeat the Phantom Demon and resorted to sneakily discarding Yugi’s card under the guise of inspecting it.

"Cursed Dragon! Unleash your Obliterating Breath!"

At Yugi’s command, the Cursed Dragon breathed hellfire.

"Hahaha! The Cursed Dragon’s attack power cannot surpass the defense of the Evolution Cocoon, which is strengthened by the field buff!"

"Who said I’m attacking the cocoon?"

"What? Don’t tell me…!"

"That’s right! My target isn’t the cocoon but the forest field itself!"

The hellfire spewed by the Cursed Dragon incinerated the forest field, leaving the Evolution Cocoon without its strengthening effects.

"Incredible! To think one would need to account for terrain in a duel!"
"Yugi’s dueling always inspires me."
"I knew Insect Sage’s cheap tricks wouldn’t work on Yugi after he disposed of the Phantom Demon like that!"

People were cheering wildly as they watched The King of Cards, which followed Yugi’s journey to Battle Island, where powerful duelists gathered to rescue his grandfather, who had been sealed within a stone tablet by a shadowy villain.

"What new cards will appear in this episode?"
"Damn it! I’ll need to start saving my allowance to get my hands on those new cards."
"At least there’s a secondhand card shop now. I can trade away my unnecessary cards."

Every time a new episode of The King of Cards concluded, a new card pack was released. While fans eagerly anticipated it, they were also daunted, as many had already spent considerable amounts of money on cards.

The Rise of the Secondhand Market

In response to the growing demand and financial strain, "card secondhand shops" began to emerge. These shops specialized in The King of Cards trading cards, allowing duelists to trade or sell their unneeded cards.

Though they were only present in large cities, these shops were always bustling with duelists. Waiting in line to make a trade often took a considerable amount of time.

"Hey! This is a Super Rare card. How can you expect me to trade it for just three Rare cards?"
"But this card is highly practical and in demand. Fine! I’ll throw in one more Rare card."

These shops significantly eased the financial burden of purchasing cards by enabling players to exchange their surplus for the ones they truly needed.

A Strategic Balance

In truth, the The King of Cards game already had a few optimal decks established for competitive play.

This meant that players didn’t need to purchase a vast number of cards. By buying just a few packs and trading for the rest, they could build functional decks.

While some pursued a complete collection purely for personal satisfaction, most players were content, which minimized complaints about the card pack system.

The Announcement

"Hey, it looks like there’s going to be a tournament!"
"What?!"

Amid discussions about the latest The King of Cards episode from the newly released ManaFia magazine, someone pointed to the last page of the magazine.

Everyone’s attention shifted to the bold announcement:

[Find the Ultimate Duelist! Official The King of Cards Tournament!

Prizes and Special Rewards for the Champion.

Details on time and location will be provided to those who pass the preliminaries.

Preliminary rounds will be held at regional Yuren Trading Company branches on October 6th.]

The Anticipation

"Special rewards?"
"I’m not the only one thinking what I’m thinking, right?"

Up until now, small-scale The King of Cards tournaments had occasionally been held at pubs, Somerset merchandise stores, or other venues to attract crowds. These events often offered rare cards or modest cash prizes.

However, this announcement described an official tournament, hosted by Somerset Workshops and the Yuren Trading Company. The implications were clear.

"Special goods!"
"If I win, my life could change overnight!"
"I’m starting intense training today!"

Excitement and obsession began to flicker in people’s eyes.

Somerset Workshop goods that were no longer available were already skyrocketing in value. Limited-edition items, distributed only through special lotteries, were practically unobtainable, making this tournament a golden opportunity to claim unimaginable wealth.

"This isn’t about luck! It’s about skill! If you’re good enough, you can win it fair and square!"

For many, this was their first real chance to earn a rare collectible without relying on random luck or auction bids.

The Duelists’ Resolve

Not everyone was motivated by wealth.

"This is finally a chance to see who’s truly the best."
"Yustaf, your record against me is terrible. I can already imagine the embarrassment you’ll feel when you lose in front of everyone."

Rivalries among duelists, who typically bickered over cards, flared up into burning determination to settle scores.

The Plan Unveiled

While the empire buzzed with anticipation, Esteban’s office on the second floor of the Yuren Trading Company’s main branch in the capital remained peaceful.

"Shall we begin, my lord?"
"Yes, let’s start the 10-plus-1 promotion."

Seated on a sofa, Rupert and Esteban observed the growing excitement from the office window as they discussed plans.

"To enter the tournament, people will need decks. Even those who’ve never purchased cards before will scramble to buy them now."

Rupert nodded in agreement. Although The King of Cards was wildly popular across the empire, not everyone played the game.

Some viewed it as beneath their dignity. Others considered it a game for children or balked at the cost of assembling a competitive deck.

Rupert and Esteban saw this tournament as the perfect opportunity to convert skeptics into players, similar to how the Greatest Comic Contest in the Universe had previously introduced manga to new readers, boosting sales significantly.

"If they buy 10 packs and get an extra pack for free, they’ll naturally opt for 10 packs. Ultimately, they’ll see it as a bargain."

This surprise promotion ensured that both new and existing customers would spend freely, leaving nothing behind in their wallets.

The Genius of Battle City

Esteban, privy to the true purpose behind the tournament, marveled at Rupert’s brilliance.

"The idea of hosting a Battle City event in real life while the manga’s Battle City arc is ongoing will create incredible synergy."

The upcoming arc of The King of Cards, Battle City, centered on selected duelists competing in a city-wide tournament to determine the strongest. Rupert planned to replicate this event across the empire.

Imperial Involvement

To elevate the tournament’s prestige, Rupert had secured imperial backing. The Emperor himself would present the final prize, with the grand finale held in the imperial coliseum.

This arrangement benefited both the tournament hosts and the imperial family. The Emperor’s endorsement of a popular event bolstered imperial authority, akin to how state-recognized qualifications carried weight.

"Ah, it’s already this late. I must leave now."

"Do you have an appointment?"

Rupert checked his pocket watch and stood.

"Yes, Lady Amelia invited me to dinner to thank me for the premiere invitation."

Esteban smirked.

"It seems the Lady of Bluewell is feeling the pressure after witnessing her competition at the premiere."

Rupert, recalling the fierce rivalry he’d witnessed, simply replied:

"I’ll stop by to buy a bouquet as a return gift."

Esteban nodded as Rupert departed, pondering the brewing romances. Yet a thought occurred to him.

"Flowers carry meaning. I hope he doesn’t just choose any bouquet…"

Knowing Rupert’s occasional lack of awareness in such matters, Esteban couldn’t help but feel a twinge of concern.