The Imperial Colosseum, one of the most famous landmarks in the empire, was bustling with activity.

Typically, this venue hosted jousting matches or swordsmanship tournaments, but to Rupert, it was a familiar place for another reason.

“Feels like just yesterday I was here for an Agora.”

The Colosseum had also been the site of Agora duels, the traditional confrontations between nobles, which Rupert had once been summoned to participate in. But this time, his visit had a different purpose: preparing for the finals of the Duel City tournament, a project he had personally conceptualized.

“Careful with that! This is a custom-made, extremely expensive glass!”

Workers bustled in the center of the Colosseum, installing a unique glass structure: a Duel Room specially designed for the semifinals and finals of Duel City.

“I can’t believe I’ve managed to recreate something like Earth’s esports arenas here.”

As a fan of both manga and games, Rupert had envisioned turning the final stages of Duel City into something akin to a gaming arena from Earth.

This wasn’t just for aesthetics. The decision also aimed to enhance the quality of the matches.

With the Colosseum expected to be packed with spectators on the day of the event, measures were needed to prevent potential issues—such as players unintentionally breaking rules due to audience noise or losing focus because of the commotion.

The Duel Room addressed these concerns while also elevating the experience. Unlike the basic Duel Tables that only projected card illustrations, this setup could simulate real attacks and field effects, bringing the game to life in a way that had never been seen before.

“I spent a fortune on this.”

Rupert had initially taken the Duel Room plans to Crun as usual.

“Are you seriously planning to build this?”

Crun’s familiar reaction indicated that Rupert’s proposal involved expensive materials, and it was obvious Rupert would balk at the cost once he heard it.

“Why not use the best materials available?”

To Crun’s shock, Rupert nonchalantly suggested using the high-end materials without hesitation.

“Who are you?! What have you done with Rupert?!”

Crun was so startled by Rupert’s uncharacteristically bold decision that he almost suspected an imposter had taken Rupert’s place.

But Rupert, far from being concerned about the cost, was beaming with pride.

“Father, it feels like I’ve finally repaid our family’s debts.”

His confidence stemmed from a recent meeting with the emperor.

“I wish to support Professor Rupert’s efforts to advance the cultural life of the empire.”

After securing imperial approval for his plans, Rupert and Esteban had spent an entire night celebrating over drinks.

Their elation wasn’t just because their project had been greenlit but also because the emperor had decided to provide financial backing for the Duel Room.

“Other people’s money! And royal money at that!”

Rupert couldn’t help but reminisce about the time he had brazenly funneled royal support funds into the production of Frozen Kingdom. Back then, he had relied on Princess Iolin’s protection as a buffer, but now he and Esteban had to tread more carefully.

“It’s a bit riskier now, isn’t it?”

“Indeed. Without the princess as a shield, we’d take the full brunt if something goes wrong.”

Mindful of the consequences, they resolved to use the funds properly—well, mostly.

“What if we just pour the money into the Duel Room?”

“Brilliant! We can spend lavishly without using our own money and still take credit for it.”

Their shared enthusiasm for leveraging royal funds culminated in the swift decision to build the Duel Room.

Unexpectedly, demand for Duel-related products had also arisen.

“We want to purchase a Duel Table.”

Initially, Duel Tables had been designed as a means to attract crowds rather than a commercial product. Yet they had become so popular that they began generating unexpected revenue.

“The Somerset goods stores and theaters with Duel Tables are too crowded.”
“Exactly. It’s impossible to focus on a game with all those people watching.”
“I wish there was a quieter place to play.”

Though Somerset’s goods stores and theaters offered free access to Duel Tables, their popularity had led to constant overcrowding, making them less appealing to certain nobles.

While Somerset also sold simpler play mats for card games, nobles accustomed to the Duel Tables’ dazzling features found the mats unsatisfactory.

This unmet demand led salon owners to purchase Duel Tables. Salons, where nobles gathered for socializing and drinks, became hotspots for Duel matches once the first salon equipped with a Duel Table saw its foot traffic and profits double.

Soon, it became a competitive trend, with salons across the empire installing Duel Tables, solidifying them as a standard feature in aristocratic gathering places

+++

The King of Cards official tournament preliminaries were being held simultaneously across the empire.

Each regional branch of the Yuren Trading Company hosted the matches, and the unique rules of the event were drawing considerable attention.

“Look at that man! He’s already won!”

Every participant in the preliminaries was given a single card titled “Glory of the Victor.” True to Somerset craftsmanship, the card was impossible to counterfeit, and the condition for advancing was to gather at least ten of these cards through duels.

As the tournament began, some duels had already concluded, with winners calmly organizing their decks and losers slumping in disbelief at their defeat.

“Hmm, with these rules, even competing in the capital doesn’t put me at a disadvantage.”

The victorious man placed his neatly sorted cards back into his deck case, reflecting on the fairness of the system.

Initially, many had anticipated that populous cities like the capital would become fierce battlegrounds. However, with the rule that only ten cards were needed to qualify, the competition balanced out across regions, ensuring no location held a clear advantage.

“That was an excellent match.”

“Ugh… How could a duelist of your caliber not have been rumored about before?”

The man who had just lost his card struggled to accept his defeat.

A nobleman who belonged to a social club dedicated to collecting and studying cards, he was regarded as a skilled duelist within his circle. Yet, on the first day of the preliminaries, he found himself eliminated in his very first duel—a shocking turn of events.

“Eight more to go, then.”

Second Prince William pocketed the defeated man’s Glory of the Victor card, already strategizing his next steps.

Though he had never taken much interest in storybooks or comics, the tactical depth of the card game had hooked him completely.

Some dismissed it as a game of luck, but William saw through that misconception. To him, the game’s essence lay in precise planning and reading the opponent’s psychology—skills in which he excelled beyond anyone in the empire.

++++

“This card’s effect can only be ‘used’ once per turn, so if its activation is negated, it can’t be used again.”

The empire’s guards had been worn thin with their newly added duties.

“What?! Last time, the ruling was that it could be used again!”

“That’s because the card text said it could be ‘activated’ once per turn. In that case, even if the activation is negated, the effect can be used again. It’s in the rulebook.”

The King of Cards tournament preliminaries were causing constant disputes, forcing the guards to intervene as arbiters.

Ordinarily, anyone causing a disturbance would have been detained immediately, but since this tournament was held under royal approval, the guards were tasked with resolving rule disputes on the spot.

This meant they had been ordered to memorize not only the empire’s laws but also the King of Cards rulebook—a task that gave them constant headaches.

“Wait, there’s such a big difference between ‘use’ and ‘activate’?”
“What’s the difference between ‘choose’ and ‘select’?!
“This is insane. Why are there so many exceptions?!”

In truth, even avid players struggled to fully understand every nuance of the card effects, which could change drastically with just a single word.

Yet, as the official adjudicators, the guards had no choice but to learn the rules thoroughly, and their decisions were now respected without question.

“This is a scam!!!”

For those who couldn’t accept their rulings, the guards were more than willing to detain them immediately, making them the perfect enforcers of justice in the tournament.

“We did it, Rasshu! We have all ten cards!”

“Woof!”

Ada cheered as she held up her ten Glory of the Victor cards, with Rasshu barking triumphantly alongside her.

“That kid is really something.”

“Exactly. It was like she could see her opponent’s hand or something.”

“And her luck! She kept drawing the exact cards she needed.”

The man who had thrown a tantrum after losing to Ada was now being dragged away by the guards, while the crowd buzzed with admiration for her skill.

Somerset, known for its strong card players, was a competitive region, yet Ada had secured her ticket to the finals with ease.

However, when this news reached Rupert and the marquess, a minor commotion ensued.

“She didn’t… beat them up and take their cards, right?”

Offended by their suspicion, Ada pouted, adding a touch of drama to an otherwise peaceful day in Somerset.

.