"Waaahhh!!!!"

The cheers of the spectators filling the Empire's proud Colosseum reverberated so loudly that the ground itself seemed to tremble as though shaken by an earthquake.

“What a spectacle. I’ve never heard such an uproar, not even during jousting tournaments,” the Emperor mused.

“That’s likely because jousting is less accessible to the common people, Your Majesty,” Marquis Julius of the court replied cautiously from his place near the Emperor.

“That’s true. Without a horse, one can’t even consider participating in jousting,” the Emperor noted, his mind drifting to thoughts of the Colosseum before the Empire’s founding.

It was rare to see both nobles and commoners united in such shared enthusiasm. Traditionally, their tastes in entertainment had been starkly different: nobles dismissed common pastimes as vulgar, while commoners regarded noble amusements as pretentious and dull.

The only other time such universal excitement had existed was in the gladiatorial games of the distant past. Yet now, the fervor of the crowd gathered in the Colosseum rivaled even those bygone spectacles.

‘This isn’t just about cards.’

Emperor Leonius Bell glanced at the small box placed before him.

Inside was a limited-edition card, crafted by Rupert, to be awarded to the tournament’s winner.

Initially, the Emperor had been skeptical of Rupert’s bold claim that a mere card game could ignite such fervor. But now, he couldn’t help but marvel at how events had unfolded exactly as Rupert predicted.

‘Not now, but as time passes, the prestige of the Imperial family hosting this tournament will only grow.’

Rupert’s argument that the tournament would eventually bolster imperial authority now seemed entirely plausible.

“If you were competing, surely you’d win, wouldn’t you?” the Emperor teased.

“I’m honored by your high opinion, Your Majesty. But I am merely a manga artist; my card game skills are rather mediocre,” Rupert responded humbly.

“Hm? Even though you’re the creator of the card game in your manga?”

“Embarrassingly so, Your Majesty.”

Rupert, the mastermind behind the tournament, had been granted the honor of sitting beside the Emperor in his designated seat.

Though the arrangement made Rupert deeply uncomfortable, he couldn’t exactly refuse an imperial decree. All he could do was respond to the Emperor’s questions with measured politeness.

‘Even as the creator, there are geniuses far beyond me.’

While Rupert could hold his own against average players, the competitive field was filled with brilliant duelists capable of moves that surpassed even the creator’s intentions.

Given the nature of card games, which required quick thinking and psychological tactics, it was nearly impossible for even a creator to guarantee victory.

“Now, let the Imperial Somerset Card Game Tournament Finals begin!!!!”

The loud announcement echoed from the center of the Colosseum, amplified by magic for all to hear.

“What a powerful voice.”

“We recruited a well-known actor from a prestigious troupe just for this event,” Julius explained.

“And there’s a commentator as well?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Since not everyone understands card games, we’ve arranged for analysts to explain the strategies and moves of the competitors.”

“Impressive.”

Outside the specially installed Duel Room, an announcer and two commentators narrated the matches in real-time.

This feature, proposed by Rupert, mirrored successful elements from past gaming tournaments, making the matches accessible even to those unfamiliar with the rules.

Thanks to this setup, the audience not only enjoyed the matches but also gained insights into the strategies behind the moves.

“The winner of the first finals match is… Joey!!!”

Cheers erupted once again as the victor of the opening match—Joey, a young boy—waved tearfully to the crowd.

“That boy has remarkable skill.”

“Indeed, Your Majesty. Four of the finalists in this tournament are underage.”

“Four? Interesting.”

“Since this isn’t a physical competition, children can match adults purely through strategy, which adds to the tournament’s appeal.”

Among the finalists were three other minors besides Joey.

‘I never expected Ada to make it to the finals.’

Rupert glanced at the bracket, spotting Ada Somerset’s name, and found himself conflicted between cheering her on and wishing for her early elimination to avoid further chaos.

‘This damned boy…!’

The Emperor, too, was grappling with irritation upon seeing the name William Bell among the participants.

His second son had skipped important meetings with his betrothed’s family, only to be revealed as a participant in the card tournament. The realization left the Emperor massaging his temples.

“Look, it’s the Second Prince!”
“Is that the infamous womanizer?”
“Hush! Watch your words!”

The Second Prince, William, had deliberately cultivated a reputation as a libertine to deflect attention from his true ambitions.

But now—

“Who would’ve thought the Clairvoyant Duelist was the Second Prince!”
“Royalty isn’t royalty for nothing! Hidden claws, indeed!”
“There are only two undefeated players from both the preliminaries and the finals, and he’s one of them!”

The previously enigmatic Clairvoyant Duelist had been revealed as none other than Prince William. Public perception of him shifted dramatically overnight.

Though he couldn’t rival the popularity of his elder brother, the Steel Crown Prince, his newfound fame was undeniable.

‘This life… might not be so bad.’

William, who had once tarnished his reputation to avoid threatening his brother’s position, now found himself enjoying a spotlight that didn’t involve conspiracies or deception.

“Victory goes to Prince William!!!!”

“Waaahhh!!!”

William reveled in the thrill of showcasing his skills without harming or sacrificing anyone, his heart swelling with a new sense of purpose.

Scanning the bracket, he spotted his next opponent, someone he had seen duel earlier.

Though he was confident of victory, his attention lingered on the opposite side of the tournament bracket.

“No matter how much my brother cherishes her, I won’t hold back.”

Having watched Ada’s earlier match, William recognized the young girl as a formidable opponent. Despite her connection to his brother Alex, he resolved to give it his all.

"Through thousands of years! At last, the prophesied… ♬"

A grand song filled the Colosseum, resonating through every corner.

“Wow! The dragon is moving!”
“Isn’t that the White Snow Blue Dragon?!”
“This is insane! Is this what they call an animation?!”

As the quarterfinals approached, a massive rectangular screen at the center of the arena began playing a segment from The King of Cards animation, accompanied by the rousing theme song.

Although many in the Empire had already seen animations at the Somerset Theater, a significant portion of the audience had never experienced one before.

The reaction to The King of Cards animation was electric.

• Production of The King of Cards Animation Officially Announced!

The announcement, emblazoned across the screen, triggered an even louder wave of cheers from the crowd.

Most of the attendees were ardent fans of the The King of Cards manga, having come to the tournament to witness their favorite characters come to life in duels. The news of an animated adaptation was more than enough to set their hearts racing.

• "Happy, happy, happy! A great day! Bring your family to Somerset Goods Store!"

Following the animation segment, an upbeat advertisement for the Somerset and Uren Trading Company played, featuring a catchy jingle.

The audience, still mesmerized by the animation, found themselves equally captivated by the commercial.

“Hey, why is this song so catchy after just one listen?”
“Exactly! It’s weirdly addictive—happy, happy, happy~.”
“Now that I think about it, taking the kids to the goods store might not be such a bad idea.”

Unconsciously humming along, spectators found themselves drawn into the advertisement’s infectious tune.

“I almost missed this and would have regretted it forever.”

Esteban, the head of the Uren Trading Company, observed the scene with a satisfied smile.

Although Rupert, who had orchestrated this brilliant advertisement, couldn’t join the celebration due to his duties alongside the Emperor, Esteban was certain that the mid-tournament commercial was an enormous success.

Ordinary methods like flyers or street advertising had struggled to capture people’s attention. But now, with this captivating visual and auditory presentation, the effect was undeniable. People were intrigued, amused, and thoroughly hooked.

“Happy, happy, happy! A great day~ This song really is well-crafted.”

Though Esteban had initially thought Rupert’s confidence in the strange lyrics was a gamble, he couldn’t stop himself from humming along by the end.

This marked the debut of mid-event advertising during what would later be known as the Imperial Somerset Card Tournament.

Little did Esteban know, this groundbreaking moment would spark a competitive frenzy among advertisers, with enormous sums of money being poured into securing future ad slots in tournaments to come.