Chapter 298: The First Wizarding Card Game Tournament
Chapter 298: The First Wizarding Card Game Tournament
As the end of the month approached, the Wizarding Card Game tournament organized by Albert was about to commence.
Fred, George, and Lee Jordan had all been pressed into service by Albert in recent days, with no time to spare for their usual mischief. They had been busy helping to manufacture the improved cards for the upcoming tournament.
The trio, along with Albert, had invested significant effort into this card game and naturally hoped that it would gain popularity among their peers.
On the weekend, Albert was roused from his sleep early in the morning by his excited roommates. Rubbing his eyes drowsily, he yawned and complained, "I really don't know what you guys are so worked up about, and aren't you cold?"
Although the weather had been warming up, the snow outside the castle showed no signs of melting. Running around in thin pajamas seemed like a strange choice.
"You think people still remember about the card game tournament?" Lee Jordan asked again as they made their way to the Great Hall for breakfast. This was the third time he had voiced this concern.
Despite his experience as a Quidditch commentator, he seemed nervous, probably worried that no one would show up for the tournament, turning the four of them into a laughing stock at school.
"If no one comes, we'll still have made a nice little profit from the entry fees," George said, feigning greed.
Albert could tell that George was just as anxious as he was, also fearing a low turnout for the tournament.
In fact, they all understood that the initial enthusiasm for the Wizarding Card Game had been waning over time. Most students had joined in out of momentary curiosity, and as the fad faded, only a handful remained truly invested. The decreasing number of attendees at the monthly card game club gatherings was a clear indication of this.
"It's our first attempt, so even if it flops, it's not a big deal," Albert said as he sat down at the dining table and poured himself a cup of hot milk. "Besides, we all experience failures in life. And you guys should have confidence in our game."
"I'm not in the mood for your pep talks," Fred grumbled, not fully understanding the source of Albert's confidence.
"Hey, if you had paid two Sickles to enter, would you just skip the tournament?" Albert shook his head and pulled out a Sickle from his pocket, twirling it on his fingertip as he spoke. "If entry was free, people might not show up, but now that they've paid, even if they regret signing up, we won't refund the fee. No one wants to see their money go to waste, so they'll grit their teeth and join the tournament."
"No one likes losing out," George chimed in.
"Exactly, and since they've already paid, not many will back out halfway," Albert continued. "Plus, the champion takes home ten Galleons."
While British parents did give their children allowances, it was never an excessive amount. Albert, with his ample stash of Galleons, was definitely an exception.
"I see!" The trio exclaimed in unison, finally understanding Albert's strategy. No wonder he had been so insistent on the entry fee and had stressed that it was non-refundable—he was using it as an incentive to ensure participation.
What a cunning fellow! "You're quite the schemer," said Hannah, who had been walking over to join them and had overheard their conversation. She smiled and asked, "So, when does the tournament start?"
"Ten o'clock," Albert replied. "We'll start with the first round of eliminations. There are only 32 participants, so it shouldn't take too long."
Albert had planned out the details of the tournament well in advance.
"Will we be deciding the champion today?" Hannah asked.
"Of course not," Albert said, raising a finger. "With only the four of us as judges," he said, pointing to Fred, George, and Lee Jordan, and then to himself, "we can manage four games at once, plus any no-shows. We should be able to select the top 16 by noon." Albert estimated the timing and continued, "If we have enough time, we'll narrow it down to the top 8, and then hold the finals next month to decide the champion."
"You certainly have the tournament logistics figured out," said Angelina, who had arrived with Alicia. Both of them were also planning to participate in the tournament.
"I heard you guys prepared brand-new cards for the game?" Angelina asked curiously.
"Who told you that?" Albert glanced at his three roommates, and the two culprits immediately raised their hands, pointing at Fred.
"Ahem, it's not like it was a secret or anything. The new cards are ready," Fred said, pointing at Albert to indicate that he had the new cards.
"You really can't keep your mouth shut, can you?" Albert said.
"We need to build some hype. Otherwise, no one will bother showing up," Fred defended himself.
Albert took the elegant box of cards and handed it to Angelina.
She examined the new cards carefully, noting how much more refined and standardized they looked compared to the earlier, rough versions. Even the effects of the cards were written in a beautiful cursive font.
Hannah picked up a spell card, which depicted the wand movement, name, and effect of the spell.
"When will we be able to get our own decks?" Truman, who had come over to inquire about the tournament timings, was immediately drawn to the new cards in Angelina's hands.
"Not yet," Albert replied.
"These cards take a lot of time and effort to make, and we're still improving them. We just wanted to give you a preview of what the future of the Wizarding Card Game might look like," Albert explained.
At the moment, Albert had no plans to mass-produce the cards, and he certainly wasn't going to give them away for free.
"I was worried that the card game wouldn't catch on, but now I'm not so concerned," Truman said, examining the new cards with appreciation.
"Will we have to pay for the decks in the future?"
"It'll be a while before they're officially on sale," Albert said, never one to turn down a business opportunity.
The new cards indeed attracted a lot of attention, far surpassing the initial version. Many enthusiasts were eager to get their hands on the new decks.
"Can we make a complete deck the prize for the champion this year?"
"We can consider that for next year, but the prize for this year will remain unchanged," Albert said, checking his pocket watch. He then cleared a space at the end of the dining table and took out the list of registered participants to call out their names.
There were two students who had signed up but didn't intend to participate, and Albert directly announced their loss. Angelina and another lucky participant advanced to the next round of eliminations before the tournament even began.
"Now, I declare the first Wizarding Card Game tournament officially open!" Albert exclaimed, raising his wand to create sparks and a miniature fireworks display that left everyone momentarily stunned.
(End of Chapter)
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