The Sovereign Deck

Alistair rested both hands on his cane, his voice echoing clearly across the vast stone hall.

"As I mentioned, the world currently exists in a state of fragile peace. No major pantheon, demon lord, or human faction wants to initiate an all-out apocalyptic war. However, that does not mean conflicts do not arise. Daily disputes over territory, ancient artifacts, dimensional boundaries, and high-tier resources occur constantly behind the scenes."

Grandfather paused, a subtle, intriguing glint flashing in his eyes. "Centuries ago, to prevent these localized disputes from spiraling into bloodshed, the Devil Queen, Lucifer, proposed a grand, universal system of resolution."

He looked down at me. "Seth... do you know what a standard deck of playing cards is?"

I raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised by the sudden shift in topic. "You mean fifty-two cards, four suits, plus two jokers?"