The Spade Kingdom, one of the four great suits of power, had always been a land of prosperity.
But a single rebellion cast it into ruin, placing it under the rule of demons.
Its once-thriving order rotted away, not to complete collapse, but a shadow of its former glory.
Yet, in the last two months, the capital of Spade had undergone a startling transformation.
The streets bustled with neon brilliance, taverns and casinos brimming with life, crowds overflowing with excitement.
"Ras, got any coin left? Lend me a little."
"Cut it out. My monthly pay barely covers my own needs, and you're still throwing it away at the tables? You ever hear of 'the house always wins'?"
"You don't know a thing! Forget it—if you won't lend me, I'll find someone else!"
Watching his companion storm off, Ras sighed, his gaze sweeping across the shops and gambling dens that had sprung up.
Once, a single street might have housed two or three businesses at best.
Now, nearly every building glowed with activity.
On the surface, it looked like prosperity reborn.
But the truth was simple: this was all thanks to one man—the merchant who called himself Madara Uchiha.
"Lord Madara, this is today's revenue."
Lucia, clutching a ledger, handed it forward with a glimmer of reverence in her eyes.
Business was never easy—if it were, far more people would be successful.
Especially in a kingdom bled dry by war and poverty.
And yet, in just two months, she had witnessed what could only be called a miracle.
Now, one-third of the businesses in the capital belonged to the Uchiha Syndicate.
Almost every one of them ran at a profit.
Subtracting the initial half-month spent on training and setup, their total earnings had already surpassed three thousand gold coins.
"Not bad. This money really does come easy," Ethan (alias Madara) remarked, glancing casually at the numbers.
Running a business wasn't difficult, so long as you understood what people needed most.
In a kingdom drowned in ruin, what the people craved wasn't only bread, but an outlet for their suffocated emotions.
So, alongside general stores and inns, Ethan had flooded the market with casinos and brothels.
The old Spade Kingdom had gambling dens and pleasure houses, yes—but they were crude, outdated.
His establishments, however, offered games the locals had never seen:
Blackjack, Poker, Texas Hold'em, Mahjong, countless others.
Modern entertainments repackaged in magical form.
More variety meant more customers—and more profits.
And as for the brothels…
"Lord Madara! There's trouble at the Pavilion!"
Ethan sighed, setting aside the ledger. "Again? How many times is this now? …Forget it. Lead the way."
The Pavilion was one of the Syndicate's "entertainment houses."
Though called a brothel, it was closer to a bar with magic lights and enchanted sound-crystals that played music.
Not quite like the taverns of this world, nor the nightclubs of his past one—but close enough.
Inside, music throbbed, lights swept across the floor in vivid colors.
Dancers and courtesans entertained guests with song, drink, and elegance.
And in the middle of it all—chaos.
"You filthy wench! Don't you dare refuse me! I'm a squad captain of the Third Battalion! It's your honor that I even looked at you! Now strip—before I do it for you!"
A drunken officer, face twisted with arrogance, had cornered one of the new girls.
She trembled, trying not to cry, helpless before his rank.
"Please, sir, forgive her! She's new and doesn't know the rules," said Helen, the Pavilion's madam, bowing low with a forced smile.
"If you truly desire company, I'll contact Spring Blossom House immediately and arrange a girl for you myself!"
The Pavilion's rule was clear: sell art, not flesh.
Drinks, song, and dance were offered freely—but what happened beyond that had to be mutual.
Force was forbidden.
"Silence! A low-born rat from the lower realms dares speak back to me?"
Helen's face flushed with humiliation.
Around them, patrons whispered:
"Think he'll walk out alive this time?"
"Who knows… but he's a Third Battalion captain. That's a big title. The last ones who caused trouble here were just thugs."
"Then let's watch. If he can walk out after this, we'll see…"
The Syndicate's Pavilion was staffed by those of humble birth, yes.
But everyone knew—Uchiha's Syndicate now owned a third of the capital.
No one in their right mind underestimated them.
"Enough talking! Three seconds! Strip yourself—or I'll do it for you!"
The captain's eyes gleamed, his hands reaching.
And then—clap, clap, clap.
A slow applause echoed through the hall.
A handsome young man stepped into the circle, lips curved in a faint smile.
The crowd parted instantly, faces flashing with wariness and awe.
"Lord Sasuke, this man—" Helen began nervously.
"I know," Sasuke said flatly, silencing her with a look.
"Leave this to me."
Her eyes shone with admiration as she stepped aside.
The women in the Pavilion all sighed dreamily.
Tall, impossibly handsome, the right hand of Madara himself…
Sasuke Uchiha was the fantasy of every girl here.
And his voice cut like ice:
"You have three seconds. Strip naked and apologize—or I'll strip you myself."
The captain—Marcus—burst out laughing, though his face was flushed red with humiliation.
"You dare speak to me like that? You're the one who's going to die!"
Magic flared, his grimoire floating into the air. The mark of Spade burned upon its cover.
But as he tried to summon his spell, an invisible force pressed down, locking his mana in place.
"W-what?!"
Sasuke lifted his right hand from his pocket, snapped his fingers—snap!
In an instant, Marcus's clothes shredded into scraps, fluttering to the ground.
The crowd erupted in laughter.
"Nice physique!"
"Look at that Spade ass!"
Marcus's face burned crimson as he scrambled to cover himself.
"You—you—!"
But he couldn't endure the mocking stares.
Shame drove him out of the Pavilion, running half-naked into the street.
"Apologies, everyone," Sasuke said, dusting his hands. "A small distraction. Tonight's drinks and entertainment are on the house."
The crowd cheered, their earlier tension dissolving in free indulgence.
Sasuke's gaze hardened as he added, voice cutting through the hall:
"But remember this. The Uchiha Syndicate did not rise here without power or preparation.
Friends are welcome.
Enemies…"
His smile was cold, sharp as a blade.
"…are free to try."
-------------------------
Support me so I can keep bringing you more chapters! Your comments, reviews, and power stones mean a lot.
To get complete access to the novel collection, head over to Patreon:
patreon .com / Samorash
~~Do leave a comment!