diff --git a/SVSim.UnitTests/BattleNode/Integration/HeadlessConductorTests.cs b/SVSim.UnitTests/BattleNode/Integration/HeadlessConductorTests.cs
index bc8d140..28c891a 100644
--- a/SVSim.UnitTests/BattleNode/Integration/HeadlessConductorTests.cs
+++ b/SVSim.UnitTests/BattleNode/Integration/HeadlessConductorTests.cs
@@ -49,18 +49,8 @@ public class HeadlessConductorTests
     // the top 3 of the node-native shuffled deck. Both seats deal the same idx triple.
     private static Dictionary<string, object?> DealBody() => new()
     {
-        ["self"] = new List<object?>
-        {
-            new Dictionary<string, object?> { ["pos"] = 0, ["idx"] = 1 },
-            new Dictionary<string, object?> { ["pos"] = 1, ["idx"] = 2 },
-            new Dictionary<string, object?> { ["pos"] = 2, ["idx"] = 3 },
-        },
-        ["oppo"] = new List<object?>
-        {
-            new Dictionary<string, object?> { ["pos"] = 0, ["idx"] = 1 },
-            new Dictionary<string, object?> { ["pos"] = 1, ["idx"] = 2 },
-            new Dictionary<string, object?> { ["pos"] = 2, ["idx"] = 3 },
-        },
+        ["self"] = PosIdxList((0, 1), (1, 2), (2, 3)),
+        ["oppo"] = PosIdxList((0, 1), (1, 2), (2, 3)),
     };
 
     // A minimal vanilla hand-card play: type 30 == PLAY_HAND; playIdx is the played card's index.
@@ -93,7 +83,7 @@ public class HeadlessConductorTests
     // consumes to seal the mulligan and start turn 1. Mirrors battle_test_cl1's Ready receive.
     private static Dictionary<string, object?> ReadyBody() => new()
     {
-        ["self"] = PosIdxList((0, 1), (1, 2), (2, 4)),
+        ["self"] = PosIdxList((0, 1), (1, 2), (2, 4)), // same post-mulligan self hand as SwapBody — Ready re-echoes it
         ["oppo"] = PosIdxList((0, 1), (1, 2), (2, 3)),
         ["idxChangeSeed"] = 857671914,
         ["spin"] = 0,
@@ -176,6 +166,9 @@ public class HeadlessConductorTests
         Assert.That(harness.Turn(playerSeat: false), Is.EqualTo(1), "seat B turn counter");
         Assert.That(harness.Pp(playerSeat: false), Is.EqualTo(1), "turn 2 ramps seat B max PP to 1");
         Assert.That(harness.HandCount(playerSeat: false), Is.EqualTo(1), "seat B turn-1 draw");
+        // Seat B's opening hand was dealt into hidden zones (not HandCardList), so its deck started at 30;
+        // the single turn-1 draw brings it to 29.
+        Assert.That(harness.DeckCount(playerSeat: false), Is.EqualTo(29), "seat B deck after turn-1 draw");
 
         // Both leaders untouched (no damage dealt across the two opening turns) — state tracks
         // cleanly on BOTH seats at the turn boundary.