Chapter 235 - Ploy

Translator: Atlas Studios  Editor: Atlas Studios

“Of course not!” Willow Stone denied it vehemently. Her eyes were set and resolute.

Finn Taylor stared straight at her and eventually chose to believe her. He was now sure that Willow Stone indeed wasn’t the killer. ‘But who could it be if not her? Were they really so unlucky to have bumped into an enemy? But since I can’t think of an answer, I shouldn’t think about it anymore. The competition is starting tomorrow, and we have to draw lots in the afternoon today.’

Finn Taylor glanced at Willow Stone. “It looks like things are a mess outside. You’d better not go out.”

“Why? Are you scared that I’d ask you to go with me?” Willow Stone said half-jokingly.

“I only shop with my wife,” Finn Taylor answered seriously.

Hearing that, Willow Stone was clearly stunned. ‘Why would he suddenly bring Yvette Larson up? Is he trying to annoy me on purpose, or was it unintentional?’

That afternoon, Megan Daimler visited them at the hotel. She was there to pick Finn Taylor and Willow Stone up for the drawing of lots.

Along the way there, Megan Daimler explained the competition rules to the duo.

Each country had two competitors, with more than 60 countries participating in total.

Each match was an elimination match, but the length of each game was undetermined. They would make a decision regarding that on the spot during the competition.

Also, the ones making the decision wouldn’t be the American Chess Association but the Japanese Chess Association. This was because the Japanese had won the previous championship.

Megan Daimler then told Finn Taylor to watch out for a certain player—Kuro Takeda.

He was a genius chess player from Japan and a disciple of Yoshie Masaki. When playing against opponents of the same skill level, he never took more than 100 moves to utterly crush them.

Megan Daimler even told Finn Taylor that he could consider himself victorious if he were to force Kuro Takeda to make his 101st move, even if he eventually lost the game.

Finn Taylor nearly vomited blood after hearing that. ‘What does that even mean? Victorious even if I lose the game? Winning is winning, and losing is losing. There’s no such thing as being victorious if you lose.’ 

“Do you have the confidence to win the championship?” Willow Stone grew a little frantic as she listened on by the side, so she couldn’t help but question Finn Taylor.

“Full confidence.”

That stunned both Willow Stone and Megan Daimler speechless.

Just earlier, Megan Daimler had gone on and on to knock it into Finn Taylor that Kuro Takeda was a strong contender the former had to be careful about. Yet, it seemed like he had taken nothing to heart and was going to go on his own merry ways.

After arriving at the American Chess Association, Finn Taylor and Willow Stone drew their lots.

Finn Taylor was number 8, while Willow Stone was number 13.

It was a good thing that they had gotten into separate groups.

“Look over there.” Megan Daimler pointed in a direction, and the other two quickly followed.

In that direction were two men—one young and one old.

The elder was dressed in a long, white robe, his hair silvery.

The man—on the other hand—was dressed in all-black, his eyes filled with viciousness.

“They’re Kuro Takeda and Yoshie Masaki.”

Finn Taylor studied the two men carefully. ‘I guess my greatest opponent will be Kuro Takeda. I promised Yvette I’d bring home the championship. I can’t go back on my word.’ 

To be honest, Finn Taylor didn’t have much interest in defeating Kuro Takeda. The one he wanted to defeat was Yoshie Masaki—the top in the world!

Even Jessica Daimler couldn’t hold a candle to him.

Since this competition was organized by the American Chess Association and both accommodation and food were provided, the competitors didn’t need to leave the venue and could simply stay here.

“Master said that I should follow you back after this competition. She thinks that you have very interesting and unique chess skills that even she doesn’t understand. She wants me to learn from you,” Megan Daimler said, a little abashed.

Although Finn Taylor didn’t say anything, Willow Stone’s gaze changed. “I don’t think that’s appropriate. Don’t you think you’ll affect his relationship with his wife?”

“No, I’m going to learn chess. What does that have to do with his marriage?”

“This…” Willow Stone didn’t want Megan Daimler to butt in. She was sure that Finn Taylor was an outstanding man—so much so that she was willing to betray her best friend to have him for herself.

She didn’t want to have to go against so many women for a single man. Besides, these other women were all brilliant in their own right.

In San Francisco were Yvette Larson, Clarine Landon, and Kimberly Gold.

From San Diego was Lindsey Taylor.

Los Angeles, Chloe Yeats.

Chicago, Felicity.

‘Do I have to compete with even Megan Daimler now?’ 

These women were all well-known figures in their own industries, yet they all submitted to Finn Taylor.

Everyone else thought that Finn Taylor was nothing more than a piece of trash and the matrilocal son-in-law of the Larson family. Who would’ve expected him to be this outstanding?

Nothing came out of Willow Stone and Megan Daimler’s fight because Finn Taylor refused to step in. After all, neither of them was the woman he cared about most.

The next day, the competition proceeded as planned.

Both Finn Taylor and Willow Stone very easily defeated their opponents.

But when the results for the lot drawing came out that afternoon, Willow Stone nearly burst into tears—she was about to face Kuro Takeda!

“It seems like I’m going to test the waters for you. I’ll try my best to force him to reveal his strategy. You’d better observe closely.”

A chess player had many paths to choose from, yet they would most likely favor one subconsciously when driven into a corner.

It was dangerous for chess players to reveal such a strategy to their opponents. It was only natural for their opponents to set up traps for them in that case.

Finn Taylor remained indifferent and merely thanked Willow Stone.

The next day, the competition went on.

Finn Taylor defeated his opponent with no challenge at all.

Just like Willow Stone had said, she went all-out to try to force Kuro Takeda into showing his hand.

But reality was cruel—she still had no idea about Kuro Takeda’s strategy.

When faced with the same scenario, Kuro Takeda had used three different methods to draw himself out in the same match.

Willow Stone was crushed and eventually lost the match.

Of course, Finn Taylor had been observing the entire match.

After the match ended, Kuro Takeda took the initiative to approach him. “You must be the other competitor from America. Tomorrow, I’ll make you kneel at my feet.”

His eyes were filled with murderous intent.

Finn Taylor hated people who were this smug.

“I’ll defeat you,” Finn Taylor roared back.

Kuro Takeda obviously didn’t believe a word the other said and simply left.

Finn Taylor was fixated on the word ‘tomorrow.’

‘Why did he say that? Can he control the drawing of lots? What if we don’t have a face-off tomorrow? Wouldn’t he have said that in vain then, or is there something more to this?’