Chapter 236 - Unfair Finals

Translator: Atlas Studios  Editor: Atlas Studios

That night, Jessica Daimler invited both Finn Taylor and Willow Stone to dinner.

“Finn Taylor, I saw Kuro Takeda approach you after the match today.” Jessica Daimler suddenly brought up what she had seen that afternoon.

“Oh right, I wanted to ask you about that too. He told me that he’d defeat me tomorrow. What does that mean? Do you mean that he can control the matches?”

Jessica Daimler’s gaze was filled with worry when she heard that. “It seems like they’re going to go all-out.”

“What do you mean? Tell me about it.”

“In recent years, the Japanese chess team has been suppressing the American team. However, we’re still the governing team of the International Chess Association. They’ve always been unhappy about that, but it looks like they’re finally going to do something about it this time.”

“Finn Taylor, the Japanese team is definitely going to have some tricks up their sleeves tomorrow. You’d better watch out.”

There had been some grudges between Finn Taylor and Jessica Daimler in the past, but they were still representing the same team. Now that it concerned another country, the two were on the same line.

“Please rest assured, Ms. Daimler. I’ll do my best.”

…

The next day, the competition resumed.

Finn Taylor went against a competitor from Thailand. Before long, he managed to defeat the other.

What surprised Finn Taylor was that his next opponent came forward the moment the previous match ended.

“What’s going on? Why doesn’t Finn Taylor get any time to rest?” Jessica Daimler expressed her suspicions.

But that was useless. After all, it was the Japanese team that had arranged the competition schedule.

Just like that, Finn Taylor played consecutive matches.

By the time afternoon came, Kuro Takeda had finished all his matches.

Almost everyone who had been scheduled against him had practically given up the moment they realized that they were up against him. With that, Kuro Takeda ended the matches in record time and was thrust right into the finals.

He was already resting while Finn Taylor still competed, playing one match after another.

Although these competitors were no match for Finn Taylor, they tried to prolong the games.

Each match lasted almost an hour. Because of that, the competition lasted all the way until half-past 11 at night.

Eventually, Finn Taylor defeated all the other competitors to qualify for the finals. He had gone without food or drink the entire day.

Finn Taylor stood up unsteadily, gazing at Yoshie Masaki. “Tomorrow, I’ll be sure to crush your disciple and Japan under my feet. No matter what you do, you won’t match up to us.”

Yoshie Masaki acted as though he hadn’t heard a single word of Finn Taylor’s threat. Instead, he simply stood up and turned to the audience. “I’m sorry, everyone. I just received news that my family member was suddenly sent to the emergency room. I have to rush back, so Japan will bow out of this competition this time. We’ll give up the championship title to these little kids here.”

Yoshie Masaki stunned everyone at the scene, and Finn Taylor and Jessica Daimler shared a gaze.

Everyone’s eyes were filled with confusion.‘What is Yoshie Masaki trying to do?’

“Mr. Yoshie, you’re the top chess player in the world. What’s the point of this competition going on if you forfeit your place?”

“That’s right. There’d be no point in this competition if we win this championship with no competition at all.”

“Mr. Yoshie, you’re being very disrespectful.” The representatives of each country stood up one after another, expressing their discontent.

“But I really can’t stay till the end of this competition.” Yoshie Masaki expressed his sincere apology once again.

Just then, someone shouted, “Why don’t we start the finals now? You’ll be able to return home once we end. That should be fine, right?”

“That’s right. We should start the finals right away.”

“Ms. Daimler, you wouldn’t mind, would you?”

It was only then that Finn Taylor and the others from his team realized the reason behind Yoshie Masaki’s show.

Finn Taylor had been competing for over ten consecutive hours. On the other hand, Kuro Takeda had ended his matches quickly and gone back to rest.

One was dog-tired, while the other was full of energy.

It was an unfair match to begin with, and Jessica Daimler started to refuse their suggestions. “There’s no point in playing such an unfair match.”

“What do you mean, Jessica Daimler?”

“Mr. Yoshie’s wife is sick, and he needs to rush back. Don’t you think you’re really cold and uncaring by denying him that right?”

“That’s right. Are all American chess players this heartless?”

“Start the competition right away. Otherwise, we’ll never attend American-organized competitions again.”

“I agree.”

“Me too.” One by one, the other competitors stood up for the Japanese team, criticizing the American team.

It was obvious that the Japanese team had set this up, yet everyone chose to ignore that fact.

Of course, it wasn’t because they chose to do so but because they had been in cahoots with the Japanese team from the very beginning.

Finn Taylor stood up and glared at Yoshie Masaki. “I can start the match now, but I have a request.”

As soon as Finn Taylor finished his sentence, everyone erupted in disagreement. “How dare you!”

“You’re just a boy who’s still wet behind the ears. How dare you make a request of Mr. Yoshie!”

“Look at these young players from America. They know nothing about respect.”

But Finn Taylor remained indifferent.

“What’s your request?”

“After defeating your disciple, I want to challenge you. I don’t think you’re worthy of being the top in the world.”

Hiss!

Everyone drew a sharp breath in. ‘He’s too smug! It’s been years since anyone has ever gone against Yoshie Masaki. In our eyes, he’s unbeatable and a legend! He’s asking to be humiliated by going against Yoshie Masaki!’

“Mr. Yoshie, you mustn’t agree to that.”

“That’s right. If even this boy can challenge you, you’ll be disrespected.”

To everyone’s surprise, Yoshie Masaki replied blandly, “Alright. I’ll take it as giving my juniors some advice.”

With that, the audience started praising Yoshie Masaki. “You’re so humble, Mr. Yoshie.”

“That’s right! You’re really the top in the world, Mr. Yoshie. Not only are you good at chess, but your character is also superb!”

“Yes, this is a man worthy of being the top in the world. Look at how he carries himself. He’s nothing like those people who ride on the laurels of their predecessors but aren’t capable of doing anything themselves.”

Jessica Daimler knew that they were criticizing her, yet there was nothing she could do.

The truth was that she couldn’t match up to Mr. Yoshie.

In order to maintain the nation’s reputation, she had no choice but to give herself the title of the world’s best female player.. Yet, that was exactly why she had become the subject of ridicule.