Chapter 306: Simple Game (2)
It would all be over in the next 20 moves.
Considering the location of the horse that he would move and the space where I can run away, his troops would arrive here within at least 20 moves.
There was still a little more left until the 100 moves he promised would come to an end.
Although I tried hard to hold on, he didn’t spend turns by ignoring the bait thrown earlier or chasing away troops.
He must be thinking that he only needed to take the king.
‘Was I supposed to have added more troops to the king?’
The baits thrown in all directions to prevent the annihilation of the troops did not work.
He knew that he wouldn’t be able to get me within 100 moves.
‘My finger…’
Of course, I could put it back on, but that didn’t mean that I liked the pain that came with having it getting cut off.
No wonder I wanted to give this crazy pro a blow.
I had no choice but to start thinking.
Although I had endured enough, the retreat had already been blocked, and he had tightened me in all directions.
There was also a limit to putting the king behind, and most of the people had already come to their end as chess horses.
I tapped my finger on the table and saw the guy glancing at me.
Seeing that he was still staring at me with a quiet face, he thought that I had still been dealing with him moderately.
The meal that was served a few minutes ago was now getting cold, and those watching the game now turned their gazes to me.
Those who knew how to watch the match must be counting the moves by now.
‘Fuck…’
Although I had no choice, I had to try.
Not only did I smirk, but I also showed a smile as if everything was going as expected. Everyone’s gazes shifted into curiosity.
They’re wondering why I was able to make this face in such a situation.
Of course, everything was just bullshit and acting.
Jin Qing also started looking at me, amused as I was maintaining the poker face. He then suddenly grinned.
I didn’t say anything, but I had instilled the idea that my next move would be different.
‘Different, my ass.’
Strategy was my area, but not my strength.
It was embarrassing for me to say this, but my strengths were incitement and fabrication, fraud, blackmail, and…
‘Psychological warfare.’
In this kind of game where you could play face-to-face, there was room for this kind of joke.
As soon as I flicked my finger, it began to form a small dragon arm from the table.
The faces of those looking at me were amazed.
Of course, they would.
It was not a very useful ability, but I had never seen anyone who wasn’t surprised to see this dragon skill.
King.
The main unit moving with the king was caught by the product of my alchemy skill, and the horse slowly began to move.
Even in the meantime, I maintained the smile on my face as if Jin Qing would soon get caught.
I made the troops that had spread penetrate his core, and the knights who gained time in the plains also turned around.
It was a ridiculous, evil move, a move that meant nothing.
‘Work. Please… let it work.’
If the answer was that he was overestimating me, I could get this to work. This was not entirely lost yet.
The scattered troops and the soldiers with the king also could afford to resist until the end.
The same went for supplies. It would not be enough, but I could still procure things that could reach his king.
No more production was possible because there were no people…
‘I just need to move the supplies that the soldiers have to the knights.’
Of course, the soldiers would die in isolation.
However, the knight’s sword could still reach the other king.
I had no intention of counterattacking, but I also had no choice but to hope that this meaningless move would become a genius stroke that no one would be able to understand.
It was then that he looked at me quietly.
‘Did it work?’
His face seemed to be wondering as to why I made this move. Seeing him scrambling for an answer was quite funny, honestly speaking.
I didn’t know what his next move would be, but at least I had made room for thought.
Too much pretentiousness could cause doubts, so it would not be harmful to be appropriately arrogant.
I stared at him with my legs crossed slightly as if telling him to figure out, to accept it, and he began to look into the board to see if the move I had made was really correct.
I didn’t say anything. No, it was already unnecessary.
I had no choice but to wait for the Republic’s galleries that came with him to interpret it at will.
As expected, a humming sound began to resonate. I didn’t think he would lose his judgment, but I wanted him to be shaken by the galleries a bit.
Doubt and firm determination were evident in his eyes.
One side would think that he should be careful with my move, and the other side would think it didn’t matter, and to just keep pushing.
In the fight that was taking place inside him, I had no choice but to hope that the one who wanted to wait and see would win.
Finally, he began to hold his horse in his hand.
I looked at the board with a throbbing heart, and he…
‘Done!’
He chose to wait and see another move.
‘Pfff.’
Of course, even if I earned one more turn, it was planned that I would lose, but at least it felt like I had screwed with him.
I didn’t know if he pretended to be deceived or was really deceived, but it was undeniable that he moved as I intended, anyway.
I picked up the horse again with the dragon’s arm still in shape on the table.
There was expectation on his face.
It looked like he was looking forward to what I would do next. Of course, there was nothing to show.
It was just a show to gain some time, but it really seemed like he thought I was hiding something.
‘Retard.’
If he were to look back in this game in the future, he would probably notice that I had nothing hidden up my sleeve.
Once again, it was just when I lifted the horse.
Baaaaang!
The door popped out with a loud sound.
Not only the door, but the entrance itself had gotten completely smashed.
As I turned my head momentarily, I saw a person I was glad to have seen in that moment.
“Hee-ra?”
An angel had come to protect my fingers.
‘Fuuuckl! Cha Hee-ra is the best!’
Of course, it wasn’t just her.
Park Deokgu and Han Sora were also present, and some members of the Red Mercenary.
And…
‘Yuno Kasugano!’
With both eyes closed, I saw a face looking for me urgently.
I had never been this happy to see that face.
“What…”
Jin Qing was dumbfounded, but only for a brief moment. Meanwhile, Valentin, who lost his mind whenever something about Mercenary Queen was brought up, rushed toward her.
Korean Park Deokgu, a combat power meter, blocked him.
Korean Park Deokgu bounced out with a banging sound, but the guy got up again and rushed to the Russian.
“This insect… I’ll kill you.”
“Don’t you think this greeting is too rough…? Ahem. Huh?”
In this sudden situation, Shaolin withdrew her whip, and other Republicans were also preparing for battle.
Of course, our saviors who came to find me also had poison in their eyes.
Jin Qing stood up and once again opened his mouth toward Russian Park Deokgu.
“Valentin Alexandro, I told you I don’t want to cause any problems.”
“…”
“Cha Hee-ra, it’s been a while. And… it’s been a long time, too, Yuno Kasugano.”
“I didn’t come here to get your greetings, you rat. I came to get someone back.”
“Oh, there seems to be a misunderstanding. We did not persecute Lee Kiyoung, one of the Eight Seats of the State, but… rather, Lee Kiyoung came here…”
“Shut up. If you don’t want to see me going crazy… The reason I’m not doing anything now is because of the debt my honey owes to that crazy whip girl.”
I could see Jin Qing staring at Shaolin with a smile on his face.
Shaolin began to open her mouth, gently softening her arm.
“I once stopped that gorilla from going crazy at Castle Rock. Probably because of that…”
“You’re right. Whatever the reason, this event ends here. Oh, Valentin, you’re still the same. How have you been?”
“This bitch…”
I thought their roaring at each other was just like a dog and a cat.
I realized that the Empire’s relationship with the Republic was definitely not that good. Not only for continental people but also for foreigners, but it wasn’t nice to see.
If an accident occurred, there was a high possibility that Jung Hayan and I would be the first to be sacrificed.
Under the Continental Law, accidents in neutral areas were taboo, and Jin Qing, just like me, did not want to cause significant friction.
Although I couldn’t tell which side was superior, the squad with Cha Hee-ra, Yuno Kasugano, and Jung Hayan was by no means weak.
That pro’s ability was still unknown, but if something were to happen, someone would definitely die.
Whatever the case, the first thing to do was to calm the hostility that was filling the air.
“Excuse me, but I think it would be better to stop, Jin Qing.”
“Oh…”
He had a look of regret, probably because he wouldn’t be able to see my next move.
I stood up fairly confidently, and, of course, no one held me back.
It was because Jin Qing had grabbed the hand that I extended.
He also didn’t want to cause friction here, so it was only right that this would end here.
Hee-ra also let go of the tension as the warm atmosphere of exchanging greetings while shaking hands was created.
I wanted to make fun of him a little more, so I opened my mouth toward him.
“If it had gone that way, I would have won the bet.”
Of course, it was bullshit.
“It would have been fun.”
He bowed before turning to look at the board once more.
“Shaolin-nim, I will get in contact with you.”
“I bet you I may go crazy if you don’t do it this time again. I won’t see you off because of that red gorilla, so goodbye.”
Of course, I now planned to make an appointment with Shaolin.
Unlike before, when I was busy paying attention to the inside, I was now interested in the Republic.
What kind of guy Jin Qing was, who were the members of the Five General Tigers of the Republic, and some other basic information.
While I was saying goodbye to Shaolin, Jung Hayan was also talking to Jin Qing, and I could see that he had given her a note.
I had no choice but to realize that the interest he first showed in Jung Hayan was sincere.
‘It’s impossible to like him, that guy.’
It was natural to be upset when someone tried to put their hands on what I had.
As I looked at her quietly, she got surprised and ran over here. The guy who was just trying to say goodbye to Jung Hayan hardened his face for a moment.
Jung Hayan grabbed my arm tightly, and I silently opened my mouth toward her.
I had to make sure she did what I ordered.
“Did you just record it?”
“You mean the war g-game, right?”
“Yes. I’ll analyze it right away when I get home. I’ll send the video to Lee Jihye as well, you will be tired, but it would be better to stay with me all night today. It’s okay with you?”
“Yes… Yes! O-of course. Absolutely.”
“Oh. And I don’t like you getting along with someone like that. Do you know what I’m talking about?”
I can, and you can’t.
I was such a hypocrite.
I could see that Jung Hayan’s face had turned pale upon seeing the reproach on my face.
Innocent Jung Hayan seemed to think that she had just cheated on me.