The work of the Go master

Ke Zhiguang didn't quite understand.

Isn't a camp trip basically just a vacation? Does that mean the longer you take a vacation, the more tired you get?

"Ke-kun, what's with that surprised look on your face? Although the training camp is in a star-rated hotel by the sea, which seems very relaxing, the training pressure every day is very high. Of course, you should spend time with your family and take good care of yourself after you come back, especially for girls," Cang Yuqiao said.

Ke Zhiguang gazed thoughtfully into the distance, a slight unease stirring within him.

Bai Mengyinyu's current state is [Corpse Falcon]. Although there is nothing unusual on the surface, who knows what outrageous things she might do in private? Giving her a day off is not a wise move.

"By the way, Ke-jun, about the Swamp Lord you asked me about yesterday, I think I actually ran into someone last night who might be him."

"Where is he? What does he look like?" Ke Zhiguang instinctively launched into a series of interrogations.

Cang Yuqiao briefly described what happened yesterday: he went out to eat with some of his high-level friends and ran into him at a ramen cart shop.

He looked like someone from the Taisho era, wearing wooden clogs and a yukata from that time, and even a small hat. His attire perfectly matched the impression of Koji Mitsuaki.

It's confirmed that it's him, the Lord of the Swamp.

"Is it possible to get in touch with him?"

"I'm afraid that's not possible. Saito Kyudan doesn't want to be mentioned, and I can't force him."

"How strong is his chess skill?"

"Well, I have no idea about that either!"

"Speak of feeling, how strong is his chess skill?" Ke Zhiguang continued with his abstract and metaphysical approach, leaving Cang Yuqiao speechless.

Are high school students these days really that heavily influenced by comics?

Cangyu Bridge recalled briefly the eerie figure standing under the rain-soaked streetlights last night.

The eyes, with vertical pupils resembling those of a snake.

"I feel that his Go strength is at least 6 dan or higher." Cang Yuqiao hesitated for a moment before speaking, managing to come up with an abstract feeling.

He's stronger than I imagined. Kojiro only thinks he's a 6th dan, so facing him would be a tough battle.

Just thinking about it is exciting.

Seeing Ke Zhiguang's serious expression, Cang Yuqiao could only sigh helplessly.

He didn't know how Ke Zhiguang had gotten involved with the other party, nor did he understand why Ke Zhiguang wanted to defeat him, but at times like this... all he had to do was smile and accept everything.

Ke Zhiguang left the school just like that.

He didn't invite Mizuki Yuzuki this time.

Yesterday, Mizuki said that when the Lord of the Swamp passed by her, she felt very uncomfortable. Perhaps the Lord of the Swamp really does possess some kind of non-scientific mental influence skill.

In that case, it's better not to drag Mizuki Yuuki into this; he should deal with this enemy solo.

After taking the subway to the destination, it was already getting dark. Yesterday, I brushed past the Lord of the Swamp at 8 PM, and now it's 7 PM, so there's still an hour to go.

Next, just wait.

He leaned against the subway entrance, his gaze sweeping across the faces of every passerby. Music drifted from the shops, and the neon lights gradually warmed up.

Ten minutes...

Twenty minutes...

Fifty minutes...

Getting closer and closer.

Thanks to his experience with Go over the past two weeks, his patience has been honed to a certain degree. Even when doing tedious tasks, he can maintain full concentration, like a forest hunter waiting for his chance.

I currently have four main items.

The first item is a talisman, a spiritual item, which is helpful in triggering events.

The second item is the [Special Item: Weather Doll] that I just received this morning.

The effect is to automatically change the weather at crucial moments, and it can only be used once. It was obtained from Cang Yuqiao.

The description reads: "If it had rained then, and I had taken shelter under the same roof as her, I could have won her heart."

It sounds like a story, but who knows what Aoba-sensei went through in his youth.

However, the Weather Doll is a passively triggered item, and it remains unknown how it can help itself by changing the weather.

It might even backfire at a crucial moment.

There's also a challenge ticket and an event trigger ticket.

Later tests revealed that the challenge tickets were not consistently effective. Ke Zhiguang had secretly used the challenge tickets on the store manager, but to no avail.

Just as he was about to fall asleep, he spun an event trigger scroll, but of course, nothing was triggered.

Both of these types of papers depend on the recipient and the occasion.

Their descriptions only state "increases the probability," without guaranteeing that they will work.

As time continued to pass, Ke Zhiguang's heart began to race.

He couldn't guarantee he would defeat the Swamp Lord, and he was even more uncertain about the consequences of being defeated by him.

But it was precisely this unknown, evenly matched situation that made him feel a little apprehensive, and his legs started to tremble slightly.

three minutes.

Two minutes.

One minute.

8 points.

The surrounding loudspeakers announced that the prime-time slot of 8 p.m. had arrived.

Still no one was found dressed in Taisho-era clothing.

—It's time to use event-triggered volumes.

If the odds are right, then take the gamble.

搓！

The moment the event trigger scroll was finished, the broadcast announced again: "The two-player chess event, which will be held at 8 PM tonight on the third floor of Building A, has begun. Interested customers are kindly requested to attend and watch."

It seems to have worked.

It's an activity related to Go (Weiqi).

It's possible that the Lord of the Swamp is there.

Ke Zhiguang arrived at the third floor of Building A. There were indeed quite a few people gathered at the entrance of a Go training class, who were probably there to participate in an event.

"Excuse me, what kind of event is this?" Ke Zhiguang asked a passerby while observing his surroundings.

"A two-player chess activity is a game of chess played in a 2V2 format. Teammates cannot talk to each other, and each player takes turns making a move," a passerby replied.

Ke Zhiguang nodded; it sounded like a very interesting activity.

"Customers without teammates, please come here to draw lots. Those who draw the same number will form a team." A staff member carried out the lottery box.

Ke Zhiguang went up and drew a lot.

His heart pounded even harder. If he really was destined to be the protagonist, then according to this script, he would either be drawn to be the Lord of the Swamp as a teammate or become the opponent in the final battle.

"Number 35, is anyone number 35?" Ke Zhiguang looked around.

"Um, I'm number 35, so we'll..."

Suddenly, the other person fell silent, and Ke Zhiguang turned to look at them.

Ke Zhiguang opened his mouth slightly.

In a sense, this is also a protagonist's destiny.

Bai Mengyinyu... is his teammate.

"Ke...Ke Zhiguang, why are you here?" The moment Bai Mengyinyu recognized Ke Zhiguang, her gentle smile gradually faded, turning into an expression of utter astonishment.

"Well... to be honest, I'd also like to know, President, what brings you here?" Ke Zhiguang scratched the back of his head. Maybe it's because detectives encounter murder cases every day that they feel this awkwardness of being puzzled as well.

Chapter 42 Two-Player Chess

When Bai Mengyinyu met Ke Zhiguang in this place, her first reaction was that she was being followed. She shrank back in fright, and her tall figure suddenly looked shorter.

My second reaction was—

"Could it be that you're here for the washing machine too?" Bai Mengyinyu's eyes immediately paled at the thought, thinking to herself that she might as well have ulterior motives towards me.

In short, the washing machine is the bottom line!

She straightened her back!

"Washing machine?" Ke Zhiguang asked with a question mark, his first reaction being to mishear "Shinichi-chan," wondering how he had stumbled upon a scene from a detective show.

Ke Zhiguang glanced around cleverly and, sure enough, noticed that the event notice board listed the first-place prize as a washing machine.

Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be an electronics store. An electronics store holding a Go (Weiqi) event? This worldview is truly astounding.

Ke Zhiguang suddenly remembered that Shuicheng Xiyue had mentioned that the president seemed to be the kind of protagonist character template who came from a poor family, with both parents deceased, a sister, and a house.

With this kind of persona, it's not surprising that she'd participate in the event obsessed with a washing machine... right?

"I have no interest in washing machines. I just happened to be passing by and heard there was a Go event here, so I joined in," Ke Zhiguang replied calmly. "How did you know there was an event here, President?"

“Every week, the ‘Sunday Go News’ publishes a list of Go events in Tokyo that week, along with the prizes. I came here because I saw there was a washing machine,” Bai Mengyin said softly.

It sounds like a bounty hunter.

President, have you always lived like this?

Ke Zhiguang glanced around and indeed sensed a fighting spirit. The people around him all had the faces of seasoned chess players, and there were also some middle school students with extremely strong aggressive desires, all eager to fight.

It has a feeling of being in a cultivation story, where people compete for treasure in the mortal world, except that the treasure is a washing machine instead of a magic weapon.

Is a washing machine really that tempting?

Are these people just bored or poor?

"Don't worry, President, I won't fight you for the washing machine. I'm really just participating in this event out of interest," Ke Zhiguang said casually, since the washing machine roll might just burst out any day anyway.