Mr. Pantalone has no crazy plans today.

为什么事情会变成这样呢：

For the first time, he had a plan that he had prepared himself and had everything under his control. For the first time, he successfully made his adversary, who had always been against him, suffer a setback.

Two happy things combined should make you even happier.

This should have been a blissful, dreamlike time of happiness and relaxation...

But why did things turn out this way?

Yes, how exactly did he pass away?

I just can't figure it out, I really can't figure it out.

With this deep sense of helplessness, Pantalone finally stepped into the deep and cold winter palace. Gazing at the scene before him, which seemed familiar to him in his 'dream', he couldn't help but feel a strange sense of disorientation.

To be honest, even as one of the executors of the Fools, Pantalone was not entirely familiar with the Winter Palace.

After all, apart from Piero, who was a "clown," most of the executives were not actually regulars at the Winter Palace.

Even as the executor of the Fools, he has come here very few times, except for special occasions and meetings.

Basically, among the many magistrates of the Fools, only "The Clown" Piero was a regular resident of the Winter Palace.

With other thoughts in mind, Pantalone walked through the desolate ice palace, and after traversing the deep corridors, he finally arrived at his destination.

A chess room that doesn't seem particularly special.

If there is anything noteworthy, it is the ashen-white figure in that room, the half-face covered by a dark blue mask, and the slightly closed left eye.

Although he looks old, he doesn't give the impression of being a frail old man.

On the contrary, his tall and robust physique exuded a powerful sense of oppression, both inside and out, befitting the First Executive Officer and leader of the Fools.

That was Piero, the chief executive officer of the Fools, who was known as the "clown".

A chessboard lay before him, as if he were waiting for someone. The moment Pantalone stepped into the room, his slightly closed eyes opened.

He revealed an eye that seemed to hold the dark stars within it, a unique feature of the remnants of Kanria.

The moment those star-like eyes opened, his gaze fell upon Pantalone, and when they met that oppressive gaze, Pantalone felt a sense of pressure.

It was the same when he once encountered a "girl" on a snowy mountain.

However, this time he was not facing the "girl" Columbia, the third seat of the Fools' Enforcers.

Instead, it is Piero, the "clown" who serves as the commander-in-chief and CEO of the Fools.

"Since you're here, why don't you join me for a game of Go?"

Upon seeing Pantalone's arrival, Piero, holding a chess piece in his hand, did not immediately bring up the matter of today's meeting, but instead brought up another topic.

This made him, who had originally prepared to be questioned by Piero, suddenly realize that his prepared remarks were somewhat uncertain.

After glancing at the unfinished game in front of Piero, countless thoughts raced through his mind.

This made him start to wonder if there was some deeper meaning behind Piero's invitation to play chess that he was unaware of.

Is this a test?

Or perhaps he has some plans that he doesn't know about?

But whatever the case, for now he can only take it one step at a time.

Pantalone, his mind racing, took a deep breath and smiled as he looked at Piero, who was sitting in the chair, and gave his answer.

"It is my honor. Since it is an invitation from His Excellency the Commander, I naturally have no reason to refuse."

"Then please sit down."

Piero ignored Pantalone's flattery and spoke in his usual calm tone.

Even in Pantalone's memory, the impression of this commander was the same.

As the first executor of the Fatui and the executor who followed the Ice Queen the longest, compared to brainless idiots like "Lady," this immortal who has lived for over five hundred years is arguably one of the most deeply hidden and mysterious people in the Fatui.

Even the other executives of the Fools could never fathom the thoughts of the original executive, which is the main reason why Pantalone was so wary of dealing with Piero.

He thought it was fine with other people, but regarding this original executor of the Fools...

He genuinely wasn't confident he could get away with it.

He couldn't guarantee that he wouldn't reveal his true colors in front of the Fools' first executor.

But now that things have come to this, he has no choice but to bite the bullet and go for it.

After taking his seat, Pantalone looked at the unfinished game in front of him, pondered for a moment, and then picked up a piece and pushed it forward.

After seeing Pantalone's move, Piero also reached out and controlled the movement of a piece in response.

As the pieces moved, Piero got down to business.

"The motions proposed at today's executive meeting, that's not the whole picture of your plan, is it?"

The sudden remark about the "clown" caused Pantalone's hand, which was holding a chess piece, to stiffen slightly.

So it really happened?

Fortunately, he had anticipated this, so he was mentally prepared.