Arc 2: A Name of High and Fires
Chapter 14: A Game Of Chess
If foolish people didn't insist on believing they were smart, the world would be a lot simpler
Alex Berenson
Valorin City, Republic of Cascyn - Nyoria
Caw, Caw, Caw!
The cries of the sea birds,
Push!
The waves beating against the docking ships.
A ship of structure, grand masts, with the crystal sculpture of a falcon up front- The Queen
The ship obviously belonged to a man of stature
That man stood in one of the chambers of the ship, his arms crossed behind his back as he looked at the coastal city that belonged to him.
He wore only trousers and a round-neck shirt.
He turned to the paper on his table, one containing a letter.
[Let's play a game, Dear Ino
You can't say I wasn't fair, I warned you before hand
Most don't get that, so you don't get to be as boorish as them.
Let's play a game of raw strategic power.
A game of chess.
I learnt that out of the Hidden Eye, you are one of the
smartest, show me that I didn't just get that from the
vineyard.
The entire city is our chess board, and everything is allowed,
Let the games begin.]
Knock.
"Sir, we have reached." The messenger spoke.
"Do I have any meetings to attend?" Ino asked.
"Yes, with Sir Lang Chao." The assistant nodded.
-
-
-
_Thud_
He climbed the stairs with measured steps, his entourage following closely behind him.
Then he paused before a door, their destination. "You are certain no one entered my chambers?" He asked.
"Yes sir, the cameras recorded no such activities. The magic barrier was also on at that time." His assistant Zhang Xue affirmed. Walking forward to open the door.
"Welcome back- Boss!" The doors opened, and the group inside rose, giving a bow.
He stepped in, walking calmly to the desk by the window.
"Let's get down to business." Ino said, then with a nod, Lang's group took their seats.
"According to your orders, we've secured a group of grade A and B mage veins." Lang said as he gave a notebook to one of his men to hand over.
"9?' Ino frowned as he flipped through the pages of the book. "I had given you the locations of 10 veins before I left."
"There was a minor setback." Lang stammered to explain.
"I'm listening." His eyes still glancing through the notebook, he leaned back.
"The 10th mage vein, along with the towns by it vanished after we sent a securing team." Lang said.
"Where is the team?" Ino raised his eyes to look at Lang. In them was contained a dangerous glint.
"They went M.I.A." Lang paused, noticing the rising anger in Ino's eyes. "There was a letter on site however." He gave a blue paper to one of his men to hand over.
[This is my first move.
You just made yours.
Await my next.]
"Huh?" Ino chuckled, bending his head slightly
"Hahaha!" He burst into thunderous laughter.
_ _ _
_Boom_
A figure was thrown to the other side of a boxing ring.
"Why so dull?' From the opposite end, Ino asked, jumping as a warm up.
"Grunt." His opponent pushed himself of the ground, re-entering his battle stance.
_Push_
Exerting force on his legs, he thrust towards Ino at full sprint.
"Getting old." Ino sighed, lowering his fist, then punching the poor man in the head as he neared.
_Boom_
He was sent crushing head first into the ground.
"Hm." Ino sighed, taking a towel and exiting the ring.
"Sir," Xue called. "Will you still play with Chess master Xan Cho?"
"I don't think so, I've found a more interesting opponent." He smiled.
"Emm…" She pursed her lips, her eyes looking over Ino and at the injured man lying in the ring.
"Are you going to finish that?" She asked.
"Take your time, he might infect you with bore." Ino shook his head walking forward.
_Slurp_
She licked her lips, a red circle appearing faintly in her eyes as she walked towards the ring.