By Zephyria 
The names of the pieces and the basic rules were all things he had hurriedly memorized over the past two days. Nevertheless, the reason he chose chess was because he judged it to be the only way to bring down that arrogant man.
Of course, it was by no means an honest method.
“Ah, ah. Can you hear me?”
He took out a device hidden inside his clothes and pressed a button; a voice responded through the machine tucked into his ear.
“Yes, standing by.”
After confirming that communication was working properly, Chrissy carefully pushed the wires back in and straightened his clothes so the device wouldn’t be seen. The world was overflowing with people who would do anything for money. Chrissy needed someone who had no interest in others’ affairs and only cared if they were paid properly, and this man was exactly that person.
“Can you see clearly?”
As he looked in the mirror while wearing the pre-prepared lenses, the man answered.
“Two, now three.”
After finishing the final check by raising his fingers to indicate the numbers, Chrissy nodded and gave one last reminder.
“Just tell me where the pieces should move as they appear on the computer. I will transfer the remaining balance within an hour after the game ends.”
“Understood.”
The man answered readily and then fell silent. Chrissy liked that he didn’t say anything unnecessary. After taking a deep breath, Chrissy turned and stepped outside.
Nathaniel Miller was already waiting in the game room. Leaning back comfortably in his chair with his legs crossed and smoking a cigarette, he looked more relaxed than ever. Of course he would be, since he’s not the one who’ll have to strip if things go south, Chrissy thought to himself as he sat opposite him. On the table sat glass tumblers containing their respective drinks and a delicately crafted chessboard. When Chrissy’s gaze inadvertently lingered on it, Nathaniel spoke nonchalantly.
“It’s an heirloom from my grandfather.”
At those words, Chrissy’s eyes drifted to a box placed to one side beneath the table. Covered in crocodile leather, it was undoubtedly the case for this chess set. From the seamless structure of the wood and the ornate patterns filling all four sides of the board to the gold-plated pieces, it was clearly an incredibly expensive item, even to his untrained eye. If I were to accidentally drop it or damage it somehow… Even as a simple hypothetical, a chill ran through a corner of his heart. Ignoring his hands, which were growing cold from tension, Chrissy looked at Nathaniel.
“Shall we begin, then?”
“You’re impatient.”
Chrissy wanted to end this game as quickly as possible, but Nathaniel felt differently. He lifted the whiskey glass in front of him and made a proposal.
“Let’s start with a toast.”
“For what?”
When Chrissy asked with a frown, Nathaniel paused for a moment, then narrowed his eyes with a strange smile.
“May you get exactly what you desire.”
Facing the man’s expression, which was clearly mocking him, Chrissy remained expressionless and lifted his glass of water into the air as if to toast.
“May the day come when you regret your own past.”
“Ha.”
Nathaniel let out a short laugh. Whether it was out of absurdity or genuine amusement, Chrissy didn’t care to find out; he took a small sip of water and set the glass down.
“Then, which side shall start first?”
To Chrissy’s question, Nathaniel answered leisurely.
“Let’s follow the traditional method. I’ll take heads.”
He spoke as he produced a coin, as if he had it ready. Chrissy gave a short nod. It didn’t matter who went first. After all, the one playing chess wouldn’t be Chrissy, but an A.I. Nathaniel flicked the coin lightly with his finger and caught it; when he opened his palm, the coin was showing tails. Nathaniel placed the now-useless coin on the table and took the black pieces. Coincidentally, the gold-plated set became Chrissy’s. He carefully placed the pieces one by one, taking care not to scratch the board.
“Wait, the bishop and knight are swapped.”
A voice suddenly sounded in his ear. Momentarily tense, realizing he had placed a piece incorrectly, he moved it while pretending nothing was wrong.
“How long has it been since you played chess?”
Nathaniel asked as he moved a piece. Chrissy answered according to the script he had prepared.
“Not long. I only recently took an interest in it.”
Vagueness reduced the risk of contradicting himself later. Of course, he was somewhat prepared for how much this man would mock him for a novice challenging a former chess champion. However, instead of ridiculing him, Nathaniel asked in the same composed tone.
“Recently… a year? Six months?”
In this case, he had no choice but to give a more specific answer. But instead of falling for his shallow trap, Chrissy smiled and asked back.
“Have you started the game already? It seems you haven’t finished placing all your pieces.”
After glancing briefly at the opposite side of the board and looking back at Nathaniel, the man curled the corners of his mouth without a sound and placed his king. Then, Nathaniel fixed his gaze on Chrissy across the table.
“Then, shall we begin now.”
Chrissy took a short breath and looked down at the chessboard. Having quickly scanned the screen, he moved a pawn to E4 as pre-determined. Nathaniel responded immediately without wasting any time. Seeing him move his pawn the instant Chrissy set his piece down made Chrissy flinch inwardly. It’s just because it’s the start, he thought, but the next few moves were the same. Nathaniel placed his pieces immediately, as if he had been waiting. It was a speed that seemed intended to give Chrissy no time to think. If the A.I. hadn’t been playing for him, he might have panicked.
And after only a few exchanges, one of Chrissy’s pawns fell.
Ah.
He almost let out a sigh of lament. But this was an acceptable loss. He couldn’t expect to get everything he wanted without losing anything in return.
“What should I take off?”
Chrissy asked calmly. Nathaniel, who had captured Chrissy’s pawn and pulled it off the board, replied with a thin smile.
“It would be best to start with the jacket. It’ll help you relax.”
Without a word, Chrissy stood up, took off his jacket, folded it neatly, and placed it beside him.
“I thought you’d tell me to take off my socks first.”
When he sat back down and provoked him with a deliberate grin, Nathaniel showed no sign of being flustered, looking at him with that same faint smile.
“I prefer to save the best for last.”
“Haha.”
Chrissy didn’t laugh at all, making the sound of laughter only with his voice. The game continued. This time, Chrissy captured Nathaniel’s knight. He immediately brought up the main point.
“I want to know about a detective named Simmons. Is he still alive?”
He couldn’t rule out the possibility that the man would say, ‘I don’t know such a person.’ However, Chrissy was certain that Nathaniel Miller wouldn’t do that. He would want to make the game more interesting.
As expected, Nathaniel spoke leisurely.
“He’s likely alive. Though I can’t say for certain.”
“Then…”
He tried to ask more, but Nathaniel immediately moved his rook. Chrissy had no choice but to shut his mouth and make his next move. For a while, only the monotonous sound of pieces being placed echoed in the silence.
“Oh dear, I’ve lost another piece.”
As Chrissy knocked over his pawn, Nathaniel spoke as if he were genuinely regretful. Of course, that wasn’t Nathaniel’s true feeling. To the arrogant man who spoke such insincere words so easily, Chrissy posed another question.
“Do you know where Detective Simmons is? Or, can you find out?”
“Let’s just say I can find out.”
Again, the game resumed immediately. Time seemed to be flowing smoothly. Until Chrissy aimed for Nathaniel’s bishop.
When he moved the rook according to the instructions, he suddenly felt something strange. Unlike before, Nathaniel wasn’t moving a piece; instead, he was staring silently at Chrissy’s face. As a bewildered Chrissy looked back at him, Nathaniel gave a peculiar smile. Just as a chilling sensation raced down his spine, Nathaniel suddenly moved his knight and the tide of the game shifted. The moment the rook captured Nathaniel’s bishop, the knight captured the rook. At that instant, a panicked voice sounded in Chrissy’s ear.
“That bastard knows what our next move is.”