The methods employed by Leo and Master Spencer were worlds apart. Leo seemed to play casually, while Master Spencer, an experienced strategist, was careful and calculated. To onlookers, it appeared that Leo was destined for defeat, barring any unforeseen circumstances.
Even if an unforeseen situation arose, given Master Spencer’s expertise in Go, Leo, an unskilled player in the Go world, would still face inevitable defeat. Most of the attention from the spectators was focused on Master Spencer, as they hoped to glean a move or two from his strategic brilliance.
However, on the fourth move, Leo deviated from his earlier casual approach and suddenly launched a powerful attack against Master Spencer. This move left everyone shocked, as it was akin to committing Go suicide when pitted against a grandmaster like Master Spencer.
Contrary to everyone’s reaction, Master Spencer felt a sense of foreboding. He thought, “This brat, after studying his and Colin’s Go games for two days, he still doesn’t follow the script. If you’re asking for trouble, I’ll oblige!”
Master Spencer responded with a strong counterattack on his fifth move, drawing cheers from the crowd.
Leo, with almost no contemplation, picked up a white piece from his box and made a decisive move.
“Such a lousy move! This is garbage. If you continue like this, you might as well kiss your chances of winning goodbye!”
“I thought this freeloader was a big deal, but it seems his skills are worse than amateur Go players. What a waste of Master Spencer’s time!”
“If you don’t know how to play Go, get out of here and stop embarrassing yourself. Give me this precious opportunity, and let me receive Master Spencer’s guidance.”
Amidst the crowd’s discussions and taunts, on-site reporters enthusiastically began their broadcasts: “Ladies and gentlemen, we are here at the Go match between Master Spencer and the up-and-coming player Leo. The game has just started, and it seems most people are not favoring the newcomer…”
As time passed, Master Spencer did not emerge victorious as expected by the audience. On the contrary, Leo responded to Master Spencer’s attacks with counterstrikes that caught him off guard. Many times, Leo’s moves left Master Spencer in a tight spot, forcing him into seemingly dire straits.
Master Spencer also realized that Leo’s moves lacked any predictable patterns or strategies, making it challenging for a seasoned player like himself to adapt. After over ten minutes, the Go board’s layout had become so intricate that even those with considerable knowledge of Go, such as August and Solomon Zacharias, stared intensely at the board, lost in thought.
Only Master Spencer, who was deeply engaged in the match, understood that if the contest continued in this manner, he was bound to lose. Leo’s seemingly chaotic strategy held an elusive brilliance that left others feeling perplexed.
Twenty minutes later, sweat beads began to form on Master Spencer’s forehead, but he had no time to wipe them away. At this point, Master Spencer’s heart raced, and his blood pressure surged as he sensed a chilling aura emanating from the Go board.
This feeling was akin to being thrust into a battlefield teeming with enemies, where one might be struck down at any moment. The Goboard had become a battleground, and with each subsequent move, the difficulty increased. A single wrong step could lead to a complete loss.
Many of the onlookers had already sensed that the situation was not favorable for Master Spencer. They held their breath, simulating moves in their minds. No one dared to underestimate Leo anymore, and the taunts had ceased.
Master Spencer held a black piece in his right hand, hesitating for a long time.
Initially, Master Spencer had been confident about gradually defeating Leo, but now he believed that even if his deceased master were to come back to life, he wouldn’t be a match for Leo. This waste a son-in-law wasn’t just a grandmaster; he had reached the pinnacle.
How could this be? A freeloading son-in-law like him, how could he possibly possess such Go skills?
In his heart, Master Spencer shouted, utterly baffled. As the atmosphere in the room grew tense, the media reporters stopped talking and focused their cameras on Leo, the Goboard, and Master Spencer’s faces, capturing their expressions.
The situation was unfavorable, and Jack couldn’t bear to see Master Spencer lose to Leo. He suddenly suggested, “Master Spencer is getting on in years, and he hasn’t even taken a sip of water since the game began. I propose a mid-game break!”
August, concerned about Leo, turned to him. The current position on the board already showed an advantage for white pieces, and it was likely that the black pieces, continuing as they were, would face defeat.
“Leo, may we take a break?” August asked to avoid any post-game argument with Jack and Master Spencer.
Leo understood that Jack and the others wanted to delay the game, but it didn’t matter; Master Spencer was bound to lose sooner or later.
Leo nodded, stood up from his seat, and informed August before heading to the restroom.
After using the restroom and washing his hands, as Leo prepared to leave the bathroom, a cold voice echoed, “Leo, you’re nothing more than a waste a son-in-law. Do you truly believe you can defeat my master?”
Standing before Leo was Colin, Master Spencer’s disciple.
Colin held a phone in his hand, displaying the screen in front of Leo.
When Leo saw the video on the screen, his blood instantly boiled, and anger surged through him. In the video, a dimly lit room featured Sophia, bound to a chair with tape over her mouth, her eyes filled with fear.
Leo’s knuckles produced a series of sharp cracks from his tightened grip on Colin’s throat. He lifted Colin and slammed him forcefully against the wall.
“Do you believe I’ll kill you right now?” Leo’s enraged eyes were filled with unbridled hostility.
Although Colin was scared, he knew that as long as he had Sophia, Leo wouldn’t act recklessly. He grabbed Leo’s hand and laboriously said, “Leo, if you kill me, Sophia dies too.”
Leo slammed Colin onto the sink, saying, “Colin, if a single hair on my wife’s head is harmed, I will obliterate your entire family.”
Colin let out a miserable cry and struggled to climb up from the floor, but the excruciating pain finally made him fall to the ground.
When Colin finally managed to get up from the floor, he was stunned to find that Leo had already left the restroom. This left Colin baffled.
In Colin’s view, shouldn’t this adopted son-in-law have discussed the conditions for Sophia’s release with him?
As Leo exited the restroom, he dialed Bob’s phone. Hearing Leo’s voice, Bob quickly asked, “Leo, is something wrong?”