The three bosses watched intently, their initial confidence slowly giving way to concern as they observed the unfolding match.
“Have you ever seen anything like this?” one of the bosses whispered, his eyes glued to the board. “It seems like even the world champion is struggling against Lucio.”
Another boss nodded, his voice tinged with disbelief. “It’s as if Lucio is in a league of his own. I didn’t expect him to hold his ground like this.”
The burly boss, feeling the pressure, wiped a bead of sweat from his brow. “It’s too early to say,” he interjected, trying to maintain his composure. “Don’t forget, Axcel is a world champion. He might still have some tricks up his sleeve.”
Meanwhile, at the board, Lucas and Axcel exchanged words as they made their moves.
“Interesting choice,” Axcel remarked, moving his bishop to counter Lucas’s knight.
Lucas smiled, calmly sliding his rook into position. “I like to keep things unpredictable,” he replied, his tone light yet focused.
Axcel furrowed his brow, contemplating his next move. Each of Lucas’s plays seemed to challenge his expectations, forcing him to rethink his strategy. “You’re quite the opponent, kid,” Axcel admitted.
Lucas chuckled softly, making another unexpected move that left Axcel momentarily stunned. “Just playing the game,” he said, his voice steady and confident.
The match continued, and Axcel found himself in an increasingly difficult position. What he thought were counters were deftly turned against him by Lucas. Cold sweat began to form on his forehead, and his previously relaxed and easy posture shifted to one of intense focus and a hint of uneasiness. He never expected to feel such pressure in a seemingly ordinary match against an unknown opponent. The weight of the situation felt heavier than any tournament he had faced, even those witnessed by the world.
Axcel couldn’t help but voice his thoughts, ‘I’ve faced countless pro opponents in tournaments, but this… this is different. This kid anticipates my every move, adapting with a fluidity that’s both impressive and unsettling.’
The burly boss, too, was sweating, his thoughts consumed by the two billion at stake. He muttered under his breath, ‘I can’t believe it. Even a world champion might not be enough to secure victory against this guy.’
Lucas broke the silence, his voice calm and assured. “The reason your style isn’t working, Axcel, is because I’ve watched you play before. I’m familiar with your tactics and know how to counter them.”
Axcel was taken aback, surprised that someone could counter his style just from observation. He chuckled, a newfound respect in his eyes. “You’re impressive, kid,” he admitted, genuinely impressed.
The game continued, each move bringing them closer to the inevitable conclusion. Finally, Lucas made his decisive move, sealing the match with a clean victory. “Checkmate, Mr. Counter Master,” he said with a calm smile.
The entire room fell silent as the reality of the world champion’s defeat sank in. The man preparing coffee for Tyrone and Lucas froze, causing the hot water to overflow from the cup. The two guards standing watch dropped their jaws, unable to close them in disbelief. The man who had been kicked by the three bosses widened his eyes in shock, momentarily forgetting his fatigue. Even a fly that had been buzzing around seemed to fly backward, as if stunned by the result.
Outside the casino, a pickpocket paused mid-act, as if the world had momentarily shifted on its axis. A street performer, who was originally juggling flaming torches, now found himself juggling invisible balls after his torches mysteriously went out.
It was as if the world had turned upside down, and everything outside the room seemed to change after Lucas’s victory over the world chess champion. Tyrone broke the silence with a hearty laugh, trying to ease the tension. He had been nervous while watching the match, but now he stood up and applauded with genuine admiration. “Lucio, that was absolutely phenomenal!” he exclaimed, his voice filled with excitement. “I’ve seen many games, but nothing like this. You didn’t just play; you orchestrated a masterpiece. Your calmness, your strategy-it’s like watching a grand symphony unfold on the board.”
Tyrone walked over to Lucas, his eyes shining with respect. “You have a gift, Lucio. To take on a world champion and emerge victorious is no small feat. You’ve shown us all what true mastery looks like.”
Lucas, ever humble, nodded and replied in a low, modest tone, “Thank you, Boss. I appreciate your kind words. It was an honor to play.”
The three bosses snapped back to reality, their eyes wide with disbelief. The burly boss blinked repeatedly, trying to confirm what he had just witnessed. “He really lost!” he exclaimed, finally accepting the truth.
Axcel took a deep breath before laughing, acknowledging Lucas’s prowess. “Congratulations, Mr. Lucio,” he said, impressed. “Your skill is remarkable.”
The burly boss, still in disbelief, suggested, “Perhaps the champion was just toying with you, Lucas. How about another round?”
Before he could finish, Axcel interjected, “No matter how many rounds we play, I can’t defeat Lucio. His style is so unique, it’s as if he can predict the future. There’s no chance of winning against someone like that.”
Axcel then turned to Lucas, “If you have the time, I’d love to take you to some smaller chess matches. There’s a chance to win some significant prizes.”
Lucas glanced at Tyrone, seemingly waiting for a signal. Tyrone nodded with a grin, “Looks like we need to dive into the world of chess,” he laughed.
Lucas smiled, “If my boss agrees, then let’s do it.”
Axcel laughed, pleased with the response. Lucas then turned to the burly boss, “I won, so maybe it’s time to pay up,” he said with a smile.
“Ah,” the boss snapped back to reality, pulling out a check for two billion and handing it to Lucas. “Mr. Lucio, I lost. Here’s the two billion.”
The three bosses, now excited, realized it might be better to have Lucas as an ally rather than an adversary. They began to flatter him, their words dripping with insincerity.
“Mr. Lucio, your skills are unparalleled,” one of them said, trying to butter him up.
“You’re a true genius,” another chimed in, nodding enthusiastically.
Lucas, aware of their intentions, thought about how he might use them for his future plans. He let them continue for a moment before tapping his pants and saying, “Okay, okay, enough with the flattery. What do you want?”
The three bosses exchanged glances before the tall boss spoke up with a smile, “Mr. Lucio, you truly have a clear vision of what we desire.”
Lucas nodded, “Speak up.”
The tall boss nodded in return, “Well, Mr. Lucio, there’s a reason we’ve suddenly taken your side. There’s an underground chess tournament, as Axcel mentioned, but it’s not just any tournament. It’s run by a powerful gang that has been tightening its grip on our financial flow. They’ve been using the tournament as a front for their operations, and it’s affecting our business.”
Upon hearing this, Axcel chimed in, “Ah, I’m familiar with them. That group is indeed behind the chess games. They operate under the guise of a legitimate tournament, but it’s really an underground chess game with unusual rules.”
“Oh,” Lucas said, intrigued. “This just got interesting.”
The boss continued, “We want to place a bet against this group to reclaim our rights and restore our standing. If you win, Mr. Lucio, we promise to follow you for life.”
With that, the three bosses bowed in unison, sealing their pledge.
Lucas smiled, a chilling yet thrilling expression crossing his face. He leaned back slightly, his curiosity piqued. “How exactly is this group affecting your casino business?” he asked, his eyes narrowing with interest.
The tall boss sighed, “They’ve been siphoning off our high rollers and enticing them with promises of bigger wins and exclusive games. It’s not just about the money; it’s about influence and control. Their underground chess tournament is just one of the ways they’re expanding their reach. They’re using it to launder money and recruit more people into their network, which is slowly eating into our profits and weakening our hold on the market.”
Lucas nodded, absorbing the information. “So, it’s not just a game. It’s a power play,” he mused, understanding the gravity of the situation.
“Exactly,” the boss replied. “We need someone with your skills to turn the tables and help us regain our footing. If you can beat them at their own game, it would be a significant blow to their operations and a win for us.”
Lucas nodded thoughtfully before turning to Axcel. “How does a chess game like this operate legally yet illegally?” he inquired.
Axcel explained, “It’s quite a setup. The legal front is a regular casino upstairs, but beneath it lies an underground casino where the real action happens. That’s where people place bets on the players they think will win. It seems the high-stakes gamblers are more drawn to this kind of thrill, which is why they’ve been pulling players away from places like LA Grand Casino.”
Lucas nodded with interest, a chilling smile spreading across his face. “In that case, let’s go and have some fun!”