Chapter 471:

Father's experience

En Passant Grandmaster

While Kisha's show aired and the preparations for the 6B tournament were underway, Okisato and the others had changed tactics following Chihuahua's successful evasion of them.

"So the search is over?" Iori frowned as she walked with Okisato.

"Pretty much. Chihuahua ended up taking Fernanda with her, and I'm sure she's told her minions to ensure Tristin doesn't leave her room in order to avoid a confrontation with us. And here I was hoping for a possible lead," Okisato groaned.

"I thought you knew everything."

"No, I don't. I assumed for the longest time the reason my mother's eyes turned blue like that was simply because of the DESPER, but if there's others that have eyes like that, it's possible there was more at work."

"Like what?"

Before he could explain, him and Iori found their path blocked by a large muscular man with military buzzed red hair and a mustache. He was clad in a green military uniform with a shamrock belt buckle, giving off the impression that he was Irish, or at the very least had a strong affinity towards Ireland.

"So you're the lass that sent our nation into chaos," the man snarled as he glared down at Iori.

"And you are?"

"General Loughlin Mac Ospaic, Ireland's de facto leader ever since ye murdered our Taoiseach."

Iori blinked for a bit before she finally remembered Mierchertach. "Oh yeah, the guy who got all his hair sucked off by a vacuum cleaner before confessing to all the corrupt shit he did before suffocating on the spot."

"YE HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT DAMAGE THAT DID!? Our nation's been wrought with turmoil since. And it's all your fault!"

"Hey, he's the one that challenged me with his DESPER."

"Then maybe I need to beat some vengeance into you in a little chess boxing," Loughlin snarled as he cracked his knuckles.

"In that case, prove you've actually got the strength to give her a game by beating me," the masked man called out as he emerged from behind a corner.

Loughlin stared him down and scanned him with his WWCF card before scoffing and deciding to accept. "I'm 2507, you're just fodder. I'll use you as a nice morning march."

"but should you lose to this "101-rated fodder", you'll give up on bothering Iori and our team as a whole for the remainder of the tournament."

Loughlin accepted and once the challenge request had been received, the two sat down at a nearby table as the WWCF cards materialized a board and pieces before them.

The masked man then opened the game by moving his pawn to e4, while Loughlin moved his pawn to e6.

"A French then. I was planning on playing a King's Gambit. Guess I'll do it anyway," the masked man thought as he moved his pawn to f4.

This opening was known as the French Defense: La Bourdonnais Variation. It wasn't the worst thing for White, but still not as great as the King's Gambit the masked man had intended to play. Nonetheless, this opening was uncommon and as such, Loughlin, who was one of many that had no idea how to properly counter this, moved his pawn to g5, blundering himself into trouble on just move 2.

"Seems someone didn't study their history. Allow me to convey a lesson from the forefathers," the masked man chuckled as he moved his pawn to d4.

"'Lesson'? I don't need em! I'm already elite!" Loughlin fumed as he captured the pawn at f4 with his g-pawn.

"With arrogance like that, you'd be wise to take it," the masked man retorted as he captured the pawn at f4 with his bishop.

Loughlin scoffed and moved his knight to f6, but the masked man, already well-aware of his significant advantage, calmly moved his knight to f3. Loughlin continued the aggression by moving his pawn to d5, but the masked man didn't give him the time of day, moving his knight to c3.

"Oi, I'm attacking your ass! Don't ignore me!" Loughlin fumed as he moved his bishop to b4.

"Oh you are? Sorry, I only see floundering," the masked man scoffed as he moved his bishop to b5.

The line quickly sent Loughlin into a state of rage. "Alright! I'll show ya what happens when ye ignore me attacks!" he fumed as he captured the pawn at e4 with his d-pawn.

"I believe the answer is to sidestep the flails," the masked man clapped back as he moved his knight to e5.

"Ye can't keep dodging my prized swings! CHECK!" Loughlin roared as he captured the knight at c3 with his bishop.

"Clearly I can," the masked man snickered as he captured the bishop at c3 with his b-pawn.

"Then I'll just set up another attack," Loughlin scoffed as he moved his bishop to d7.

"You mean your last stand?" the masked man taunted as he captured the knight at c6 with his bishop.

"I AIN'T GOING DOWN WITH NOTHING!" Loughlin fumed as he violently captured the bishop at c6 with his bishop.

"You could show more decorum, though I guess you have reason to be so upset as you've been losing ever since move 2," the masked man declared as he moved his queen to h5.

"What are ye blabbering about?" Loughlin glared as he moved his queen to e7.

"Getting defensive? Too little too late," the masked man taunted as he moved his bishop to g5.

Loughlin gritted his teeth in fury and moved his queen to f8. "Ye can't be serious. You're only 101. You're a damn rookie!"

"Ratings alone don't tell the whole story. That should be obvious just by looking at my tournament results thus far," the masked man stated as he castled king's side.

Loughlin clicked his tongue and moved his bishop to b5, but that very move ultimately sealed his fate as now he was 4 moves maximum away from being mated.

"And now, I'll show you how to swing a real punch in this realm," the masked man snickered as he captured the pawn at f7 with his rook.

Loughlin went silent, sweat beginning to run down his face as he moved his knight to e7.

"Seems you've realized it. I guess ego and prestige hasn't fully corrupted you. Still, you're going to get humiliated. Check," the masked man declared as he captured the knight at e7 with his rook.

Loughlin shook his head and dejectedly covered it with one hand as he moved his king to d8. "You're not even gonna take my queen."

"No need to, because I'm that skilled. Checkmate," the masked man snickered as he moved his rook to e8, winning the game.

Loughlin slammed the table in frustration, but since the board and pieces had been created with the WWCF cads, they all vanished without any messes being made. "Dman you. I'll have my eye on you from now on," he snarled as he got up and stormed away in a huff.

"Lol, couldn't even beat the "101-rated fodder". Course, I know now you sure as hell ain't a true 101," Iori smirked.

"Just thought I'd let your mind relax today as there's no need to stress over fodder like him," the masked man chuckled as he got up and walked away.

The full game:

White: The masked man (101) Black Gen. Loughlin Mac Ospaic (2507)

1. e4 e6

2. f4 g5

3. d4 gxf4

4. Bxf4 Nc6

5. Nf3 d5

6. Nc3 Bb4

7. Bb5 dxe4

8. Ne5 Bxc3+