Vanity queen

Daria let out a heavy sigh as everyone convened for the strategy meeting. With all that had happened, stress was inevitable. "I was anticipating Ginji would pull something like this, but not that such a bombshell would be revealed about you, Iori."

Iori nervously shifted her gaze away towards Mimoko, who shot her an annoyed glare. Yet she offered no retort and remained silent.

"I'll clear the air a bit. I knew of Iori-chan's past since August, shortly before the Michiko incident," Okisato stated.

"Keeping secrets isn't why I'm upset. All of us have secrets, but the problem is that Interpol itself is trying to hit us from every legal angle they can, and not just to arrest Iori, but pretty much all of us but Ginji. Bastard has them in his damn pocket books. His cheating allegations will also be a problem, as while they are most certainly deep-faked, he likely did it with DESPER tech ahead of time, so it'll look perfectly authentic."

"I question why anyone would believe him when he hit Barrdhubh," Tenju growled.

"He'd claim it was against his will and that the DESPER made him do it. Weak, but with the footage and Prokrutka's personality, it can snowball into a real headache," the masked man stated.

Our opponents for the final round are Hungary for the boys and America for us ladies. Since the DESPER barrier will be lifted..."

"I have to beat Ginji to save our eligibility," Okisato nodded.

"Correct. The problem is that it'll take place while the round is about to start. Thus, you'll only have 10 minutes give or take to beat Ginji and get to the venue."

"Then there's no issue. I already have the perfect way to goad him into that."

...

The next morning, everyone with the exception of Okisato headed for the playing hall.

"Now I just have to find Ginji," Okisato thought as he began scowering the hotel grounds as fast as he could.

...

At the playing hall, an intense staredown took place between the American and Japanese women's teams.

"I heard one of your players got arrested and that you could all be disqualified for cheating," Agatha snickered.

"And I heard your teammates have been forcefully shaving your head daily, you centuries old smooth hag," Iori glared.

"Sm- Smooth what!? Do you see a single wrinkle on my porcelain smooth skin!? NAY! You don't! And who told you Elenora's using a spell to keep me bald!? I'll have you shaved too!"

"Like, I'm already bald, and like, I'm actually really digging it. Like before with my dreads, I like, had to be careful to use only natural and cruelty free shampoo, but like, now I can just soap my bod with the all natural began soap I've been using for years. Plus in Arizona, it's like, really, really, hot, so being bald helps me stay that much cooler," Katie smiled.

Yet the banter did nothing to break the intense stare-off between Mimoko and Kuon.

"You fucking whore. You broke Hagemi. YOU BROKE HER! I WAS GOING TO BEAT HER AND SAVE HER, THEN SHE'D BE MY KITTY CAT FOR LIFE!" Kuon fumed.

"You actually disgust me, Kuon," Mimoko glared.

"K- Kuon with no honorifics!? The nerve of you!"

"I heard it's customary to refer to Americans by their first name. Oh, and sorry, but I only use honorifics for people I don't hate. You are the first person that's truly disgusted me beyond measure."

"You hate me more than Michiko!? That's the bitch that masterminded all this! SHE killed your brother!"

"And I hater her for deceiving me, yet I still haven't been able to face her and tell her the fact. Thus, you are the first person I'm telling to their face that I truly hate."

"Um, like, hate is a pretty strong word. Like, you should be trying to spread more love-"

"My apologies Katie-chan, but your vain teammate who heartlessly slugged Nyoan-chan, who's been searching for her all this time, and kidnapped and brainwashed Hagemi-chan just for a vanity project is undeserving of any mercy. Upon the chessboard, I'll execute her."

Everyone with the exception of Daria stared in shock.

"Damn, I'm never seen you this pissed," Iori nervously smiled.

"I've never been more disgusted by anyone before in my life."

"So she's worse than me?"

"Yes. Iori-chan, I don't hate you, but you should own up to what you did in the past in some form."

"I'll do community service."

Mimoko smiled and patted Iori on the shoulder. "In a maid outfit."

"DAMN! But hey, if it's what a friend is telling me to do, I'll do it."

Mimoko nodded before turning back to Kuon and rekindling her glare. "You have no chance at forgiveness."

"Oh, because that murderer didn't mess up your life, you're letting her off easy, but because I tried to settle something personal with Hagemi, you get all sassy? I guess birds of a feather flock together," Kuon scoffed.

"I'm no... ..."

Memories of Kotora prevented Mimoko from finishing her sentence, but before the despair could consume her, Daria placed her hand on her shoulder.

"Your "personal" snafu has psychologically been plaguing my daughter for weeks. She actually was concerned about your wellbeing after she beat you at the team qualification tournament, but you know what really made her snap? You hit that catgirl without remorse."

"Again, I'd NEVER hit one of my kitty cats. In fact, bring Nyoan to me this instant. I require her presence."

Miga scowled in discomfort, but with a nod from Raymond, she warped over to the WWCF prison and returned to the playing hall with Nyoan a few seconds later.

"K- KUON-SAMA, NYA!" Nyoan cried as she leapt towards Kuon.

"Not yet. Nyoan, activate your DESPER for me and Mimoko."

"Nya? Uh, yes, nya," Nyoan nervously smiled as she pulled out her DESPER and activated it.

"Now, Mimoko, you want to take me on?" Kuon asked.

"Gladly."

A maniacal smile spread across Kuon's face as she sat down at board 2 across from Mimoko. "Activate the DESPER, Nyoan! The conditions will be thus; when I win, Mimoko Inoue will quit chess forever and live the rest of her days naked snorting slop off the floor like a filthy pig. She'll only ever be able to oink and roll in mud like the filth she is! Irreversible, naturally."

"You truly are vile. Kuon Nanya, when you lose, it will be you who retires from professional chess. You'll be given a lifetime sentence at the WWCF's holding facility, allowing you to still play chess, but through the prison account. Your elo will be permanently fixed at 0, no matter how well you do in prison. Irreversible as well. And since you brought up stripping, before you're sent to prison, you'll be stripped nude and shaved bald of all your hair right here before all in the playing hall before being sent to prison."

"YOU DARE!? All because I slugged this skinball without knowing!? I'll have her killed when you lose just to spite you!"

"Nya, nya!? K- Kuon-sama-"

"SHUT UP! She ruined Hagemi... HAGEMI WAS GOING TO BE MY PERFECT KITTY AND YOU BROKE HER! YOU RUIN EVERYTHING! I'M ADDING THAT YOU'LL LIVE FOR A THOUSAND YEARS AS A PIG BEFORE YOU DIE FROM ROTTING LIKE THOSE CONDUITS DID A FEW DAYS AGO!"

Mimoko shook her head in disgust. "I thank you for erasing all remorse I ever had for you. This marks the start of your trial and execution," Mimoko declared as she opened the game by moving her pawn to e4.

"My only regret is that I brushed off Gyro's warnings when I did. You truly are a threat that must be eliminated," Kuon glared as she moved her pawn to d5.

"Guess we all start now then. So who wants to get swept by me? Sherbert or the hag?" Iori smirked.

"I have a-"

"You'll pay for insulting me!" Agatha fumed as she shoved Sherbert aside and sat down at board 4 across from Iori.

"Then I guess I get the top player," Daria shrugged as she sat down at board 1 across from Elenora.

"So like, you play Azenira or Tenju?" Katie asked Sherbert.

"No, you can play. You've been sidelined a bunch thanks to Agatha," Sherbert nodded.

"Then I guess you're playing me," Azenira smiled as she sat down at board 3 across from Katie.

"And I'll sit this one out. I've already secured individual gold, so no need to worry," Tenju stated as she headed over to the spectator area.

"You were undefeated!? Damn, that's amazing," Sherbert whistled as she followed Tenju out.

...

On the men's side, the masked man and Zago acquainted themselves with Hungary's men's team. In addition to Randy, Morty, and Nándor, there was also famed commentator and grandmaster, Petar Lantos, and Hungary's very own prime minister himself, Ákos Országh.

"So you're coming at us with just two men?" Ákos scoffed.

"We have a third on the way. He just needs to take care of some business first," the masked man stated as he sat across from Randy on board 1.

Zago nodded in agreement and sat down at board 2 across from Petar.

"Wow, playing me? I guess you got courage," Petar nodded.

"Or the kid's an idiot," Morty snarled.

"I'll take the opportunity to claim the free win then. Which one of you wants the other?" Ákos asked.

"Nándor... Nándor will await... THE DEMON!" Nándor proclaimed as lightning sparked from his hair and fingertips.

"Of course you would, you crazy hobo."

...

A few boards over, Skaberghast activated his DESPER as he faced off against Cuba's Raul Casablanca.

"Just a casual bet, friend. No death penalties and whatnot, just a little cash, like a thousand dollars cash from the loser to the winner. Minor stuff, really," Skaberghast smirked.

"In that case, all I want is one thing; I beat you after you play the Muzio, Yuusuke Shousen will be brought back into existence. You can even keep the cash and your life," Rail stated.

Skaberghast clicked his tongue, but decided to bite. "Little bastard, you had Casablanca in your back pocket? Fine, worst comes to worse I just draw," he thought.