Scandal

The entire room directed it's vision towards Mimoko and Alma.

"Um, care to explain yourself?" an arbiter asked.

"Did I not just now? Well, I have a set to be filmed at, another one I should say, so adieu," Alma bowed.

A puff of smoke suddenly appeared before her, completely obscuring her from all sides. When it cleared, not a trace remained of her.

"Where did she go!? She's not a DSPCM, nor an official, and I doubt she can warp freely between secret puzzle cafes. Ngh, Mimoko Inoue, please come with us."

Mimoko somberly nodded and followed the arbiters out.

"The round shall be put on hold for 15 minutes. If you have already begun, we ask you pause your clocks and refrain from making any other moves. Stay within the playing hall as well," Raymond ordered.

...

Xiu's normally smug face scowled in frustration as Daria finished explaining everything she knew about Mimoko Tanabe. "OK, this is bullshit. You're saying that ever since the start of this month, you've been haunted by what you think is the ghost of future yet to come, and thinking there's some deep conspiracy behind it? Bullshit. Bullshit..."

"You say that, yet you're just as flustered as I. Why the change of heart from "I was paid to throw in Budapest"?"

"3700... Her rating's 3700... And how far into the future do these games seemingly go? 15 years... But most are glitched, yet some are visible, like this one here," Xiu scowled as she zeroed in on a game.

Though dated a few years into the future, Mimoko Tanabe was listed with a jaw-dropping 3400 rating while Xiu, a meager 2237.

"What kind of sick joke is this!? Me, drop to 2200 in 3 years!? I'm in my prime! I should be maestro by then too!"

"The hope is that this is just an elaborate prank, but it's quickly proving itself to be real. We actually didn't share this information with your maestro because we feared she'd leak the information, but it seems the executive board might have loose lips."

"The execs are involved? What's even the point of them? They're just walking chess engines prone to constant malfunction."

"Some do have true skill from what I've heard, but I'm in agreement their purpose seems to be quite convoluted. The president is the only one who can attest to their true purpose, I'm afraid."

"Maestro! MAESTRO!" Saloni called out as she came running.

"What is it?"

"Scandal... We got a huge scandal on our hands!"

...

Cyril's tail swayed to and from as he sat in the back of the press room. Since he was registered to compete in the tournament, he was unable to properly obtain press credentials, yet that didn't stop him from making his way out of the playing hall and to the press room. Gossip and blackmail were his specialties, making it irresistible for him to pass up this opportunity.

"So, what is the plan?" Leonce whispered as Daria sat down with her and Raymond.

"We reveal it all, if it gets so bad we have no choice but to," Daria whispered back.

"The presser will now begin. Questions?" Raymond asked.

"Yeah. What the hell was that!? She said Mimoko took acting lessons, and there's rumors that you guys are fixing the matches for her. We want answers!" Saori demanded.

"As WWCF president, I can assure you Mimoko Inoue's strength is real, and that she has no involvement herself in these mishaps."

"Says the ones helping her. You're a corrupt piece of shit! It's thanks to you the whole world runs on chess now, and that the worst of humanity can get rewarded so long as they're good at chess!"

"And? It matters not who the person is, only if they play chess, and play it fairly."

"AND YOU THINK WHAT WE SAW WAS FAIR!? They admitted to match fixing aloud!"

"And you never considered the possibility that could be sabotage?" Daria glared.

"I don't believe liars! That girl needs to be DQ'd and stripped of everything! She's a disgrace to our country! I bet you all rigged things in Hungary last month too. No way you'd get perfect victories on your own!"

Daria scowled as she sensed the room beginning to swing like Saori was. The worst case scenario was unfolding.

"You suggest we remove Mimoko Inoue from the tournament... In that case, you'll have to beat her."

"As if! You'll cheat-"

"No, we'll randomize everything here and now," Raymond declared as he snapped his fingers.

On cue, Mimoko entered the press room, eliciting gasps from all.

"She's... She's blindfolded!?"

"Correct. And, we'll make it a 960 so the back rank is randomized. That should even the odds and clear all doubts of her skill. Now, without haste, let us begin the match."