Chapter 970:

Raissa's razor

En Passant Grandmaster

Mimoko blinked in confusion as a woman with short blue hair began stroking her head. "Ah, they really botched the job, huh? I can tell you had to use some cream to soothe those nasty razor bumps," Raissa Razor cooed.

"Uh, um, could you not stroke my head?" Mimoko blushed.

Raissa warmly smiled and gently pressed Mimoko's face into her breasts. "Ah, so smooth... Now, do we have business?"

"Y- Yes, I want to challenge you."

Raissa snapped her fingers, causing a chessboard to appear in the center of the main table. "This will take a second."

Mimoko scowled in confusion as she watched Raissa set up the board. "What are you doing?"

"Oh, setting up the trial."

Mimoko shook her head at the spectacle before her. On the Black end of the board, the knights were placed on a8 and h8, while the king remained on e8. As for the White end, only the a, b, and h pawns along with the king were in their normal places, while three rooks were placed on d2, e2, and f2. However, the biggest thing was the construction in the center of the board made of gray-colored pieces. Pawns were present on c7, c6, g7, g6, e7, e6, e5, e4, d4, f4, e3, d3, c3, f3, and g3, while bishops were on c2, b1, c1, d1, f1, g1, g2, and h1.

"Now, you face the razor. These gray pieces are unmovable and uncapturable, yet prevent each king from moving. As such, the only pieces on the board that can move are the white pawns and the black knights, meaning that to win, you promote a pawn, while for me, I have draw odds, so if I stalemate you by capturing your pawns or leaving you with no wins, the victory is mine. So, your move," Raissa smirked.

Mimoko took a look at the board before deciding to open with pawn to a4.

"Oh, good choice," Raissa smiled as she moved her knight to b6.

"I believe this ensures my victory," Mimoko scoffed as she moved her pawn to a5.

"Hmm, don't be too sure," Raissa frowned as she moved her knight back to a8.

"This is a puzzle, so naturally, it has a set solution," Mimoko huffed as she moved her pawn to b4.

"Ah yes, the knight here is trapped, but not the other knight," Raissa shrugged as she moved her knight to f7.

Mimoko advanced her pawn to b5.

"Silent... Smooth move... smoothy, tee hee," Raissa giggled as she moved her knight to d6.

"You're really fixated on my head," Mimoko frowned as she moved her pawn to b6.

"You just can't beat the smooth of a woman's bald head. Bald man heads just don't feel the same. Only women do smooth skin right," Raissa pouted as she captured the pawn at b6 with her knight.

"Mmm, I'll take the compliment. I am a model after all," Mimoko smiled and blushed as she captured the knight at b6 with her a-pawn.

"Oh I know. Svetlana told me all, even enlisted me to help her maintain a smooth head," Raissa giggled as she moved her knight to b7.

"You know Svetlana-chan!?" Mimoko gasped as she moved her pawn to h4.

"Yes I do. Known her before her modeling days, but now, we're business associates since I'm with Mizuse Niimi co," Raissa stated as she moved her knight to d6.

"I didn't know that," Mimoko frowned as she moved her pawn to h5.

"Well, the company is large," Raissa shrugged as she moved her knight back to b7.

"I've just about won," Mimoko nodded as she moved her pawn to h6.

"Not yet though," Raissa countered as she moved her knight to d6.

"This is it though," Mimoko sighed as she moved her pawn to h7.

"Why the attitude? It took lots of work to get this puzzle right," Raissa huffed as she moved her knight to f7.

"I can imagine it would. If the knights were on different squares, it'd be impossible for White to win," Mimoko nodded as she moved her pawn to b7.

"Well, at least you appreciate the effort. I'm a puzzle crafter you know," Raissa smiled as she moved her knight to h8.

"A noble job. Checkmate," Mimoko smiled back as she advanced her pawn to b8 and promoted it to a queen, winning the game.

Now, she could finally challenge the maestro.

The full game:

White: Mimoko Inoue (2880) Black: SPCM Raissa Razor (2010)