Upset result

Rodeo stood nervously next to Tenju behind the counter of the secret puzzle cafe.

"What? I'm an SPCM too, so don't give me weird looks," Tenju snarled.

"Don't worry Himitsubo, she's just getting reacquainted with things," Daria smiled.

Rodeo nodded as Tenju pulled up her WWCF card and shook her head. While the AI copy of her had been doing a good job of taking care of challengers, she was more concerned about what she'd do now that she'd be returning to her SPCM duties.

Daria quickly sensed her angst and quickly informed her that she'd be able to play at her new rating level following the tournament, and would be allowed to increase it and even participate in future tournaments as well.

That reassured Tenju, however a new problem arose when Iori strolled in. Since Iori and Okisato were on the team that ultimately beat her and Taira, resulting in Taira's death, Tenju had harbored intense hatred for the two.

Daria was well aware though and promptly approached Iori, threatening her not to provoke Tenju in any way shape or form. Iori decided to press a bit, resulting in Daria shoving her fan into her mouth and giving her another warning. This time, Iori agreed and as soon as she was released, retreated to the sofa.

"Who knew Mimo-chan's mom was a dommy mommy. Well, guess I don't want mummy going rogue. But I do have a DESPER key-"

Her thoughts were interrupted as she noticed Raymond entering, cuing her to cull her innate sadism.

"Your performance rating is impressive. In fact, a final round victory would likely get you a spot on the national team," Raymond stated as he approached Tenju.

"I was only doing this to try and face those that hurt Taira. I was even planning to use this in the final round," Tenju sighed as she placed her DESPER on the counter.

"Well fear not. We've actually made some advancements in DESPER research, and have found a way to nullify them so to say. However, it will require you to lose a game at WWCF HQ in a special room."

"Why not here?"

"For one, we've now made it so DESPERs can't be activated in secret puzzle cafes or tournament venues, with the exception of the final-round rule. Not to mention, the DESPER sealing procedure is primarily intended for people like you who were tricked into registering with a DESPER, and/or those forced to do so against their wills. Maestro Himitsu may accompany you as well. So do you wish to take care of business?"

Tenju nodded and almost immediately, she, Raymond and Daria warped away to WWCF HQ. There, Tenju was required to activate her DESPER, with the losing conditions being that her DESPER be confiscated and sealed forever, never to be used again, as well as having her Desperado league status revoked. After that, she immediately threw the game in a Fool's mate checkmate, resulting in her DESPER effectively being sealed.

"So could this be used against normal Desperados?" Daria asked.

"Sadly no. Especially since the DESPERs themselves tend to prioritize harsher punishments. Thus, if I were to drag, say Red Reaper here, him making his punishment for losing, death, would simply trump the sealing punishment. And no, we wouldn't be able to prevent him from simply getting a new DESPER. I believe the only way to effectively do that would be to destroy the Ultima-master."

Daria glared as she noticed some annoyance in Raymond's tone at the prospect of destroying the Ultima-master. Unlike with the DESPERs, Daria was well aware of the Ultima-master's schematics, and of Redfield's affinity for it. Nonetheless, she decided not to press the issue, and warped back with Tenju to Tokyo.

...

In an intimidating looking mansion in Boston Massachusetts, an old witch-like woman gazed into a cauldron of water and scowled.

"Do be careful, dear mother. We wouldn't want you to die by falling into a boiling cauldron," a red-haired woman sneered.

"Agatha, you know the water is always cold for this ritual."

"So how are things fairing in Japan?"

"Terrible. Theresa, Emmie, and Lynessa have perished, and Simone has apparently been dragged away by a third party."

"So then you'll have to go there yourself."

The old woman shot Agatha a nasty glare. "You're just hoping I'll perish so you can usurp me as head."

"It's time for young blood. Not to mention, I'd like to be vice-president."

"Then join Fianna as her running-mate. I bear no ill will towards her."

"But the problem is Zinnia. She bears our blood, and thus blemishes our name. And as head, you should eliminate her."

As the two began to argue, a young woman with teal hair burst into the room. "Like, mom. Like, I just heard from Simone, and like, she said she'd like, give us some like-"

"ENOUGH with the "likes"!"

"Uh, like it's hip n' cool to say "like", so like, shut the fuck up."

"Wise words," Agatha snarled as she pulled out a wand, causing the girl's mouth to suddenly be sealed with flesh.

The girl let out a series of muffled protests as she tried to undo the spell, but quickly found herself restrained. Agatha then confiscated her phone and redialed Simone.

"Ah, aunt Agatha. Sabrina annoy you? Well here's my report..."

As Agatha listened, a malicious smile appeared on her face. An opportunity to usurp Mother Salem had just appeared before her. From behind a wall, Agatha's younger sister, Elenora, trembled as she realized she was about to hatch another one of her malicious schemes, and likely drag her in as a co-conspirator again.

...

As the 6th and final round concluded, everyone met up in the secret puzzle cafe to await the results.

"So how'd it go?" Okisato asked.

"Well, I finished with a perfect score as did my mother," Mimoko nervously stated.

Iori quickly jumped in to add that she had gotten a perfect score too, meaning she was likely going to be on the team as well. This was well in Okisato's expectations though. What he was more interested in was who was going to be joining those 3.

While Daria and other maestros were allowed to play in the Chess Olympics, there were naturally some stipulations, with the most notable one being that maestros could only play for a maximum of 8 rounds. This meant that the 4th and 5th board would be critical in certain match-ups.

If Hagemi wasn't missing, she would have likely been a surefire pick. Kuon was also a strong choice, but even if the made the team, the matter of who would be on the 5th board would still be up in the air.

However, something seemed off. Okisato had quickly picked up that Mimoko's demeanor seemed to suggest guilt. He doubted she was lying about her perfect score, but before he could test out his theory, the answer appeared before him as the members of the women's national team were announced.

Daria was naturally a member, though was dubbed as "Japan's biggest chess secret." Next, was Mimoko, erasing any doubt about her perfect score. Iori was 3rd, though it was the 4th and 5th members of the team that sent shockwaves. The 4th member of the team was Tenju, who despite her loss to Daria, had managed to finish the tournament with a 5/6 score and a performance rating of over 2808. And the final member of the team was Azenira, who despite her 5th round draw to Kuon, managed to make the cut, thanks in no small part to her insane performance rating of 2900.

However, it was in that moment that everyone heard a glass shattering and turned to see an enraged Kuon storming out. She had failed to make the team.

Mimoko watched Kuon leave and sighed. "It's my fault. I completely took everything from her."

"Don't blame yourself. The federation's the one that decided to hold the qualification tournament," Daria stated.

"No, it's not just that. In the final round, I crushed her dreams by beating her."