Lucian stared at the man for a moment, then leaned back in his chair. Slowly, he removed his hood and flashed a smirk.
"Too bad... your guess is wrong," he said, a faint smile playing on his lips. "I am Lucian Witte."
The masked man fell silent for a moment. He chuckled softly and moved a piece on the chessboard before resting his chin in his hand, looking Lucian straight in the eye.
"I didn't expect you to admit it so readily," he said, a smirk appearing beneath his mask. "I thought you would try to keep your identity hidden."
Lucian let out a short scoff and closed his eyes, tilting his head slightly downwards, the smile still on his face.
"Well... I've already been caught. What's the point in hiding it anymore?" he replied casually.
The masked man sat up straight, crossing his legs and smiling faintly. He rested his arms casually on the armrests.
"Is that so?" He looked at Lucian intently, as if assessing him.
"I've always been curious why the Young Master of the Witte family always covers half his face," he said, deliberately drawing out his words before smiling again. "It turns out you have quite a striking face."
"Flattery will get you nowhere," Lucian replied flatly. His smile vanished, replaced by a sharp, wary gaze. He furrowed his brows and crossed his arms over his chest.
The masked man didn't respond immediately. Instead, he looked down at the board, as if their conversation was merely background noise. His finger spun one of the pieces idly. Lucian watched the movement, then glanced at the formation of the pieces.
"Your strategy... is quite interesting," he commented quietly.
"Oh?" The masked man raised an eyebrow behind his mask. "I didn't expect that. Do you enjoy playing chess, Young Master?" His smile returned. "How about a game with me?"
Lucian was quiet for a moment, then scoffed lightly and closed his eyes briefly. "Not really... but I've played a few times." He looked at the board for a few seconds, then picked up a pawn and made his move.
The man simply watched Lucian's hand. Without a word, he moved his own piece in response.
"Is that so? At least you understand the rules," he said, leaning back comfortably in his chair.
Lucian remained silent, ignoring the comment. He calmly made his next move, anticipating the open path left by his opponent. He didn't look at the man across from him; his eyes were completely focused on the board.
The masked man observed Lucian's movements with a subtle smile. Instead of countering immediately, he interlaced his fingers in front of his mouth, his gaze intense.
"Young Master..." he called out softly, as if testing the waters.
Lucian glanced over, his eyebrow lifting slightly.
"Tell me... which strategy do you think is better?" The man paused, choosing his words carefully. "The King protecting the pawns and other pieces... or the pawns and pieces protecting the King?"
Lucian looked slightly surprised by the question. He scoffed, closed his eyes for a moment, then sat up straight and stared at the man before him.
"Actually, both are good strategies," Lucian answered, his eyes still fixed on the arrangement of pieces. He thought for a moment before continuing, "If the pawns protect the King, it is like building a system that relies on the strength and loyalty of the people or subordinates." He moved another piece as he spoke.
"It creates a sense of unity and common purpose, where every individual feels they have a vital role in maintaining the stability and continuity of the kingdom. The King's power lies in the collective strength of his soldiers." He analyzed the concept calmly and thoroughly, revealing a deep understanding of politics and leadership.
The masked man said nothing, simply continuing his move, intercepting the piece Lucian had just advanced. Calmly, Lucian picked up his King and spun it between his fingers.
"On the other hand," Lucian continued, his tone flat but meaningful, "if the King protects the pawns, it represents a leader who takes full responsibility for the kingdom's stability by protecting his people and army, building loyalty and trust. A leader like this becomes the center of strength and protection, inspiring devotion and allegiance."
He placed the King on the front line—a risky move in chess. The piece was now exposed and vulnerable from multiple angles. Yet, the position also arranged the other pieces like an army marching forward behind their leader. He paused, staring at the King standing tall among the pawns.
"If I had to choose, I would say the King protects the pawns," Lucian stated, his gaze unwavering. "Although it is risky, this strategy is more effective in the long run. A King who shows courage and sacrifice to protect his people will forge stronger loyalty and trust. This system creates a bond that is far more resilient and enduring than one where the people are forced to constantly protect their ruler."
The masked man chuckled softly, his eyes gleaming as he looked at the board. "You understand it quite well, don't you?" He moved his Knight. The sharp click of the piece echoed in the silent room.
The piece landed perfectly, cutting off every possible escape route for Lucian's King. Most of Lucian's other pieces had advanced too far to return and help.
"Checkmate."
The masked man leaned back, crossing his arms over his chest and nodding slightly as if agreeing with Lucian's philosophy. He looked at Lucian through his mask, a small smile forming.
"Well then, forgive me if this conversation has been boring," he said in a relaxed tone, though his eyes remained sharp, watching for any reaction.
"Before we go further, you may call me Alpha," he continued, tapping his fingers rhythmically on the wooden table beside the board. He rested his head on one hand and leaned slightly forward, his voice turning more serious. "So, what brings the Young Master to our guild?"
His smile returned, this time carrying a hint of mischief. "Surely you didn't come here just to play chess with me, did you?"
Lucian smiled faintly and leaned back again, resting his hands behind his head. "Of course not." He crossed his arms and looked at the man calling himself Alpha with cold eyes.
"I want information," he stated firmly and confidently.
Alpha tapped his fingers on the table. The rhythm seemed random, but Lucian knew it meant something—likely a code. Even though they appeared to be alone, there were probably subordinates watching. It was almost certain.
"Information, huh..." Alpha leaned back, his fingers tapping slowly but deliberately. His gaze remained locked on Lucian, as if weighing his worth. "I don't know how you found out about our guild, but..." Alpha continued, his tone serious yet curious.
He crossed his arms, his expression unreadable. "I'm sure you also know that we do nothing for free." Alpha grinned slightly, sounding like someone who enjoyed the game. "Every piece of information has a price, and it isn't always paid in gold coins. So, Young Master Witte, what do you have to offer in exchange?"
Lucian smiled slightly—a smile full of confidence and thinly veiled sarcasm. He stared at Alpha sharply, as if reading his mind. "Naturally," he replied in a flat tone. "Only a fool would come here without knowing that."
"Interesting," Alpha finally spoke, his voice softer but heavy with meaning. His eyes remained fixed on Lucian, judging if the young man could truly deliver what he promised. "What is your offer?" His tone was more open now, though the sharpness never faded.
The atmosphere grew tense, like two hunters circling each other, searching for an opening. Alpha waited, spinning a coin between his fingers—a gesture that seemed calm, yet signaled he was ready to strike the moment an opportunity appeared. Lucian took his time; he knew the man across from him was evaluating every detail.
"I'm not sure about this, but considering the flow of the game's story, there is one interesting piece of news lately," Lucian thought to himself, narrowing his eyes as he weighed the words on the tip of his tongue.
He didn't answer immediately. Instead, he crossed his legs, one hand stroking his chin thoughtfully while the other rested casually on the armrest.
"But based on the newspapers I read at the library earlier, I'm certain. If my guess is right, this guild is the one..." His eyes shifted to the coin Alpha was playing with.
Lucian took a slow breath and straightened his back. He looked at Alpha with a deeper smile, almost like someone about to play their trump card.
He finally spoke, his voice low but clear.
"I don't know if this is valuable information to you," he said, leaning slightly forward, his gaze piercing through the shadows of Alpha's mask. He paused deliberately, letting the silence hang between them.
"You are aware of the illegal funds flowing directly to Duke Reynald, aren't you?"