II : I

As I make a detour around the mansion, I overheard a rather uninteresting conversation between someone and someone in front of one of room on the second floor.

Rudolph turned out to be that certain someone. I found him speaking to Emma as I gradually step closer.

It seems so obvious how Rudolph was trying his best to invite her to play some board game. Seeing how excited he was, I suspect that it was love at first sight for Rudolph, who was probably never encountered a cute girl. Ahem, poor him.

I was taken aback when Emma yelled all of a sudden.

"I said I don't wanna play, fine?!", she yelled as she closed the room door in front of him.

With a clearly disappointed expression on his face, he said, "Am I being rejected without confession even?"

I approached him from behind and called out to him. Although we were of the same age, I addressed him as kid.

"Hey kid!"

"Eh?", Rudolph was a bit surprised with my calling out to him.

Rudolph : "Sir Benedict, am I right?"

"Yes."

Rudolph : "Why are you here? Oh right, is your room on this floor as well?"

"No. I am taking a detour around this mansion. I overheard you saying that you wanted to play a board game?"

Rudolph : "Y-Yes. My father and I have arrived to this mansion earlier than most of the guest, a little past noon. As I checked the mansion, I found a wide balcony on the fourth floor. So I taught I wanted Miss Emma to join me and play the chess there. We can enjoy the night breeze while playing."

"Chess? You know how to play?"

Rudolph : "Ah...only a bit though."

"Well, let's go then."

On our way to the fourth floor, I inquire Rudolph a question regarding his father.

"Rudolph, your father didn't talk much, did he?"

Rudolph : "Well, yes, sir. In the past, he wasn't like that."

"Hmm? Why?"

Rudolph : "There was a case where my father help the police solved once. A religious figure who happened to be on the crime site gave a word of advice to him."

"And this is what he said,"

'Mr, if you are going to continue being a detective, where you use words to corner people, I'd like you to take this to heart.'

'Words are like knives. If you use it the wrong way, it will transform into a bad weapon. You have to understand the person's heart and use it carefully, no matter who that person maybe.'

Rudolph : "Maybe that was the reason?"

"Hmm."

As we getting closer towards the fourth floor, I and Rudolph came across five of the world renowned detectives, with Mr. Clinton as exception. They appear to head for the fourth floor too.

When I asked for what purpose they were going there, Mr. Watson told me that they wanted to appreciate the night breeze while exchanging thought on those confusing riddle. Uh...it sounds so tiring so I immediately asked the detectives to join us. To play chess, I meant.

"Why not?", said Mr. Smith.

There was several sofas and three coffee table on the room with the balcony. Man, I've got to say that the balcony was unexpectedly wide, enough to cover my house yard. We placed a coffee table on the balcony and had two of the wooden chair moved to the table side facing each other.

Rudolph draw out a chess set from his long strap shoulder bag that he wore across his back, and laid the chess set down on top of the table. Honestly, I have been very eager to play it since two weeks ago at the school competition, before the school closed.

"I will be the first to go.", I said. "Who would be willing to be my opponent then?"

Mr. Watson : "Well, why don't we have Mr. Smith, our ace in chess to go first?"

Mr. Smith : "My, let's ask our dear companion if whether they wanted to have a go or not?"

Mr. Ferrell : "Eh? You can have the first turn Mr. Smith. Besides, chess is not really my area of expertise."

Mr. Lion : "Now, now. Since this is the first, let's ask our opponent himself, the mysterious boy, whether he wanted to feel a bitter taste of defeat or not?"

A mysterious boy? What's with that title anyway?

"Ah, then just let me fight with Mr. Smith. You said he is...what was it? Ace?"

Mr. Watson, Mr. Ferrell, Mr. Lion and Mr. Dexter were a bit surprised. Even Rudolph showed the same reaction.

Mr. Smith : "Confidence, are we?"

Honestly, I became confused with this turnout of event, "What?"

Mr. Watson : "Kid, don't you know who Mr. Smith is?"

Rudolph tug the back of my cloth and whispered to me.

*Sir, just so you know, Mr. Smith was a four times former champion of chess competition in our continent!*

I turned to Rudolph and said, "Hmm...okay?"

Rudolph : "Sir?"

"It means he knows how to play them, right?"

Both Mr. Dexter and Mr. Ferrell almost burst into laughter hearing my reply while the rest of them were speechless. In the midst of those awkward atmosphere, Mr. Dexter said, "Aren't you good, kid?"

What the...the game wasn't even started yet, and I am pretty sure I still don't touch the piece of the chess, but he said I'm good? I turned towards Mr. Dexter with this what-are-you-talking-about face. It made me more puzzling than ever.

Mr. Smith : "My, my. Am I being looked down here? Let's end our meaningless chat and have a go already."

"Yes, sir!"

Mr. Smith let me play the white piece. Since I played my first move, it has been half an hour. But I have got to admit, his skill might has gone rusty due to watching all of those bloody crime site. Guess I should end the game already?

"Ahem, checkmate, sir."

Mr. Smith : "I just about to finish warming up, and you already took it seriously, don't you?"

Mr. Dexter interrupted, "Ohoh, it appear that the warm-up Mr. Smith wasn't able to throw a delicacy of defeat on you. The heck, kid! You are actually quite good."

"Well, I do play the chess now and then with my grandfather, Bened..."

*Shoot! I was supposed to be him right now!*

The rest, except for Rudolph, broke a laugh,

Mr. Ferrell : "Ahahaha, kid, you think we couldn't catch up to your poorly act of disguise?"

It seems all of them, Rudolph being the exception, already knew my wearing this disguise. But I curious too as to how they realized it, so I asked Mr. Ferrell about it.

Mr. Ferrell : "I'm a Belgium representative, kid. I met him three days ago, as he lead an investigation at my town before I come here."

Man, how come I am able to forget that my own grandfather went to Belgium for some detective works?

Mr. Ferrell : "As the last person to arrive, I looked at the invitation list. All 50 detectives, when supposedly a single country representative couldn't make it, somehow were able to make their way to attend this gathering."

"So, it was a hit the moment you said 'Benedict' when replying to this kid here...", referring to Rudolph, "...earlier in the middle of the gathering."

When I asked what was the reason he didn't joined the investigation at his own country, he replied by saying he did it with no particular reason.

Mr. Smith : "Well then, shall we go for round two?"

This time around, his style of play has changed drastically. He tried to employ the trap multiple of time against me. Mr. Smith completely diminish any strategy that I used to block his move.

Those impressive tactical make me changed the way I sit. Well, it often help me to better focus on the task in front of me. Without realizing ourselves, the game was drag for about one hour and a half. Even the invited spectator silently watched the game, in order to know how it will end.

But sadly,

"Checkmate."

The crowd was stunned. As they about to gave a roar of applause,

"Ding....Dong....Ding....Dong...."

The sound of the pendulum clock indicating that it was midnight can be heard all the way to the entire of fourth floor from the gathering hall.

Mr. Smith : "Ahem! Shall we stop here?"

"Of course."

Mr. Smith : "What is your name, kid?"

"It is Erza Kenny."

Mr. Smith : "I will return this taste of defeat the next time we meet, you hear?"

"Yes, sir. But that's the case only if you could get any better."

Mr. Smith : "Why you!"

"I'm just kidding, sir!"

Whoa, I've got to admit that was the hardest game I ever played. It was even harder than that one game I had with my grandfather.