Chapter 1496


    Alma stood amidst the crowd, her mind a whirl of confusion.


    The chess game had reached a point where it seemed to be at a dead end.


    Regardless of which side made the next move, it appeared there was no correct y to be made.


    At the previous university tournament, Alma had boldly challenged Arabe to a game of chess, only to


    be utterly defeated within moments.


    It was then that Mr. Albright graced the backstage, engaging Arabe in a game that left the onlookers


    in utter disbelief. To everyone''s astonishment, Arabe bested Mr. Albright, the undisputed chess


    maestro. Even more astonishing was when Mr. Albright openly praised Arabe''s exceptional talent,


    admitting that she had surpassed her mentor and even considering her as his potential sessor.


    The level of Arabe''s chess y had shocked Alma then, but now, as she gazed upon theplex


    board Arabe had devised, the sense of awe washed over her with even greater intensity.


    If Arabe had indeed concocted this intricate game on her own, her unfathomable skill far surpassed


    that of all the chess masters present,bined.


    The thought of her previous victory over Mr. Albright didn''t seem so surprising anymore.


    With only two minutes left, Mr. Albright, wearing a contented smile, signaled his servant to bring forth


    his favorite chess set. Carefully cing the pieces ording to Arabe''s design, he crafted the


    enigmatic scenario on the board.


    "Time is up." Mr. Albright announced cheerily, addressing the guests, "Would anyone care to step up


    and give it a try?"


    The guests exchanged nces, none daring to approach the daunting chess puzzle before them.


    Many of them dreamed of bing his sole mentee, but this challenge was clearly beyond them.


    "Lindsay, go on up," urged Bluno, Lindsay''s father and a sessful man. His life''s experiences had


    taught him the importance of seizing opportunities.


    Now, with no one presenting a solution, if his daughter dared to try, even without a strategy, her


    courage alone might draw Mr. Albright''s attention.


    "Dad, I''m truly at a loss," Lindsay’s words was not of modesty but of genuine cluelessness.


    "Can''t you make even one move?" Bluno couldn''t understand why cing a single piece on the board


    was such a difficult task.


    "Mr. Albright is a celebrated chess legend; don''t worry about embarrassing yourself. You''re young. It''s


    normal to face puzzles you can''t solve. The main thing is to get noticed by him."


    Bluno''s point was clear: even if his daughter had no ideas, she could at least make an impression


    before anyone else did.


    Lindsaycked the courage to step forward. She looked towards Arabe, questioning whether the


    game''s design was indeed her own creation.


    Mabel''s grandmother turned to her granddaughter, "Still no ideas?"


    “I’m afraid so.” Mabel, feeling the weight of the challenge, was at a loss for a solution as she peered at


    the board.


    "Christine, what about you?" Madeline''s family whispered to their child.


    Madeline shook her head, obviously not up to the task.


    "Roxanne, why so quiet?" Roxanne''s mother probed her daughter, "You can''t figure it out either?"


    “Yes.”


    A couple of veteran chess masters in attendance, whose lives were steeped in the game, had never


    encountered such a scenario.


    Was there really a solution?


    "It seems Be is the only candidate for my protege," Mr. Albright remarked with a twinkle in his eye,


    leaving the statement open-ended.


    He was aware of Arabe''s busy life and her likely inability to take on the mantle, so he did not press


    N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    her tomit in front of everyone.


    Instead, he implied that she was his choice in his heart, leaving the final decision to her.