Chapter 50

"The box of destiny is ready, and the first round of the New Talent Challenge is about to be revealed—Rika Sawada from TV Tokyo will keep you updated!"

"An exciting duel is about to break out—will the final winner be able to earn the right to challenge the current Dragon King? Let us wait and see!!"

Xia Xia Xia Mujun had not carefully studied the tournament format before, originally thinking it was just a simple double prize for consecutive wins.

He did not expect that starting from the quarterfinals, the prize money would increase fourfold.

The final champion's prize money is as high as 40.96 million yen.

It seems the organizers have truly gone all out this time.

Just then, a little girl who looked about ten years old, holding an old man's hand, came near Xia Xia Xia Mujun.

They looked around and found that most of the seats were already occupied—either by spectators or contestants.

The nearest empty seat happened to be right next to Xia Xia Xia Mujun.

This white-haired but spirited Masahiro Furukawa asked politely:

"Young man, is this seat taken?"

"If you don't mind, may we sit here?"

Xia Xia Xia Mujun gestured:

"Please, go ahead."

Masahiro Furukawa nodded slightly:

"Thank you."

After saying this, he took his granddaughter and sat down beside Xia Xia Xia Mujun.

Saio Furukawa said in surprise: "Grandpa, the prize money is actually 40.96 million yen, that's so much money, enough to buy a car for our family~"

"It certainly is." Masahiro Furukawa smiled kindly.

"Grandpa, aren't you participating in the competition this time?" Saio Furukawa tilted her little face and asked in confusion.

Masahiro Furukawa waved his hands repeatedly, the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes smoothing out: "Grandpa is old now, it's better to leave such opportunities to the young."

Saio Furukawa knew in her heart that her grandfather was the Dragon King from over twenty years ago.

In the world of Shogi, the title of "Dragon King" symbolizes supreme glory, representing the strongest player of that era.

However, time spares no one; her grandfather suffered from an illness back then, and as he aged, his physical strength could no longer keep up with the high-intensity competition rhythm, which is why he gradually faded out of the Shogi world and lived in anonymity for many years.

Having learned Shogi under her grandfather's guidance since she was a child, she looked at Masahiro Furukawa's slightly hunched figure and smiled sweetly:

"Then how about I take first place for you, Grandpa?"

Masahiro Furukawa stroked his gray beard and smiled kindly:

"Alright!"

"When the competition is on this afternoon, Grandpa will be watching you from the audience, you must do your best."

Saio Furukawa nodded vigorously, her youthful face full of seriousness:

"Mm!"

At this moment, Xia Xia Xia Mujun was completely unaware of the conversation between the grandfather and granddaughter beside him; all his focus was on his phone screen, his fingertips dancing rapidly across the virtual keyboard.

His side profile while typing was sharp and his expression serious, drawing frequent glances from many spectators around him.

Even the experienced Masahiro Furukawa couldn't help but sigh in his heart, that there could be such a handsome young man in this world...

The young Saio Furukawa was even more deeply attracted, her bright, lively eyes staring at Xia Xia Xia Mujun without blinking.

At this time, the host below, Rika Sawada, was conducting pre-match interviews.

According to the program schedule, she needed to interview several unique contestants and spectators before and after the start of the competition.

She moved elegantly along the edge of the venue, her eyes scanning the audience keenly, looking for suitable interviewees.

Soon, her gaze fixed on the boy in the school uniform in the audience area, and her eyes lit up immediately.

Rika Sawada made a quick deduction and judged that Xia Xia Xia Mujun was likely a contestant for the second or third session rather than a regular spectator—at this time of day, students wouldn't usually take leave specifically to watch a competition.

She turned to her camera assistant and pointed at Xia Xia Xia Mujun in the audience:

"If we can interview that boy, the footage will definitely be great."

"Maybe we can even use this interview to make a few short video covers to attract female viewers."

"You know, the main force watching TV and following dramas is still female viewers, and they love seeing boys who are both handsome and talented."

The camera assistant looked in the direction she pointed and was immediately stunned.

"He is indeed outstanding; I feel like the male celebrities in the entertainment industry aren't as good-looking as him."

Rika Sawada instructed:

"Yes, but there are too many people here now, it's not convenient for me to go over."

"You go and ask that boy if he is willing to be interviewed."

"Remember to confirm if he is a contestant first."

"Even if he is a spectator, it doesn't matter; we can interview him from the angle of 'why did you specifically take leave to watch the competition'."

The camera assistant nodded and carefully made his way through the aisle between the seats, apologizing in a low voice to those he passed.

This movement caught the attention of the surrounding audience.

Masahiro Furukawa also noticed the camera crew approaching.

Seeing the assistant carrying the camera walking in this direction, he immediately understood their intention and couldn't help but sigh inwardly: he had lived in anonymity for over a decade, he didn't expect to be recognized as soon as he arrived at the competition venue?

He thought he had long been forgotten, but it seems he was overthinking it.

Since he had been discovered, there was nothing he could do; he might as well accept a short interview. Anyway, he came this time to let everyone know about his genius granddaughter.

Thinking this, Masahiro Furukawa no longer hid in the crowd and slowly stood up.

However, just as he was preparing to welcome the interview, he found that the camera assistant's gaze was not on him at all, but was heading straight toward Xia Xia Xia Mujun next to him.

"Excuse me for the interruption, could I take a moment of your time?"

Masahiro Furukawa heard this and sat back in his seat, feeling slightly embarrassed. He suddenly thought it might be more effective to follow the original plan and reveal his identity after his granddaughter won a few games.

But he really was old; he had lived in anonymity for too long, and the young people nowadays didn't recognize him anymore...

Saio Furukawa asked curiously: "Grandpa, did you stand up just now because you wanted to go to the restroom?"

"Ahem... no," Masahiro Furukawa's old face flushed slightly, "Grandpa just... just wanted to stretch his muscles."

As he spoke, he pretended to twist his waist and stretch his arms in his seat.

Xia Xia Xia Mujun looked up, looking puzzled: "Is something the matter?"

After seeing Xia Xia Xia Mujun's appearance up close, the camera assistant was even more stunned.

He looked outstanding from a distance, but up close, he was breathtaking!

"Um... we are from TV Tokyo, may I ask if you are a contestant or a spectator?"

Xia Xia Xia Mujun answered softly:

"A contestant."

A joyful smile immediately bloomed on the camera assistant's face:

"That's great!"

"We are looking for some contestants to interview."

"We feel your temperament is very unique, would you be willing to accept our interview?"

Other contestants around heard this, their faces turned dark, and they were shouting internally: Are we not people? Are we even human?! You're specifically picking handsome guys to interview, right?

Xia Xia Xia Mujun shook his head politely to refuse:

"No, thank you."

The camera assistant was stunned:

"Eh? Our program will be broadcast simultaneously on national television and online platforms."

"There will be many viewers watching, this is a very rare opportunity, would you really not reconsider?"

Xia Xia Xia Mujun still shook his head:

"Sorry, I don't really like being in the spotlight, let's leave it to someone else."

Seeing this, the camera assistant couldn't force him:

"Sorry to have bothered you."

Other contestants heard Xia Xia Xia Mujun refuse the interview, first surprised, then secretly happy.

They waved at the camera assistant one after another:

"I'm a contestant too, I'm willing to be interviewed!"