Chapter 770

"However, come to think of it, it makes sense. You people from Moonlight Private Academy, your strength isn't much, but your gift of gab is inherited and slick."

"Just like that girl who lost to our Senior Honda last time; even though she was crushed to nothing, she was still just as stubborn after the match, wasn't she?"

Natsume Chikage did not get angry at his mockery.

Instead, he looked as if he had been reminded of something, showing a thoughtful expression.

He looked at Morimoto Yūki and suddenly proposed.

"Since you are so firmly convinced that your strength far exceeds mine."

"Then, before the official match begins, how about we play a little wager?"

Morimoto Yūki raised an eyebrow.

"A wager?"

"That's right." Natsume Chikage nodded, his tone calm but carrying a certain inexplicable attraction. "It's very simple. If I lose, all the prize money I've earned from the start of the tournament until now will belong to you."

He paused, looking the other party straight in the eye.

"Conversely, if you lose, all the prize money you've earned from the start of the tournament until now will belong to me."

Morimoto Yūki was stunned for a full two seconds.

Then, he suddenly burst into an extremely exaggerated, wild laugh!

He laughed so hard he swayed back and forth, even slapping his thigh hard, tears almost streaming out.

"Hahaha! Interesting! Too interesting!"

He pointed at Natsume Chikage, his tone filled with mockery and disbelief.

"You really are a 'Young Master' from Moonlight Private Academy! Your tone is certainly big! You're really rich!"

He began counting on his fingers, his eyes getting brighter and brighter, as if he could already see the money flying in.

"Let me calculate... ten thousand in the first round, twenty thousand in the second, forty thousand in the third, eighty thousand in the fourth..."

"Adding it all up, that must be one hundred and fifty thousand yen, right?"

He licked his lips, his greed undisguised.

"Since you, 'Young Master,' like to give away money so generously..."

"How could I refuse? I'm dying for more good things like this!"

Natsume Chikage didn't care about his mockery, just calmly confirmed.

"So, you agree?"

Morimoto Yūki put away his exaggerated smile, but the flush of excitement on his face had not yet faded.

"I agree! Of course I agree! Only a fool wouldn't agree to such a sure-win deal!"

However.

Just as his words fell.

A steady, slightly serious male voice suddenly came from the side of the two.

"The wager between the two contestants... sounds very interesting."

Natsume Chikage and Morimoto Yūki turned their heads at the same time.

They saw a middle-aged man in a dark suit with an official referee badge pinned to his chest, who had already arrived at the shogi table at some point.

He had a square face, a serious expression, and his gaze swept over both their faces.

"I am the official shogi referee for this match, Kishida Mineisuke."

He nodded slightly.

"If you don't mind, I volunteer to serve as the notary for your wager and will place constraints on both parties to ensure the fulfillment of the bet."

"What do you two think?"

The corner of Natsume Chikage's mouth twitched slightly, almost imperceptibly.

Why is it you again...

Where exactly, and when did you start eavesdropping?

But after thinking about it, he ultimately didn't voice his complaint.

Morimoto Yūki was stunned for a moment, then showed surprise on his face.

"This is just a private wager between us... don't you officials prohibit this?"

Kishida Mineisuke shook his head, his expression dead serious.

"In principle, as long as both parties are willing and there is no cheating, coercion, or other improper intent, and it is purely for the purpose of incentivizing performance in the match, such private wagers are not explicitly prohibited by the officials."

"If the wager between the two of you can motivate both sides to give their all and contribute a more exciting match, there is no negative impact on the tournament itself."

He paused, his tone becoming even more solemn.

"However."

"If the two of you accept me as the official referee to witness and notarize it."

"Then, this wager will be recognized and constrained by the tournament's official system."

"After the match, the winner and loser must strictly fulfill the terms of the wager."

His gaze became sharp.

"If either party refuses to fulfill it..."

"I will report it to the tournament organizing committee and the Shogi Association, and corresponding punitive measures will be taken against the breaching party. This includes, but is not limited to, public condemnation, deduction of tournament points, or even suspension for a period of time in the future."

After hearing this, Morimoto Yūki was not worried at all; instead, the corners of his mouth spread even wider.

A flash of triumph, exactly as he had hoped, crossed his eyes.

Official constraints and arbitration?

That couldn't be better!

He had just been slightly worried about what to do if Natsume Chikage lost and tried to welch on the deal.

Now, it was equivalent to putting the safest lock on this "prize money transfer agreement."

"Fine!"

He agreed impatiently, pointing at Natsume Chikage and saying to the referee.

"Referee Kishida, you'd better keep a close eye on him when the time comes!"

"Don't let this 'Young Master' find an excuse to slip away after he loses!"

Kishida Mineisuke's expression was stern as he responded in a deep voice.

"That is only right."

"My duty is to ensure fair constraints on both parties regarding the wager."

"Conversely, if you, Contestant Morimoto, lose, please be sure to fulfill the agreement as well."

Morimoto Yūki scoffed, his face full of dismissal.

"Me? Lose? What a joke!"

Kishida Mineisuke said in a deep voice:

"Then, the wager is established, notarized by me, Kishida Mineisuke."

"Now—let's decide who goes first."

In shogi, the common, formal method for deciding who goes first is called "shaking the pieces."

One of the players, usually the one with the lower rank or status, or the guest, acts as the operator.

Five "pawn" pieces are taken from the piece box.

Sometimes all types of pieces are used, but standard matches usually only use five pawns.

The operator uses one or both hands to gently hold these five pieces, slightly above the board.

The pieces are then scattered evenly across the board.

The pieces will randomly show either the "front" or "back" state.

If the number of pieces facing front is odd, the person who scattered them goes first.

If the number of pieces facing front is even, the other person goes first.

A simple mnemonic is "odd first, even second" or "the piece holder, odd goes first."

Referee Kishida Mineisuke looked at the pieces on the board and signaled:

"Contestant Morimoto Yūki, first move."

A light of wild joy instantly burst from Morimoto Yūki's eyes!

First move!

In shogi, the first move often means the initial initiative and layout advantage.