Including Keegan.


    "Dad, Ms. Lte isn''t exactly a chess grandmaster."


    Not a pro, going up against someone like Ulysses, a seasoned chess master, what are the odds?


    Grayson was clearly not pleased with Keegan: "Does it really matter if she''s a pro or not? Isn''t the skill what truly counts?"


    "I have a good feeling about this youngdy."Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    Deep down, Keegan still feared the old man''s judgment, saying, "I''ll go ask Ms. Lte right away, if she''s up for it."


    Piper wanted to add something but got cut off by Keegan.


    Brittany, blissfully unaware of the attention on her, was fully engrossed in analyzing herst game when suddenly, a shadow loomed over her.


    Looking up, it was Keegan.


    "Keegan," Brittany stood up. "Do you need me for something?"


    "Ms. Lte, do you y chess?"


    "A bit."


    "Would you y the next game?" Keegan doubted Brittany could win against Ulysses, but the old man''s judgment was rarely off. Perhaps Brittany had something special. Brittany hadn''t expected to be singled out, "Keegan, I''m not a professional chess yer-"


    "My dear, whether you''re a pro or not doesn''t matter." Grayson interjected. "Don''t you want to match wits with Ulysses?"


    She did.


    But she feared losing would drag down the whole town of Craneville.


    "I know what you''re capable of. You have at least a fifty-fifty chance against him," Grayson, seeing through Brittany''s concern, reassured. "Decide now, and it might just tip to sixty." Brittany was swayed.


    "Alright, I''ll do it."


    Brittany''s agreement didn''t ease Keegan''s worries; if anything, he felt this friendly match might just be doomed.


    Piper and the others watched with detached amusement, while Wace looked utterly dejected: "It''s all my fault. I couldn''t win against Ulysses and now I''ve dragged us all down-"


    A non-professional yer, against an international champion like Ulysses, how long could they possiblyst?


    Piper, however, didn''t see it that way. If Brittany were to lose this match in front of the whole town, she''d be Craneville''s biggest letdown!


    Would the queen still favor her then?


    "Since Ms. Lte has agreed, let''s give her a chance."


    Piper tried to calm everyone down: "Desperate times call for desperate measures."


    The chess club was buzzing with doubts about Brittany''s abilities.


    The Wndia delegation.


    Orson poured Ulysses a cup of tea: "Take it easy in the next game, try not to embarrass Craneville too much."


    After all, it was a friendly match, and they had to consider the host''s dignity.


    Ulysseszily nodded: "Got it."


    As the break ended, Ulysses returned to the game.


    Brittany, now in the chess club''s uniform, slowly stepped onto the stage.


    "Brittany?"


    "She knows how to y chess?"


    "Just seeking attention, I guess!"


    "Probably just because Piper hosted this exchange, she wants to steal the spotlight!"


    "If even Keegan could only draw with Ulysses, how could Brittany stand a chance?"


    Brittany''s appearance raised doubts among the audience, most of whom thought she was just seeking attention!


    Brittany and Ulysses exchanged nces: "Please go easy on me."


    Ulysses hadn''t expected Craneville to be unable to find a professional yer and was somewhat displeased to be matched with an amateur.


    As the game began, Brittany, with the ck pieces, and Ulysses, with the white, the matchmenced.


    Ulysses continued his aggressive ying style, not holding back as promised to Orson.


    He felt Craneville didn''t take this friendly match seriously by sending an amateur to face him, so why should he care about preserving their dignity? Piper watched Ulysses''s demeanor and smirked.


    Yet, on the chessboard, the game told a different story.