Even though he had lost the first match of the Ryuou preliminaries
As long as he won the next two matches,
He still had a chance to enter the main tournament.
Unlike previous official tournaments, this time, Kawai Kenichi was not discouraged at all. On the contrary, he was brimming with determination to fight!
On the other side, Yukima Azuma left the match venue
He sneaked straight into the spectator seats.
Then sat down next to Sora Ginko and Hinatsuru Ai.
"Shishou! That was amazing!"
Hinatsuru Ai immediately threw herself at Yukima Azuma, beaming with joy.
Once this Ryuou tournament was over, she could officially become his disciple!
Sora Ginko, however, looked a bit doubtful.
"Why did your moves seem a bit drawn out? You could have transitioned into the endgame by move ninety."
Hearing that, Yukima Azuma immediately smiled.
"Ginko-senpai, you'll definitely defend your 'Queen' title again this time. The day you become 'Eternal Queen' isn't far off."
Sora Ginko tilted her head in confusion.
She didn't understand why Yukima Azuma suddenly brought this up.
Moreover, in this year's Queen tournament, she was certain to face Sainokami Ika head-on.
By her own assessment
Her chances of winning didn't look great at all.
Seeing Sora Ginko's puzzled expression
Yukima Azuma explained:
"In that match just now, I did intentionally hold back. After all, my opponent was very polite."
"But that 1-dan player on the other side didn't notice at all. To be precise, even a professional 4-dan player would struggle to notice."
"But Ginko-senpai, you were sharp enough to see that the game could have ended by move ninety."
"Ginko-senpai, you're probably the strongest female player right now. Becoming a professional player is just around the corner."
Hearing this, the gloom in Sora Ginko's heart instantly faded.
If she could really become a professional female shogi player
Then she would have fulfilled Shakando Rina's wish.
Moreover, the gap between her and Yukima Azuma would shrink.
Just being able to see Yukima Azuma's back was enough.
However, soon after, Sora Ginko felt that something was off.
"But I just lost to Shakando-sensei last night."
Sora Ginko pouted, feeling like Yukima Azuma was just trying to console her.
It was precisely because of that loss
That she had worn a maid outfit to find Yukima Azuma today.
"Eh?" Yukima Azuma was momentarily stunned. "No way, Ginko-senpai, were you distracted during the match?"
With his shogi skill level of 9, Yukima Azuma was certain he hadn't misjudged Ginko's strength.
By now, Sora Ginko should be at the level of a professional 4-dan player. Her skills were just shy of reaching level 7.
Sora Ginko recalled last night's match
She did seem... a little distracted.
What was she thinking about at the time?
Something about Azuma's Ryuou match and the maid outfit
The moment that thought surfaced, Sora Ginko's face turned bright red.
It seemed she had unconsciously wanted to lose that match.
Because if she lost, she would have a legitimate reason to wear a maid outfit to see Yukima Azuma.
She had wanted to see Yukima Azuma's surprised reaction, to hear him praise her.
Realizing this
Sora Ginko turned completely red.
Her little head, adorned with a cute maid headband, looked as if it was about to overheat.
"Shishou, Shishou, you're definitely a maid uniform fanatic, aren't you?"
At that moment, Hinatsuru Ai suddenly blurted out.
Hearing this, Yukima Azuma fell into deep thought.
"I don't know, I never realized I had such a preference."
"Shishou absolutely loves maid uniforms! Oba-san wore a maid outfit today, and Shishou kept staring!"
"You brat, shut up!"
Chapter 167: I Pledge the Future of Hinatsuru Ai
Chapter 167: I Pledge the Future of Hinatsuru Ai
After chatting for a while with the maid girl and the mischievous little kid in the audience
The second round of the preliminary quickly began.
Yukima Azuma's opponent in the second round was a professional 4-dan shogi player.
But the opponent's dan rank didn't really matter.
To Yukima Azuma
There were only two types of shogi players in the world.
One type was "Meijin," the other type was "the rest of the players."
As long as they belonged to "the rest of the players"
Yukima Azuma would crush them absolutely.
His level 9 shogi skill encompassed all playing styles and techniques, reaching a near-peak level.
If this were a different setting
A character like Yukima Azuma would almost certainly be a deceased shogi master, whose soul was bound to a ring, appearing as an old master to train a genius disciple on a quest to find "The Hand of God."
After swiftly advancing through the second and third rounds
Yukima Azuma officially entered the main tournament of the Ryuou Championship.
The main tournament of the Ryuou followed a standard single-elimination format.
A total of 32 players qualified for the main bracket.
From the round of 32, each round eliminated one losing player.
There were six rounds in total, with the finals being a best-of-all match.
As long as he kept winning
He would become the Ryuou.
The Ryuou title was the most fiercely contested among all shogi titles.
It also had the highest prize money.
This year, with additional sponsorships, the total prize pool reached 300 million yen.
As Japan's national-level championship, the Ryuou tournament received attention from the entire country.
However, Yukima Azuma didn't expect
The level of attention to be this high.
Just after finishing an interview following his qualification for the main tournament
As he stepped out of the Shogi Association
He came face to face with a beautiful woman and a middle-aged man.
The beautiful woman wore a traditional Japanese kimono, predominantly deep blue.
The kimono had no visible brand, but anyone knowledgeable about clothing could tell that the fabric was extraordinarily expensive.
Although she was a stunning beauty, standing there, she did not evoke any frivolous thoughts.
The aura of this woman was overwhelmingly strong, carrying a sense of superioritywithout needing to express anger, she exuded authority.
Seeing these two
Hinatsuru Ai's eyes immediately widened, and even the ahoge on her head drooped.
She wanted to hide behind Yukima Azuma.
But in the end, she didn't move, standing frozen in place.
"Dad, Mom..."
Hinatsuru Ai softly called out.
These two
Were Hinatsuru Ai's parents.
"Hello there, I am Hinatsuru Takashi, Ai father."
"I am Hinatsuru Akina."
Of course, they couldn't just stand and talk in the middle of the street.
After a simple introduction
Everyone moved to a nearby private tea house.
This tea house seemed to be a members-only establishment, where only those with a certain account balance could enter.
And to use a private room, an even higher balance was required.
This place was typically a venue for the upper class to discuss business.
Yukima Azuma wasn't sure if Laplace Corporation had a membership here.
But the Hinatsuru family certainly did.
The group went up to the second floor.
"Our daughter has been troubling you all this time. We sincerely apologize."
"We've heard about her apprenticeship, but we still have some objections."
Hinatsuru Ai's father calmly spoke.
Hearing this, Hinatsuru Ai immediately became agitated.
"Dad!"
She called out, then quickly turned to look at her mother.
Hinatsuru Ai understood clearly
Even though her father was the one speaking
But... the one making the decision
Was her mother.
After all, her father was merely a son-in-law who had married into the family.
Hinatsuru Akina.
A name that carried significant weight even within Japan's upper class.
The current head of the Hinatsuru family.
The person in charge of Hinatsuru Ryokan.
In Japan, anyone involved in the ryokan (JP inn) business at a certain scale
Could not ignore this woman.
Her daughter was staring at her with pleading eyes
But Hinatsuru Akina's expression remained unchanged.
As still as a tranquil lake.
She shifted her gaze to Yukima Azuma and slowly spoke:
"Before making a decision, we conducted an investigation."
"Currently, in the world of shogi, no female player has ever become a professional player."
"While it is possible to become a female shogi player, unless one wins a title, their status remains unstable."
"Yukima-sensei, you are still just a high school student, and you likely have no teaching experience."
"In such a situation, we cannot entrust Ai to you."
Her words were firm, leaving no room for retreat.
Even somewhat harsh.
Hinatsuru Takashi, standing beside her, cleared his throat lightly.
"Ahem, dear, saying that is a bit disrespectful to sensei."
But Hinatsuru Akina did not even turn her head as she coldly replied:
"Silence."
Hinatsuru Takashi immediately fell obediently silent, lowering his head.
Hinatsuru Ai also lowered her head.
She pouted, refusing to speak.
Seeing her puffing up her cheeks like she was sulking
Yukima Azuma reached out and gently patted Hinatsuru Ai's head.
To an ordinary person, the words just spoken might have been difficult to hear.
But to Yukima Azuma, he could understand them.
In fact, he even felt that the head of the Hinatsuru family in front of him was already being both indulgent toward her daughter and reasonable.
One had to understandHinatsuru Ai was the heiress of the Hinatsuru family.
Moreover, if Hinatsuru Akina did not have any other children
Hinatsuru Ai would be the sole future successor of the Hinatsuru family.
In such a situation
The heir suddenly declared she didn't want to inherit the family business but instead wanted to pursue shogi.
This was no different from Musk clan son saying he wanted to drop out of school to become a professional eSports player.
And not even joining the youth division of a well-known team
But going to some obscure "training camp."
Agreeing to such a thing would be absurd.
If this were Mrs. Yukinoshita
If Yukinoshita Haruno had said she wanted to play shogi
She would undoubtedly have been locked in a dark room immediately.
For this reason
Yukima Azuma had originally planned to win the Ryuou title first before meeting Hinatsuru Ai's parents.
After all, if she was going to pursue shogi
What could be more convincing than learning from one of the very best in the field?
At the very least, it would carry some weight when spoken.
But
It seemed that plans could never keep up with unexpected changes.
Yukima Azuma continued to pat Hinatsuru Ai's head.
He had promised to take her as his disciple
And he would definitely keep his word.
However, he also needed to make additional commitments.
"Hinatsuru Ai is a child I truly like, and I want to take her as my disciple."
"You two are Ai's parents, so it's understandable that you're worried. I completely understand."
"Therefore, in order to take Ai as my disciple, I am willing to offer a corresponding guarantee."
Yukima Azuma did not speak much about Hinatsuru Ai's talent.
To Hinatsuru Akina
That factor held little value.
Hinatsuru Ai might become a female shogi player who wins a title.
She might even become the first female professional shogi player in history.
But
All of that was merely a possibility.
As long as Hinatsuru Ai remained within the Hinatsuru family
Her future was almost certainly set as the heir to the Hinatsuru Ryokan business.
Even if she did not manage it well, "a dead camel is still bigger than a live horse."
Even if Hinatsuru Ryokan's scale were reduced by half
Its heir would still hold a status far higher than a female shogi player.
On one hand, there was a gamble on probability, with a reward that wasn't particularly ideal.
On the other, there was a massive and stable profit.
Hinatsuru Akina had no reason to choose the first option.
Unless there were additional conditions attached.
Yukima Azuma reached into the pocket of his coat, pulled out a golden business card, and placed it in front of Hinatsuru Akina.
"If Hinatsuru Ai does not achieve any notable results in her shogi career"
"I am willing to guarantee her futureboth in terms of material wealth and status."
Hinatsuru Akina picked up the business card from the table.
On the front was a single symbol.
Flipping it over, the meaning of those characters became immediately clear.
Laplace Corporation.
She carefully put the business card away.
Then, after taking a deep breath, she nodded slightly.
"I see. If you are willing to go this far for Ai, then refusing any further would be truly discourteous."
"May I ask one impolite questionwhat is your company's revenue this year?"
Hinatsuru Takashi lifted his head. "Isn't that a bit too much?"
Hinatsuru Akina shot him a glare.
The live-in son-in-law immediately lowered his head again.
Yukima Azuma, however, remained unfazed.
"Laplace was founded this spring. Over the past six months, our total revenue is approximately..."
"The total stock and cash assets currently held by the company are estimated as follows..."
Chapter 168: Take the Card, Stay Away from My Daughter!
"Laplace Corporation was established this spring. It has been half a year now, and the total revenue is roughly as follows..."
"The total number of shares and cash flow currently held by the company is also approximately this much..."
Yukima Azuma briefly summarized the financial status of Laplace Corporation.
These figures were accessible to anyone who wished to look them up.
The core assets of Laplace Corporation consisted of several original investment stocks that had yet to reveal their potential, along with copyrights and patents for a number of original works.
These assets had not yet been realized.
When the time came for them to take effect, what seemed insignificant now would help Laplace Corporation grow dozens of times over.
Aside from these key assets, the rest of Laplace Corporation's financial information was not particularly confidential.
Moreover, even without considering those core assets, the amount of cash currently recorded in Laplace Corporation's books was already an astonishing figure.
