– I take that back. This dude is actually really lucky.
– How on earth did he do that?
– Nah, he’s a genius!
– Did he memorize all of the moves?
Zeno’s face lit up the screen, his expression clueless yet oddly captivating. The theater fell into a hushed silence. Even Daniel, who didn’t have the faintest grasp of the game’s rules, felt in awe at what Zeno had accomplished. He was nearly moved to tears. Why was Zeno so effortlessly cool?
Gene PD had even risen from his seat, his sleepiness fading away. Confusion rose through the staff as they tried to rewind the footage, but there was no mistake.
Zeno had emerged victorious.
“What the—” Gene PD murmured to himself, fingers tapping thoughtfully beneath his chin.
Meanwhile, those waiting in the Life Area were growing increasingly impatient. “What is taking Doyeon so long?” Minjae asked, casting a glance at his watch. “Blind Chess should have been a walk in the park for him, so he should be done by now.”
Just then, a loud ding echoed through the room, seizing everyone’s attention. The livestream flicked to the Life Area, where the players stood, eager to welcome the survivor.
“It looks like Zeno didn’t pack much,” Minsu noted, eyeing his bag. It was the lightest among them, merely a simple duffel. “Good thing he’ll be going home first.”
Jenny nodded in agreement while distractedly checking her nails. Ari and Annie, however, wore looks of visible disappointment, though they tried to mask it. For some reason, they felt compelled to learn more about Zeno.
At last, the doors swung open, and a shroud of fog rolled into the Life Area. Lights illuminated the figure of the survivor from behind, making it hard to identify who it was. Yet, Bacon PD knew the moment he appeared.
“Zeno’s back,” he exclaimed out loud.
Disbelief washed over the others as Zeno strolled casually back to his spot.
– I still can’t fathom this.
– Is my Zeno a genius?
– I went to high school with Zeno. He wasn’t exactly the brightest! So, it’s gotta be luck.
– YOU WENT TO SCHOOL WITH ZENO?!
– Yup! I spotted him in our yearbook. Somehow, I just don’t remember him, though. He must have been invisible back then.
– Wow. You must regret not talking to him!
– … Yes.
The screen then presented a pair of eerie blinking eyes, momentarily pulling attention away from Zeno. The ominous words—”Player Doyeon Out”—appeared before the screen abruptly shut off, leaving the audience in a state of confusion as the livestream ended without so much as a closing credit.
– Just like that?
– I can’t wait for the second episode tomorrow!
– Why don’t we place a bet? Zeno’s definitely going home tomorrow!
– Haven’t you seen him play Blind Chess? He just beat the number one Chess AI player in the world!
– Yeah, but it was just luck!
– With Zeno gaining popularity, he’ll have to prove himself even more now, huh?
– Honestly, this show is simply amazing.
As the livestream concluded, everyone once again turned their gaze to Zeno. Minjae appeared the most shocked of all; his algorithm had been proven wrong!
“How did you manage to beat him?” Mandy asked, her tone inquisitive like that of a seasoned lawyer.
Zeno offered a soft smile in response.
“Dazzling,” Annie murmured.
“I just did what I had to do. It’s chess; you either win or lose,” he replied.
A brief silence hung in the air until Billy burst into laughter, slinging an arm around Zeno in a friendly gesture. Zeno didn’t move away, but he wasn’t particularly fond of the embrace.
“It must have been nerve-wracking. Let’s just congratulate Zeno,” Billy declared, his demeanor surprisingly sweeter than Zeno’s.
The atmosphere began to soften; the others gradually warmed up. “Whatever,” Minjae muttered, still skeptical. “It had to have been luck or something.”
They all agreed to dismiss it as such. Zeno shot Billy a subtle glance and noticed a slight twitch in his eyes.
“I see,” he quietly whispered to himself before rising from the couch.
With that, the players gradually dispersed, some breaking off into their own conversations, already forming alliances.
Out of all of them, Bacon PD and Billy Jo emerged as the top two contenders, the others already buttering up to them.
Meanwhile, Zeno headed to the kitchen. Fortunately, the staff had recognized his fondness for root crops and stocked up accordingly.
“I didn’t expect to see you here,” Annie said, breaking the silence. Zeno lifted his gaze and turned to the shy woman standing before him. Her cheeks were already flushed, nervous about initiating a conversation.
“Hmm,” Zeno replied thoughtfully. “You too.”
Annie bit her lip, knowing she wasn’t the most talkative person, and it seemed like Zeno wasn’t either. The two fell into a silence, allowing Zeno to continue examining the kitchen, absorbing every detail around him.
“The others are already talking about you,” Annie suddenly interjected, drawing Zeno’s attention once more.
“Oh, I’m well aware of that,” he replied, a wry smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “They probably think I’m lucky to have won.”
Annie nodded quietly in agreement.
“Well, they’re right,” Zeno muttered, settling onto one of the stools. “I really did get lucky! That guy, Doyeon, is exceptionally good at chess.”
Meanwhile, Doyeon was wheeling his suitcase out of the mansion, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. He had packed as if preparing for a month-long adventure, intent on showcasing his fashion sense and becoming the new trendsetter. Instead, what was this?
He had barely spent two hours in the mansion! Shaking his head in disbelief, he glanced back one last time.
“Lucky bastard,” he muttered under his breath before hastening his steps away from the scene.
“I don’t think luck has anything to do with it,” Annie suddenly chimed in. “I don’t think you’re just lucky in the game.”
Zeno tilted his head, intrigued. “What do you mean by that?”
“I think… you won the game fair and square,” she stated confidently.
“How can you know that?” Zeno asked, eyebrows raised. “You didn’t even get a chance to watch it.”
Annie fell momentarily speechless, pondering how she had come to the conclusion that Zeno had outsmarted Doyeon. Yet, there was only one answer that resonated within her.
To her, Zeno was reminiscent of Hajin—a hidden genius among them who went unnoticed, yet was always ready to strike when the moment was right. However, as she looked deeper into his eyes, she found herself questioning her assumptions.
Was he simply lucky?
“Um, I didn’t have the opportunity to say this earlier,” Annie began hesitantly. “But I want to express my gratitude for bringing my novel to life. You are also the reason why—”
However, at that moment, Zeno found it increasingly difficult to concentrate on her words.
Even with all his focus on her, he couldn’t ignore it.
Zeno’s brows furrowed in concentration.
The unmistakable scent of a Rennis.