159: Breaking Ten Thousand Strategies with Pure Strength!

"Since you say so, Ginko, I'll do my best."

"Don't underestimate them. Even though these players are amateurs, they've been playing for over a decade, and each of them has real skill."

"Are you telling me not to trip over my own feet, Ginko?"

"I'm telling you to win... but more slowly."

With that, Hakuto followed Ginko's instructions, stepped into the teahouse, and took a seat.

However, Ginko was quite well-known. The moment she entered, many people greeted her.

Thanks to her reputation, the elderly patrons in the teahouse were all willing to play against Hakuto.

The first opponent was a middle-aged man in his forties.

Rubbing his hands together eagerly, he sat across from Hakuto and muttered to himself,

"Let's see what kind of skill the friend of Osaka's Snow White has."

To be honest, in the past, Hakuto would've thrown a few large bills onto the board and turned this into a gambling match.

But with Ginko right beside him, he couldn't act so freely, so he had to abandon that idea.

"Remember what I said," Ginko reminded him again before the game started.

Hearing this, Hakuto felt a bit helpless. He genuinely didn't know how to play slowly.

(;一_一)... Does Ginko want me to think longer? But no matter how long I think, I still arrive at the optimal move!

Hakuto was a little confused. 

Ginko wanted him to observe his opponent's strategies and formations, but honestly, he couldn't see anything special.

So, following her instructions, he deliberately slowed down his wins. He analyzed every move to an extreme degree.

Even Ginko was at a loss. She couldn't help but tap his head with her folding fan.

Even though amateur matches didn't have timers, this was dragging on way too long!

All Hakuto could do was laugh awkwardly. The truth was, he really couldn't discern any strategy in their play.

The moment his opponent made the first move, Hakuto could already predict the next few hundred moves!

This was literally breaking ten thousand strategies with pure strength.

Like that, Hakuto went through all the players in the teahouse, remaining undefeated.

Every opponent he faced had the same reaction:

"Strange… His moves seem completely chaotic, but somehow, I still lost!"

Watching all this unfold, Ginko could only shake her head in resignation.

"Aren't you even a little tired?" she asked.

"I don't know! The moment my opponent makes a move, hundreds of future moves just appear in my mind. Though, to be fair, most games never last that long."

Hakuto felt somewhat innocent in this. However, after playing chess all afternoon, he had gained something.

"Ginko… could it be that modern shogi has already become too standardized?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean… the strategies you talk about are essentially just different predefined patterns. But in an actual game, the possibilities are infinite, and no single strategy guarantees victory."

"But I can win—just by sheer calculation. No one in the world can outmatch my raw computational ability." 

"So, in my eyes, all those strategies and formations are just garbage. The only way to beat me is to surpass me in calculation."

At first, Hakuto had thought Ginko was right—strategy and positioning were crucial.

But after playing in the teahouse for hours, he started to think differently.

Even without supercomputers, he could still calculate hundreds of moves ahead.

And so far, not a single opponent had made it past 200 moves against him. In other words, the entire game was within his control.

Unless someone could outmatch his calculations, they had no chance of winning.

Simply put, against absolute power, all schemes were meaningless.

Ginko fell into deep thought upon hearing Hakuto's words.

She recalled his victories from today and his match against Kuzuryuu Yashichi that morning.

After pondering for a long time, she finally sighed.

Maybe bringing Hakuto here was a mistake from the beginning.

Perhaps a genius like him never needed strategy in the first place.

"Hakuto… I just don't want you to lose."

"Losing is a normal part of life. It happens. You just win next time."

Hakuto didn't place much importance on winning and losing.

Maybe he never cared much for it, or maybe he simply didn't think he could lose.

It was like how a rich second-generation heir might constantly complain about needing companionship and love—when, in reality, their problem could be solved by cutting off their allowance for two months.

"So don't worry about me, Ginko. I have my own pace."

"Bastard! If you ever lose a match after joining the competition, pick your method of dying."

"Can I die of old age?"

"What do you think?"

As they left the teahouse, Ginko glanced at Hakuto beside her.

If she'd known he didn't need strategies, she wouldn't have wasted this whole afternoon.

"Hakuto, skipping school like this… are you sure it won't be a problem?"

In Ginko's eyes, Hakuto was still the top student, a model example of discipline.

And since he hadn't officially joined the competition yet, she still cared about his academic performance.

After all, he was her designated future boyfriend, so it was only natural to be concerned.

And she was sure Hakuto felt the same way—because childhood friends were the best!

Hearing her question, Hakuto actually felt a little guilty.

He didn't dare tell Ginko that he was actually a delinquent. She would absolutely beat him up.

So, with no other choice, he had to lie through his teeth.

"It's fine. I'm the top student in my grade, after all. I have a little privilege."

"I see." Ginko didn't doubt him.

 After all, he wasn't technically lying—he did have some privileges.

But Ginko had fallen victim to an information gap, completely unaware of things outside her little bubble.

She had no clue who Eriri or Nao were.

And even just Sawamura Eriri alone… was enough to get Hakuto killed multiple times in Ginko's book!

A brutal battle between love and money… Damn it! 

This was an impossible choice!

Just as Hakuto was lost in thought, Ginko suddenly asked,

"Hakuto… do you like shogi?"

"Hmm? You've asked me that a lot."

"But I want to ask again. Is that a problem?"

"No, it's fine…" Hakuto nodded. 

"I'm not interested in shogi. What interests me is you, Ginko."

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