StarNovelAlma stood amidst the crowd, her mind a whirl of confusion.
The chess ghad reached a point where it seemed to be at a dead end.
Regardless of which side made the next move, it appeared there was no correct play to be made.
At the previous university tournament, Alma had boldly challenged Arabella to a gof chess, only to be utterly defeated within
moments.
It was then that Mr. Albright graced the backstage, engaging Arabella in a gthat left the onlookers in utter disbelief. To
everyone's astonishment, Arabella bested Mr. Albright, the undisputed chess maestro. Even more astonishing was when Mr.
Albright openly praised Arabella's exceptional talent, admitting that she had surpassed her mentor and even considering her as his
potential successor.
The level of Arabella's chess play had shocked Alma then, but now, as she gazed upon the complex board Arabella had devised,
the sense of awe washed over her with even greater intensity.
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If Arabella had indeed concocted this intricate gon her own, her unfathomable skill far surpassed that of all the chess masters
present, combined.
The thought of her previous victory over Mr. Albright didn't seem so surprising anymore.
With only two minutes left, Mr. Albright, wearing a contented smile, signaled his servant to bring forth his favorite chess set.
Carefully placing the pieces according to Arabella's design, he crafted the enigmatic scenaon the board.
"Tis up." Mr. Albright announced cheerily, addressing the guests, "Would anyone care to step up and give it a try?"
The guests exchanged glances, none daring to approach the daunting chess puzzle before them.
Many of them dreamed of becoming his sole mentee, but this challenge was clearly beyond them.
"Lindsay, go on up," urged Bluno, Lindsay's father and a successful man. His life's experiences had taught him the importance of
seizing opportunities.
Now, with no one presenting a solution, if his daughter dared to try, even without a strategy, her courage alone might draw Mr.
Albright's attention.
"Dad, I'm truly at a loss," Lindsay’s words was not of modesty but of genuine cluelessness.
"Can't you make even one move?" Bluno couldn't understand why placing a single piece on the board was such a difficult task.
"Mr. Albright is a celebrated chess legend; don't worry about embarrassing yourself. You're young. It's normal to face puzzles you
can't solve. The main thing is to get noticed by him."
Bluno's point was clear: even if his daughter had no ideas, she could at least make an impression before anyone else did.
Lindsay lacked the courage to step forward. She looked towards Arabella, questioning whether the game's design was indeed her
own creation.
Mabel's grandmother turned to her granddaughter, "Still no ideas?"
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“I'm afraid so.” Mabel, feeling the weight of the challenge, was at a loss for a solution as she peered at the board.
"Christine, what about you?" Madeline's family whispered to their child.
Madeline shook her head, obviously not up to the task.
"Roxanne, why so quiet?" Roxanne's mother probed her daughter, "You can't figure it out either?"
“Yes.”
A couple of veteran chess masters in attendance, whose lives were steeped in the game, had never encountered such a scenario.
Was there really a solution?
"It seems Bella is the only candidate for my protege," Mr. Albright remarked with a twinkle in his eye, leaving the statement open-
ended.
He was aware of Arabella's busy life and her likely inability to take on the mantle, so he did not press her to commit in front of
everyone.
Instead, he implied that she was his choice in his heart, leaving the final decision to her.
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