Chapter 640: Chapter 639: Drawn Game and The Tortoise and the Hare Race_1
Rose Iron Prison, the underground secret cell.
Aiden had been away for a long time before he opened Melifilia’s prison cell and stepped inside.
Before seeing Melifilia’s face, he heard her voice, "It’s been quite a while since your last visit, I almost wondered if you were dead."
"Should I apologize for disappointing you?" Aiden placed the lantern on the table.
"How could I be disappointed? My beloved piece is still jumping around on the chessboard; I’m actually quite pleased," Melifilia said with a grin, "Which act of the play are we at now?"
"The final one," Aiden said nonchalantly as he sat down at the table, "I’ve ascended to sainthood, Mr. Crimson has rebuilt the Blood Moon Cult and returned to this city, If I defeat him, I’ll have the chance to ascend to the dominator. And if he defeats me, ’I’ won’t completely disappear, but with the Wordless Code at his disposal, it would be nearly impossible for any future ’me’ to turn the tables. Finding a way to eliminate the existence of ’Aiden Galahad’ will likely just be a matter of time."
"That’s the outcome I want," Melifilia said with a smile, "Coming all this way to tell me, I’m touched."
"I just thought it necessary to see you one last time," Aiden asked, "As the scriptwriter and director of this play, wouldn’t it be a great pity not to witness the final outcome with your own eyes?"
"That man and I have an agreement," Melifilia said with a smile, "After his death, his spirit will be collected by me. If he wins, the spirit of the ultimate ’you’ will also be collected by me. Your lives will become my assets, and I’ll replay your lives in the depths of consciousness. I won’t miss a single moment of the drama."
"Sounds like you’ve got a no-lose deal," Aiden said as he set up the chessboard, "Let’s play a game."
"You’re actually initiating a brain-teasing game of chess with me?" Melifilia raised an eyebrow.
The game Aiden set up was chess, which they had played once before.
In front of Melifilia, Aiden had never managed to win, not even a draw.
"I think I need a bit of mental exercise to prepare for the upcoming final battle," Aiden said offhandedly.
"Warming up for a life-and-death fight with a game isn’t how you avoid issues," Melifilia scoffed, "Well then, you make the first move."
In most chess games, the player that goes first usually has an advantage in win rate; with certain limited-move games, the first player can possess a winning strategy, or at least ensure a draw.
But Aiden was far from being capable of exhausting all the possible moves in chess. The advantage of the first move meant nothing in front of Melifilia; to this day, his win rate in these games remained zero.
Aiden began to move silently.
Melifilia also complied with his silence, starting the game with him.
After a few moves, it was Melifilia who broke the silence first, "I thought you came here because you had a question for me."
"I’ve considered some questions, but I can either imagine the answers or feel it’s unnecessary to ask," Aiden answered, focusing on the chessboard.
"Your chess game has improved noticeably," Melifilia commented.
"I think so too," Aiden said, concentrating mostly on the chessboard.
"Unfortunately, there’s still a gap," Melifilia said as she captured one of Aiden’s pieces.
Aiden didn’t speak, continuing his game, not the least bit pained by the loss on the board.
"Really nothing you want to ask? Are you just trying to be mysterious?" Melifilia brought it up again.
"Alright, there is one question that although I can guess the answer, I still want to hear it from you," Aiden asked softly, "Melifilia, you... I mean you all, have you ever considered letting me go?"
"Do you mean to remove yourself from the chessboard and no longer be influenced by me?" Melifilia asked. "Even if I say yes, would you believe me?"
"Then that is your answer." Aiden was mentally prepared.
The game of chess continued amidst their conversation, unlike past occasions where Melifilia would make her move immediately and Aiden would always need a lengthy time to think, this time Aiden also moved quickly.
Aiden found that he seemed to have become adept at playing chess overnight, with dozens of potential moves naturally emerging in his mind for the next few steps of the game. Whenever Melifilia made a move, it would eliminate some possibilities, and then he would deduce new developments after making his move.
It was as if another master was assisting him in his mind, pasting the results of their thoughts directly into his brain, allowing him to play much better than before.
But even so, his pieces were still being gradually whittled away.
"Why do you resist us so much?" Melifilia asked. "Since you came to this world, when have I ever harmed you directly?"
"Indeed, every part that harms me can be considered indirect." Aiden smiled with a touch of resignation, "But that was also due to the script compiled by your will, with my will always being hijacked by your script."
"Your will?" Melifilia revealed a profound smile.
Uncommonly, there was a slight pause before she made her next move.
"Are you intentionally giving me a chance?" Aiden realized that Melifilia had made a mistake.
But he didn’t let the opportunity slip by and immediately made his next move, cutting off any chance for her to take back her move.
"Clutching desperately at the opportunities others give you, you’ve truly abandoned all self-respect." Melifilia said.
"Have you ever read the story of The Tortoise and the Hare?" Aiden brought up a fairy tale from his previous life.
"I have more or less read the stories from your memories." Melifilia said.
"If the tortoise, out of self-respect, woke the rabbit up halfway, I would think it quite unwise." After Aiden finished speaking, he reminded her, "It’s your move."
"No need anymore, it’s a draw." Melifilia said.
"Indeed." Aiden nodded.
They had both already seen all the possible outcomes of the end game, and regardless of the moves, Aiden would have a chance to force a draw.
"Not losing is a decent outcome for you." Melifilia assessed.
"Truly a day worth commemorating." Aiden said and then started to clean up the chessboard.
"Is this the end?" Melifilia asked.
"I just came to confirm some thoughts." Aiden replied.
"Don’t you have any other questions?" Melifilia asked, "I have a premonition that this might be the last time we see each other."
Just as Aiden stood up, he paused, thought for a moment, and then spoke, "Melifilia, when you used to roll dice before, you would deliberately control the numbers, do you acknowledge that as cheating in a game?"
"I was able to do that because I have the capability, it can’t be considered cheating. The rules of the game are merely tools to please me. I will cast the dice randomly when I want random numbers, but when I want specific numbers, of course, I will manipulate them." Melifilia smiled openly.
"You truly are a bona fide ruler." Aiden smiled, turned away, "The next time we meet, it should be the ending of your script, Goddess of Intrigue."
