Negotiation

Empress Yekana's dinner had ended not long ago. Joshua had once again been honored to be chosen by the Queen... to remain alone at the Steel Country Embassy and play Go with her.

"I'm just a businessman... no, I probably can't even call myself that. I'm simply a programmer who makes games to entertain people."

Two black and white Go stones spun between Joshua's fingers. After a brief moment of thought, he picked up a black stone and placed it on the board before him.

"Programmer? Is that what the builders of your Magic Web call themselves? Joshua Anoroth, I investigated you... You are very strange."

After only a few seconds, Empress Yekana picked up a white stone and placed it beside Joshua's black stone, sealing off his escape route.

This Queen of the Steel Country was actually a Go master! Joshua had no idea where she had encountered such an ancient game.

As far as Joshua knew, Go was currently popular only at the Hearthstone tavern, as well as among the older generation of Spellcasters in the Spellcaster Association.

How had this Queen acquired a Go board... If Joshua remembered correctly, the general stationed at the Steel Country Embassy seemed to visit the Hearthstone tavern for a few games whenever he had the time.

"Strange?"

Joshua played far more slowly than Empress Yekana. After all, his skill at Go was amateur even among amateurs.

"Your identity is that of the Third Prince of the Demon Realm, yet your bearing is utterly incompatible with that of a Chaos Demon." Empress Yekana stared at Joshua as she spoke.

"Maybe it's because I've spent too long in Nolan?"

After pondering for a while, Joshua found a place for his black stone and barely broke out of Empress Yekana's encirclement.

"Your bearing is