Herta Space Station, sealed compartment.
A muscular man wearing a plaster head sat cross-legged on a patch of air (a rolling log), his right foot braced against the floor.
A chessboard floated before him. He held a piece, his head lowered in thought, and muttered to himself. It seemed... he was playing against himself?
He had just placed his white piece when he saw a hand holding a black piece set it in line with two other black pieces.
The sight piqued his interest.
Oh? Not a bad move. Some understanding there, but still far too immature.
Without even lifting his head, he swiftly picked up another white piece and perfectly neutralized his opponent's attack.
To his surprise, the other person placed another black piece in that same line, making his brows knit beneath his plaster head.
This move... truly devious. A worthy opponent.
He nodded. He had not expected to meet his match at the board. Holding a piece in his right hand, he carefully studied his next move, calculating the game's course and outcome in his mind before finally setting it down.
How will you respond this time?
Under the man's expectant gaze, the owner of that hand chuckled, picked up a black piece, and placed it in the final spot!
Five black pieces sat squarely in a single line. The winner had been decided!
Realizing something was wrong, the plaster-headed man immediately looked up at Zhang Xiu and Yaoshi beside him.
"What game are you playing?"
"Hehe, Gomoku, of course. Hehe, I won~"
As Zhang Xiu grinned, he stuck out his tongue and licked his dry lips. His idiotic expression immediately triggered Dr. Ratio's intolerance of stupidity.
He and Yaoshi had spotted Dr. Ratio playing chess as soon as they came down, so he had simply joined