For a mansion that’s fully equipped in all the modern conveniences one could think of, this corner of the sunroom seemed a starch contrast to all the technological advancements that adored the rest of the house. Tatami mats covered the polished wooden floor, and quaint bonsai trees in decorated pots dotted the space. A bird cage hung from the ceiling beam near the window, inside of which perched a mynah that was lazily grooming its feathers in the warmth of the sun. Looking upon the room, one might get the feeling that they had taken a step into the past, which was exactly the effect Ren wanted when he, immediately upon arriving at the mansion, had claimed this corner of the house for himself and ordered the interior designers to decorate it to his liking.
At this moment, the man in question was seated on the floor in the center of the room, his head bowed over a Go board in front of him, the top of which was covered with the shiny, round, black and white stone pieces. A loose black robe of the finest silk draped from his still form, tied at the waist with a decorated belt woven with golden threads. His hair was a golden mess atop his head, but he paid it no mind except to occasionally push back a straying strand that fell into his eyes. There was no opponent seated on the other side of the board. Instead, two polished wooden bowls containing the white and black pieces sat by his bare feet, and he took the stones from them alternatively, held them between his index and middle finger for a few moments, before setting them down on strategic positions on the board. The man was playing against himself, the greatest opponent he could possibly face.
In another section of the mansion, the sound of voices and footsteps heralded the arrival of their special guests. Soon, the five innocent and unsuspecting boys and girls will be there, and their little “party” will be complete. A hint of a smirk tugged at the corner of Ren’s mouth as he placed another black stone onto the board. To any amateur player, it might seem like the black and white sides were evenly matched, both occupying large spaces on the wooden board. However, only an expert eye could detect the precarious position the white side was slowly being forced into. It was an artful game, and the black side was subtly winning. The floorboards above him creaked, a sign that the guests were beginning to move into their quarters. Toying with a white stone between his fingers, he surveyed the board, observing the traps the white side was being tactfully forced into. With a devilish glint in his eyes, the blond haired man set the white stone down into one of such traps with a crisp clink and grinned. In that moment, a single ray of sunlight reflected off his teeth, revealing a pair of sharp fangs that pricked his bottom lip. There was no escape now, the fates of the white stones were sealed.
