The Inescapable Celibate Heir Chapter 135: Zachary's Revenge

Ruth stared at her in surprise. Did she really figure it out that fast? 

But Victoria had just saved her, so Ruth had a good impression of her. Without saying much, she took out the wooden box and laid it flat in front of Victoria. 

Victoria looked at the chessboard and thought for a moment, checking her memory to see if she had made a mistake. 

Quickly, she picked up a black piece from the board and placed it in the spot she had in mind. "Put it here and see what happens."

Ruth glanced at it and said helplessly, "I don't get it either." 

The chess puzzle was set up by an old man named Stanley Davis, who hadn't left an answer. However, he had given Ruth his contact information. 

Ruth took a photo and sent it to him, and soon received a reply: [I'm nearby, I'll be there in ten minutes.]

"The guy who made the puzzle will be here in ten minutes," Ruth explained.

Victoria nodded slightly. This kind of chess puzzle didn't necessarily have only one solution and no standard answer. 

The person who set it up seemed to be testing others, but in reality, he was probably looking for someone with a similar interest and skill level. 

Victoria glanced out the window at the foreign scenery. 

In such an environment, there were likely very few people who played chess well. The owner of the puzzle must be quite lonely.

Before long, the door to the shop opened, and the bell above it chimed crisply. 

An elderly man wearing a wool coat and a hat walked in, leaning on a cane. His every move exuded an old-fashioned gentlemanly demeanor. 

This was Stanley. He walked unhurriedly toward Ruth, asking, "Who solved my puzzle?"

Ruth pointed at Victoria. 

Stanley had actually noticed Victoria but hadn't expected the solver to be such a young girl. 

His eyes widened slightly, and he looked at Victoria with more seriousness. 

Sitting down at the counter, Stanley studied the chessboard for a long time before speaking. "Miss, how did you come up with this solution?"

Victoria replied, "Sometimes you have to retreat to advance. Like pulling back a punch to strike harder."

"Good! Good!" Stanley praised her twice, clapping his hands. "Such insight at a young age. Your future is limitless." 

He walked over and picked up the wooden reindeer carving, gently stroking it with a look of nostalgia. 

This reindeer carving was a gift from an old friend, a master carver from the oldest carving family in Lytheria. 

Stanley had taught him to play chess, and he quickly became passionate about it. 

Over the decades, they often played chess and discussed life. 

Sadly, his friend passed away three years ago. Looking at the reindeer carving reminded Stanley of his friend, filling him with sorrow. 

So, he decided to sell it, but couldn't bear to part with it completely, hence the chess puzzle.

He placed the reindeer carving in front of Victoria. "It's yours now."

Victoria sensed there was a story behind the carving but didn't ask. She simply smiled and said, "Thank you. I'll take good care of it." 

Since she had solved the puzzle, it was only right for her to receive the carving. 

Just as she was about to put it away, a commotion erupted outside the shop.

"Mr. Johnson, that woman is still here! And now there's an old man too." 

Victoria recognized the voice and looked outside. It was Zachary again. 

He had bandaged his wounds and, still fuming over the humiliation he suffered at Victoria's hands, returned with more men. 

He had been a bully in this city for over twenty years and couldn't accept being beaten in the street. 

So, he brought more people, thinking he could finally defeat Victoria and make her surrender.

The thugs pushed open the door and lined up on either side. Zachary walked in from the back, his face still bandaged, but his expression arrogant. 

"Good thing you didn't leave. Now I don't have to hunt you down for revenge. I didn't bring enough people last time. Now I have thirteen. Do you still dare to fight me?"

Victoria glanced at the men he brought and sneered. "Thirteen? Is that supposed to be a lot?"

Her tone suggested that thirteen or three made no difference; they were all her defeated opponents. 

'How can this woman be so arrogant? Does she think she's a superhero or something?' Zachary fumed internally but shivered at the memory of the pain she inflicted. 

Still, he had come prepared this time, and his confidence returned. "This time is different. We have guns. Can you fight against ten guns?" 

He looked back at his thugs proudly. "Show your guns!"

In unison, ten of the thirteen thugs pulled out black pistols. Zachary himself didn't carry a gun; he wasn't a good shot. 

More importantly, while Lytheria allowed gun ownership, it required qualifications that Zachary didn't have.

Ruth screamed, "Zachary! Are you crazy?" So many guns—Victoria wasn't bulletproof. How could she possibly win? 

Victoria's brow furrowed, and her eyes grew tense. She had forgotten that people here had guns. No matter how skilled she was, she couldn't outrun bullets. 

Maybe she could grab Zachary and use him to make his men drop their guns? She considered her options, her gaze fixed on Zachary.

"Zachary, stop this nonsense." Stanley's weathered voice broke the tension. He turned slowly, looking at Zachary with reproach.

They know each other? Ruth's eyes widened. 

Although Stanley had kept the carving in the shop for three years, she knew little about his background.

Zachary was also taken aback by the voice. Was this an elder? 

His grandfather, Harold Johnson, often scolded him, but as the youngest in the family, Harold doted on him. Even when he caused trouble, his elders would cover for him. 

Recognizing Stanley's face, Zachary hesitated and asked, "Are you my grandmother's brother?"

"Yes," Stanley replied. He wasn't close to Zachary, only seeing him once a year at family gatherings. 

He had recognized Zachary's name from Ruth and remembered the troublemaker in the family. 

Stanley scolded, "Since you know me, put the guns away."

The thugs exchanged glances, unsure if they should obey. 

Zachary looked conflicted. Stanley was a distant relative, but still an elder. If he complained to Harold, Zachary might be punished. 

Seeing Zachary's hesitation, the thugs slowly lowered their guns.

Ruth, relieved, said, "Mr. Davis, you're his relative? Your family needs to keep him in check." She shot Zachary a disdainful look.

This look wounded Zachary's pride. He suddenly shouted, "Wait! Just because you're a distant relative doesn't mean you can boss me around!" 

"If you two women don't apologize and beg for mercy, you won't leave this shop!"