Ron Weasley had made a name for himself. After dinner, as he exited the club, he was photographed by reporters arranged by Regulus Black. The young Mr. Weasley had gained fame in one night at the club, finishing a streak of one hundred consecutive chess games with nothing but wins.
The very next day, some tabloids featured glowing reports about him. All it took was a real achievement and the willingness to spend money. For this reason, Regulus Black hired a professional manager to act as Ron's exclusive agent.
"Listen, Quint. Arrange matches for Mr. Weasley as soon as possible—whether official or informal, it doesn't matter. What matters is making a name for him first. Once he's established, we'll have the qualifications to pick opponents. One more thing—Ron Weasley is still a student and only has time during his two school breaks. Unless absolutely necessary, don't schedule matches during term. I only managed to get the Weasley family's permission during this holiday to bring their youngest son along. His family doesn't like to be disturbed, and that's very important."
Quint, with his neatly trimmed mustache, took out a small notebook and carefully recorded Regulus Black's instructions.
"Mr. Black, what exactly is your relationship to Mr. Weasley? Also, what's his family situation? And how much should I reveal about him—should it be the truth or a polished version?"
Quint was meticulous with his questions. These details were necessary, as their client, Ron Weasley, would eventually have to face them.
"Mr. Weasley's great-grandfather and my grandfather were brothers. You can ask Ron himself about the rest of his family, but his father is a farm owner. As for the public information—just embellish the truthful parts a little."
Ron remained quietly by Regulus Black's side, following his arrangements. After all, Mrs. Weasley had specifically instructed him to do so before the trip. Although his twin older brothers wanted to come too, Regulus Black had refused.
One Weasley might be manageable, but three would be a disaster. Even Percy couldn't keep them in check, and Regulus certainly didn't trust himself to do any better.
That night, the two of them stayed in a luxurious suite at a hotel. The next morning, as they were having breakfast, Quint returned.
"Mr. Black, we've received an invitation from another club—a semi-professional one that brings together top chess and board game players. I believe it can meet your expectations and suit Mr. Weasley's current needs."
Quint had only just become Ron's exclusive agent the day before, yet had already secured arrangements for the next day—clearly a man with both competence and connections.
"Do you know the format of the match? Will it be official or more recreational?"
Regulus Black poured a cup of black tea for Quint and invited him to sit and explain in detail.
"It's scheduled between noon and dinner—roughly the same timing as yesterday's match. Four players will face Mr. Ron Weasley in formal games, and the results will be officially recorded. Of course, since it's within a club, side betting isn't prohibited."
Quint opened his notebook to inform his employer of the situation. While he was Ron's dedicated agent, it was Regulus Black who hired him—making Regulus the real boss.
"In that case... here's £10,000. Place it on Ron Weasley to win every single game."
Regulus Black pulled out his checkbook and quickly wrote a £10,000 promissory note, signed it, and handed it to Quint.
Quint was a little stunned as he took the check, carefully verifying it several times. He had only just taken on the role of agent and was already being entrusted with such an important task. Didn't they worry he might cash the check and disappear?
No. As a professional agent, he wasn't interested in such a small amount of money. If Ron became big, this £10,000 wouldn't even match a month's commission. So this was trust—or perhaps a test.
"Please forgive me, but I must confirm—are you betting on Mr. Ron Weasley to win every game? If he loses even one match, no matter how impressive his overall performance, the entire bet would be lost."
Quint opened his notebook again, ready to record Regulus Black's exact words.
Regulus Black waved him over and took the notebook himself.
"Regulus Black entrusts Mr. Quint with £10,000 to bet on Mr. Ron Weasley achieving total victory in today's chess matches.Here's to Mr. Ron Weasley's triumph!"
The elegant calligraphy clearly conveyed the meaning of Regulus Black.
"Apologies! I was being overly cautious. Please rest assured, Mr. Black—this £10,000 will prove its worth, and even surpass it."
Quint hadn't expected Regulus Black to do this—to actually sense his hesitation and concerns. But the words written in the little notebook made everything clear: Mr. Black meant every word he said.
Regulus Black nodded and dismissed Quint. Just now, Quint had dared to doubt him—but with what Black wrote in the notebook, Quint would now be unfailingly loyal. Did he really think a wizard's power was limited to waving a wand and chanting spells?
Sure enough, when Regulus Black arrived at another club with Ron Weasley, the entrance was swarmed with reporters.
"Relax, Ron! I can afford to lose £10,000. The issue isn't the money—it's your future. What path you carve out depends entirely on your own performance. If you win again today, people will start betting on when you might finally lose. That kind of recognition isn't something everyone gets."
Sitting in the car, Regulus Black gave Ron Weasley his final words of encouragement before the two of them stepped out with renewed spirit.
"Mr. Black, how much confidence do you have in your player?"
A young reporter pushed a microphone toward Regulus Black's mouth.
Regulus Black paused, gently pushed the mic away, and the aura he exuded instantly calmed the crowd of reporters.
"Gentlemen! Mr. Ron Weasley is not only my player, but also my relative—my family. I have absolute confidence in him, and I've made the best possible assessment: a full sweep. That's today's goal."
With those words, Regulus Black signaled the attendant to part the crowd of reporters and led Ron Weasley into the club.
A table was already prepared, with exquisitely arranged chess pieces. Unlike the earlier crystal set, this was a Western-style chessboard carved from natural red and white wood—very classic in design.
"Are both players ready to begin?"
A host standing beside the board asked. After confirming nods from both players, including Ron Weasley, he pulled out a silver coin.
Regulus Black immediately recognized it—it was a coin from the Sixth Empire era.
Now, about Ron Weasley's name—in another language, it was rendered as Ronin Wessel (Running Weasel), a warlord and strategist from the Sixth Empire who never lost a single game of chess.
By using this coin to decide who would take the first move, the host was performing something akin to a ritual.
The silver coin flipped into the air and spun over the board, while everyone watched in silence.
"Heads! Mr. Weasley will go first."
With that, the host turned the white side of the board toward Ron Weasley.
Ron looked at Regulus Black and gave a small nod, as if to say: Don't worry, I've got this.
This time, Ron Weasley didn't go for a quick win strategy. Instead, he played steadily, advancing step by step, gradually wearing down his opponent's pieces. It was like a brutal battle—the chessboard a true scene of carnage.
"Winner: Mr. Ron Weasley."
Roughly fifteen minutes later, the host announced Ron Weasley's victory with a blank expression. Ron had performed admirably. This win was only the beginning. He showed no excitement or joy—just took a sip of water and waited for the next opponent to step up.
Today, Ron would face four challengers in total, in a round-robin format.
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