She Quit Her Family and Found Herself novel Chapter 23

Herbert knew his father well. For such a typically mild-mannered and refined man to suddenly snap like this, he had to be dealing with something incredibly difficult.

"Dad, did something happen?"

Valery took her husband's coat and asked gently, "Have you still not found that phantom player?"

"What phantom player?" Herbert asked, curiosity piqued.

Setting aside the fact that his elegant mother had just uttered such a dramatic phrase, his father was the Vice President of the National Go Association, the founder and head coach of the country's top-tier academy, the National Go Academy, and a retired 9-dan professional.

With all those accolades and years deeply entrenched in the Go world, what kind of genius hadn't his father seen?

What sort of prodigy could possibly have his father this anxious and desperate?

Seeing his son's interest—and realizing that with Herbert's social connections, he might actually be able to help—Wade explained. "Time is running out before this year's Master's Cup. But infuriatingly enough, both of the top seed players from our academy who had a real shot at the championship have gotten into accidents."

"How did that happen? Was it foul play?" Herbert's expression turned serious.

Wade shook his head. "No. It was purely their own reckless behavior causing accidents. We are exactly one international championship short of a Grand Slam, and it's the Master's Cup. I absolutely have to secure that trophy this time."

"So, that's why you need to find this 'phantom player'?" Herbert felt a little ridiculous saying the title out loud.

"Exactly." Wade nodded. "Right now, the rosters for all the domestic and international organizations are locked in. Bringing in a newcomer at the last minute isn't an option."

Herbert pulled out his phone. "Do you have any information on this player? Send it to me. I'll have my people look into it."

"Refused to accept her 9-dan certificate and just vanished?" he looked at his father in bewilderment.

Wade nodded, his voice heavy with regret. "That's right. Not long after winning the championship, the girl quit the Go world entirely. She didn't even pick up her 9-dan certification. Because of that, there's absolutely no record of her in the association's hall of fame or in the archives of past champions."

"Girl?" Herbert was shocked to hear that such a legendary prodigy was a woman.

"Yes. I still remember the shockwaves her sudden appearance sent through the community." At the time, Wade had been too busy establishing the National Go Academy to pay much attention to that year's Master's Cup. But even so, he had heard the stories.

"Is there any other information? A name, a photo?" Herbert asked, genuinely wanting to see what this genius looked like.

"Nothing. Every single trace of her is gone." Wade shook his head regretfully. If he had even a single lead, he wouldn't be this desperate.