Accept or refuse?
While the members of Class A were still hesitating, Katsuragi had already made up his mind. After a moment of thought, he spoke calmly, "I'll offer private points equivalent to 100 Class Points to purchase the information on Class C's leader at the end of the exam."
"Too little. I want 200," Ryūen demanded exorbitantly.
Katsuragi's expression didn't change as he shook his head. "Do you think it's worth that much?"
"Not worth it?" Ryūen sneered. "The position of Class A is worth more than that."
"No," Katsuragi said, crossing his arms and analyzing calmly. "You should be well aware—even if Class B bought 200 temporary points, they won't actually be able to use that many in this exam. According to my projections, I'm confident I can keep the point difference within 100. It's a bit of a shame, but it won't be enough to change the current class rankings."
"Besides, for this proposal of yours, Class D can't afford the price, and after buying 200 temporary points, Class B can't take on any more debt either."
"In other words, besides our Class A, you have no other potential partners.
At this, Katsuragi looked at Ryūen and stated the facts calmly, "A price of 100 points. 50 of that is the value you bring us by betraying Class B and Class D. The remaining 50 is the value of Class C's true leader. I won't go any higher."
After hearing his analysis, Ryūen thought for a moment, then looked up at the tower in the distance and teased with a smile, "Keeping the point difference within 100... does your confidence come from those two spots?"
According to his projections, Class A's base was lacking water and resource points. Combined with the 30 temporary Class Points deducted for Sakayanagi dropping out of the exam, there should have been a point difference of about 150 between Class A and B. For Katsuragi to want to close that gap, there was likely no other way besides those two spots.
Across from him, Katsuragi was a bit confused. "What are you trying to say?"
Ryūen stuck his hands in his pockets and said with a smile, "According to the rules of this exam, if your leader is guessed correctly, not only do you lose 50 points, but all of your spot points are reset to zero. Have you prepared for failure? If you get guessed, the gap between you and Class B will probably widen to over 200 points."
Katsuragi shook his head and said firmly, "I'm sorry, but that's not a possibility."
"Tch~!"
Ryūen couldn't help but scoff, mocking him coldly, "Forgive me for being blunt, Katsuragi, but you're a bit too naive. Have Sakayanagi come next time. You're not worthy of standing in this position right now."
The moment he finished speaking, all of Class A was in an uproar. Yahiko, in particular, exploded, "Ryūen! You bastard! Apologize to Katsuragi-aniki right now!"
Ryūen ignored him, glanced coldly at the Class A students, cracked his knuckles with one hand, and said calmly, "I will find Class A's leader by tomorrow evening. I hope that by then, you'll have someone less naive to talk to me."
With that, Ryūen glanced at the displeased Katsuragi, couldn't be bothered to waste any more words on him, and turned to leave the Class A campsite directly.
He, Kakeru Ryūen, was not the type to shamelessly beg for business. Since Class A was still lost in a fantasy, it would be better to slap them awake. When they realized their mistake, someone would naturally come begging him for a deal.
Back at the camp, the Class A students snapped out of it as if waking from a dream. Yahiko was the first to approach Katsuragi, asking tentatively, "Katsuragi-aniki, what should we do?"
He was the keycard holder for Class A. Ryūen's declaration just now had truly left him at a loss.
Opposite him, Katsuragi composed his slightly shaken mind and said thoughtfully, "Stick to the previous strategy. Keep clocking in and occupying spots. All Ryūen wants are points. If he can really do what he says, then his terms aren't unacceptable."
"Hey! That's 200 Class Points!"
Hearing this, Kamuro stood up, displeased. "Counting the previous 100 points, that's 30,000 points every month. Katsuragi, are you planning on selling out Class A completely?!"
"What does it matter? If he fails, the Princess will be there to clean up his mess anyway," Hashimoto chimed in mockingly.
Meanwhile, the rest of Class A also began to murmur among themselves:
"Thirty thousand points a month is really a lot. A loan against our future like that... it's stressful just thinking about it."
"Hey, is it possible Ryūen is just bluffing?"
"I don't know, but if only the Princess were here, she would definitely have a solution."
"Why are you starting to sound like Hashimoto?"
...
Setting aside Class A's internal strife, on the other side—
In the Class C camp, because the previous night's sleep quality was truly dreadful, the students secretly conferred after breakfast and went to "Hiyori Shiina" together, successfully asking for the morning off to rest.
Once things quieted down, Hiyori and Symon switched back control of the body. She then found a large tree at the edge of the camp with Ibuki, and they both started to doze off.
Meanwhile, outside the camp, Ichinose and Kanzaki were hiding behind a tree, quietly observing the Class C formation. She whispered, "I really thought everyone in Class C had already dropped out of the exam."
Beside her, Kanzaki shook his head and whispered back, "This exam itself is modeled after a corporate ice-breaking activity. Its greatest purpose is to break down social circles and strengthen a sense of collective belonging. Giving up on this exam would be counterproductive."
"Thinking about it that way, I feel sorry for everyone in Class C—victory or defeat has nothing to do with them, after all." Ichinose found it hard to understand.
"We're not pitiful, you know." Hiyori interjected in a whisper, peeking her head out and meeting Ichinose's gaze as the smile on her face gradually froze—they were no more than twenty centimeters apart.
"Waah~!" Ichinose yelped, startled. "When did you get here?!"
Hiyori blinked, finding the situation somewhat amusing. "I've been here the whole time. I heard everything you just said, and..."
At this, the girl glanced at the boy squatting next to Ichinose and, after a moment's thought, asked tentatively, "This is... Kanzaki-kun?"
Kanzaki nodded a bit formally. "Nice to meet you. I'm Ryūji Kanzaki from Class B. How did you know who I am, Shiina-san?"
Hiyori smiled. "Ah, my apologies. I just heard Sakayanagi-san mention you, and based on your analysis just now, I was able to guess."
This was a lie. Among the four first-year classes, Class B and Class D were practically transparent to her. With two unsuspecting children like Shiranami and Sakura, there were some people and things she couldn't help but know about.
"Sakayanagi, huh..." Kanzaki hesitated upon hearing her name. "If you don't mind my asking, what did she say about me?"
He and Sakayanagi were old acquaintances, but that girl was truly difficult to handle. He guessed that nothing good had come out of Sakayanagi's mouth.
"Hmm..." Hiyori recalled for a moment, then said with a smile, "The young master of a conglomerate who has submitted to Ichinose's skirt?"
Ichinose's pupils quaked as she turned to look at Kanzaki.
Kanzaki cringed so hard his ten toes curled into the ground. "I knew it!"
...
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