Hachiman put Ibuki's small cloth bag back and restored the soil to its original state.
To maximize the benefit, he had to let Ibuki transmit incorrect information.
So.
He still had to give Ibuki a chance to photograph Kouenji's Team Leader card, since Kouenji would choose to switch anyway in the end.
However.
Seeing the camera and walkie-talkie Ibuki had buried, Horikita Suzune's delicate brows furrowed.
"To get points in the special exam, Ryuen not only used a trick but even planted a spy."
"Ryuen is truly a terrifying person."
Horikita Suzune pressed her left hand on her right elbow, deep in thought, as she realized Ryuen Sho's terrifying nature.
Because not only this trick, but also the previous Sudo assault incident, all indicated that Ryuen seemed to stop at nothing.
She highly suspected that if the ace players of two Classes were to face off, Ryuen wouldn't choose a direct confrontation but would resort to external means, such as drugging the other Class's ace player to prevent them from participating.
Just thinking about it made her frown.
"Yes," Hachiman nodded, "So when facing them, we must be especially careful."
"Ryuen stops at nothing when it comes to special exams, so we must guard against his schemes."
"However, we can also defeat him from this point, for example, by planting a spy, and then when needed, operating another report. He has already been reported once; if the number of times increases, he is highly likely to be expelled," Hachiman said. "After all, the existence of point cards and the act of taking old exams indicate that the School hopes students possess the ability to adapt smoothly and flexibly."
"And it's also inevitable that some students use underhanded methods."
"But on the surface, the School won't always turn a blind eye to some students' violations."
"So, as long as there are enough reports, the School is likely to take action," Hachiman said.
The reports here probably refer to irregular operations.
Actually, Hachiman felt that two reports would be enough.
The School is somewhat like a simulated society, so there's a diversity of students encountered in the School.
Then it is also possible to encounter some dark methods.
So the School might turn a blind eye to some underhanded tactics.
But if they are used constantly, the School will definitely stop them.
Just like Ryuen Class's 0-point operation, 0 points is a very good score that can be used to attack other Classes.
Because their own Class already has 0 points, they won't go into negative points.
So they take this opportunity to drag other Classes down, or collect points as protection fees.
However.
Hikigaya does not approve of such actions.
Because if such actions are carried out just twice, the School will call for a halt, and it's even possible that the Class that constantly has 0 points will be directly abolished.
Being able to manipulate Ibuki with a self-inflicted injury scheme, using her as a spy, and then forming an alliance with Class A, letting Class A take over their initial points—Ryuen is indeed a dangerous person.
So I hope Ryuen has some self-awareness; if he wants to keep using off-campus methods, then perhaps the only path awaiting him is expulsion.
Hikigaya thought.
"So you already have a plan." This made Horikita Suzune feel a little relieved.
Ryuen is ruthless when it comes to being a bad person, but don't forget, Class C still has Hikigaya Hachiman, who doesn't play by the rules.
Therefore, their own Class still has hope.
However.
"..." Kushida.
Kushida was not at all relieved.
Although Kushida accompanied them and pointed the way for Hikigaya, she wasn't very interested in Class promotion or special exams; she only wanted to maintain her relationships and prevent Hikigaya Hachiman from exposing her true nature.
And she remembered one of Hikigaya's conditions for maintaining her true nature—to betray the Class when necessary and become a spy for another Class.
And now.
Ryuen has been labeled as dangerous, so doesn't that mean Hikigaya might target Ryuen?
Therefore.
She might be instructed to become a spy and infiltrate Ryuen Class.
In other words.
She was going to become a spy.
How annoying.
...
"So where are we going next?"
"Horikita's body doesn't seem to have fully recovered yet, right? It wouldn't be good if we walk a long distance again." Kushida said after composing herself.
Because after coming out of the small woods where they just found Ibuki's small pouch, Hikigaya had no intention of returning to the main base.
Kushida is everyone's angel, and although she doesn't like Horikita, as long as she becomes friends with Horikita, she will naturally provide the care a friend should.
So now she was speaking up for Horikita.
"My body still feels a bit unwell." Horikita Suzune said. "But the situation has improved."
This was her fourth day of illness, but she felt her body recovering.
At least the splitting headache and backache symptoms of the cold were gone.
She was just still a bit fatigued.
"Let's go check on Ichinose first." Hikigaya said. "For this exam, the initial points have been squandered, and the base points are pretty much the same, but we can participate in the Team Leader guessing round. Kouenji, as Team Leader, will choose the appropriate time to switch."
"He can still switch?" Horikita asked.
Hikigaya specifically came here to find Ibuki and Ryuen's communication device to confirm Ibuki's identity as a spy. Horikita thought Hikigaya would either drive Ibuki away or give Ibuki false Team Leader information.
But now Hikigaya seems to be preparing to expose Kouenji's Team Leader information.
And then play an even bigger game.
"That's right. Changing the Team Leader without reason is not allowed, so if there's a reason, it's fine. For example, if you get sick like you did, or…"
"Like the snake you threw away, if you were bitten by a snake, wouldn't you have no choice but to withdraw?" Hikigaya said.
And that was the closest he came to withdrawing from the exam.
And it was then that he realized Horikita was very reliable.
After all, who doesn't like having someone reliable by their side?
"And Kouenji himself will handle the specific method. So, the Team Leader will change at the end. So our Class is very safe. The base points are definitely secure."
"Then the goal can also be to guess Class A's Team Leader as much as possible, and if one Class guesses Class A, they lose 50 points, so if we bring in Ichinose's Class, we can make Class A lose an extra 50 points."
"Moreover."
Hikigaya said.
"Class B probably won't get Class A's Team Leader information. If I get it, then Class B will get 50 points, and these points are brought by me, but in reality, it can shorten their gap with Class A by 100 points."
"Then, just like Ryuen Class sold initial points, it's reasonable for me to charge Class B 50 points worth of Class evaluation points as living expenses until graduation, right?" Hikigaya said.
"In other words…"
Horikita and Kushida's eyes lit up.
50 Class evaluation points, assuming 40 students in Class B, means an income of 200,000 points per month, totaling over 5 million to 6 million over three years.
It's not a small amount.
Horikita and Kushida both come from average family backgrounds, didn't have much pocket money in the past, and have been spending since coming to this School.
Of course.
Horikita is relatively frugal, but Kushida, for social purposes, has enough points for meals now, but for other consumption, it's a bit tight.
Because a cup of milk tea costs 300 points, and a bottle of popular perfume costs 2200 points, which is still too expensive.
"That's right, go earn some long-term meal tickets. Don't put all your eggs in one basket."
Because he had a deeper understanding of his classmates and felt that pouring his heart and soul into them was useless, Hikigaya also began to consider earning as many points as possible.
After all, ideals might betray oneself, but past efforts will not.
And Hikigaya's effort was to make money.
Make a little more money.
This way, even if he wasn't supported by a rich woman in the future, he could prepare not to work for ten or twenty years.
...
Thus.
The three headed to the Grade 1 Class B area.
Kouenji occupied most of the bases, and Class B, like other Classes, faced the dilemma of not finding bases, but Ichinose and her Class were smart; a base could be occupied 3 times a day, 8 hours each time.
So they waited for the 8 hours to end and then occupied it.
So they got a vegetable patch base.
However, even though the three had just arrived, they could tell that compared to other Classes, Class B was clearly much more harmonious.
Under Ichinose's leadership, the atmosphere of Class B's camp was excellent, full of joy.
"More united than I imagined, as expected of Class B."
Even if they were determined to rise to Class A, and would eventually have to go to war with their allied Class B, Horikita and Hikigaya now felt a surge of emotion facing Class B's atmosphere.
If they were given such a Class, Hikigaya wouldn't choose to slack off, and Horikita also felt that she could definitely lead others to Class A.
Of course, that's nonsense.
Class C and Class C's model look somewhat similar at first glance.
But in reality, Class B's model is actually a democratic republic.
And Class C, to put it nicely, is multi-party cooperation; to put it badly, it's warlord chaos, with people suffering. The classmates need Kushida and Hirata as a bonding agent, and then follow some instructions under the persuasion of Hikigaya and Horikita.
But as long as their own interests are threatened, even very small interests, they might instantly turn against them.
"Hikigaya, Horikita, and Kikyo-chan~"
From afar, Ichinose spotted Hikigaya and the two others, her face beaming with a smile, waving and running towards the three.
She and Kushida were old friends, so she used an intimate address.
Kushida also began to show a (*^▽^*) expression and started socializing.
Kushida wanted to be friends with many people, and her charisma was strong, making it possible for her to achieve this goal, but she knew very well that Ichinose's charisma was much stronger than hers.
So, she used to think that charisma was her unique advantage, but after coming here, she realized... she lost. She lost to Ichinose.
And upon noticing the arrival of Hikigaya and the two others, besides Ichinose, Kanzaki also came over.
He usually followed Ichinose, appearing a bit dull but also quite steady. However, he was very capable. In the previous exam, when Hikigaya's Class needed top students to tutor struggling students, Kanzaki was responsible for Sudo.
Dealing with those academic idiots was difficult, so Kanzaki was able to persevere, and Sudo did indeed make progress in his studies; he had tried very hard.
"I'm so sorry, we occupied this vegetable garden base." Ichinose came before the three, seemingly apologizing with clasped hands. "But we really had nowhere else to go."
"And, if you hadn't come this morning, we were planning to send some vegetables to your Class later." Ichinose said.
See.
People who are good at socializing really know how to talk.
The base they now occupied was initially cleared by Kouenji, and everyone had picked vegetables there before.
But because the base was occupied by Ichinose and her Class, everyone had no vegetables.
As a result, Ichinose herself said she wanted to send vegetables over.
Saying it like that made it impossible to find fault with her.
"It would be great if we could exchange some vegetables for our corn." Horikita Suzune said.
"Mm-hmm."
Seeing that the three from Class C were not angry, Ichinose breathed a sigh of relief.
Her Class and Hikigaya's Class were allies, and logically, they shouldn't occupy each other's resources.
So she felt that her actions were a bit excessive. And now, fortunately, Hikigaya and the others didn't take it to heart.
However.
"Did you come here for something specific?"
Ichinose blinked her large eyes, her small hands behind her back, her body leaning slightly forward to close the distance.
"Yes, there are some things."
Hikigaya nodded lightly and said, "Of course, it also includes a reconnaissance mission. I wanted to see how many of your initial points you've used."
"You're really honest." Ichinose nodded lightly upon hearing this. In fact, she didn't know what to say about Hikigaya's honesty.
Because it was truly blunt, directly investigating their initial points.
However, even knowing they were there for reconnaissance, Ichinose didn't react much.
After all, regarding supplies, every Class has a booklet issued by the School, so by checking their Class's equipment and supplies, they could estimate their expenses through the booklet.
So, it was impossible to hide it.
"What did you all buy?"
Hikigaya looked around and then asked casually.
"..."
Horikita opened her mouth, but didn't speak for a long time.
Hikigaya had already said he was here to fleece Class B, to make Class B a long-term meal ticket, so reconnaissance was just an excuse, but even if you're here for reconnaissance, who does it like you?
If you directly ask the other party what's going on, will they really answer you?
Kushida, maintaining her cuteness, had already grown accustomed to Hikigaya's blunt actions.
She was even unfazed by them.
Rather, if he hadn't been so blunt and focused on getting promoted to a higher Class, then her true nature being discovered by him would have led to an extremely terrible development, like something out of an adult video.
Kushida felt she had dodged a bullet.
-------------------------------
I've posted the latest chapters on Patreon!
If you like this story, please come and support me.
Here is the link: [pat*eon*com/DaoistRoeoNQ]
Thank you for always supporting me!!