COTE : Backed By Black Technology System

As time passed, the Dragon Group's discussion still hadn't reached a conclusion. 

Class A's lack of cooperation and Class C's unreliability had stalled progress. 

Under these circumstances, Class B and Class D weren't in a rush, but Ryuen was. He feared that if Class B and Class D teamed up, they'd make it much easier to deduce the rules for the exam. He didn't think Kanda Shuichi and Ichinose were fools. 

If they figured out the rules before him, Ryuen would lose the advantage, and he could end up being forced into accepting unreasonable demands. 

But Ryuen didn't give up just yet, because figuring out the rules would still take time. He just had to beat them to it. 

The first Dragon Group discussion ended, and Kanda Shuichi and the others didn't linger. They left the room quickly. After all, there were five more opportunities for discussions. This was just a warm-up, and there was no need to solve everything at once. 

Even if they reached a consensus now, who knew what other issues might arise later? 

After leaving the meeting, Hirata spoke briefly with Kanda Shuichi before quickly leaving. 

"Are you really going to trust Ryuen?" 

Horikita Suzune followed Kanda Shuichi to the second-floor deck where he often rested and fixed her intense gaze on him. No matter how she looked at it, she felt Ryuen was far too dangerous. 

"Of course not," Kanda Shuichi replied while taking a cold cola from a nearby waiter. "But I think Ryuen wants everyone to aim for result one too." 

"Why do you think that?" 

"Because he made a deal with Class A during the deserted island exam. He provided them with 200 initial points' worth of supplies, and in return, Class A has to pay him 800,000 private points every month starting next month." 

Not many people knew about this. When Kanda Shuichi had spoken to Ryuen, only Miyake and Sudou were around, and since they were using walkie-talkies, they didn't really know about the deal either. 

So when Kanda Shuichi shared this, both Horikita and Kushida were shocked. 

"There's actually such a thing?" 

"Otherwise, why do you think the students from Class A hate Ryuen so much?" Kanda Shuichi said with a smirk of schadenfreude. 

He then sat down in a chair under the sunshade and began enjoying his cold cola. 

At that moment, even Horikita and Kushida couldn't help but feel a little sorry for Class A. Being double-crossed by both Kanda Shuichi and Ryuen, it was almost too perfect… 

Just as they were discussing this, the school's PA system suddenly made an announcement.

[Due to Shinji Matoba from Class A failing to follow the school's exam rules, 50 class points have been deducted from Class A.] 

"Pfft!" 

Kanda Shuichi, who had been sipping his cola through a straw, couldn't hold back and sprayed it all over Horikita Suzune, then burst into laughter.

"Hahahahaha, this is just too funny! I can't believe they actually deducted points!"

Kanda Shuichi bent over the desk, one hand slapping the surface while the other held his drink, laughing wildly.

However, Horikita, sitting across from him, wasn't in a good mood. She had been thinking when the drink was sprayed all over her, and as soon as it made contact, her mood turned sour.

"Before you laugh, shouldn't you say something?"

Horikita's angry voice came from across the table. Only then did Kanda Shuichi raise his head and look at her.

He saw that Horikita Suzune's shirt, soaked with cola, was now sticking to her body, outlining her youthful figure. 

There were also some water droplets running down her angry face, which gave her a very fierce look.

"Uh, sorry, I didn't mean to do that. How about you spray me with cola too?"

He said it casually while continuing to enjoy the sight of Horikita Suzune in her current state.

Looking at the cola Kanda Shuichi handed over, Horikita Suzune's chest rose and fell several times before she finally managed to control herself and resist the urge to pour the cola back on him.

Instead, she quietly took a handkerchief out of her skirt to wipe her face and clothes.

"Was Class A getting points deducted part of your plan?"

After the interruption, Kanda Shuichi gradually calmed down, though Kushida, who was sitting beside him, couldn't stop shaking with laughter.

"Although I expected something like this, I didn't think the school would act so quickly," Kanda Shuichi said as he took the cola back and placed it in front of him.

"When we attended the briefing, Sakagami-sensei specifically emphasized that we should introduce ourselves at the start, and today, seeing Ichinose's attitude, it also indirectly proves that other teachers have given similar instructions."

Horikita nodded and then looked over at Kushida.

"Kushida, if you want to laugh, just go ahead. No need to hold it in."

Tsk! You just indulge her!

Sure enough, as soon as Horikita finished speaking, Kushida burst into laughter, and it seemed like she had been holding it in for so long that now she was laughing so hard, she was almost crying.

Seeing Kushida's exaggerated reaction, even more so than Kanda Shuichi's, Horikita sighed.

"Do you really hate me that much?"

Hearing this, Kanda Shuichi immediately felt something was off, as though something unpleasant was about to happen. He quickly stood up, preparing to slip away and make a quick exit.

Of course, Kanda Shuichi didn't actually intend to leave. He just wanted to hide in a corner to give them some space, not eavesdrop.

Just as he was about to leave, Kushida, who had stopped laughing, grabbed his arm.

"Let go, I need to leave first."

But Kushida ignored Kanda Shuichi's words, still smiling as she looked at Horikita.

"Why do you think that?"

"Because that's how I feel. It may not answer your question, but it's the only way I can respond... Did I get it wrong?"

"...Ah, hahaha, I give up."

Then Kushida bluntly stated her feelings toward Horikita: "Yeah, I really hate you! Do you want me to tell you why?"

"Shut up, talk after I leave."

However, Kushida showed no signs of letting go.

Alright, you win. Since I can't escape, let me see what you're planning to do.

"...No need, it's not necessary. As long as I understand this, I guess I can now interact with you freely."

So...

Is that it?

Kanda Shuichi felt unsatisfied.

After Horikita Suzune made a confusing comment, the atmosphere seemed to calm down for a moment, which left Kanda Shuichi feeling like it wasn't enough.

"Now, back to the question. Was the point deduction for Class A part of your plan?" 

"Don't say that, I just guided things a little," Kanda Shuichi immediately denied it, refusing to take the blame.

"But how exactly did you do it?"

"It wasn't just me, it was all of us working together," Kanda Shuichi explained. "When Ichinose started the self-introduction session, I immediately mocked her. The reason is simple—Class A had been surpassed by Class B, so their self-proclaimed elite leader must have felt uncomfortable. Even though he agreed to Katsuragi's defensive strategy, he still felt dissatisfied. And since he wasn't a preferred student from the Dragon Group, he thought there was no harm in letting out some of his frustration."

"Wait! How do you know he wasn't a VIP student from the Dragon Group?" Horikita Suzune looked confused. "Have you figured out the rules of this exam?"

Kanda Shuichi looked at Kushida Kikyo speechlessly, and Kushida Kikyo acted clueless. "Ehehe..."

"Ehehe, my foot!" Kanda thought.

"The VIP student is..." Kanda said, pointing at Kushida. This caused Horikita to fall silent for a moment before speaking again. "And then, how exactly did you plan things with Class A?"

Horikita Suzune thought back to what had happened at the time and felt the situation was more complicated than it seemed.

"At that time, both Ryuen and I saw an opportunity. But Ryuen was the first to speak. Do you remember what he said?" 

'I am Ryuen Kakeru from Class C.'

"He directly introduced himself."

"That's right. After Ryuen introduced himself, I did too, and then Ichinose, Ryuen, and I finished our introductions. The remaining students from our three classes followed the rules and introduced themselves as well."

Kanda Shuichi's words made both of them recall that scene.

"Then, under the watch of all the students from our three classes, Katsuragi and the two people behind him introduced themselves one after another. Everyone should have figured out who one of them was—Shinji Matoba."

At this point, Horikita Suzune nodded, showing she understood.

"Then, before he introduced himself, I pointed out his name. After that, everyone's identity was confirmed, and everyone thought the self-introduction session was over. Then Ichinose made a clever move. She said, 'Since the self-introductions are over,' but the actual truth was that we had already figured out everyone's identity, and Matoba hadn't introduced himself yet. So the introductions hadn't truly ended. Although we in the Dragon Group knew everyone's name, the other groups didn't. So..."

By now, both Horikita Suzune and Kushida Kikyo understood, and they both felt a chill run down their spines. Just from one comment, Kanda Shuichi had found a loophole and used the rules to perfectly set up the other group.

No, not just that. The fact that Ryuen could keep up with his thinking meant he was just as much of a threat.

And what about Ichinose? Was it intentional or not? But even if she were asked, Ichinose probably wouldn't admit it, right?

Horikita Suzune felt again like she was hit with a blow.

What kind of monsters am I up against?

But when she looked at Kushida, who seemed to be lost in thought, she felt inexplicably relieved. It seemed there was someone who was at my level after all.

————— ----

You can read 10 advanced chapters at my patreon.com/YeyeQiu