"Senpaku, I am Sakamoto. What brings you here?"

Longyuan's interest was piqued.

Ayanokouji wants to make a deal with Ryuen.

He can provide B-class with information about A-class and his own class because he scouted A-class's camp, and Shiina Hiyori of B-class also knows this; you can ask her if you don't believe me.

In exchange, Ayanokouji wanted to know about other classes, such as Class C.

Ayanokouji deliberately projected an image of "eagerly seeking allies to fight against the powerful Class A."

He also implied that although he had some ideas in Class D, he was insignificant and needed external support.

He made Longyuan feel that

This is a self-righteous "pawn" that can be exploited.

Information about Class A was indeed something he desperately wanted.

Exchanging false information about Class C for this seems like a worthwhile deal.

More importantly, if we can develop an "insider" within Class D, it will be much easier to deal with this seemingly weakest class in the future.

At least he's better than Kushida, who only thinks about getting others to drop out of school.

Therefore, Longyuan accepted the deal.

Next, Ayanokouji revealed the conversation he overheard when he first arrived on the island, as well as some of his speculations.

However, when discussing information about Class D, Ayanokouji stated that...

The leader of Class D was predetermined, and he didn't even know who it was.

However, the spies sent by Longyuan can continue their investigation.

As Long Yuan listened, some of his suspicions seemed to be "confirmed".

He increasingly felt that although Ayanokouji had some value...

But ultimately, his vision was limited, and he was easily taken advantage of.

The deal is done.

Ryuen shared some vague information about Class C and instructed Ibuki to continue lying low.

After leaving Class B's camp, Ayanokouji returned to Class D.

He deliberately exposed his keycard near Ibuki Mio.

The leader of Class D is actually Kiyotaka Ayanokoji.

Upon arriving on the island, Hirata passed the leadership choice to Horikita, who then decided to appoint Ayanokoji.

The class leader was indeed predetermined, and only a few people knew about it.

But now, Ayanokouji has exposed it to Class B.

The news was quickly relayed to Ryuen through Ibuki.

This made Ryuen even more convinced that Ayanokouji was an easily manipulated fool.

It's a terrible tactic for someone who's a leader to come and negotiate with him.

As expected of Class D.

The real plan, however, was quietly launched on the morning of the last day.

Ayanokouji cited "sudden physical discomfort" as the reason.

I applied to my homeroom teacher, Chabashira Sae, to withdraw from the exam early.

According to the rules, if a student leaves midway, the class will have 30 special points deducted, but this can be used to change the leader.

Teacher Chazhu approved the application.

After Ayanokouji "left", Horikita Suzune naturally became the leader of Class D.

All of this was accomplished without Longyuan's knowledge.

Based on the "outdated" information sent back by Ibuki, Ryuen will firmly believe that Ayanokouji is the leader of Class D. In the final guessing round, he will inevitably guess wrong, causing Class B to lose 50 points.

At the same time, Ryuen's obsession with Sakamoto and Ayanokouji's deliberate "misleading" will cause him to guess that the leader of Class A is also Sakamoto, which will incorrectly deduct 50 points.

While Ayanokouji wasn't sure who the leader of Class A was, he was certain it wasn't Sakamoto.

With this back and forth, Class B's net profit could very well become zero or even negative.

Class D, despite losing 30 points due to the change of leadership, can at least keep up with the other classes thanks to their initial accumulation.

Ayanokoji's goal is not to be number one.

Instead, the goal is to secure a result for Class D that avoids being at the bottom, or even closes the gap with Classes B and C, given Class A's absolute advantage.

Horikita withdrew her gaze from the sea and looked at Ayanokouji's calm profile:

"So, in the end, all three classes ended up with exactly 150 points... Is this really just a coincidence? Or did your calculations include whether Longyuan's guess about the leader of Class C was correct, and the potential profits from the strongholds they might occupy?"

Ayanokouji paused for a moment, then replied:

"Statistically, this is possible. But such a precise tie... seems more like a coincidence."

"However, it is not entirely impossible that someone with control over more global variables intentionally caused this outcome."

He didn't say the name, but Horikita could sense the implication in his words.

"anyway,"

Horikita steered the conversation back to reality, his tone becoming serious.

"The problems within our class haven't been resolved yet. What should we do with 'her'...? We can't keep a ticking time bomb like this forever."

Ayanokouji did not answer immediately.

His gaze seemed to pierce through the noisy crowd on the deck, looking towards a more distant place.

He cannot treat all his classmates as tools to be used.

In this exam, he transformed the chaos of Longyuan and Class D into chess pieces on a chessboard.

But on the other hand, what about himself?

In this game, has he already become someone's pawn?

A long-lost emotion called "fighting spirit" has quietly begun to sprout.

Meanwhile, on the bow deck of the cruise ship's highest level.

Sakamoto stood alone against the wind, the setting sun casting a long shadow of his tall figure.

There was no one there, only the sea breeze howling past.

He slightly opened his arms, in a natural and relaxed posture, feeling the changes in wind speed, humidity and course, engaging in a silent communication with the sea.

Like a famous scene from Titanic.

Just then, a sudden but not jarring cell phone ringtone broke the silence.

Sakamoto calmly took his cell phone out of the inside pocket of his uniform.

He didn't answer the call directly. Instead, he flicked his wrist lightly, and the phone seemed to come alive, gracefully spinning around his index finger, tracing a silver arc before finally landing steadily in his palm.

He held the phone to his ear, and a light, girlish voice came from the other end:

“Sakamoto-kun, it’s me, Sakayanagi.”

"Sakayanagi-san."

Sakamoto spoke in a calm tone.

First of all, I want to apologize to you.

"Due to health reasons, I was unable to participate in this exam, which resulted in the class having 30 basic points deducted. This was a loss that could have been avoided, and I am truly sorry."

"It's alright. Sakayanagi-san's health is the most important thing."

"hehe,"

"However, it was truly an amazing performance. I have a general understanding of the exam process. Under your leadership, Class A was practically a utopia at sea. Not only did they achieve complete self-sufficiency, but they also almost monopolized all the outposts... It can be said that you made Class A virtually flawless in this exam."

Sakamoto adjusted his glasses, which were gilded by the setting sun, and responded calmly, without humility or arrogance:

"The students' efforts are the foundation."

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone, as if they were carefully choosing their words.

Then, Arisu Sakayanagi's voice rang out again:

"Sakamoto-kun, there's a question I've been wanting to ask you for a long time."

"What you've demonstrated...is far beyond what ordinary people possess..."

"Is he a 'genius' bestowed upon him by birth..."

"Or perhaps, it originated from some... special 'place'?"

The sea breeze brushed past Sakamoto's temples, ruffling his meticulously styled sideburns.

He held his phone, his gaze behind his glasses fixed on the endless horizon, and did not answer immediately.

P.S.: You guys are right, I really had a blast!

I'm going back to school tomorrow!

I actually spend less time at home than at school.

Sure enough, I became more lax at home.

First Grade Summer Vacation: Chapter 116: Sakamoto Who Disappeared

Student Council Office, Advanced Nurturing High School.

Student council secretary Tachibana Akane handed over a newly printed document.

It was gently placed on the desk of student council president Horikita Manabu.

"President, this is the final report of the first-year students' special survival test on a deserted island, which they just finished."

Horikita Manabu picked up the report, his eyes quickly scanning the key data on it.

"Class D, 150 points; Class C, 150 points; Class B, 150 points... tied for last place."

"Class A... 780 points."

When Horikita saw this number, his fingertips paused on the paper for half a second.

His gaze swept back and forth between "Class A" and "780".

The initial points were 300. Due to Sakayanagi Arisu's absence, 30 points were deducted, leaving an actual starting point of 270.

"Without using any dedicated points...almost all strongholds have been captured..."

Horikita Manabu put down the report and leaned back in his wide chair.

Place the fingertips of both hands together against your chin.

"Sakamoto."

There is absolutely no need to think.

Only that man, who has been breaking the rules ever since he enrolled, could achieve this level of skill.

He single-handedly transformed wilderness survival into a form of "civilization building."

This not only allowed Class A to win by an absolute advantage, but also created an unprecedented record in the school's history.

"This guy has once again raised the bar for the school's understanding."

Horikita Muttered to himself.

His eyes regained their sharpness and anticipation.

The deserted island test focuses more on an individual's survival skills, leadership abilities, and resource integration capabilities in a confined environment.

Sakamoto displayed overwhelming talent in these areas.

However, the following exams, especially those special ones that involve more complex interpersonal interactions and class rivalries...

When what we are facing is no longer simply the natural environment,