In practice, I can issue tasks to my master.

But whether it's learning from a mistake or learning from it again is hard to say.

"As for Kushida, she was no longer at the camp when I got back. It seems that Nangong-kun had arranged all of this long ago."

Long Yuan held his breath.

In reality, he wasn't incapable of accepting his failures; he had always been like this—what didn't kill him only made him stronger.

So he wanted to get his revenge this time.

But unexpectedly, they lost again.

Majima Tomoya's "zero points" really held him captive for a while, almost making him lose his mind.

"Oh, by the way, the key card holder cannot be replaced under normal circumstances."

Whether out of thoughtfulness or deliberate provocation, Shiina Hiyori offered her analysis of Nangong Cheng's move: "But in special circumstances, such as if the key card holder is unable to continue taking the exam due to physical reasons like fever or heatstroke, I estimate that it's possible to directly and forcibly change the key card holder's identity."

"Coincidentally, Horikita also withdrew from the exam this morning because of a fever, but she was perfectly healthy last night, so I think Kushida probably withdrew from the exam for the same reason."

Longyuan remained silent.

He also recalled the rule.

To be honest, he never expected that this rule would cause him to lose to Nangong Cheng by one move, nor did he expect that Nangong Cheng was born even earlier than him.

Because last night, before Shiina Hiyori left the D-class camp, Kushida Kikyo must have been in a very energetic state, but as a result, Shiina Hiyori left for only a short while before Nangong Makoto took her away.

The methods used were probably quite cruel.

Thinking about it this way, his loss was indeed not unjust.

Putting himself in Longyuan's shoes, he probably wouldn't have thought of such a drastic move. It just goes to show that he still has a lot to learn.

Well, zero points it is then.

Anyway, it's only the first semester, there's plenty of time and opportunity for him to catch up.

"Okay, that's settled then."

"You've worked hard too, now you should get some rest... As for the bet we made before, I accept my defeat."

After saying that, Long Yuan walked towards the cruise ship.

Hiyori Shiina watched silently until Ryuen had walked away before she took her first step.

...

...

At this very moment, Kikyo Kushida is lying in the medical room on the cruise ship, absentmindedly playing with her phone.

After one night, her fever symptoms had almost subsided.

But the exams are ending today, and I don't know if the final result will be as Nangong Cheng predicted.

If she could, she really wanted to see someone make Nangong Cheng suffer, but as far as this exam is concerned, Nangong Cheng is still writing his legend.

So, she should think about what to do next.

After all, the mole's identity has been exposed. Even if Nangong Cheng doesn't care, Horikita Suzune certainly won't stand idly by, and then there's Karuizawa Megumi...

"Anyway, Class D's victory in this exam definitely owes a debt to me, so I have to use this fact to prove myself."

Kikyo Kushida had already prepared two sets of explanations.

The first plan is about the sacrifice made during this exam. The second plan... is to say that I am actually an undercover spy planted by Nangong Cheng in Class C, and then I will reveal some information about Long Yuan and Nan Yunya to shut them up.

Anyway, she's figured it out now.

It is indeed possible for Nan Yunya and Long Yuan to bring down Nangong Cheng if they join forces, but it is unlikely that Nangong Cheng can be brought down by them.

Of course, her primary concern was ensuring she wouldn't be eliminated like Haruki Yamauchi. Otherwise, she wouldn't want to sell Ryuen and Aya Nanon just like that, since they were among the few remaining forces in the school capable of standing up to Nangong Cheng.

"Ding-dong-"

Just as Kikyo Kushida was lost in thought, a message notification suddenly went off.

She clicked on it and her heart skipped a beat.

Because the sender and content of the message that popped up on her phone screen were—

[Horikita Suzune: Come to the deck.]

[Horikita Suzune: You wouldn't want anyone but me to know what you've been doing, would you?]

Volume 1: 100. Kikyo Kushida: Hmm, can we make peace?

deck.

Horikita Suzune gripped the railing, gazing into the distance.

At this moment, after the exam on the deserted island ended, almost all the students who participated in the exam returned to their rooms to rest.

Only the students in Classes C and D, who were initially arranged to skip the exam, were fully enjoying this study tour, while the other students endured seven days of wilderness life on the deserted island for the exam.

But perhaps it was their instinct to read the atmosphere that triggered them, they vaguely sensed that the atmosphere in all four classes was somewhat subtle after the exam, so they all chose to stay in their rooms to rest.

Therefore, Horikita Suzune is the only one on the deck right now.

But soon, the sound of footsteps could be heard.

"Ta-da!"

Kikyo Kushida looked at Suzune Horikita standing at the bow of the ship, a strange light flashing in her eyes, but she quickly put on her hypocritical mask again.

"Horikita-kun, I'm here."

"..."

In fact, even without Kikyo Kushida speaking, Suzune Horikita could naturally hear the latter's footsteps.

She turned around and met Kikyo Kushida's bright smiling face, saying, "I should have punched your face last night."

Stop forcing your smile; there's no one else here.

ha?

Kikyo Kushida inwardly breathed a sigh of relief, but outwardly she obediently withdrew her smile and calmly asked, "So, Horikita-san, what are your plans?"

"After all, if you wanted to expose my affairs, you wouldn't have specifically consulted me."

Horikita Suzune's gaze gradually sharpened as she met Kushida Kikyo's eyes, her tone as cold as ever: "If I could, I really wouldn't want to report you. After all, even if Nangong and I could handle the trouble this matter brings, it would still leave a rift in Class D."

"However, if your attitude of admitting your mistake is not satisfactory to us, I don't mind changing the way we handle it."

"Okay, okay~"

Kikyo Kushida spread her hands with a helpless expression on her face, but she was actually relieved inside.

As a student in Class D, she knew Horikita Suzune best, and saying this meant that there was still room for negotiation.

Of course, she still had to hear what price Horikita Suzune wanted her to pay first. If it was a condition she couldn't accept, then she wouldn't be happy about it.

"I admit I... well, I made a mistake that anyone would make. Please forgive me, Horikita-san~"

Please~

Seeing Kikyo Kushida clasp her hands together and speak in a low voice, Suzune Horikita immediately frowned.

"A mistake that everyone makes?"

"Kushida, do you really understand what you're doing?"

Horikita Suzune doesn't deny Kushida Kikyo's sophistry, which tends to be a deceptive tactic, but objectively speaking, someone like Kushida Kikyo is a ticking time bomb for Class D.

Verbal agreements are naturally not binding on someone like Kikyo Kushida; only a clear written agreement outlining the stakes can deter the other party from taking any action.

"Colluding with students from other classes to harm your own students and the interests of your class—in ancient times, such behavior would have cost you your life."

"Horikita-kun, please calm down and let me explain, okay?"

Kikyo Kushida gave an embarrassed look and then explained, "Actually, I was just pretending to cooperate with Ryuen. It was all to gain Ryuen's trust and then infiltrate Class C to get first-hand information."

"But now, because of Horikita-kun and Nangong-kun's plan, Ryuen is probably starting to suspect me, so I have no choice but to abandon this plan."

"..."

Horikita Suzune crossed her arms and looked at Kushida Kikyo with a calm expression that made it impossible to tell what she was thinking.

After a long silence, she finally spoke, "Kushida, I was going to say that words are not enough and you need to provide evidence, but—"

"Nangong said he'd be your witness, so I won't make things difficult for you on that point."

what?

Kikyo Kushida paused for a moment.

Logically, she should have breathed a sigh of relief, but...

Nangong Cheng acted as her witness.

What does "this scoundrel" mean?

She was exposed as the mole because of you, yet you turn around and act as a good guy, becoming her witness?

No matter how you look at it, it seems to have ulterior motives, but she has no choice but to accept this "kindness".

"Then this matter..."

"This matter won't be so easily resolved."

Horikita Suzune saw Kushida Kikyo's expression stiffen for a moment, and said, "Regardless of your original intention, you have ultimately brought a considerable degree of negative impact to the class, so you may be spared the death penalty, but you cannot escape punishment."

"so……?"

Kikyo Kushida really wanted to tell her to just give her a quick death and stop pulling her so frantically.

However, after this storm passes, she will continue to endure and lie low for a while, and then jump out to give them a big surprise when everyone thinks she has "turned over a new leaf".

"You should apologize to the victim, but that would expose what you did, so we have to choose a less ideal solution—"

Horikita Suzune paused for a moment, then continued, "Since Karuizawa and Nangong are the main victims, as long as you can get their forgiveness, then this matter will be over."

What do you think?

"You can rest assured, Karuizawa shouldn't make things too difficult for you, after all, we'll be living together for three more years."

I feel like this is no different from taking my life.

Kikyo Kushida thought to herself that she had nothing to say, but on the surface she nodded in agreement: "I have no objection."

She knew this was the best way to handle it, at least it didn't escalate to the point where everyone knew about it.

But whether it's Karuizawa Megumi or Nangong Makoto, getting their forgiveness won't be easy, especially the latter. Kushida Kikyo guessed in 0 seconds what this scoundrel was asking her for, but given her current position, she simply couldn't refuse.

Was this also part of his plan?

What a terrifying man...

So, can she really get Nangong Cheng to drop out of school?

Kikyo Kushida is questioning her life once again.

"I see."

"Let's move on to the next thing."

"what?"

Kikyo Kushida paused for a moment.

Not sisters, you...

"What's so surprising?"

Horikita Suzune glanced at Kushida Kikyo and explained, "Even if Nangong and Karuizawa forgive you in the end, it doesn't mean that what you did has disappeared. So we still need to make sure you don't do it again."

After saying that, she took out a folded piece of paper from her pocket and spread it out in front of Kikyo Kushida.

"Sign this, and you can leave."

Kikyo Kushida subconsciously swallowed, then reached out and took the paper, but she was a little stunned after just one glance.

"Horikita-kun..."

Pointing to the lines of black text on the white paper, she spoke in a debating tone, "I can guarantee that I will not betray the class again, and I will accept punishment for any further mistakes, as this is my duty as a student of Class D, but—"