I have a life simulator.

"The school's move has disrupted the plans and schedules of all classes. Not to mention, Ryuen from your class is bound to be restless again. He has five million personal points that he got from Ayanokoji Kiyotaka."

"Let's all have a meeting in my room tonight, it's really a bit of a hassle."

Chapter 276: The World is a Giant Makeshift Team (5k)

Today was probably the most lively and crowded Kitagawa Ryo's room in the past two months. The girls from Class B and Class C almost filled the not-so-large single room to the brim. Because there weren't enough sofas and chairs, Ichinose Honami and Amasawa Ichika, who arrived a little later, simply sat on the edge of Kitagawa Ryo's bed, which barely allowed everyone to find a place to stand.

It's fortunate that Karuizawa Megumi from Class A couldn't openly appear at this event because of their different allies; otherwise, Kitagawa Ryo would have really been planning to rent a private room at a karaoke bar in the Keyaki Shopping Center.

"Everyone should have seen the new facility that the school opened, including the detailed description posted by the school itself on its official website."

Since there was nowhere to sit, Kitagawa Ryo simply moved Hotaru's little house to the shelf next to him for the time being. After moving a chair there, he smoothly picked up the kitten in his arms and cleared his throat as he spoke.

Since Kitagawa Ryo had already called them here for a discussion, everyone present had naturally made preparations beforehand. The first to speak was Horikita Suzune, who served in the student council:

"The school's actions this time almost completely bypassed the student council, and we had not received any relevant notifications beforehand."

"After all, he is the newly appointed acting chairman, and Tsukishiro doesn't really intend to stay here for long. Not to mention the student council, even the teachers are in a state of chaos and doubt. I asked Majima's homeroom teacher, and the school did have a special exam plan in this regard before, but the proposal always stated that it would be released cautiously after multiple tests. In short, it is absolutely impossible for it to be released so early, or even at the same time as the sports festival."

Kitagawa Ryo picked up where Horikita Suzune left off, then turned to look at Shiina Hiyori sitting on the sofa:

“Actually, when Rihe and I were on a cruise vacation before, we received an invitation from the school to participate in a test for a certain project. The reason given in the text message sent to us by the school was ‘to strengthen students’ money and consumption concepts.’ The test content was also similar to betting in a casino.”

Then, Kitagawa Ryo spoke up again to explain:

"Because at the time, there were only one spot available for each class to participate in the project test, namely Megumi from Class A, myself from Class B, Hiyori from Class C, and Katsuragi from Class D, and the school required us to keep the test a secret, that's why we haven't told anyone about it."

As soon as Kitagawa Ryo finished speaking, Shiina Hiyori, who was also a witness to the incident, immediately nodded, indicating that what he said was true.

"It's only been a month since summer vacation started... If that's the case, then it's really too rushed. I wonder what this new acting chairman is thinking."

Honami Ichinose wasn't clear about Tsukishiro Tsuneshiro's stance and intentions; she simply felt an instinctive aversion to what the school had done this time, as a student.

"It's strange to have a casino-like facility like this in a school. Although Dongyu High School is indeed different from other high schools, it still feels very strange. It makes this sports festival seem strange too."

As the one who led the girls in the class in their daily training, Honami Ichinose was well aware of the impact this explosive news would have on the class's hard-won atmosphere of preparing for the sports festival. It directly made many girls a little restless, and instead they began to eagerly discuss which bet to place on the outcome once the store officially opened.

"Actually, it's not as exaggerated or serious as Fanbo's. In my opinion, the school has just brought many things out into the open this time. After all, even without this facility, wouldn't there be fewer contracts between students that the school acts as a guarantor for their private infighting?"

The one who disagreed with Ichinose Honami was Sakayanagi Arisu. She was probably the one most interested in the changes to this sports festival among those present. After all, she was in charge of Class B's operations for this sports festival. The lukewarm and boring competition format of the past was nothing compared to how interesting it was now. Her purple eyes sparkled, clearly showing that she was intrigued.

"As for betting on whether to win or lose, doesn't the 'hitchhiking' card from the special test on the deserted island that we just experienced during the summer vacation count as betting on whether to win or lose?"

"If you're talking about how this kind of thing is easy to manipulate in the sports festival, then the rules are what they are. Last time, Class C was tricked by Ayanokouji into betting all their hitchhiking cards on him on the deserted island, and ended up with nothing. Wasn't that a typical case of getting something for nothing?"

Sakayanagi Arisu's meaning is quite clear: stupid people are likely to be fooled no matter what kind of exam they take, especially the kind that seems to have a large element of luck, which makes them more likely to get carried away and give up easily.

"Well, if Honami feels uncomfortable, why not treat it like a special exam set up by the school, just like Arisu did? This game is just a formality, and I guess it won't be a long-term project. It might even be a special feature of this sports festival, otherwise they wouldn't have rushed to bring it up."

After comforting Ichinose Honami, Kitagawa Ryo turned his head to Sakura Airi, who was sitting next to him and teasing a cat with her finger.

"Although it hasn't been officially confirmed yet, if Class B wants to take a chance this time, they'll still need Airi's personal points."

"Yes, if Liang comes up with an idea, just come to me to get it."

Knowing full well that she couldn't offer any effective advice in this situation, Sakura Airi simply became a quiet listener. If Kitagawa Ryo hadn't suddenly called her, she probably could have had a good time playing with Hotaru for a while.

"It has to be said that after the school pulled this stunt, the competition schedules of each class have become even more crucial."

Thinking about this, Kitagawa Ryo was also a little numb. He was prepared to be a hands-off manager during this sports festival, but he didn't expect the school to suddenly give him a big task.

"Entry forms can be submitted to the school no later than the day before the sports festival, but the exchange opens a week before the sports festival and officially closes the day before the sports festival begins."

"If we could get the exact competition schedules from other classes, there would be so many things we could manipulate and change just by taking advantage of that time difference."

"Actually, all the scheming and calculation is not as good as just making a few bets based on your own class's entry list that you are sure you can win. But once that greed and gambler's mentality take hold, it is impossible to be rational. Wasn't that what happened during the treasure hunt game on the last cruise vacation? It even allowed Arisu to make some pocket money."

At this point, Kitagawa Ryo paused slightly.

"Moreover, similar to that treasure hunt game, or rather, different from real gambling, the students are only investing virtual personal points represented by numbers. Theoretically, this is something that the school can easily add or subtract with a tap of its finger without worrying about inflation."

Tokyo Advanced Educational High School has always lacked real luxury consumption; the most expensive item is merely a transfer opportunity with a listed price of 20 million personal points.

However, based on the fact that no one had ever accumulated 20 million points to transfer classes in the school's more than ten years of history, and considering Kitagawa Ryo's experience this semester, he keenly noticed that the school had actually been deliberately controlling the amount and scope of personal points circulating among students.

Just as the various supplies in the special exam on the deserted island, which was packaged as a battle royale game, actually needed to be supplied by the school itself, which is why the school was particularly wary of Kitagawa Ryo's discount card reaching the maximum level and opening up zero-yuan purchases, monopolizing essential daily necessities and directly ending the exam, and adding a lot of hidden restrictions to him in the middle of the exam, there is always a huge gap between theory and practice.

In fact, after learning that the White Room, which had been shrouded in mystery in previous simulations and resembled a behind-the-scenes organization, was originally a training institution established by Ayanokoji Atsuomi, who used his reputation and connections to solicit sponsorships like a salesman, and whose daily management and research expenses were mostly covered by helping various company presidents and chairmen deal with their illegitimate children, Kitagawa Ryo's horizons broadened considerably.

The Tokyo Advanced Educational High School was essentially the same; it was an educational project managed by the Sakayanagi family and funded by the Onishima faction.

No matter how much the school promotes itself to the outside world with its 100% college admission and employment rate, its campus being built on a huge artificial island, its tuition being completely free, etc., all of these things actually require a lot of money to achieve.

The personal points system, which is almost an independent small financial system, must also be built on this larger framework. After all, it is the school that brings in goods and services from the outside world, which gives it the value of a general equivalent.

Of course, to put it simply...

That is what is known as budget and balance of payments.

Capitalists and politicians don't do business that only loses money. Kitagawa Ryo could even recall the example he used in Karuizawa Megumi's simulation when he went to Class C to enlighten his classmates that the school was not simple. He used the example of calculating the total amount of personal points that the school had to pay to all students in a month.

If we follow this logic, then everything that Nan Yunya, a second-year student, did would probably be seen by the school as a pig that only takes in but never gives out.

"...I have a feeling that this prediction contest isn't really targeting us first-year students, but rather the upper grades, or even the second-year students."

After hearing Kitagawa Ryo's words after a long silence, Horikita Suzune, still somewhat confused, subconsciously asked:

"Huh? Why? Didn't the second-year students say that someone named Nagumo was in control? Doesn't that mean he can manipulate the results of all the betting?"

"It's precisely because everyone knows he controls the entire grade and can freely manipulate the results that no one participates in the second-year prediction contest."

The one who answered Horikita Suzune was Amasawa Ichika. Having finally escaped the cruise ship romance, she seemed to have regained her excellent graduate status, leisurely sitting on the edge of the bed, swinging her legs back and forth, and casually replied:

"Knowing beforehand that the outcome of this match would be manipulated, even the most hysterical gambler wouldn't think of throwing their personal points away, right? After all, for second-year students, it's like transferring money from one hand to the other. If you throw your personal points in and get tricked into losing, then you really lose."

“Yi Xia is right, because the school has never played the role of the house in this contest. The prize pool is made up of the individual points bet by other students. For the students, it is not even a zero-sum game, since the school will also take a 5% commission after each contest draw.”

As Kitagawa Ryo spoke, he reached out and lifted Hotaru up, feeling that the cat's body did indeed seem to have grown a little longer.

"Nangumo has set an upper limit on the number of personal points that each second-year student can hold. In other words, almost all the personal points of the second-year students are his alone. It is impossible for one person to make bets on his own. No matter what the result is, if there are no bets from students of other grades, it is just sending intermediary fees to the school."

Kitagawa Ryo didn't just randomly bring up Nagumo Masaru; after explaining a few things, he gave his own conclusion.

"Therefore, if Nangumo still wants to profit from this betting, he can only target the first and third year students, as well as betting projects that involve all grades."

"Okay, now that we've finished talking about Nan Yun, let's talk about the first year."

As he spoke, Kitagawa Ryo also turned his gaze to Shiina Hiyori, who had already begun to glance at the various books on his bookshelf:

"How is the situation in Class C now? Especially Long Yuan. He definitely won't stay still after something like this. If you ask me, he's probably the most addicted gambler in our first year, not to mention he still has enough money in his hands."

"...In Class C, it seems quite a few students want to play this game. I've even heard that some students who don't have enough points are planning to borrow money from others to place bets."

Shiina Hiyori tilted her head back and tried hard to recall the recent situation of her class, then answered the question about Ryuen Sho:

"As for Ryuen, the good news is that the students in Class C are unaware that he has the five million yen he got from Ayanokouji. Otherwise, I would probably have to go to him to ask for that five million yen to contribute to the class."

"That really sounds like something your Class C would do."

Kitagawa Ryo sighed helplessly upon hearing this, but although he said it, he knew in his heart that the situation in Class B was probably not much better.

Unlike the treasure hunt on the cruise ship, each student can participate in the guessing game an unlimited number of times, and the reward is real personal points, not some kind of prepaid card.

Kitagawa Ryo couldn't carefully check each student's individual point balance, so he was completely powerless to stop anyone from secretly betting on a betting game that they thought was safe with two people.

Ultimately, it's because under the school's deliberate control, there are very few ways for ordinary students to obtain a large number of personal points, especially in lower-ranked classes. The personal points they get from the class points each month are pitifully small. However, when various situations arise in the class, everyone is used to pooling their resources, and before long, they may not even be able to maintain their daily standard of living.

Think about it carefully: as a freshman, you work yourself to the bone on a deserted island for two weeks, defeat half of the opponents in the entire grade with your group, and break into the top 50% in the rankings. In the end, you can only get 50,000 personal points.

But it's a different story when it comes to guessing.

Whether you want to rely on welfare or try your luck with an upset, and you don't even have to put in any effort, your personal points could potentially double or triple in value. It's hard to resist such a temptation.

"However, there is still a month before the sports festival and three weeks before the predictions open, so there's no need to rush."

Seemingly sensing Kitagawa Ryo's hesitation, Ichinose Honami spoke again in a gentle tone:

"I will also communicate more with the other students in the class during this period. After all, only by knowing everyone's thoughts can Class B make the most suitable decision for us in this sports festival."

"Just like Liang said, if the school's sudden guessing game wasn't aimed at us first-year students from the beginning, then there's absolutely no need to panic. We can just train and prepare seriously as before."

Finally, she winked playfully at Kitagawa Ryo:

"After all, having a healthy body is something that no amount of points can buy."

Sakayanagi Arisu, who had just disagreed with Ichinose Honami, twitched her lips upon hearing this, indicating that she felt subtly insulted.

"Indeed, and it seems that everyone is actually a bit unsure about this prediction contest. In the end, we will probably have to analyze the specific situation. What I just said was just speculation."

Kitagawa Ryo rubbed his temples, and his brows gradually relaxed.

"But what Hiyori said just now reminded me that many first-year students don't actually have many personal points, but if they want to gamble on a prediction, it seems that the only way left is to borrow from others."

"If we can see this market, then Nanyun certainly can too, especially since he's currently the student with the most personal points in the entire school... Anyway, Hiyori should keep an eye on things. I feel like the second-year students might come to your Class C tomorrow to try and get close to you."

"I see."

Hiyori Shiina nodded seriously in agreement, but felt that she was indeed not very suitable for this type of role. Whether it was the personal points or class points that appeared very frequently, or the various speculations and competitions between different grades and the student council, none of them aroused her much interest.

If it weren't for the fact that Class B and Class C were allies of the White Group, and she was thinking of spending more time with Kitagawa Ryo, given her lazy nature, she definitely wouldn't have stood by and watched Ryuen Sho be forced out of the class to go solo.

"That's all for today. If you notice anything new or gather any new information, please feel free to contact me."

The group discussed the topic for a while longer before Kitagawa Ryo finally broke up the discussion.

Thus, regarding the sports festival, which had suddenly become unpredictable due to the school's unexpected attack, a few people who were initially uninterested began to work together in perfect unison.

Chapter 277: Which of Beichuan's girlfriends are you talking about? (8k)

After school again, Kitagawa Ryo approached Sudo Ken, who was heading to the playground, and waved to him.

"Aren't there any club activities today?"

"Yes, there is. But yesterday, Mingren told me that their group's horseback combat posture seemed to be problematic. The weight they were carrying was too different for each person, which made their coordination strange. So we agreed to go to the training ground to see what was going on."

In response to Kitagawa Ryo's question, Sudo Ken smiled broadly, revealing his teeth.

As the assigned training instructor for the boys' group, he has been working diligently during this period. Coupled with his excellent performance on the deserted island, apart from his studies being somewhat haphazard due to catching up on the basics, he has become an indispensable member of the class. Even the girls' opinions of him have improved, completely forgetting the series of upheavals that occurred at the beginning of the semester.

"These past few days have certainly been tough, it's just a pity that there are no basketball-related events in this sports festival."

At this point, Kitagawa Ryo's tone also carried a hint of regret.

"Well, it's only a month, so I can just get through it. Besides, I feel quite fulfilled."

Upon hearing this, Takeru Sudo scratched the back of his head a little embarrassedly, but there was no hint of modesty in his words. Firstly, that was just his personality, and secondly, it was because he had indeed been juggling multiple roles during this period, almost becoming a time management master like Ryo Kitagawa.

After all, the sports club's regular activities would certainly not be canceled because of the sports festival, and as one of the main players in the basketball team, Sudo Takeru is someone who cannot easily be absent. In addition, he also has to take care of his studies. All of this combined makes it quite a tough job.

"By the way, do you have any ideas about that new guessing game the school came up with? Anyway, I'm not very bright, so just like last time on the deserted island, I'll do whatever you tell me to do. I'll listen to you, and I'm sure I'll get it right."

The two had barely taken two steps toward the playground when Takeru Sudo deliberately lowered his voice and quietly asked Ryo Kitagawa about the betting, while also stating his own position.

"Before I share my opinion, I'd like to ask you a question, Sudo."

However, Kitagawa Ryo didn't answer immediately. Instead, with his hands in his pockets, he casually offered Sudo Takeru a hypothetical scenario:

"If you participated in the first-grade 100-meter race, boys' third group, and all the students in your class knew about it, those who believed in your ability, along with those who had inside information or made random bets, placed a large number of individual points in the column for Class B's victory. Let's set that number to one million."

"Now, Sudo, all you need to do is bet on an upset, then deliberately underperform during the match and miss out on first place, and you can easily get this huge personal points reward. Would you choose to do that?"

As soon as Kitagawa Ryo asked the question, Sudo Ken shook his head and shouted:

"How could that be? Would Kitagawa really think I'm that kind of person?"

"But what if these personal points become two million, three million, five million, or even ten million? Wouldn't that lead to the idea that the 100-meter race is just one event, and that deliberately making a mistake won't affect my overall score while I can still earn a lot of money?"

"Even if we take a step back and believe that you, Sudo, remain unmoved as you say, what about the others? What are the people who placed bets and the players on the field thinking?"

"Or, I also think that doing this could gain a lot of personal points, so that Sudo could just throw the match like this?"

Kitagawa Ryo's tone was quite calm, but the scene he described gave Sudo Ken a chill down his spine. He was speechless for a moment, and unconsciously slowed his pace, as if he was thinking about what Kitagawa Ryo had just said.

Seeing Sudo Ken deep in thought, Kitagawa Ryo also lowered his eyes.

To be honest, although launching this prediction contest at this time seems rather rushed and doesn't fit the school's usual style, it has unexpectedly created a strange chemistry with this sports festival.

Not only does it test students' so-called views on money and consumption, but in Kitagawa Ryo's eyes, this guessing game also presents the concepts of the individual and the collective in a clear, or rather, unequal, way to the students, forcing them to make a choice.

As for the question of whether to graduate from Class A or the class as a group, Tokyo Advanced Educational High School has always provided students who want to graduate from Class A with two mechanisms: individual points and class points. You can choose to help the class get class points to advance to Class A and graduate successfully, or you can complete the process by accumulating 20 million individual points.

The same applies to this sports festival. The original sports festival, which is related to the increase or decrease of class points, undoubtedly represents the collective interest, while this guessing game is entirely related to personal interests. However, there is an inevitable conflict between the two, just like the scenario that Kitagawa Ryo just set up for Sudo Ken.

The sports festival, with its already meager rewards and punishments, further stirred the nerves of every student, tantalizing their hearts and even tempting them to act solely for their own benefit.

In fact, the school did provide convenience for students, namely anonymity. According to all the rules that Kitagawa Ryo read on the official website, students were allowed to place bets online for this contest.

Anything that becomes anonymous is bound to produce bizarre phenomena. Selfishness and exclusivity, and the complex emotions usually buried in one's heart can be easily amplified in the anonymous environment, and then become unrestrained.