-247- The guided outcome
At that moment, all the students present were stunned.
"No...no right to refuse?"
"What does that mean?"
Not only were the students from other classes confused, but even the D-class students, who were in the same class as Nanaya Hori, were also at a loss. Kushida Kikyou and Hirata Yousuke exchanged bewildered looks.
Only Horikita Suzune frowned deeply, staring at Hori, trying to figure out his intentions.
What Horikita Suzune wanted to do was precisely what Ryuen Kakeru intended as well.
Ryuen remained uncharacteristically silent, merely watching Hori as if trying to read his thoughts.
Ryuen understood that Hori wouldn't have spent tens of thousands of points to gather all the first-year students here just to put on a show.
The matter Hori mentioned, which required everyone's assistance, was the key.
This matter would ultimately decide the outcome of this special exam.
Realizing this, Ryuen's hand tightened slightly around the phone containing the list.
At this point, Katsuragi Kouhei stepped forward.
"What are you trying to do now?"
Katsuragi Kouhei questioned Hori.
"The exam is already over. So far, no group has made a guess about the identity of the VIP, which should be enough to determine the result, right?"
The rules clearly stated that once a guess was made about the VIP's identity, whether correct or incorrect, the exam for that student's group would immediately end.
At that point, the entire group would disband, no longer needing to participate in the exam or fulfill the daily two-hour standby obligation, only needing to wait for the final results on the last day.
And so far, none of the twelve groups had ended their exams.
This indicated that none of the groups had made a guess.
"If no one made a guess, it means no one was confident enough to identify the VIP. The VIPs in each group have not been confirmed, and all groups will reach the outcome of VIPs winning. This is the conclusion of this exam."
Katsuragi Kouhei stared directly at Hori as he spoke.
"Our Class A's strategy has succeeded. What else can you do?"
This was probably what many people had concluded.
Since none of the groups had made a premature guess, it was highly likely that no VIPs had been identified.
In that case, Class A's strategy was completed.
After all, their goal was to have all VIPs win, maintaining the status quo.
Therefore, many people believed that this special exam had been stalled by Class A.
There were likely many who felt dissatisfied with this.
But no matter how dissatisfied they were, Class A's strategy had succeeded. This was a fact.
At least, that's what everyone here believed.
But they didn't know.
"Of course, no one made a guess," Hori said calmly. "Because this outcome was guided by me."
"What?"
Katsuragi Kouhei was stunned.
"Guided by you?"
The others widened their eyes.
But this was the truth.
"That's not hard to achieve," Hori said nonchalantly. "Class A and Class C didn't have the option to guess, and it was just a matter of managing Classes B and D in advance, wasn't it?"
This situation could be easily understood upon reflection.
Class A, due to Katsuragi Kouhei's strategy of having all VIPs win, wouldn't allow anyone to make a premature guess.
Class C, with Ryuen Kakeru intending to identify all the VIPs in one go, was still searching for clues. Under Ryuen's control, no one would make a rash guess, risking the failure of Ryuen's plan.
That left only the students of Classes B and D to guess.
But Hori had already asked Ichinose Honami to restrain Class B's students from guessing.
Similarly, Hori had tasked Karuizawa Kei, one of the female group leaders, to ensure no guessing among the girls, while Hirata Yousuke persuaded the boys.
Although many were still in the dark, the result was that no one made a guess, guided by Hori's efforts.
Thus, none of the twelve groups had made a guess.
As Hori said, this outcome was guided by him.
Realizing this, Katsuragi Kouhei's expression darkened.
Since Hori had orchestrated this outcome, it meant he had a purpose.
This purpose couldn't be to hand victory to Class A.
"What are you trying to do?" Katsuragi Kouhei's voice was low as he questioned, "What's the purpose of all this?"
These questions echoed the unease in everyone's hearts.
Horikita Suzune also spoke up.
"Restraining all classes to prevent guesses, that I understand. It's a necessary strategy to avoid wrong guesses due to impulsiveness or deception. Not allowing other classes to guess is also understandable, to avoid being discovered. That's commendable."
Horikita Suzune calmly continued, "But if you orchestrated this situation, you must also have a way to break it, right?"
This was necessary.
If not, this situation would only benefit Class A, allowing them to sit back and achieve their strategy.
Hori wouldn't do something so foolish.
This man must have a way to break this situation.
Recalling that both Hori and Ryuen had confidently stated that all VIPs were chosen through a certain method, and that discovering this method would identify all VIPs, the people present understood what the most effective way to break this situation was.
"Na...Nanaya-kun?"
Kushida Kikyou, surprised, voiced this method.
"Have you found all the VIPs?"
This statement shocked everyone.
Katsuragi Kouhei's expression changed dramatically.
Ryuen Kakeru narrowed his eyes.
"Found all the VIPs?"
"Seriously?"
The other students began to chatter in astonishment.
Until Hori responded.
"I have indeed found all the VIPs."
Ignoring the reactions of the students, Hori, while giving this shocking answer, took out his phone from his pocket.
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