-249- Result One
"This..."
The list displayed on Ryuen Kakeru's phone caused all the students present to gasp.
It turned out that even this dictator of Class C had seen through the core of this special exam, uncovering both the puzzle and the solution.
Unfortunately, the others were still racking their brains in their respective groups to break Class A's strategy, ultimately finding no clues and resigning themselves to defeat, believing this special exam was a surefire victory for Class A.
Who would have thought it was just a dream?
Class A had long lost the possibility of winning.
This special exam was not dominated by Class A, but rather by Class C and Class D, who had taken the lead behind the scenes.
This not only made the expressions of those from Classes A and B complex but also caused Katsuragi Kouhei's face to look extremely heavy. His hands clenched into fists and trembled, revealing the unrest in the heart of one of Class A's faction leaders.
At this moment, Katsuragi Kouhei remembered what Nanaya Hori had asked Machida Koji to tell him earlier.
"If you keep dawdling, be prepared to be bitten all over by the 'snake'."
Who the "snake" referred to here was already obvious.
Who else could it be but Ryuen Kakeru?
If it weren't for Nanaya Hori using the broadcast to gather all the first-year students here, Ryuen Kakeru would have already released the list, allowing the students in Class C to win all the groups.
At that point, Katsuragi Kouhei's strategy to maintain the status quo would collapse, leaving Class C as the sole dominant force.
Only Nanaya Hori could stop someone like Ryuen Kakeru.
Be it in the previous special exam on the uninhabited island or this special exam on the luxury cruise, it was the same.
His caution, when facing talents beyond the typical student caliber, had limited effect.
That's right.
Just like in front of "that girl."
Of course, Ryuen Kakeru didn't care at all what Katsuragi Kouhei was thinking.
In Ryuen Kakeru's eyes, there were only two people in Advanced Nurturing High School's first-year who could be his opponents.
Katsuragi Kouhei, though excellent, was only that—excellent, not his opponent.
Ichinose Honami was indeed clever, able to unite Class B into a solid block and recognize his threat, joining forces with Class D to restrain him, but Ryuen Kakeru never thought he would lose to Ichinose Honami.
Therefore, whether it was Katsuragi Kouhei or Ichinose Honami, they would ultimately fall before him.
Only Sakayanagi Arisu of Class A was the most delectable delicacy in Ryuen Kakeru's eyes, best left for the last to devour, the ultimate enjoyment.
Until Nanaya Hori appeared...
"I always knew this special exam would be a race between you figuring out the puzzle and solution first or me."
Ignoring the silence and shock of others, Ryuen Kakeru sneered at Hori.
"But now, it seems your ambition is even greater than mine, not content with just a race."
This was true.
Hori indeed was not satisfied with merely racing to see who would first uncover the puzzle and solution to win all the groups.
Otherwise, he could have achieved all this on the first day of the special exam, without waiting until now.
Ryuen Kakeru had reason to believe...
"I only figured out all the VIPs today." Ryuen Kakeru stared at Hori intently, "But from the look of things, you discovered it earlier than me, right?"
If not, Hori wouldn't have gathered everyone here.
This proved Hori had been planning further while still at ease.
Frankly, Ryuen Kakeru couldn't do such a thing.
To uncover the relationship between the fifty-sound syllabary and the zodiac signs for selecting VIPs, Ryuen Kakeru had exhausted his efforts.
Finding this connection with only the three VIPs from Class C was insufficient.
Therefore, Ryuen Kakeru had run around and negotiated, ultimately acquiring information on three additional VIPs. Combining this with the three from Class C, totaling six, he had half the list and thus found the clue.
Ryuen Kakeru believed that Hori, needing only four or five names, could find the connection.
More so, Hori might only need to confirm the three VIPs from Class D to uncover the method of selecting VIPs.
This was the extent of Hori's capability.
And of course, Ryuen Kakeru's guess was right.
The only question was...
"Since you already have the list of VIPs, why plan all this? What are you trying to do?"
Ryuen Kakeru's sharp question pierced the silence.
This was the question on everyone's mind.
Having the list of VIPs, Hori could simply let the students in Class D answer, winning all the groups. Even if he didn't want to affect Class B due to their alliance, he could at least guess the VIPs of Class A and Class C, earning 300 class points and 3 million personal points.
Why didn't Hori do that, instead of gathering everyone here?
"Yeah!"
"Why not answer?"
"Nanaya-kun!"
The students of Class D also thought of this, urgently asking.
Especially Yukimura Teruhiko, who, knowing that Hori could have won so much yet didn't, now revealing the list, was extremely anxious.
Even Kushida Kikyou and Hirata Yousuke had strange expressions, clearly astonished by Hori's choice to forgo an easy victory.
But Hori had to do this.
"Even if we win the groups of the six VIPs from Class A and Class C, earning 300 class points and 3 million personal points, you would guess the VIPs of Class B and Class D on the exam's last day, achieving the same points and tying with Class D."
Hori glanced at Ryuen Kakeru, still with a faint smile.
"In that case, A and B classes would both lose 150 class points, while Classes C and D would each gain 150 class points and 3 million personal points, which is not a total victory."
This was the reason, apart from his disinterest in class competition, that Hori didn't reveal the list directly.
Just as Ryuen Kakeru saw Hori as a major adversary, Hori, though not seeing Ryuen as an opponent, did not underestimate him and accurately assessed his capability.
So, Hori believed Ryuen Kakeru would surely catch up and get the list of all VIPs, sharing the victory.
In that case...
"Rather than let the enemy catch up and harm our ally, I might as well take all the benefits myself."
Hori declared to everyone present.
"I want everyone here to answer, guessing all the VIPs, forgoing class points and gaining the maximum personal points!"
Hori's words shocked all the students.
"If Katsuragi's strategy is ultimate defense, then I'll use ultimate offense!"
"If Class A wants all the VIPs to win, then I'll make them all lose!"
"Every group reaching Result Two?"
"No!"
"My goal is for every group to reach Result One!"
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