Ryuen then laid out his Zero Point Tactic in full to Kaede.
Since Ibuki now belonged to the Kaede Faction, the strategy differed slightly from the original. And the Ryuen Faction had no shortage of people who could carry out the Ruse of Self-Injury in Class D.
Kaede nodded, then shook his head. "Attacking all three classes at once is risky. We could easily fall into the trap I just mentioned."
Ryuen Kakeru frowned and urged him on. "Tennoji, spell it out."
He continued, "Ryuen, do you remember Article Five of the special rules concerning the leaders?"
"Five: A leader cannot be replaced without a valid reason."
"...You mean!?"
Kaede raised an eyebrow. "We can't ignore the possibility that another class might take advantage of this rule."
In the original story, only Ayanokōji from Class D had figured out the true meaning of the Rule of Changing People.
Ryuen fell into thought.
If leaders could be replaced, then the strategy behind his Zero Point Tactic was far less reliable than it appeared...
"As you can see, the other classes might not figure this out."
"But what if, after we finish guessing each class's leader on the morning of the seventh day, our opponents replace theirs on the night of the sixth? One wrong guess, and we lose everything."
Ryuen licked his lips, starting to find this interesting.
He knew Tennoji likely had a path to victory that was even more reliable, but he still thought his own Zero Point Tactic could work. Still, to be safe...
"Let's hear your idea."
"We keep carrying out the Zero Point Tactic."
At that, Ryuen felt much more at ease.
But, just as he'd expected, there was more.
Kaede smiled. "However, Ryuen, give me some of the chips you're holding."
"You want to..."
Ryuen recalled the differences in their respective attack plans that they'd just discussed.
Kaede nodded. "To win big in this Deserted Island Exam, we have to understand the leaders' replacement strategy."
"After that, the key is to turn those 300 uncertain chips into guaranteed benefits of equal value later on."
Kaede's idea actually matched Ryuen's own.
"That way, it's like betting counterfeit money against other people's real cash. We can't lose."
"Class C can pursue both strategies at once. My plan is..."
Kaede then laid out his own plan to Ryuen in full.
"...Tennoji, you really are an interesting guy~ Since I'm the 'leader' of Class C, I don't mind letting you have a little more of an advantage!"
Kaede gave a cold laugh. "The question is, do you have the guts to do it? If you don't, I can do nothing at all and leave everything to you this time. It's not like we can lose anyway."
"Ha! Don't try those cheap tricks to provoke me... Now, let me enjoy myself!"
Unlike First Year Class C, which was conspiring at full force, Class D was still on the beach, bickering and quarreling over how to distribute the 300 points.
A petty disagreement over a toilet nearly reignited Class D's already fraught gender divide!
It almost brought everyone down with it, but Hirata Yousuke threw himself into the fray and managed to defuse the situation.
Besides an awkward, practically useless folding toilet, the initial supplies for the Deserted Island Exam included two tents that could sleep about sixteen people in total, two flashlights, and a box of matches.
Everyone got one toothbrush. Sunscreen and women's sanitary products were unlimited.
In fact, during the argument, the girls in Class D had even considered making the boys put up with it and just getting by with their unlimited supply of sanitary products...
Horikita stood with her arms crossed, watching the crowd argue noisily, but could do nothing to help.
"Horikita, what's wrong?" Ayanokōji asked obliquely.
Ever since they'd gathered on the cruise ship's deck, Horikita seemed to have been feeling unwell!
"...I'm fine."
Ayanokōji silently shook his head.
It seemed he'd have to push Horikita into the position of exam leader this time and let her suffer a little...
A short while later, Class D finally set out to look for a base. They also had to decide on the location of their Base Camp right away.
Besides the final-day contest of guessing the leaders, the exam also included daily points for checking in at designated locations.
There were dozens of locations on the Deserted Island.
The exam leader of each class had to personally use the Keycard bearing the leader's name to check in successfully.
Each location had to be checked in at again every eight hours. Each successful check-in earned one Class Point, called a Bonus Point.
For example, after they checked in at the display near a stream, it would show a message like "Class D, 8:00:00."
However, these additional check-in points could only be added to their final total after the exam was completely over.
The points they could use during the exam remained the 300 points fairly distributed at the start.
"We have eleven people..." Hirata asked loudly. "Anyone else want to join the search party?"
Ayanokōji was curious whether the island's layout matched what he'd seen during their earlier cruise, so he volunteered.
"Good. That makes Ayanokōji the last member. Can you team up with Kōenji and Kushida?"
Being paired with those two? Ayanokōji sighed at the hassle...
Not long after they set out, Kōenji was bounding from tree to tree like a monkey, and soon left the two of them behind.
After searching through the woods for a while, they spotted a cave-shaped location ahead.
Huh? Kōenji, Katsuragi from Class A, and two students from Class C—why were they all gathered together?
Kushida reacted quickly, instinctively crouching down in the grass to hide.
Ayanokōji, concealed behind a nearby tree, silently nodded. Kushida had good reflexes and judgment.
Perhaps this was her truest self.
"Oh my, oh my. Why are the four of you blocking my way? I've already said I have no interest whatsoever in the little secret inside the cave~"
Ayanokōji spotted what looked like a Keycard in Katsuragi's hand and put it together with the cave behind them.
It seemed Kōenji had stumbled upon Class A occupying a location?
Then why were Ryuen and that foreigner named Yamada there too?
Could Classes A and C have made a deal in advance?
Ayanokōji considered several possibilities and decided to keep watching...
"Katsuragi, looks like your luck's run out. This interesting monkey suddenly jumped out of the woods and spoiled your fun~"
"Red Haired Boy~ What you say is certainly interesting. I have absolutely no interest in what the 'leaders' of Classes A and C intend to do here~ May I pass?"
Ryuen gave a mocking laugh, but his eyes still radiated menace.
Katsuragi looked grim.
He hadn't expected Classes C and D to stumble upon such important information on the very first day of the exam...
When it came time to guess Class A's leader, wouldn't they only have to choose between Katsuragi and Tozuka?
Katsuragi thought it over. He had to secure an alliance with Ryuen.
Ideally, he'd obtain concrete proof of Class D's leader. That would give Class A a chance to turn things around...
The standoff outside the cave didn't last long. In the end, they could only choose to let Kōenji go.
Ryuen and Katsuragi exchanged glances, then left without lingering.
Ayanokōji confirmed one of his suspicions...
Afterward, he and Kushida went to check the cave location separately.
They found that Class A had indeed occupied it...
Before you continue