Split Up and Act

For more than half the semester, Zhuge Linghao had tried countless times, but every incident, challenge, bet, or duel he initiated himself had never once triggered an option task!

Although Zhuge Linghao often shouted about taking the initiative to stir up trouble, he almost always had to rely on being passively dragged into an event to earn emotional points!

Consequently, Zhuge Linghao gradually began to entertain the idea of giving up; after all, the events always found him on their own anyway.

During another class break, Kushida informed Sudo that it would be best not to walk around these days to avoid causing more trouble.

She also mentioned that she had formed an intelligence squad with Hirata and the others to work together in gathering clues from witnesses.

After school, Kushida Kikyo and Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, who had been running around everywhere, sat sighing by the fountain, with Kushida "towing" two sycophants—Ike Kanji and Yamauchi Haruki—alongside her.

Kushida said helplessly, "We still haven't been able to find any clues from witnesses."

Yamauchi Haruki said wearily, "Could it be that Sudo and the others lied?"

Ike Kanji was also unsure, "Right? Or maybe not?"

Ayanokoji, with one hand on his hip, asked, "How are things on Hirata's end?"

Kushida glanced at her phone and said listlessly, "He messaged me back; it seems there hasn't been any progress there either."

The situation reached a stalemate, and no one had any further constructive suggestions.

Just then, Ichinose Honami stepped into range for conversation.

"Hello, Kushida, Ayanokoji-kun."

"I heard from people in my class—are you all investigating something?"

Kushida and Ayanokoji exchanged a look and decided to tell Ichinose what had happened.

Ichinose, being a good friend of Kushida, said, "Let us in Class B help look for clues too!"

Ayanokoji looked at Ichinose with a guarded expression.

"Don't worry, Class B won't cause any trouble. Besides, I still owe Zhuge a favor."

The four members of Class D looked at Ichinose with curiosity: What favor?

Before long, Kushida received a message from Ichinose, who asked them to meet her in front of the electronic screen at the track and field stadium.

And so, the group headed toward the track and field stadium.

Kushida asked as they walked, "Could Ichinose have found information so quickly?"

Ayanokoji said, "I'm not sure, but we'll know soon enough."

The group stopped in front of the electronic screen, and Yamauchi Haruki said, "Everyone, look! See what's written up there!"

"Witnesses to the violent incident that occurred at the special building after 6:00 PM on June 30, or anyone with information regarding the following individuals, please contact Kanzaki Ryuji of Class 1-B."

"Kushida, Ayanokoji, you're here." Ichinose smiled, accompanied by a purple-haired boy.

"This notice?"

"It was Kanzaki's idea! We also posted a request for information on the school's electronic bulletin board."

Ichinose picked up her phone and said, "We have news. One of the people who fought with Sudo and the others is named Ishizaki Daichi. He was a delinquent back in middle school, a skilled fighter, and notorious in the local area!"

"The other two are members of the basketball team. For the three of them to attack together and still be beaten to a pulp by Sudo and Zhuge—that clearly doesn't make sense."

Kanzaki Ryuji analyzed.

"Perhaps the three of them were beaten on purpose? If they intentionally set a trap to frame Sudo and the others, then the whole thing makes sense."

Ichinose thought so too.

She picked up her phone, intending to thank the informant, but because the person was anonymous, she didn't know how to transfer the points to them.

So, the kind-hearted Ayanokoji helped her with the process. During the operation, Ayanokoji saw the personal points displayed on her mobile terminal: 2,642,219 ppt!

Ayanokoji's pupils constricted: How does she possess so many personal points?

Student Council President's office.

Zhuge Linghao's phone chimed; it turned out that 8,000 points had arrived.

"Arigato, thank you for the information, President Nagumo! Here is the 3,000-point reward I promised you."

Nagumo Miyabi narrowed his eyes, his voice sounding inexplicably cold, "Interesting guy, Zhuge, is it? I just saw that notice; you made a net profit of 5,000 points."

Time turned back to when Ichinose was consulting with Kanzaki Ryuji on strategies for finding information, while Zhuge Linghao happened to be in his room, boredly browsing the campus news.

As luck would have it, he suddenly saw a notice offering a reward of 8,000 personal points!

So, Zhuge Linghao launched himself into action, sprinting directly to the Student Council President's office to find Nagumo Miyabi and complete the transaction—Zhuge Linghao used 3,000 points to purchase the information on the three Class C students provided by Nagumo Miyabi.

Having witnessed the entire process of Zhuge Linghao's maneuvering, Horikita Manabu smiled silently.

He adjusted his glasses and went straight to the point: "Zhuge, it's been two months, you seem to have grown stronger. By the way, how is Suzune doing?"

"You flatter me, President. I'm just an ordinary person; no matter how strong I get, I'm no match for a monster! As for Suzune-chan? Wouldn't it be better for you to see how she's doing with your own eyes?"

Zhuge Linghao pressed his palms together and said, "I have a favor to ask. For next week's disciplinary hearing, could I invite President Horikita to attend? There's a high probability that Suzune-chan will be there!"

"Hmm, I will consider it."

Returning to the dormitory building, Zhuge Linghao maintained a smug grin.

He had simply moved his lips, using information asymmetry and timing to earn some points, and he was feeling quite pleased with himself.

He walked to Ayanokoji's room with practiced ease.

Opening the door, he saw, as expected, the same familiar faces from the last celebration party.

Kushida spoke up: "Zhuge-kun, you're here. We were just about to start an information-sharing meeting."

Horikita Suzune, who had been acting alone, said coldly: "I'll give you people who have been busy for nothing with zero results a piece of important information: the witness is Sakura Airi from our class."

"Where did your information come from?"

"At the time, she was the only one in the whole class with her head down, and I saw with my own eyes that she ran out of the special building in a panic."

Kushida Kikyo said: "Oh, okay, then I'll call her and ask what's going on, shall I?"

At this moment, Sakura Airi was sitting in a dark room, opening her computer to look at the photos she had taken earlier: the chaotic scene of the five-person brawl.

Suddenly, the phone on her left started ringing.

After hesitating for a moment, she gently pressed the hang-up button.

In Ayanokoji's room.

Kushida Kikyo had made several calls, all of which were hung up by the other party.

Seeing this, Sudo, who was lying on the bed, punched his pillow and said: "Damn it, and we finally found a witness!"

Horikita Suzune reasoned calmly: "However, I don't think it would make much difference even if she did come forward. In the end, both sides would just stick to their own stories."

"Besides, have you noticed? Regardless of whether this incident was self-defense or not, that isn't the core of the issue. The real problem is..."

Kushida Kikyo asked in confusion: "What do you mean?"

Horikita Suzune stood up, opened the door, walked outside, and said coldly: "It's nothing. I'm heading back. Goodbye."

After Horikita left, Kushida Kikyo quietly leaned in toward Zhuge Linghao and asked with a cute, sweet expression: "Zhuge-kun, what do you think about what Horikita just said?"

"I think about it while lying down!"

"..."