Uesugi Gen Wins!

Sakayanagi Narimori took the phone and began looking through it in silence.

The office fell into a long silence.

The more Sakayanagi Narimori read, the more astonished he became.

The information was so comprehensive that even most third-year students couldn't compare.

After a long while, Sakayanagi Narimori finished reading the intelligence and said admiringly,

"Your ability to gather information is truly impressive."

Uesugi Gen waved a hand.

"After all, the school left far too many openings."

Then Uesugi Gen's smile faded. He straightened up and looked Sakayanagi Narimori in the eye.

"However, that's not the real reason I wanted to meet with you."

Before Sakayanagi Narimori could speak,

"Points."

Uesugi Gen's gaze sharpened at once as he finally bared his fangs.

"Points—the things said to be able to buy anything. That's the real reason I came."

"Points? The school has never directly traded points with a student before."

Hearing the boy's true purpose, Sakayanagi Narimori took off his glasses and rubbed his temples, looking rather troubled.

"Since you've gathered information to this extent, you should also know that you can obtain points by trading with other classes, right?"

"Of course I know about that. I did consider using this information to trade with other classes in exchange for points, but I think the school would make a better trading partner."

Uesugi Gen crossed his hands in a pose like Commander Ikari. His tone brimmed with confidence as he explained to Sakayanagi Narimori why he'd chosen this approach.

"In my view, the school started this exam for three reasons:

First, to comprehensively evaluate the value of the new students who enrolled this year.

Second, to reduce each class's Class Points to some extent and recover points. After all, the school has to answer to its superiors. It can't keep handing out large amounts of points without taking any back. It has to consider balancing its points budget.

Third, to use this Special Exam to give the new students an initial understanding of the school's rules and its harsh nature, encouraging them to grow.

So, since my goal is points and the school's goal is to recover points, why not go to the school from the start?

If I tried to recover them myself, I might run into all kinds of unpredictable factors.

For example, some classes might not believe there's a Special Exam at all. I could face fierce resistance, and things might end in mutual destruction. There's even a chance I'd end up collecting not a single point.

But the school doesn't need to worry about any of that. It can deduct points directly from each class at the source, and students are powerless to resist the school's rules.

More importantly, if I released the information on the first day, the school's test would fail to achieve the results it wanted. By giving the points directly to me, the school can achieve Results One and Three.

If the school is going to pay out points either way, giving them directly to me is clearly more advantageous for the school.

If the school refuses, I can still trade with the other classes and achieve the same result.

But then the Special Exam the school prepared would have been a waste of effort, and all the sunk costs in manpower and resources would have gone to waste.

So this plan is a win-win for both sides.

As for how many points you'll give me, I'm sure the school has its own considerations."

After delivering that long speech in one go, Uesugi Gen gulped down some tea, nearly running out of breath.

Uesugi Gen felt as if he'd just said everything he'd need to say over the next two days.

Sakayanagi Narimori was silent for a long while after hearing him, then absentmindedly took a small sip of tea.

Indeed, it was a reason impossible to refuse. The school had no way to counter this plan.

After all, every action the student had taken fell within the bounds of the school's rules.

Even the school, the very party that had set the rules, hadn't expected a student to crack them so thoroughly in less than a day, then use them perfectly to turn the tables on the school.

"This trade involves a substantial number of points. I'll have to discuss it with the board of trustees before I can make a decision."

Sakayanagi Narimori sighed heavily and spoke to Uesugi Gen with resignation.

"Of course. As long as you're willing."

Uesugi Gen spread his hands, as if to say they could take as long as they wanted.

The office door slammed shut.

Uesugi Gen was left alone in the vast office.

As the footsteps gradually receded, Uesugi Gen turned his attention back to the intelligence he'd brought.

In fact, there were other benefits to trading with the school.

If he released the Special Exam details to the other classes, Classes C and D could respond in advance and earn far more Class Points, greatly narrowing the gap with Classes A and B.

Classes A and B, whose students generally had stronger abilities, already had an advantage in this exam. But that also meant they had less room to improve.

So, the best outcome would actually be to leave things as they were and get something for nothing.

A win-win. I win twice. (serious face)

...Scene break...

In a secret room at Advanced Nurturing High School, an emergency board meeting was underway.

Cameras covered the entire school, so of course there were cameras in the Chairman's Office at Advanced Nurturing High School as well.

After watching the video provided by Sakayanagi Narimori and understanding the details of the deal Uesugi Gen had proposed, the trustees present fell briefly silent.

A moment later, Sakayanagi Narimori spoke first.

"Then, do the trustees agree to the deal proposed by this student?"

"I disagree. Advanced Nurturing High School has never set a precedent of being threatened by a student. I don't agree to this deal."

"I agree. Everything the student did was within the bounds of the rules, and we have no way to restrain him using the school's rules. The proposed deal is reasonable and extremely beneficial to the school."

"I agree. Ultimately, this outcome was caused by the school's failure to consider everything carefully when setting the rules. We can't stifle a student's talent just because he's too capable."

"Agreed."

"Agreed."

"Then I hereby announce that the deal proposed by student Uesugi Gen has passed the vote. The deal is approved."

[Name: Uesugi Gen]

[Class: Class 1-B]

[Student ID: S01T004521]

[Affiliation: Student Council]

[Birthday: January 28]

[Academic Ability: B-]

[Intelligence: A+]

[Judgment: A+]

[Physical Ability: C]

[Cooperation: B+]

[School Evaluation: On his first day, he saw through most of the school's rules and made the choice most beneficial to himself and his class. He possesses unparalleled intelligence and judgment, and is capable of considering problems from the school's perspective. He has the potential to become a leader, so we recommend that he join the Student Council in the hope that he will continue to grow. In addition, after discussion, the board of trustees believes that, given the potential he has demonstrated so far, it would be a great loss to the school if he did not graduate from Class A. Therefore, the board approved a XXXXXXX (confidential) deal with him.]

Please vote and add to your collections. Thank you, dear readers!

Chapter 6: Uesugi Gen Wins!

Shibata: [Uesugi, Keyaki Mall, third floor, KTV, Room 02. Get here ASAP. You're the only one in our class who hasn't arrived.]

???

Wow, what a guy. I really am something else.

So much for being sociable. Everyone went except me?

You're not telling me they went because they were afraid of Ichinose, are you?

And isn't this bullying? This has to be bullying.

Ding!

Another message came in, this one from Kanzaki.

[Uesugi, where are you? Get to Keyaki Mall ASAP.]

Kanzaki, I'm out here fighting for Class B's future all by myself. How could I go and get drunk with you all?

Then,

Uesugi Gen sent a reply saying he'd be there soon.

As if I'd stay away and watch Class B fall into Ichinose's clutches.

Click!

The Chairman's Office door opened again, and its actual owner, Sakayanagi Narimori, returned.

"Sorry to have kept you waiting so long."

Sakayanagi Narimori returned to his seat, his voice tinged with fatigue.

"So, how did it go, Chairman?"

Uesugi Gen poured Sakayanagi Narimori a cup of tea and asked with interest.

Sakayanagi Narimori took a sip of tea and rested for a moment before answering Uesugi Gen.

"After discussion, the school has decided to award you 30 million personal points. Congratulations. Your outstanding performance has earned the school's recognition."

Thirty million personal points.

Uesugi Gen wasn't surprised by the figure.

Judging from the records of point deductions before and after the first-year Special Exams in previous years, even the class that lost the most points could keep at least 500 points if they learned the details of the Special Exam in advance.

Subtracting that from the original class point records gave an estimated total deduction of about 800 to 1,000 points from the first-years in the Special Exam.

Considering that first-years had hardly ever faced a Special Exam with deductions in the first semester, and that joint exams involving all three grades couldn't deduct a large number of points from the first-years alone,

It would take at least half a year to deduct all 1,000 points. Taking the number of students in each class into account, that came to roughly 20 to 30 million points.

"Thirty million points. The school's pretty generous. I thought 25 million would be the limit."

"At first, we did consider whether to award you 30 million personal points. But given the outstanding judgment and execution you demonstrated during this Special Exam, we decided to give you the extra five million as a personal reward."

"I see. Then I'd like to thank the school. If there's nothing else, I'll be on my way."

His original goal had been achieved. Uesugi Gen was ready to make a quick exit and stop Ichinose's scheme.

"Wait a moment."

Sakayanagi Narimori called out to Uesugi Gen just as he was getting up.

"Your deal has been concluded. Could it be that you want me to stay for tea?"

"Your deal is settled. Now, I'd like you to stay and hear the school's proposal."

"That's interesting. I don't think there's anything left for the school to want from me."

Sakayanagi Morishiro considered this for a moment, then began.

"After discussion, the board of trustees has decided to invite you to join the Student Council at Advanced Nurturing High School as vice president."

Sakayanagi Narimori looked at the handsome student before him. Ever since Advanced Nurturing was founded, no student had ever been like this one: he could step outside a student's way of thinking and look at problems from the school's perspective. Without a doubt, Advanced Nurturing High School needed talent like him.

"So, what is the school prepared to offer me in exchange for joining the Student Council?"

In the office, Uesugi Gen tapped his fingers rhythmically on the desk and asked with interest.