Katsuragi's Caution?

"I think Ryuen's plan is pretty good. If it goes smoothly, we can get more Private Points."

"Yeah, so this guy's a brainy type? I never would have guessed."

Just as the students were discussing, Shiina Hiyori walked up to the short-haired girl. As the current class leader and strategist, they had a very good relationship and often discussed how to better help the class.

"Shiina, what do you think of this guy's plan?"

"That's really impressive. If we can make it through smoothly, we might actually get a lot of points." The gray-haired girl nodded, but then she thought of another problem.

"However, I think Ryuen has overlooked one point, which may pose a certain risk."

"Oh, I don't know what you're talking about?"

Ryuen Kakeru knew that Shiina Hiyori was very intelligent, so he wanted to hear her thoughts.

"According to Ryuen's plan, in order to ensure the smooth completion of our plan, Ryuen needs to infiltrate the island to grasp the overall situation, contact the selected undercover agent, and finally, you will be responsible for guessing the leaders of each class. Is that correct?"

"Yes."

"To ensure that the names of our class leaders remain confidential, the best approach is for Ryuen to hold the Key Card as the leader, but... what if Ryuen gets discovered?"

As a frequent reader of mystery novels, Shiina Hiyori thinks quite rigorously. "Although you can move around the island without restriction, you can't completely guarantee that you won't be discovered, right? After all, there are always exceptions."

"Once Ryuen's whereabouts are noticed, our lie will be exposed instantly, and then a very fatal problem will follow."

Shiina Hiyori slowly uttered a sentence to everyone. "If someone discovers you, their first reaction will be that our class hasn't really given up on the exam, and they will further guess that you are the leader."

"Isn't that a reasonable deduction, Ryuen?"

"..."

When Shiina Hiyori uttered this analysis, Ryuen Kakeru's expression changed instantly.

Indeed, when he first conceived the plan, it was based on the premise that he would not be discovered, but now that Shiina has pointed it out, this perspective is quite valuable.

Although the Artificial Island looks very large, both of his original plans involved contact with people.

Whether it's a deal with Class B or contacting undercover members, I need to be present. If someone recognizes the undercover agent and follows me, there's a certain risk of being exposed.

After listening to Shiina Hiyori's analysis, Ibuki glanced at the girl's expression and immediately addressed everyone.

"If that's the case, then I have another idea."

"What are your thoughts?" Ryuen raised an eyebrow.

"I'll stay on the island and lie low," Ibuki Mio's eyes gleamed with determination. This was the answer she came up with on the spot. "If the Key Card can't be given to the undercover members, then I'll keep it."

"If we all stay on the island, even if our whereabouts are eventually discovered, we can keep things from getting out of hand. After all, one more person means more uncertainty, and the other side won't be so sure that they can guess who our class leader is."

Ibuki mentally outlined her plan. If she were to actually carry out this plan, she absolutely had to help her class increase their chances of winning.

And if this guy dares to live alone on the island, why can't I?

Because she has always had a strong, competitive attitude towards men since childhood, the short-haired girl has always maintained a regular exercise routine. She is in excellent physical condition, and Ibuki believes she can survive on the island for only seven days.

"I see. That's indeed a very good plan, but do you think you can actually do it?" Ryuen's face showed a hint of disdain. "This isn't camping, Ibuki."

"Don't forget I'm the class leader. If you can do it, why can't I?"

"Since this plan is truly beneficial to the class, I will also carry out my plan and help the class win!" Ibuki Mio's attitude was very firm.

"..."

Seeing the other person's expression, Ryuen remained silent for a moment before saying, "Then it's up to you. I'm not going to be your babysitter."

"Now... let's choose the undercover agent."

-

Meanwhile, in the dense forest, Hashiba Hikaru Hajime led the two girls over various obstacles along the way, following a man-made path toward the location he had discovered.

"How are you doing, Ichinose, Ando -san? Can you still keep going?"

The boy turned his head away; as a male member of the team, he naturally needed to pay attention to his teammates' condition at all times.

"It's okay, I'm not too tired yet, so don't worry about me, Classmate Hashiba." A few drops of sweat trickled down the pink-haired girl's forehead. Her athletic ability was quite good, so she didn't show any signs of discomfort.

"I'm fine, this distance can't make me give in!" Ando Sayo's little face showed a funny but determined expression, finding joy in hardship.

After confirming that the two were in good condition, Hashiba Hikaru nodded slightly, and the trio continued walking forward.

As Artificial Island developed by the university, the resources and zoning on it are actually quite clear.

Forests and hillsides, lakes and streams—the various natural landscapes may seem unconnected at first glance, but a deeper exploration reveals numerous traces of human intervention. Perhaps this is to prevent staff from getting lost?

However, these people should all have very detailed maps.

After walking for more than ten minutes, with their thoughts constantly jumping around, Hashiba Hikaru Ichinose Honami, and Ando Sayo finally saw a bright light ahead. Passing through the bushes covered with vegetation, they saw what appeared to be an open space.

"It looks like an open space, and then... a cave?" The group all took notice of what was ahead.

"It seems we need to go inside the cave to confirm if this is indeed our base." Ichinose Honami wiped the sweat from her brow.

But just then, two figures, one tall and one short, suddenly emerged from the cave entrance.

"Quick, hide!"

Hashiba Hikaru quickly lowered her voice and dragged the two girls to crouch down in the bushes behind them.

Using the gaps in the dappled trees as cover, the three men peered forward, and soon spotted a rather conspicuous bald head.

"Katsuragi?"

Chapter 150 Cautious Katsuragi?

Hashiba Hikaru, Ichinose Honami, and Ando Sayo crouched together in the bushes, peering out through the dappled gaps. They clearly spotted the two figures standing outside the cave entrance not far away.

The bald man is none other than Katsuragi Kohei, one of the current leaders of Class B, while the boy standing behind him is his follower Totsuka Yahiko.

Hashiba Hikaru and Ichinose Honami had spoken with them face-to-face before, so at this not-too-distant distance, Pi would definitely not mistake them. Moreover, he could even hear faint voices coming from the other side.

"Katsuragi, we're so lucky! We didn't expect to capture a stronghold so quickly."

"Luck?"

Katsuragi Kohei with a question, saying, "I actually discovered this place while I was on the ship, which is why I immediately brought everyone here."

"I see, Katsuragi is really amazing."

Instead of praising me, you should pay more attention to your words and actions, Yahiko.

Although Katsuragi Kohei was talking to Totsuka Yahiko, he wasn't looking at the other's face; instead, he was scanning the surroundings with his own eyes.

"There are too many hidden places in the forest. To prevent students from other classes from eavesdropping or watching, you must always avoid revealing your information. You need to be more careful with your speech."

"I see."

"As the current class leader, in addition to serving the class, I am also responsible for supervising everyone. Can you understand that?"

"I will concentrate, so please don't worry Katsuragi." Totsuka Yahiko nodded emphatically.

"In any case, now that the school has given us hints, we must work even harder to prepare for the exam and get more points."

Even after Katsuragi Kohei finished speaking, his gaze remained fixed on the bushes in front of him, and the trio hidden within could feel his gaze constantly shifting between them.

However, before setting off, Hashiba Hikaru had already emphasized this point to all the team members, so the tense situation did not affect their mindset. The three of them remained motionless after crouching down, without making a sound.

After Katsuragi Kohei had inspected the area for a few minutes, he called to Totsuka Yahiko nearby, and they returned to the cave together. Since this place had been taken over as their base, they had to make the most of it.

After seeing that the other person had completely disappeared, the three people slowly crawled out of the bushes.

"Phew, that was really something! Katsuragi kept looking this way, I was so afraid he'd come over." Ichinose Honami's pretty face was flushed, and she was breathing heavily, looking quite adorable.

"Is this Katsuragi, the leader of Class B? He certainly has a unique aura." Ando Sayo had been on tenterhooks, nervously hiding herself, and she was crouching down at an even lower angle, with what looked like a small piece of wood stuck to her hair.

"And... you all saw it, didn't you?"

The trio overheard almost every word of Katsuragi Kohei and Totsuka Yahiko's conversation, and more importantly, an even more crucial piece of information was revealed.

He was holding a bright green card in his hand when he was speaking.

This is the Key Card that only the leader of each class possesses.

"Yes, Katsuragi just said he's the class leader and head of Class B, and he was even holding Key Card." Ichinose Honami gently removed the small piece of wood from Ando's hair, then continued, "Could he be the head of Class B?"

"Did they get results so quickly after gathering intelligence?" Ando also remembered what had just happened. She touched her hair and smiled slightly.

"Not necessarily. I've met Ichinose and Katsuragi several times. As one of the leaders currently vying for control of the class with Sakayanagi, his personality is more on the steady side."

Hashiba Hikaru stroked her chin and slowly analyzed to the two women, "Moreover, what she just did seemed deliberate. Taking out the Key Card and stating that she was the leader was a bit too blatant."

"So, what does Classmate Hashiba mean?" Ichinose Honami blinked. Having spent so much time with him, the girl could roughly guess what he was thinking.

"Of course we're just going in to take a look. The manual says that you can't use an occupied outpost without permission, but it's not against the rules for us to check the occupation status, is it?"

"I see, this is also part of intelligence gathering, and it also allows us to spy on their situation." Ando Sayo nodded, quickly understanding how to operate to maximize her benefits.

"Let's go in together then. I'll stand at the front, Ichinose and Ando can stand behind me." Hashiba Hikaru anticipated various possible scenarios and instructed the two girls, "As the class that has already occupied this stronghold, they will definitely not back down, and there might be a conflict."

"Oh no... they're not going to kick us out, are they?"

"Heh, since Katsuragi Kohei is a leader who follows a prudent strategy, he probably wouldn't do something so foolish," Hashiba Hikaru chuckled, then continued, "If he instigates the students in his class to use violence against us, that would be a violation of the rules."

"However, nothing is absolute, so everyone should stick close to me to guard against any unexpected situations."

"Yes, we understand."

The two girls nodded and then followed Hashiba Hikaru Hayaome into the cave. As a base set up by the school, the cave was probably naturally formed, but the interior must have been slightly modified to make it more convenient for students to store supplies.

After walking for a while inside the cave, the footsteps of the trio immediately alerted the students in Class B. Some of them had already spotted the unfamiliar figures entering.

"Please wait a moment!"

The one who spoke was a boy. After seeing Hashiba Hikaru and the two girls, he quickly stepped in front of the three of them and said with an unfriendly expression.

"This outpost has been captured by us; you cannot proceed any further."

"Don't get me wrong, we're not here to seize the point, we're just here to check the status of the stronghold."

Seeing the other person's expression, Hashiba Hikaru chuckled and said, "This doesn't violate the rules, you know. Are you planning to forcibly take away this right? That would be unreasonable."

"This..."

Just as the boy was hesitating, a large group of students walked out from behind him, led by Katsuragi Kohei.

"Hey, Katsuragi, good afternoon."

Upon seeing that serious-looking, square face, Hashiba Hikaru greeted him with a beaming smile.

"Classmate Hashiba?"

Katsuragi Kohei stood at the very front of the Class B students, while everyone else quickly lined up behind him, blocking the trio's view of what was happening behind them.

"And Ichinose, and one of your companions."

"Katsuragi, do you still remember me? It's an honor."

Although Ichinose Honami sensed the tense atmosphere, she felt safe because Hashiba Hikaru was by her side.

"What are you planning to do? This base has already been taken over by our class."

Although Katsuragi Kohei had previously invited Hashiba Hikaru and Ichinose Honami to form an alliance, things were no longer the same as when they first started school, so his hostile attitude was quite obvious.

"Of course we won't break the rules; occupying a stronghold is first-come, first-served, and we've accepted that fact."

Hashiba Hikaru observed the serious expression on Katsuragi's face, then suddenly changed the subject, saying, "But the rules don't say we can't come to check the occupation status of the outposts, do they?"

"Although you found the base first, words alone are not enough. If you want to prove that Class B has indeed occupied this place, you must let us see the base's machinery with our own eyes. Otherwise, what if you cheat us?"

Before Katsuragi could reply to the boy's words, Totsuka Yahiko very close to him, angrily retorted.

"What nonsense are you spouting? We've already taken over this place, that's an indisputable fact!"

"So, now that you've taken over this place, why can't you let us check the equipment?" Hashiba Hikaru shrugged helplessly. "You're all members of the higher-ranking classes, so I think you should all understand the importance of the rules, right?"

"Inspecting the equipment isn't against the rules, and we have no intention of taking over your base. Do you understand what I mean?"

"You..."

Totsuka Yahiko, who wanted to continue arguing, stopped speaking after Katsuragi, who was standing at the front, gave him a look to shut up.

"Classmate Hashiba, is your purpose simply to inspect the equipment?"

"Of course, I'll leave right after I've seen it; I definitely won't linger."

Hashiba Hikaru, still smiling, slowly said to him, "Everything we've done is in accordance with the rules. Could you please do us a favor, Katsuragi?"