Might as Well Play for Higher Stakes

"Dongfang-kun, is there anything else?"

Although Sakayanagi Arisu wanted to dismiss him after just finishing the assignment, she still had to put on a patient facade and listen carefully.

"It's like this, Your Highness. I believe our plan still has some room for improvement."

A sharp glint flashed in Dongfang Yi's eyes; he intended to turn up the heat on the White-Haired Loli.

No one in this world gets a free ride from me, Dongfang Yi—no one!

You actually dare to question me?

The arrogant loli was displeased, but after all, he was a newly recruited subordinate who had accepted his tasks so readily. If she really showed a terrible attitude...

It wouldn't be a good look for her leadership!

"Does Dongfang-kun have any ideas?" the White-Haired Loli asked calmly, leaning on her cane.

"Your Highness, I believe that the efficiency of passively acquiring information is far too low, and there is no guarantee that we will obtain effective intelligence." Dongfang Yi began to dig his pit: "Therefore, I think we should take the initiative."

"Take the initiative?" Kamuro Masumi, standing to the side, was somewhat curious.

Although she had a gut feeling that Dongfang Yi was the type who wouldn't suffer a loss, she truly didn't know what kind of medicine he was selling in his gourd at this moment.

"Exactly, take the initiative." Dongfang Yi gave a thumbs-up to his dear straight man: "We can proactively cultivate informants in other classes and have them provide relevant information at regular intervals."

"Cultivate informants?" Sakayanagi Arisu was noncommittal: "I have indeed considered this plan, but the cost of changing classes is extremely high. Dongfang-kun, can you guarantee that the information obtained will be accurate?"

"Your Highness, I believe that even flowers in a mirror or the moon in the water must be based on reality." Dongfang Yi stared into her eyes: "Even the most convincing lie is nothing more than a reflection of the truth."

"Oh, you seem... quite confident that you won't be deceived?"

"Cough, Your Highness has misunderstood. My meaning is that we can recruit several people within a single class, ensure their information is not shared between them, and use the intelligence they provide to cross-verify each other." Dongfang Yi continued to dig: "I believe that with Your Highness's wisdom, you will easily see through the clumsy lies of any traitor and deduce the truth of the matter."

"In this way, everything happening in other classes will have nowhere to hide from our eyes."

"Not bad, this indeed has the possibility of success."

Sakayanagi Arisu highly approved of Dongfang Yi's line of thinking; in her arrogance, she was confident she could see through any lie.

It was the same logic as a man never admitting he isn't capable.

Having thoroughly read the original work, Dongfang Yi had long since seen through the essence of her arrogance, so he only needed to lift the White-Haired Loli up high, and she wouldn't refuse.

But Sakayanagi Arisu clearly wouldn't take the bait so easily.

She asked, as if testing a subordinate: "Then, has Dongfang-kun thought about how to make students from other classes willingly provide information at fixed times?"

"Your Highness, although the school's theme is competition between classes, the internal structures of other classes are not yet ironclad."

Dongfang Yi spoke eloquently: "The demands of students are not necessarily the same as those of their class, so betraying the class for personal gain is entirely possible. For example, they might betray their class for friends or lovers in other classes, sell intelligence for points or due to threats, or seek outside help because of internal class conflicts, among many other types."

"As long as we formulate strategies targeting specific individuals and supplement them with intimidation, we can always find their leverage and keep them working for us." Dongfang Yi instigated viciously.

Is this guy actually such a ruthless character?

Kamuro Masumi felt she had unlocked the fourth form of Dongfang Yi today.

Sigh, I should have bought a portable recorder.

"Dongfang-kun, what you said is indeed feasible." Sakayanagi Arisu was very approving: "However, without a perfect plan, implementation is out of the question."

Does the gossip you asked me to listen to count as a perfect plan?

Dongfang Yi's eye twitched, and the internal complaints in his heart flowed like a surging river.

If you think this book is good, please remember to add it to your bookshelf so you don't lose it next time.

However, the current situation was still within his expectations.

He nodded and began to place bait in the pit: "That is true. Therefore, I hope Your Highness will give me a chance to prove myself."

No way, are you actually going to do it?

Kamuro felt that it would have been better if this guy hadn't stayed behind!

Wouldn't it have been enough to just report some trivial news?

He's just piling trouble onto himself!

"Oh? You are quite confident."

Sakayanagi Arisu was unimpressed, mocking Dongfang Yi's naivety in her heart.

Developing moles is something that can be done, but it is absolutely impossible to achieve in the first year.

Because at this time, nothing is settled and the endgame is not yet visible; every class has the potential to graduate as Class A, and no normal person would betray their class for a small profit and bear the risk of being condemned by everyone.

Even if the person in front of her used his looks, it would be absolutely impossible.

She asserted this to herself.

But on the surface, the young girl was still quite tolerant of her new subordinate; at the very least, she did not directly interrupt Dongfang Yi's words and still allowed him to elaborate on his ideas.

"Your Highness, I do indeed have considerable confidence that I can accomplish this."

Dongfang Yi threw out his trump card, his expression firm and determined: "How about this: within two months, I will target Class D of the first year, infiltrate their class, plant a mole by finding a collaborator, and obtain all activity information regarding the class's top students."

"At that time, whether I succeed or fail will be clear at a glance. Your Highness, I have an eighty percent certainty that I will not fail your expectations."

"You really have a lot of courage, Dongfang."

Kamuro Masumi remarked with admiration. She felt that this guy was truly unfathomable, yet she inexplicably had a sense of confidence in him.

Dongfang Yi couldn't possibly be an idiot who gets hot-headed just because someone said a few words to him. This was what her intuition told her.

Right, it was impossible, unless he was a... lolicon?

Uh... that confidence just suddenly vanished.

On the other side, Sakayanagi Arisu was deeply tempted by Dongfang Yi's proposal; after all, that was her original goal to begin with.

But at the same time, she felt a sense of vigilance.

To her, the danger level of a guy who could be easily fooled at any time was clearly not in the same league as a guy who could see through her true inner thoughts.

If he really were the latter... then things would get interesting.

"Dongfang-kun, why did you choose Class D out of the three classes?" She narrowed her eyes, becoming slightly more serious as she began to probe.

"Uh... this..."

Dongfang Yi seemed to be choked up. His face was full of shame and awkwardness as he turned his head away and started whistling, "The wind in the sky is really strong today."

Kamuro Masumi looked at him with some surprise.

Although the wind outside was indeed very strong right now, isn't it a bit too late to use that as an excuse?

Finally, under the gaze of the two, Dongfang Yi seemed to be unable to hold out any longer. He gave a light cough and whispered an explanation: "Because... Class D... might... be the weakest, perhaps, it's a bit easier to handle."

So you don't even have confidence in yourself, then. Kamuro retorted in her heart.