Sorry, I Can't See Clearly.

On the podium.

Dragon Garden wore a cold expression.

Many people assumed he lacked a brain and only knew how to use violence.

However, in reality, Dragon Garden not only had a brain, but it was also quite sharp.

Even if one didn't know about balancing favors and threats, almost everyone had heard of the "carrot and stick" approach; Dragon Garden was naturally well-versed in such basic methods of management.

It was just that.

He preferred the "stick and carrot" approach.

The benefit of this was that it made his subordinates understand that his favors were not so easily obtained, instilling a sense of awe in them.

"Orders?"

Upon hearing Dragon Garden's words, Kaneda, sitting in the front row, shook his head dismissively and looked up to meet Dragon Garden's gaze.

"Ridiculous. Who do you think you are? Do you think you're so impressive just because you figured out a few school rules?"

"Self-righteous!"

Kaneda sneered and pushed up his glasses.

"I figured out this problem a long time ago. Furthermore, I can tell you that our status is that of students; the 'ability' the school refers to must certainly be our academic grades and daily discipline."

"Most of these things will affect our personal points for next month."

After finishing, Kaneda shook his head with disdain.

He had seen through these things long ago.

However.

Why would he tell anyone else?

As long as he performed well, he would receive more personal points next month.

What did the lives of others have to do with him?

It was only because he saw Dragon Garden's self-righteous display of petty cleverness that Kaneda found it laughable enough to step in and slap him down.

Smack!

A crisp sound of a slap rang out.

Kaneda's head jerked to the side uncontrollably, his face burning with pain.

Huh?

He had been hit?

"You..."

Kaneda stood up abruptly.

One hand covered his struck cheek, while the other pointed at Dragon Garden before him:

"You... you... you hit me..."

Kaneda's face was full of shock.

It was as if he still couldn't comprehend how this little punk dared to hit him.

Ishizaki and a few other boys also stood up instantly, unable to believe that Dragon Garden would actually resort to violence, though they found it difficult to intervene while the teacher was still watching.

Smack.

Another slap rang out.

Kaneda clutched his cheek, finally snapping back to reality, and hurriedly looked toward the homeroom teacher, Sakagami, standing nearby.

"Teacher Sakagami, he... he... he hit me!"

"..."

Just then.

Kazuma Sakagami took off his glasses, pulled a lens cloth from his breast pocket, and began to wipe the lenses.

"Hmm? What's wrong? Hitting? What hitting? You'll have to wait a moment, I can't see clearly."

"???"

Kaneda was instantly stunned.

What the hell?

He was clearly the one who got hit first, and this teacher only just took off his glasses now, didn't he?

How could he not see clearly?

Right.

This must be a very irresponsible teacher.

Kaneda Middle School had seen teachers like this before; they were generally cowardly and would ignore those bullying students for fear of getting into trouble themselves.

"Heh."

Thinking of this, Kaneda laughed in extreme anger.

Forget it.

There were indeed many teachers like this.

But back in middle school, no one had ever dared to bully him, all because his academic grades were excellent.

To a student.

Academic grades were justice!

No matter how cowardly a teacher was, they could never ignore a student with good grades; after all, it related to their bonuses.

Therefore.

Those low-life thugs didn't dare to bully a top student like him.

This teacher Sakagami before him.

Must have forgotten his grades!

"Teacher Sakagami... in this entrance exam, I was tenth in the grade. If I hadn't been in poor form, top five would have been possible."

Kaneda puffed out his chest and glanced at Dragon Garden triumphantly.

Who did that low-life think he was hitting?

He was the top student of the class and second in the grade!

Dragon Garden was going to have a rough time in a moment!

However.

"Mm, I know. Student Kaneda was always first in the grade in middle school. Very good."

Saying this with his mouth, Kazuma Sakagami was still wiping his glasses. Anyway, I can't see, the question is whether Dragon Garden can resolve this.

Slap.

Another crisp sound of a slap rang out.

Dragon Garden slapped Kaneda across the face and said coldly:

"Idiot, if you could think of all that, why didn't you think more about the significance of us being assigned to the same class?"

"Uh?"

Kaneda covered his cheek and froze for a moment.

A school is composed of classes; isn't that just the natural order of things?

"Use that pig-like brain of yours and think hard."

Dragon Garden sneered: "100,000 per person per month, the school builds an island, an annual expenditure of nearly 600 million, just to let you study in peace?"

"..."

Kaneda covered his face and did not respond.

If it were just to be a good student and study, any school outside could offer that.

"Since the school emphasizes ability, it must be related to competition. If it were the internal class competition you imagined, would there be any need for the school to hide the rules?"

"It must be competition between classes!"

Saying this, Dragon Garden walked up to Kazuma Sakagami, hands in his pockets, observing the homeroom teacher's expression.

"If I'm not mistaken, the propaganda about a 100% employment rate and dedicated support for students to achieve their dreams must have some requirements, right? Sakagami?"

"I cannot disclose that at this time."

Sakagami revealed a satisfied smile and put on his glasses.

Actually, that was equivalent to an answer; there must be requirements to get the school to help them achieve their dreams.

"How about it, top student."

Dragon Garden returned to Kaneda's side satisfied, draped an arm over his shoulder, and leaned down.

His tone was somewhat mocking:

"It seems not everyone can achieve their dreams. From the perspective of Sakagami ignoring you, he doesn't seem to want you to make a scene either."

"Using your conjecture, ability must be related to things like academic grades and disciplinary performance. If a violent incident occurs, it will likely affect everyone's dreams."

"You wouldn't want to be the reason all of us suffer, would you?"

"..."

Kaneda's face flushed a deep, stifled red.

He knew he couldn't win a fight, and even if he were beaten, he had no way to vent his frustration.

It was too humiliating.

However.

Reason told him that Ryuen was likely right.

Sakagami did not want him to blow this matter out of proportion.

This incident was most likely related to the "freedom of career choice" promoted by the school.

He didn't give a damn about anyone else's dreams, but Kaneda still hoped to use the resources of this school to get into Todai Science III.

After some thought.

With a flushed face, Kaneda decided to be the bigger man and let it slide.

On the other side.

By the window in the back of the classroom.

Prince Ganlongdao, who had been feigning sleep, was somewhat surprised.

By observing the entire class in secret, one could discern many things.

Setting Kaneda aside for the moment.

Ryuen seemed to be more useful than he had imagined.

In truth.

Based on the available intelligence.

Ryuen could not be certain that the freedom of career choice was related to class competition.

He had simply made the judgment of class competition himself, then asked Sakagami a question that was likely impossible to answer, creating the illusion for Kaneda that the class competition was tied to his dreams.

Of course.

Prince Ganlongdao's judgment was the same as Ryuen's.

If one only wanted to be a good student.

With so many expenses, hiring a private tutor would be more cost-effective than this school, so there must certainly be some form of special competition.

"Alright."

Ryuen patted Kaneda on the shoulder, equally unwilling to bicker with such a nerd.

He turned to look at the others and said coldly.

"You all heard what we just said. If you don't want to suffer, you'll listen to me from now on. I'll be the one leading you bunch of losers, understand?"

"Damn it!"

Hearing this.

The people below were instantly enraged.

Ryuen was clearly trying to provoke them on purpose, yet Ryuen was indeed doing it intentionally; he also needed to filter out some useful pawns.

Seeing this.

Prince Ganlongdao naturally chose to wait for the opportune moment, intending to simply pocket the fruits of Ryuen's labor in the end.

As for how to take them?

For him, that was truly as simple as could be.