You guys think I'm an idiot, right?

Under Katsuragi's gaze.

The six members of Class C were divided into two 3v3 teams.

On one side, it was naturally Kaneda and Shiho Manabe, led by Prince Ganlongdao.

On the other side, it was Albert and Ishizaki, led by Dragon Garden.

The movements of Kaneda and Shiho Manabe clearly showed they didn't know how to play, while the three on the opposing side clearly had some experience.

Simply put.

It was Prince Ganlongdao playing against three people by himself.

Seeing the scene before him, Katsuragi frowned heavily.

Based on what Prince Ganlongdao had just said, he had brought his girlfriend here to play basketball.

Since that was the case.

He would surely want to please that girl and show off his powerful side.

If so.

He would have to ensure the team had a certain level of competitiveness; bringing two novices along seemed illogical no matter how you looked at it.

According to Katsuragi's deduction.

Prince Ganlongdao should have teamed up with Albert, with the two of them carrying Shiho Manabe, while Dragon Garden and Ishizaki took Kaneda.

Only a configuration like that would align with a normal person's way of thinking.

Since it didn't fit normal logic, it could only mean that the motives of Prince Ganlongdao and his group were questionable.

Unless he wasn't here to play basketball, but to find him and probe his strength.

Thinking of this.

"I'm really being underestimated, aren't I..."

Katsuragi chuckled softly.

Clearly.

He wasn't an idiot, and he understood the situation in an instant.

The other side was using this method to observe how he handled problems; he was obviously being looked down upon.

However.

Being underestimated wasn't necessarily a bad thing.

This way, he could also keep himself hidden while observing the opponents' reactions.

Yet.

The next second.

Katsuragi began to doubt his own judgment.

He saw.

Prince Ganlongdao, having taken the basketball from Shiho Manabe, dribbled it and squeezed into Albert's chest, forcing him to retreat continuously.

"Damn."

"Albert, are you just dead weight with a build that big?"

"..."

Albert's face showed pain; he truly had grievances he couldn't voice.

After all, they were guys.

Even if they were gathering intelligence, it didn't stop them from enjoying the fun of basketball.

When they heard the groupings, they had been somewhat reluctant.

After all.

Kaneda and Shiho Manabe were clearly just ornaments.

They hadn't intended to play seriously, but rather to split up and engage in 1v1s against Prince Ganlongdao.

But they hadn't expected.

Prince Ganlongdao's physique to be so monstrous.

Albert braced his legs against the ground, as if wrestling with a tank that kept moving forward; he couldn't stop him at all and was pushed directly into the paint.

Immediately, Prince Ganlongdao arrived under the basket and forcibly leaped up for a thunderous dunk, sending Albert crashing directly to the ground.

"Prince Brother, that was so cool."

Shiho Manabe high-fived Prince Ganlongdao to celebrate the score.

On the other side.

"Albert..."

Ryuen was genuinely amused: "I thought you were just mild-mannered and only knew how to use your body to shove people, but now I'm starting to wonder if you're actually trash, or if you're just sucking up and throwing the game?"

"It's not..."

Albert stammered, not knowing what to say, his gaze behind his sunglasses fixed on Prince Ganlongdao with a hint of confusion.

Two months ago.

He still had the qualifications to grapple with Prince Ganlongdao.

Even if Prince Ganlongdao wanted to beat him, he would have needed to use some leverage and technique.

But now...

The gap made even Albert doubt himself.

Was it that he was no longer qualified to stand before Prince Ganlongdao, or was it because he hadn't eaten enough for lunch?

"Don't give me that."

Prince Ganlongdao walked over, let out a scoff, and said:

"I told you three to come at me together and you didn't believe me. Ryuen, if you've got the guts, come up and try it yourself."

"Don't regret this."

Ryuen frowned, truly feeling a bit puzzled.

He didn't feel like Albert was the type to suck up to anyone, so how could the gap be this massive?

The three of them started the play again.

Relying on his physical prowess, Prince Ganlongdao forcibly pushed Albert, making him retreat continuously.

And right behind Albert, Ishizaki and Ryuen suddenly turned their heads, craning their necks and glaring at Prince Ganlongdao.

Ryuen was completely stunned.

From the last swimming class and regular PE classes, he knew this guy had strong physical attributes.

But he never imagined they were this strong.

It felt like a battering ram was constantly slamming into their bodies, forcing them backward step by step.

This isn't scientific!

How could a person's physical fitness be this strong?

It was truly beyond their comprehension.

Human bodies all have certain limits.

What Ryuen and the others didn't know was this.

After obtaining the power of the Demon Back, Prince Ganlongdao seemed to have unlocked his body's limiter.

In the past.

No matter how he trained, it was hard for his muscles to show any significant growth.

But now.

Even with the same training as before, his muscle strength was progressing as noticeably as someone just starting to work out.

In these past few days.

Although there was no visible change in his physique, he was already more than twice as strong as he had been at the start of the school year.

Among them.

Shiho Manabe felt this the most clearly.

Now, looking at Prince Ganlongdao, she was both infatuated and afraid, even hinting several times by asking what he thought of Saki Yamashita and the others.

On the other side.

Katsuragi stood with his arms crossed, beginning to doubt his own judgment.

He had originally thought Prince Ganlongdao and his group were looking for him, but now it felt more like they were putting on a show, with the group coordinating to deliberately act cool for that girl's benefit?

Such a thing.

It might work to fool laypeople and young girls like Shiho Manabe.

But trying to fool experts like them?

It was simply laughable.

Dribbling a ball while being pressed by three people.

And one of them was a giant like Albert?

Were they trying to treat him like a fool?

Who were they trying to bluff?

It was questionable whether even James could pull that off!

If this was the extent of Prince Ganlongdao's strength, Katsuragi felt there would be no need to compete in any future physical fitness events.

He had thought Prince Ganlongdao was truly showing his strength without reservation.

He hadn't expected it to be only at this level.

A pretentious actor with no substance.

He shook his head.

Katsuragi turned back to continue playing ball with his companions.

Although he was somewhat wary of Prince Ganlongdao's insight, his obsession with saving face and his penchant for showing off in front of girls were his weaknesses.

As long as one identified those weaknesses.

Dealing with Prince Ganlongdao wouldn't be difficult.

What's more.

He didn't need to deal with Prince Ganlongdao; he only needed to be on guard against him.

The only pity was.

Class A and Class C.

Class A wanted to maintain its class standing, and Class C could take the opportunity to climb higher.

They were classes that could have cooperated, naturally possessing a foundation for collaboration.

Unfortunately.

Seeing Prince Ganlongdao's performance.

Katsuragi had already judged that the other party was not a suitable partner for cooperation.

On the playground, The iron staircase timing rack.

For some reason.

The guys in school who liked to fight and cause trouble all loved to occupy this timing rack.

At this moment.

Prince Ganlongdao was sitting on the top step.

Dragon Garden and Kaneda were sitting on the second step, while Albert and Ishizaki stood on the third step, making the hierarchy quite clear...

Shiho Manabe sat beside Prince Ganlongdao, Having bought drinks and popsicles for the group, she looked down at the people below with a vague sense of superiority, her neck held high in arrogance; this person was truly too easy to understand and too easy to satisfy.

Materialism and vanity were flaws for ordinary people.

But for the wealthy, these were the most worry-free advantages.

Dragon Garden drank his beverage, having not the slightest interest in such a shallow woman:

"You've seen the person, how do you feel?"