The Era of the Great Guessing Game! Has Begun!

On a Saturday morning, warm sunlight filtered through veil-like clouds, spilling over the artificial island of Advanced Nurturing.

Golden light patches blanketed the lawn, and even the glass curtain walls of the school buildings reflected a soft halo. The air carried the crispness unique to early morning, mingled with the faint, fresh scent of grass and trees.

For those students in the school accustomed to self-discipline, such a weekend morning would never be wasted.

Boys in sportswear ran along the track, their footsteps rhythmic and powerful, while girls with school bags walked in twos and threes toward the library, eager to claim window seats to preview their lessons.

Other girls, having arranged to go shopping together, were already dressed up and gathered downstairs at the dorms, chatting away about their destination.

The campus gradually grew lively, with figures darting about everywhere, full of vibrant energy.

Yet, Room 501 in the first-year dormitory building remained wrapped in a silence that felt completely out of place with the outside world.

The room's lights were off, with only a few slivers of sunlight piercing through the gaps in the curtains, illuminating the scattered cushions on the floor and the empty water glasses by the table.

Akiyama Shin was slumped directly over the computer desk, his arms serving as a pillow for his chin. Strands of hair hung over his forehead, obscuring half an eye, his breathing steady and deep.

Clearly, the high-intensity mental labor of the previous night had exhausted all his energy; he didn't even have the strength to get up and return to his bed.

Horikita Suzune was also sitting on the floor, leaning against the edge of the bed with her head tilted slightly to one side. Her waist-length black hair cascaded like a waterfall over her shoulders and onto the floor. The braid woven with a white ribbon had come loose, the silk trailing over her arm. Her brows were slightly furrowed, as if she were contemplating a difficult problem even in her sleep, yet her lips were pressed tightly together, revealing her habitual stubbornness.

Kushida Kikyo appeared much more casual, lying on her side on the floor with her head resting on Horikita Suzune's lap.

Her golden-brown hair spread out, with some strands tangled against Horikita Suzune's fair thighs.

A faint flush graced her cheeks, and a shallow smile lingered on her lips. She seemed to be having a sweet dream, her breathing light and rhythmic, sleeping with exceptional peace.

The three of them slept in this slightly disheveled yet strangely tacit posture. They had spent the entire night working for that trivia scheme that was now stirring up the campus; at this moment, even their dreams were likely filled with shadows of code and rules.

Time slipped away quietly in their deep slumber. The sun outside the window climbed higher, moving from early morning to its zenith, and before they knew it, it was noon.

And in this short half-day, an invisible storm of information had swept across the entire campus at an astonishing speed.

The Campus Midterm Trivia Betting Site that Akiyama Shin had stayed up all night to build was like a giant boulder thrown into a calm lake, instantly whipping up towering waves.

More importantly, the sub-site creation permissions granted by the school carried an official aura. The publisher's information was completely hidden, leading the vast majority of students to subconsciously assume at first glance that this was an event launched by the school itself.

After all, who else but the school would have the capability to interface directly with the Student ID Card System and access student information?

The official campus forum was instantly flooded. Posts about the betting site sprang up like bamboo shoots after a rain, their popularity climbing steadily. The pinned hot post had already garnered over ten thousand views in just a few hours.

[Hot Post] Shocking! Is the school actually holding a midterm trivia contest? Is the ten-million-point prize pool for real?!

OP: As the title says! Just saw this on the campus network. The site looks super professional, and you can even log in and bet directly with your Student ID! Has anyone brave enough tried it yet? Looking for feedback!

Reply 1: I just logged in to check! The rules are a bit complex, but it feels super exciting! S-tier odds are x10; if you win, you're taking off immediately!

Reply 2: Would the school really do something like this? Doesn't feel very reliable...? How is this any different from gambling? Hasn't the school always banned such activities?

Reply 3: Don't be a contrarian, OP! It says "trivia betting"! And it uses points, not cash! How can that be considered gambling...? Plus, it interfaces with the Student ID Card System... it must be tacitly approved by the school!

Reply 4: What if it's a scam site?

What if the points you put in can't be retrieved? I don't want to be a sucker.

Reply 5: Please! The Student ID Card System is one of the school's core systems! Outsiders couldn't possibly hack it! Anyone who can interface with it directly is either the school administration or someone who has been granted school permissions. The security should be fine, right?

Reply 6: Already made a small test bet of 100 points! Bet on the first-year S-tier. Just treating it as a bit of fun; if I win, it's a huge profit, if I lose, it's just the price of a drink!

Reply 7: Haha, I'm in! Bet on the second-year A-tier. My brother is a second-year; he ranked 9th last time, so I'm following his lead for a bet!

Reply 8: Can any big shots compile a list of top students for each year? Besides Horikita Suzune, who else is strong in the first year? Who are the top-ranked students on the OAA System for the second year again?

Reply 9: I think the credibility is quite high. There's even an anti-spam mechanism in the rules. You can tell the person who made the site is a professional; it doesn't look like a scam thrown together by some random person.

[Discussion] Rational Analysis: Is this midterm betting site actually run by the school?

OP: I personally lean toward it being school-led! Or at least tacitly approved! Three reasons!

1. The permission level is too high! Being able to directly interface with the student database and pull class and name information for every grade to make it easy for everyone to lock in their bets—this isn't a permission an ordinary student could get!

2. The rule design is perfect! From betting tiers to prize pool distribution, and even anti-spam clauses, the logic is clear and well-considered! This is a product of careful deliberation, not a spur-of-the-moment idea!

3. The timing is too coincidental! It launched exactly two weeks before the midterm exams. It's highly likely the school wants to increase the fun of the exams this way, or... take the opportunity to recover some of the points held by students?

Reply 1: The OP's analysis makes sense, but I asked our homeroom teacher, and he said he had no idea about this event. If the school were running it, how could the teachers be in the dark?

Reply 2: Maybe it's being pushed directly by the school's upper management. No need to notify every homeroom teacher; after all, it's just a trivia event, not an official exam arrangement.

Reply 3: Regardless of whether it's the school or not, the temptation of a ten-million-point prize pool is too huge!

I've already prepared 500 points to test the waters. If I'm lucky enough to win, I won't have to worry about points for the rest of the month!

Reply 4: Could it be run by upperclassmen? After all, second years and above have the OAA System, can see rankings, and it's easier to rig the game?

The posts refreshed page after page. Some excitedly shared their betting strategies, while others cautiously analyzed the risks.

Others watched from the sidelines with a "just for fun" mentality, but there was no denying that the words "ten-million-point prize pool" precisely struck the gambler's instinct deep within everyone's heart.

For most students, a few hundred or a thousand points didn't mean much. Even if they lost, it would only affect a few extra meals or shopping trips. But if they were lucky enough to hit a high-odds option like the S-tier or A-tier, the return would be dozens or hundreds of times higher. Few people could truly resist the temptation of such high-stakes leverage.

Coupled with the site's own completeness—the ability to directly query basic information about students in each grade, making it easy to lock in targets—and the mysterious aura of the hidden publisher, it was compelling.

The timing of the launch, coinciding with the midterms, precisely captured the students' focus on exam rankings.

All of this caused the site's credibility to skyrocket, and more and more students set aside their concerns and began to place their bets.

The total betting volume on the platform was also quietly climbing, slowly rising from the initial few thousand points to tens of thousands, then hundreds of thousands.

Meanwhile, in a private room of an elegantly decorated cafe on campus, several core members of the Sakayanagi Faction from Class B were sitting together, the atmosphere quiet yet heavy with a sense of gravity.

The scent of black tea drifted through the room, and sunlight filtered through the blinds, casting mottled shadows across the table.

Hashimoto Masayoshi, his blonde hair tied into a short braid and his demeanor carrying a hint of roguish charm, was the first to break the silence. His eyes held a flicker of excitement as he looked toward Arisu Sakayanagi at the head of the table.

"Princess, what do you make of that betting website that suddenly popped up?"

"Could it be some new trick the school is pulling?"

Kito Hayato, with his deep blue hair and fierce expression, crossed his arms over his chest. His brow was tightly furrowed, his tone steady and resolute.

"I believe it is more likely to be the school. If it were the work of an upperclassman, there would have been plenty of opportunities to implement it before; there was no need to wait until now. Furthermore, ordinary students simply cannot obtain the authorization to build such a website, let alone interface with the student database."

Nishikawa Ryoko, wearing glasses and sporting twin braids, immediately nodded in agreement, her tone firm.

"Kito-kun is right; authorization is the key."

"The school has always strictly controlled the campus network. Being able to obtain sub-site creation privileges and interface with core systems is definitely not something an ordinary student could achieve."

Shiraishi Asuka, with her golden wavy hair and a somewhat dazed, cute appearance, fiddled with her straw. Her eyes were hesitant, and it was only after a long while that she added in a small voice.

"Um... didn't the homeroom teacher say before...? That points can buy any resource in the school..."

"So... the authorization to build a website... theoretically, could also be bought with points, right...?"

Her voice was small, yet clear.

"It's just that... to buy that level of authorization, the amount of points required would surely be very, very high. I'm afraid it's not something an average student could afford."

She usually appeared scatterbrained, but her remarks at critical moments always managed to hit the nail on the head.

Arisu Sakayanagi gently set down her teacup, her silver hair falling over her shoulder and obscuring part of her profile. A flash of imperceptible sharpness crossed her eyes, yet her lips remained curled in a gentle smile.

"Shiraishi-san's point is not without merit."

"Regardless of whether the publisher is the school or a student, this is indeed an interesting little game."

She paused, her gaze sweeping over those present, her tone remaining gentle yet carrying an unquestionable sense of authority.

"If any students in the class are interested, you may participate in moderation, just to relieve the tension before the exams. However, you must remain rational; it is strictly forbidden to risk large amounts of points."

"Understood, Princess!"

The group replied in unison, their tones respectful.

On the other side.

On a park bench, Masumi Kamuro and Ran Morishita were staring at their phone screens so intensely they might as well have been burning holes through them, their faces filled with anxiety.

Masumi Kamuro tossed her phone onto the bench, grabbed her long purple hair with both hands, and knitted her brows into a knot. She kicked at small pebbles on the ground unconsciously, her tone reaching the peak of irritation.

"Still not getting through!"

"What on earth is that guy Akiyama doing?! I've been calling since this morning... and the line just keeps ringing!"

From the moment she saw that betting website, she was certain it was the handiwork of Shin Akiyama. That meticulous rule design, the precise grasp of timing, and the ambition hidden in his bones—there wasn't a second person in the school who could match him.

Ran Morishita, sporting a messy bird's nest of hair, had eyes that were sparkling. Her knuckles were white from gripping her phone, and her tone was filled with both adoration and anxiety, her chuunibyou nature in full swing!

"That's right...! This is definitely a game of fate laid out by King Arthur! Only he has the courage and wisdom to stir the winds and clouds of the entire campus!"

She pressed the dial button again, but the cold, automated voice stating that the user was temporarily unavailable echoed from the receiver. She hung up, unwilling, and looked at Masumi Kamuro with a pitiful expression.

"But... why won't the King grant an audience to his loyal observer and knight? Could it be that we aren't qualified enough to participate in this great plan?"

Masumi Kamuro took a deep breath, trying to calm her agitated mood, though her brow remained furrowed.

"He should have been up by this time of day..."

"Could he have pulled an all-nighter?"

At the thought of pulling an all-nighter, a faint blush inexplicably crept onto her cheeks. She quickly shook her head, casting those messy thoughts aside.

"No, no... even if he stayed up all night, he wouldn't go the whole day without checking his phone, right? Could something have gone wrong with the plan?"

She couldn't help but think of Suzune Horikita and Kikyo Kushida. Lately, she had constantly seen Shin Akiyama walking with them at school, and they seemed unusually close.

Could it be... that Shin Akiyama had pulled them into his plan as well?

So the three of them had stayed up all night working, and now they were all catching up on sleep, which was why no one was answering the phone?

Once this thought emerged, it couldn't be suppressed. Masumi Kamuro pursed her lips, feeling a bit sour inside. She always felt that Suzune Horikita and Kikyo Kushida weren't qualified to participate in Shin Akiyama's core plans, yet a strong premonition told her that her guess was likely correct.

This feeling of knowing the answer but being unable to confirm it was like being scratched by a cat's claws—it was maddeningly itchy, yet she was helpless to do anything about it.

Meanwhile, in a secluded private room at another cafe, Honami Ichinose and Ryuji Kanzaki sat opposite each other.

Two cups of steaming coffee sat on the table, the rich aroma of coffee permeating the air.

The light in the room was soft, and the greenery outside the window swayed in the breeze, bringing a touch of vitality.

Ryuji Kanzaki placed his hands on the table, his expression serious as he got straight to the point, without the slightest bit of beating around the bush.

"Ichinose, I believe this betting website that suddenly appeared is very likely the handiwork of Akiyama-kun again."

Honami Ichinose rested her chin on her hands, her long pink hair falling smoothly over her arms. Her long eyelashes fluttered gently, and she blinked her large eyes, a smile of helplessness and amusement appearing on her face.

"Ryuji Kanzaki... why do you always associate everything with Shin Akiyama?"

She paused, her tone carrying a hint of admiration.

"And even if he really did make this website... isn't that a good thing?"

"It's enough to prove how capable he is, to be able to conceive such a plan and then actually execute it..."

"It's truly remarkable..."

"I don't intend to make an enemy of him."

Ryuji Kanzaki hurriedly explained, his tone serious as his finger tapped lightly on the betting website displayed on his phone screen.

"On the contrary, I admire his ability and boldness. From the information trading at the start of the school year to the Zero Point Plan for Class D, and now this betting website that has the whole school in an uproar... if he really is behind all of this, then his strategic planning and courage are far beyond our imagination."

"I'm telling you my suspicions only because I want you to have a clearer understanding of Shin Akiyama's strength."

"We might have interactions or collaborations with his class in the future, but when that time comes, we must remain vigilant at all times. We cannot let our guard down just because we admire him, lest we fall into his schemes without realizing it and bring irreparable losses to our class."

Honami Ichinose withdrew the smile from her face, her expression turning serious as she nodded gently.

"I understand your concerns, Ryuji Kanzaki."

She lowered her eyes and said softly.

"I also know that Shin Akiyama is very capable, and even... sometimes I feel he's a bit scary...?"

"It's as if his mind is forever hiding countless plans, with every step calculated with absolute precision."

"But I always feel that Shin Akiyama is actually a very cute and kind person."

She looked up, her tone sincere.

"And as long as we treat Shin Akiyama with sincerity and kindness... at the very least, he won't take the initiative to harm our class... right? Besides, all of this is just our speculation right now; there is no evidence to prove he did it~"

She was kind by nature, but not foolish.

She had taken Kanzaki's warning to heart, yet deep down, she still wanted to believe in the goodness of human nature.

Ryuji Kanzaki looked into her clear eyes and, knowing she understood the situation, said no more. He simply picked up his phone, tapped on the betting website once again, and quietly raised his estimation of Shin Akiyama another level in his mind.

Meanwhile, Kakeru Ryuen, Daichi Ishizaki, and Albert from Class C were sitting in the open space behind the school building.

Kakeru Ryuen narrowed his eyes, his long red hair draped casually over his shoulders, his face wearing his habitual look of defiance and playfulness.

His fingertips slid lightly across his phone screen, browsing the rules of the betting website.

Daichi Ishizaki scratched his head, his tone uncertain as he looked at Kakeru Ryuen, waiting for his instructions.

"Ryuen, this website has become such a big deal, should we participate? Quite a few people in the class are already discussing it and asking what you think."

Albert stood to the side, his tall, mountain-like frame standing with his arms crossed over his chest. He didn't speak, simply acting quietly in his role as a bodyguard.

Kakeru Ryuen let out a scoff, a cunning arc forming at the corner of his mouth as a flash of calculation crossed his eyes.

"Participate? Why wouldn't we? It would be a shame to miss out on such an interesting form of entertainment."

He looked up at Daichi Ishizaki, his tone carrying an unquestionable sense of control.

"Pass the word down: people in the class can use their own pocket money to play and get a feel for it, but if anyone dares to get addicted and loses all their living expenses... they'll face the consequences themselves."

He knew clearly that there was nothing simple behind this website. To be able to obtain the school's authorization and design the rules so perfectly, the person behind it was either high-level school administration or an extremely troublesome opponent.

Letting his classmates participate was, on one hand, to go along with everyone's interests, and on the other, to use their bets to observe the website's operating model and see if he could find any loopholes. If he could get a handle on the other party or find a vulnerability to exploit, he might even be able to profit from it or give the person behind it a rude awakening.

The sun grew more intense, spilling into every corner of the Advanced Nurturing High School.

The students' discussions, the notification sounds of phones, and the sounds of placing bets intertwined, forming an unstoppable wave that swept through every corner of the campus.

Ambition.

Greed.

Wishful thinking.

Expectation.

All were thoroughly ignited on this Saturday afternoon.

A massive gamble involving the entire school had already taken shape.

The era of the Great Betting has officially begun!

On Saturday morning, the warm sun filtered through the veil-like clouds, spilling onto the artificial island of Advanced Nurturing.

Golden light spots covered the lawn, and even the glass curtain walls of the school buildings reflected soft halos. The air carried the freshness unique to the morning, mixed with the faint fragrance of grass and trees.

For those students in the school who were accustomed to self-discipline, such a weekend morning would never be wasted.

Boys in sportswear jogged along the track, their footsteps rhythmic and powerful, while girls with backpacks walked in twos and threes into the library, rushing to grab window seats to preview their lessons.

Other girls who had arranged to go shopping together were already dressed up, gathering downstairs at the dormitory buildings with their small bags, chattering away as they discussed their destination.

The campus gradually became lively, with figures darting about everywhere, full of vibrant life.

However, Room 501 of the first-year dormitory building was filled with a silence that felt out of place with the outside world.

The room was dark, save for a few slivers of sunlight piercing through the gaps in the curtains, illuminating the scattered cushions on the floor and the empty water glass beside the table.

Akiyama Shin was slumped directly over the computer desk, his arms serving as a pillow for his chin, his bangs falling forward to cover half an eye, his breathing steady and deep.

Clearly, the high-intensity mental labor of the previous night had exhausted all his energy, leaving him without even the strength to get up and return to his bed.

Horikita Suzune was also sitting on the floor, leaning against the edge of the bed with her head tilted slightly to one side. Her waist-length black hair cascaded over her shoulders and onto the floor like a waterfall. The braid woven with a white ribbon had come loose, the ribbon dangling against her arm. Her brows were slightly furrowed, as if she were still pondering difficult problems in her sleep, yet her lips were pressed tightly together, revealing her habitual stubbornness.

Kushida Kikyo, on the other hand, appeared much less formal, lying on her side directly on the floor with her head resting on Horikita Suzune's lap.

Her golden-brown hair was spread out, with some strands tangled against Horikita Suzune's pale thighs.

A faint flush graced her cheeks, and a shallow smile lingered on her lips, as if she were having a sweet dream. Her breathing was light and rhythmic, and she slept with exceptional peace.

The three of them slept in this slightly disheveled yet strangely harmonious posture. They had spent the entire night working for the trivia project that was currently stirring up the campus, and by now, even their dreams were likely filled with shadows of code and rules.

Time slipped away quietly in their slumber. The sun outside the window climbed higher, moving from dawn to the zenith, and before they knew it, it was noon.

Yet, in this short half-day, an invisible storm of information had swept across the entire campus at an astonishing speed.

The Campus Midterm Trivia Betting Site that Akiyama Shin had stayed up all night building was like a massive boulder thrown into a calm lake, instantly whipping up towering waves.

More importantly, the sub-site creation permissions granted by the school carried an official aura, and the publisher's information was completely hidden. This led the vast majority of students to subconsciously assume at first glance that this was an activity launched by the school itself.

After all, who else but the school would have the capability to interface directly with the Student ID Card System and access student information?

The official forum of the campus network was instantly flooded. Posts about the betting site sprang up like bamboo shoots after a rain, their popularity climbing steadily. The pinned hot post had already garnered over ten thousand views in just a few hours.

[Hot Post] Shocking! Is the school actually hosting a midterm trivia contest? Is the ten-million-point prize pool for real?!

OP: As the title says! Just saw this while browsing the campus network. The site looks super professional, and you can even log in and place bets directly with your student ID! Has anyone brave enough tried it yet? Looking for feedback!

Reply 1: I just logged in and checked it out! The rules are a bit convoluted, but it feels super exciting! The S-tier odds are x10—if you win, you're taking off instantly!

Reply 2: Would the school really do something like this? Doesn't feel very reliable...? How is this any different from gambling? Hasn't the school always banned such activities?

Reply 3: Don't be a contrarian, OP! It says "trivia betting"! And it uses points, not cash! How can that be considered gambling...? Plus, it interfaces with the Student ID Card System... it must be tacitly approved by the school!

Reply 4: What if it's a scam site?

What if the points you put in can't be withdrawn? I don't want to be a sucker.

Reply 5: Please! The Student ID Card System is one of the school's core systems! Outsiders couldn't possibly hack it! Anyone who can interface with it directly is either the school administration or someone who has been granted school permissions. The security should be fine, right?

Reply 6: Already made a small test bet of 100 points! Bet on the first-year S-tier. Just treating it as fun; if I win, it's a huge profit, and if I lose, it's just the price of a bottle of soda!

Reply 7: Haha, I'm in! Bet on the second-year A-tier. My brother is a second-year; he ranked 9th last time, so I'm following his lead on this bet!

Reply 8: Can any big shots compile a list of the top students for each grade? Besides Horikita Suzune, who else is strong in the first year? Who are the top-ranked in the OAA for the second year again?

Reply 9: I think the credibility is quite high. There's even an anti-spam mechanism in the rules. You can tell the person who made the site is a professional; it doesn't look like a random scam.

[Discussion] Rational Analysis: Is this midterm betting site actually run by the school?

OP: I personally lean toward it being school-led! Or at least tacitly approved! Three reasons!

1. The permission level is too high! It can directly interface with the student information database and pull class and name information for every grade, making it easy for everyone to lock in their betting targets. This isn't a permission an ordinary student could obtain!

2. The rules are perfectly designed! From betting tiers to prize pool distribution, and even the anti-spam clauses, the logic is clear and well-considered! This is a product of careful deliberation, not a spur-of-the-moment idea!

3. The timing is too perfect! It launched exactly two weeks before the midterm exams. It's highly likely the school wants to increase the fun of the exams this way, or... take the opportunity to reclaim some of the points held by students?

Reply 1: The OP's analysis makes sense, but I asked our homeroom teacher, and he said he had no idea about this activity. If the school were running it, how could the teachers be in the dark?

Reply 2: Maybe it's being pushed directly by the school's upper management. There's no need to notify every homeroom teacher; after all, it's just a fun activity, not an official exam arrangement.

Reply 3: Regardless of whether it's the school's or not, the temptation of a ten-million-point prize pool is too great!

I'm already prepared to bet 500 points to test the waters. If I'm lucky enough to win, I won't have to worry about points for the rest of the month!

Reply 4: Could it be run by upperclassmen? After all, second years and above have the OAA system, so they can see the rankings, making it easier to rig the game?

The posts refreshed page after page. Some people excitedly shared their betting strategies, while others cautiously analyzed the risks.

Others watched from the sidelines with a "just here for the show" mentality, but there was no denying that the words "ten-million-point prize pool" precisely struck the gambler's instinct deep within everyone's heart.

For most students, a few hundred or a thousand points didn't mean much. Even if they lost, it would only affect a few extra meals or shopping trips. But if they were lucky enough to hit a high-odds option like the S-tier or A-tier, the return would be dozens or hundreds of times greater. Few people could truly resist the temptation of such a high-stakes gamble.

Coupled with the site's own sophistication—the ability to directly query basic information about students in each grade, making it easy to lock in betting targets—and the hidden identity of the publisher, it carried an aura of mystery.

The timing of the launch, coinciding with the midterms, precisely captured the students' focus on exam rankings.

All of this caused the site's credibility to soar, and more and more students set aside their concerns and began to place bets.

The platform's total betting volume climbed quietly, from the initial few thousand points to tens of thousands, then hundreds of thousands.

Meanwhile, in a private room of an elegantly decorated cafe on campus, several core members of the Sakayanagi Faction from Class B were sitting together, the atmosphere quiet yet heavy.

The scent of black tea drifted through the room, and sunlight filtered through the blinds, casting mottled light and shadows on the table.

Hashimoto Masayoshi, his blonde hair tied in a short braid and his demeanor carrying a hint of roguish charm, was the first to break the silence. His eyes held a flicker of excitement as he looked toward Sakayanagi Arisu in the main seat.

"Princess, what do you think about that betting site that suddenly popped up?"

"Could it be a new trick played by the school?"

Kito Hayato, with his deep blue hair and a stern, rugged face, sat with his arms crossed over his chest. His brows were tightly furrowed, his tone steady and resolute.

"I think it's more likely to be the school. If it were the work of upperclassmen, they would have had plenty of opportunities to do it before; there was no need to wait until now. Besides, it's impossible for an ordinary student to obtain the permissions to build such a website, let alone interface with the student database."

Nishikawa Ryoko, wearing glasses and sporting twin braids, immediately nodded in agreement, her tone resolute.

"Kito-san is right. Permissions are the key."

"The school has always strictly controlled the campus network. Being able to obtain sub-site creation permissions and interface with core systems is definitely not something an ordinary student could achieve."

Shiraishi Asuka, who had golden wavy hair and looked somewhat dazed, pinched her straw. Her eyes flickered with hesitation, and it took quite a while before she added in a small voice.

"Um... didn't the homeroom teacher say before...? That points can buy any resource in the school..."

"So... the permissions to build a website... theoretically, could also be bought with points, right...?"

Her voice was small, yet clear.

"It's just that... to buy permissions of this level, the amount of points required would surely be very, very high. I'm afraid it's not something an average student could afford."

She usually looked scatterbrained, but her remarks at critical moments always hit the nail on the head.

Sakayanagi Arisu gently set down her teacup. Her silver hair draped over her shoulders, obscuring part of her profile. A hint of imperceptible sharpness flashed in the depths of her eyes, yet her lips curled into a gentle smile.

"Shiraishi-san's point is not without merit."

"Regardless of whether the publisher is the school or a student, this is indeed an interesting little game."

She paused, her gaze sweeping over the few people present. Her tone remained gentle, yet carried an unquestionable sense of authority.

"If anyone in the class is interested, you may participate in moderation, just to relieve the tension before the exams. However, you must remain rational; it is strictly forbidden to invest a large number of points in a gamble."

"Yes, Princess!"

The group replied in unison, their tones respectful.

Elsewhere.

On a park bench, Kamuro Masumi and Morishita Ran were staring so hard at their phone screens they might as well have been burning holes through them, their faces filled with anxiety.

Kamuro Masumi tossed her phone onto the bench, grabbed her long purple hair with both hands, and knitted her brows into a knot. She kicked at the small pebbles on the ground unconsciously, her tone irritable to the extreme.

"Still not getting through!"

"What on earth is that guy Akiyama doing?! I've been calling since this morning... and the phone just keeps ringing without an answer!"

From the moment she saw that betting website, she was certain it was the handiwork of Akiyama Shin. That meticulous rule design, the precise grasp of timing, and the ambition etched into his bones—besides him, there wasn't a second person in the school who could do it.

Morishita Ran had a messy bird's nest of hair, but her eyes were sparkling. Her knuckles were white from gripping her phone, and her tone was full of both worship and anxiety, her chuunibyou nature in full swing!

"That's right...! This is definitely a game of destiny laid out by King Arthur! Only he has the courage and wisdom to stir up the winds and clouds of the entire campus!"

She pressed the dial button again, but the cold voice of the system informing her that the user was temporarily unavailable still came through the receiver. She had no choice but to hang up, looking at Kamuro Masumi with a wronged expression.

"But... why won't the King see his loyal observer and knight? Could it be that we aren't qualified enough to participate in this great plan?"

Kamuro Masumi took a deep breath, trying to calm her agitated mood, though her brows remained furrowed.

"He should have been up by this time usually..."

"Could he have stayed up all night?"

At the thought of staying up all night, a faint blush inexplicably appeared on her cheeks. She quickly shook her head, trying to cast those messy thoughts away.

"No, no... even if he stayed up all night, he wouldn't go the whole day without checking his phone, right? Could something have gone wrong with the plan?"

She couldn't help but think of Horikita Suzune and Kushida Kikyo. Lately at school, she had always seen Akiyama Shin walking with them; their relationship seemed unusually close.

Could it be... that Akiyama Shin pulled them into the plan as well?

So the three of them stayed up all night working on it, and now they were all catching up on sleep, which is why no one was answering the phone?

Once this thought emerged, it couldn't be suppressed. Kamuro Masumi pursed her lips, feeling a bit sour inside. She always felt that Horikita Suzune and Kushida Kikyo weren't qualified enough to participate in Akiyama Shin's core plans, yet a strong premonition told her that her guess was likely correct.

This feeling of knowing the answer but being unable to confirm it was like being scratched by a cat's paw—unbearably itchy, yet there was nothing she could do.

Meanwhile, in a quiet booth at another cafe, Honami Ichinose and Ryuji Kanzaki sat opposite each other.

Two cups of steaming coffee sat on the table, and the rich aroma of coffee filled the air.

The light in the booth was soft, and the greenery outside the window swayed in the breeze, bringing a touch of vitality.

Ryuji Kanzaki rested his hands on the table, his expression serious. He got straight to the point without any beating around the bush.

"Ichinose, I believe this suddenly appearing betting website is very likely the handiwork of Akiyama-kun again."

Honami Ichinose rested her chin in her hands, her long pink hair draping softly over her arms. Her long eyelashes fluttered gently as she blinked her large eyes, a smile of helplessness and amusement on her face.

"Kanzaki-kun... why do you attribute everything to Akiyama-kun?"

She paused, her tone carrying a hint of admiration.

"And even if this website really was made by him... isn't that quite good?"

"It's enough to prove how capable he is, to be able to come up with such a plan and actually execute it..."

"It's really amazing..."

"I don't intend to be his enemy."

Ryuji Kanzaki quickly explained, his tone earnest as his finger tapped lightly on the betting website on his phone screen.

"On the contrary, I admire his ability and courage. From the information trading at the start of the school year to the Zero Point Plan of Class D, and now this betting website that has the entire school in an uproar... If he is behind all of this, then his strategic planning and audacity have far exceeded our imagination."

"I am telling you my suspicions only because I want you to have a clearer understanding of Akiyama Shin's strength."

"In the future, our class may still have dealings and cooperation with him, but we must remain vigilant at all times. We cannot let our guard down just because we admire him, lest we fall into his schemes without realizing it and bring irreparable losses to our class."

Honami Ichinose withdrew the smile from her face, her eyes turning serious as she nodded gently.

"I understand your concerns, Ryuji Kanzaki."

She lowered her gaze and said softly.

"I also know that Akiyama Shin is very capable, and even... sometimes I feel he is a bit scary...?"

"It seems like he always has countless plans hidden in his mind, with every step calculated with absolute precision."

"But I still feel that Akiyama Shin is actually a cute and kind person at heart."

She looked up, her tone sincere.

"Besides, as long as we treat Akiyama Shin with sincerity and goodwill... at the very least, he won't take the initiative to harm our class... right? Furthermore, all of this is just our speculation right now; there is no evidence to prove that he is the one behind it~"

She was kind by nature, but she was not foolish.

She had taken Kanzaki's warning to heart, yet deep down, she still chose to believe in the goodness of human nature.

Ryuji Kanzaki looked into her clear eyes and knew she understood the situation, so he said no more. He simply picked up his phone, opened the betting website again, and quietly raised his assessment of Akiyama Shin to another level.

Meanwhile, Ryuen Kakeru, Ishizaki Daichi, and Albert from Class C were sitting in the open space behind the school building.

Ryuen Kakeru narrowed his eyes, his long red hair draped loosely over his shoulders, his face wearing its usual arrogant and playful expression.

His fingertips swiped lightly across the phone screen, browsing the rules of the betting website.

Ishizaki Daichi scratched his hair, his tone uncertain as he looked at Ryuen Kakeru, waiting for his instructions.

"Ryuen, this website has become such a big deal, should we participate? Quite a few people in the class are already discussing it, and they are all asking for your opinion."

Albert stood to the side, his tall, mountain-like frame looming as he crossed his arms over his chest. He did not speak, simply acting quietly in his role as a bodyguard.

Ryuen Kakeru let out a scoff, a cunning arc forming at the corner of his mouth as a glimmer of calculation flashed in his eyes.

"Participate? Why wouldn't we? It would be a shame to miss out on such an interesting form of entertainment."

He looked up at Ishizaki Daichi, his tone carrying an unquestionable sense of control.

"Pass the word down: people in the class can use their own pocket money to play around and experience it, but if anyone dares to get addicted and bets away all their living expenses only to lose it all... they will face the consequences themselves."

He knew clearly that there was nothing simple about the person behind this website. To be able to obtain the school's authorization and design such comprehensive rules, the person behind it was either high-ranking school staff or an extremely troublesome opponent.

Letting the class participate was, on one hand, to go along with everyone's interests, and on the other, to use their bets to observe the website's operating model and see if he could find any loopholes. If he could get a handle on the other party or find a vulnerability to exploit, he might even be able to make a profit from it, or perhaps even give the person behind it a taste of their own medicine.

The sun grew more intense, spilling into every corner of the Advanced Nurturing High School.

The discussions of the students, the notification sounds of phones, and the sounds of betting operations intertwined, forming an unstoppable wave that swept through every corner of the campus.

Ambition.

Greed.

Wishful thinking.

Expectation.

All were thoroughly ignited on this Saturday afternoon.

A multi-million point gamble involving the entire school had already taken shape.

The era of the Great Guessing Game has officially begun!