Before dawn, on the watchtower, Tang Yu stared at the new entry on the System Interface, his heart racing.
[Emotion Shop Unlocked] [Current Emotion Points: 20350]
This feature was even more powerful than he had imagined. Tang Yu tried selecting "high-end laptop" in his mind, and the system immediately brought up a confirmation window:
[Exchange "Alienware x15 R2" Laptop for 1000 Emotion Points] [Confirm/Cancel]
Tang Yu confirmed, and a blue flash visible only to him suddenly appeared before his eyes. The next second, a brand-new laptop bag appeared at his feet, its weight and texture utterly real.
"What..." Tang Yu suppressed an exclamation and quickly checked inside the bag—a top-of-the-line gaming laptop, still in perfect packaging, with an official receipt included. The system had not only created the item, but taken care of every last detail.
"What are you looking at?" Ayanokoji's voice suddenly came from behind him.
Without changing expression, Tang Yu set the laptop bag in a corner. "Nothing. Just sorting out my gear."
Ayanokoji's gaze lingered on the laptop bag for a second, but he didn't ask anything. Still, Tang Yu's Emotion Perception clearly picked up the suspicion rising in his mind. A laptop bag like that looked out of place on a deserted island.
"Sunrise is coming. Ryuen might make a move when the test resumes." Ayanokoji changed the subject.
Tang Yu nodded and checked the system at the same time:
[Emotion Points: 19350/30000] [Ayanokoji Kiyotaka Attention: 85%]
Exchanging for the laptop had cost 1000 points, but Ayanokoji's suspicions had earned him another 50. It was a good deal, and Tang Yu decided to test the shop further.
He selected "cash" and exchanged 100,000 Sakura Coins, spending 1000 points. Just like before, a stack of crisp ten-thousand-yen bills appeared in his pocket, complete with verifiable serial numbers.
Where did these items come from? Tang Yu asked the system in his mind.
[All exchanged items have records of legitimate origin and will not arouse suspicion] [Note: Electronic devices come preinstalled with the necessary software. Cash can be used normally.]
The explanation put Tang Yu at ease. His biggest worry had been that the items might be traced to some suspicious source. It seemed the system had thought of everything.
At sunrise, Class D's camp sprang into action. Today was the final day of the special test, and each class would compete for the remaining task points and resources.
"Everyone!" Hirata Yosuke called them together for a meeting. "Based on the information we got yesterday, the Southeast Warehouse is a key target. Tang Yu has the key, so we need to make a plan to take it."
Just as the meeting began, Tang Yu brought out the brand-new Alienware laptop. "I brought some equipment. We can use it to analyze the map."
The entire group fell silent, staring in amazement at the high-end computer that had no business being on a deserted island.
"W-where did you get that?" Ken Sudō asked, eyes wide.
"I prepared ahead of time." Tang Yu kept a straight face. "I figured we might need electronic equipment, so I packed it in my luggage."
The explanation was just about plausible, but Tang Yu noticed Ayanokoji's gaze sharpen. He clearly didn't believe it.
[Shock from the entire class +500] [Suspicions from Ayanokoji Kiyotaka +200]
His Emotion Points quickly climbed back to 19850. Quietly pleased, Tang Yu opened the laptop and pulled up the map. "The warehouse is here. It's surrounded by mountains on three sides, with only one small path leading to it."
They quickly came up with a plan: Tang Yu, Sudō, and three other students would form a strike team and head to the warehouse for supplies. Ayanokoji, Hirata, and the rest would stay at camp to guard against an ambush. Though Horikita Suzune was still in the infirmary, she would offer strategic advice over a video call.
"The strike team needs more people," Horikita's voice came through the tablet. "Ryuen will definitely have the warehouse heavily guarded."
"I agree," Tang Yu said with a nod. "But I'm worried this is a diversion. Ryuen might attack the camp while our main force is away."
"Splitting up is risky," Ayanokoji said calmly. "But sometimes taking risks is necessary."
It sounded like support, but Tang Yu's Emotion Perception caught the probing undertone in Ayanokoji's words. He wanted to see how Tang Yu would handle the dilemma.
"I have an idea." Tang Yu brought up the map. "Class B has a key to the warehouse, too. What if we worked together...?"
"Work with Class B?" Kushida Kikyo blinked in surprise. "Would they agree?"
"Ichinose will understand the value of mutual benefit." Tang Yu was confident. "The strike team can be made up of students from both Class D and Class B. That gives us the numbers we need without weakening the camp's defenses too much."
Most of the group agreed to this compromise. After the meeting, Tang Yu contacted Honami Ichinose right away. Just as he'd expected, the Class B leader readily agreed to work together.
"We'll meet by the stream in an hour," Ichinose said over the phone. "I've already picked our team."
As they prepared to leave, Ayanokoji stopped Tang Yu. "Your laptop... is unusual."
They stood in an empty corner. Ayanokoji looked straight at Tang Yu, his pale gray eyes unfathomably deep. "There's no way to charge it on the island, but it has plenty of battery."
Tang Yu's heart beat a little faster, but he kept calm on the outside. "Solar charging. It's the latest technology."
"Is that so?" Ayanokoji asked softly. "Just like your 'Perfect Score in All Subjects' and 'Perception Ability'—both examples of 'the latest technology'?"
It was the first time Ayanokoji had so directly questioned Tang Yu's unusual abilities. The air between them seemed to freeze, and Tang Yu could feel a thin layer of sweat gathering on his back.
"Everyone has their secrets," Tang Yu finally replied. "Like your 'ordinary high school student' act."
Ayanokoji's lips curved slightly. "Interesting answer." He turned to leave, then paused. "Watch out for Ryuen. He's acting... strange today."
[Deep Suspicions from Ayanokoji Kiyotaka +300] [Emotion Points exceed 20000. Current: 20150/30000]
Tang Yu let out a long breath. His exchange with Ayanokoji had been dangerous, but it had earned him a considerable number of Emotion Points. More importantly, their conversation had confirmed one thing: Ayanokoji had figured out that Tang Yu had "special abilities," but didn't seem intent on exposing him. At least, not yet.
The strike team met up with Class B's group by the stream. Ichinose had brought four students, including the muscular Shibata So.
"What's the plan?" Ichinose got straight to the point.
Tang Yu spread out the map. "The warehouse is in this hollow. Ryuen has definitely set an ambush, so we won't take the main route." He pointed to a steep ridgeline. "We'll climb down from here and catch them off guard."
"Climb down?" Shibata frowned. "Isn't that too dangerous?"
"That's why we brought professional equipment." Tang Yu took ropes and climbing pitons from his backpack. He'd exchanged for them that morning at a cost of 200 Emotion Points.
Ichinose inspected the gear and nodded. "It's worth a try."
It took the team nearly two hours to make their way down the cliff. As soon as the warehouse came into view, Tang Yu's Emotion Perception picked up the presence of the ambushers: five people concealed in the trees around the building, their emotions brimming with aggression.
"Ryuen's leading them himself," Tang Yu whispered. "He's behind the third tree to the left of the warehouse's front entrance."
"How do you know...?" Ichinose asked in surprise.
"The angle of the sunlight. The shadow there looks unnatural." Tang Yu made up an excuse on the spot. "Sudō, take two people around to the right and make a disturbance. When they're distracted, Ichinose and I will rush into the warehouse."
Sudō went off to carry out the order. A few minutes later, a loud commotion and shouts suddenly came from the trees to the right. Just as Tang Yu had predicted, four Class C students charged toward the noise, leaving Ryuen alone at his post.
"Now!"
Tang Yu and Ichinose rushed toward the warehouse entrance. Ryuen spotted them immediately and charged at them with a roar. Tang Yu was ready. He activated his newly unlocked Emotion Manipulation ability, planting a powerful feeling of "hesitation" in Ryuen's mind.
Ryuen suddenly faltered, a flash of confusion crossing his eyes. That brief hesitation gave Tang Yu enough time to reach the entrance and quickly unlock the warehouse with the key.
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