On the fourth morning of the Special Training Class, Tang Yu was jolted awake by a series of urgent knocks. Horikita Suzune stood outside, unusually flustered, clutching a notice.
"The plan has changed." She handed him the paper at once. "Today's assignment has been canceled. It's been replaced with a simulation of a power struggle involving everyone."
Tang Yu quickly skimmed the notice: Horikita Manabu had designed a "Resource Allocation Simulation." All the participants would be divided into different factions and compete for limited resources through debate, negotiation, and strategic maneuvering.
"When does it start?"
"In an hour." Horikita Suzune bit her lip. "My brother... is very good at this sort of game."
Tang Yu activated Emotion Perception, picking up on her complicated emotional fluctuations. She both admired her brother's abilities and felt a stubborn determination not to lose to him.
"Are the three of us on the same team?" Tang Yu asked.
Horikita shook her head. "We're being reshuffled at random. You and Ayanokoji have been separated. I'm in the 'Finance Faction,' you're in the 'Military Faction,' and Ayanokoji is in the 'Livelihood Faction.'"
It was clearly a deliberate arrangement. Tang Yu sneered to himself. Horikita Manabu wanted to test how they would perform in unfamiliar teams.
"What about Miyabi Nagumo?"
"He's hosting the Finance Faction's conference room." Horikita's voice darkened. "He specifically asked for me to join his group."
Tang Yu narrowed his eyes. Nagumo's special interest in Horikita Suzune was no coincidence. It was probably at Horikita Manabu's behest, to test how his sister would perform under pressure.
"Stay in touch," Tang Yu reminded her before she left. "Especially if Nagumo does anything... unusual."
Horikita nodded and turned to go, her back stiffer than usual. Tang Yu quickly washed and changed, then checked his system status:
[Current Emotion Points: 44800/50000] [New Ability "Emotion Weaving" Awaiting Testing] [Special Reminder: High probability of surpassing 50000 points today]
At breakfast, Tang Yu deliberately sat near Karuizawa Kei. After their secret conversation two days ago, they still kept their distance in public, but a certain understanding had developed between them.
"I heard you were assigned to the 'Military Faction'?" Karuizawa asked casually. "Ryuen's in that group too."
Tang Yu raised an eyebrow. "Thanks for the heads-up."
Karuizawa lowered her voice. "Nagumo secretly met with a few Class C students last night, including Ryuen. They talked for a long time in the West Storage Room."
"About what?"
"I don't know, but Ryuen looked excited when he came out." A flicker of worry crossed Karuizawa's eyes. "Be careful. They're definitely plotting something."
Tang Yu nodded in thanks, while noticing Ayanokoji Kiyotaka sitting in a corner of the dining hall, glancing over at them from time to time. Ever since he'd seen Tang Yu interact with Karuizawa, Ayanokoji had been watching him more closely.
[Attention from Ayanokoji Kiyotaka +200] [Current Emotion Points: 45000/50000]
At nine in the morning, all the participants gathered in the main hall. Horikita Manabu stood at the podium, with a complex set of rules displayed on the screen behind him.
"Today's simulation will test your strategic thinking, negotiating skills, and teamwork." His voice was calm and penetrating. "Each faction has different starting resources and objectives. Your final score will be based on how many of those objectives you complete."
Tang Yu had been assigned to the "Military Faction," a group with the fewest starting resources but the highest combat strength. Its members included Ryuen Kakeru and three upperclassmen. It was a dangerous combination, clearly arranged by Horikita Manabu on purpose.
"The Military Faction's mission is to secure enough resources to ensure its survival, whether through intimidation or the use of force." Horikita Manabu's gaze swept across Tang Yu. "Any means are permitted, but acts of violence will result in immediate disqualification."
Ryuen whispered in Tang Yu's ear, "Looks like the student council president wants to watch us tear each other apart."
Tang Yu didn't respond. Instead, he studied the other three members of their group: two third-years and one second-year, all key members of sports clubs. Their Emotion Clouds glowed an aggressive red. Horikita Manabu had certainly set him up for a tough battle.
When the simulation began, the groups were assigned to different conference rooms. The Military Faction's room held only a strategy map and five chairs. There wasn't even any drinking water—a deliberately austere environment.
"First, we need to choose a leader." A third-year spoke bluntly. "I nominate Senior Sato."
The nominated student—a muscular young man with a fierce gaze—puffed out his chest confidently. "No problem. I'll lead us to victory."
Ryuen sneered. "Why? Because of your pathetic judo ranking?"
The atmosphere instantly turned hostile. Tang Yu activated Emotion Weaving, blending confidence with obedience to create a sense of "recognition of authority," then gently directed it toward Sato.
"I think Senior Sato is a good choice." Tang Yu suddenly spoke up. "He has real-world experience, and it makes sense for an upperclassman to lead the group."
The unexpected support left everyone stunned, including Sato himself. Tang Yu's Emotion Influence had worked: the aggression in Sato's Emotion Cloud faded, replaced by a trace of goodwill toward Tang Yu.
[Emotion Weaving Effect Verified] [People Affected: 4] [Emotion Points Gained: +400]
Sato was elected leader without a hitch, and Tang Yu had managed to avoid an early direct confrontation with Ryuen. More importantly, he had carved out a subtle position for himself within the group—not its leader, but a key supporter.
The first round of resource negotiations began. Each faction sent representatives to negotiate in the central hall. Sato represented the Military Faction, with Tang Yu accompanying him as an "advisor."
The hall was already filled with heated arguments. The Finance Faction, led by Miyabi Nagumo, controlled food and water; the Livelihood Faction, where Ayanokoji was assigned, held medical and educational resources; and the Technology Faction had a monopoly on communications equipment.
"The Military Faction demands twenty percent of the basic resources. Otherwise, we'll take 'necessary measures.'" Sato spoke according to the plan Tang Yu had suggested in advance.
Miyabi Nagumo smiled. "And what measures would those be? You can't even afford your own negotiation chairs."
Just then, Tang Yu noticed Horikita Suzune standing behind Nagumo, her face unusually pale. He activated Emotional Link and briefly sensed her state of mind: intense humiliation and anger. Nagumo had definitely done something to her.
As soon as the link broke, Tang Yu quickly adjusted his strategy. "Senior Sato, ask for a private meeting with Horikita Suzune from the Finance Faction."
"Why?"
"Trust me. This will change the situation."
Though puzzled, Sato did as he was asked. Nagumo apparently took it as a sign of division within the Military Faction and readily agreed.
"In the Small Conference Room, Horikita Suzune spoke in a low, trembling voice. "Nagumo made me responsible for 'special negotiations'... using my personal appeal to obtain resources."
Tang Yu immediately understood Nagumo's despicable tactic. He was using Horikita Suzune's looks and the pressure from her brother to force her into doing something she didn't want to do.
"Refuse him," Tang Yu said firmly. "Tell your brother."
"I can't!" Horikita shook her head, agitated. "This is exactly what he's hoping for... He wants to prove I'm not strong enough and need to rely on other people."
Tang Yu thought for a moment, then suddenly came up with an idea. "Then let's do the opposite. Accept Nagumo's arrangement, but follow my plan."
He quickly explained his plan in a low voice. Horikita's eyes gradually brightened, and in the end, she even managed a faint smile.
[Gratitude from Horikita Suzune +300] [Current Emotion Points: 45700/50000]
When they returned to the main hall, the situation changed abruptly. Horikita Suzune publicly announced that she was willing to serve as a "Finance Faction Envoy" and negotiate with the other factions. The first one she chose was the Military Faction.
Under everyone's watchful eyes, she held "private talks" with Sato for ten minutes. Then, all at once, the Military Faction received a large amount of basic resources.
"What's going on?" Ryuen demanded.
Sato proudly announced, "Horikita saw that we were sincere. In return, we promised to protect the Finance Faction from threats by the other factions."
This was all part of Tang Yu's plan. On the surface, the Military and Finance Factions had formed an alliance; in reality, it had given Horikita Suzune a dignified way to complete her task while sparing her Nagumo's humiliation. More importantly, the alliance put the Technology and Livelihood Factions on the back foot.
At lunchtime, Miyabi Nagumo stopped Tang Yu. "Not bad, Transfer Student. But the real show's still to come."
Tang Yu activated Emotion Perception and noticed a strange trace of purple at the core of Nagumo's Emotion Cloud. It wasn't simple anger, but something more like... anticipation.
The afternoon simulation grew increasingly intense. Under Ayanokoji's covert control, the Livelihood Faction joined forces with the Technology Faction to launch a "Technical Revolution," attempting to sideline the traditional resource-allocation system.
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