Endgame Gambit (Part 1)

On the morning of the fourth day of the Special Training Class, Tang Yu was jolted awake by a frantic knocking at his door. Horikita Suzune stood outside, uncharacteristically stripped of her usual composure, clutching a notification slip in her hand.

"Plan change," she said, handing him the note immediately. "Today's lesson is canceled. It's been replaced by a simulation of power games that everyone must participate in."

Tang Yu quickly scanned the notice—a "Resource Allocation Simulation" designed by Horikita Manabu. All students would be divided into different factions to compete for limited resources through debate, negotiation, and strategic maneuvering.

"When does it start?"

"In an hour," Horikita Suzune bit her lower lip. "My brother... he is very skilled at these kinds of games."

Tang Yu activated Emotion Perception, capturing her complex emotional fluctuations—a mix of awe for her brother's abilities and a stubborn refusal to admit defeat.

"Are we in a group of three?" Tang Yu asked.

Horikita shook her head: "Random reorganization. You and Ayanokoji Kiyotaka have been separated. I am in the Finance Faction, you are in the Military Faction, and Ayanokoji is in the Livelihood Faction."

This was clearly a deliberate arrangement. Tang Yu sneered inwardly; Horikita Manabu wanted to test their performance within unfamiliar teams.

"What about Nagumo Miyabi?"

"He is presiding over the Finance Faction's breakout room," Horikita's voice dropped. "He specifically requested that I join his group."

Tang Yu narrowed his eyes. Nagumo Miyabi's special attention toward Horikita Suzune was no coincidence; it was likely at the behest of Horikita Manabu, intended to test his sister's performance under pressure.

"Stay in touch," Tang Yu cautioned at the end, "especially if Nagumo makes any... unusual moves."

Horikita nodded, her back stiffer than usual as she turned and left. Tang Yu quickly washed up and changed, checking his system status simultaneously:

[Current Emotion Points: 44800/50000]

[New ability "Emotion Weaving" pending test]

[Special Reminder: High probability of exceeding 50000 points today]

At breakfast, Tang Yu deliberately sat near Karuizawa Kei. After their secret conversation the day before, the two still maintained a distance on the surface, but a certain tacit understanding had been established.

"Heard you were assigned to the Military Faction?" Karuizawa struck up a conversation, pretending to be casual. "Ryuen Kakeru is in that group too."

Tang Yu raised an eyebrow: "Thanks for the heads-up."

Karuizawa lowered her voice: "Nagumo met secretly with several people from Class C last night, including Ryuen. They talked for a long time in the West Storage Room."

"The content?"

"Not sure, but Ryuen was very excited when he came out." A trace of worry flashed in Karuizawa's eyes. "Be careful, they are definitely plotting something."

Tang Yu nodded in thanks, noting at the same time that Ayanokoji Kiyotaka was sitting in the corner of the cafeteria, his gaze sweeping over them from time to time. Ever since witnessing the interaction between Tang Yu and Karuizawa, Ayanokoji's surveillance had clearly intensified.

[Attention from Ayanokoji Kiyotaka +200]

[Current Emotion Points: 45000/50000]

At nine in the morning, all students gathered in the main hall. Horikita Manabu stood on the podium, the large screen behind him displaying complex rule explanations.

"Today's simulation will test your strategic thinking, negotiation skills, and teamwork." His voice was calm and penetrating. "Each faction has different initial resources and goals, and final scores will be based on the degree of goal completion."

Tang Yu had been assigned to the "Military Faction"—the group with the fewest initial resources but the highest combat power. His teammates included Ryuen Kakeru and three upperclassmen. It was a dangerous combination, clearly orchestrated by Horikita Manabu.

"The Military Faction's task is to obtain sufficient resources through deterrence or actual force to ensure the faction's survival." Horikita Manabu's gaze swept over Tang Yu. "Methods are unrestricted, but violent behavior will result in an immediate loss."

Ryuen whispered in Tang Yu's ear: "Looks like the President wants to watch us kill each other."

Tang Yu did not respond, instead carefully observing the other three in the group—two third-years and one second-year, all mainstays of the sports clubs, their Emotion Clouds radiating an aggressive red. Horikita Manabu had indeed arranged a tough battle for him.

After the simulation began, each group was assigned to a different conference room. The Military Faction's room contained only a strategic map and five chairs, not even drinking water—an environment of scarcity created on purpose.

"First, let's pick a leader." A third-year student was blunt. "I nominate Sato."

The boy who was nominated—muscular with a fierce look in his eyes—puffed out his chest confidently: "No problem, I'll lead us to victory."

Ryuen sneered: "On what grounds? That pathetic judo rank of yours?"

The atmosphere turned tense in an instant. Tang Yu activated "Emotion Weaving," blending feelings of confidence and obedience to create a sense of "authoritative recognition," gently pushing it toward Sato.

"I think Sato is well-suited for this," Tang Yu suddenly spoke up. "He has practical experience, and the upperclassmen should naturally lead the team."

This unexpected support stunned everyone, including Sato himself. Tang Yu's Emotion Influence had taken effect—in Sato's Emotion Cloud, the aggression had diminished, replaced by a hint of goodwill toward Tang Yu.

[Emotion Weaving effect verified]

[Number of people affected: 4]

[Emotion Points gained: +400]

In the end, Sato was successfully elected as leader, and Tang Yu successfully avoided an early, direct conflict with Ryuen. More importantly, he had established a subtle position within the group—not as the leader, but as a key supporter.

The first round of resource negotiations began. Each faction sent representatives to the central hall to negotiate. The Military Faction was represented by Sato, but Tang Yu accompanied him as an "advisor."

The hall was already a scene of heated debate. The Finance Faction (led by Nagumo Miyabi) controlled food and water; the Livelihood Faction (where Ayanokoji was) held medical and educational resources; the Technology Faction monopolized communication equipment.

"The Military Faction demands 20% of the basic resources, otherwise we will take 'necessary measures'." Sato spoke according to the plan Tang Yu had suggested beforehand.

Nagumo Miyabi laughed: "What measures? You're even borrowing the chairs you're using to negotiate."

Just then, Tang Yu noticed Horikita Suzune standing behind Nagumo, her face unusually pale. He activated "Emotional Link," briefly sensing her emotional state—intense humiliation and anger. Nagumo must have done something to her.

After the link was severed, Tang Yu quickly adjusted his strategy: "Sato, please request a private negotiation with Horikita Suzune of the Finance Faction."

"Why?"

"Trust me, this will change the situation."

Although Sato was puzzled, he followed instructions. Nagumo clearly interpreted this as a sign of internal division within the Military Faction and readily agreed.

Inside the Small Conference Room, the voice of Horikita Suzune was low and trembling: "Nagumo put me in charge of 'special negotiations'... to obtain resources using personal charm."

Tang Yu immediately understood Nagumo's sleazy tactics—using Horikita Suzune's beauty and the pressure from her brother to force her to do things she didn't want to do.

"Refuse him," Tang Yu said decisively, "and tell your brother."

"I can't!" Horikita shook her head agitatedly. "That's exactly what he's expecting... to prove that I'm not strong enough and need to rely on others."

Tang Yu pondered for a moment and suddenly had an idea: "Then do the opposite. Accept Nagumo's arrangement, but follow my plan."

He quickly whispered the plan to her. Horikita's eyes gradually brightened, and in the end, she even revealed a faint smile.

[Gratitude from Horikita Suzune +300]

[Current Emotion Points: 45700/50000]

After returning to the main venue, the situation changed abruptly. Horikita Suzune publicly announced her willingness to serve as the "Finance Faction Envoy" to negotiate with various factions, and she chose the Military Faction first.

Under everyone's gaze, she had a "secret talk" with Sato for ten minutes, and then the Military Faction suddenly obtained a large amount of basic resources.

"What is going on?" Ryuen demanded.

Sato announced triumphantly: "Horikita-san saw our sincerity. In exchange, we promised to protect the Finance Faction from threats by other factions."

This was, of course, Tang Yu's plan—on the surface, the Military Faction and the Finance Faction formed an alliance, but in reality, it gave Horikita Suzune a dignified way to complete her task while avoiding Nagumo's humiliation. More importantly, this alliance left the Technology Faction and the Livelihood Faction in a passive position.

At lunchtime, Nagumo Miyabi stopped Tang Yu: "Nice little trick, Transfer Student. But the real show is yet to come."

Tang Yu activated Emotion Perception and discovered a strange purple hue at the core of Nagumo's Emotion Cloud—it wasn't simple anger, but a certain... anticipation?

The afternoon simulation entered a white-hot stage. Under the secret manipulation of Ayanokoji, the Livelihood Faction joined forces with the Technology Faction to launch a "Technical Revolution," attempting to hollow out the traditional resource distribution system.