Before dawn, at the lookout, Tang Yu stared at the newly appeared content on the System Interface, his heart racing.
[Emotion Shop Unlocked]
[Current Emotion Points: 20350]
[Items Available for Exchange:
Electronic Devices (Laptop 1000 points, smartphone 800 points...)
- Daily Necessities (High-end clothing 300 points/set, limited-edition sneakers 500 points...)
Cash (1 point = 100 Sakura Coins)
Special Services (Information Acquisition, Skill Cramming... Prices vary)]
This function was even more powerful than he had imagined. Tang Yu tried selecting "high-end laptop" in his mind, and the system immediately displayed a confirmation window:
[Exchange "Alienware x15 R2" laptop, consuming 1000 Emotion Points]
[Confirm/Cancel]
Tang Yu selected Confirm, and a blue flash visible only to him suddenly flickered before his eyes. The next second, a brand-new laptop bag appeared at his feet, its weight and texture utterly realistic.
"This..." Tang Yu suppressed the urge to cry out and quickly checked inside the bag-a top-of-the-line gaming laptop, in perfect condition, with even an official purchase receipt. The system hadn't just created an item; it had taken care of every detail.
"What are you looking at?" Ayanokoji's voice suddenly came from behind him.
Without betraying anything, Tang Yu set the laptop bag in a corner. "Nothing. Just organizing 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 caught the suspicion rising in his mind-the sight of an ordinary-looking laptop bag in a deserted-island setting was indeed out of place.
"Sunrise is coming. Ryuen might make a move when the exam 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 added 50 more. It was a good deal, and Tang Yu decided to test the shop further.
He tried selecting the "cash" option and exchanged for 100,000 Sakura Coins (cost: 1000 points). Just like before, a stack of brand-new Ten-Thousand-Yuan Banknotes appeared in his pocket, their serial numbers verifiable as well.
"System, where do these items come from?" Tang Yu asked silently.
[All exchanged items have records of legal origin and will not arouse suspicion]
[Note: Electronic products come preinstalled with necessary software; cash can be used normally]
The explanation eased Tang Yu's mind. What he'd feared most was that the exchanged items would be traced to an unusual source. It seemed the system had already thought everything through.
At sunrise, the Class D camp sprang to life. Today was the last day of the Special Exam, and all classes would compete for the remaining task points and resources.
"Everyone!" Hirata Yosuke gathered them for a meeting. "Based on the information we obtained yesterday, the Southeast Warehouse is a key target. Tang Yu has the key, so we need to make a plan to seize it."
Just as the meeting began, Tang Yu suddenly pulled out the brand-new Alienware laptop. "I brought equipment. We can use it to analyze the map."
The entire group fell silent. Everyone stared at the high-end computer that shouldn't have been on a deserted island, dumbfounded.
"Th-this... where did you get it?" Ken Sudō's eyes widened.
"I prepared in advance." Tang Yu remained composed. "I foresaw that we might need electronic equipment, so I brought it hidden in my luggage."
The explanation was barely plausible, but Tang Yu noticed Ayanokoji's gaze sharpen-he clearly didn't believe that story.
[Shock from the whole class +500]
[Suspicions from Ayanokoji Kiyotaka +200]
His Emotion Points quickly climbed back to 19850. Secretly pleased, Tang Yu opened the laptop and brought up the map. "The warehouse is here. It's surrounded by mountains on three sides, with only one narrow 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 others would stay behind at camp to guard against a surprise attack; Horikita Suzune was still in the Infirmary, but she would offer strategic advice over a video call.
"The strike team needs more people." Horikita's voice came from the Tablet. "Ryuen will definitely focus on defending the warehouse."
"I agree." Tang Yu nodded. "But I'm worried this is a diversion. Ryuen might attack the camp while our main force is away."
"Splitting our forces is risky," Ayanokoji said calmly, "but sometimes taking risks is necessary."
It sounded like support, but Tang Yu's Emotion Perception caught a 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 also has a key to the warehouse. What if we join forces...?"
"Work with Class B?" Kushida Kikyo blinked in surprise. "Would they agree?"
"Ichinose will understand the importance of mutual benefit." Tang Yu was confident. "The strike team will be made up of students from both Class D and Class B. That way, we'll have enough people without weakening the camp's defenses too much."
Most of them agreed to this compromise. After the meeting, Tang Yu immediately contacted Honami Ichinose. As expected, the Class B leader readily accepted the proposal.
"Let's meet by the stream in an hour." Ichinose said over the phone. "I've already chosen our team."
As they prepared to leave, Ayanokoji stopped Tang Yu. "Your computer... is unusual."
The two stood in an empty corner. Ayanokoji looked straight at Tang Yu, his grayish-white eyes unfathomable. "There's nowhere to charge it on the deserted island, but it has plenty of battery."
Tang Yu's heart sped up slightly, but he kept his composure. "Solar charging. The latest technology."
"Is that so?" Ayanokoji asked softly. "Just like your 'Perfect Score in All Subjects' and 'Perception Ability'-both the 'latest technology'?"
This was the first time Ayanokoji had so directly questioned what made Tang Yu unusual. The air between them seemed to freeze, and Tang Yu could feel a thin layer of sweat forming on his back.
"Everyone has their secrets," Tang Yu finally replied. "Like your disguise as an 'ordinary high school student.'"
Ayanokoji's lips curved slightly. "Interesting answer." He turned to leave, then paused. "Watch out for Ryuen. His condition today... isn't normal."
[Deep suspicions from Ayanokoji Kiyotaka +300]
[Emotion Points exceed 20000, current: 20150/30000]
Tang Yu let out a long breath. His confrontation with Ayanokoji had been dangerous, but the Emotion Points it brought in were quite substantial. More importantly, this conversation confirmed one thing-Ayanokoji had realized he possessed "special abilities," but didn't seem intent on exposing him, at least for now.
The strike team met Class B's squad by the stream. Ichinose had brought four students, including the sturdily built Shibata So.
"What's the plan?" Ichinose asked directly.
Tang Yu unfolded 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 gear." Tang Yu took Rope and Climbing Pitons out of his backpack-he'd exchanged for them that morning at a cost of 200 points.
Ichinose checked the gear and nodded in agreement. "It's worth a try."
It took the team nearly two hours to make their difficult way down the cliff. When the warehouse finally came into view, Tang Yu's Emotion Perception immediately detected the presence of the ambushers-five people hidden in the trees around the warehouse, their emotions charged with aggression.
"Ryuen is leading them himself," Tang Yu said quietly. "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 shadows there aren't natural." Tang Yu made up an excuse. "Sudō, take two people around to the right and make a commotion. When their attention is drawn away, Ichinose and I will rush into the warehouse."
Sudō left with his orders. A few minutes later, a huge commotion and shouting suddenly came from the trees on the right. Just as Tang Yu had expected, four Class C students rushed toward the noise, leaving Ryuen alone where he was.
"Now!"
Tang Yu and Ichinose rushed toward the warehouse entrance. Ryuen spotted them at once and charged at them with a roar. Tang Yu was ready. He activated his newly unlocked Emotion Manipulation ability, planting an intense feeling of "Hesitation" in Ryuen's mind.
Ryuen suddenly froze, a trace of confusion flashing in his eyes. That brief hesitation gave Tang Yu enough time to reach the entrance and quickly unlock the warehouse with the key.