On the fourth morning of the Special Training Class, Tang Yu was jolted awake by a frantic knocking at his door. Horikita Suzune stood outside, having uncharacteristically lost her usual composure. She clutched a notice in her hand.
"Plans have changed." She handed him the notice at once. "Today's task has been canceled and replaced with a simulation of a power struggle involving everyone."
Tang Yu quickly scanned the notice: Horikita Manabu had designed a "Resource Allocation Simulation." All the trainees would be divided into different factions and compete for limited resources through debates, negotiations, and strategic maneuvers.
"When does it start?"
"In an hour." Horikita Suzune bit her lower lip. "My brother... is very good at this kind of game."
Tang Yu activated Emotion Perception, detecting the complex shifts in her emotions-both reverence for her brother's abilities and a trace of stubborn defiance.
"Should the three of us team up?" Tang Yu asked.
Horikita shook her head. "We'll be randomly reassigned. 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.'"
This was clearly deliberate. Tang Yu laughed coldly to himself. Horikita Manabu wanted to test how they performed in unfamiliar teams.
"What about Miyabi Nagumo?"
"He's hosting the Finance Faction's breakout session." Horikita's voice turned heavy. "He specifically requested that I join his group."
Tang Yu narrowed his eyes. Miyabi Nagumo's special interest in Horikita Suzune was no coincidence. It was quite possibly at Horikita Manabu's direction, to test how his younger sister performed under pressure.
"Stay in touch," Tang Yu reminded her at last. "Especially if Nagumo does anything... unusual."
Horikita nodded and turned to leave, her back even stiffer than usual. Tang Yu quickly washed up and changed, checking his system status at the same time:
[Current Emotion Points: 44800/50000] [New ability "Emotion Weaving" awaits testing] [Special reminder: High probability of breaking through 50000 points today]
At breakfast, Tang Yu deliberately sat near Karuizawa Kei. After their secret conversation the day before yesterday, they still kept their distance in public, but had developed a certain understanding.
"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 trace of worry flashed in Karuizawa's eyes. "Be careful. They're definitely plotting something."
Tang Yu nodded in thanks, while noticing Ayanokoji Kiyotaka sitting in the corner of the dining hall, occasionally glancing over at them. Ever since he had seen Tang Yu interacting with Karuizawa, Ayanokoji had been watching him much more closely.
[Attention from Ayanokoji Kiyotaka +200] [Current Emotion Points: 45000/50000]
At nine in the morning, all the trainees gathered in the Main Hall. Horikita Manabu stood at the podium, with a Main Screen behind him displaying a complicated explanation of the rules.
"Today's simulation will test your strategic thinking, negotiation skills, and teamwork." His voice was calm and carried clearly. "Each faction has different starting resources and objectives. Your final score will be based on how well you achieve those objectives."
Tang Yu was assigned to the "Military Faction," the group with the fewest starting resources but the highest military strength. Its members included Ryuen Kakeru and three upperclassmen. It was a dangerous combination, clearly arranged on purpose by Horikita Manabu.
"The Military Faction's task is to obtain enough resources through intimidation or the actual use of force to ensure its survival." Horikita Manabu's gaze swept over Tang Yu. "You may use any means, but acts of violence will result in immediate disqualification."
Ryuen whispered in Tang Yu's ear, "Looks like the president wants to see the two of us tear each other apart."
Tang Yu didn't respond. Instead, he carefully observed the other three members of the group: two third-years and one second-year, all key members of their sports clubs. Their Emotion Clouds were an aggressive red. Horikita Manabu had indeed set him up for a tough fight.
When the simulation began, the groups were assigned to different meeting rooms. The Military Faction's room contained only a Strategic Map and five chairs. There wasn't even any drinking water-a deliberately created atmosphere of scarcity.
"First, let's choose a leader." One of the third-years got straight to the point. "I nominate Sato."
The nominated boy-muscular, with a fierce gaze-confidently puffed out his chest. "No problem. I'll lead you to victory."
Ryuen sneered. "Why should we? Because of your pitiful Judo Rank?"
The atmosphere grew tense in an instant. Tang Yu activated "Emotion Weaving," blending feelings of confidence and obedience to create a sense of "acceptance of authority," then gently directed it toward Sato.
"I think Sato is a good fit," Tang Yu suddenly said. "He has practical experience, and the upperclassmen should lead the team."
His unexpected support left everyone stunned, including Sato himself. Tang Yu's Emotion Influence had worked: Sato's Emotion Cloud had grown less aggressive, and a trace of goodwill toward Tang Yu had emerged.
[Emotion Weaving effect confirmed] [Number of people affected: 4] [Emotion Points gained: +400]
Sato was ultimately elected leader without a hitch, and Tang Yu had successfully avoided a direct confrontation with Ryuen too early. More importantly, he had established a subtle position 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 Main Hall. Sato represented the Military Faction, with Tang Yu accompanying him as an "adviser."
The hall was already filled with heated arguments. The Finance Faction, led by Miyabi Nagumo, controlled the food and water; the Livelihood Faction, where Ayanokoji was, held the medical and educational resources; and the Technology Faction monopolized the communications equipment.
"The Military Faction demands 20% of the basic resources. Otherwise, we'll take 'necessary measures.'" Sato spoke according to the plan Tang Yu had suggested beforehand.
Miyabi Nagumo laughed. "What measures? You don't even have your own chairs for negotiations."
Just then, Tang Yu noticed Horikita Suzune standing behind Nagumo, her face unusually pale. He activated "Emotional Link" and briefly sensed her emotional state-intense humiliation and anger. Nagumo had definitely done something to her.
After the link broke, Tang Yu quickly adjusted his strategy. "Sato, ask for a private meeting with Horikita Suzune from the Finance Faction."
"Why?"
"Trust me. It'll change the situation."
Sato was puzzled but did as he was asked. Nagumo clearly took it as a sign that the Military Faction was divided internally, and readily agreed.
"In the Small Conference Room, Horikita Suzune's voice was low and trembling. 'Nagumo told me to handle "special negotiations"... to use my personal charm to get resources.'"
Tang Yu immediately understood Nagumo's despicable tactic: he was using Horikita Suzune's beauty and the pressure from her brother to force her to do something she didn't want to do.
"Refuse him," Tang Yu said firmly. "Tell your brother."
"I can't!" Horikita shook her head agitatedly. "That's exactly what he expects... to prove that I'm not strong enough and need to rely on other people."
Tang Yu thought for a moment, then suddenly had an idea. "Then 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 she even smiled a little at the end.
[Gratitude from Horikita Suzune +300] [Current Emotion Points: 45700/50000]
When they returned to the main venue, the situation suddenly changed. Horikita Suzune publicly announced that she was willing to act as the Finance Faction Envoy and negotiate with the other factions. She chose the Military Faction first.
Under everyone's watchful eyes, she held a "private negotiation" with Sato for ten minutes. Then the Military Faction suddenly gained a large amount of basic resources.
"What's going on?" Ryuen demanded.
Sato announced triumphantly, "Horikita saw that we were sincere. In exchange, we promised to protect the Finance Faction from threats by the other factions."
This was, of course, Tang Yu's plan. On the surface, the Military and Finance Factions had formed an alliance, but in reality, it gave Horikita Suzune a dignified way to complete her task while avoiding Nagumo's humiliation. More importantly, the alliance put the Technology and Livelihood Factions at a disadvantage.
At lunchtime, Miyabi Nagumo stopped Tang Yu. "Not bad, playing little tricks like that, Transfer Student. But the real show is yet 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 a kind of... anticipation?
That afternoon, the simulation reached a fever pitch. 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.