Eavesdropping on the Transaction

Although Onizuka knew full well that this uninhabited island had been artificially modified to some extent, the road conditions remained incredibly tricky.

It was midsummer, and the air was thick with humidity; the soil beneath his feet was soft and slippery, making it easy for his shoe soles to get stuck with every step.

The surrounding vegetation grew wildly and without restraint, with branches and leaves crisscrossing in a way that forced him to frequently push aside vines and branches blocking his path.

Onizuka frowned slightly, but he didn't slow his pace at all; instead, he controlled his steps even more carefully, avoiding the slick ground and gradually adapting to this primitive environment.

He hadn't walked far before Onizuka discovered a messy, trampled path.

The weeds on the ground were crushed and bent, and there were clear scratches on the surrounding bushes and vines—it was obviously the trail of a group that had passed by not long ago.

Then again, with forty students from an entire class walking through a semi-primitive jungle, it would be unimaginable if they didn't leave any traces, wouldn't it?

Onizuka gently brushed the flattened leaves and branches, his gaze following the chaotic trail as he scanned the path ahead.

I just wonder which lucky soul it is, Onizuka sneered to himself while cautiously and quietly moving forward along the path.

Compared to the primitive jungle he had been in earlier, this trampled trail was clearly much easier to navigate; he even deliberately slowed his pace to avoid alerting the people ahead.

Onizuka then followed the path they had cleared, which was naturally much easier to walk on than the terrain he had been traversing just moments ago.

Before long, he saw a familiar figure not far ahead—it was none other than Ryuen from Class C.

The other boy was sitting cross-legged on a giant rock, draped in his school jacket, seemingly admiring the scenery without a hint of caution, his face wearing his usual cold indifference and confidence.

Onizuka lowered his body, hiding in the dense forest, holding his breath and focusing his attention; he didn't intend to continue tracking them, keeping his eyes locked on Ryuen in the distance.

The rest of Class C had clearly moved on, leaving behind a path that led deeper into the jungle, yet Ryuen remained here alone, showing no signs of haste.

However, those people were trivial matters for now; Ryuen wouldn't stay here all by himself just to feed the mosquitoes.

Onizuka's gaze shifted slightly as he noticed two people emerging from the woods on the other side.

"Ryuen-kun, you've been waiting a long time, haven't you?"

The newcomers were none other than Katsuragi Kohei and Totsuka Yahiko from Class A.

This was the first time Onizuka had truly seen Katsuragi; he had previously only been a figure mentioned in intelligence reports, and his bald head was incredibly recognizable.

This was his first time seeing the rumored leader of Class A, Katsuragi Kohei.

At just a single glance, the reflection off Katsuragi's bald head and his steady aura left a deep impression on him; he truly lived up to the "experienced" reputation people whispered about.

As for Totsuka Yahiko, who stood to the side, Onizuka noticed a hint of disdain in the way he looked at Ryuen.

Even though the other boy was the leader of Class C, he seemed to look down on him.

Onizuka couldn't see any commendable or excellent traits in him; he could only describe him as mediocre, with every aspect hovering right at the passing line—nothing more.

"Katsuragi, you guys are so slow. The sooner we finish this deal, the sooner I can be free and go back to the cruise ship to enjoy myself!"

"I don't want to waste this whole week on this meaningless exam."

Katsuragi didn't rush to speak, but Totsuka Yahiko couldn't hold back, sneering as he spoke up.

"It was just a little wait, Ryuen! We have actual business to attend to, unlike you lot in Class C who have just given up on yourselves!"

Before he could finish, Katsuragi immediately spoke up to stop him: "Yahiko! Don't run your mouth!"

Then, Katsuragi lowered his head slightly and said to Ryuen with a sincere attitude:

"Apologies, Ryuen-kun. This forest is much more complex than we anticipated, and we couldn't find the right direction for a moment, which delayed us."

Ryuen just smiled slightly, appearing somewhat dismissive.

His gaze shifted between the two of them, cool and sharp, as if he were silently judging something.

Onizuka stood to the side, his eyes brightening slightly.

What kind of so-called "actual business" could students who had just arrived on this island possibly complete in such a short time?

Even if Class A had set off twenty minutes earlier than them, that was far from enough time to make any substantial arrangements.

He grasped the key information in an instant, quickly deducing the possibilities in his mind, and suddenly realized the truth.

His thoughts at this moment coincided perfectly with Ryuen's—the leader of Class A was one of these two people standing right before him!

How lucky; he hadn't expected to have such a harvest from coming out this time.

And he had sufficient reason to suspect that Totsuka Yahiko was the leader of Class A.

After all, Katsuragi had a steady and reserved personality; he would never care about letting others know of his own achievements, even if they were minor matters.

However, someone like Totsuka Yahiko was exactly the type who couldn't help but show off the moment they achieved even the slightest success.

Onizuka smiled faintly, putting away his calculations, and turned his attention back to the group.

He saw Ryuen take the list of supplies handed over by Katsuragi, glance down at it, and then grin, a flash of mockery appearing in his eyes.

"Is this it?" He drawled, flicking the list in his hand while speaking slowly.

"Hmm... the quota is correct, though. Tsk tsk, to be able to enjoy a week of cruise life for nothing while earning a huge amount of personal points—how comfortable~"

Katsuragi's expression remained steady, seemingly unmoved by Ryuen's mockery, and he stood there calmly.

Totsuka Yahiko, however, turned pale with anger after hearing this, his fists clenching slightly; he was clearly dissatisfied with Ryuen's contempt for their class.

However, just as Totsuka was about to retort, Katsuragi calmly patted him on the shoulder, signaling him not to be impulsive.

Totsuka froze for a moment, ultimately swallowing his words, though the look of resentment on his face remained clearly visible.

Katsuragi turned toward Ryuen, his tone steady and devoid of emotion as he said, "In any case, the contract is settled. I hope you deliver the supplies in full and on time."

"Don't worry, Katsuragi-kun. I'm counting on receiving those twenty thousand points from you 'elites' in Class A every month."

Ryuen's lips curled slightly, a devil-may-care grin plastered on his face as he dragged out the word "elites," making his mockery plain for all to hear.

Onizuka remained quietly hidden behind a tree, his gaze locked onto the three of them, holding his breath without making a single sound.

It wasn't until Katsuragi, Totsuka, and Ryuen had disappeared one after another into the depths of the woods that he finally stepped out from the shadows, the corners of his mouth curling upward involuntarily.

"That was quite a show, wasn't it~"