Bribery

Honami Ichinose decided to take action. Spending only 50,000 points to acquire something so valuable, she already knew the method—what she had to do was self-evident.

The remaining matters, including communication with the Student Council, no longer required troubling Agent 17. Honami Ichinose also decided that after this affair was over, she would have to spend points to buy him out outright.

There was still some time left. The most important thing now was to use the points acquired from Class A for the Student Council side.

Just then, another message arrived.

[If you think that won't work, there are other plans. For example, have a traitor appear in your Class B, show some greed, play a little clever trick. At the monitored spot for the transaction, knowing Class C's personality, they'll cover the camera and then beat him up. Of course, if they have any sense, they could also self-destruct—I reckon they won't be able to hold back. At that moment, you can show up with a camera, bring your classmates, and pull off a counter-threat. Still, as I said, this kind of thing can be big or small. Between expulsion or suspension and compensation, they'll choose the latter.]

But Honami Ichinose still decided to execute the Student Council's plan. After all, this one required Class B students to make sacrifices. What if she didn't handle it well, or Class C flew into a rage?

Besides, using the Student Council might also serve as a deterrent.

[Thank you, I already know what to do. Wait for my good news.]

Seeing this message, Beihai didn't care anymore.

He didn't feel like he'd done much—just moving his lips a bit to earn 50,000 points. He was easy to support. With this time, he might as well think about how to pet a cat later.

And Honami Ichinose sprang into full action. To be safe, she also took extra photos, especially under the current circumstances.

The situation was far from optimistic. Whether it was Class C deliberately snatching Class B's seats in the library or shoving them, cutting in line at the cafeteria, or even pointing and mocking them.

People have their limits. Before violence escalated into open conflict, before Class B's patience ran out, Class C held the initiative. Some photos of them shoving Class B students were already strong evidence.

Honami Ichinose watched the photos come in one by one on her terminal and immediately began the second step: going to the Student Council to cooperate with them.

The Student Council was easy to find in this school. At this moment, Honami Ichinose's heart was a little nervous, but she resolutely knocked on the Student Council's door.

She thought she'd have to wait a while. In this school, it felt like there was some dragon's den or tiger's pit inside, and her mind couldn't help wandering. After all, which normal school had so many shady tricks, one after another? Someone without enough experience would really be intimidated.

But she didn't wait long at all. Two words came from inside: "Please enter."

Hearing those two words, Honami Ichinose twisted the doorknob and stepped inside. Unlike the majesty and luxury she'd imagined, the Student Council room was quite simple, not as big as she'd thought.

It was just like an ordinary office, with a desk, a phone, documents, and the Student Council President and Vice Secretary. Besides that, there were some chairs placed in front of the desk, apparently for visitors.

Seeing this scene, Honami Ichinose encouraged herself in her heart. But thinking about what she was about to do, she still couldn't help feeling a little uncertain.

Still, she comforted herself: it's just the Student Council. She had been Student Council President in middle school. There was no difference now—just a little more realistic. Yeah, that's right, you can do this, Honami.

With that, her gaze gradually steadied. Remembering her purpose for coming here, she had to be firm. All for Class B, for everyone!

Honami Ichinose's self-sacrifice was quite something. Or rather, it was pretty common in this country. Everything for so-and-so, then bearing it all alone.

A single "you wouldn't want that, would you?" and the match was won, the position secured!

"Classmate, is there something you need?"

Akane Tachibana, the Student Council Secretary, saw the other party standing still at the door, looking like she was spacing out, and couldn't help prompting her.

After all, sneaking a glance at the person sitting in the president's seat—though not shown on the surface—his mood might not be great, especially with the Vice President here too.

At that moment, Honami Ichinose snapped back to reality. A little embarrassed, she bowed straight to 90 degrees. Her eyes cleared, but the determination in them remained as before.

"I'm terribly sorry. I, I was just a little distracted."

The Student Council President didn't mind. Instead, he asked, even with a hint of curiosity in his tone.

"It's fine. Is there something you need?"

Honami Ichinose knew that hesitation only brings harm, so she cut straight to the point, pulling out the photos and laying the crude chain of evidence on the president's desk.

"It's like this. Our class's students have been harassed and bullied by Class C. I need the Student Council's help to intervene."

At this, not only did the Student Council President pick up the photos to examine them, but the Secretary and Vice President also curiously gathered around. Inside were a series of trivial pushes and brushes, only proving that Class C had targeted Class B. Using these as evidence was far too flimsy.

The method was so crude that they instinctively felt this person wasn't much—too boring and childish. They might as well send her off casually.

The president gave the Secretary a look, so she could let the girl down easy when she left.

The Vice President shook his head with little interest, finding it dull. At most, the person who came was pretty—worth keeping around as a collectible to play with.

The Secretary caught her president's gaze and nodded subtly. Then, with a kind face, she opened her mouth to say a couple of words.

"Well, you see, these..."

But before she could finish, Honami Ichinose made another move.

It was a hefty 4 million points. For a first-year to pull out that many points was no small feat.

Among them were 2 million from trading with Class A and 2 million from her own class's students.

She didn't dump it all at once—just showed the amount.

Once the points were shown, everyone knew the score. The Student Council President immediately raised his hand to stop his Secretary's remaining words. The bribe wasn't clever or even subtle, especially in front of so many people.

But those 4 million points were undeniably a symbol of strength, enough to pique their interest.

Honami Ichinose spoke slowly: "Points can be bought, right? Or rather, if this works out, the terms Class C signs—whether it's a letter of apology or compensation—can be shared."

And that vice president unexpectedly reassessed the situation, finally bursting into laughter: "Hahaha! Interesting. What do you want to do? Haha, I'd be happy to cooperate—this feels quite amusing."

After the vice president expressed this, the student council president shot him a wary look, as if on guard against something. However, it was clear he didn't want this matter to fall on the vice president's shoulders.

Or to put it more plainly, this student council president didn't want the vice president meddling in the affairs of lower-ranked classes.

So now, Honami Ichinose had shifted from passive to active.

"Alright, we already understand Class C's severe violent behavior. We'll deal with it immediately and let you negotiate as well.

And turn off your voice recorder. We wouldn't go back on our word over something like this. On the contrary, recording shows a lack of trust in both sides of the transaction."