Chapter 162
"I don't know. How would I know about what happened in Class D?"
With that, Ryuen ignored him and instead looked at Shuichi Kanda.
"Kanda, I heard you set this math problem?"
"Yes, we originally wanted to crush Class C in one fell swoop, but since it's already been leaked, it means it's useless." Shuichi Kanda's expression remained unchanged, showing no surprise at all that Ryuen had obtained the questions submitted by Class D.
"Haha, but I still want to thank you. The question you gave us some ideas. I hope your Class D can successfully handle this math subject."
Ryuen smiled smugly, "Of course, it's not impossible for me to let Class D go. Just hand over the 30 million you have, and I'll give you the answers to the math exam, worth 30 points."
Ryuen's words made Horikita's face turn even paler.
She knew all too well how awful the questions Shuichi Kanda were; even she couldn't get above 80 points, let alone the students in Class D...
Horikita dared not imagine the consequences. If it really turned out that way, more than ten students in Class D might have to drop out!
If Ryuen really succeeds, then Class D will not only have no chance of being promoted to Class A, but it's likely that Class D will no longer be a part of any future class competitions.
And just then...
"Pfft!"
Seeing Ryuen's smug smile and Horikita's increasingly desperate expression, his eyes losing their sparkle, Shuichi Kanda couldn't help but laugh.
Ryuen, you called Horikita just to stall for time, didn't you?
What a coincidence! I was also stalling for time, stalling until the submitted question was already finalized!
"Hahaha, Ryuen, aren't you overestimating yourself? I was just trying to slack off at the last Sports Festival, and you actually thought you beat me?"
Shuichi Kanda's sudden sneer made Ryuen's smile vanish.
"And you, Horikita, you should realize your own incompetence by now. You actually think Kushida is a traitor just because he dislikes Kushida."
"I..."
"What do you mean, 'you'? Your previous voluntary surrender made me think you'd improved a bit, but you've really disappointed me." Shuichi Kanda shook his head. "After you reconciled with Kushida, you probably didn't check with her to see if she was responsible for the leaked Sports Festival roster, did you?"
"Just because she said she wouldn't betray Class D, you assume she was the one who betrayed Class D before?"
Disappointment flashed in Shuichi Kanda's eyes. Horikita, you 'Horikita really far inferior to your brother.
As expected, you're only suited to follow orders, not to be a leader. Your vision is too one-sided; you've actually fallen into the trap set by Ryuen twice in a row.
Seeing Horikita's head almost touching his chest, Shuichi Kanda turned his gaze to Ryuen.
"Ryuen, do you remember what I said when I gave you that twenty million?"
Now that things have come to this, Shuichi Kanda brought up the past again, and Ryuen frowned.
However, Shuichi Kanda ignored Ryuen and continued speaking to himself, "I told you to let Sudo go, and I'd let you off the hook next time, but you took 20 million points from me. Now it's time for you to pay me back, with interest."
"Haha, hahaha, Kanda, you really know how to make me laugh." Ryuen couldn't help but laugh out loud, his tone full of disdain as he said, "What Ryuen has eaten, there's no such thing as spitting it out!"
"Is that so?" Shuichi Kanda grinned crookedly. "Even if a large number of students in Class C drop out because of this, are you still going to cling to those points you have?"
"What do you mean?"
Shuichi Kanda's wicked smile made Ryuen feel uneasy.
"What do you mean?" Shuichi Kanda's tone was laced with sarcasm. "You don't actually think I don't know Karuizawa is a spy you planted, do you?"
Shuichi Kanda pointed out Ryuen's greatest asset in just one sentence.
Ryuen's face instantly turned gloomy, and his eyes flashed with a fierce light.
Horikita Suzune, on the other hand, seemed to have been suddenly stimulated and immediately turned to look at Shuichi Kanda.
"Don't you even remember who told you to deal with Manabe and the others?" Shuichi Kanda ignored their reactions and continued sarcastically, "Do you really think Karuizawa wouldn't dare tell me because you threatened her? Obviously, she trusts me more than you."
"You, you mean Karuizawa is the traitor of Class D?" Horikita looked incredulous, but quickly understood.
If it's Karuizawa, it's possible; she's Hirata's girlfriend, so it's possible she had access to the exam paper.
But—is her acting really that good? When I met her before, she didn't show the slightest flaw.
So, does that mean Hirata was also in the know? And I'm the only one who didn't know?
Are you all conspiring to frame me?
Shuichi Kanda glanced at Horikita, then remained silent, awaiting Ryuen's answer.
At this moment, Ryuen was filled with anger.
I was betrayed by Karuizawa!?
That woman who suffered severe bullying dares to betray me? Do you really think Shuichi Kanda can protect you!?
When Shuichi Kanda revealed that Karuizawa was the traitor he had planted in Class D, he knew he had been tricked.
No, it wasn't just him; this guy even schemed against his classmate Horikita.
On the surface, he pretended to let Horikita be in charge of this exam, and even gave her extremely high-quality math problems.
But in that final moment, it unhesitatingly bared its fangs, tearing not only its enemies but also its own teammates to shreds.
What did you do?
Ryuen's voice was extremely low.
"It's nothing. I just talked to our homeroom teacher right after the exam was announced and told her that I should pretend to accept any exam papers submitted to her by anyone other than me."
Shuichi Kanda crossed his arms and gave a nonchalant reply.
"Are you saying that the exam paper I submitted was never actually processed?" Horikita Suzune suddenly stared wide-eyed at Shuichi Kanda.
"Otherwise what? You really thought that text message was an official notification from the school? Don't be ridiculous. The school only notifies you when your test score is unsatisfactory; they don't notify you when your application is successfully accepted."
Upon hearing this, not only Horikita but also Ryuen's expression froze, because he also believed it to be true.
However, we can't just listen to Shuichi Kanda's nonsense.
So Ryuen took out his phone and, sure enough, found no reply on the board.
"Ryuen, choose now: either return the points I gave you with interest, or watch a large number of your students drop out."
Ryuen's face darkened; Shuichi Kanda's move had undoubtedly struck at his weak spot.
As a tyrant, he would not be threatened by anyone, but as a tyrant, he also had an obligation to protect his people.
If Shuichi Kanda is threatening him with his expulsion, then sorry, he'd rather waste those 20 million yen than compromise; he'd rather fight to the death!
However, Ryuen cannot accept that Shuichi Kanda is now using his class's subordinates as a threat.
"Hmph, you really think you've got me figured out? I now know the test paper I received was fake, but don't forget there are still two days until the exam. If I organize the class to study like crazy these two days, they might not necessarily fail. Most importantly, you can't guarantee that what you're saying is true, can you?"
"Really? Since you're so confident, then good luck to you guys. I'm off."
Upon hearing what Ryuen said, Shuichi Kanda replied and immediately stood up to leave.
Damn it, I've already shown you my test-setting skills, and you're still being so stubborn?
Okay, I like your stubbornness. I'll see just how stubborn you can be!
"Stop!"
Shuichi Kanda taken two steps when he heard Ryuen's voice behind him.
Hearing Ryuen's voice, Shuichi Kanda stopped and turned around to look at Ryuen standing behind him. "Have you figured it out?"
"Looks like you're not going to care whether Karuizawa lives or dies."
"I have my reasons. If you want to reveal her secret, so be it." Shuichi Kanda squinted at Ryuen. "Since I promised to protect her, I will naturally do so. If you don't believe me, why not give it a try?"
Looking at Shuichi Kanda across from him, Ryuen couldn't help but think of...
He remembered how much he used to value this guy, but the guy's repeated acts of kindness and inaction at the Sports Festival made him think that the guy was easy to bully.
Ah, it seems this guy lowered my guard after he voluntarily sheathed his fangs.
He now has no means of countermeasures.
He originally wanted to use the math problems his class had set to blackmail Shuichi Kanda, but now Karuizawa was that guy's man.
In other words, he has already obtained part of the math exam questions, and now Class D is truly going to win big in this exam.
After figuring it out, Ryuen suddenly laughed.
"Hehe, hahaha, hahahahaha. Shuichi Kanda, this is the aggressive you I knew!"
After stopping his footsteps, Ryuen revealed an excited expression.
"That's right, this is the real you. Who was it back at the Sports Festival? That disgusting inaction of yours really made me want to vomit!"
"Only someone like you is worth defeating!"
Looking at the expressionless Shuichi Kanda, Ryuen trembled with excitement, his eyes gleaming with the look of someone eyeing a delicious prey.
"Very well, I admit defeat this time, but I will get my revenge soon. I will show you how terrifying I am!"
Even after admitting defeat, Ryuen was not completely defeated and immediately issued a threatening statement.
"Is that so? It seems your attitude isn't very proper." Shuichi Kanda tilted his head. "How about this, you kneel down and beg me, and I'll spare the students from Class C."
Seeing Shuichi Kanda's arrogant demeanor, Ryuen grinned and then gave Shuichi Kanda a deep bow.
"I'm very sorry, but please spare the students in Class C."
Seeing Ryuen Kakeru kneeling decisively before Shuichi Kanda, Horikita Suzune's eyes were filled with shock.
Is this Ryuen?
That tyrant Ryuen?
Would someone really kneel down for a student from another class just because they're from Class C?
And so decisively?
Seeing Ryuen like this, Horikita felt as if she had never truly understood Ryuen, but could Shuichi Kanda see through her true nature?
Shuichi Kanda, what exactly are you...?
Looking at Ryuen kneeling on the ground, Shuichi Kanda's lips curled into a slight smile.
"Alright, since you're begging me so sincerely, I can't refuse. Tonight I'll give you the answers to the 30-point exams I submitted for each subject. As for the total score, good luck to you."
"Also, hand over all the points you have. Oh, and by the way, transfer the contract you signed with Katsuragi to me as well."
As he spoke, Shuichi Kanda took out a contract.
Upon seeing this, Ryuen instantly understood.
They've actually calculated it to this extent?
Shuichi Kanda, the preparations are truly thorough!
Just how well do you see through me?!
"Okay, I agree."
Ryuen agreed without hesitation. He had already sacrificed his dignity for the sake of the class, let alone these points.
Then, Ryuen took out his phone and transferred more than 25 million Private Points from his phone directly to Shuichi Kanda.
After examining the contract that Shuichi Kanda had produced, he voluntarily wrote his name on it.
After confirming the Private Points transferred from Ryuen, Shuichi Kanda also wrote his name on the contract.
The contract was made in duplicate, specifying that Ryuen would use all of his Private Points and the contract he obtained from Katsuragi as collateral to purchase 30 points worth of answers for all subjects in the second semester's Final Exam.
"In that case, see you later, Ryuen."
Ryuen picked up the signed contract, a sinister smile creeping across his face, and left Palette Cafe without looking back.
Make me kneel?
Did they steal my money?
It doesn't matter!
After this exam, I'll make you throw it all up, and I'll show you how terrifying I, Ryuen Kakeru, am!
"Oh, right, there's some good news for you. The bugging thing you mentioned earlier, I really didn't do it."
Upon hearing Shuichi Kanda's words, Ryuen paused for a moment, then snorted coldly and left the coffee shop.
There are reasons why Ryuen left in such a hurry.