Echo

Class A's base was set in a natural cave that was sheltered from the wind, dry, and easy to defend but hard to attack. Kazama In and Koenji Rokusuke moved like ghosts melting into the night, silently approaching a high point near the cave, using the dense brush as cover to observe below.

At the cave entrance, Class A students took turns standing guard. The firelight flickered at the mouth, casting faint shadows of figures inside. Deep within the cave, all was pitch black.

Kazama In's gaze was as sharp as a hawk's. He didn't linger on the guards or the fire. Instead, he relied on a specially modified watch on his wrist, one Kurosawa had tinkered with. His fingertip lightly touched an extremely concealed micro-button on the side of the watch face. The watch face silently slid open a thin slit, and a tiny, spider-like multi-legged micro-robot, smaller than a fingernail, slipped out soundlessly. It deftly avoided fallen leaves and gravel, hugging the shadows on the ground, and slipped unnoticed into the gap at the cave entrance.

Kazama In's focus was on the real-time thermal imaging and low-light night vision feed projected onto his watch screen, transmitted by the micro-robot. The image quickly scanned the cave interior: most students were asleep, breathing steadily; Katsuragi Kohei sat nearby with his eyes closed, resting; a few male students on duty were chatting quietly near the entrance.

Under Kazama In's remote control, the micro-robot, like the keenest hunting dog, avoided all living things and delved deeper into the cave. Its sensors scanned the rock walls, corners, and ground.

Suddenly, in a relatively hidden corner deep in the cave, behind a half-man-high rock, the sensor picked up an extremely faint residual energy signal. On the rock wall, it scanned an extremely concealed symbol drawn with special fluorescent mineral powder—a twisted, bird-shaped mark, as if torn by claws.

"Blood Crow Mark!" Kazama In's eyes sharpened. He knew this mark all too well. It was a code used by the "Blood Crow" organization to mark targets or action zones! The school, when clearing and setting up the base, had clearly missed this extremely hidden tag.

"Oh? Found some 'beautiful' stain, Arbiter?" Koenji lowered his voice, watching Kazama In's grave profile with keen interest.

"A mark," Kazama In said succinctly, turning the watch screen toward Koenji for a moment to let him see the twisted bird-shaped imprint. "Deep in the cave. The target points to... Sakayanagi? (But they didn't expect Arisu not to participate in this exam.) Or..." A cold light flickered in the depths of his ink-black eyes. "It could be a decoy. To mislead us, or... the ultimate target is me."

Koenji's golden pupils contracted slightly as he looked at the ominous mark. A dangerous curve tugged at the corner of his mouth. "Twisted art... Whether the target is the jewel of the Sakayanagi family or our dear Arbiter, this heralds... a magnificent conflict about to unfold. How exciting!"

Kazama In retrieved the micro-robot and turned off the watch screen. He didn't act rashly. The mark was here, but the assassin was clearly not in the cave right now. They lurked like venomous snakes, only baring their fangs at the most lethal moment.

"Withdraw," he said in a low voice. The two of them, just as they had come, silently pulled back from Class A's base area, their figures once again swallowed by the dark forest.

Meanwhile, deep in the dense forest on the other side of the island, far from all class camps, beneath a cliff, a temporary camp was set up using natural rock crevices and camouflage netting. Two figures were waiting there.

The firelight was strictly controlled to a minimum, just enough to illuminate a small area. One man was tall and burly, with bulging muscles and a hideous scar running from his left forehead to his right cheek. His eyes were ferocious, like a beast's. His code name was "Blood Claw." He was restlessly sharpening a gleaming military dagger with a whetstone, each stroke producing a harsh "scrape, scrape," as if venting a bloodthirsty craving.

The other was relatively lean, wearing a gray-green combat uniform that blended into the environment, a black mask covering his face, leaving only his eyes and mouth exposed. His gaze was cold and sharp, like a precise scalpel. His code name was "Gray Owl." He was meticulously checking a compact submachine gun fitted with a silencer, his movements meticulous, exuding the cold efficiency of a professional killer.

"Why isn't that damn bird back yet?" Blood Claw's voice was hoarse and low, carrying suppressed rage. "If it dares to betray or screw up..."

"Patience, Blood Claw." Gray Owl's voice was like metal scraping, cold and flat. "Nightingale has undergone the harshest training. The neural suppression chip implanted ensures it wouldn't dare defy core commands. It's just Kazama In's 'eyes' and 'ears.' We are its masters."

Just then, an extremely faint sound of wings fluttering came. The deep-blue nightingale "Shadow," like a spirit merging into the night, landed lightly on Gray Owl's outstretched arm. On its neck, a tiny metal ring, almost the same color as its feathers, flickered imperceptibly in the firelight.

Gray Owl's cold gaze swept over the nightingale. His finger touched a tiny sensor area on the metal ring. He closed his eyes, as if receiving information. A moment later, he opened them, a glint of satisfaction in his cold eyes.

"How is it?" Blood Claw asked impatiently, twirling the dagger in his hand.

"Nightingale relayed: Kazama In is confirmed as Class D's leader, binding information verified. Last night, he split from Koenji Rokusuke. Kazama In personally scouted Class A's base, seemed to find something, but didn't go deep. More importantly..." Gray Owl's voice carried a cruel hint of a smile. "During the scouting, Kazama In's left arm was accidentally cut by a sharp edge on the rock wall. The wound isn't deep but affects his movement. It's been simply treated."

"Injured?!" Blood Claw's eyes blazed with bloodthirsty light. He licked his lips. "Great chance! Strike while he's down!"

"Fool!" Gray Owl rebuked coldly. "This is school territory, with government backing. Overt assassination carries too high a risk. Once exposed, we're trapped. Don't forget the organization's ultimate goal isn't simple killing. It's to create an 'accident,' to make Kazama In, that troublesome 'Arbiter,' disappear completely, while causing enough chaos."

"Then what? Wait for his wound to heal?"

"Of course not." Gray Owl's eyes gleamed with calculated coldness. "The news of his injury gives us the perfect leverage. Kazama In... this cold Arbiter, isn't without weaknesses. Based on the employer's intel and our observations, he seems... different toward that girl from Class B, Ichinose Honami."

"The blonde chick?" Blood Claw paused, then revealed a vicious grin. "You want to move against her? Force Kazama In out?"

"Exactly." Gray Owl's finger traced the cold metal of the submachine gun. "Create an 'accident' to put Ichinose Honami in danger. Choose the location... the waterfall area in the island's northwest corner. The terrain there is complex, the current swift, signals easily disrupted—an ideal place for an 'accident.' Then, use Nightingale to send a 'rescue' signal to Kazama In. If he cares about that girl, he'll come alone to save her... and then, our carefully prepared 'accident' for him will unfold."

He looked at the nightingale on his arm, his voice icy. "Go, little thing. Return to your 'new master.' When the time is right, I'll give you new orders." His finger touched the metal ring again. Shadow's body trembled slightly, letting out a submissive chirp, then flapped its wings and vanished into the vast night.

Blood Claw rubbed his dagger, murderous intent blazing in his eyes. "Waterfall area... heh, I like it there. The water will wash away all traces. Kazama In... and that annoying blonde chick... soon, you'll both disappear into this beautiful sea!" His vicious laughter echoed in the silent rock crevice, filled with cruel anticipation.

Gray Owl lowered his head again, continuing to wipe his weapon. Under the cold mask, the corner of his mouth curled into a smile utterly devoid of warmth. The trap was set, the bait thrown. Now, they only waited for the prey... to walk right in.

On the way back to Class D's camp, Kazama In and Koenji felt Shadow return silently to Kazama's shoulder, nuzzling his cheek affectionately. Kazama In gently stroked it, his ink-black eyes gazing toward the direction of the northwestern waterfall area, as if piercing through the dense layers of forest, sensing a deadly malice gathering, aimed at him and those he cared about. The "Arbiter" instinct within him, like a beast awakened, let out a silent growl.