At exactly eight that evening, the announcement came over the speakers.
"Notice: The special task 'Perch Dispute' has officially ended."
"Final occupying classes: Class D and Class B jointly occupied the site."
"Guard duty: Exactly twenty-four hours."
"Calculating task points..."
On the high ground, everyone held their breath. The students from Class D and Class B stood together, waiting for the decisive number.
A few seconds later, the announcement continued:
"Class D receives 100 base occupation points."
"Guard duty bonus: 24 hours × 50 points = 1,200 points."
"Total: 1,300 points. According to the alliance agreement, Class D and Class B each receive 650 points."
"Special bonus: For successfully repelling three or more attacks, an additional 200 'Tenacity' points will be awarded, to be distributed by the alliance."
The moment the announcement ended, cheers erupted across the high ground.
"We won!"
"650 points! And a bonus!"
"Long live Class D! Long live Class B!"
Amid the cheers, Yosuke Hirata shook hands with Honami Ichinose. Ken Sudō and several boys from Class B slapped one another on the shoulders. Kei Karuizawa and the girls from Class B hugged.
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka stood at the edge of the crowd, watching it all.
[Ding! Main Task "Uninhabited Island Trial," Phase One complete!] [Task rating: S (Perfect completion)] [Rewards issued: Personal Points +5,000, Class Points +200 (already included in the total distribution), special ability "Tactical Deduction (Beginner)" unlocked.] [Ding! Hidden Task "Controller of Resources" complete!] [Rating: Successfully controlled a key water source until the end of the task.] [Rewards issued: "Geographical Advantage" points +30, map-marking privilege unlocked (you may pre-mark three resource points).]
The system notifications came one after another. The rewards were generous, but Ayanokoji didn't have much time to celebrate.
Because the end of the task meant a new round of competition was about to begin.
At half past eight, the classes began leaving the high ground.
According to the rules, the next seven days would be a period of normal survival. Each class would return to its main camp, continue completing other tasks, and accumulate points.
On the way down, Class D and Class B walked together. Honami Ichinose made a point of coming over to Ayanokoji.
"What are you planning to do next?" she asked.
"Rest first," Ayanokoji said. "Everyone's exhausted today. We can discuss further cooperation tomorrow."
Ichinose nodded, though her expression was serious. "There's something I should warn you about. Today, we completely fell out with Class A and Class C. They'll probably target us from now on."
"I know."
"Especially Ryuen." Ichinose lowered her voice. "With his personality, he'll never let this go. I suspect... he's already planning his revenge."
Ayanokoji looked ahead. The students from Class C were walking at the front, and Ryuen Kakeru's silhouette looked especially gloomy in the moonlight.
"I'll be careful."
By the time they returned to the beach camp, it was completely dark.
The traces of the fire from the previous day still remained at Class D's camp. The charred frame of a tent stood there like some kind of warning.
Hirata organized everyone to clear away the wreckage and build new shelters. Fortunately, the supplies from the supply boxes included spare tents, and along with the ones they'd traded for with Class C, they had just enough.
Ayanokoji didn't join in. He sat at the edge of the camp and opened the System Interface.
The description of his new ability, [Tactical Deduction (Beginner)], read: "Can simulate possible conflict scenarios over the next 24 hours in the mind, with an accuracy rate of 65%."
Sixty-five percent wasn't very high, but it was enough to provide a warning.
He closed his eyes and began to run through the possibilities.
First scenario: Class C launches a night raid. Target: destroy the water source. Probability: 40%.
Second scenario: Class A sets a trap during a minor task tomorrow. Probability: 30%.
Third scenario: A disagreement breaks out within Class B, and the alliance falls apart. Probability: 25%.
Fourth scenario: ...Unknown? Probability: 5%.
Unknown? Ayanokoji frowned. That meant there was a variable he hadn't anticipated at all.
What could it be?
"Ayanokoji." Suzune Horikita's voice interrupted his thoughts.
"What is it?"
"Something seems strange." Horikita sat down beside him. "On our way down just now, I noticed that Class C's numbers didn't add up."
"What do you mean?"
"There were fifteen of them when they went up, but when they came down... there were only fourteen."
One of them was missing?
Ayanokoji immediately grew alert. "Are you sure?"
"Positive. I counted twice."
Someone was missing. In the confusion right after the task ended, it would have been easy for one person's absence to go unnoticed.
Where had that person gone? Had they been injured and carried away, or... did they have another purpose?
"Tell Hirata to strengthen the night watch." Ayanokoji stood up. "Tonight might not be peaceful."
Before you continue