A Good Show

The next morning.

At the first light of dawn, the entirety of Class D set out, escorting Shiho Manabe toward the Class C campsite.

Honami Ichinose of Class B also brought people along—since Hiyori Shiina was from Class B, they had to be involved in this matter.

The Class C campsite was built on a clearing on the east side of the island. When they arrived, the students of Class C were eating breakfast.

Kakeru Ryuen sat by the fire, showing no surprise at all when he saw them approach.

"Yo, up early, aren't you?" He grinned. "Did you bring a gift, too?"

"Ryuen," Hirata stepped forward, "your student snuck into our camp last night and attempted to poison us. How do you explain this?"

"Poison?" Ryuen feigned surprise. "Do you have any proof?"

Ayanokoji took out the small box. "We found this on him."

Ryuen glanced at the box, then at the bound Shiho, and chuckled. "This kid, he always likes to act recklessly."

"Recklessly?" Honami Ichinose's voice was cold. "That isn't something you can just brush off as 'reckless'."

"Then how should I explain it?" Ryuen spread his hands. "It was an individual act by a student; as a leader, I can't control everything."

A classic case of shirking responsibility.

But Ayanokoji knew Ryuen would say exactly that.

"Then," Ayanokoji spoke up, "what if we report this to the school? Attempting to poison students from other classes violates school rules, doesn't it?"

Ryuen's smile faded slightly. "Do you have any evidence that I ordered it?"

"We don't need to prove you ordered it," Honami said. "As long as it's proven that a Class C student did it, Class C must bear the responsibility. Class points will be deducted, and individual points will be docked as well."

This was a tangible threat.

Ryuen fell silent. After a few seconds, he said, "What do you want?"

"An apology," Hirata said. "A public apology, and a guarantee that such an incident will not happen again."

"And compensation," Honami added. "Class C must hand over a portion of their supplies as restitution to Class B and Class D."

The conditions were reasonable, but given Ryuen's personality, he certainly wouldn't agree easily.

Sure enough, Ryuen laughed, his laughter cold and sharp.

"An apology? Compensation? Have you two gotten something wrong?"

He stood up, walked slowly over to Shiho, and then—

He suddenly kicked Shiho hard in the stomach.

"Ah!" Shiho let out a cry of pain and curled up on the ground.

Everyone was stunned.

"This piece of trash." Ryuen looked down at Shiho on the ground, his eyes icy. "Acting on his own and causing trouble for the class. According to Class C rules, he must be punished."

He kicked him again, leaving Shiho in too much pain to speak.

"As for this poisoning you mentioned..." Ryuen looked at Ayanokoji. "Did anyone actually get poisoned? No, right? Since there was no actual harm done, what kind of big deal is this?"

It was twisted logic, but it was indeed difficult to refute.

Hiyori Shiina hadn't been poisoned, and there was no actual damage; the school might not impose a heavy penalty.

"So," Ryuen concluded, "this matter ends here. I will deal with this piece of trash, and you can all head back."

Domineering, shameless, but effective.

The people from Class D and Class B looked at each other, unsure of what to do.

Go head-to-head? If a fight broke out now, it wouldn't benefit anyone.

Compromise? They couldn't swallow their pride.

Just then, an unexpected voice rang out.

"I disagree."

The person speaking wasn't from Class D or Class B, but rather—a girl who had stepped out from the crowd of Class C.

Mio Ibuki.

Ryuen frowned. "Ibuki, what are you doing?"

"I don't think this is right." Ibuki looked at Ryuen, her expression complex. "Shiho was sent by you; we all know that. Now that things have gone wrong, you're making him take the fall alone."

Infighting?

Everyone was stunned.

Ryuen's expression turned extremely ugly. "Ibuki, do you know what you're saying?"

"I do," Ibuki nodded. "I just think... this isn't right."

She turned to face the people from Class D and Class B. "I will testify that the operation last night was planned by Ryuen himself. Shiho was merely the executor."

A bombshell.

A traitor had emerged within Class C.

Ryuen stared fixedly at Ibuki, killing intent surging in his eyes: "Have you... thought this through?"

"I have," Ibuki said. "I don't want to follow a leader who can discard his own people at will."

Silence.

Then, whispers broke out among the crowd of Class C.

Some agreed, some opposed, and some were at a loss.

For the first time, a crack had appeared in Ryuen's rule.

"Good, very good." Ryuen smiled, but the smile was bone-chilling. "Mio Ibuki, from today on, you are no longer a member of Class C."

"Whatever." Ibuki turned and walked toward the camp of Class D and Class B. "Can I join you?"

Ichinose and Ayanokoji exchanged a glance.

This development was completely unexpected.

However, Ibuki was a formidable fighter, and her joining would be a significant boost. Furthermore, her knowledge of Class C was invaluable intelligence.

"Welcome," Ichinose spoke first.

Ayanokoji also nodded.

Ryuen watched this scene without a word. But his eyes said everything.

This matter was far from over.

At nine in the morning, each class returned to their respective camps.

Mio Ibuki officially joined the alliance of Class D and Class B. Her arrival sparked some discussion, but most accepted it—after all, having an extra combatant was always a good thing.

Shiho Manabe was taken away by Class C; how she would be dealt with remained unknown.

"Ryuen won't let this go," Ibuki warned. "He lost face today, so he will definitely find a way to get it back."

"We'll be waiting," Ayanokoji said.

The following days were relatively calm.

Each class continued to complete daily tasks and accumulate points. Class A remained steady, and Class C, under Ryuen's leadership, remained fierce but had clearly reined themselves in.

The alliance between Class D and Class B grew increasingly solid. Students from both classes often acted together, sharing resources and intelligence.

Hiyori Shiina's foot injury gradually improved, and she could barely walk. She said she wanted to return to the Class B camp, but Ichinose told her to rest for a few more days.

"As long as you are here, you are the bridge between our two classes," Ichinose said.

Shiina understood.

The seventh day, the final day of the exam.

At three in the afternoon, the broadcast sounded.

"Notice: The Uninhabited Island special exam is coming to an end. Please have all classes pack up their camps and head to the pier to assemble by six o'clock."

"The final point tally will be conducted after returning to the school."

"I repeat..."

It was finally coming to an end.

The students began to pack their luggage and dismantle their camps. Seven days of wilderness life had left everyone exhausted, but they had also grown significantly.

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka stood in front of the camp, watching everyone busy at work.

Hirata was directing the dismantling of the tents. Sudo was hauling supplies. Horikita was checking for anything left behind. Karuizawa was saying goodbye to the girls from Class B.

Mio Ibuki walked over; she had now fully integrated into Class D.

"What do you plan to do after we go back?" she asked.

"Continue," Ayanokoji said. "The exam is over, but the competition continues."

"Ryuen won't let you go."

"I know."

Ibuki was silent for a moment, then said, "Thank you. That day... you were willing to take me in."

"Don't mention it," Ayanokoji said. "You made your choice, and we respect it."

At five in the afternoon, the classes arrived at the pier one after another.

The transport ship was already docked there, and Sae Chabashira and the other homeroom teachers stood on the pier, waiting for the students.

The four classes gathered together once again.

The atmosphere was clearly different.

Class A remained arrogant, but there was a hint of wariness in how they looked at Class D.

Class C, led by Ryuen, was silent and sullen.

Class B and Class D stood together, chatting and laughing.

The barriers of class had begun to loosen for the first time.

Sae Chabashira watched it all, a trace of an imperceptible smile flashing in her eyes.

"Board the ship," she ordered simply.

The students boarded one by one.

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka was the last to board. He stood by the ship's railing, watching the Uninhabited Island gradually drift away.

Seven days of survival, twenty-four-hour watches, the poisoning incident, Ibuki's betrayal...

Scene after scene flashed through his mind.

[Ding! Main quest "Uninhabited Island Trial" completed!]

[Final Evaluation: S+ (Exceeded Expectations)]

[Rewards Settled: Personal Points +10,000, Class Points +500, Special Ability "Tactical Deduction" upgraded to Intermediate (Accuracy increased to 80%), unlocked new skill "Situation Insight (Primary)".]

[Ding! Detected that the host successfully dismantled the enemy's internal structure, triggering hidden achievement: "Splitter".]

[Reward: Obtained one-time skill "Defection", can reduce a target's loyalty at a critical moment.]

The rewards were generous, but they also signaled greater challenges ahead.

The ship sailed toward the open sea, and the Uninhabited Island gradually vanished from sight.

But Ayanokoji knew that the real battle had only just begun.

Upon returning to school, class rankings would be updated, resources would be redistributed, and new special exams would arrive.

And Class D, this class that once sat at the very bottom, was different now.

They had experience, they had allies, and they had confidence.

And... a transmigrator who knew the future, and a system that didn't play by the rules.

"Just wait," Ayanokoji whispered to himself, "the best part is yet to come."