The Exam Concludes, Results Announced

The next morning, the torrential rain ceased completely. The heavy, dark clouds dispersed, and warm sunlight pierced through the forest canopy, spilling onto the damp soil of the Uninhabited Island and dispelling the lingering chill and humidity of the past few days. As the school broadcast sounded once more, this Uninhabited Island Exam—a multi-day trial filled with gambits and contests—officially drew to a close.

At nine in the morning, the school broadcast rang out across the entire island right on schedule.

[Notice: The final phase of the Uninhabited Island Exam has begun. All students from the four classes are to arrive at the central assembly plaza within ten minutes for the Leader guessing phase. Failure to arrive on time will be considered an automatic withdrawal.]

The cold, mechanical voice faded, shattering the morning silence of the island. Students from each class packed their belongings and headed toward the central plaza. The scent of damp earth mixed with the fragrance of grass filled the air; the forest was cool and refreshing after the rain, yet it could not suppress the tense, heavy atmosphere weighing on everyone's hearts.

Class D moved slowly. Suzune Horikita's face remained pale, and her gait was slightly unsteady. Kiyotaka Ayanokoji deliberately slowed his pace, walking silently by her side and shielding her form in a calm, unobtrusive manner. Yosuke Hirata walked at the front of the group, his expression anxious as he glanced back at the two of them from time to time, his heart filled with unease.

"Ayanokoji-kun, is Horikita-san really alright?" Hirata asked in a low voice.

"It's fine," Ayanokoji replied indifferently. "Today, we only need to observe; there is no need to act. Everything will proceed according to the plan."

That brief sentence inexplicably settled Hirata's restless heart. Even though he still did not know Ayanokoji's trump card, he instinctively chose to trust this seemingly ordinary boy.

The central plaza was vast and open, surrounded by dense forest. Four simple long tables were placed in the center for representatives of each class to submit their guessing lists. The proctors, dressed in black uniforms, stood on a high platform with solemn expressions, their cold gazes sweeping over the students arriving one after another.

Class C arrived first.

Kakeru Ryuen walked at the very front, hands in his pockets, a flamboyant smirk on his lips, radiating an oppressive aura of inevitable victory. Mio Ibuki followed closely behind, her expression still taut. Her gaze subconsciously locked onto the Class D group, landing on Suzune Horikita, a trace of complex guilt and vigilance hidden in her eyes.

Shortly after, Class A and Class B arrived in succession.

Kohei Katsuragi wore a serious expression, shielding Yahiko Totsuka at his side and deliberately keeping him covered. Honami Ichinose had a gentle look with a faint smile, standing quietly among the Class B crowd, her gaze calmly observing the movements of the other three classes.

The four groups stood at the four corners, the atmosphere stagnant, locked in a silent confrontation.

On the high platform, a proctor opened the rulebook, their voice hard and rigid: "I will reiterate the rules for the final phase. Each class shall submit a paper list containing the names of the leaders of the other three classes. Guessing one correctly earns 50 class points; guessing one incorrectly results in a deduction of 50 class points."

As the rules were announced, a slight commotion rippled through the crowd.

The smirk on Ryuen's lips grew more pronounced. He believed that since he held the Class D Leader Card, he was already in a winning position.

"Representatives, come forward to submit your lists."

Kiyotaka Ayanokoji slowly stepped out of the group. His expression was plain, devoid of any tension. Facing gazes from all directions, he walked slowly toward the long table.

"Ayanokoji?" Ryuen raised an eyebrow, his tone mocking. "Is Class D out of people? Sending a nobody up to submit the list?"

Ayanokoji ignored his provocation. With his fingertips gripping a black ballpoint pen, he wrote with fluid, effortless strokes, without a moment's hesitation.

Class A: Yahiko Totsuka.

Class C: Kakeru Ryuen.

Two simple names.

Kohei Katsuragi's pupils constricted sharply. He subconsciously looked at Yahiko beside him, and a chill ran down his spine. He could never have imagined that the trump card Class A had hidden for so long would be seen through at a glance by this unremarkable boy.

At the final moment of submitting the list, Ayanokoji rubbed a card in his inner pocket. It had a pure white background engraved with the school's exclusive watermark, possessing a unique matte texture under the sunlight—it was the Leader Card bearing his own name.

[Notice: All phases of the Uninhabited Island Exam have concluded. All students from the four classes are to proceed to the central assembly plaza immediately to board the school ships for the return trip to the temporary rest camp, after which the final results and changes in class points will be announced.]

The cold, mechanical voice echoed across the island. Students from each class packed their gear and headed toward the central assembly plaza. After days of exhausting competition, everyone's faces were weary, yet their eyes held a mix of anticipation and anxiety—the results of this exam would directly affect the ranking of each class and even concern the future of every student.

The Class D group moved forward slowly. Yosuke Hirata walked at the front with a look of tension and expectation; the other students were also whispering, speculating about the results of the exam, their tones filled with both unease and a faint, hard-to-detect hope. For Class D, the points saved during the Uninhabited Island Exam were crucial.

Suzune Horikita's face remained pale, but after a brief rest in the temporary lounge, her spirits were much better. She walked in the middle of the group, her gaze subconsciously falling on Ayanokoji's back ahead of her.

Ayanokoji walked on the outermost edge of the group, his expression still indifferent, as if this exam concerning the fate of the class had nothing to do with him. His gaze swept over the surroundings nonchalantly, reviewing yesterday's layout in his mind to ensure there were no oversights—the fake card in Ryuen's hand, his own assumption of the leader's identity, the trump cards of the leaders of Class A and Class C; everything was under his control, waiting only for the results to be announced to witness the final outcome.

Once all students had arrived, school staff organized everyone to board the ships in an orderly fashion. The ferry slowly pulled away from the Uninhabited Island, heading toward the temporary rest camp. The sea breeze was cool, blowing away the fatigue and dust from everyone. On the deck, students from various classes gathered in small groups, discussing the exam in low voices; the atmosphere was filled with both tension and a sense of relief.

Suzune Horikita leaned against the ship's railing, looking out at the boundless sea, and said softly to Ayanokoji beside her: "Regardless of the result, thank you. If it weren't for you, Class D would have been completely wiped out this time."

Ayanokoji turned slightly to look at her, his tone flat: "I said I would win. Once the results are announced, you will know."

More than half an hour later, the ferry arrived at the temporary rest camp. Inside the camp, neat rest tents had already been set up, equipped with medical personnel and supplies for the students to recuperate. The school arranged for students from each class to rest for half an hour, after which the final results of the Uninhabited Island Exam and the changes in class points would be posted on the bulletin board in the center of the camp.

During the break, Kakeru Ryuen found Mio Ibuki, his tone icy: "Was that card fake or not?"

Mio Ibuki trembled, her head bowed, her voice dry: "Ryuen, I... I'm not sure, but I looked at it carefully, and the texture of that card was indeed the same as the school's standard cards."

"Damn it!" Ryuen growled in a low voice, slamming his fist into the tent pole beside him, his eyes filled with anger and frustration. "According to the announced results, we didn't guess the leader correctly at all. If it really was a fake card, we've lost completely this time!"

Half an hour later, all the students gathered in front of the bulletin board in the center of the camp, their gazes fixed on the paper notice. The atmosphere instantly became stagnant, as if even breathing had stopped. On the bulletin board, the final results of the four classes, the changes in class points, and the rankings were clearly written; every word tugged at everyone's heart.

A school staff member stepped forward and used a megaphone to read the contents of the notice aloud, their voice clearly reaching every corner of the camp: "The final results of this Uninhabited Island Exam are as follows—"

"Class A: Initial points 300, gained 50 points during the exam phase, used 50 points, 30 points deducted for one student withdrawing, 50 points deducted for the leader being guessed, zero points for guessing the leader correctly, final total points 220, class ranking 3rd."

"Class B: Initial points 300, gained 40 points during the exam phase, used 100 points, zero points for guessing the leader correctly, final total points 240, class ranking 1st."

"Class C: Initial points 300, used and deducted 300 points during the exam phase reaching the limit, zero points for guessing the leader correctly, final total points 0, class ranking 4th."

"Class D: Initial points 300, gained 30 points during the exam phase, used 100 points, 100 points deducted for 2 withdrawals, gained 100 points for guessing 2 leaders correctly, final total points 230, class ranking 2nd."

As the reading finished, the entire scene fell into dead silence, followed by an unprecedented uproar.