War: The Aftermath

Day 6, Saturday.

The system forcibly disclosed the current CP of each class:

Class A: 1780

Class B: 1550

Class D: 1100

Class C: 800

This was the final opportunity for inter-class trading. The moment Hoshida No had been waiting for had arrived.

Katsuragi from Class A attempted to purchase detailed intelligence regarding teacher tendencies and exclusive buffs from Class D, hoping to prepare for the final showdown.

Hoshida No demanded 300 CP, along with an internal assessment report on the three modes of the final showdown.

Katsuragi hesitated. The voice of Sakayanagi Arisu cut through the communication: "You may give it to him, Katsuragi-kun. There are some things that, even if known, cannot change the outcome." Her tone carried a condescending confidence.

The deal was struck. Hoshida No obtained Class A's detailed analysis of the three showdown modes, which noted that the Shadow Game mode might require extremely high intelligence analysis and decryption capabilities, while also involving a significant element of luck.

At the same time, Hoshida No initiated the plan he had been brewing for a long time.

Following a hint previously dropped by Chazhu Zuo Zhi, he used his entire personal savings of over 4 million Personal Points as collateral to apply for a temporary War Points credit from the system.

He submitted a complex application, citing several edge cases in the rules and emphasizing that Class D was currently at an extreme disadvantage requiring special relief, while asserting that his Personal Points were reliable collateral.

The Referee Committee (Mashima, Chazhu, Hoshinomiya, Sakagami) held an emergency closed-door deliberation.

One hour later, the approval was announced, albeit with harsh conditions.

Hoshida No received a temporary credit of 1000 CP, injected into the Class D War Points pool.

However, if Class D failed to finish in the top two, this credit would result in a deduction of 2000 Class Points, taken permanently from Class D's total.

If they did finish in the top two, only the principal of 1000 CP would need to be repaid.

The 1000 CP arrived instantly, causing Class D's total CP to surge from 1100 to 2100. In an instant, they surpassed Class B's 1550 and closed in on Class A's 1780.

The entire school was in an uproar.

"How did he do that?"

"He has that many Personal Points?"

"If they fail, Class D will be ruined beyond redemption."

Ichinose Honami of Class B contacted Hoshida No immediately, her tone full of worry: "Brother No! This is too risky!"

"A necessary risk," Hoshida No replied calmly. "Now, we have the qualifications to choose the showdown mode. Honami, on the final day, perhaps we still have room for cooperation."

Karuizawa Kei also sent a message, consisting of only a short sentence: "...Idiot." But it was immediately followed by another: "...Don't lose."

Hoshida No looked at the screen, silent for a moment, and replied with a single character: "Understood."

In the Class A classroom, Katsuragi's expression was grim, but Sakayanagi Arisu smiled faintly: "As expected... is this your true trump card, Hoshida No-kun? Brilliant. Unfortunately, the choice is now in your hands. What will you choose?"

Ryuen Kakeru of Class C was both furious and excited: "Haha! Well done! This is interesting! Sakayanagi, your expression must be quite a sight right now!"

The Class D classroom was plunged into an atmosphere of mixed ecstasy and anxiety. Horikita Suzune stared intently at Hoshida No: "You planned this all along?"

"As one of the options," Hoshida No said. "Now, we are in second place. According to the rules, the final day's showdown mode is chosen by the first-place class. But if the first-place class waives their choice or fails to reach a consensus, the right passes to the second-place class. We need to ensure Class A cannot reach a consensus."

He immediately contacted Ryuen: "This is the final chance. Within Class A, Katsuragi favors Total War, while Sakayanagi likely favors an Elite Duel or a Shadow Game (intellectual game). Make them fight."

Ryuen replied: "I've already handled Hashimoto; he will incite Katsuragi to insist on Total War. As for Sakayanagi, I'll leak some rumors that she plans to sacrifice the interests of the Katsuragi faction during an Elite Duel. As for the rest, watch your own performance."

Evening of Day 6, final CP:

Class A: 1780

Class D: 2100 (including 1000 in credit)

Class B: 1550

Class C: 800

A fierce argument indeed broke out within Class A regarding the choice of the showdown mode.

The Katsuragi faction insisted on Total War to leverage their overall strength, while the Sakayanagi faction favored an Elite Duel or a Shadow Game.

Until the system-mandated deadline for the selection, Class A still failed to submit a unified decision.

The system ruled that Class A had waived their right to choose. The right passed to the second-place Class D.

Hoshida No had obtained the power to choose the mode for the final showdown.

Without a moment's hesitation, he chose "Mode 3: Shadow Game."

The Shadow Game emphasized intelligence, decryption, strategy, and covert operations, which were the fields he personally excelled in most, and where the intelligence advantage Class D had accumulated recently could be best utilized.

The choice was announced; some were surprised, some were unsurprised, and some sneered.

The final showdown would involve finding five Secret Treasures hidden throughout the campus. They were worth between 100 and 500 CP each. Duration: 6 hours. The search process would be accompanied by puzzles and challenges.

Day 7, Sunday, early morning.

The campus was designated as the showdown area. The locations of the five Secret Treasures were encrypted, and the clues were scattered throughout the school, requiring a series of linked puzzles to be solved in order to pinpoint them.

Each Secret Treasure may be guarded by a trivia quiz, a small physical test, or a strategy game; success is required to obtain it.

Each class may initially dispatch up to 10 people to participate in the search, though rotations are permitted mid-event.

The AP System is inactive today, replaced by search stamina; every person requires a short rest after two hours of continuous active searching.

Class D's starting lineup: Hoshida No, Horikita Suzune, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, Hirata Yousuke, Kushida Kikyo, and others.

Class A: Katsuragi Kohei, Sakayanagi Arisu, Hashimoto Masayoshi, and others.

Class B: Ichinose Honami, Shibata Sou, Kanzaki Ryuji, Karuizawa Kei, and others.

Class C: Ryuen Kakeru, Ibuki Mio, Shiina Hiyori, Ishizaki Daichi, and others.

9:00, the decisive battle begins.

Hoshida No did not blindly scatter to search like the others. He divided his team into three groups.

Utilizing the analysis report previously exchanged from Class A, and combining it with his own knowledge of the school's architecture, history, and culture, he quickly established a mental map of potential hiding spots for the Secret Treasures.

Half an hour into the competition, an encrypted clue appeared on the school's electronic bulletin board: "The start is also the finish; the seven-colored ring points the way."

Many were confused. Hoshida No immediately thought the seven colors might refer to a rainbow, and the ring might refer to the track or the clock tower dial. "The start is also the finish"—could it be the starting line of the track? But that was too simple.

Horikita suggested, "The school emblem. The outer ring of the emblem is a seven-colored ribbon pattern, and the center is the clock tower. 'The start is also the finish' might mean the emblem is the symbol of the school, representing both its beginning and its destination."

Combining the actual locations of the school emblem and the clock tower, Hoshida No deduced it was the circular observation deck on the roof of the library.

He immediately sent Ayanokoji and Sudo to investigate.

Sure enough, inside a concealed drain on the observation deck, they found a small box with a combination lock.

The password clue was a simple variation puzzle; Horikita provided remote guidance, and Ayanokoji solved it in seconds. They obtained the first Secret Treasure worth 200 CP.

Other classes also began to see results.

Class A, relying on their massive manpower for a carpet search, found a Secret Treasure worth 150 CP.

Class B, through cooperative decryption, found one worth 100 CP.

Class C used brute force to snatch one worth 120 CP from a suspected location.

The clue for the second Secret Treasure pointed to the old school building. Every class flooded toward it. The building had numerous rooms, and the clues were vague.

Hoshida No had Kushida mingle with the crowd to spread false information: "The House of Numbers refers to Room 203, because 2+0+3=5, which is close to 7."

At the same time, based on information previously provided by Shiina Hiyori regarding how certain room numbers in the old building corresponded to the year of construction, he deduced it was likely Room 107.

He had Hirata's group head quietly to Room 107.

Simultaneously, he contacted Ryuen: "Class A's main force is near Room 203. Class B is exploring the second floor. There might be something in Room 107, but I'm not certain; you can go check it out. Our people will be there too, so act according to the situation."

He was both using Class C to tie down Class A or B—who might have also guessed Room 107—and testing Ryuen's reaction.

Sure enough, Ryuen of Class C rushed toward Room 107 with his people, running straight into the Class A squad led by Hashimoto Masayoshi, who had also guessed the location. The two sides stood in a standoff.

Part of Class B also arrived upon hearing the commotion. Just as the three parties were entangled, the Class D group led by Hirata took advantage of the chaos to slip into Room 107 through a window on the other side, successfully retrieving the 300 CP Secret Treasure hidden in the interlayer of the lectern.

By the time those outside realized what had happened, Class D had already retreated with the treasure.

Ryuen was furious, but there was nothing he could do.

Four hours had passed; Class D had obtained 500 CP worth of treasures, temporarily ranking first. Class A had 400 CP, Class B 250 CP, and Class C 220 CP.

One 350 CP and one 500 CP treasure remained.

The clue pointed to an abandoned hub in the school's underground pipe network. The passages here were complex and dimly lit.

Each class sent their elites inside. In the maze-like tunnels, small-scale encounters and intellectual challenges broke out from time to time.

Class D's scattered groups gradually converged, with Hoshida No personally leading the core members deeper.

In the deepest hub room, they encountered the squad led by Sakayanagi Arisu and Katsuragi Kohei of Class A; both sides arrived almost simultaneously.

On a pedestal in the center of the room sat the 500 CP Secret Treasure.

However, next to it was a shogi endgame about to conclude; the Red side had a forced win, but it required checkmating the Black side within ten moves.

Both sides sent one representative to duel for their class; the winner would obtain the treasure.

"It seems we are facing each other after all, Hoshida-kun," Sakayanagi smiled. "How about you and I take one side each for this game? A battle representing our classes."

"Fine." Hoshida No walked calmly to the board. He took the Red side to move first, and Sakayanagi took Black.

The endgame was extremely complex, and everyone watching held their breath.

Sakayanagi Arisu's playstyle was exquisite and devious, while Hoshida No was calm to the extreme with every move, his calculations deep and entirely undisturbed by traps.

His playstyle was just like the man himself: devoid of unnecessary emotion, focused only on the optimal solution and profit.

The two placed their pieces rapidly. On the ninth move, Hoshida No made a seemingly plain rook move that completely locked off all escape routes for the Black king.

"Checkmate." Hoshida No placed his final piece.

Sakayanagi Arisu looked at the board, silent for a long time, before finally sighing softly and revealing a complex smile: "A perfect game. I have lost."

She looked up at Hoshida No. "You truly are an opponent worth treating seriously. This time, you won."

Ayanokoji, watching from below, felt a subtle twitch at the corner of his eye; even he found it difficult to keep up with Hoshida No's movements.

The final Secret Treasure worth 350 CP was claimed by Class B after a fierce struggle against Class C in another sector.

15:00, the decisive battle concluded.

Final tally and ranking announcement.

18:00, the entire school gathered once again in the auditorium.

Majima Tomoya stood on the stage, operating his terminal with an expressionless face.

The massive screen began to scroll through the final data, combining it with the CP from the previous six days for the final summary.

Final Secret Treasure acquisition value:

Class D: 200 + 300 + 500 = 1000 CP

Class A: 150 + 400 = 550 CP

Class B: 100 + 350 = 450 CP

Class C: 120 + 220 = 340 CP

Seven-Day War total CP calculation:

First Place Class A: 2330 CP

Second Place Class D: 2100 CP

Third Place Class B: 2000 CP

Fourth Place Class C: 1140 CP

Upon seeing the rankings, the reactions below the stage varied.

The students of Class A breathed a sigh of relief, but Katsuragi Kohei's expression was grim, as they had nearly been overtaken by Class D. Sakayanagi Arisu smiled, showing little sign of disappointment.

Class B felt some regret, but Ichinose Honami accepted the results.

Class C was shrouded in a low-pressure atmosphere, and Ryuen Kakeru's eyes were cold and vicious.

Class D erupted into massive cheers, having climbed from the bottom at the start to second place in the end!

Majima continued, "According to the rules, the first-place class is awarded 100 Class Points, the third place is deducted 100, and the fourth place is deducted 200. Furthermore, the individual contribution rankings are now being announced."

The top five in the individual contribution rankings appeared on the big screen:

1. Hoshida No

2. Katsuragi Kohei

3. Ichinose Honami

4. Sakayanagi Arisu

5. Ryuen Kakeru

"Individual Personal Points reward distribution: First place, Hoshida No, receives 1,000,000 Personal Points."

Hoshida No's Personal Points account increased by another 1,000,000 after he had repaid the 4,000,000-plus he had mortgaged.

He glanced at Chazhu Zuo Zhi, who gave an almost imperceptible nod.

Hoshida No nodded in acknowledgment, though the corners of his mouth curled up slightly.