Class C's next condition was not sent to Gu Heng, but directly to Sudo.
If Sudo publicly admitted that he was Class D's strongest fighter, Class C was willing to withdraw from competing for the Strength Event. If he refused, Class C would specifically assign people to mark him during the official match.
After reading it, Sudo handed the page to Hirata.
"They want me to shoulder the pressure for the whole class."
"You can refuse," Hirata said.
"Even if I refuse, Class C will still keep an eye on me."
"That is their choice," Gu Heng replied.
Sudo looked at Gu Heng. "You don't have a better answer for me?"
"No."
"Weren't you good at calculating things before?"
"I can calculate the cost of both options. I can't choose one for you."
Sudo stared at him for several seconds, then put the page back in the personal section.
"I refuse to publicly admit it."
In the reason field, he wrote: I refuse to be defined as the class's sole fighting strength, but I confirm my participation in the Strength Event.
That sentence made it impossible for Class C to portray his refusal as cowardice.
After seeing it, Ryuuen did not withdraw the marking arrangement. Instead, he ordered Ishizaki to publish the matchup chart for the first leg and the Strength Event in advance.
That would put even greater psychological pressure on Sudo before the match.
Horikita asked, "Should we move Sudo to another event?"
Sudo immediately refused. "That would turn Class C's condition into the outcome."
He chose to keep his event while accepting the possibility of being marked by the other side.
Hirata added that choice to the public statement.
But Gu Heng noticed that there was still an empty slot in Class C's matchup chart.
Ryuuen was