Chapter 121: The So-Called Spy War—Better Called "Werewolf Kill"!
The lights in the corridor were dim and quiet. Occasionally, footsteps and murmurs could be heard from distant cabins, but they quickly faded back into silence.
Hikigaya Hachiman walked straight ahead, with Ichinose Honami and Kanzaki Ryuji following closely behind. The trio walked at a moderate pace, yet they shared a tacit understanding. As core members of Class B, any conversation overheard by an interested party could become a fatal flaw in the exam.
In particular, someone from Class A had already started sneakily taking photos with their phone.
Hikigaya pushed open the door to his dormitory, stepped aside to let Ichinose and Kanzaki in first, and then casually closed the door behind him.
"It should be safe here," he said.
Ichinose nodded, her gaze sweeping across Hikigaya's room—it was just as she had imagined on the island: tidy yet quite luxurious. As a double room, it not only had individual desks but also other amenities. The most beautiful part was the window, through which the sea was visible at any time.
Ichinose sat down at the desk and pulled a palm-sized notebook from her pocket, laying it open on the table. Just as she was about to take out a pen, she found Hikigaya handing one to her. She gave him a smile and began writing rapidly in the notebook.
Her handwriting was elegant and neat, yet she wrote extremely fast, clearly organizing the rule information they had just obtained from Sakagami-sensei.
"The exam groups are based on the twelve signs of the Chinese Zodiac, divided into twelve groups in total," Ichinose repeated in a low voice while writing. "Each group is a mix of students from Classes A, B, C, and D. One 'VIP' is randomly selected per group, and they will be notified via email on their phones at 8:00 AM tomorrow.
Two group discussions per day: 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM, and 9:00 PM to 10:00 PM. Non-participants will have Class Points deducted.
The final answer period is from 10:00 PM to 10:30 PM on the fourth night."
She paused, her pen tapping the paper, then continued writing:
"There are four possible outcomes for the exam."
"In cases where no one 'interrupts' (submits an early answer):"
Outcome 1: Everyone except the VIP and their classmates answers correctly. All group members receive 500,000 Private Points; the VIP receives 1,000,000. Outcome 2: Except for the VIP and their classmates, others fail to answer or someone answers incorrectly. Only the VIP receives 1,000,000 points.
Having finished writing these two, Ichinose looked up at Hikigaya and Kanzaki, a hint of longing in her tone. "If we aim for Outcome 1, every group member gets 500,000 points. That's good for everyone. After all, even though Class B has a class fund, the more Private Points, the better."
Kanzaki nodded, his expression steady. "I agree. Outcome 1 is the safest. Everyone benefits, and there's no risk. As long as we can control our class's VIPs and keep them from being exposed early, we can all answer together on the final day."
With 40 students in a class, without even calculating whether the VIP is in Class B, that's a guaranteed 20 million extra income!
From this perspective, this exam seemed like a "bonus time" event!
Consequently, both of them looked toward Hikigaya.
But Hikigaya sat on the edge of the bed, holding the rulebook brought back from Sakagami-sensei, his gaze fixed on the word "manage."
He didn't answer immediately. Instead, he placed the paper gently on the table and said, "Which outcome we go for isn't actually important. What's important is the exam title itself—manage, to administer or control."
Ichinose and Kanzaki both looked at him, clearly confused.
"Splitting the students into twelve groups so each group has people from four classes—that is the first layer of 'management,'" Hikigaya said. "We can't control people from other classes; we can only manage our own students. But the problem is, we have forty people spread across twelve groups. Can we manage all of them?"
Kanzaki frowned slightly. "Are you saying someone might 'interrupt' and answer on their own?"
"It's not just unauthorized answers." Hikigaya shook his head. "What if someone is bribed by another class to intentionally leak the identity of our class's VIP? The probability is small, but what if someone slips up during a group discussion because the pressure is too high? What if someone thinks they're being smart and tries to lock in the VIP early, but gets it wrong? Our classmates are actually quite eager to work hard for the class. Because of that, 'good intentions' can lead to disastrous actions."
He paused and continued, "Every such instance leads to a class point deduction. And we're talking 50 or even 100 points at a time. Can the students accept that? Even if the class doesn't blame them, they will surely feel immense frustration and regret."
Ichinose's expression changed slightly. She remembered the things her classmates had said to her at the Class B rest area when they first received the school's notice: "We want to
contribute to the class," "We don't want to rely on Hikigaya-kun all the time," "We want to help too."
Those words had moved her and made her proud. But hearing Hikigaya now, she realized that this desire to "help," if left unrestrained, could instead become a liability for the class.
Once it led to class point deductions, those students would feel overwhelming remorse.
Realizing this, she had to take it seriously.
"What Hikigaya-kun means is..." Ichinose spoke hesitantly, "we shouldn't let everyone act freely?"
"It's not that we 'shouldn't,'" Hikigaya said. "It's that we 'can't.' At least not in this exam."
He stood up and walked to the window, his gaze landing on the pitch-black sea outside.
"Remember the information Sakagami-sensei revealed during my conversation with him? The distribution of VIPs this time is different from previous years. I suspect the VIPs follow no discernible pattern and are likely concentrated in Class A and our Class B."
"Wait, what?"
Hearing this, Kanzaki sucked in a cold breath. He quickly flipped through his notebook and wrote a string of numbers in the margin:
Class A: 1175 points Class B: 1011 points Class C: 450 points Class D: 130 points
"If Class B has six VIPs..." Kanzaki's voice sounded a bit dry, "and all of them are guessed by other classes, we lose 600 points. 1011 minus 600 leaves only 411 points—we'd drop straight to Class C, maybe even close to Class D. Because if Class D guesses them, they gain points too..."
Ichinose's fingers tightened slightly. Looking at the numbers on the paper, she truly felt the weight of this exam for the first time.
It wasn't a simple game or a basic deduction exercise.
It was real risk. While everyone was still high-spiritedly aiming for Class A, they were suddenly told that one mistake in this exam could drop them to Class D?
Wait, what?
That's absurd!
"So..." Ichinose looked up at Hikigaya, her tone turning solemn, "we must control everyone to ensure they have no chance of exposing the VIP."
"Correct," Hikigaya nodded. "But control isn't achieved through commands; it's achieved through methods."
"Actually, three days ago, when I met Sakayanagi, I noticed something," Hikigaya said.
"She was holding a spare phone."
"A spare?" Kanzaki was stunned, clearly not following.
"When we left school, Sakayanagi entrusted her phone to Kamuro," Hikigaya explained. "Her original plan was likely for Kamuro to handle her phone affairs; if the exam required a phone, Kamuro could do it for her. But now she's here in person, and even though she hasn't met Kamuro yet, she already has a grey phone in her hand."
He paused and added, "I guess it's a temporary spare she requested from the school. The school allows students to apply for a spare if their phone is lost or damaged.
After all, everyone has one phone to use until graduation, so damage is bound to happen, yet we need our phones at all times," Hikigaya added.
Ichinose's eyes lit up. "You mean... we can apply for spares too?"
"It's not 'can,'" Hikigaya said. "It's 'must.'"
"Tomorrow at 8:00 AM, the school will send the VIP notification to everyone's phone. If the students use their own phones, everyone will know immediately if they are the VIP. Then what?"
He looked at Ichinose.
"An hour later, they have to go to their groups to discuss with other classes. No matter how careful or cautious they are, as long as they harbor the secret 'I am the VIP,' it's inevitable that their words or actions will show a flaw. There's no guarantee the students in their group won't notice a subtle shift in performance."
Ichinose fell silent.
Furthermore, according to Hikigaya, a large number of VIPs might be generated within Class B this time, meaning several students would face such hidden pressure—and in completely unfamiliar groups, facing strangers.
"So, we are going to confiscate everyone's phones," Hikigaya said. "Replace them with spares. That way, at 8:00 AM tomorrow, they won't receive the VIP notification and won't know if they are the VIP or not.
If they don't know, there is no pressure," Hikigaya said.
Kanzaki's brow unfurled. "As long as they don't know they are the VIP, they can't possibly expose it. They will discuss and deduce normally in their groups, just like everyone else. No flaws."
Ichinose's eyes were completely alight now. She finally understood Hikigaya's intention.
"That way, the only ones who truly know the VIP identities will be the few of us," she said. "We can coordinate and arrange everything to ensure no one is exposed early or loses points by interrupting."
"Exactly," Hikigaya nodded. "And if other classes adopt the same strategy, we can turn it around and use that against them. For example..."
He paused, a flicker of thought crossing his eyes.
"Forget it, we'll talk about that later."
Ichinose and Kanzaki exchanged a look but didn't press him. They knew Hikigaya's mind worked much faster than theirs; questioning him now would only interrupt his train of thought.
"Then, I'll take charge of the spare phones," Ichinose volunteered. "The teachers' briefing lasts until ten. I'll go to Hoshinomiya-sensei to apply afterward. Forty people in Class B means forty spares. The points will come from the class fund."
Hikigaya nodded. "Fine. But be quick; it must be done before 8:00 AM tomorrow. Also, keep the application low-key; don't attract the attention of other classes."
"Understood." Ichinose wrote "Spare Phones" in her notebook and circled it.
Kanzaki spoke up too. "I'll be responsible for notifying the class. The school will send the VIP info at eight, so I'll use the excuse that this exam is vital and have everyone gather in the cafeteria at seven. I'll find a place we can reserve for ourselves tomorrow morning."
"We also need a phone authorization form," Hikigaya added. "The exam forbids violent means. We need their consent to use or control their phones. Have them authorize me to use their phones—of course, suggest they set up private sections first to lock away their personal information."
"Understood!" Kanzaki recorded it instantly.
With that, the division of labor was clear.
As Ichinose finished the last line, she closed her notebook and let out a long breath. She looked up at Hikigaya with a hint of complexity in her eyes.
"Hikigaya-kun."
"Yeah?"
"Thank you," Ichinose said earnestly. "For thinking so much for Class B."
Hikigaya was slightly taken aback, then shook his head gently. "No need to thank me. I'm a member of Class B too."
Ichinose smiled, turned, and left with Kanzaki.
After the door closed, silence returned to the room.
Hikigaya walked to the window, his gaze falling on the sea. In the distance, the ship's lights swayed slightly in the waves like floating sparks.
Sakayanagi had arrived, the exam had changed, and the risks were higher.
What he had to do was lead Class B safely through this storm. Of course, just "passing through" wasn't enough.
He wanted Class B to rise to Class A in this exam.
Even though Sakayanagi Arisu had come to the ship and joined this exam (unlike in the original story), how many points Class A would lose wasn't up to her to decide!
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A little later, at 10:06 PM, Class A rest area.
The lights illuminated the entire space. Forty students sat around tables cobbled together for the occasion. The atmosphere was much more solemn than during the day. Sakayanagi Arisu sat in the primary seat, her ever-present cane leaning by her side, with the rulebook brought back from Class D's Chabashira-sensei spread before her.
Katsuragi Kohei sat opposite her. His bald head shimmered under the lights, but his expression was steady, though tinged with an indescribable exhaustion.
Members of the Sakayanagi faction were clustered on the left, the Katsuragi faction on the right, with a faint, invisible boundary in the middle. The scene was no different from a typical class meeting.
"Everyone is here." Kamuro Masumi stood by the door. After confirming the last student had taken their seat, she closed the door and returned to her spot.
Katsuragi stood up and walked to the whiteboard. He picked up a marker and quickly wrote a few lines:
"Estimating three VIPs per class across the four classes, as long as we protect our own class's VIP info and guess the others correctly, we gain 100 points per correct guess. That's a qualitative leap."
He added the figure "900 points" after Class A but then erased it.
"Because this aggressive approach is too risky. Once we attack, other classes will surely react." Katsuragi put down the pen and turned to the crowd. "And with two group discussions daily, we have to sit with people from other classes. It's easy to leak information. If one of our people is baited into talking, the consequences will be disastrous."
He paused, adding emphasis.
"So I suggest we adopt the safest strategy for this exam—complete passivity. No initiative, no taking a stance, no participation in any form of probing. If we don't speak, we won't be exposed. By doing this, Class A will remain Class A."
Having said this, he looked at Sakayanagi, clearly seeking her opinion.
Sakayanagi didn't speak; she just stared quietly at the words on the whiteboard. Over several seconds, she shook her head gently.
"Katsuragi-kun, your plan is safe, I admit. But I don't think we can win that way."
Katsuragi frowned slightly. "Can't win?"
"The name of the exam is 'manage,' administration and control." Sakayanagi's voice remained sweet but carried a note of certainty. "Why call it that? Because the true test of this exam isn't whether you can keep a secret, but whether you can control the situation."
She paused, her gaze landing on Katsuragi's face.
"Furthermore, our opponent is Class B's Hikigaya Hachiman. Conventional responses won't work against that man."
She didn't finish the sentence, but everyone understood her meaning.
Hikigaya Hachiman—the man who had played Classes A and C like fiddles during the deserted island exam.
Conventional strategies in front of him were likely just lambs for the slaughter.
This was perhaps why Sakayanagi had paid 1 million points and traveled a great distance specifically to participate.
Katsuragi remained silent for a few seconds before slowly asking, "Then what do you suggest?"
Sakayanagi didn't answer immediately but looked at Kamuro Masumi.
Kamuro was startled for a moment, then reacted, standing up to say, "I have a proposal. Back during the island exam, there was one person in our class who performed very uniquely."
She looked toward a corner.
Everyone followed her gaze—there sat a girl with long golden hair, exquisite features, and a tranquil aura. She sat quietly, as if the surrounding discussion had nothing to do with her. Her presence was very low.
Yet she was also very striking in the class. This person was Shiraishi Asuka.
"Shiraishi-san has a very strong sixth sense. During the previous deserted island exam, she was the one who threw cold water on everyone when they thought they were going to win," Kamuro said seriously. "Letting her participate in strategy formulation might help us."
Sakayanagi nodded slightly, seemingly surprised by Kamuro's recommendation but not opposing it.
"Kamuro, you certainly know how to recommend people."
Kamuro shrugged. "I'm not some stiff, old-fashioned person. If someone has talent, naturally we use it."
Shiraishi Asuka remained silent for a few seconds. Though she had some reservations about Kamuro describing her as "the one who threw cold water when everyone thought they'd win," she was, after all, someone who had chosen the Sakayanagi faction. She previously had a low presence, but now it seemed she had found a path for promotion into Little Princess Sakayanagi's sights.
If she could speak, she didn't mind.
"I think, rather than focusing on what we do, perhaps we can see what other classes do—for example, Class B, or... Class D."
"Class D? You mean Ayanokouji Kiyotaka from Class D?" Katsuragi's subordinate, Yahiko, quickly brought up the name.
According to Ryuen's words and Katsuragi's own review, the one who dealt the final blow to Class A wasn't just Classes B and C, but also Class D—specifically, Ayanokouji.
"I don't think we need to worry about Ayanokouji-kun for now," Sakayanagi dismissed him quickly. "He hasn't even fully controlled Class D yet; he lacks the power to manipulate the exam. However, we can extend an olive branch to Class D."
Sakayanagi continued. "1,000,000 points to buy VIP information from Class D."
As a VIP, among the four outcomes, the only way to lose the point reward is to have your identity guessed. Otherwise, every path yields at least 1,000,000 points. If Class A offered 1,000,000 points to buy the info, the student could ensure they got that million immediately.
Given that Class D was like a sieve, such a bounty might truly allow them to quickly master Class D's VIP information.
Looking at it that way.
Even if Class D had Ayanokouji, they seemed to be of no concern.
Next, as if disposing of an unimportant errand, Sakayanagi looked back at the crowd. Her expression became serious.
"Next, I want to say something very important."
Everyone fell silent, their eyes focused on her.
"The risks of this exam are much greater than you imagine," Sakayanagi said. "If our class's VIP information is leaked and correctly guessed by another class early, we lose 100 points. The class that guesses correctly gains 100 points. That one exchange is a 200-point gap."
She paused, her voice gaining weight as she looked at Hashimoto Masayoshi.
"So, I want to emphasize one thing. No matter who it is, no matter the method, you must not leak information you know. Even if someone tempts you with points, you must remain tight-lipped."
Her voice was still sweet, but it carried a bone-chilling coldness.
"If anyone dares to betray the class, suffer the consequences."
Hashimoto's heart skipped a beat, but his facial expression didn't change at all.
He knew Sakayanagi was calling him out.
During the island exam, he had sold Class A's leader info to Ryuen. Although he had hidden it from Katsuragi, it was impossible for Sakayanagi to be entirely unaware.
But he couldn't admit it.
Once he admitted it, he would be branded a class traitor, and perhaps he alone would be held responsible for that 52.8 million debt. The 1.32 million each student was supposed to share would become his sin alone.
He couldn't afford the gamble.
So, he could only keep acting.
Sakayanagi's gaze swept over his face without lingering. She withdrew her eyes and stood up, leaning lightly on her cane.
"And the most dangerous is not Class C, nor Class D; it is Class B. If Hikigaya-kun gets the info on our class's VIP, he will certainly use it to leverage even more points. He harvested points in the island exam, and his goal this time certainly isn't Private Points; he will be aiming for a massive amount of Class Points.
Since Class C has a debt agreement with him, if he targets Class C too much, they won't be able to pay him back. Therefore, the ones he can harvest are our class and Class D," Sakayanagi said.
"Gentlemen, I think you all understand the gravity of this exam now.
So, once you receive the school's text tomorrow, those confirmed as VIPs must report to me immediately."
She paused, her gaze sweeping across everyone.
And those present—whether from the Sakayanagi faction or the Katsuragi faction, including Katsuragi himself—did not object.
Because they all knew that if this exam was handled poorly, they would fall from the Class A position. In a terrifying scenario, they might even drop to Class C.
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Elsewhere.
Class C rest area.
Ryuen Kakeru sat by the window, legs propped on the table, holding a can of soda. His gaze swept over the few people standing before him. Ibuki Mio stood leaning against the wall, arms crossed.
Kaneda Satoru, who looked somewhat like the "Uncle from Another World," pushed his glasses up. He held a notebook and was looking down, writing something.
Shiina Hiyori sat on a nearby chair. Her silver-long hair shimmered softly under the lights. She held a book in her hands but wasn't reading it. Ishizaki Daichi stood by Ryuen's side, scratching his head occasionally, while Albert stood like an iron tower by the door, silent.
"So, after three months, my core team is still just these few people? No development at all?" Ryuen put down the soda can, his tone dissatisfied. "Fine, whatever. Too many people, too many loose lips."
He looked at Kaneda Satoru.
Kaneda looked up, pushed his glasses, and said steadily, "Ryuen, you want my thoughts on this exam?"
"Duh," Ryuen rolled his eyes. "Why else would I call you here?"
Kaneda didn't mind his attitude. He opened his notebook and said quickly, "The point spread in this exam is huge. Guessing a VIP early is worth 100 points. Opportunity and risk coexist."
He paused and wrote a string of numbers in the notebook.
"Our Class C current evaluation score is 450 points. 350 of that is for debt repayment; what truly belongs to us is only 100 points."
He looked at Ryuen.
"In other words, we can afford to guess wrong on maybe two or three VIPs at most. After losing 100 points, our own score is gone. If we lose more, we'll have to dip into the debt repayment portion. When that happens... we'll be in a bind."
"A bind?" Ryuen sneered. "You mean we won't even be able to pay the debt, and we'll be completely under Hikigaya's thumb? Then all our future plans will have to be focused solely on gaining points?"
Kaneda didn't argue; he just nodded.
Ryuen was silent for a few seconds. He certainly disliked the feeling of being passive. He turned his head to look at Shiina Hiyori.
Hiyori was looking down, seemingly deep in thought. Sensing Ryuen's gaze, she looked up.
"Ryuen-kun, what did you want to ask me?"
"Duh, obviously your thoughts on the exam," Ryuen said. "If you hadn't seen through that Hikigaya guy's deduction that I was the leader during the island exam and pulled him to our Class C, we would have been in worse shape. Even though we were ultimately screwed over by that bastard Ayanokouji, at least Hikigaya didn't write down our Class C leader."
He paused, his eyes turning predatory.
"I'll get my revenge sooner or later. And Class A—I'm going to tear them down!"
Hiyori nodded gently but didn't reply. She fell silent for a few seconds before slowly speaking.
"The point spread in this exam is indeed very large. But I'm wondering about one thing."
Ryuen raised an eyebrow. "What?"
"Tonight was just for notifying the exam rules. Why arrange the groups this way? The teachers spent a full four hours announcing the rules," Hiyori said. "While we do have to form groups with other classes later, rule notification could have been done collectively. There was no need to separate everyone. It's inefficient and wastes manpower."
Ryuen frowned. "You mean there's another meaning behind it?"
"I think so," Hiyori said earnestly. "The school doesn't do meaningless things. They thus arrange it this way, they must be conveying some kind of information. Only those who think seriously will find it."
She paused and continued.
"I suspect the VIPs this time might follow a pattern. If it were purely random, the only solution would be to identify the VIP through group discussions. But everyone's observation and reasoning skills are different. Some can see through a lie instantly; others see nothing. To
require everyone to do it is too difficult. We can't control our entire class, and neither can the other classes."
Ryuen nodded thoughtfully.
"So, the pattern is the key. If we can find the pattern, we can lock in the VIP identities ahead of time without relying on group discussions."
"Yes," Hiyori nodded. "But what that pattern is requires further observation."
Ryuen was silent for a few seconds before suddenly asking, "So what's your plan?"
Hiyori was briefly stunned, then understood his meaning.
She lowered her eyelids and said softly, "In the next two days, I want to meet with Hikigaya-kun."
Ryuen's brow furrowed immediately. "Meet that guy? Are you crazy? Last time on the island, he almost saw through your every thought."
"That's exactly why I have to go." Hiyori looked up, her gaze clear yet firm. "Before the exam started, he refused an alliance with Class C. This shows he already has his own judgment regarding this exam. Furthermore, that judgment made him feel that allying with us would actually be harmful to Class B."
She paused. "I want to understand why."
Ryuen was silent for a few seconds before finally nodding.
"Fine, go. But be careful; don't let that guy bait any info out of you."
Hiyori gave a light smile. "Don't worry, Ryuen-kun."
She stood up and put her book in her bag.
"Then I'll be heading back."
Ibuki Mio suddenly spoke up. "Want me to go with you?"
Ibuki felt she wasn't useful here, but she knew Hiyori could hear Hikigaya's "inner voice." So rather than saying Hiyori was going to find out why Hikigaya wouldn't ally with Class C, it was more accurate to say Hiyori was going to eavesdrop on Hikigaya's arrangements for this exam to obtain vital intel.
That point was undoubtedly very important.
Hiyori clearly understood Ibuki's intention, but she shook her head. "No need."
She walked to the door, suddenly stopped, and looked back at Ryuen.
"Ryuen-kun, this exam might be much more complex than we imagine. Alliances or confrontations aside, the most important thing is that we don't let others set the pace.
If it's determined that the VIPs follow a pattern, then based on my deduction, relying solely on our class's VIP info won't be enough. We might need to find VIPs from other classes to derive the pattern, which will require spending points."
In other words, if they were to follow Hiyori's theory that there's a pattern, they would need money to bribe students from other classes—like Class D.
So they needed to prepare money. But Class C currently... had no points. They'd have to borrow. And currently, there was only one person with that kind of capital.
Class B's Hikigaya Hachiman.
Ryuen looked at her without speaking.
Hiyori simply pushed the door and left.
Silence filled the room for a few seconds. Kaneda Satoru pushed his glasses and whispered, "Shiina-san is right. This exam is indeed not simple."
Ryuen leaned back in his chair, his gaze on the ceiling.
"Fuck," he couldn't help but say.
So, the debt was going to increase again. He was suddenly beginning to realize—did they really have to push so hard for points?
And finally, it was 10:00 PM at the Class D rest area. Well, in this area, there weren't really any students discussing the exam.
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