Once all of Css B had gathered, there was still some time before the first lesson of the day. Wasting no time, Hikaru called over Iose, along with the embers who had first joined his pn—Kanzaki Ryuji, Shibata So, and a few irls. The group formed a circle, their expressions serious.

  They had all heard about Css C's situation and uood that Hikaru was now going to adjust their strategy.

  "You've all heard Beppu-kun's report, right?" Hikaru twirled his peween his fingers before writing one word in his notebook—violence.

  "Yeah, I've also picked up some more information." Kanzaki spoke up, his tone ced with disdain. "That guy, Ryuen, apparently resorted to violence against his cssmates on the very first day."

  "Tch, how did someone like that eve admitted into this school?"

  Ando frowned, clearly disgusted by the idea of using brute force. The irls murmured in agreement.

  "Regardless, what we know for sure is that this Ryuen guy isn't someone who pys by the rules." Hikaru's pen paused mid-air, his sharp gaze sweeping across the group. "If he's willing to use violeo solidate power, then it means he's capable of a lot more than we expect."

  Violence wasly unon in a school setting. In fact, the structured enviro of a school sometimes became the perfect breeding ground for such behavior. Teenagers were proo hot-blooded impulses, and wheions ran high, anything ossible.

  "I had the same thought when I first heard about this," Iurmured, resting her on her hand, flickering in her blue eyes. "If we gh with selling Css C the rules, things might escate in an even worse dire."

  "That's exactly right."

  From what they had gathered, Ryuen had already chosen to use the most straightforward method—violeo take trol of his css. If he got his hands on the hidden school rules, it was hard to predict what he might do .

  The rule set that Css B had purchased for two million Private Points tained far more details than what was iudent handbook. It covered trafort methods, css poiions, and various loopholes—things that could be abused if given to the wrong person.

  "I feel the same way," Shibata added, rubbing his head in thought. "If Ryuen learns about the deep-level rules, he's definitely going to use his methods to force weaker students into being his ckeys."

  "That's just straight-up bullying! How disgusting."

  The girls immediately voiced their agreement, but after some deliberation, everyourheir attention to Hikaru.

  "Hikaru-kun, what should we do? Should we still gh with selling the rules?"

  Meeting their expet gazes, Hikaru rubbed his before drawing a square around the word violen his notebook.

  "This is…"

  As his seatmate, Iose could see his notes clearly. She leaned in curiously. "Hikaru-kun, do you have a pn?"

  "A rough idea, but I o firm a few things first."

  Hikaru raised his head and called out, "Beppu-kun, e over for a moment."

  The rest of Css B had already noticed that Hikaru was gathering key members for arategy session. Though they preteo go about their own tasks, their ears were undoubtedly tuned in.

  "ing!"

  Beppu hurried over, and Shibata slid his chair aside to make room for him.

  "Beppu-kun, you said earlier that Ryuen hasn't fully taken trol of Css C yet, right?"

  "That's right. Acc to Oda-kun, while Ryuen has been using violeo force people into voting for him, he's not invincible—there are still some people resisting him."

  "Oh?"

  Everyone immediately perked up at this revetion, even the girls who had previously expressed their distaste for violence.

  "Tell us more."

  Hikaru gestured for Beppu to tihere might be a crucial opportunity hidden in this information.

  "Oda-kuiohat when Ryuen tried t-arm the css into voting for him, several students actually stood up against him."

  "Most of them lost, but two students still haven't submitted to him."

  Beppu had spent his time in the volleyball club yesterday getting closer to Oda Takumi from Css C. Through casual versation during practice, he had mao extrae useful details.

  "One of them is a girl named Ibuki, and the other is someone called Albert."

  "Albert? That's an unusual name."

  Beppu rying to recall more details. "Oda-kuiohat Albert is a mix."

  "A fner?"

  Shibata looked particurly ied. "Where's he from? Britain? France?"

  "Not sure, but he has bck hair and dark skin."

  "Also, he's really strong—strohan Ryuen. That's why Ryuen hasn't been able to beat him yet."

  This revetion immediately got everyone's gears turning. If Ryuen hadn't pletely taken trol of Css C yet, there was still an opportunity for them to act.

  "Albert's a guy, but what about Ibuki?" Iose asked.

  "No, Oda-kun said she's a girl. She seems to be good at fighting, too."

  "I see."

  Hikaru's eyes gleamed with uanding. His mind rapidly ected the dots, and his lips curled into a smile.

  "This might be our way in."

  "Do you have a pn, Hikaru-kun?"

  "Yeah. I've thought of something iing, but we'll need someone from Css C to cooperate." Hikaru g the 's surveilnce camera he ceiling. A solid pn was already f in his mind.

  "You all remember the student handbook's rules on violence, right?"

  Kanzaki, catg on, immediately reviewed the school rules in his mind. "Are you thinking of rep Ryuen to the Student cil?"

  "Exactly. But before we do that, we need crete evidendeniable proof."

  The handbook stated that any is of violence could be reported to the Student cil for review. Depending on the severity, punishments ranged from warnings to suspension.

  And in the case of violent behavior, the minimum penalty was a two-week suspension.

  That time gap would be more than enough for Hikaru to move in and collect Css C's Private Points.

  More importantly, by the time Ryueuro Css C after his suspension, his cssmates—who would have already learned about the hidden rules—would no longer be easy to trol. He hadn't fully subdued them yet, which meant there was still resistance.

  Unifying Css C against a on enemy was the smarter move.

  "I pn to recruit a traitor from Css C to record Ryuen's violent as. Once we secure that evidence, we'll submit it to the Student cil. If everything goes smoothly, Ryuen will be suspended."

  Hikaru turo Beppu and smiled.

  "You mentiohere's a girl in Css C who hasn't submitted to Ryue, right?"

  "Yeah…?"

  "Sounds like the perfect didate, doesn't it?"