“The special exam for each group will always result in one of four possible outcomes. The exam is specifically designed so that only these four outcomes can occur—there are no exceptions. To help you understand, the school has also prepared a document detailing the results. However, this document is prohibited from being taken out or photographed. Please take your time to review it carefully here.”

  Oh? Here it comes.

  Uesugi Gen straightened his posture and looked at the piece of paper in front of him.

  [Special Summer Group Exam Instructions]

  This exam is based on the "Designated VIP" assigned to each group. By following the prescribed method to submit an answer to the school, one of four possible results will be achieved.

  The school will send out an email at 8 AM on the day of the exam.

  The school will notify all students via email at 8 AM on the day of the exam. Additionally, the students selected as VIPs will be informed of their selection.

  The exam period sts for four days, starting tomorrow and ending at 9 PM on the fourth day (including one completely free day).

  Group members must gather in a designated room twice a day at specific times for one-hour discussions.

  The content of the discussions is entirely up to each group.

  Regarding answers, the school will only accept submissions between 9:30 PM and 10:00 PM on the final day of the exam. Additionally, each student may only submit an answer once.

  Students must submit their answers by sending an email from their own phones to the designated school inbox.

  VIPs are not allowed to submit an answer via email.

  Answers submitted regarding groups other than the student's own zodiac group will be considered invalid.

  At 11 PM on the final day, the school will send an email to all students detailing the exam results.

  Following that was a list of detailed regutions—far more intricate than those of the previous uninhabited isnd exam.

  “VIPs... huh?”

  Beside him, Ichinose Honami read the words aloud softly.

  Upon reading the document, Uesugi Gen had more or less figured out what kind of game the school was pying.

  Next came the four predetermined outcomes:

  Outcome 1: If everyone in the group, except for the VIP and their cssmates, correctly identifies the VIP, the school will award personal points to all group members. (Each student from the VIP’s css will receive the same amount of points.)

  Outcome 2: If at least one student in the group either submits an incorrect answer or does not answer at all, the school will award 500,000 personal points to the VIP.

  Outcome 3: If a non-VIP student submits an answer before the exam officially ends and answers correctly, the student’s css will be awarded 50 css points, and the correct student will receive 500,000 personal points. However, if the VIP’s identity is revealed, their css will be penalized 50 css points. The exam for that group will end immediately at that point. Additionally, if a student from the VIP’s css submits a correct answer, it will be deemed invalid, and the exam will continue.

  Outcome 4: If a non-VIP student submits an answer before the exam officially ends but answers incorrectly, their css will lose 50 css points as a penalty. Meanwhile, the VIP will receive 500,000 personal points, and the VIP’s css will be awarded 50 css points. The exam for that group will end immediately at that point. Furthermore, if a student from the VIP’s css submits an incorrect answer, it will be deemed invalid and will not be accepted.

  Just how many points are "awarded to all group members" exactly?

  Uesugi Gen suddenly perked up. Or rather, anything reted to money always caught his interest.

  "Judging by your expressions, it seems you all have a rough understanding of the special exam rules. Just in case, I’ll summarize them again as simply as possible."

  Chabashira Sae continued, giving an example to illustrate.

  Unfortunately, Uesugi Gen hadn’t been paying attention to most of what she said. He only heard one thing.

  "If Outcome 1 is achieved, all group members will receive 500,000 points each. And as a reward for guiding the group to Outcome 1, the VIP will receive a bonus of 1,000,000 points."

  Hearing that number, Uesugi Gen’s eyes gleamed like a starving wolf spotting a plump little mb.

  One million.

  Back then, he had worked himself to the bone scamming B-Css out of three million points, only to spend it all in a fsh. But now, just by achieving Outcome 1, every student would get at least 500,000 points.

  "One person gets 500,000... two people, 1,000,000..."

  Mumbling to himself, Uesugi Gen exuded a dark and overwhelming aura, before suddenly letting out a bizarre ugh.

  "Heh... hahahaha... If I take everything... that's 8,550,000!"

  "...That aura..."

  Chabashira Sae was visibly taken aback, subconsciously taking two steps back.

  "Uesugi-kun, I must remind you—although the school has indeed promised these rewards, the conditions to achieve them are extremely demanding. Achieving Outcome 1 across the board is practically impossible."

  That was true.

  Ichinose Honami frowned in thought.

  If the only possible results were Outcome 1 and Outcome 2, students could easily colborate with other csses to secure a win-win scenario.

  However, with Outcome 3 and Outcome 4 in the mix, things became significantly more complicated.

  For the sake of their own css’s benefit—and their own personal gains—students wouldn’t hesitate to betray their own teammates.

  After all, compared to points, graduating from A-Css and securing their dream job or university was the real goal of attending this school.

  To achieve Outcome 1, every single group member needed to correctly identify the VIP and submit their answer within the designated timeframe. That meant that if even one of the 12 members decided to betray the group, they could easily push the exam toward Outcome 3, earning themselves 500,000 points and boosting their css points. It was a win-win for them.

  On the other hand, if the VIP kept their identity hidden, they would still receive 500,000 points—not as much as 1,000,000, but still a substantial amount for any student. There was no reason to take the risk of exposing themselves. In fact, they could even mislead others into guessing the wrong VIP, securing an extra 50 css points for their own css.

  As a result, the exam was bound to become a battle of deception, with VIPs struggling to conceal their identities while others desperately tried to unmask them.

  Css benefits and personal interests would turn teammates—who should have been working together—into rivals.

  Moreover, as Chabashira-sensei mentioned, personal points could be cimed anonymously, eliminating any potential backsh.

  With all this in mind, achieving Outcome 1 was absurdly difficult.

  However, Uesugi Gen clearly had no such awareness. He turned to Chabashira Sae.

  "Chabashira-sensei, is that all for the main rules of the special exam?"

  Chabashira Sae paused slightly before responding.

  "Additionally, starting tomorrow, you will be required to attend designated rooms at 1 PM and 8 PM each day. Upon first meeting, you must introduce yourselves. During the designated discussion times, leaving the room is generally not allowed."

  "That concludes the expnation."

  "The main rules have now been covered. If you have any questions—"

  "Then I've already heard everything."

  Without hesitation, Uesugi Gen turned around, pushed open the door, and walked out.

  ---

  T/N: MONEYYYY!!!