[Welcome Back To The Game-System Shop Player Cassien Artfold].

The bright, deafening light surrounded him once more, the Christmas tree slowly appearing as that same little boy took shape.

The little boy who introduced himself as part of a game-system mechanic.

Then, he began speaking again.

[How are you doing, Cassien?]

"Doing just fine, thanks for asking..." He waited for the interface to pop up until it finally did, "Anyways, let’s see here..."

[Great kill by the way, that was quite impressive.]

"You saw?" Cassien asked, "Then I would assume you also heard about my past."

[I most definitely did, and it was so intriguing. It made me take my eyes off all the other contestants and only focus on you.]

Cassien smiled, "Did it? I wonder how you would react if I told you that story was a lie."

[Huh?] That little boy shook for a second, then laughed calmly, [You’re lying.]

Cassien laughed, "Am I? Who knows, really. Uhh, let’s see here. System interface open."

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[PLAYER: Cassien Artfold]

[Current Points: 20]

[AVAILABLE FUNCTIONS]

→ Purchase Skills

→ Purchase Information

→ Existing Plotline Archive

→ Fate Alteration Items

→ Event Raffle

→ Restricted Items [LOCKED]

→ ???

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"Event Raffles please."

[Coming Right Up...]

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[The Moonlight Forest Ambush]

[The Duel Between Ren and Klaus]

[The Fall of House Platini]

[Aiysha Moon’s First Assassination Mission]

[Victoria Platini’s Betrayal Rumors]

[The Royal Banquet Incident]

...

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Cassien stared at the endless list carefully.

[Well, time to decide. Looking for another raffle this time around?]

"You know me too well."

[I’ve known you long enough now, anyhow, let’s begin.]

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[Future Event Raffle]

Cost: 5 Points

→ Receive one random future plotline.

→ Events may range from minor to catastrophic.

→ Information accuracy guaranteed.

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"Welp, go ahead and spin."

[Understood! Initiating raffle sequence now.]

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[Deducting Points...]

→ -5 Points

[Current Points: 15]

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The little boy suddenly snapped his fingers.

Click!

The entire shop darkened instantly.

Only the massive Christmas tree remained illuminated now, its countless ornaments beginning to rotate unnaturally fast. Golden lights flickered across the endless void surrounding Cassien while pieces of paper slowly manifested in the air.

Cassien quietly observed the thousands of events floating around him like a storm.

The little boy grinned widely.

[Now then! Let’s see what fate has prepared for you this time around.]

The papers accelerated faster and faster.

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[Spinning Future Event Raffle...]

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Then, it finally reached a conclusion, landing directly into Cassien’s hand.

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[Future Event Obtained]

→ [The Island Class Elimination Tournament]

Threat Level: High

Participants:

→ Class 1A

→ Class 1B

→ Class 1C

→ Class 1D

Location:

→ Elaris Deserted Island

Event Summary:

→ First-Year Classes compete in a large-scale survival tournament.

→ Objectives include point gathering, combat, strategy, leadership, and territorial control.

→ Academy ranking changes will occur afterward.

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Cassien raised an eyebrow slightly, "I do remember the main character getting second. But now that every event has changed, there’s no telling what might happen."

[Quite the important arc you’ve received.] The little boy smiled. [Many future relationships, rivalries, betrayals, and alliances begin there.]

Another line suddenly appeared beneath the interface.

[Error!!! Must spend 15 more points to unlock the predicted outcome.]

"A scam, but I’m used to it. Purchase."

[Please continue to support our business :)]

"A true con artist you are... a horrifically disturbing one."

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Date of Occurrence: December 19th- December 25th.

[Predicted Outcome]

→ Class 1C: Defeat

→ Primary Cause:

[Outsmarted By Class 1A]

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"Me? Outsmarted? With the knowledge I have? Inconceivable."

[Did you expect to win everything?]

"No, I just wanted to use an excuse to use the term ’Inconceivable.’ I’ve seen it in webnovels for too long not to say it."

"But out of everyone, Class 1A?"

That alone irritated him more than the defeat itself. He could accept losing through overwhelming strength, bad luck, and unexpected variables. But intellectually?

"No way in hell am I going to get outsmarted by a bunch of wannabe villains."

Something new popped up.

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[Additional Information Available]

Cost: 3 Points

→ Reveal one critical factor behind Class 1C’s defeat.

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"I don’t have any money available."

[Then sadly, you can’t purchase it.]

"Why not just give me a loan instead? I’ll stay 3 points down and pay you back by next week."

[You sure? The price will keep doubling after one week passes by, day by day.]

"Yes, go ahead and purchase it."

[Right away. Now you are 3 coins in debt to us.]

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[Deducting Points...]

→ -3 Points

[Current Points: 12]

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The interface flickered once before new text slowly revealed itself.

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[Critical Information]

→ During the tournament, someone within Class 1C will leak strategic information. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

→ Result:

→ Ambush Failure

→ Resource Theft

→ Elimination of Key Participants

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Cassien’s smile disappeared. "A traitor."

[Seems so. How unfortunate. Losing because of someone beside you rather than your enemy.]

Cassien quietly folded the paper in half. ’First the unknown transmigrator and now this. That’s fine, it’s before the fight between Theodore and Cid either way.’

Cassien attempted to think it over again and again.

It couldn’t be Sophia now that she was dead. Ren was highly unlikely. Olivia, going for class representative, would never let her honor become a disgrace, so that also was a no.

Or perhaps...

Someone connected to another transmigrator. The little boy suddenly grinned.

[Cassien... you know you’re forgetting about your own fate. I mean, what was the reason you killed the protagonist? Check your personal fate; you haven’t checked in a while. Check what’s up with it now. You’ve been so focused on many substantial things, you forgot the reason you originally came here.]

Too many things were happening at once; he couldn’t take everything slow like before.

[Do you still believe you can control the story, Cassien?]

Cassien didn’t respond.

[What’s wrong? Stressing?] The little boy laughed, [Don’t tell me this is how your story ends. Come on, young one, the author had so many high hopes for you. One of the proofreaders even bet money that you were going to win.]

Cassien was thinking about too much to listen to what the little boy was saying.

[So then, don’t scare away and answer!]

Cassien sighed.

"You’re quite the optimistic fellow, aren’t you?"

[Why are you avoiding the question? Afraid?]

Cassien smiled.

"Do you really want my answer?" He asked.

[Say it!]

"Okay then..."