’Class 1A, just thinking about you makes this event more exciting.’

As explained previously, the rules were simple. It would take place from December 19th until the 25th. And tomorrow, they would be teleported onto the cruise.

As the ceremony finished, or whatever you wished to call it, the bell rang, meaning first period was already over before it started.

Cassien walked side by side with Ren. "Ren, Aiysha won’t be your friend this time around."

For once, Ren grew cold unexpectedly, "I know."

Cassien smiled, "Then let’s organize."

Going into their next period classes, the instructors allowed them to prepare for tomorrow’s examination. They all basically got a small skip day inside each classroom.

"We have to vote for a representative. A class representative." Olivia Cart’s voice rose, "Everyone already has one but us."

"Yeah, we should," Alex Sore, the same man who had been unexpectedly annihilated by Cassien, stepped into the frame. "My vote will be going to Cassien."

Olivia looked at him as if she had seen a ghost. "I thought it was me?"

"I can tell just after a fight the type of person someone is, and I’ve fought both of you. While you’re stronger, you don’t give off that demeanor of a threat. Cassien does."

"You use a hammer in battle, what do you know?" she asked, a smirk running across her face.

"That’s exactly it," Alex replied, "You underestimate. While I was cocky and an arrogant brat earlier, as a warrior, I must not falter like a coward and refuse to admit who outclassed me."

He then looked at Cassien, "Brother, you are a true warrior."

"U-uh, guys, I think we’re getting off track here... we have to choose."

"He’s right." Another boy with glasses walked over smoothly. "We should pick our swimsuits first." A smug grin ran across his face.

Cassien looked at him. ’If it isn’t the pervert himself in the flesh. The one who got caught spying on the girls in the changing rooms. The jobless singularity, Siv Kento.’

He had dark orange hair, brown eyes, and light pale skin.

’How do people still have side-parts?’

"Is the weather going to be nice enough to wear swimsuits?" A girl walked forward slowly into the discussion. "If it is, then I don’t mind his idea."

’Audrey Valeria, the small, short type, not too thin, slightly thick but nothing crazy. And of course, her intelligence. She always believed she was far ahead of this class in every aspect, and the only reason for her being in Class 1C was because of her pathetic and disposable family.’

Some guys in the back were simply playing board games, while other women were too focused on the boys they were going to get a sneaky link with later on.

And then there were these six, who focused deeply on the examination issue.

Most didn’t care because they believed Class 1B and 1A were superior in every aspect. As long as they focused on themselves, they’d succeed.

But Cassien knew better than anyone that that’s not how this academy worked.

"I’ll resign as class representative," Cassien announced, then looked at Olivia. "Why can’t I be your assistant instead?" he asked.

The room’s tension slightly rose.

"I don’t mind it," she responded. "Then let the vote be submitted, and I’ll appoint you as the class rep’s assistant."

Cassien smiled, "Gladly."

Siv’s jealousy grew, "Hey! Let me be representative instead!"

They all looked at him as if he were a joke with their serious but mocking expressions.

"Never mind," he whispered.

Afterwards, everyone’s focus took a turn.

’Looking at this group, I couldn’t really depict who would be our traitor. Maybe a background character? No one to trust at that point.’

"That’s decided then, Olivia as class rep while Cassien acts as the assistant. Now then," Audrey spoke confidently with the others for once, "Who will be the class’s secret leader?"

Cassien smiled, then pointed at the perverted-looking one, "Him."

"Siv?!" Audrey yelled, "Sorry for screaming, but you can’t be serious. He’ll accidentally give himself away."

Cassien smiled, "That’s the point. If we put in someone too unknown, their actions might make it obvious. Siv looks just stupid enough to be our leader, which fewer people would notice."

"Wouldn’t that make it more obvious?" Olivia asked. "It would. We should make it Ren," she whispered. "The way he stutters and goes about his day, I feel like there’s a little tick that makes him quite different from others."

"M-m-me?" Ren stuttered.

Cassien didn’t stutter, "Trust me, Ms. Pres, just this once."

She sighed, "Fine."

Alex walked himself back into the discussion, "Now that we have that complete, shouldn’t we decide what to buy with our beginning points here so we have more time to venture around the island?"

Cassien stepped forward, "Oh yeah, what were they offering as supplies, and how many points do we get total again?" He scratched his head awkwardly, "I wasn’t listening very well."

"We start off with 100 points. And the things they’re offering, let me check the Game-System."

The Game-System was a handheld device, kind of like the Nintendo Switch, in which one could view information about their current examination.

[Game-System SD505 Turned On!][Hello :)]

Only those who could truly afford one bought something like it for 50 Gold. Cassien could, though he had simply forgotten about it.

Olivia began scrolling through it, everyone’s attention taken off whatever they had been doing as they watched her hand movements on the Joy-Cons.

"Alright, here." Olivia finally turned the screen around for everyone to see.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

[Island Examination Shop]

→ Standard Tent: 15 Points

→ Water Purification Kit: 10 Points

→ Emergency Medical Kit: 20 Points

→ Flashlights: 5 Points

→ Mana Signal Flare: 25 Points

→ Food Rations [3 Days]: 15 Points

→ Portable Stove: 10 Points

→ Binoculars: 10 Points

→ Tracking Compass: 20 Points

→ Sleeping Bags: 8 Points

→ Waterproof Communication Device: 30 Points

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

Siv blinked slowly. "Why is everything so expensive?"

"Because the academy wants us to fight over resources," Audrey answered instantly. "If everyone could buy everything comfortably, there’d be no pressure."

Alex crossed his arms. "Then survival itself becomes part of the competition."

Cassien leaned against the nearby desk quietly.

’The original island exam rewarded brute strength more heavily. But this version forces classes to gamble with resources and trust.’

Olivia continued scrolling.

"There’s more."

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

[Special Rules]

→ Stolen Resources Are Permitted

→ Destroying Enemy Supplies Is Permitted

→ Assault Resulting In Permanent Damage Is Prohibited

→ Point Transfers Between Classes Forbidden

-> Personal Weapon Use Allowed

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

"Destroying enemy supplies?" Ren looked nervous again. "T-that sounds extreme..."

"It is extreme," Cassien replied. "If another class loses their food or water, exhaustion alone can eliminate them mentally before combat even begins."

Audrey nodded slightly. "Meaning intelligence matters more than strength."

"Exactly." Cassien looked toward the screen again. "Most people here are going to waste points on comfort."

Siv immediately pointed at the list. "I vote for swimsuits."

"No one asked," Audrey responded instantly.

"But imagine how depressing an island would be without swimsuits?"

"That sentence alone should disqualify you from leadership."

Olivia pinched the bridge of her nose. "Focus."

Cassien walked closer to the desk.

And then...