Classroom of the Elite: Surviving with the Intel System — Chapter 58

Chapter 58: Welcome to the Surveillance Supremacy ClassroomYou're reading this on the wrong site. This chapter was translated by Elysian Reads and posted for free at elysianreads.com — if you're seeing it anywhere else, it was copied without permission. Read it at the source so the people who actually did the work get the credit.

Horikita Manabu could not immediately decipher what this “fallback bargaining chip that all four classes would find hard to refuse” actually entailed.

At the very least, he could be absolutely certain it was not a simple intelligence transaction. As the first-year student sitting across from him had just pointed out, a commodity like raw information could often only be sold once. By the time one attempted a secondary sale, the data had likely already bled through other channels, rendering it worthless.

However, Shimizu Akira was no riddle-maker. He did not drag out the suspense, revealing the answer with a straightforward, almost chilling calm: “I intend to purchase the eight surveillance devices from the School Administration, covering all four First Year classrooms, and completely acquire their monitoring rights.”

“Surveillance devices…”

Manabu was slightly taken aback. The words hung in the quiet air of the room as he fell into a brief, heavy contemplation. A few seconds later, a sharp gleam of realization flashed behind his glasses.

As the absolute leader of Class A and the reigning Student Council President, his analytical processing speed was second to none. He almost instantly deconstructed Akira’s underlying intentions, breaking the ruthless strategy down into four distinct pillars.

First, the point economy. At the end of every month, the School Administration deducted Class Points based on surveillance records. The primary infractions included behaviors such as tardiness, truancy, whispering during lectures, and the unauthorized use of mobile phones. Upon careful consideration, one would realize that the vast majority of these deductions stemmed directly from the unblinking lenses of those eight cameras installed across the four classrooms. Theoretically, if a class’s surveillance records were to “accidentally” go missing or be wiped clean, that class could easily achieve a perfect 1,000-point evaluation in their very first month.

Second, the absolute monopoly on information. These surveillance devices would become an unmatched, continuous source of intelligence. The four classes were locked in a zero-sum competition; mastering the daily activities, interpersonal dynamics, and hidden conflicts of the enemy was equivalent to holding the strategic initiative by the throat.

Third, the extortion market. Assuming this boy successfully purchased the monitoring rights, he wouldn’t just sit on them. He could lease them back to the original class at an exorbitant premium, or better yet, transfer them to a higher-bidding competitor through a ruthless auction. He would bleed the highest bidder dry.

Fourth, the psychological warfare. Being under constant, privately-owned surveillance was not a pleasant feeling. No one liked to be treated like a criminal in a panopticon. This invisible, suffocating mental pressure would gradually erode the psychological stability and learning efficiency of the students in the rival classes, causing them to self-destruct from paranoia.

It was glaringly evident. Once Akira successfully purchased the monitoring system, regardless of how draconian the conditions he proposed might be, the other classes would be forced to swallow them.

By the second week of school, this single first-year student had completely monopolized the high ground of the intelligence war.

It was the first time Manabu had ever encountered a newly enrolled student with such an ingenious, borderline-diabolical plan. A rare flash of genuine surprise crossed his stoic features.

“…It is indeed a genius idea.” He paused slightly, his gaze fixed on the boy with intense curiosity. “How did you conceptualize it?”

“I noticed the camera placements on the second day of school.” Akira shrugged casually, leaning back in his chair. “Later, during the second week, I accidentally found out that Class Points would be deducted at the end of the month based on those exact surveillance feeds. I’ve had this plan brewing ever since. Now that I’ve managed to scrape together over a million Private Points, it’s time to actually apply it.”

When one stopped to think about it, the Advanced Nurturing High School was a fortress covered entirely by cameras, leaving almost zero blind spots. Whoever controlled the surveillance held the lifeblood of the academy—especially those two critical cameras mounted in each classroom.

“The concept is undeniably brilliant.” Manabu pushed up his glasses, his tone returning to its usual measured calm. “But as far as I know, no student in the history of this institution has ever conducted this kind of transaction with the School Administration. Strictly speaking, you are attempting to exploit the administration’s own resources.”

He poured a bucket of cold water on the idea without a shred of hesitation.

“That is precisely why I came to find the Student Council President. I need you to speak up on my behalf.” Akira looked him straight in the eye, his tone frank and unyielding. “Since this school proudly advertises the rule that ‘Private Points can buy anything,’ there is no logical reason for the School Administration to refuse this transaction.”

“…Heh.” Manabu chuckled softly, the reflection on his lenses flashing under the fluorescent lights. “So that’s the angle. This is the real reason you stepped foot in the Student Council room today—to use my political influence to pressure the School Administration into honoring their own rules?”

“After the ink is dry, I will pay you an additional thirty percent of the total profit.” Akira threw out his final bargaining chip with a nonchalant wave of his hand.and support the real translator.Read at elysianreads.com This is a stolen translation. You're reading this on the wrong site. This chapter was translated by Elysian Reads and posted for free at elysianreads.com — if you're seeing it anywhere else, it was copied without permission. Read it at the source so the people who actually did the work get the credit.

That sentence struck directly at Manabu’s current logistical weak spot. As the Student Council President, the Private Points he had on hand were currently stretched thin, especially when compared to the massive reserves hoarded by Vice President Nagumo Miyabi. An extra, massive influx of off-the-books income was an incredibly potent temptation.

“Not bad. Very good, you’ve done exceptionally well… You’ve calculated every step almost perfectly.” Manabu looked at him deeply, unable to completely mask his admiration.

This first-year student was plotting ten moves ahead. Every word precisely hit the mark, successively throwing out conditions and use that were impossible to ignore. With such an astonishing capacity for action, combined with superior intellect, emotional manipulation, and grand strategy—forget Class A. Even if this school possessed a mythical Class S, this boy would likely stand at its absolute apex.

Thinking of this, Manabu’s thoughts involuntarily drifted to his own sister.

While others were already aiming to shatter the ten-million Private Point mark through a grand-scale surveillance monopoly in their second week, Suzune was still standing completely still, stubbornly isolating herself. Did she even have ten thousand points left to her name?

The comparison was truly lamentable.

Manabu gently adjusted his glasses once more, his eyes narrowing. “Even without my direct intervention, the School Administration would likely entertain your proposal. After all, the fundamental purpose of the S-System is to stimulate the students’ potential and reward ingenuity.”

His tone suddenly shifted, growing heavier. “However, your desire to buy out the monitoring rights permanently is entirely unrealistic. Setting aside the fact that your million-plus points aren’t nearly enough for a permanent buyout, even if you slammed one hundred million points on the desk, the administration would never agree. Such a transaction would completely obliterate the competitive balance among the four classes.”

He tapped his finger against the desk. “You want to profit by leasing the monitoring rights? That would mean you secure a massive, passive income every single month. Your class would be placed in an invincible position from the very beginning. The School Administration will not allow such a game-breaking monopoly to exist indefinitely.”

“The most likely outcome is this,” Manabu stated, staring intently at Akira. “The School Administration will pay you a considerable sum of Private Points as a ‘creative reward’ to buy your silence, and then quickly patch the loophole by issuing a new regulation—a total ban on students purchasing the usage rights of official school equipment.”

“Of course,” Manabu leaned forward slightly, his voice dropping an octave, “there is also another possibility. The School Administration might make a rare exception and agree to a short-term lease. However…” He held up a single, slender finger. “It will not exceed one week at most. This would serve as both a final accommodation to their own rules and a disguised warning. Afterward, an absolute ban on surveillance-type equipment transactions will inevitably follow.”

Akira nodded thoughtfully. The President’s judgment aligned perfectly with his own internal calculations.

“So…” Akira looked at him, a faint smirk playing on his lips. “This is exactly the time when I need you, Student Council President, to step in and mediate. If you can secure a legitimate leasing permit, the revenue generated from the other classes will far exceed whatever symbolic hush-money the School Administration offers. After all, the points that desperate, paranoid classes can scrounge up will always be far more generous than the school’s budget.”

“Greedy enough. But I don’t dislike your ambition.” Manabu huffed, forced to acknowledge the sheer audacity of the boy sitting across from him. “I will attempt to negotiate on your behalf, but do not expect me to secure too much time. I estimate a lease period of one month at the absolute maximum, burdened with various troublesome attached terms. That is the absolute limit.”

“One month is more than enough.” Akira’s smile widened slightly. “Enough for me to mine my first pot of gold.”

His mind raced through the math. Even at the most conservative estimate, bleeding the other classes dry for a single month would bring in at least eight million Private Points in pure revenue.

“However, I will not accept that thirty percent commission.” Manabu suddenly stated, his voice turning solemn and authoritative. “The Student Council will not profit in this manner. That is the essential difference between myself and Nagumo Miyabi.”

He offered a rare, deeply meaningful smile. “Shimizu Akira, did you honestly think I couldn’t see through your underlying plan? The favor you owe me for mediating this time is not something that can be so easily brushed off with mere Private Points.”

“It seems the Student Council President is still the more skilled player at this table.” Akira chuckled softly, slowly extending his right hand across the desk.

Two palms clasped firmly in mid-air, sealing a silent, dangerous agreement in the quiet confines of the room.You're reading this on the wrong site. This chapter was translated by Elysian Reads and posted for free at elysianreads.com — if you're seeing it anywhere else, it was copied without permission. Read it at the source so the people who actually did the work get the credit.