The same process was repeated several times.

Every building we came across, we sent 5 Class A members in to investigate, then left behind 2 to stay there and watch. Every Class C student we encountered, I had either Mei Gui, Feng Mian, or Amane take them down, since the three of them had access to Shadow Magic. I made sure to let them get the takedown points, just to be safe. I wasn't too worried about myself, since getting points was no problem should I ever feel the need to do it, but I wasn't about to hand over these points to someone I didn't even care about either.

Naturally, the girls were the only option.

In any case… I've been counting, and we have taken out exactly 20 Class B students already. There was only one building remaining that had yet to be explored — the one with the lights on and the five silhouettes inside.

We had been purposely avoiding that room, saving it for last. Reason being, if we rushed in there first, the whole class would be easily alerted. Secret infiltration into a room filled with people and lights just didn't work. We had been hoping the flags wouldn't be there, but it seems my guess earlier had been on the mark after all. They have yet to decide where to put the flags.

Because the layouts of the temples were identical, I could tell the room with lights turned on was the meeting room, and we began making our way to it. By now, we still had all our Class D students, but there were only 3 Class A students left, since we went through 11 buildings so far. Of those 3, Ming Hao was one of them.

Right when I was going to eavesdrop on what was going on inside the room, however, I heard a noise a ways off on my left, seemingly coming from behind a tree.

"Please, just go out with me!"

"No, I already told you, I have someone I lik-"

"Gah… I'll take you by force, then!"

"Ngh-! No-!"

The rest of our group seemed to have heard it as well, which wasn't a surprise given how loud they were being. With a deep sigh, I snapped my fingers.

[Mei Gui.]

[Understood, Master.]

In an instant, Mei Gui combined Space Magic, Blessing Magic, and Shadow Magic to teleport directly by the tree in an instant, saving the girl from being assaulted. She sank a fist into the boy's face, and before he could react, she kicked upwards — directly into his lifeline. He flopped over, unconscious. White foam guzzled out of his mouth, disgusting and repulsive.

"… Who are… you…?" The girl asked frightfully, not sure if she should be thankful or scared.

Mei Gui glanced at her, before wrapping around her in the blink of an eye and knocking her out cold with a swift chop to the neck. The girl, in a similar fashion to the boy, fell over, the only difference being there was no foam coming out of her mouth.

I whistled softly. [No holding back, huh?]

[If possible, I would've killed him. Scum don't deserve to live, Master.]

[I agree… but I'm sure he'll be dealt with sooner or later. That girl will definitely report him, and that's the end of that.]

Mei Gui returned to me after dragging the two unconscious bodies into a patch of tall grass just like she had done in the past, and we turned our focus back to the main task at hand. Our classmates, however, seemed to have a different opinion and chose to admire my partner instead. Said classmates were predominantly male.

"Wow… so strong…"

"And beautiful too…"

"… Master, permission to kill?"

"Denied. Just ignore them for now," I quickly replied before she started any unwanted trouble. Others may think she was just joking, but I knew better. Mei Gui was the type to really do it, as long as I gave her permission.

"…" She fell silent, clearly unsatisfied, but I couldn't afford to let her let loose and kill anyone that upset her here. I figured I'll make it up to her sometime in the future.

'Level Three Shadow Magic — Invisibility.'

Turning invisible, I signaled for everyone else to wait in the bushes while I alone went up to the final building in the center of the temple, tall and enormous.

Pressing my ear against the door without applying too much force, I tried to eavesdrop on the conversation happening inside.

If the students Mei Gui knocked out just now were Class C's… that would mean there are two more people in this room not from Class C.

"… I think we should just keep a neutral relationship for this exam, Xu Lian."

"What? I thought we were going for a long-term alliance, kukuku…"

"Perhaps. But just because we are allied, doesn't mean I have to give everything to you to help you win this exam."

The boy named Xu Lian sighed. "I already said it, did I not? I would help you win the next one with everything Class B has."

"… Sorry. I don't think our trust level has reached such a stage yet where I can believe you unconditionally."

"Yeah, yeah! What if you turn traitor on us?" A third voice chimed in, high-pitched and aggressive.

"… Brother Xu, this is a waste of time. They won't listen," a fourth voice said, seeming to be on Xu Lian's side. "We should leave."

"Indeed you should," the fifth and final voice said harshly, deep and demanding. "You have taken up far too much of our time with your bullshit strategies. You expect us to risk our whole class's future based on the flimsy trust we have for you, developed after one short partnership? I think not."

"… Please, Xu Lian. Leave. And take your right-hand-man with you," the girl who spoke first said, sounding exasperated. "For this exam, I won't show you any hostile intention. But at the same time, don't expect me to help if you are attacked."

Xu Lian sighed as I heard the sound of a chair being pushed back, scraping against the ground. "Well… what a shame. Then, farewell, Si Ye… although I can't promise I will do the same for you."

With a hearty laugh, he left, stepping out of the building. I quickly backed away… but for some reason, he glanced in my direction briefly, flashed a smile as if deeply intrigued, then laughed even louder and walked away with his right-hand man in tow.

… He's dangerous.

I had no doubt he saw me there, through my invisibility, but just chose not to inform the girl — Si Ye — of the impending danger she was about to face.

How did he do it? I don't know. But one thing is for sure… I should not underestimate him. Unfortunately, however, him being here in fact helped me out quite a bit… though he didn't seem to realize that.

This way, I could push the blame all onto him… and have Class B and C start fighting. Now wouldn't that be perfect?

Meanwhile, inside the room, Si Ye and her two classmates had no idea what was going on. Instead, they carried on talking, having no idea that the rest of their class had been knocked out by mine.

"Where should we keep the Flags?" The boy asked, folding his arms.

"… Let's just leave them in this room for now. Where is everyone else? Gather them here," Si Ye replied after some hesitation.

"I'll go get them," the other girl chimed in, before heading out the door as well. She, however, didn't notice me.

Realizing it was only a matter of time before they found out about their classmates all being unconscious, I quickly slipped into the room and suddenly grabbed the pile of Flags off the table.

"Wha-" The two's eyes widened, but I was already on my way out.

Dashing away, I discretely put the Flags into my Space Locket.

[Mei Gui, get everyone out!]

[Understood, Master!]

I watched her combine forces with Amane and Yu An Yan to form a massive warp gate to fit everyone inside. Right before Si Ye and the boy could see them, they disappeared. I, on the other hand, was still invisible. Because I had put the Flags into my Space Locket, they were naturally nowhere to be seen — they had no way of tracking me.

"What just happened…"

"It must be him, that bastard… XU LIAN!" The boy roared in fury as I smirked and leaped over the wall.

That's right… blame Xu Lian. Go on, fight… the fiercer, the better. Then, Class A will swoop in to reap the rewards… and Class D will steal the crown at the last moment.

Sure, this may be a flawless plan, on paper. This sudden opportunity, turning Class B against Class C, was something I hadn't even expected. But just as fortunate events could happen like this… so could tragedies.

And as for me… I had to be prepared to counter every possible situation when the time comes.