Chapter 296 - A Guide for Background Characters to Survive in a Manga

Chapter 296 Just as Jiang Tianming mentioned, the amusement park was quite large, divided into four sections, each the size of a typical small amusement park. For such an expansive area, the core of the array had to be significantly large as well. Su Bei recalled some relevant knowledge and quickly had a rough idea. If Gilam didn't want the core to be easily found, he would definitely conceal it with something even larger. Within his view, larger than the core were a haunted house, a circus, an aquarium, and a large pool for the rapid river ride. There were two haunted houses, one on each side of the amusement park, with Su Bei and his companions starting at the one on the left. "Could it be?" Su Bei's expression turned strange after confirming with a second ferris wheel ride that he had seen everything. He now suspected the core of the array was located in the haunted house where they began. Isn't it typical for an author to leave clues related to the main character, ultimately revealing the way out at the starting point? It seemed quite reasonable. Why hadn't he thought of it sooner? If he had, he wouldn't have needed to run all around. Su Bei fell silent for a moment before starting his way back. As he walked, he recalled the method to break the core of the array. Theoretically, it was quite simple: find a key item or individual in the illusion and place it at the center of the core. The center of the core was easy to find; if the haunted house was indeed the core, then its center would likely be near the middle of the haunted house. A few attempts would reveal it. The problem was, how would he identify the key item or individual in the amusement park? This made things complicated. However, for the sake of his own safety, Su Bei had to try his best. The hidden data from the "Fate" organization mentioned that the key to breaking the array core had to be something that permeated the illusion—something that might represent a significant concept or something universally present. If it fit either criterion, it might be the key. The amusement park's overarching concept was certainly joy, and relevant items were the various amusement facilities. However, the facilities were mostly large, far too heavy for him to handle. As for individuals... "Clown?" Su Bei muttered to himself, then turned back toward the ferris wheel. Approaching the clown guarding the ferris wheel, the area was deserted now that there were no tasks left, in stark contrast to earlier. Seeing Su Bei return, the clown donned a wide smile, "What brings you back, cute little friend?" "Can you only stay here? Or can you go elsewhere?" Su Bei asked directly. The clown nodded, always honest, "Once my tasks are all completed, I'm free to move around." Su Bei suspected this might be the case, and his guess was further confirmed with the clown's response. Relieved, Su Bei asked politely, "May I invite you to join me at the haunted house on the west side?" “An invitation!” The clown feigned exaggerated surprise, his gestures as dramatic as his expression. “Oh! How delightful that the cute little friend would invite me! Of course, my dear, shall we go now?” “That would be too conspicuous.” Satisfied with the affirmative response, Su Bei shook his head. “I hope we can move separately and meet at the haunted house.” With the clown appearing as a task representative to the participants, walking with him would likely attract unwanted attention. Although the clown wouldn’t be harmed, Su Bei could end up being the jester. “No problem, shall we say three hours later?” The clown replied enthusiastically, without questioning Su Bei’s reasons. Three hours was a reasonable timeframe; with the physical capabilities of superpowered beings, it would take a little over an hour to reach, leaving an hour and a half for detours. As long as there were no intentional delays or unexpected obstacles, everyone should arrive in time. Su Bei nodded in agreement, “No problem, I'll head out first then.” As he was about to exit, the clown suddenly called out behind him, “Please don’t break your promise, it would make the clown very sad.” Su Bei paused briefly before continuing, “I won’t.” On the way back to the haunted house, he pondered whether the clown’s words held any hidden meaning. It wasn't that Su Bei was overly suspicious; rather, the situation seemed to suggest it. Even before entering the illusion, Gilam had mentioned, "Please do not harm our lovely staff, there will be consequences if you do!" At first, he thought it was just playful advice not to break “public props,” as it takes significant mental power to create a functional person in an illusion. But once the clown mentioned being sad, the words resurfaced in Su Bei's mind. Would making the clown sad count as harming him? What consequences would ensue from such harm? Experience often proves the best teacher; this question would only be answered when someone triggers it. Su Bei wasn't the type to test fate, so he wasn’t worried. It just made him think of a different opportunity. Before, he wanted to leverage the truth of the illusionary world for personal gain but couldn't figure out how. Without a broadcasting station, he couldn't inform everyone about his intel quickly. Lacking the ability to widely disseminate information himself, he couldn’t just ask everyone he met, “I have important information, would you like to buy it for 500 credits?” Who would take him seriously? Plus, if he tried asking around, Su Bei was sure he wouldn’t get ten people in without facing force. Without sufficient self-defense capabilities, holding vital information meant either keeping silent or sharing it for free. To benefit from it, he needed either a potent combat strength or a way to remain hidden. Only with a secure method could he carry out his plan. Seeing the clown capable of moving freely reignited hope in Su Bei. Able to traverse without needing points, unharmed by others, it was friendly to players and as a staff member here, could potentially accept his request. Earlier, he had already arranged to meet with the clown at the haunted house. After dealing with the array core, they could discuss this matter. Regarding disseminating the information, Su Bei wasn't worried about authorial resistance. By the time he intended to spread the word, the protagonist team would likely already be aware, having no major impact on the main storyline. And crucially, information costing 500 credits won’t have everyone clamoring for it. Short-term, his intel wouldn’t be widespread across the illusion, making it relatively harmless. After swiftly dispatching a low-level Nightmare Beast, Su Bei felt a bit hungry. They had entered the illusion at eight in the morning, so it was indeed time for lunch now, around one in the afternoon. Finding a spot, he started grilling. Soon, a small group was attracted. Eating, it seems, isn’t something one feels until seeing or smelling food, prompting stomach growls. First among them—a male student—expressed disdain at Su Bei's charred meat, asking, “What in the world are you trying to cook?” Su Bei knew his culinary prowess was disastrous and had no shame in admitting it. He offered, “How about you do it? I can provide the tools and meat.” He had fashioned a makeshift grill using a bench by the road and surrounding branches. As for the meat, the Nightmare Beast he killed earlier was the size of a cow, so sharing half was no issue. “No problem,” the student replied straightforwardly, disdainfully picking up Su Bei’s charred meat with two fingers before replacing it with his own fresh Nightmare Beast meat to grill. His teammates, aware of his grilling skills, happily exclaimed, “We want some too!” The student rolled his eyes, “Eat, eat, eat. All you do is eat. I don’t see you offering any meat.” His teammates then glanced at Su Bei, recognizing him. Most were somewhat familiar with the five from the "Infinite Superpower Academy," “Can we borrow your grill too, classmate? We’ll hunt our own meat.” Su Bei didn’t immediately agree, instead saying meaningfully, “One good turn deserves another...” “If you don’t actively hinder us, we won’t target you until the final few remain,” said the girl in the group, intuition guiding her response before he could finish. If it were anyone else, she wouldn’t promise such a thing, but considering Su Bei was a first-year elementary student faced with hardship thrust upon him. Even with formidable powers, they didn’t believe he could defeat them. After all, everyone considered themselves a genius, too. Satisfied with the response, Su Bei gestured invitingly, then stepped back without saying a word. Their competition was being broadcasted live, and with viewers watching, he believed they wouldn't dare to lie. Another approaching team, following the same example, made their promise and gained access to the grill as well. Not planning to linger there, Su Bei ate just enough to satiate his hunger and quickly left. He still had an appointment with the clown, and needed to reach the haunted house within the three-hour window. Thankfully, traveling straight as the crow flies meant it would take just over an hour. Su Bei wouldn't dare waste time eating otherwise. Approaching the haunted house from a distance, Su Bei saw the clown standing at the entrance. People surrounded the clown, likely asking if there were any tasks available. With plenty of time left, Su Bei waited nearby until the crowd dissipated before walking over. Seeing Su Bei appear as promised, the clown’s wide red smile spread in excitement: "You're here! Shall we go play in the haunted house now?" "Sure..." Su Bei was about to nod but suddenly recalled his plan. Originally, he intended to trick the clown into walking with him to the haunted house, wander with him at the center until he triggered the core. But if the clown truly was the key to breaking the core, he'd likely feel something when stepping on it—a creation of the illusion disrupting it would certainly sense it. Hence, once he hit the mark, the clown would know he'd been deceived. Su Bei would have little choice but to immediately exit through the shattered core. Though unsure of the consequences of angering the clown, Su Bei’s intuition warned of danger. The clown, who had so far been sincerely honest, would likely expect the same sincerity from others. If Su Bei lied and tricked him, it might anger him more than any direct harm could. Aware of his own escape limitations, and knowing he could potentially alter Fate to defeat the clown, but unsure if a mere illusion being could be completely defeated, Su Bei decided not to antagonize him. After a brief moment of hesitation, Su Bei chose honesty: "I invited you to the haunted house mainly to see if you could break the core." In a narrated illusion, characters typically wouldn't understand such questions. Yet in a non-narrative, competition-focused illusion like this amusement park, characters are often aware of their own nature. Su Bei openly expressed this because breaking the core wouldn't destroy the illusion—it was akin to flushing a toilet. He, in the vortex, would be expelled, but the toilet (illusion) would remain undamaged. Judging from the clown's previous friendliness, Su Bei guessed that even if he told the truth, the clown wouldn’t be upset; at most, he simply wouldn't aid him. Although this meant he couldn't rely on the clown for help, he could still enlist others and also verify the clown's role as a key component. Predictably, the clown wasn’t immediately angry. He stood silent for a few seconds, sounding a bit melancholic: "The fun has only just begun, and the little friend wants to leave. Did we not make the amusement park fun enough?" Having played numerous games, Su Bei knew such questions needed a careful answer, and he promptly shook his head: "Of course not, the amusement park is fascinating, and I'm not done enjoying it! I'm not planning to leave right away; I just want to find a unique way out first." The statement was half-true; he indeed hadn't finished enjoying himself nor planned an immediate departure, yet the last part was false. But this explanation sufficed for the clown, whose smile returned: "That's wonderful to hear. Let’s go, let’s do what you wished to accomplish." Su Bei glanced at his luck, the pointer leaning toward an auspicious position, filling him with confidence about his target. As expected, after walking with the clown through the haunted house, they heard a "click," and a purple vortex appeared beneath the clown's feet. Su Bei realized that just stepping into this vortex would allow him to exit the illusion immediately. But the whirlpool was solely accessible to him; anyone else would need another clown to step in that spot. True to his word, Su Bei didn’t immediately step into the vortex. After creating the exit, it wouldn't vanish before he stepped in; he could leave at his convenience. Together, they took another tour of the haunted house. The clown fully embraced his comedic nature, laughing off anything scary and putting on a performance for Su Bei. Su Bei relaxed as much as he could, ensuring he didn’t subconsciously feel like he was keeping the clown company, but rather the opposite. When they finished their tour, and their moods were positive, Su Bei raised his second intention: "I have a deal I'd like to make with the other players. However, going personally could expose me to threats. Could you help broker this deal? In return, if you ever need help, I can assist you." "What kind of deal?" the clown asked curiously. Relieved at the non-rejection, Su Bei explained, "I have information worth 500 points. I’d like you to tell others about this deal, collect the points for me, and then direct those who pay to the haunted house center." Initially, he thought of telling the clown directly that "killing in the illusion equals as in reality," having the clown spread the word. It would be simple and hassle-free, sparing him from setting up in the haunted house. Yet Su Bei reconsidered—if the issue in the illusion was due to Gilam being controlled by a Nightmare Beast, would the clown, an illusion creation, not be affected too? The clown might appear friendly now because the Nightmare Beast’s influence hadn’t yet been triggered. Revealing this might cause a reversal under such control. Unaware of Su Bei's internal debate, the clown cheerfully nodded his whimsical head: "I can help you, but in return, you must stay happy every day! The biggest wish of a clown is for children to be happy every day!" "I hope to stay happy daily as well, and I'll do my best," Su Bei replied earnestly. Given that the clown might take honesty seriously, with what seemed like a polite request tinged with genuine hope, Su Bei answered cautiously, promising only to try, as being perpetually happy seemed unrealistic. The clown blinked his eyes, paused slightly, then said, "I'll be off then, and when I meet other little friends, I'll tell them about your deal." As the clown turned to leave, Su Bei asked curiously, "Don't you need to know my ID?" The answer was, of course, no. The clown, with a cheeky grin, shook his head and held up a finger: "You should know that staff have little privileges." Once the clown left, Su Bei began setting up the haunted house. 500 points was a significant amount, but as the contest was in its middle stage, most teams could probably pool resources to gather it. Important intel shared by a participant wouldn't draw much attention, but coming from a staff member gave an impression of reliability. Su Bei had no doubt someone would be willing to pay for the information. A crucial aspect was that staff collecting points wouldn't attract suspicion. Competitors might assume the clown was merely following rules to gather points, without suspecting them to be of personal significance. Who would guess the clown's deal was initiated by another competitor? Arranging the haunted house was necessary—when others arrived, Su Bei couldn’t simply stand by the entrance and relay the information. Doing so would surely result in being robbed afterward. He needed a setup where arriving players could find the information without locating him. Hence, it was essential to choose a discreet spot for the message, eliminating the chance of it being taken or destroyed. Although typically no one would do that, the possibility of a reckless player couldn’t be ignored. Carving the information with gears on the first step beneath the haunted house's central staircase, ensuring it required a keen search to notice, would prevent freeloading by those who hadn’t paid. Those who paid 500 points and came to the site would likely search diligently for their investment, ensuring they found the message. Finishing his task, Su Bei quickly left the haunted house. Staying too long risked being trapped once others arrived. The message, demanding points for purchase, wouldn’t appear typical of the illusion, hinting at an inherent flaw. As such, it suggested the illusion itself was problematic—why would it then provide hints? Since the intel required points, it was clear it was provided by a competitor; after all, if outside teachers wanted to convey information for their rescue, they wouldn’t charge points, would they? At some point, whether to verify the accuracy of the intel or out of greed for the points, people would inevitably start looking for him. By leaving early, he could ensure his safety. He had to release the information, secure the points, and most importantly, guarantee his absolute safety. By the competition's midpoint, participants were shifting focus from solely eliminating Nightmare Beasts to potentially taking out competitors, preparing for the final stages of wiping out the remaining opposition. For Su Bei, alone and lacking escape tactics, his previous strategy of using persuasion to temporarily avoid danger wouldn’t suffice any longer. Therefore, he had to exercise utmost caution to avoid capture. He sighed at the thought. Before, if caught, he could simply transfer his points to Jiang Tianming and the others and surrender, exiting the illusion. But now, being eliminated equated to real death, rendering his situation far more perilous. Temporarily hiding in a thicket, Su Bei glanced at his watch. Since Jiang Tianming and his group of four stayed together, the chat interface was sparse, aside from Jiang Tianming periodically updating Su Bei on their location to avoid running into each other. Combined, all their available points totaled 670. While this seemed modest, it was earned while Jiang Tianming and his team made efforts to keep a low profile. Moreover, over four hundred of those points were fixed, meaning their progress wasn’t slow compared to the other academies. Suddenly, the numbers on his watch jumped, leaping from 670 to 1170. It seemed Mr. Clown had succeeded in selling the information. A genuine smile appeared in Su Bei’s eyes; he felt validated in his decision. Earning in a single minute what took Jiang Tianming and his team hours to accumulate—who wouldn’t say that being an intel broker was lucrative? Unfortunately, these points could only convert to more impressive scores and not much else. Points held no tangible value other than making results look better, given that the ultimate outcome of this competition would either be the protagonists’ victory or the event’s unforeseen disruption from fulfilling its conclusion.