Chapter 304 - A Guide for Background Characters to Survive in a Manga

Chapter 304 Wu Di wasn't surprised that Su Bei knew the person. Given Su Bei's age and his ability to join the "Fate" organization, it was possible that he was personally recruited by the leader, so meeting the other party was perfectly normal. "Do you think you could persuade 'Fate' to collaborate with our 'Infinite Superpower Academy'? I mean some students could join the 'Fate' organization right after graduation," he asked outright, going straight to the heart of a major partnership. This partnership would benefit both sides. For the "Infinite Superpower Academy," aligning with the "Fate" organization was all gain and no loss. They didn't reject anyone, so even if someone joined the organization, they could still join other groups, and there were generally no constraints placed on members. As for the "Fate" organization, being an intelligence agency, they naturally required a large number of informants. One of the conditions for staying in the organization was to have at least 1 point at hand; if they went more than a month without earning points, they would be kicked out, and their notebook would automatically be destroyed. In other words, the more people there are, the more intelligence they could collect. Unless someone joined the organization and never used the notebook to query information, they would inevitably have to submit intelligence at some point. Seeing that Su Bei didn't respond immediately, Wu Di added, "Previously, we struggled to contact the leader. Now that you can get in touch, I want you to help ask them. Even if not all graduates can join 'Fate,' just allowing A-class and S-class students would be sufficient. These students are likely to acquire significant intelligence in the future; absorbing them into the organization wouldn't be a loss, right?" His words concealed his own identity as a "Fate" organization member, instead presenting himself as the headmaster, negotiating better opportunities for his students. Su Bei pondered over this. Indeed, what Wu Di said made sense, and the "Fate" organization did need more new recruits to continuously gather intelligence. However, the intelligence agency valued its air of mystery. If there was a fixed channel for joining, wouldn't that veil of secrecy be lost? After thinking it over, he looked up and replied, "If the leader contacts me, I could ask on your behalf." This promise was enough for Wu Di, who smiled and nodded, encouraging Su Bei with a few words before letting him leave. Once out of the office, Su Bei paused for a moment before turning to head towards the first-year S-Class classroom. Although he was in no mood to face the barrage of questions, it was inevitable that he had to. Running away was pointless. He'd rather face Jiang Tianming and the others than be reprimanded by Meng Huai. When he arrived, Jiang Tianming and the others were already there, listening to Qi Huang animatedly recount her recent experiences, while also challenging Si Zhaohua and others to a fight. Seeing Su Bei enter, Lan Subing curiously asked, "What did the headmaster want to talk about?" "He asked me... about some employment-related matters," Su Bei replied after some thought, providing the most plausible explanation without revealing anything or telling a lie. Hearing this, Lan Subing immediately shifted topics. "Speaking of which, how did you manage to leave the illusion before?" Everyone was curious about this, and Si Zhaohua also turned to him. "You left suddenly because you forewarned the impending danger, right?" Having been through so many crises, they were used to Su Bei's sudden departures. In this instance, when Su Bei mentioned leaving, an unsettling feeling had already permeated their minds. Yet, there was nothing they could do. The scenario didn't allow any midway departures. Even if they sensed the plan might falter based on Su Bei's behavior, they had to halt the purging mode of the clown. Otherwise, they faced complete annihilation without a second trap. In such cases, knowing Su Bei's escape meant avoiding a solo getaway, it wasn't possible to stop him. They couldn't escape themselves, so preventing someone else's escape didn't make sense. Su Bei first addressed Si Zhaohua's question, "You all knew beforehand. It wouldn't return us to the arena upon teleportation. Given that, I naturally had my own way back." After saying this, he addressed Lan Subing, "I escaped by destroying the array's eyes, with the clown being the key figure." They had all studied related knowledge, so Su Bei's explanation made sense. Wu Mingbai suddenly realized, "The clown as the key figure? That makes perfect sense. Where was the array's eye?" "The haunted house where we first entered the illusion," Su Bei replied mischievously, earning four pained expressions as expected. Knowing that the way out had been there all along was frustrating for everyone. Suddenly, Jiang Tianming realized something, "Wait, if the clown was the key figure, didn't that mean you destroyed the array's eyes before the purging mode started?" After the purge mode initiated, the clown became irrational and wouldn't follow competitors' instructions. Even trying to kite the clown to the array's eyes was difficult, as destroying it required five seconds on site, which the clown wouldn't allow. Su Bei nodded matter-of-factly, "I knew there was danger in advance, so I prepared my escape route early." "As to be expected from you," Lan Subing gave a thumbs-up. Yet, Wu Mingbai fixated on another issue, "So why didn't you share this method with us? Surely anyone could leave by breaking the array's eyes? There isn't just one clown." If it were a teacher asking this, Su Bei might have to concoct a reasonable explanation. But since it was a classmate, he casually replied, half-seriously, "Because only I could leave using that method." This response made Wu Mingbai frown at Su Bei for a while, then, realizing he was serious, turned away, muttering, "Pesky Fate powers." Afterward, Su Bei returned to his dorm, packed his luggage briefly, but didn't leave immediately. He sat down to catch up on the forum he hadn't read yet. There were many new posts, with a significant portion discussing related events. "An Inventory of Jiang Tianming's Powers" "Announcement! Your Bei has Run Again!" "So What Exactly was the 'Black Lightning' Organization's Role in This Event?" "It Seems the Nightmare Beast's Success Suggests Human Betrayal" Among these posts, Su Bei clicked the one he found most intriguing, the one concerned with "Black Lightning." [Family-Friendly No.0: The 'Black Lightning' organization's involvement in the illusion transmission event was revealed by the 'Fate' organization. Judging by Teacher Meng and the others' reactions, this intelligence seems accurate. Jiang even saw 'Black Lightning's' equipment in the Nightmare Beast's possession. So here’s the question: although the participants were eventually transported to the Nightmare Beast's world, the 'Black Lightning' folks never showed up. As implied in my title, what exactly was their role?] [No.1: Maybe they prevented an immediate capture by the Nightmare Beast?] [No.2: Good question.] [No.3: Perhaps to ensure participants weren't transported together? I think that's important. Being grouped would make them easy targets.] [No.4: Clearly possible, yet the strategist remains cryptic.] [No.5: I bet the 'Black Lightning' organization botched their plan. They probably intended to abduct Jiang Tianming and company, but the Nightmare Beast discovered them first, and they lost their equipment.] [No.6 replies to No.5: LMAO] [No.7 replies to No.5: Poor sods, trying to do a good deed and failing. Without the 'Fate' organization's intel, nobody would have known they tried to rescue the participants.] [No.8 replies to No.7: Huh?] [No.9 replies to No.7: Are you naive? Who said 'Black Lightning' was rescuing anyone? They may have been exploiting the nightmare plan as predators lurking behind the scenes.] [No.10 replies to No.7: 'Black Lightning' isn't in the philanthropy business; don’t overthink it.] [...] [No.26: I think rebutting the early assertions of 'Black Lightning' failing is needed. Why would 'Fate' release the information if they failed? It'd be pointless intelligence otherwise!] [No.27: That's a valid angle, indeed... 'Black Lightning' must have succeeded for 'Fate' to broadcast the message.] [No.28 replies to No.27:] "The 'Fate' organization is purely an intelligence entity; they only verify the accuracy of the information, not its usefulness, right? The involvement of the 'Black Lightning' organization in this event is a known fact. Whether they succeeded or not, what does that have to do with 'Fate'?" [No.29 replies to No.28: Agreed, don't think of intelligence organizations as omnipotent.] […] [No.47: It doesn't make sense from the 'Fate' organization's perspective, but from a narrative standpoint, the 'Black Lightning' organization must have played a crucial role. Otherwise, why would the author focus on them so much and weave such intricate threads just to waste the plot? Just for filler?] [No.48 replies to No.47: The most logical take so far. Given the lengthy setup linking 'Black Lightning' to these events, they must not have failed. Otherwise, what was the point of writing this plotline?] [No.49: The ones above made a good point. So, back to the main topic, what role did 'Black Lightning' actually play?] [No.50: Aesthetic, perhaps?] [No.51: Like post No.1 suggested, maybe they helped ensure the players weren't captured by the Nightmare Beast right away?] [No.52 replies to No.51: Would 'Black Lightning' really stay silent if they did something so significant?] [No.53 replies to No.52: 'Fate' is spreading the word, aren't they? I have a hunch that the intelligence 'Fate' got was intentionally leaked by 'Black Lightning'.] […] [No.101: In another thread, they're already suspecting 'Black Lightning' as moles on the Nightmare Beast's side, while this one assumes they aren't.] [No.102 replies to No.101: I wanted to point that out too. Previously, 'Black Lightning' might indeed have been indifferent to the Nightmare Beasts, but they're not unchanging.] [No.103: But seriously, if 'Black Lightning' collaborated with the Nightmare Beasts, how could Jiang Jiang and the others have escaped?] [No.104: The hints given are too sparse.] [No.105: It's impressive to see so many people dissecting the plot. Answers might turn up just in the next couple of chapters.] [No.106: I'm done guessing. I'll just wait for the writer to surprise me.] […] Finishing that thread, Su Bei quickly clicked on the spy-related one. He was quite curious about who the current suspects were and hoped he wasn't one of them; otherwise, he would be truly frustrated. “A Feeling That the Nightmare Beast's Success Implies a Human Mole” [Destiny's Luck No.0: The World Championship organizers aren't fools. It's mentioned earlier in the plot that almost every year, Nightmare Beasts take advantage of this event to stir up trouble. They must have been fully prepared. With both Nightmare Beasts hidden in hotels and infiltrators among the spectators on the stands, as well as a defector among the illusion masters, it's hard not to suspect something went wrong internally at Shakespeare.] [No.1: +1, if there isn’t an internal issue, then the storyline has been dumbed down.] [No.2: Ah, the thread starter makes a compelling point.] [No.3: If what the main post suggests is true, then Shakespeare should have more subplot to explore, seeing as the mole hasn't been unveiled yet.] [No.4: Honestly, a collaboration with Nightmare Beasts seems inconceivable. These two groups are fundamentally opposed, right?] [No.5 replies to No.4: It's more of a one-sided opposition from the Nightmare Beasts. If they don't harm anyone, who cares what they're made of?] [No.6: That Nightmare Beasts, born of vengeful spirits, kill humans makes sense to me. But humans cooperating with Nightmare Beasts, that's hard to fathom. What's the rationale? Is there no one else on Earth? Why team up with a totally adversarial force?] [No.7: Maybe a cult? Perhaps the mole is someone who thinks the Nightmare Beasts are the true rulers of the future world and decided to pledge allegiance early.] […] [No.42: Perhaps it's not a mole from within Cespia at all? It's quite reasonable for an external organization to infiltrate Cespia in aid of Nightmare Beasts. After all, these groups are adept at espionage.] [No.43 replies to No.42: Are you implying 'Black Lightning'?] [No.44 replies to No.43: It's blatantly obvious.] [No.45: Couldn’t the 'Fate' organization fit the criteria too, considering their members are everywhere?] [No.46 replies to No.45: They do fit the bill, but 'Fate' members aren't really moles; they all have other jobs, and working for 'Fate' is just a side gig.] [No.47: Assuming the main post is correct, then this mole, collaborating with the Nightmare Beasts, must either be very powerful themselves or backed by a significant force. The former has countless possibilities that we cannot discuss now, but for the latter, in 'King of Superpowers,' the only two named organizations are 'Black Lightning' and 'Fate'.] [No.48 replies to No.47: Surely there are more than just them? Consider each academy, national governments, the previous Vissi Sanctuaries, and even the Feng and Si families... which aren't great powers?] [No.49 replies to No.48: That’s true. But if these powers defect and collaborate with the Nightmare Beasts, I genuinely think humanity would be doomed.] [No.50 replies to No.48: Not quite right. Firstly, national governments and academies can't possibly collaborate with Nightmare Beasts; they're not led by individuals. Among humans, those willing to collaborate with Nightmare Beasts are few. Without a single ruling voice, it's hard for a major power to collaborate with them and not leak it. The Vesey Sanctuaries are an exceptional case, their island model naturally binds them as one. Even if there are dissenters, they wouldn't betray their fellows so easily.] [No.51: Brilliant analysis above.] [No.52: So, the focus remains on 'Fate' and 'Black Lightning'? Honestly, both organizations appeared in this chapter. Maybe the author is indeed hinting that one of them has already collaborated with the Nightmare Beasts.] [No.53 replies to No.52: Then, it's definitely 'Black Lightning'! 'Fate,' as an intelligence organization without control over its people, what would they have to offer the Nightmare Beasts?] [No.54 replies to No.53: Not necessarily. As past storylines have shown, 'Fate' doesn't solely provide intelligence; they can also fulfill commission-based tasks. Given that, they must have usable personnel under their leader.] [No.55 replies to No.54: But what would an intelligence group want with Nightmare Beasts while 'Black Lightning' is a bona fide antagonist!] […] [No.99: I think you overlooked a foreshadowing from a few chapters ago. Su Bei encountered the gourd-shaped Nightmare Beast earlier, and he's part of the 'Fate' organization. Based on what the gourd Nightmare Beast said back then, they seemed to have no collaboration with Su Bei. Therefore, no collaboration with 'Fate.' So, if this involves an organization, it circles back to 'Black Lightning.'] [No.100: That's impossible, right? 'Black Lightning' previously showed disdain for Nightmare Beasts.] [No.101: Honestly, all this is just speculation. Maybe it's an individual character collaborating with the Nightmare Beasts.] [No.102: I just realized we might be ignoring a crucial piece of information— 'Black Lightning' came out of seclusion recently. I kind of forgot, what research prompted their seclusion again?] [No.103 replies to No.102: If I recall correctly, it was research on the subterranean humans.] [No.104: The aim was to find a way to revert Nightmare Beasts back to humans. So, the question is, did the research succeed?] [No.105 replies to No.104: If it succeeded, I think if they collaborated with Nightmare Beasts, it would only be to gain their trust to eventually transform them back. If it didn't succeed... then if they collaborated, that would indeed be chilling.] [No.106 replies to No.105: I don't understand, what’s chilling about that?] [No.107 replies to No.106: Initially, 'Black Lightning' aimed to eradicate Nightmare Beasts, viewing them dismissively. Now, if their goal has shifted and they start collaborating, what does that suggest? It suggests 'Black Lightning' believes eliminating them is impossible, so instead, they choose to join them.] [No.108 replies to No.107: !!!] [No.109: What you said sounds terrifying. Is 'Black Lightning' going to become the kind of villain that wants to turn all humans into Nightmare Beasts?] [No.110: I wonder what Mo Xiaotian thinks. It's been a while since we've seen him.] [No.111: Feels like 'Black Lightning' is about to make an appearance.] […] After reading the second thread, Su Bei couldn't help but nod in satisfaction. He was most relieved that he wasn't suspected in the discussion. Although a few people had their doubts, most quickly ruled him out based on previous plotlines. Initially, Su Bei thought the manga author might use the plot to throw him under the bus, but after seeing the arguments clearing him of suspicion, he realized the author wouldn't take such a route. This storyline involved a significant plot about the collaboration between 'Black Lightning' and the Nightmare Beasts. At most, Su Bei would be used as a red herring, but he wouldn't be pushed into the main storyline, as such involvement could easily backfire given Su Bei's uncontrollable nature. And if he was merely used as a red herring, there was no need to besmirch him. Everyone knows the "boy who cried wolf" story; Su Bei had already been used as a distraction multiple times. If the author kept doing this, when they really wanted to assign him an unfavorable storyline, readers might not believe it straight away. Therefore, Su Bei reckoned the author wouldn't falsely implicate him in minor issues moving forward. Only a decisive, unredeemable blow would prevent any chance of him recovering his reputation. However, the author might also abandon the idea of smearing him altogether. After all, there are plenty of ways to let a character meet a reasonable end, regardless of being a hero, villain, or neutral party. In any case, avoiding false accusations was a good thing for Su Bei. Dying from an accusation significantly raised the difficulty of resurrection; he'd first need to clear his name for readers to believe he wasn't really dead. But if he died naturally, Su Bei felt that with a bit of manipulation using his prophetic account on the forum, some readers might hold onto the hope that he wasn't truly gone. Putting aside these thoughts, Su Bei turned his focus to another important matter for him—the increasing presence of the "Fate" organization in the manga. Since "Fate" was an organization he personally created, its presence in the manga had always been minimal. Even when Su Bei actively involved it in the storyline, it was often brushed over quickly. But this time was different. After going through the manga, Su Bei clearly felt that the presence of the "Fate" organization was more pronounced. The author could have easily glossed over it as before. Could it be that the author has plans for the "Fate" organization in the storyline?