Chapter 307 - A Guide for Background Characters to Survive in a Manga

Chapter 307 For the time being, Wu Mingbai wasn't expected to return, and it wasn't even lunchtime yet. Naturally, someone like him couldn't just sit idly in his room waiting for Wu Mingbai. After exchanging a few words in the dining room, they decided to explore the castle together. One must know that this is an experience other tourists traveling to Afika wouldn't have. Typically, people can't even enter the castle; they can only take pictures from the outside. Needing to discuss something with Feng Lan, Su Bei took the initiative to pair up with him. Since it was free exploration and there was no requirement on group numbers, the two decided and headed for the stairs directly. "Did you foresee anything?" Su Bei asked straightforwardly as they reached a quiet area. As expected, Feng Lan nodded. He didn't question why Su Bei, having similar prophetic abilities, was asking him; he simply replied, "Yes, it's dangerous. I saw mountains collapsing and the ground cracking." Mountain collapses and earthquakes indeed sounded terrifying. Su Bei widened his eyes in surprise, "And you still came?" If it weren't for a looming threat of disaster, he definitely wouldn't have come, knowing there were issues here. How much nicer would it be to just stay at home? If he genuinely wanted to travel, there were numerous cities and countries to choose from. Why pick a place where trouble was guaranteed? Although Feng Lan's reason for not courting danger was different from his, typically, he would try to stay as far from danger as possible. Prophets needed to understand the importance of not positioning themselves in precarious situations. This isn't cowardice or selfishness; their abilities dictate that they must remain in the safest areas. After all, prophets can only create value while alive; on the battlefield, they're less effective than a regular attack specialist. Ultimately, while their paths diverge, both agree they're not the type to knowingly walk into danger. So why did Feng Lan agree to come this time? "I came to make a prophecy for the king. When matters involve a nation, I have to come personally for credibility." Feng Lan explained, speaking more than he usually would. Su Bei immediately understood. This time, the issue involved national affairs, and if he didn't come personally, the king of Afika might not necessarily believe him. In a world of superpowers, there are many ways to deceive. Even if the information isn't doubted to be from Feng's family, the Afikan royalty could suspect misinformation from them. Having Feng Lan, the head of the family, come in person would convince them the news is genuine. However, Su Bei didn't expect another consideration for Feng Lan's visit. Even if they believed him unconditionally, without his personal presence as evidence, they might not allocate sufficient resources for the ordinary populace in advance. Feng's family, accustomed to dealing with prominent figures, knows full well that many leaders prioritize their own lives and wealth above all. Ordinary citizens? In their eyes, they're just expendables, destined to perish as needed. Regardless, these are future happenings; even if they have advance warning, what does it matter? As long as they don’t admit to having prior knowledge, the populace cannot hold them accountable. But with Feng Lan coming here personally, it's different. His presence signals intent to inform the king. If the king does nothing and events occur, the Feng family can accuse Afika of inaction. They didn't risk their head for nothing. This philosophy is why Feng's family, renowned for prophecy, holds international repute. They aren't solely profit-driven; when national or global crises loom, they provide information out of duty. Their guiding principle is to aid the world. Arriving at the stairwell, Su Bei surveyed his surroundings. The stairs on both sides were identical, differing only in color. Though he had a preference, he wanted to check with his partner first. "Up or down?" "I'm fine with either," Feng Lan expressed indifference. Su Bei made the decision immediately, "Then let's head down." They were on the third floor; descending wouldn't take long. The choice to go down was due to Su Bei's interpretation of what Butler Weiss said earlier. First, Su Bei needed to determine his objective: finding the Guardian Gaodi Anzhuo. The guardian would most likely reside in the castle, prompting him to explore. Earlier, Weiss mentioned that the top two floors were off-limits. Logically, the guardian would be hidden there. But anyone hearing that would think to search those two forbidden floors first. The king of Afika would have to be foolish to truly hide the guardian there. This is different from the knowledge that the guardian is within the castle. While known by all, a castle's scale dwarfs two floors, making it much harder to search and discover. Moreover, the castle's blatant presence exudes confidence, unlike the sealed-off top floors, which seem like an intentional distraction. Most importantly, Weiss mentioned that one of the guardian's forms is a protruding face on a stone wall. Assuming he's truthful, where else but underground would you find stone walls? Su Bei intended to inspect the castle's basement, thinking his abilities might help him find something there. "Are you heading out?" Feng Lan asked, a bit surprised, misunderstanding Su Bei's intentions. "Of course not," Su Bei chuckled, a knowing smile on his lips. "The castle promises much more intrigue than outside." While planning to check the basement, Su Bei didn't rush to his goal, leisurely exploring the second and first floors, peeking into any room they could open, full of apparent curiosity. Having finished the first two floors, they finally approached a maid, curiously yet politely asking, "Excuse me, is there anything in the castle's basement?" He purposely paused after the question. Seeing wariness in her eyes, he continued naturally, "You know, like those underground prisons in fairy tales!" The maid was momentarily speechless but found him amusing rather than suspicious. "I'm sorry, sir. Afika's criminals are taken to external jails by the judicial system; we don't need underground prisons." "Oh, I see..." Su Bei feigned disappointment, pondering a moment before asking, "Is there a basement? We'd like to take a look." Clearly, he wasn't giving up. The maid, feeling she understood him, nodded with a sigh, thinking, "Go ahead; he’ll find nothing and be satisfied." "Of course, but the staircase is a bit hidden. If you're interested, follow me." Indeed, there wasn't anything secretive about the basement. As Butler Weiss explained, the hidden staircase was due to its storage use—unappealing and uninteresting, concealing the entrance would prevent visitors during open days from going, only to be disappointed. She frequently cleaned the basement, affirming its true nature—a mere storeroom. The staircase was behind a large vase; moving the planter revealed the way. Upon reaching the basement, they saw numerous brown boxes and some broken furniture—clearly a storeroom. The maid had no intention of staying with them; she had tasks to attend to. After guiding them, she bowed and left. Feng Lan didn’t question Su Bei's reasons for coming, merely walking quietly along the walls. Su Bei activated his powers, examining every corner, occasionally knocking on boxes to check their contents. After a full circuit, having found only a small mouse, Su Bei sighed. He was mentally prepared, knowing he wouldn't find the guardian on the first day, but the lack of clues still disappointed him. "Let's head back." Without wasting time, Su Bei led Feng Lan up the way they came. Only then did Feng Lan speak, "What about you? Did you foresee anything?" His question seemed abrupt, but Su Bei quickly replied, "Something I want might be here." When he first inquired if Feng Lan foresaw anything, he expected a reciprocal question. Since Feng Lan hadn't asked, Su Bei didn't offer. Unexpectedly, Feng Lan brought it up now. Feng Lan, considering deeply, suddenly offered, "Need any help?" Upon hearing this, Su Bei was momentarily stunned, showing some interest in his eyes, but ultimately he shook his head and declined, "Thanks, but there's no need. Save your ability for a more crucial time." Feng Lan's [Prophecy] ability has a long cooldown. If he were to make a prophecy now for Su Bei, it might not be possible for him to make another prediction before they leave Afika. Finding the Guardian wasn't something Su Bei needed to achieve immediately. The driver had previously hinted at an important piece of information: royals must gain the Guardian's approval, meaning Wu Mingbai was bound to meet the Guardian. Since the Guardian was sure to appear, Su Bei was confident he'd have a chance to find him. Thus, he wasn't in a hurry to waste Feng Lan's precious opportunity for prophecy. When Wu Mingbai finally returned, it was already evening. He had both lunch and dinner with his family, with no opportunity to break away and report back. It wasn't until 7 PM that he managed to join everyone. At that moment, Su Bei was lying on his bed, browsing the "Fate" organization's database, when his advanced mental power detected movements in the hallway. He immediately opened the door and stepped out, spotting Wu Mingbai approaching. Clearly surprised to see Su Bei, Wu Mingbai asked, "Why are you out here?" "My mental powers sensed your return," Su Bei shrugged, falling into step beside him. "Did you see the Guardian today?" Compared to returning to a family he'd only met a few times, his little companions were undoubtedly more important to Wu Mingbai, so he hid nothing. "I didn't, but I learned some relevant information. After the recognition banquet in a couple of days, I should be able to meet him in person." "What information?" Su Bei's interest was piqued immediately. However, Wu Mingbai didn't immediately respond. Instead, he casually instructed, "Call everyone else out first. I imagine they'd be interested too. Plus, there are plans for the next few days I'd like to personally relay to you all." The rooms in the castle were well insulated against sound, meaning he'd have to knock on each door rather than shout. After finally gathering everyone, they convened in Jiang Tianming's room. Since they were all familiar faces, Wu Mingbai didn't dilly-dally, directly getting to the point, "I'll be busy in intensive etiquette training for the next few days, so I won't be able to join you. However, Mother said the butler would ensure everything—from food to accommodation—is sorted out for you all, so there's no need to worry. You're invited to the recognition banquet the day after tomorrow; you just need to enjoy the food and drinks—no photos, okay? If anyone uses a photo to mock me afterwards, I'll sneak into your room at night to 'silence' you. Following the banquet, I'll meet the Guardian. Mother said no photos and that you can't come, so there's nothing I can do. But I should be able to describe the Guardian to you afterward." After sharing everything, he let out a long sigh, grinning foolishly, "No need to be nervous, I will..." "But you're the nervous one, aren't you?" Jiang Tianming interrupted, stepping forward to pinch Wu Mingbai's cheeks, smoothing out his forced smile. "What are you nervous about?" Lan Subing, noticing his anxiety too, filled with concern, chimed in, "Is it because you're uncomfortable here? Or did your siblings give you a hard time?" It was clear to the observant that while the king and queen seemed to genuinely accept him, his siblings were a different story. Many of them harbored animosity towards Wu Mingbai. Caught off guard by how accurately they perceived his feelings, Wu Mingbai paused before admitting, "It’s a little overwhelming. They haven't done much, just some probing. I guess it's mostly being unaccustomed—to this castle, the servants, Afika's language, and... these newfound relatives." Since they saw through him, he had no reason to hide and spoke frankly about his discomfort with his new surroundings. The biggest adjustment was dealing with these sudden relatives. In his loneliest moments, Wu Mingbai often imagined what life with a family might be like. Yet now that they had appeared, it all felt rather strange. As for his siblings' probing, it wasn't much of a concern for Wu Mingbai. Despite sharing blood ties, they were strangers after over a decade apart. Moreover, potential conflicts of interest were possible, and their guarded interactions were only natural. In fact, out of all things, this probing was what he was most accustomed to. Jiang Tianming calmly patted him on the shoulder in comfort, "Take the next few days to adjust. Chat with them more. And if you really can't adapt, it’s okay; you'll be coming back at latest by the school term, right?" This reminder brought clarity to Wu Mingbai. He never had plans to stay permanently. Regardless of his parents or siblings' nature, he'd always return. His true comfort zone was at home, surrounded by his recognized companions. Even if Afika was splendid and family relations blossomed, he couldn't abandon over a decade of his past to remain here. While they reassured Wu Mingbai, Su Bei sat in a corner, asking Feng Lan beside him, "When do you plan to talk to the king about it?" "Tomorrow," Feng Lan replied, already having a plan. "While you all go out." Su Bei thought for a moment and decided not to press further. He initially considered suggesting that Feng Lan inquire about the Guardian, given that the predicted disaster seemed closely tied to the Guardian. After all, Gaodi Anzhuo's key ability was stabilizing Afika's landmass, so the foreseen catastrophe likely hinted at issues with him. Using this angle to ask might yield answers. However, another thought crossed his mind: there should be another manga update before the event. With the creator's tendency, related topics would naturally appear, likely providing the answers he sought—no special requests necessary. "What matter?" Zhao Xiaoyu, having paid attention to them, curiously interjected. Even though they spoke quietly, for a superpower user, such proximity meant nothing could be inaudible, no matter how hushed. Feng Lan didn't hide it from her. Seeing others also turn their attention, he shared the prophecy details at a normal volume. Hearing of the impending calamity in Afika, everyone’s expression changed. Class monitor Mu Tieren furrowed his brows, standing up, "In that case, should we discuss this with the teachers?" Before anyone else could respond, Si Zhaohua shook his head, "It's Afika's issue. Even informing our superpower government won’t help; informing Afika's leadership immediately, like Feng Lan is doing, is the right call." That made sense, Mu Tieren sighed, uncertainly looking around the room, then at Wu Mingbai, "So what do we do next?" His question was clear—knowing the upcoming danger in Afika, should they remain? If it was a Nightmare Beast attack, they could contribute. But facing a natural disaster, Wu Mingbai, with his earth powers, might be the only significant presence. After some thought, Mu Tieren added, "I’d prefer to stay, maybe help with rescue efforts, but I want to hear your thoughts." "...I want to leave. Once I'm back, I'll inform Teacher Meng. Maybe you’ll see me in the follow-up rescue teams." Zhao Xiaoyu broke the silence, speaking before anyone else could, knowing that once they spoke, voicing her intention would feel out of place. Over a year of knowing her classmates allowed her to predict that most would choose to stay. As Mu Tieren mentioned, they could help with rescues. Superpower users, with their enhanced physiques, had a degree of self-preservation making them ideal for such work. Willing to be useful, these passionate youths would certainly stay. But Zhao Xiaoyu had no desire to remain. Though her [Happiness] could be beneficial in such situations, its effect was minimal given her mental strength limitations. She couldn't cover large areas, meaning she couldn't inspire many. Facing a dangerous future filled with potential earthquakes, Zhao Xiaoyu had no wish to perish in a foreign land. She was pragmatic; even as a superpower user, her survival trumped altruism. Knowing the dangers, she prioritized her safety. As for post-disaster rescue work, that was a later concern, by which time the dangers would likely have subsided. She would only need to provide logistical support, a role she was prepared to accept. She deliberately articulated her intention first, understanding that many might choose to remain. If everyone expressed staying, her desire to leave would seem discordant. Proclaiming it early ensured that even if others stayed, it wouldn't be awkward. In fact, introducing the "leave" option might even persuade others to follow suit. Sure enough, Zhou Renjie immediately agreed, "I don't want to stay either, but I can organize a fundraising event back home, donating money or supplies to help the disaster victims here." Li Shu glanced dramatically at Jiang Tianming and sighed exaggeratedly, "I'll stay. I can't handle being apart from interesting friends for over a month—I’d feel lonely." Without a doubt, he wanted to leave, but knowing Jiang Tianming would undoubtedly stay, he decided he could ensure his own safety and opted to remain. As he mentioned, while being apart for weeks was manageable, being separated for over a month felt too long. What if Jiang Tianming made progress during that time? Jiang Tianming fell silent, only able to offer his own decision: "I'm staying. Is there anyone else besides Zhao Xiaoyu and Zhou Renjie who isn't staying? Most should be staying." Indeed, no other hands were raised. Apart from Zhao Xiaoyu and Zhou Renjie, everyone else expressed a desire to remain. After a pause, everyone's gaze naturally shifted toward Su Bei. Su Bei, aware of their unspoken question, forced a smile, "Is there a problem with me staying?" Unfortunately, no one bought it. Ai Baozhu unhesitatingly asked, "Why are you staying? To rescue people?" Of course, his real reason for staying was to find the Guardian. Su Bei suspected, given the author's plot design, that his best chance to meet Gaodi Anzhuo would be around the time trouble erupted in Afika, so staying was his only option. However, he couldn’t admit this outright. Maintaining his forced smile, he replied grandiosely, "Of course, it’s to save people!" "Thanks for treating us like fools," Ai Baozhu retorted, rolling her eyes. Jiang Tianming scrutinized Su Bei for a moment, then turned to Wu Mingbai, "Seems like the rest of us want to stay. Once Feng Lan has talked to the king, he'll probably want us to leave. Can you step in and help then?" Seeing Wu Mingbai's hesitant expression, Lan Subing softly said, "Do you really think we would go back?" Wu Mingbai gave up on the thought, feeling both helpless and touched. "I'll speak with him."