Chapter 308 - A Guide for Background Characters to Survive in a Manga

Chapter 308 The crisis wasn't imminent. Zhao Xiaoyu and Zhou Renjie planned to leave the day after tomorrow, intending to enjoy a carefree day with everyone before that. As for Su Bei, since he had decided to stay and face the danger together, he couldn't just focus on the Guardian Deity. Previously, he speculated that this event might be part of the main storyline, suggesting that the crisis could be related to the Nightmare Beast. With this in mind, during their outing the next day, Su Bei repeatedly sought out guides, staff, and shopkeepers to inquire about the Nightmare Beast. The excuse was ready-made—he was curious as to why the world was facing turmoil from the Nightmare Beast, yet the Asian-African nation seemed so peaceful. "It's the Guardian Deity's doing." "Of course, it's because the Guardian Deity is protecting us!" "With the Guardian Deity around, we know as soon as the Nightmare Beast appears." All three answers were surprisingly consistent, attributing the peace to the Guardian Deity. Su Bei didn't think they were lying; their reliance and pride in their tone indicated their belief in the truth. Having a deity that could help them receive information about the Nightmare Beast in advance for early response was indeed a comforting thought. However, upon learning this, Su Bei couldn't help but connect it to a new problem. Standing at the entrance of a clothing store, without any will to shop, Su Bei sat on a chair near the entrance with the guide. It's worth noting that among the guys, only Si Zhaohua, Zhou Renjie, and Li Shu showed an interest in shopping, while among the girls, Ling You stood out for her lack of interest. Knowing full well that their shopping would take a long time, Su Bei took the opportunity to curiously ask the guide beside him, "What is the education system for superpower users in the Asian-African nation like? If Wu Mingbai were to return home, could he attend a superpower academy?" "Our country's superpower academy is in the capital, named the 'Asian-African Royal Superpower High School.' If you're interested, I can take you to visit tomorrow," the guide replied promptly. Only one superpower academy in the entire nation? That's hardly enough, right? Though the Asian-African nation isn't as large as theirs, can one academy really accommodate all the new superpower users annually? Su Bei wore a thoughtful expression as he opened his phone to search for the "Asian-African Royal Superpower Academy." Based on online information, it's clear that this is a beautifully appointed, well-equipped school, even more luxurious than the "Alpha Superpower High School" they had visited before. This isn't surprising—it's called the Royal Superpower High School after all, funded by the royal family, so it would naturally be more luxurious. However, the annual enrollment of this superpower academy is less than that of the "Infinite Superpower Academy," with only about two hundred students. Is it possible for a nation to only produce two hundred superpower users a year? Su Bei found it hard to believe. The Asian-African nation must be losing out on many superpower users who aren't as strong, and perhaps even some who could have become quite powerful are being overlooked. With the Guardian Deity present, an annual output of two hundred superpower users could suffice, but what if something were to happen to the Guardian Deity? In the event of natural disasters accompanied by a Nightmare Beast invasion, what would the Asian-African nation do? Other resources might be replaced temporarily, but the number of superpower users cannot be replenished quickly. Seeking aid from other countries is a viable option, but would a Nightmare Beast really leave them the opportunity to ask for help after a disaster strikes? The best course of action would be to seek help before the crisis unfolds, but since Feng Lan's prophecy only saw natural disasters and not a Nightmare Beast invasion, the king of the Asian-African nation would likely not proactively seek support. Without a doubt, the protagonists must once again play a significant role. Sighing lightly, Su Bei was about to speak when his eyebrows raised, and his expression became intrigued. With his head down on his phone, no one noticed his changing expression. Deciding not to speak, he stood up, "I'm going to the restroom." "I'll go too," Wu Jin stood up, wanting to accompany him. Though Su Bei had business to attend to, he didn't refuse the company. The two walked to the restroom together, and midway, Su Bei suddenly spoke, "You know, if I suddenly vanish, it's because something interesting caught my attention." Wu Jin paused, then quickly reacted, "Something interesting's about to happen here? What is it?" "A secret," Su Bei replied, entering the restroom first. Once Wu Jin had settled into a stall, Su Bei quietly slipped out, heading toward the stairwell corner. "Su Bei?!" The red-haired youth in black clothes at the doorway widened his eyes in surprise and delight. Su Bei's expression softened, a smile curling his lips, "Long time no see, Mo Xiaotian." Mo Xiaotian had changed considerably since their last meeting. He had grown taller; once the shortest in the class, he'd now surpassed even Wu Mingbai. Su Bei felt certain Wu Mingbai would be quite upset once he realized this change. Though physical changes were evident, the most noticeable difference to Su Bei was the advancement in Mo Xiaotian's superpower. Earlier, Su Bei could discern Mo Xiaotian's mental power in the air, indicating that his ability to manipulate air now extended beyond a small area. Only now did Su Bei realize the potential power of the "Air" superpower in Mo Xiaotian's hands. Even without an attack, its utility was undeniable. It was evident that a stronger Mo Xiaotian wasn't in the Asian-African nation for leisure. Though Su Bei appeared calm, his mind had been racing since he detected Mo Xiaotian's superpower with his mental power. Mo Xiaotian's unexpected presence here only suggested the "Black Lightning" was active in Asia-Africa. Considering three known facts: their intention to collaborate with the Nightmare Beast, the Guardian Deity's favorable stance towards humans, and the possibility of the Guardian Deity becoming ineffective. Su Bei reached a conclusion—the "Black Lightning" organization likely planned to control or transform the Guardian Deity to serve the Nightmare Beast, with Mo Xiaotian, as the Holy Son, presumably set up for this task. "Su Bei, how did you find me here? Do the others know? I'm sorry, I just wanted to have a glimpse from a distance, didn't expect to be caught..." Mo Xiaotian's mood dampened the more he spoke. Su Bei shook his head, "I haven't told them. What brings you to the Asian-African nation?" "I have a mission, but it's confidential, I can't share it with you," Mo Xiaotian replied, honesty worn on his face sans his usual cheer. "But I can tell you, it'd be best to leave early." Ignoring the warning, Su Bei suddenly asked, "Not happy?" Mo Xiaotian bit his lip, his gaze hesitant, as if wanting to confide yet unsure how. Su Bei understood that certain issues needed to be pressed; allowing Mo Xiaotian to calm might result in him withholding. Promptly, he led Mo Xiaotian outside, speaking as they walked, "I've already arranged with Wu Jin to break from the group early. We've got time for your stories. You've come all this way; it wouldn't do not to reminisce. Besides, you think I wouldn't care?" The words were strategically chosen, moving Mo Xiaotian to tears, "B-brother Bei, you're too good to me. There are so many things I want to tell you all!" Despite his words, the crowd precluded anything more just now. Not until they reached a secluded spot behind a flowerbed beside the mall, unlikely to be overheard, did Mo Xiaotian speak again, "Sorry, I really can't warn you more. My grandfather... hasn't been in a good mood lately. The organization has imposed more regulations. As the Holy Son, I must be exemplary, not casually violating rules." Though scant on details, it was the utmost warning he could provide. Lately, the organization had an uneasy air; since his grandfather's last seclusion, even claiming research breakthroughs, Mo Xiaotian sensed his grandfather’s discontent. This unhappiness brought heightened vigilance, especially after their world tournament plan was leaked. Despite minimal data getting out, it infuriated his grandfather, leading "Black Lightning" to strictly forbid information leaks. After listening, Su Bei's mind swiftly grasped his grandfather’s intent. Moodiness aside, imposing more organization rules due to that alone was implausible. "You really think 'Black Lightning's' rules are just stricter because your grandfather's in a bad mood?" Su Bei asked pointedly. However, this subtlety was lost on Mo Xiaotian, who remained innocently perplexed, "Huh? What else could it be if not that?" Su Bei: "..." A profound sense of helplessness lingered in his heart. Although it was reassuring that this guy remained so naive, it was equally exhausting. He sighed in resignation, “It’s because what the 'Black Lightning' organization is planning these days needs to be even more tightly guarded, thus the need for stricter management.” Previously, although their activities weren’t exactly commendable, they at least had a righteous facade that unified their members under a shared sense of pride. But now, collaborating with the Nightmare Beast would likely be unknown to many members. To ensure continued oversight, the organization must implement detailed management. Everyone functioned like cogs in a machine, unaware of each other's tasks, yet collectively they achieved the ultimate goal. Only in this way could the leader of the "Black Lightning" command their members as effectively as before. Mo Xiaotian's eyes revealed confusion, "So, we're not supposed to let anyone know what we originally intended to do as well as what we’re doing now? I know you guys think what we’re doing is wrong.” Su Bei: “...” Self-awareness isn’t something you lack, huh? Su Bei felt he should have been used to such idiocy. Realizing that talking sense into him was futile, he abandoned attempts to sow discord and straightforwardly probed for information, “Since you’re leading the mission, aren’t there a lot of members dissatisfied with your appointment?” Though he spoke in a teasing tone, Su Bei was actually gathering intelligence. This question would first confirm whether Mo Xiaotian was the leader, and if he wasn’t, he could use the opportunity to ask who was. And if Mo Xiaotian was indeed the leader, this mission most likely involved some kind of artifact or tool because, on sheer personal power alone, Mo Xiaotian wouldn’t be leading. “Nah, I earned quite a reputation after infiltrating the 'Infinite Superpower Academy' for a year!” Mo Xiaotian grinned, “Besides, everyone likes me!” Su Bei believed him. Had he not been aware of Mo Xiaotian’s undercover identity from the start, he might have liked him too. Although Mo Xiaotian was a fool, he was not a liability. His emotional value filled the air, turning his foolishness into something endearing. Being a fan of hot-blooded shonen manga, Su Bei could hardly detest a character with main character traits like Mo Xiaotian. At the same time, he was confident that even as part of a villainous group, this kind of fool would shine like a small sun. Unfortunately, it was on behalf of the villains. With a silent sigh, Su Bei casually remarked, “Don’t lose any key items; you'll be punished when you return, right?” Naïve as ever, Mo Xiaotian took the bait easily, confidently reassuring him, “No way! Don’t worry about that!” Truthfully, Su Bei felt a twinge of guilt. Mo Xiaotian's openness stemmed from trust in him. Though Mo Xiaotian's warmth extended even to strangers, he had established boundaries and wouldn’t reveal any mission-related details. During a past mission, Mo Xiaotian disguised himself as an ordinary person. When a self-proclaimed clever individual thought Mo Xiaotian was easy to deceive and tried to extract their true purpose, Su Bei had been prepared to intervene. Instead, Mo Xiaotian straightforwardly noted the strangeness of the questions and refused to answer. Having exhausted potential leads or realizing he wouldn't get more useful answers, Su Bei shifted his gaze slightly, competently suppressing his expressions as he patted Mo Xiaotian's shoulder, “Alright, reunion time is over. Time to head back to our respective homes.” “Huh? Leaving already?” Mo Xiaotian stared at Su Bei’s departing figure, eyes wide with surprise. “Holy Son, should I bring him back?” A black-clad individual appeared beside Mo Xiaotian, asking in a voice as cold as a machine. Mo Xiaotian shook his head, bewilderedly innocent, “Why would you need to bring Brother Bei back?” Mo Xiaotian, always consistent, was a fool both in front of Su Bei and confronting the black-clad individual. The straightforward question stumped the black-clad man, leaving him momentarily speechless before replying, “He might know too much.” “I don’t think I said anything confidential?” Mo Xiaotian scratched his head, speaking with full trust, “Uncle, you would have stopped me if I had.” Had someone else made that remark, it would’ve been a veiled jab at the black-clad man's vigilance. But coming from Mo Xiaotian, it was genuine gratitude for his oversight; he wasn't one for sarcasm. The black-clad man understood this well, his eyes reflecting a hint of amusement as he looked in the direction Su Bei disappeared, “You wouldn’t leak secrets. Besides, he was very cautious with his questions.” Indeed, while Su Bei had sought information, he clearly hadn’t probed for key details, only minor but somewhat useful bits. Thus, the observer remained silent, allowing their conversation. The black-clad individual wasn't sure whether the blond youth was aware of his presence, but he figured whether or not he had noticed, the cautious questioning was to avoid making Mo Xiaotian a target. Before Mo Xiaotian explained his position in "Black Lightning," the blond youth's approach was somewhat greedy, tactically extracting more intel. Yet after learning about Mo Xiaotian's situation, the questioning became measured, even knowing the perfect time to end the conversation. “Of course! Brother Bei is awesome!” Mo Xiaotian beamed with his bright smile, “Let’s get back to our mission!” After parting from Mo Xiaotian and without any idea where Jiang Tianming and the others had gone, Su Bei felt disinclined to track the group down and instead returned directly to the castle. Finding the castle was remarkably easy, arguably the most recognizable location in the capital. Along the way, he pondered the recent conversation with Mo Xiaotian. If the “Black Lightning” organization intended to influence the Guardian Deity using some artifact, what actions should he take regarding this information? One thing was certain: the artifact couldn’t be easily stolen or destroyed; otherwise, the observer wouldn’t have watched Mo Xiaotian reveal secrets without intervention. The artifact’s existence must be inconsequential enough to remain undisclosed. Since the artifact couldn’t be tampered with before the incident, Su Bei needed to consider how to utilize it to his advantage after the fact. As previously mentioned, soliciting help or answers from the Guardian Deity would certainly require adequate compensation. Su Bei had a hunch that this artifact might be the opportunity to provide just that compensation. Direct inquiries with the “Fate” organization were now out of the question, as Mo Xiaotian’s comments suggested a crackdown on informants by the “Black Lightning” leader. Thus, getting any useful answers seemed unlikely. Therefore, the focus needed to shift to the Guardian Deity. If the “Black Lightning” organization intended to control Him, what method could release Him or directly liberate Him? “Where did you sneak off to earlier? Wu Jin, the silent one, didn't say much besides that you had something to deal with,” asked Qi Huang as they gathered for dinner, now joined by Jiang Tianming and others curious about Su Bei’s lone departure. Hearing the question, others also turned their attention to him, equally curious about what Su Bei had been up to—every matter involving him seemed somewhat problematic. Su Bei responded without hesitation, “Ran into a cute dog, got caught up playing with it. By the time I realized, you all were gone, so I headed back to the castle.” Wu Jin’s expression briefly twisted. Others might not know, but he sure did. Before heading to the restroom, Su Bei had preemptively mentioned needing to leave, so a mere encounter with a cute dog could hardly be the reason. Yet seeing that Su Bei preferred to avoid the truth, Wu Jin naturally had no intention to call him out. “A dog? Did you take pictures?” Qi Huang, skeptical yet curious, asked. Su Bei shrugged, lazily replying, “Forgot.” His dismissive manner infuriated Qi Huang once more, making her grit her teeth in annoyance. The ever-reliable Mu Tieren intervened to prevent further strife. “Have you informed the king of the situation?” he asked Feng Lan. Feng Lan nodded, “I went to the king after you all left. They said preparations would be made. As for my suggestion for you to assist, the king declined, stating it hasn’t come to the point where foreign students need to risk themselves for our country.” It was rare to hear Feng Lan utter so many words consecutively, but when it came to crucial explanations, even his usual brevity gave way to verbosity. Lan Subing, slouched at the table, watched him enviously. Oh, how she wished she could control how much she chose to say, rather than being chatty with friends and practically mute with strangers. No one was surprised by the king's refusal; they'd be shocked if he agreed. While the allure of free labor might be tempting, sometimes the costliest things are those that appear free. Assign them to disaster relief one moment, and the next, the United Nations might issue a statement of condemnation upon catching wind. Still, once real danger strikes and manpower falls short, they'd face no hurdles if they wished to step in then. "One wonders if they can truly make the impact they should," Zhao Xiaoyu mused, mimicking Lan Subing's posture by slumping over the table. "If things aren't handled properly, it’s the ordinary people who will suffer." Something like landslides and earthquakes would inevitably cause widespread casualties. Without a prediction of precisely where disasters might strike, there’s no way to devise targeted solutions. To avert losses ahead of time, all residents living near mountains would need to relocate temporarily. Such measures, however, would heavily affect regional economies—mass relocations preventing people from working until post-disaster rebuilding is completed would significantly impact a mountainous nation like the Asian-African states. Should the king prioritize economic stability, timely evacuations might not be arranged. As the most relatable to ordinary people among them all, Zhao Xiaoyu couldn’t help but empathize with the everyday citizens of the Asian-African nation. "Don't worry," Wu Mingbai reassured with a smile and a playful wink. "I hinted around today and it seems Father is reasonably concerned about his people's lives. If in the end, he neglects rescuing them properly, with this recording and my prince status, I could ensure the public has a clearer understanding of my family." The juxtaposition of such adorable expressions with such ominous words sent a chill through everyone present. Lan Subing offered a thumbs-up, "You actually remembered to record it." Wu Mingbai glanced at Su Bei, "Learned from someone." Caught off guard, Su Bei feigned innocence, "The master leads the way, but practice relies on the individual. No need to deflect; we're all aware of your ‘good intentions.’"