Chapter 312 - A Guide for Background Characters to Survive in a Manga

Chapter 312 【No.36: Head back to the main building? Clearly not! The "Fate" organization doesn't conflict with the "Infinite Superpower Academy."】 【No.37: Heading downstairs now. I think the reason Su Bei is so calm is because he's neutral. He gets along well with both the good and bad camps.】 【No.38: It seems Su Bei doesn't care much about betrayal. He comes across as someone who might betray everyone at any moment.】 【No.39 Replying to No.38: That’s a bit unfair. I think Su Bei is quite reliable. Even though he often runs away, it only affects him. Whenever there’s a task at hand, he never flees or lets anyone down. Like during the world tournament team battle, when Su Bei didn't know about the problem with the illusion, he didn’t think of quitting. Holding so many points alone, he was surely under a lot of pressure. Despite his strength, he didn’t have an advantage in the world tournament.】 【No.40 Replying to No.39: Agreed! Su Bei is actually quite dependable.】 【No.41: Su Bei clearly belongs to the type who's lazy most times but incredibly reliable in crucial moments.】 【No.42 Replying to No.41: Though what he considers as crucial moments are quite rare.】 【……】 【No.86: Su Bei doesn’t care about Mo Xiaotian’s betrayal because he probably doesn't care about anyone! The word "betrayal" only exists between friends or collaborators. Who gets angry when a stranger switches sides?】 【No.87 Replying to No.86: I sometimes doubt if he even considers others as friends.】 【No.88: To the person above, there’s no need to doubt. Of course, he does! Initially, hiring Su Bei’s help required compensation, but later he did many things without expecting any reward. For example, when he saved everyone in the Sacred Land of Visi. I don’t believe he had no other way to leave. Or when he volunteered for the world tournament’s team match, which wasn’t beneficial to him.】 【No.89 Replying to No.88: Makes a lot of sense! Looking at it this way, Su Bei, despite his playful demeanor, has indeed changed a lot.】 【No.90: Ahhh, I love it! Cunning yet sincere, that’s the essence of why I read shonen manga!】 【……】 【No.155: Something a bit unrelated to the main topic: Wasn’t Su Bei and Mo Xiaotian’s conversation just frivolous ramblings? Mo Xiaotian barely mentioned his task, focusing more on sharing emotions rather than real content. Su Bei, surprisingly, turned out to be a great listener. After finally shaking off others to meet, identities and positions clashing, they just chatted trivially?】 【No.156 Replying to No.155: Kinda funny, hahaha!】 【No.157 Replying to No.155: Who said there was no content? Mo Xiaotian revealed the organization's current situation, mentioning they became stricter. Considering their previous closed-door research, they might have discovered something crucial, preparing for big actions. Or they found nothing, and the strictness is merely venting frustration. As for Su Bei, he didn’t say much indeed. But he’s not one to chat idly; speaking with Mo Xiaotian for so long itself suggests he gained some intelligence from him. Meaning, he was probing for "Black Lightning" organization info.】 【No.158 Replying to No.157: Su Bei, true to the “Fate” organization, indeed.】 【No.159: Too bad he didn’t extract what "Black Lightning" is planning.】 【No.160 Replying to No.159: Lucky he didn’t ask. Otherwise, the man in black appearing afterward would surely have intervened.】 【No.161: Do you think Su Bei didn’t ask Mo Xiaotian why he's here because he’s uninterested, or because he knew someone was watching them?】 【No.162 Replying to No.161: Definitely the latter. I believe Su Bei knows of the observer.】 【No.163 Replying to No.161: The latter, for sure. Since Su Bei stays involved, how could he not be interested?】 【No.165 Replying to No.161: Probably both. On one hand, he’s not that concerned about what "Black Lightning" plans to do, asking is optional. On the other hand, aware of being watched, he didn’t ask inappropriate questions.】 【No.166 Replying to No.161: At least he definitely knows someone’s watching them. Otherwise, why talk about trivial stuff? Surely, Mo Xiaotian is a good source for extracting information!】 【No.167: Actually, not really extracting info; Mo Xiaotian seemed to enjoy the chat.】 【No.168: Mo Xiaotian doesn’t seem aware he's a betrayer.】 【No.169 Replying to No.168: Just not with Su Bei, for sure.】 【No.170: Interpersonal harmony is hallmark in organizations. Maybe those without should join one to understand Mo Xiaotian (just kidding).】 【……】 After reading this thread, Su Bei closed his eyes briefly, finally deciding to dive into another conspiracy theory thread. "Su Bei will definitely stir things up in the next chapter; this chapter is just laying the groundwork." 【No.0 % Pure Milk: Let’s recap Su Bei’s arc. Firstly, he knew about Mo Xiaotian’s appearance, suggesting at least partial awareness of "Black Lightning" tasks. Secondly, he had the troublemaking twin brothers sign a contract to help cover tomorrow, meaning he knew something would happen at the acknowledgment banquet. Indeed, significant events unfolded during the banquet, and Su Bei vanished for some time. While it’s not mentioned what he did, I suspect it involved the Guardian Spirit. No doubt, Bei is collaborating with "Black Lightning," though the fallout is pending, implying other plans. He might have personal tasks beyond "Black Lightning."】 【No.1: Looking forward, I love seeing Su Bei make things happen!】 【No.2: Su Bei: A heart in Han despite being in Cao Ying.】 【No.3: However, this time the target isn’t the main protagonist group, but Yafei Kingdom, or more precisely, its Guardian Spirit. The protagonist group is just unlucky collateral damage.】 【No.4: Stir things up! Make it big!】 【No.5: The story highlights the Guardian Spirit's greatness; if something happens to it, Yafei would suffer greatly.】 【No.6 Replying to No.5: Feels like many might die.】 【No.7 Replying to No.5: Just hope the Nightmare Beast doesn’t kick them when they’re down, that would be truly tragic.】 【……】 【No.45: Did you notice something intriguing? Even the Saint and action leader Mo Xiaotian doesn’t know about the collaboration, so who does? It could only be the leader of “Black Lightning.” Su Bei working with the “Black Lightning” leader directly, I’m genuinely curious about his standing in the “Fate” organization.】 【No.46 Replying to No.45: Blind guy, you’ve spotted the gem.】 【No.47 Replying to No.45: Interacting with the opposing leader, he must be a leader himself, right?】 【No.48 Replying to No.47: Hahaha, I’m going to start the rumor that Su Bei is the “Fate” organization leader!】 【No.49: Who knows what Su Bei is here for. If he’s truly just cooperating with “Black Lightning,” then someone save the kids, the villainous forces are overwhelming.】 【No.50 Replying to No.45: Although, Mo Xiaotian, though seemingly leading the operation, appears to be just a figurehead, a gilded title given by the leader to him. In truth, Mo Xiaotian knows very little; he looks perpetually bewildered.】 【No.51 Replying to No.50: I agree with your view, but need to mention, Mo Xiaotian always seems bewildered.】 【……】 The King acted swiftly; the celebration began the next day. This sort of thing apparently happened often, as everyone seemed very experienced. Upon arriving at the event, Su Bei overheard a couple in line whispering. “Why is the line moving so slowly? I only got three hours off. If I don’t make it back on time, they'll dock my pay!” the girl said, stamping her foot in frustration. Her boyfriend grinned proudly, “That's because you only took three hours off! I took five!” The girl immediately gave him a nudge, dissatisfied, "Have you no shame? Your company is just next door!" Her boyfriend wrapped an arm around her with a chuckle, "So what?" Listening from behind, Jiang Tianming and the others covered their mouths to stifle their laughter. From their exchange, they realized that such events must be frequent in Yafei Kingdom, as even the citizens knew how much time off to request. "Seems like what Tianming said yesterday was spot on," Mu Tieren frowned after the chuckles subsided. "These celebrations must be essential to the Guardian Spirit; otherwise, there's no reason to have them so often. Judging by their reaction, they don't seem to enjoy throwing parties." If the entire populace were truly fond of partying and attending these events, they wouldn't take so little time off. Normally, having frequent events like this wouldn't be beneficial for a country's development. The need for such gatherings could only be due to some underlying necessity. Si Zhaohua mused, "If simply holding frequent celebrations can obtain the protection of a powerful entity, I believe it's quite worth it." From what they observed so far, these gatherings, aside from being time-consuming, didn't deplete much in terms of resources. They just needed a park or some large area and a hired host to continuously sing praises of the Guardian Spirit. After watching one performance, Su Bei turned away, uninterested. The celebrations held no appeal and potential danger lurked; he had no desire to join in the festivities. This time, Jiang Tianming and his group had evidently learned from past experiences. As soon as Su Bei turned to leave, they immediately followed. Ai Baozhu directly asked, "Su Bei, where are you off to?" "Back to the castle. These performances are utterly dull," Su Bei replied lazily, striding away with his long legs. Qi Huang nodded in agreement, speaking with boredom, "I wonder when the crisis foretold by Feng Lan will start. Do you think the King of Yafei and his people might solve the danger before it hits?" "Unlikely," Wu Mingbai shook his head. "If they truly intended to resolve it, they wouldn't have summoned the Guardian Spirit at this juncture." The impending cataclysmic events are undeniably tied to the Guardian Spirit. If It wasn't in trouble, such natural disasters wouldn’t occur. After all, earthquakes are within the Guardian Spirit's domain; It should be capable of preventing them rather than letting them happen. Knowing the Guardian Spirit is at risk, the best approach would be to minimize Its presence, preventing any opportunity for hidden manipulations. But the King of Yafei, conspicuously, didn't have this in mind—summoning the Guardian Spirit to bless Wu Mingbai and organizing a celebration for It seemed almost reckless. Li Shu sighed, acknowledging their streak of luck was poor. Thankfully, they had leverage, though: "Su Bei, Feng Lan foresaw events, shouldn't you?" Using a challenging tone doesn’t faze Su Bei; he had no desire for prophecy, brushing it off, "I'm not a [Prophecy] superpower, naturally I can't keep up in foretelling matters." Is it natural? Had it been anyone else, it might be. But with Su Bei, it’s clearly an excuse—everyone knew he likely had some insights, just choosing not to divulge them. Their suspicions were confirmed when Su Bei vanished later that afternoon, leaving a simple "Do Not Disturb" message behind. When his room was checked, as expected, he was nowhere to be found. In some sense, this was anticipated. Everyone understood that Su Bei disappearing signified looming danger—there would be no exception this time. As for Su Bei’s whereabouts, he hadn't strayed far—merely stationed himself at the pinnacle of the castle. Not the top floor, but the actual tip, nestled on the peak. Equipped with a few superpower tools like a “Balance Bed,” a “Defensive Eggshell,” and several invisibility talismans, he set up base on the castle’s spire. After taking a nap, he awoke the next morning to find drastic changes sweeping across Yafei. Earthquakes erupted nationwide—unprecedented in a century—unleashing tremendous power as prophesied by Feng Lan. Buildings collapsed, landslides ensued, and coastal areas were hit by fierce tsunamis. The natural disasters were terrifying enough, but they were soon followed by manmade chaos. Lurking Nightmare Beasts, hidden across Yafei, seized the moment to disrupt the relief efforts of superpower beings and civilians alike. Su Bei, staying put but keeping informed, relied on Li Shu’s real-time broadcasts in their group. Clearly, lacking healing zeal, forced to stay due to Jiang Tianming, Li Shu appears unwilling. Yet, even idling, he lends protection with [Illusion], aiding without actively engaging. Essentially there to help, Li Shu instead found a safe spot, activating [Illusion] to conceal himself, doubling as a journalist offering live updates to those not on site. Su Bei, not knowing what others thought, felt compelled to applaud Li Shu. Without such a sympathetic stream, how else could he follow the protagonist team’s predicament? Jiang Tianming and others were dispatched that afternoon as anticipated—since staying meant assisting, and forewarned by Wu Mingbai, the King of Yafei would eagerly enlist such aids. However, the King had not done nothing; the ongoing celebrations were indeed part of his strategy. Given that the looming calamity was an earthquake, the logical response was removing civilians from buildings under a valid pretense. A three-day festival provided the perfect cover. Su Bei had no intention of replying to messages, quietly observing the broadcast. “Undoing the knot requires the one who tied it,” as the adage goes—to solve Yafei's crisis, the Guardian Spirit must be found. The protagonist team would inevitably return, so Su Bei had no reason to leave. Staying also offered access to concealed insights. The detection of advanced mental power by the stairway registered the King’s passage. Su Bei’s brow lifted, and he leapt from the bed, directly heading for the stairs. It was certain the King realized the Guardian Spirit was compromised, likely embarking to seek Its counsel. Due to missing information, the King possibly didn’t know the involvement of “Black Lightning” or realized the Guardian Spirit’s protective intentions might have waned. Su Bei hoped to prevent the King from walking into danger. The King could die, but not now. Amidst Yafei’s internal and external turmoil, lacking an heir from the young princes and princesses, the King's death would plunge Yafei into chaos. Disaster relief would halt, and royal succession conflicts might even implicate Wu Mingbai, impacting the protagonist team—a daunting thought. Conversely, the King’s survival promised stabilization. Reigning many years, he alone could promptly restore order upon reemerge, deterring ministers from preferring an immature successor among youngsters. However, Su Bei fancied a more dramatic approach—letting internal conflicts erupt to flush out ambitious rivals, then orchestrating the King’s triumphant return at a pivotal moment. Though infrequent in appearances, Su Bei aimed for significant participation in plot lines, avoiding stigmatization as a royal puppet. Popularity isn't defined by screen time—some are disliked despite frequent mentions. Rather than focus on quantity, Su Bei prioritized quality. If he saved the King, ensuring his key reemergence, readers would undoubtedly find this maneuver spectacular. Ensuring invisibility, Su Bei reached the secret chamber, sight fixed on the King beneath a large Destiny Compass, its pointer ominously halted. Just as Su Bei surmised, leaving the King unattended spelled certain demise. Adjusting the pointer to neutral, Su Bei stayed by, eavesdropping. “What’s gotten into you?” The King’s voice rang with irritation, “Didn’t we celebrate for you? Why this sudden change? If you have grievances, voice them; don’t toy with my country!” With no response, his tone softened, “If there’s a struggle, if energy’s scarce, or new requirements arise, inform us. I realize the magnitude of recent events demands immense power for repair and pacification. Whatever you need, we’ll provide. Our royal family, in partnership for so long, knows Yafei yields to soft not hard.” Perhaps bolstered by Gaodi Anzhuo’s legacy of dominance, the King hadn’t fathomed that it’s actual incapacity, not haughtiness. Abruptly, the chamber floor fractured; the King, fraught with panic, nearly plummeted. Yet, ever the monarch, his inventory brimmed with tools. Mid-fall, he manifested wings, soaring back up promptly. However, Gaodi Anzhuo, evidently enraged, wasn't about to let him off that easily. Suddenly, the entire ceiling collapsed, crashing down directly. The King activated another device, forcefully shattering the ceiling into smaller pieces while initiating a defensive state to protect himself from the falling debris. Danger came wave after wave, with more formidable and massive stones attacking from all sides, leaving the King no escape as he called out loudly for his guards. Even now, meeting the Guardian Spirit, the King hadn’t skimped on protective measures. Despite trusting the Guardian Spirit, he wouldn't solely entrust his safety to It. Especially with the evident issues concerning the Guardian Spirit, he surely wouldn't come alone to meet It. As a king, he had a strong sense of security. Nevertheless, the secrets of the Guardian Spirit were crucial, so although guards were stationed, the actual meeting with the Guardian Spirit was conducted solo. But now, despite being in peril and calling for quite a while, no one came, leaving the King bewildered and finally realizing things may have slipped from his control. Su Bei knew why help hadn’t arrived; the guards were being engaged by another group. Clearly, this was a well-orchestrated assassination by the “Black Lightning” organization, targeting the King of Yafei Kingdom. Members of the “Black Lightning” were tasked with blocking any reinforcements from reaching the chamber, while the Guardian Spirit, Gaodi Anzhuo, was responsible for killing the King. Perhaps It possessed some special ability, or killing the King via Gaodi Anzhuo efficiently diverted suspicion away from the organization, explaining why the “Black Lightning” didn’t act against the King directly themselves. With aid delayed, the King repeatedly withdrew tools to protect himself. He had plenty of reserves, enough to hold out for a bit. But against an Advanced Nightmare Beast, specifically one so powerful it spanned an entire nation, handling it wasn’t simple. Despite countless tools, they were only momentary consumables. Unless the King himself had a plan, this was merely a slow death. As his array of tools neared depletion, with nowhere to hide and nearing despair, several gears suddenly shot out, shattering the massive stones about to strike him. Immediately after, Su Bei grasped the King's arm, casually patting an invisibility talisman on him, and quipped leisurely, “Should I say 'my apologies for arriving late to save the day’?”