Chapter 304

Wu Di wasn’t surprised that Su Bei knew the person. For someone of Su Bei’s age to join the “Destiny” organization, it was quite possible he was personally recruited by the leader. It was only normal for him to have met them.

“Is it possible for you to persuade ‘Destiny’ to cooperate with our ‘Endless Ability Academy’? I’m referring to a collaboration where some students can join the ‘Destiny’ organization right after graduation.” He got straight to the point, proposing a major partnership right off the bat.

This was a collaboration that would benefit both sides. First, for Endless Ability Academy, partnering with the “Destiny” organization was all upside, especially since they weren’t exclusive. Even after joining this organization, members could still join others, and there were usually no restrictions on them.

As for the “Destiny” organization, being an intelligence agency, they naturally needed a large number of intelligence personnel. One of the requirements to stay in the organization was to have at least 1 point on hand. If a member had no points for over a month, they would be kicked out, and their notebook would self-destruct.

In other words, the more people they had, the more intelligence they could gather. Unless a member joined and never used the notebook to look up information, they would eventually have to submit intelligence.

Seeing Su Bei’s silence, Wu Di added, “The main difficulty before was that we couldn’t contact the leader. Now that you can, I was hoping you could help me ask. If it’s not possible for all graduates to join ‘Destiny,’ just having the A-Class and S-Class students join would be fine. They are highly likely to acquire a lot of important intelligence in the future, so recruiting them would definitely not be a loss for the organization, right?”

As he spoke, he tried hard to conceal his own identity as a member of the “Destiny” organization, speaking only in his capacity as the principal to add weight for his students.

Su Bei pondered. What the principal said was indeed very reasonable, and the “Destiny” organization did need more new members to ensure a continuous flow of intelligence. But intelligence organizations thrived on their mystique. If there was a fixed channel to join, wouldn’t it lose that veil of mystery?

After a moment of thought, he looked up and replied, “If the leader contacts me, I can ask for you, Principal.”

Getting such a promise was enough. Wu Di smiled and nodded, offering Su Bei a few words of encouragement before letting him leave.

After walking out of the office, Su Bei stood in place for a moment, then turned and headed towards the first-year S-Class classroom. Although he didn’t want to face everyone’s interrogation, what needed to be faced had to be faced. Running away had never been meaningful. He would rather explain things to Jiang Tianming and the others than be scolded by Meng Huai.

When he arrived at the classroom, Jiang Tianming and the others were, as expected, already waiting there. Qi Huang was talking animatedly, recounting what had happened to her during those few days outside, not forgetting to challenge Si Zhaohua and others to a fight.

Seeing Su Bei enter, Lan Subing asked curiously, “What did the principal want to talk to you about?”

“He asked me about… uh… some employment-related matters.” Su Bei deliberated for a long time before giving the most reasonable answer, which revealed nothing and wasn’t a lie.

Hearing his reply, Lan Subing immediately gave up on asking further and decisively started a new topic: “By the way, Su Bei, how exactly did you leave the illusion back then?”

Everyone was very curious about this question. Si Zhaohua also looked at him. “You left suddenly at that time because you predicted that the danger was about to be triggered, so you were in a hurry to leave the illusion, right?”

After so many crises, they had long come to expect Su Bei’s sudden departures. This time was no exception. In fact, the moment Su Bei proposed leaving, a bad feeling had risen in everyone’s hearts.

But there was nothing they could do. The situation no longer allowed them to leave midway. Even if they had guessed through Su Bei’s actions that the plan would not go smoothly, they still had to stop the clowns’ Purge Mode immediately. Otherwise, they wouldn’t even need a second trap; they would have been wiped out right there.

Under such circumstances, even if they knew Su Bei was leaving to escape on his own, they couldn’t stop him. They couldn’t run away themselves, so were they supposed to stop someone else from escaping? That made no sense.

Su Bei first answered Si Zhaohua’s question: “You guys already knew, didn’t you? Teleporting wouldn’t lead back to the arena. Since that was the case, I naturally had to find my own way back.”

After saying that, he answered Lan Subing’s question: “By destroying the formation’s core. The clown was the key person to destroy it.”

They had all learned the relevant knowledge, so they understood as soon as Su Bei said it. Wu Mingbai had a sudden realization, “The clown was the key person? That makes perfect sense. So where was the core?”

“The haunted house where we first entered the illusion,” Su Bei replied with a hint of mischief, and as expected, he was met with four pained expressions. The mere thought that the method to get out was right where they had entered made it impossible for them not to feel frustrated.

Suddenly, Jiang Tianming realized a problem: “Wait… if the key person was the clown, doesn’t that mean you destroyed the core before the Purge Mode started?”

After the Purge Mode began, the clowns were irrational and wouldn’t listen to the contestants’ commands. Even trying to kite a clown to the core would be extremely difficult, because destroying the core required a certain amount of time—one had to stay on it for a full five seconds. And a clown would obviously not give him five seconds to stand still.

Su Bei nodded as if it were a matter of course. “I knew there was danger long ago, so of course, I had to prepare an escape route in advance.”

“As expected of you,” Lan Subing gave him a thumbs up.

However, Wu Mingbai was focused on another question: “So why couldn’t you tell the rest of us this method? Couldn’t anyone leave by destroying the core? There was more than one clown.”

If a teacher had asked this question, Su Bei would have had to answer carefully, preferably coming up with a reasonable excuse. But since it was his classmate asking, Su Bei simply replied, half-perfunctorily and half-seriously, “Because only I could leave using that method.”

At these words, Wu Mingbai frowned and looked at Su Bei for a while. After carefully confirming that he didn’t seem to be talking nonsense, he averted his gaze and muttered, “Annoying Destiny-type.”

After bidding farewell to the group, Su Bei returned to his dorm to briefly pack his luggage. However, he didn’t leave in a hurry. Instead, he sat down to finish reading the forums he hadn’t gotten to earlier. Many new threads had been added to the forums, a lot of them being plot-related discussions.

A List of All the Abilities Jiang Tianming Has Acquired

Good News! Our Bei Ran Off Again!

So What Role Did the Black Flash Organization Actually Play in This Incident?

I Have a Feeling the Nightmare Beasts Could Only Pull This Off So Smoothly Because There’s a Mole on the Human Side

Among the many threads, Su Bei picked the one he was most interested in and clicked on it, the one related to “Black Flash.”

[Friendly Family No.0: The news that the ‘Black Flash’ organization was involved in this illusion teleportation incident came from the ‘Destiny’ organization, and judging by the reactions of Teacher Meng and the others, this information should be accurate. Ah Jiang also saw a ‘Black Flash’ organization prop in the hands of a Nightmare Beast.

So here’s the question: in the end, the contestants were all teleported to the Nightmare Beast World, and the members of the ‘Black Flash’ organization never showed up. Just like my title says, what role did they actually play?]

[No.1: Maybe they prevented the contestants from being immediately found by the Nightmare Beasts.]

[No.2: Good question.]

[No.3: They probably made it so everyone wasn’t teleported to the same place. I think that’s pretty important. If everyone was together, they could have easily been wiped out in one go.]

[No.4: He could have just said it directly, but the old thief had to be cryptic.]

[No.5: If you ask me, the ‘Black Flash’ organization probably screwed up. They originally wanted to abduct Jiang Tianming and the others, but the Nightmare Beasts saw through their plan beforehand and even snatched their props.]

[No.6 replying to No.5:

LOL, love to see it.]

[No.7 replying to No.5:

That’s so tragic for the ‘Black Flash’ organization. For once they try to do something good, and they still fail. If the ‘Destiny’ organization hadn’t revealed their actions, probably no one would have known they were trying to save the contestants.]

[No.8 replying to No.7:

:thinking_face:]

[No.9 replying to No.7:

Hey sis, isn’t your imagination running a little wild? Who said ‘Black Flash’ was there to save people? Why do I feel like they were just trying to fish in troubled waters, using the Nightmare Beasts’ plan to be the oriole behind the mantis?]

[No.10 replying to No.7:

The ‘Black Flash’ organization are not good people, don’t overthink it.]

[…]

[No.26: I think I should refute the ‘Black Flash’ screw-up theory from the previous floors. ‘Destiny’ isn’t just bored with nothing to do. If Black Flash had already failed, what reason would ‘Destiny’ have to release this information? It would be completely meaningless intel!]

[No.27: The person above provided a completely new angle. That’s true… ‘Black Flash’ must have succeeded for ‘Destiny’ to announce this news.]

[No.28 replying to No.27:

‘Destiny’ is just an intelligence organization. They’re only responsible for confirming the accuracy of information, not its usefulness, right? The fact that the ‘Black Flash’ organization participated in this event is an established fact. As for whether they succeeded or failed, what does that have to do with ‘Destiny’?]

[No.29 replying to No.28:

I support this. Don’t think of intelligence organizations as all-powerful.]

[…]

[No.47: It doesn’t make sense from the ‘Destiny’ organization’s perspective, but from the manga author’s perspective, the ‘Black Flash’ organization must have played some crucial role. Otherwise, why would the author be spreading this news so widely and secretly planting foreshadowing here? Was he just padding the plot?]

[No.48 replying to No.47:

This is the most logical take yet. The author built up the ‘Black Flash’ organization’s involvement for so long; they definitely didn’t fail. Otherwise, why write this plotline?]

[No.49: The two posters above are right. So the question returns to the OP’s, what role did the ‘Black Flash’ organization actually play?]

[No.50: They played a stylistic role.]

[No.51: Maybe it’s like what poster #1 said. The help they provided was preventing the contestants from falling into the Nightmare Beasts’ hands right away.]

[No.52 replying to No.51: Would the ‘Black Flash’ organization do such a great deed and keep it a secret?]

[No.53 replying to No.52:

Didn’t ‘Destiny’ publicize it for them? I have a feeling the intel ‘Destiny’ got was deliberately given to them by the ‘Black Flash’ organization.]

[…]

[No.101: The thread next door is already suspecting that the ‘Black Flash’ organization is a mole for the Nightmare Beasts, and this thread is still discussing it on the premise that ‘Black Flash’ wouldn’t cooperate with them.]

[No.102 replying to No.101:

I was about to say the same thing. Maybe ‘Black Flash’ was hostile towards Nightmare Beasts before, but they’re not unchanging.]

[No.103: I know, but if the ‘Black Flash’ organization really teamed up with the Nightmare Beasts, there’s no way Jiang Jiang and the others could have escaped, right?]

[No.104: The old thief gave too few clues.]

[No.105: Every time I see so many people on the forums discussing the plot, I feel a sincere sense of admiration. The answer will probably be revealed in the next two chapters.]

[No.106: I’m not guessing anymore. I can’t guess right anyway. Old thief, you better come up with a twist that makes my jaw drop.]

[…]

After finishing this thread, Su Bei immediately clicked on the mole thread. He was also curious about who the other thread suspected. It’d be best if his name wasn’t in there, or he would really go crazy.

I Have a Feeling the Nightmare Beasts Could Only Pull This Off So Smoothly Because There’s a Mole on the Human Side

[That Destiny No.0: The organizers of this World Competition aren’t idiots. It was mentioned in previous chapters that Nightmare Beasts almost always try to stir up trouble during this event, so they must have been fully prepared.

Under these circumstances, with Nightmare Beasts hidden in the hotel, moles among the audience in the stands, and the illusion master’s betrayal, it’s hard for me not to suspect that there’s an internal problem within Sessbia.]

[No.1: +1. If it’s not an internal problem in Sessbia, then the old thief deliberately nerfed their intelligence.]

[No.2: Ah, the OP has a point.]

[No.3: If what the OP says is true, then there should be more plot in Sessbia later, right? After all, the mole issue hasn’t surfaced yet.]

[No.4: Seriously, I can’t accept cooperating with Nightmare Beasts. Aren’t these two races completely opposed?]

[No.5 replying to No.4:

Actually, it’s the Nightmare Beasts that are unilaterally opposed to humans. If they didn’t kill people, who would care what they’re made of?]

[No.6: It’s reasonable for Nightmare Beasts, born from grievances after death, to want to kill humans. But for humans to cooperate with Nightmare Beasts is very unreasonable. What were they thinking? Are there no other people left on Earth? Why cooperate with a 100% hostile force?]

[No.7: Cults, you know? Maybe the mole is the type who thinks Nightmare Beasts are the true future rulers of the world and decided to kowtow and pledge allegiance in advance.]

[…]

[No.42: It might not necessarily be a mole from Sessbia. It’s also reasonable for an outside organization to have infiltrated Sessbia to help the Nightmare Beasts. After all, these organizations are old hands at infiltration.]

[No.43 replying to No.42:

I suspect you’re throwing shade at ‘Black Flash.’]

[No.44 replying to No.43:

This is throwing direct sunlight.]

[No.45: The ‘Destiny’ organization fits the description too, right? Its members are everywhere.]

[No.46 replying to No.45:

It does fit the description, but ‘Destiny’ members aren’t moles. They already have other jobs; their work in the ‘Destiny’ organization is more like a part-time gig.]

[No.47: Assuming the OP is right, for this mole to cooperate with Nightmare Beasts, they must either be very powerful themselves or be backed by a major power. The former has too many possibilities to discuss for now. As for the latter, the only two named organizations in ‘King of Abilities’ so far are the ‘Black Flash’ organization and the ‘Destiny’ organization, right?]

[No.48 replying to No.47:

How could it be only those two? The various academies, the governments of various countries, the former Wesi Sanctuary, even the Feng and Si families… aren’t they all major powers?]

[No.49 replying to No.48:

That may be true, but if these powers betrayed humanity to cooperate with the Nightmare Beasts, then I really think humanity is doomed.]

[No.50 replying to No.48:

No, first of all, there’s no possibility of various governments and academies cooperating with the Nightmare Beasts. They aren’t forces led by the will of a single individual. Those willing to cooperate with Nightmare Beasts are bound to be a small minority among humans. Since it’s not a one-man show, it’s very difficult for a major power to cooperate with Nightmare Beasts without the news leaking.

Wesi Sanctuary is the exception to the exception. Their isolated island management model naturally puts them all in the same boat. Even if someone on the island doesn’t support the actions of others, they would never undermine their own people.]

[No.51: The analysis above is amazing.]

[No.52: So the focus is still on the ‘Destiny’ organization and the ‘Black Flash’ organization? To be honest, both of these organizations appeared in this chapter. Maybe the old thief is really hinting that one of them has already cooperated with the Nightmare Beasts.]

[No.53 replying to No.52:

Then it must be the ‘Black Flash’ organization! ‘Destiny’ is an intelligence organization with basically no control over its subordinates. With what would they cooperate with the Nightmare Beasts?]

[No.54 replying to No.53:

Not necessarily. From the previous plot, the ‘Destiny’ organization isn’t just for providing intelligence; it can also complete commissioned tasks. Since it can complete tasks, it naturally has personnel under the leader’s command that can be deployed.]

[No.55 replying to No.54:

But why would an intelligence organization cooperate with Nightmare Beasts? On the other hand, ‘Black Flash’ are bona fide villains!]

[…]

[No.99: I think you all forgot a piece of foreshadowing from a few chapters ago. Su Bei met the Gourd Nightmare Beast in advance, and he’s a member of the ‘Destiny’ organization. Judging from the Gourd Nightmare Beast’s words at the time, they probably didn’t cooperate with Su Bei, which means they didn’t cooperate with the ‘Destiny’ organization. So if it’s really related to an organization, it’s still a ‘Black Flash’ organization matter.]

[No.100: No way… ‘Black Flash’ was very disgusted with Nightmare Beasts before.]

[No.101: In the end, everything everyone is saying is just speculation. Maybe it’s just a certain character who cooperated with the Nightmare Beasts.]

[No.102: Suddenly remembered we might have overlooked a key piece of information—the ‘Black Flash’ organization came out of seclusion! I kind of forgot the earlier plot, what were they researching that made them go into seclusion?]

[No.103 replying to No.102:

If I remember correctly, they were researching the underground humans.]

[No.104: The purpose of the research was to find a way to turn Nightmare Beasts back into humans. So the question is, did the research succeed?]

[No.105 replying to No.104:

If it succeeded, then I think even if they cooperated with the Nightmare Beasts, it must just be a ruse to gain their trust and find an opportunity to complete the transformation of the Nightmare Beasts.

If it didn’t succeed… then if they cooperate with the Nightmare Beasts, that’s a bit terrifying.]

[No.106 replying to No.105:

I don’t get it, what’s so terrifying?]

[No.107 replying to No.106:

Originally, ‘Black Flash’ held the goal of completely eliminating the Nightmare Beasts and was hostile towards them. Now that goal is shattered, and they’ve started cooperating with the Nightmare Beasts. What does this show? It shows that the ‘Black Flash’ organization believes that eliminating the Nightmare Beasts is impossible. Since they can’t destroy the enemy, they join them.]

[No.108 replying to No.107:

!!!]

[No.109: What the poster above said is a bit terrifying. Is the ‘Black Flash’ organization going to start turning into the type of villain that wants to ‘turn all humans into Nightmare Beasts’?]

[No.110: I want to know what Mo Xiaotian thinks. Our Xiaotian hasn’t appeared in a long time.]

[No.111: I feel like the ‘Black Flash’ organization is about to make an appearance.]

[…]

After finishing the second thread, Su Bei couldn’t help but nod. The thread didn’t suspect him, which was the most satisfying part for Su Bei. Although a few people still suspected him, others quickly cleared his name using previous plot points.

At first, Su Bei thought the manga author would use this plotline to sling mud at him. But after reading the reasons in the thread arguing he wasn’t the mole, Su Bei suddenly understood that the author wouldn’t do that.

This plotline involved the major main story of the “Black Flash” organization cooperating with the Nightmare Beasts. The author might use him as a red herring at most but would never let him get truly involved in the main plot. That could easily lead to problems, as Su Bei was an uncontrollable character.

And if he were only used as a red herring, there was really no need to sling this mud. Everyone had heard the story of the boy who cried wolf. Su Bei had been used as a red herring more than once. If the author kept doing this, when he really wanted to arrange some undesirable plot for him, the readers wouldn’t believe it at first glance.

Therefore, Su Bei estimated that the author wouldn’t frame him in minor ways anymore. Only a single, decisive blow could make it impossible for him to recover.

But it was also possible that the author would just give up the idea of framing him. After all, there was more than one way for a character to die a reasonable death. Whether a hero, a villain, or a neutral party, there were many plausible ways to die.

In any case, not being framed was a good thing for Su Bei. The difficulty of being resurrected after a framed death would be greatly increased. He would first need to have the stain on his name cleared before readers would be willing to believe he wasn’t dead. But if it was just a natural death, Su Bei felt that as long as he used his Oracle Account on the forums to spin a tale, many readers would likely hold onto hope and believe he wasn’t completely dead.

No longer dwelling on this matter, Su Bei turned his attention to another piece of content that was very important to him—the “Destiny” organization’s presence in the manga seemed to be growing stronger.

Because the “Destiny” organization was one he had created himself, its presence in the manga had always been low. Even when Su Bei actively involved it in the plot, the manga would often just gloss over it.

But this time was clearly different. After reading the manga, Su Bei could clearly feel that the “Destiny” organization’s presence was not low this time. The author could have easily glossed over it as before.

Does he have plot arrangements for the “Destiny” organization?