A Guide for Background Characters to Survive in a Manga

“Once again, let’s speak for Su Bei; Old Thief, don’t mislead the readers!”

[Happy Goat Skewers No.0: First, let me lay out my stance: Su Bei cannot be the undercover. I won’t reiterate the reasons I’ve mentioned before; those interested can search my name and check my past statements. This time, I’ll mainly analyze the content revealed in the new chapter of the comic.

“This sky seems… a bit fake?” .jpg

Look at this image; from here, it’s clear that Su Bei deduced this is an illusionary world based on the particularly fake-looking sky, rather than because he already knew.

If he had known beforehand where this was, logically, he wouldn’t have such doubts. Those in the neighbor’s building who think he’s an undercover say this expression is actually mockery; Su Bei is merely poking fun at how poorly crafted the illusion is, lacking in detail. But honestly, I didn’t see the old thief drawing any mocking expressions.

Furthermore, after leaving the illusion, Su Bei asked, “Was that an illusion just now?” Upon receiving a confirming answer, he said, “As expected.” From this, it’s evident he pieced together the truth entirely on his own, rather than knowing it from the start.

Surely, some will say he’s acting, but to speak frankly, Su Bei doesn’t seem the type to need such theatricality, does he? Later, when Meng Huai questioned him, he simply replied with a nonchalant “Guess.” If he were to act, he’d do it thoroughly; his lack of pretense here shows he wasn’t acting before.

Su Bei didn’t read the content in the building; it was merely a matter of belief or disbelief. The host summarized well, covering all aspects of why he couldn’t be seen as an undercover.

Having scanned the general direction of the forum, Su Bei prepared to start his own thread.

[The Prophet’s Post] Sharing Su Bei’s Identity and the Candidate for the Undercover Role

[Prophet No.0: Su Bei is not an undercover agent. The reasons have been clearly stated by the original poster, so I won’t reiterate them all. The primary purpose of this post is to analyze what special identity Su Bei might hold if he is not an undercover agent.

It is certain that he is absolutely connected to the “Black Flash” organization; otherwise, it is hard to explain why he seemed unfazed during several incidents related to this organization in the past.

Now, let us analyze from another angle. Many of his intelligence sources should not stem from his own abilities; if not from his powers, then it must come from external sources.

I boldly speculate that Su Bei must have an intelligence network outside, and this network may be in collaboration with the “Black Flash” organization.

As for the analysis regarding the candidate for the undercover role, I believe it is a choice between Mo Xiaotian, Mu Tieren, and Zhou Renjie.

The first two are based on the old thief’s consistent habits; his favorite tactic is to mislead everyone and then provide an answer we could never guess. As for Zhou Renjie, it is due to his mindset, which seems more susceptible to the temptations of the “Black Flash” organization compared to others.

Just like last time, he did not provide particularly detailed reasons for his analysis. There was no need; he had already subtly hinted at the identity of his internal personnel last time—those who understand, understand. Since the author and the “Comic Consciousness” have not intervened, it is evident that as long as he does not go too far, he is within the bounds of the rules.

Not being too explicit with reasons actually makes it easier for the forum readers to believe that what he presents is insider information, thus trusting his words.

Sure enough, when refreshed a while later, there were not many doubts to be seen. After all, this account’s content had already been questioned several times; the readers are not the cannon fodder of the novel, they won’t keep getting slapped in the face without learning.

[No.1: Prophet, are you spilling the beans again?]

[No.2: This time it feels like you’re not even pretending, just straight-up revealing everything, huh?]

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[No.3: Is no one paying attention to the content the original poster revealed? My heavens, is this real?]

[No.4: Is the original poster famous? Why do you all have this attitude?]

[No.5 replies to No.4: Every time the original poster starts a thread, there are questions like this.]

[No.6 replies to No.4: I suggest you search for the original poster’s previous statements.]

[No.7: Is there an intelligence organization behind Su Bei? This could explain why he knows so much. If that’s the case, this organization must be quite substantial.]

[No.8: When I saw the host say Su Bei isn’t an undercover agent, I felt relieved.]

[No.9: I can believe everything before, but the latter… Why is Mo Xiao Tian on the list of potential undercover agents?]

[No.10: The host must be an insider, but won’t revealing this information get them investigated?]

[No.11: Ahhh, Su Bei is part of the intelligence organization? That really hits my sweet spot!!!]

[No.12 Replying to No.9: Good question, why Mo Xiao Tian?]

[No.13 Replying to No.9: The only one I’ve never doubted from start to finish is Mo Xiao Tian.]

[……]

[No.45: Seeing the host say Mo Xiao Tian might be an undercover agent, my guess from the comic skit finally solidified.

At that time, Mo Xiao Tian called his closest person, saying he was in trouble. That person’s first reaction was to send someone to rescue him. Could it be that this wasn’t a joke, but a genuine instinctive response?

What kind of situation would make Mo Xiao Tian say something, and the person on the other end immediately react? The only thing I can think of is that his identity as an undercover agent was discovered…]

[No.46 Replying to No.45: ??????????]

[No.47: You in No.46…]

[No.48: Isn’t that just a joke? Can it really be explained this way?]

[No.49: Conspiracy theories really do endure, but I still refuse to believe Mo Xiao Tian is an undercover agent.]

[No.50: Host, I’ve always trusted you, but this time I truly can’t believe it. Mo Xiao Tian as an undercover agent?]

[No.51: Am I the only one who thinks Mo Xiao Tian being an undercover agent is thrilling?]

[No.52 Reply No.51:

I, too, have a taste for the white and black, but Mo Xiaotian? He’s clearly just a fool!]

[No.53: The original poster only suggested it might not be certain; I’d rather believe Mu Tieren is the spy.]

[No.54: Please, let Zhou Renjie be the spy. Among these two, he’s the one I can accept the most.]

As he read these comments, Su Bei chuckled and shook his head. He had to admit, their reactions were rather friendly towards him, perhaps because the later revelation that “Mo Xiaotian is a spy” was so captivating that no one bothered to refute his initial point. They were all too focused on disputing the latter.

This meant that, barring any unforeseen events, by the next comic update, he might truly have an intelligence organization behind him.

He could only hope this post would attract more eyes, more believers. The more who believed, the closer he would be to achieving his goal. If all else failed, he could always dig up a few useless bits of intel to bump the post a few more times; after all, he had to get this intelligence organization off the ground.

He turned off his phone, the screen dimming, when Feng Lan’s voice suddenly broke the silence: “Are you getting ready for bed?”

Surprised by the question, Su Bei replied, “You’re still awake?”

Feng Lan nodded, sitting up. “I was thinking, the ‘Black Flash’ organization seems to know our movements all too well.”

At this, Su Bei understood. It seemed Feng Lan had begun to suspect there was a spy within the academy, though he likely hadn’t realized the spy was in Class S.

With this thought, he asked, “If there really is a spy in the academy, what do you plan to do? Drop out?”

Seeing Su Bei immediately connect his words to the presence of a spy, Feng Lan knew he had likely pondered this issue long before. He felt a slight relaxation in his heart and shook his head. “The Ability Academy is the best place to cultivate abilities; I won’t drop out. I plan to use next month’s prophecy opportunity to find the spy hidden within the school.”

At this declaration, Su Bei was momentarily stunned; he hadn’t considered that approach. If Feng Lan had a prophecy, wouldn’t Mo Xiaotian have nowhere to hide?

Moreover, he speculated there might be another spy among the teachers; perhaps this spy would be exposed as well?

He suddenly recalled the upcoming comic update. The author seemed desperate to mislead readers into thinking he was the spy—could it be that Mo Xiaotian’s identity was about to be uncovered, prompting such urgency to misdirect the audience one last time?

But after a moment’s thought, he dismissed the idea. Regardless, it was far too soon for Mo Xiaotian to be revealed; perhaps there would only be some clues about him later.

Yet, none of this truly concerned him; it was merely the author’s strategy. Su Bei chuckled softly, then said with a hint of darkness, “Aren’t you afraid I might be the spy? After hearing you say all this, I’d surely have to silence you.”

Feng Lan fell silent for a moment before responding with unwavering certainty, “You are not.”

“Why are you so sure?” This time, Su Bei was genuinely curious.

Yet, Feng Lan did not respond. Instead, he firmly repeated, “You are not.”

Su Bei tilted his head, pondering. Whatever made Feng Lan so certain could not simply be a sentimental reason like, “They usually get along well, so Feng Lan thinks he can’t be an undercover.”

The possibilities were greater: either Feng Lan had investigated him and concluded that with a soldier for a father and a police officer for a mother, his background was too upright to be linked to a villainous organization, or perhaps his prophecy told him that he could not be an undercover agent.

Speaking of prophecies, Su Bei recalled an unsolved mystery—why had Feng Lan come to Class F?

This was not directly stated in the comic, but from the various hints dropped, it seemed Feng Lan had been guided by a prophecy before enrollment to attend Class F, which explained why he chose the end-of-the-line class over Class A.

Knowing this was a comic world, Su Bei had boldly speculated earlier that Feng Lan must have come to this class for Jiang Tianming.

Yet, until now, Su Bei had not seen Feng Lan exhibit any particular interest in Jiang Tianming. Initially, he had engaged in conversation with Jiang Tianming more frequently, but that had dwindled over time.

Suddenly, an unsettling thought crossed Su Bei’s mind: Could it be that Feng Lan mistook the person from his prophecy for himself?

It was known that Su Bei’s own transformation began after school started, transcending the comic world. This meant that before he successfully altered the narrative on the comic forum, even if someone prophesied about him, they could only predict he was a useless ability user.

Feng Lan’s prophecy, however, had been made before school began, likely a fixed plot point. So if he truly came to Class F to find someone based on a prophecy, that person must be Jiang Tianming, as this was likely a plot device in itself.

This misunderstanding could not be allowed to fester. Su Bei’s expression hardened. Who knew what Feng Lan’s original prophecy entailed? If it was to assist Jiang Tianming, and he mistakenly believed it was to assist himself, wouldn’t that throw the plot into chaos?

He needed to find a way for the two of them to team up more often. Su Bei had confidence in the protagonist’s ability to forge friendships in a shonen manga. Last time, during a government mission, Feng Lan and Jiang Tianming had been in the same group, and upon their return, their relationship had visibly improved.

This showed that Jiang Tianming lacked the ability to earn Feng Lan’s recognition, but rather lacked opportunities! He would create that opportunity; Jiang Tianming could not afford to falter, or completing the mission would become increasingly difficult.

The next two days of missions were unremarkable, and before long, their training concluded, and everyone returned to school. The week’s experiences had been rich, and now back in the safe, familiar campus, they all felt as if they had returned from another world.

Fifteen of them entering the school was undoubtedly eye-catching. It was just the right time for classes to end, and a crowd of gazes turned their way. The younger students were unclear about what they had been up to, but the older students had a good idea.

“So, these are the members of this year’s Class S?” A flamboyantly dressed blond boy in a pink suit, just returning from outside, looked at the backs of the first-years with interest, casually unbuttoning the top button of his shirt.

Following behind him, a girl in a gray suit with deep blue hair adjusted her black-framed glasses and calmly stated, “Yes, that’s them. This is their first training; I’m sure you’ll see them in a couple of days.”

Upon hearing this, the golden-haired president immediately laughed, lifting his foot to stride toward them: “Then let me meet this year’s Class S ahead of time; I hope there are a few more troublemakers inside.”

Yet, before he could take a second step, the bespectacled girl blocked his path: “President, please don’t make excuses to escape. You should report on your mission now.”

The smile on the golden-haired boy’s face froze, and he turned around, his peach blossom eyes gazing affectionately at the girl behind him. With utmost seriousness, he said, “Actually, Xiaoman, it’s the same if you go to report. After all, I trust you so much. It’s just right for me to give them a warning now, so they won’t cause you trouble in a couple of days.”

Logically, being gazed at so deeply by a handsome guy, with words so sweet on his lips, should have moved the girl long ago. But unfortunately, Xiaoman had long grown accustomed to her superior’s behavior, remaining utterly unmoved.

“Thank you for your trust and consideration, but please go complete your report immediately. I am not suited for this task.” A perpetual fake smile graced her face, and she paused for a moment upon noticing his fair collarbone. “Also, please button your shirt; otherwise, the dean will scold you again.”

Seeing there was no room for negotiation, the golden-haired president could only let his handsome face droop, following Xiaoman with a look of quiet resentment.

Meanwhile, Su Bei had returned to the dormitory. It was Saturday, a day the teacher had specifically chosen to come back, allowing them another day of rest tomorrow.

After two days of rest, by Monday, everyone was revitalized. The first class of the new term was naturally Meng Huai’s, but he had no intention of lecturing himself; instead, he clapped his hands, signaling a few people outside to come in.

Four people entered in total, led by a golden-haired handsome guy. A girl with deep blue short hair went to play the PPT, while the other two distributed pamphlets to the fifteen classmates in the room.

Once all preparations were complete, the golden-haired boy cleared his throat and spoke earnestly: “Hello, first-year Class S students! I am Mu Yunfan, the president of the Student Council at ‘Endless Abilities Academy.’ I am here to recruit members for the Student Council.”

Like other schools, “Endless Abilities Academy” naturally had a Student Council. The members had been the ones helping out at the school during the opening.

Su Bei was noticed, and after the Student Council president introduced himself, many in the class perked up, clearly interested in joining the council. For instance, Zhao Xiaoyu, Si Zhaohua, Zhou Renjie, and Qi Huang.

As for Su Bei, he had little interest. Joining the Student Council would surely bring some benefits, and he would gain access to much more information. However, it would also mean more responsibilities and numerous rules, making it an unworthy choice for someone who didn’t care for power.

On the podium, Mu Yunfan continued his introduction. The Student Council’s responsibilities were vast; aside from acting as discipline committee members to maintain school order, they also organized activities for ordinary students, such as sports meets, spring and autumn outings, and even training sessions.

At this point, the once grand president suddenly grew smug: “Isn’t the food in our school cafeteria delicious? Let me tell you, if you had come a year earlier, you definitely wouldn’t have had such good food. It’s only after I took office that…”

“Ahem!”

Before he could finish, the blue-haired girl, Xiaoman, who was playing the PPT, coughed heavily. Then, adjusting her glasses, she offered a faint smile to the crowd looking her way.

After the warning, Mu Yunfan returned to normal. Having spoken of responsibilities and obligations, it was time to discuss the benefits.

—

In the first term, every month brings points as rewards, varying with the position held. Moreover, the rights of student council members surpass those of ordinary students; for spring outings, autumn trips, and matters of the cafeteria, they generally make their own decisions, guided by their own preferences.

Upon graduation, student council members enjoy significant opportunities to remain at the school, especially those who have achieved results within the council—essentially, as long as they apply, they can become teachers. Furthermore, for those wishing to enter the government of abilities, having served as a member of the student council at the Academy of Abilities is a crucial credential.

Then, Mu Yunfan began to outline the conditions for joining the student council. The first requirement is that one must have undergone at least one trial, which is why he came to recruit after the first-year S class had completed their trials.

Many of the council’s tasks are closely tied to these trials, and students who have ventured out are far more adept at interacting with the government of abilities than those who merely study within the ivory tower.

For members of the S class, joining the student council is a breeze, while those from other classes must first demonstrate their personal strength. After all, there are times when they need to act as security, quelling fights and brawls within the school; lacking sufficient strength is simply not an option.

As the PPT played, Xiao Man received a message that she had matters to attend to. Thinking the important content had been covered, she slipped out the back door of the classroom.

The moment she left, Mu Yunfan unleashed his enthusiasm, passionately addressing the students: “The student council is so perfect! What are you still hesitating for? You’ll miss out if you don’t join! We have several seniors from past S classes ready to be your sparring partners—if you don’t come, you’re not a good student!”

“Cough, cough!” This time, it was Meng Huai who coughed, shooting a glare at Mu Yunfan. “I shouldn’t have let Xiao Man leave just now!”

Mu Yunfan chuckled, eyes wide as he spun a tale: “I’m just trying to let the juniors feel the warmth of our student council! Look at them; they’re clearly moved, eager to join us!”

“Why not let Director Gao hear your speech now that she’s gone?”

Director Gao, the stern head of the second-year, was known for her strictness; mischievous students would scurry away like mice at the sight of her, and that included Mu Yunfan, the student council president.

Seeing Meng Huai’s smile grow colder, and knowing this teacher might genuinely report him to Director Gao, he quickly dropped the humor and got to the point: “If you’re interested, you can submit your application after class in Room 521 of the second building. The format can be found on the official website.”

Seizing the moment before Meng Huai could react, he added with a playful grin, “Room 521 is our student council’s heartfelt invitation to you!”

With that, he and a few followers dashed out, almost fleeing.

Meng Huai, quick on the uptake, managed to deliver a swift kick before he could escape.

“Ouch!” Mu Yunfan stumbled, not daring to look back, fearing a beating in front of the juniors. He used the momentum to bolt out.

Those in the know understood this was the student council president recruiting; those unaware might think he was being chased out for protection money!

Meng Huai shook his head in exasperation, catching the curious gazes of the crowd. With a mix of annoyance and amusement, he said, “What are you staring at? Don’t be fooled by his antics; to become student council president, his strength is no joke—he could easily take down a few of you.”

Such a peculiar character, yet Meng Huai felt no particular disdain. After teaching so many S classes, he had seen few with a normal disposition. With time running short before class ended, he decided to skip the lesson and prepare to leave.

Before departing, he didn’t forget to warn the rowdy students: “You can discuss among yourselves for a bit, but don’t disturb the other classes!”

—

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(Three in One)

Once he departed, the classmates indeed began to chatter. The first to speak was Mo Xiaotian: “I find President Mu so intriguing! I want to join the student council too!”

For the others in the class, joining the student council was as easy as breathing, but for Mo Xiaotian to want to join… Jiang Tianming cast a glance at his spirited demeanor and could only dryly say, “Good ambition.”

Lan Subing, curious, asked, “The teacher just said President Mu is quite impressive. Does anyone know what his ability is?”

On this matter, Si Zhaohua actually had knowledge from before enrollment: “His ability is called [Light of Hope]. It’s said to be an extremely rare power that doesn’t require mental energy; as long as he harbors hope in his heart, he can unleash his ability.”

Everyone: “?”

Lan Subing timidly voiced the collective thought: “Is it like a cheat?”

Su Bei thought to himself, isn’t that the truth? This ability truly outshines even the protagonist. With hope unextinguished and battles unending, why not let him take the lead in this “Abilities Reign” tale?

Seeing the group’s reaction, Si Zhaohua shook his head: “But similarly, once he feels disappointment, the power of his ability is greatly diminished. However, there’s no doubt that his ability is extraordinarily strong.”

It sounded like a double-edged sword; placed in the hands of an optimist like Mo Xiaotian, it was like adding wings to a tiger. But if it were in the hands of a pessimist, it might as well be nonexistent.

Yet this didn’t detract from the fact that this ability was indeed formidable. Anyone who could become the student council president was undeniably impressive. Just looking at how carefree he appeared earlier, who would have thought he possessed such a powerful ability?

“By the way, does anyone want to join the student council?” After discussing the president’s situation, Si Zhaohua asked again, “I plan to give it a try.”

“I want to go too.” Zhao Xiaoyu immediately chimed in. She wished to remain in the world of abilities, but with her power, she might not even stay in Class S. So, she had long devised a plan for herself: to leverage her identity as a Class S member to swiftly join the student council, and then eventually stay on as a teacher.

She absolutely had to get into that student council!

In the end, everyone decided to check out the student council together the day after tomorrow, and the two days in between would naturally be spent researching the council’s positions and drafting application reports.

Of course, not everyone was eager to join the student council. Su Bei, Wu Jin, and Lan Subing were all quite reluctant. But alas, the others made a decisive call, giving them no chance to object.

However, they didn’t particularly oppose it either; even Su Bei was somewhat curious about the student council. With the plot of the comic reaching this point, the sudden appearance of several new characters hinted at future interactions. If that was the case, it would be wise to learn a bit more in advance.

Aside from Meng Huai, who slacked off today under the pretense of the student council recruitment and skipped class, the other teachers still conducted their lessons diligently. Perhaps it was because the first round of practical training had concluded, the difficulty of their courses had escalated, and two additional classes were added.

One class was taught by Ye Lin, focusing on wilderness first aid knowledge. After all, a doctor wouldn’t always be at hand, especially since this year’s Class S didn’t have a single healing-type ability.

—

The only ones who could barely be counted on were Lan Subing and Ling You. The former could directly use the [Word Spirit] to heal, but that felt like a waste. The latter could easily handle plague-like viruses, yet the limitations were too great.

Relying on heaven and earth is not as good as relying on oneself; it’s better to learn a bit more about first aid knowledge, so that when the time comes, self-rescue would be more convenient.