Chapter 158

Chapter 158 Chapter 158 The barrage went wild with laughter. “Hahahahaha, no way, bro?” “I thought it was some shady deal—such pure high school boys...” “Game??? What? A game???” “Elvis loves gaming? Looks like Su Bei’s got him pinned.” “Welcome to my new fave—beautiful, strong, and a gamer.” “Elvis seems awful at gaming...” The next plot shifted to class-hopping. After Elvis invited Su Bei to join him, the scene cut to Wu Mingbai’s group. Continuing from last time, teenagers’ curiosity was boundless. What adults might overlook, kids took seriously. For instance, the issue of adult trainees seemingly knowing Ability world knowledge beforehand was reported by Wu Mingbai to Ye Lin and others, but they unanimously deemed it unworthy of investigation. Society wasn’t entirely cut off from Ability info, especially abroad with open policies. It was reasonable they’d learned something—no need to waste resources investigating. Zhou Renjie also said no investigation was needed. It wasn’t certain there was an issue. Even if there was, so what? Why bother with thankless tasks? If they found a problem, fine. But if not, their methods would likely tip off the trio. If those three felt insulted and complained to the higher-ups, Wu Mingbai’s group, acting without adult approval, would face punishment. This fit Zhou Renjie’s hands-off persona, but opposing investigation when everyone agreed was odd. Honestly, when was he ever this meticulous? The first half was plausible, but the second half—his words? Su Bei sensed this, as did readers with similar info. “Zhou Renjie’s words feel off.” “Classic shonen manga vibes.” “I bet those three have issues, and Zhou Renjie knows why.” “He’s not betraying, is he?” “He makes sense. I wouldn’t investigate either.” As one barrage noted, his reasoning might convince most to drop it. Whatever his motives, it was logical. But Zhou Renjie faced Wu Mingbai, who, despite playing dumb, was intensely curious and stubborn. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have risked his life with Jiang Tianming to investigate the orphanage dean’s death. With the equally stubborn Mu Tieren backing him, despite Zhao Xiaoyu’s wavering and Mo Xiaotian’s silence, they decided to investigate. Unsurprisingly, with two traitors in the team, the investigation failed. The three were from ordinary families. Their ability to answer Wu Mingbai’s class questions came from prior chats with recruiters, confirmed by those staff. It was a misunderstanding. The trio, learning of the investigation, wasn’t upset, consoling Wu Mingbai’s group that youthful curiosity was normal and urging better teaching, promising not to snitch. This won them favor. Not only did Mu Tieren’s group drop suspicions, but even omniscient readers doubted their initial judgments, misled by the author. “These three seem like good people.” “Author tricked me!” “This misunderstanding—awkward...” “Thinking about it at night: am I crazy?” “Still feels off.” “Not snitching—I declare them good!” But this reasonable explanation didn’t convince Wu Mingbai. His sharp intuition sensed something amiss. In their shoes, as an ordinary person suddenly awakening to join the Ability world, he’d be thrilled, fully attentive. Even familiar content wouldn’t make him zone out. Though new to the base, they were recruited over a month ago. Why did staff recall their chats so vividly? Despite doubts, Wu Mingbai didn’t tell Mu Tieren’s group. After one mistake, another could anger the trio, even if they were good-natured. He’d investigate alone, bearing any fallout. Plus, Zhou Renjie opposed investigation, Zhao Xiaoyu was shaky and likely against it now, Mu Tieren was won over by the trio’s kindness, and Mo Xiaotian’s carelessness made him unreliable. So, Wu Mingbai went solo. Su Bei nodded approvingly. Though made by chance, this choice was wise. Sharing would’ve led to failure with traitors ensuring no discoveries. The barrage was mixed. Some found him too serious, annoying. Others saw it as protagonist intuition—the trio was problematic. Barrage didn’t affect Wu Mingbai. He shifted focus, investigating their families—harder to fake and less detectable. His little teacher status let him access their family details and addresses. Claiming to buy supplies, he secretly visited their homes. Unexpectedly, the addresses were correct, but the residents weren’t the listed families. One house was even empty, under renovation. One case could be due to moveing, but all three? That was telling. Wu Mingbai realized the trio hid secrets. Eager to tell the teacher, he was ambushed on the way back. The plot ended, concluding the update. Su Bei closed the manga, pondering Wu Mingbai’s arc. The ambush likely meant Black Flash noticed his investigation wasn’t for supplies but to probe the trio. The author’s cliffhanger left readers wondering if Wu Mingbai would escape and report. Such suspense worked on readers, not Su Bei, in the manga. He messaged Wu Mingbai: “Where are you now?” Without waiting for a reply, he checked forums. Wu Mingbai was slow to respond normally; no reply soon didn’t mean trouble. He’d wait two hours. Other locations’ daily plots drew little discussion, save Elvis. Forums focused on Wu Mingbai’s ambush in the city, but there were little to no leads. Most speculated Black Flash’s involvement—smaller groups wouldn’t dare attempt street attacks. If true, the Ability User Job Base was the main plot hub. A talent hub like a school, infiltrated by villains, was chilling. If Black Flash controlled it, their mind-control could make graduates their pawns. These were future Ability world staff. If Black Flash co-opted them, the consequences would be dire. Forums discussed this and Wu Mingbai’s safety, so Su Bei didn’t bother with posts. Readers knew no more than him; no need for speculation. Exiting, Wu Mingbai hadn’t replied. Though under two hours, Su Bei had a bad feeling—he was likely captured. He messaged Zhao Xiaoyu, asking where Wu Mingbai was. Always phone-ready, she replied: “He said there was family trouble, took leave, and left. What’s up?” As expected. Su Bei’s face showed understanding, but his message revealed nothing: “Nothing, have fun.” Wu Mingbai was likely captured. But aiding via plot leaks wasn’t his style—it’d break character. Asking Zhao Xiaoyu was his biggest hint, hoping she’d sense the oddity. Zhao Xiaoyu didn’t disappoint, catching the strangeness. If just bored, why ask about Wu Mingbai? Their bond wasn’t that close—decent, but not tight. Jiang Tianming asking would’ve been normal. Why not ask Wu Mingbai directly, but her? She was just a classmate friend. Mu Tieren, at the same site, was a better choice. The messages screamed oddity, like confirming Wu Mingbai’s presence. Wait—why confirm? Realizing something, Zhao Xiaoyu messaged Wu Mingbai, urging a reply. She’d just thought: Su Bei asked her because he couldn’t confirm himself. Anyone else, she’d shrug off, but Su Bei, with [Destiny Gear], asking about Wu Mingbai suggested a prophecy. What prophecy? Only Wu Mingbai’s disappearance or danger would prompt this. He’d gone home... but what home? Her eyes widened. She’d overlooked something crucial—Wu Mingbai was an orphan. His “family trouble” excuse was baseless. If the orphanage had issues, Jiang Tianming would’ve gone too. She messaged him, asking his whereabouts. At dorms post-class, Jiang Tianming replied: “At Alpha Ability Academy’s dorms. What’s up?” Trouble confirmed. Zhao Xiaoyu’s heart sank. Both came from the same orphanage—how could only Wu Mingbai return for trouble while Jiang Tianming stayed calm? A bad premonition hit. She wanted to ask Su Bei what he saw but realized if he didn’t say then, he wouldn’t now. Why not? Many reasons, but his drama-loving nature meant he’d confirm the show’s start, not end it early. Frustrating—why wasn’t Feng Lan the prophet?—Zhao Xiaoyu sighed, calling Wu Mingbai. His phone was off, unreachable. No choice—she gripped her phone, heading out. With Wu Mingbai’s phone used to request leave, he was likely captured. Finding him alone was too hard; the school was the best bet. Meanwhile, Su Bei considered Zhao Xiaoyu’s actions. Knowing her, she’d sense the oddity post-question. Wu Mingbai’s disappearance was easy to confirm—a message or call. Once confirmed, she’d seek teachers. Despite a traitor among the teachers, Su Bei wasn’t worried. If Zhao Xiaoyu sought help openly with another teacher or students present, the traitor couldn’t act without exposing themselves. Bored that night, Su Bei played online with Elvis, whose skills were predictably awful—a human outline tracer in shooters. Told to hide, he refused, insisting on fighting, only to be boxed by bots. “What? No way that’s a bot!” Elvis protested, disbelieving Su Bei’s claim. Su Bei didn’t bother arguing: “Fine, not a bot. Next round, can you hide in a house?” “No way,” Elvis refused. “How does hiding count as practice?” Fair, but with skills so bad he’d be counter-killed by bots, only custom games offered practice. Anyone else, and he’d drop instantly. Su Bei had hoped Elvis' claim of unfamiliarity meant potential. He was bad at one game—maybe he’d shine in shooters. Nope, consistently terrible. After watching him die to bots again, Su Bei suggested: “Ever thought of using your Ability to help? Slow enemies’ time or freeze them?” A bad teammate didn’t ruin his game—he could win solo. But Elvis' deaths felt like time-wasting. “I can’t use my Ability through a screen,” Elvis said objectively, then refused: “And I won’t cheat.” He asked suspiciously: “You didn’t use your Ability on opponents, right?” Su Bei felt insulted: “Don’t doubt my skills. Besides, I can’t... wait, I haven’t tried. Let me see.” He started a new match, maneuvering to a crowded spot, hiding in a high-rise, activating his Ability to check players’ Destiny Compasses. Soon, he closed it, rubbing his brow. Noticing, Elvis asked casually: “What, saw nothing?” “I saw, but not their real destinies—game characters’,” Su Bei summarized, not revealing much. He saw Destiny Compasses with small pointers varying, but large pointers uniformly in the lower half—death, soon. It startled him, thinking the game was deadly. But he realized, confirmed by downing someone, it was the characters’ in-game fates. In a battle royale, only one team wins, so most characters’ fates were death. This discovery revealed a new angle. Though currently useless, who knew the future? Learning more about his Ability was always good. Hearing Su Bei could see and alter in-game fates, even just characters’, Elvis felt outdone. Pursing his lips, he resolved: “I’ll try training camp too... not cheating, just Ability practice.” Though the skill seemed useless, it leveled him with Su Bei. Being outdone stung—he wouldn’t allow it. They hit the training camp to practice. Though useless, Su Bei, with free time, didn’t mind. Near their agreed end time, Elvis “casually” asked: “With your strength, you’re your school’s top, right? Or I’d lose face.” Su Bei: “...” You’re not subtle, you know? On this, he teased: “Our academy doesn’t rank firsts. Everyone has strengths.” Elvis grew anxious. Initially, he hadn’t cared to fight other schools’ students. His refusal to be an exchange student showed his confidence, dismissing others. [Time Hourglass] was top-tier, with high potential and limits. With strong Mental Energy, barring death, he’d become a future Ability master. Not caring about others was normal. But after fighting Su Bei, he reconsidered. Su Bei was formidable, untouchable. What about the other four exchange students? This drove his class-hopping—to fight them soon. He ignored the weak but craved strong opponents. At Alpha, a martial school, he was a fighter, just usually without worthy foes, seeming calm. That “calm” was self-perceived—Alpha’s students disagreed. Thus, Elvis deliberately planned to class-hop tomorrow, starting with Attack Track to test Si Zhaohua. Knowing your enemy ensured victory; he probed Su Bei for info. Su Bei’s answer heightened his caution. If Su Bei wasn’t first, the others were indeed strong. “That’s... great!” Unexpectedly, Elvis was thrilled. “I look forward to good fights!”