Exchanging Information

Read up to 15 chapters ahead on Patreon - patreon.com/Dark_sym

-----

[Record: Your adventure biography has received more than one favorite, you have met the conditions, and the restriction on using the 'message board' has been lifted.]

He looked down naturally and saw a box below, with the message 'Message Board: 1' inside.

"Message board? Can I leave a comment on it? For whom?"

Seth's brain didn't suddenly turn the corner, and then he found that there was other information on the paper.

Just below the message board.

[Faceless Man: 'Mysterious colleagues? Decisively collect it']

[Mountain and Sea King: 'Go on an adventure, boy, this is not enough to entertain me.']

[Hum!]

As if struck by lightning, Seth almost jumped up. 

"Is this... Is this a reader post? In the eyes of these commenters, am I a character in a novel?" 

Suddenly, Seth's head became a mess. He had read many online novels in his previous life but hadn't read anything with the protagonist in a similar situation. 

That is to say, like Deadpool in the comics, knowing he is a character, Seth realized he could break the fourth wall.

[Wait.]

Seth quickly looked up, his eyes falling on the 'message board.'

"Could this thing allow me to communicate with 'readers'? What would they like to exchange? Information... Yes, important information may be exchanged!"

Seth patted his head. 

"I only read less than fifty chapters of [Lord of the Mysteries], so I don't understand what happens next or know the mysteries in the book. However, the 'readers' might, and I can see their comments. This way, I can get some information from them.

"Well, if they leave a comment, they should..."

"Never mind, let's try it first."

Seth picked up the quill and wrote on the message board: 'Dear readers...'

"Boring." 

Seth shook his head and crossed out the words he had written. Miraculously, the crossed-out words disappeared. 

"Still have this kind of?"

He collected himself and continued to think.

"I am only a character in a novel, and there is no doubt that those who read it are at a higher dimension. In many popular novels, readers' preferences determine the development of the plot. To ask for their help, the attitude must be more sincere, and the writing must be more lofty."

After some deliberation, Seth continued to write on the message board.

"The Great, Omniscient, Extradimensional Watchers. I would appreciate your help and your advice. I would like to know which extraordinary path would be best for me. I hope you can give me a response. Thank you very much."

After writing, Seth found that the number on the message board changed from 1 to 0.

"It turned out that the number is how many times I can use the message board."

After inspecting it several times, he felt everything was okay with it. Seth put down the quill and closed the book.

The book began to fade, its color and shape becoming lighter until it dissipated like smoke.

Afterward, the room's colors returned to normal, the curtains blown by the wind fell, and the dust hovering in the air drifted away.

Everything returned to its original state, except that Seth felt dizzy like he had spent much energy.

At this moment, his forehead tingled as if pricked by needles. He hurriedly walked to a bronze mirror, brushed away the hair from his forehead, and saw a hexagram disappearing on his skin.

"Is this ritual fixed? I don't need to draw a hexagram in the future; I can just read the prayer directly and summon that mysterious book."

Seth let down his hair, took out his dagger, and destroyed the magic circle on the floor so no one would see it.

After covering the carpet, he sat back on the sofa.

"Next, we have to consider the issue of protection. Due to internal strife, Alfalfa has deviated from its original route, and it will take some time to arrive at Enmat Port. In other words, the next days will be spent on the boat."

"If there is no extraordinary factor, there is no problem. But recalling the internal strife among the crew and the abnormal excitement of my companions last night, I vaguely feel that an extraordinary person was involved in this bloody incident."

"It is difficult to guarantee that there will be no accidents during the voyage. Investigating the Extraordinary as an ordinary person is courting death, so that option is out. I must consider how to ensure that I can get off the ship safely."

"The bodyguard is dead, and the valet is also dead. I don't have a 'guardian' around me. If there is another infighting among the survivors, I'm afraid I won't be so lucky this time."

"So, I have to recruit survivors. The more people, the better. Then the next question is, how do I recruit them, and what kind of reward do I have to give so they can protect me wholeheartedly?"

"What are my strengths, and how can I use them to create conditions that benefit me?"

"Also, I have to find a way to make the Extraordinary ignore me if there is one among us."

After some analysis, Seth had a clear plan for his subsequent actions.

"Gululu."

His stomach rumbled, hunger spurring Seth to his feet. He wore a formal suit, picked up a cane, put on a top hat, and headed to the dining room.

Most survivors were already up and sitting in twos and threes in the dining room.

When he entered, Seth saw Joyce, the young man with blond hair and an eagle nose, opening a silver pocket watch and looking at a photo inside.

In the photo was a young woman wearing a gauze hat, with beautiful eyes and a warm smile.

"She's beautiful."

Walking to Joyce, Seth lowered his volume and smiled.

Joyce turned his head and smiled.

"Thank you, you're up, Mr. Seth."

Seth nodded and pressed his top hat.

"Can I sit here?"

"Sure."

After Seth sat down, Joyce said, "This is my fiancée; her name is Anna."

"Then she must be a lucky lady because her fiancé misses her even though he is far away."

Joyce sighed. "But I don't know if I'll see her again."

Seth leaned back slightly.

"Why do you say that?"

Joyce smiled bitterly. "Mr. Seth, we are murderers now. Many people died on board; we will be interrogated when we go back. One mistake, and we'll be imprisoned. Even if I can see Anna, it might be in prison."

Joyce looked around at the survivors. "I'm not the only one who thinks this way. Everyone thinks there will be a lot of trouble after going back."

"Sure enough, it's about the same as I thought. After all, with so many people dead on board, the police will be alerted upon landing, and they will investigate. It is normal to worry that you will go to jail because of this."

Seth coughed dryly and said, "If this is the problem, maybe I can help."

Joyce raised his head, his eyes sparkling. "Mr. Seth, you..."

"My father is Baron Byson Disraeli. After disembarking, I will send him a telegram."

Seth raised his volume slightly so that several nearby people could hear, which immediately attracted attention and sparked discussions.

Joyce said, "Mr. Seth, are you willing to do this?"

Seth nodded happily. "Of course. I have experienced all this and know everyone here is innocent. How can I watch many innocent people suffer injustice? I will have the lawyer defend everyone and ensure everyone can go home!"

Hearing these words, the tense expressions on the faces of the survivors in the restaurant gradually disappeared. 

"It turns out that Mr. Seth is a nobleman. If he stands with us, then we can rest assured."

Words like this quietly spread in the restaurant, making Seth very satisfied. Things were developing in the direction he wanted.

His aristocratic status was his advantage, and he showed his attitude that he would stand with the survivors. In this way, everyone's interests were unified. If something happened again, to ensure that their interests would not be damaged, many would stand up to protect him.

As everyone was discussing, footsteps sounded, and the captain, wearing his boat cap, Triss, a round-faced and friendly young man, and two other sailors walked in.

The captain coughed dryly, drawing everyone's attention.

"Good morning, gentlemen. I'm sorry to disturb your meal, but I must discuss something. It's about our next trip."

Someone stood up, a burly man with thick body hair. This man with black hair, brown eyes, and a weathered face said, "Captain, aren't we going back to Enmat Port? There is nothing to discuss."

The captain stretched out his hand and made a downward motion.

"Please sit down, Mr. Brando."

Then he put his hands behind his back. "Yes, according to the original itinerary, we are going to Enmat Port. But gentlemen, don't forget what happened on our ship these days. Although those lunatics are murderers, and we brought them to justice, the essence of this matter is that we have become murderers."

"Believe me, the heads of those police officers in Enmat Port are not much better than curly baboons. They are under pressure and will eventually define this case as a brawl. In this case, we will all have to go to jail. I plan to replenish supplies at the nearby port before the incident is exposed and then head to Bayam, the 'City of Generosity.' We can hide there for a while, and when the heat dies down, we will try to return."

Suddenly, there was an uproar.

Seth shook his head and said softly, "In this case, the suspicion will be even greater. Even if we have a lawyer to defend, we won't be able to clear our names."

Hearing this, the blond young man eager to go home to see his fiancée got up suddenly, eyes bright.

"Everyone, be quiet, listen to me."

Joyce waved his hands vigorously to attract everyone's attention. After the dining room quieted, he roared, "Mr. Captain, we had considered similar issues before you came. We were at a loss and panicked. However, Mr. Seth promised everyone that he would let a lawyer defend us and let us all go home!"

The captain frowned. "If we talk about lawyers, I know one or two. But I don't think the lawyers we have access to can handle such a big case."

Joyce said confidently, "Mr. Seth is different. His father is a baron, a nobleman! A lawyer hired by a baron defending us—what need we worry about?"

The captain looked at Seth in surprise.

"Is this true? Mr. Seth, your father is a baron?"