Arknights: I became an NPC in the online game

It was the first time the players from the strategy group had set foot in a massive city like Trimount, and for Magic ZX, Dandao Dantart, and Qiu Muyu, the impression was even more profound. They had seen the towering commercial skyscrapers of Kazimierz, walked through streets filled with hazy neon-lit advertisements, and witnessed proud, fully armed knights striding past.

But here, they experienced the allure of a true bourgeois culture. The main streets were painted in pale hues and sterile tones. Men and women in white research uniforms hurried by with folders and briefcases in hand, while the nearby residential zones pulsed with hip-hop culture and vivid street art. In one small square, several young people zoomed by on skateboards and rollerblades, their avant-garde hairstyles and tattoos giving them an edgy flair.

Perhaps this was simply the cultural divide between nations and regions. Magic ZX and Yang Yan XF recounted the sights they had witnessed in Kazimierz. As players, being able to explore these diverse cultures within the game world was a rare stroke of luck. It only made them more eager to see what the mobile cities of other countries might offer.

If Laterano represented the phenomenon of faith through the Golden Law, embodying a theocratic spirit, then Columbia stood as its opposite—embracing technology and materialism in every facet of life. This contrast was something every player could tangibly feel.

As the group explored a nearby shop, they browsed through various instruments designed for scientific research. One discovery in particular caught their attention: a sub-class called "Scientist." It came with bonuses when exploring secret realms. However, unlocking it required more than just a profession book—it demanded graduation from a university and an actual university diploma.

The players' initial excitement quickly died down. They had already spent four years attending university in real life—did they now have to repeat that effort in the game?

In the store, they also spotted the Pathfinder that the Pioneer NPC had once sold to them. Here, though, it was priced at several times the cost.

"Wow, this is such a rip-off… Pioneer really treats us well."

"Are these people charging us more because they think we're dumb foreigners?"

"Colombian fashion is amazing… too bad I'm not a girl, or I'd totally buy some."

On the other hand, the female players Qiu Muyu and Xiao xuegao did buy some clothes. Among the group, they were less focused on combat strength, unlike the others who were hoarding every coin to buy better gear. The two girls, however, freely spent their money on things they liked.

Meanwhile, Magic ZX and Yang Yan XF were filled with curiosity about everything. They kept their recorders running at all times, and as players who never hesitated to ask questions, they soon picked up a bunch of minor quests—many of which came with better rewards than they had expected.

The players continued to enjoy themselves, steadily working through the tasks they had accepted. They weren't particularly concerned about Pioneer either—after all, that NPC would definitely say something if he were about to leave. For now, they planned to enjoy this break and complete as many missions as they could.

Yet in the shadows of an alley nearby, many unseen eyes were watching their every move.

---

For several days, Felix spent his vacation with Muelsyse. Sometimes they stayed in the workshop, but more often they went out to eat, watch movies, and shop together. These moments made up for Muelsyse's regret of not being able to accompany Felix everywhere with her water clone. Judging by her demeanor, though, it seemed she planned to continue sending her water clone to follow him even after he left Columbia.

Of course, Felix hadn't spent these days merely enjoying himself. He quietly gathered all the necessary materials and managed to acquire high-end chips—ones currently in short supply on the regular market—through the black market in Columbia. These chips were critical components for constructing the Clever. In addition, the materials needed for the Lumen Pistol were nearly complete; he could begin manufacturing it at any time.

'Once the Lumen Pistol is complete, my Gunsmith profession should be ready to advance to level four.'

Felix had not changed his main auxiliary profession. In the early stages, he had preferred to play the role of a businessman and production NPC, roaming this land. But with the development of Version 2.0 and 3.0, advancing his main profession had become essential.

Moreover, in his inventory lay an ancient weapon… rumored to have belonged to the Witch King himself. If utilized properly, it could become Felix's trump card.

But repairing an ancient-grade weapon was no easy feat. The list of required materials was long and costly. To restore the weapon and maximize its durability, the estimated expense was in the tens of millions—an amount Felix could not afford for now.

He placed orders with Raythean Industries and the black market for a batch of metal raw materials, which he would later polish and process into components for the Lumen.

This Guardian Gun... it has to be the best.

This was a B-level task. And Felix understood better than anyone the true value of a B-level task.

He bid farewell to the miniature Muelsyse hopping around at his side. Naturally, he couldn't bring her along on this trip to the black market. After donning his mechanical gear, Felix left, firearm in hand.

Upon receiving a package from Raythean Industries, he returned briefly to the company before heading out again—this time toward the city center, where the black market entrance was located.

Columbia didn't overtly discriminate against the Infected, but they were still restricted to living in designated zones—discrimination, nonetheless.

Felix entered a narrow alley. Suddenly, a child stepped in front of him, blocking his path. He stopped and looked behind him—another child had appeared there without his notice.

Trying to rob someone in broad daylight? Felix dismissed the idea instantly. Never mind that he was older and better equipped—just by his race alone, no child would dare to lay a hand on a Sankta.

"What message do you want to deliver?" Felix asked. He frowned slightly, disapproving of the method, though he had a good idea which organization used this style.

"Brother Felix, this is for you."

The boy in front walked up politely, handed him a small note, then smiled, waved, and ran off to rejoin the other child.

"Wait."

Felix called out, flicking a Colombian gold coin toward them. "Use it to buy some food."

"Thank you!" The children beamed and left happily.

Felix glanced at the address written on the note, then casually crumpled it and stepped on it.

After wandering through the grimy alleyways for more than ten minutes, Felix finally arrived at the address. It was a dingy-looking bar… Have bars become the new meeting hubs in games now? he mused.

There weren't many patrons inside during the afternoon. Only a man in a hat and suit moved behind the counter, busy with his own affairs.

"What would you like to drink?"

He spoke to himself, voice clanking with a metallic ring.

Felix took a seat at the bar. "It's still early afternoon. I don't want to get drunk yet. Do you have a mojito?"

"Your request is really complicated. How about sparkling water?"

"I'll take it."

The suited man turned around. His face was covered in steel—no, not just his face. His entire head and body seemed to be made of metal. The hand he used to serve the drink was also made of iron, and a cigar hung from his mouth. The whole look was as strange as it could get.

Felix took a sip of the water and asked, "So, what did you want to talk to me about?"

"You're not surprised by my appearance?"

Though the man's voice retained its metallic texture, there was a hint of genuine curiosity in it.

"I am a little surprised," Felix replied calmly. "But I've walked the land of Terra for a long time. I've seen and heard so many strange things. Your appearance doesn't faze me, Sir."

Felix already knew this NPC from a player mission in his previous life. Back then, players would connect with this individual while undertaking tasks for the Maylander Foundation. Based on that, it was only natural to assume this man was a senior figure within the organization.

But the Maylander Foundation had always publicly maintained its role as a supporter of scientific endeavors. Aside from order-based cooperation, Felix couldn't see what about him would warrant their attention.

"A Sankta like you… truly remarkable," the man said, introducing himself. "You can call me Tin Man."

"Since you already know who I am, I'll still do the formality. Felix Shawn Lanshem. Just call me Felix."

Felix lifted his glass and clinked it with Tin Man's.

"I'm an outlier among the Sankta. I'm well aware of it. Even if we Sankta share a common sentiment, I doubt others can truly understand what goes on in my mind."

"So then, Felix—what is it that you're thinking?"

"A modest goal, perhaps? I hope to work toward a society where the infected and non-infected can live together in peace."

Tin Man burst out laughing, the sound of steel echoing in the quiet bar.

"Madman. A madman."

"After all, being one step ahead makes you a genius—being ten steps ahead makes you a madman. I'll take that as a compliment." Felix took a sip of water. "So, Mr. Tin Man, you didn't bring me all the way here just to laugh at my ideals. What's this really about?"

"Two things," Tin Man replied, shifting instantly from laughter to seriousness.

"First of all, your drone project and your overall conduct have impressed both the military and our Maylander Foundation. As one of the shareholders of Rhine Lab, we had high expectations of you—and you've delivered."

"But," he continued, "there's still a group of stubborn old fools in the scientific community who cling to their outdated notions of seniority. They're unhappy with the monopoly your drones have created, so now they've begun attacking your academic credentials."

"Education, huh?"

Tin Man let out a dry, mocking laugh. "If I remember correctly, Felix, you're a student who graduated early from a church school. You never even enrolled in a science program at Columbia University, right?"

Felix nodded slightly.

"That's why they're coming after you," Tin Man said. "How can someone without a proper degree or formal education earn the favor of both the military and the Maylander Foundation? You're making them lose face."

Felix gave a wry smile. "Those old men lash out like cornered dogs?"

"Oh, they're worse than Perro," Tin Man said, not bothering to hide his disdain. "The younger generation today isn't much better either—excluding the old man, of course."

"Kristen gave me a heads-up earlier. So… what's the plan?"

"You hit them where it hurts—academically." Tin Man leaned back behind the bar, crossing his legs and lighting a cigar. "I know your time is precious, Mr. Felix, so I won't ask for much. How about you lend it to the Maylander Foundation for six months, starting after the school season ends in September?"

"You'll enroll in the Trimount Polytechnic Institute to study mechanical engineering. Since you already have a solid foundation, the Maylander Foundation will arrange private, one-on-one tutoring to ensure you graduate with both a university diploma and a doctorate in just a short amount of time."

Felix frowned. A doctorate in six months? If students in Leithanien saw this, they might cry on the spot. But for him, it seemed achievable. He was a genius, after all. His learning speed was 15% faster, and he already had a decent mechanical background. Where others needed time to comprehend what they read, Felix only needed to scan the bars.

It was… doable.

There wasn't much happening near the end of the year anyway. He planned to spend New Year's in Columbia. Studying through to March, then making new plans afterward, sounded feasible.

"You mean, I should slap them in the face with the title Doctor?"

"What else?" Tin Man puffed casually on his cigar. "Those shameless old geezers are attacking your academic background. So give them a taste of their own medicine."

"Well, it's a win-win for both the Maylander Foundation and you, right?"

Felix nodded. It all made sense. Besides, the mid-season tournament for players was coming up in October and November. It would run for about a month and a half in real-world time—roughly 45 days—and include both individual and team competitions.

As for the World Championship Cup, that wouldn't come until the end of version 1.0.

This mid-season tournament, meanwhile, was an officially sanctioned event hosted by the clubs themselves to stir player engagement. Major teams from around the globe were being invited. It was shaping up to be a spectacular affair.

The first competition would take place in a virtual arena, where players would transfer their Arknights characters into a simulated battlefield to determine the victors.

With the players preoccupied, Felix could take advantage of the opportunity to quietly earn a fortune behind the scenes.

He nodded, accepting Tin Man's proposal.

"The second thing," Tin Man continued, exhaling a thick cloud of smoke.

"What do you think of the 'Undead'?"

His eyes fixed on Felix, sharp and unrelenting, giving him no chance to look away.

"Did something happen in Kazdel?" Felix asked calmly.

"No matter what, I am still a Sarkaz."

Tin Man let out a raspy laugh. "Are you using the 'Undead', Mr. Felix?"