Arknights: I became an NPC in the online game

Old Pugh always felt that he owed Felix something. But after giving it some thought, he realized—based on the friendship they had built up until now—there was really nothing he technically owed the man.

Even so, the fact that Felix had given him, or rather, given his daughter a path forward... it was no small gesture. It was something deeply meaningful—and he had to take it seriously.

As a soldier who had survived countless battlefields, Old Pugh understood one truth: from the moment you take a life, the battlefield will eventually claim yours in return. As long as he continued to fight, death was inevitable. And when that moment came… who would take care of his beloved Rafaela?

That thought weighed heavily on him.

Old Pugh began to realize that his time with his daughter was limited. That day would come, sooner or later—unless he gave up the life of a soldier. But could he?

He fell into a complicated silence, lost in his thoughts, just as the winners of the first Dossoles Warrior Championship were announced.

The champions: the fifteen-member Yanyu Pavilion professional team.

As the news spread, players erupted into cheers. They celebrated not only the team's stunning performance, but also because it gave them hope. They cheered for themselves.

Version 1.0 of the game was gradually coming to an end. Many players had reached level 30—the current cap. They could now travel freely around Novice Town, yet they still had no idea just how dangerous the main cities and mobile cities would be.

Seeing the Yanyu Pavilion team defeat powerful NPC factions ignited a spark in the players. They believed this would one day be their fate too—that NPCs were not unbeatable.

"How embarrassing," Old Pugh muttered.

He watched the award ceremony broadcast on TV. Yanyu Pavilion claimed the championship. The runner-up title went to the Real Bolivarian Soldiers, while third place was taken by a mixed team of players—Dandao Dantart, Magic ZX, Yang Yan XF, and others.

As a true Bolivarian himself, Old Pugh felt he was about to lose face in front of Felix. It is acceptable if they lose to their fellow soldiers—but losing to a group of "tourists"? That was unbearable.

To be fair, the real Bolivarians were never good at naval combat. Most of the soldiers in that unit were land-based fighters who rarely had experience at sea. Once they were knocked into the water by the "tourist team," they became completely ineffective.

Shameful. Truly shameful. Old Pugh's face burned with humiliation. He had half a mind to drag those soldiers out and have them shot—for ten minutes straight.

"Old Pugh, are you going to join the final celebration?"

"…Go on ahead. Rafaela likes spending time with Senomi, Mandragora, and Susie."

He didn't refuse. And when he thought of his daughter, a warm smile crept across his face once more.

Yanyu Pavilion's team basked in the glow of their championship. The professional players were in high spirits. Yan Fei received a symbolic trophy—though in her heart, she wished it were the trophy from the global finals. Alongside the trophy, they were granted a luxurious meal with the mayor NPC… but to the seasoned players of Yanyu Pavilion, this reward wasn't very appealing.

After all, it wasn't equipment, items, or props that could make them stronger. And they weren't story-focused players. What thrill was there in just having a meal?

As for the reward of opening the sluice gate to change the water in Dossoles, it brought more awe than excitement. Yan Fei gripped the handle of the gear set, watching as the water level in Dossoles gradually receded under her control, the seawater merging seamlessly back into the ocean.

The sensation was difficult to put into words.

Is this what it feels like to control a mobile city?

At this stage, the idea of owning or operating a mobile city had yet to take root in the players' minds. That concept wouldn't gain traction until later in the game's mid-stage. Only after players discovered such a feat was possible did mobile towns—constructed by the players themselves—begin to appear.

In addition to these honors, what truly pleased the Yanyu Pavilion team was a hefty stack of gold chips. Converted into LMDs, it amounted to over 200,000—a sum that would normally take the team about a month to accumulate. As far as monetary rewards went, this was a substantial bonus.

News of their triumph quickly spread across the forums. Players were surprised—many hadn't even realized Yanyu Pavilion had won the championship.

But once the full story was shared, praise for the Yanyu Pavilion team flowed freely. The player who narrated the event described the second-ranked Real Bolivarian Soldier as a towering, broad-shouldered behemoth with strength capable of moving mountains and a level averaging 50—a true alpha warrior. Some players believed it so much that they began betting on their pick for the mid-season tournament champion.

"We're the champions, we're the champions again!"

"Alright, alright! Just wait until the mid-season tournament—I'll show those other teams no mercy!"

"Let's take a look at Yanyu Pavilion's win rate in the world competition. There are plenty of tough opponents out there."

"Nah, we're talking PVP. Who wants to compete on ops?"

Naturally, Yanyu Pavilion's official account and its professional players didn't dare celebrate too openly. They simply shared a symbolic post about their championship experience and ended it quickly.

Meanwhile, the forum was buzzing with excitement. Players were thrilled—this was a fair fight, and the Yanyu Pavilion pros had completely outclassed military units? That was no small feat.

Still, there were more level-headed voices in the mix. Some pointed out that the army hadn't deployed any advanced military-grade weapons or formed coordinated land battle formations. Yanyu Pavilion's win, they said, was as much luck as skill.

Excited debates and calm analysis coexisted on the forum, with posts about Yanyu Pavilion's victory on behalf of the players receiving over ten new replies per minute.

Back in Dossoles, Felix and Old Pugh brought their families to join in the celebrations. August in Dossoles marked the final wave of the tourist season. In the months ahead, the tourism industry would enter a lull… but Felix had a feeling the mayor had already earned a small fortune from this surge, and that the inaugural Dossoles Warrior Championship had already made a lasting name for itself.

By this time next year, even more would surely come to participate.

Some players began to entertain the idea of settling down here—after all, this was the first mobile city they had ever been able to enter.

Felix didn't stop them. He knew he couldn't keep every player by his side forever. Dossoles was already considered the most popular city in Bolivar, and the cost of living here was anything but cheap.

After the grand carnival ended, the tourists began to disperse, returning to their hotels to pack and prepare for departure—many players among them, satisfied with their vacation.

Not only had they enjoyed a relaxing holiday on the Ark, but they had also obtained the limited-edition weapon from Pioneer. What a great deal.

If Pioneer were to organize a winter event or release another round of New Year limited weapons in the future, they swore they'd buy every single one!

"What's wrong? Don't feel like leaving?"

Felix walked over to Muelsyse, standing beside her as they enjoyed the final night in Dossoles. From the balcony, the view of the distant city was breathtaking. The sea level, still gradually receding, sparkled under the moonlight. The yacht services they'd used a few days earlier were suspended for the day—the sea level had dropped too low, and the waters were deemed unsafe.

"No, it just feels… refreshing."

Muelsyse smiled softly as always. She opened her arms and embraced the night sky.

"Felix, thank you for bringing me here on vacation… This starry sky—this is something I could never see in Trimount."

Her eyes, gentle like rippling water, held a captivating depth. The playful curve of her lips made her charm even more irresistible.

This was Muelsyse's allure.

"You can come with me again next year when I travel."

"Okay," she replied with a smile. Then, reaching out, she gently poked Felix's cheek. It felt warm—not cold or numb, like it often did.

"With Felix around, I can travel all over Terra without ever leaving home."

"It's good to get out in person once in a while."

"It'd be great if Kristen and Saria could come, too. How about the four of us going on a trip together in the future?"

"You trying to get me killed by Yara?"

"Oh no, Yara's very gentle."

Muelsyse laughed behind her hand. She turned and smiled.

"I'm going to bed, Felix. You should sleep early, too. Good night~"

"Good night."

Felix looked up once more, gazing at the starry sky above. This vacation was truly intoxicating, giving him a momentary illusion of paradise…

---

That night, no more words were exchanged.

The next morning, Felix made his way downtown to bid farewell to Old Pugh. The old man looked like he had something he wanted to say, but hesitated. Felix simply smiled, crouched down, and gently patted Rafaela's head as she beamed at him with her naturally sweet, innocent smile.

Then, stepping on the accelerator, Felix drove away from Dossoles.

When he had arrived, he brought a group of players along with him. As he departed, in addition to Dandao Dantart, Magic ZX, and their group of ten who knew his exact plans, another 20,000 to 30,000 players chose to leave with him.

The rest of the players who were planning to leave had already departed the night before. Those who remained continued completing quests in the city, hoping to find new opportunities. The professional players from Yanyu Pavilion also stayed behind. Before leaving, Yan Fei met with Felix and politely inquired about the Novice Town near the city where he currently lived. Judging from her expression, if Dossoles had nothing worthwhile to offer their professional team, they wouldn't hesitate to move on.

---

Before leaving Trimount for holiday, Felix had already completed the school admission procedures for the three little ones. When the new school term began in September, all three would enter the same high school. Senomi would major in knight courses inherited from Kazimierz traditions, while Mandragora and Susie would continue to specialize in Originium Arts.

Upon returning to Trimount, Felix first dropped his family off at the hotel. Then, he drove Muelsyse back to Rhine Lab.

"Drive slower for the last stretch," she said.

"Why?"

Sitting in the passenger seat, Muelsyse swung her pale legs and pouted, clearly displeased with his response. She unwrapped a piece of candy and popped it into Felix's mouth.

"You really don't understand romance."

"Mmm… tastes like apple."

"Yeah?"

Muelsyse licked her fingers, then popped another piece into her own mouth.

"So sweet."

Felix chewed slowly, tasting the lingering sweetness on his tongue, and let out a yawn.

"You must be tired from all the driving," Muelsyse said softly.

"Luckily, you all chatted with me. Otherwise, I'd have fallen asleep behind the wheel."

"Hmm… Why don't you take a rest in my ecological park for a while?" she suggested.

"You fell asleep so easily last time, didn't you? It's still a long time before evening—why not take a proper nap?"

Felix thought she made a good point.

When they arrived at Rhine Lab, the two got out of the car and entered the administrative department. They greeted Yara, who was buried in stacks of paperwork. Several newly hired female secretaries worked alongside her, trying to keep up.

'Yara, thank you for working so hard for this family.'

"Yara~ I'm back," Muelsyse called out as she hugged her.

"Felix and I brought you gifts. You'll definitely love them."

Yara looked exasperated. She pinched Muelsyse's cheek like she was pacifying a child, then glanced at Felix with wary eyes—as if he were some sort of kidnapper.

"...?"

Felix felt targeted. In response, he took out the gifts he had prepared: souvenirs and perfumes that most women liked. Muelsyse had also brought along a collection of summer clothes for Yara… somehow, this water elf even knew Yara's exact measurements.

"By the way, where's Kristen? Is she free right now?" Muelsyse asked with a smile.

"Kristen and Saria are out."

"Oh?"

"They left this morning."

Muelsyse glanced at Felix, who kept a poker face.

"Oh? Could it be… a date?"

"Indeed, maintaining the agenda is our top priority." Felix muttered while nodding his head.

"Kristen asked me which movies were trending before she left."

"..."

"..."

"Thank you for your hard work."

Felix and Muelsyse said in unison.

Yara smiled and said, "I'm not angry. Kristen is under a lot of pressure. I think a girl her age should go out and enjoy life more... As for you, Mr. Shareholder, it's time for Rhine Lab to begin a new round of recruitment. In addition to military contracts, many industries in Columbia have commissioned us. I've placed the mechanical power orders in your office. If needed, you can speak directly with Ferdinand—I'm sure he'll be very interested in them."

Felix nodded seriously. "Leave it to me. I'll coordinate with the Maylander Foundation. While we expand, we'll also need to adjust the internal systems."

"I'll go say hello to Kristen," Yara replied with a nod. As long as Felix fulfilled his responsibilities, she had no reason to interfere.

Yara's feelings toward Felix were complex. At this moment, however, they leaned more toward gratitude.

She had witnessed Kristen's transformation firsthand... and in truth, she was the one who owed Felix the most thanks.

Thinking about the upcoming expansion, Felix suddenly didn't feel so tired. Meanwhile, Muelsyse was busy handing out the souvenirs she had brought to various researchers. Felix opened his mobile terminal and contacted the representative from the Maylander Foundation whom he had met at the shareholders' meeting.

Besides expanding the new fields, departments that had been familiar to him in his previous life could now be brought to the forefront.