Arknights: I became an NPC in the online game

While she was forcefully logged out, Yanfei quickly passed the good news to her coach, Bai Mi. Bai Mi was ecstatic—he never imagined that unlocking a hidden main storyline would come with such benefits. To be honest, just moments ago he had been struggling while replaying the Pioneer's battle footage, racking his brain on how to get his players to survive at least thirty seconds against him. And then, out of nowhere, Yanfei had pulled off a miracle.

When she logged back in, the Pioneer was already gone. Blue Rain's squad seemed to have retreated to their own rooms, leaving only the members of Yanyu Pavilion behind. The looks they gave Yanfei were… layered. The few female teammates who usually got along well with her wore especially ambiguous smiles.

Yanfei, still a university student, felt her cheeks heat up.

"Honestly… I did see with my own eyes our captain touching an NPC and then immediately getting kicked offline…" one of the girls teased.

The words made Yanfei want to bury herself in the floor. Whether in pro matches or daily training, she had always maintained the image of a composed, intellectual, and reliable captain. But in front of the Pioneer, that façade had crumbled again and again.

"Alright, enough. Give the captain some face. She was probably just… overexcited."

The more senior Xi Xiye cleared her throat and shifted the conversation. She looked at Yanfei and explained,

"When the captain… disconnected due to network issues just now, Pioneer said his goal is to change the state of this land. That's part of the world background. From his hints, we also learned that the mercenary trade and logistics business have been booming in recent years. He recommended we start from there."

"Mercenary work, huh…"

Yanfei propped her chin on her hand, her expression snapping back into her usual sharp, decisive captain's look.

"Taking mercenary contracts means we can gain EXP from killing hostile NPCs, and earn the quest rewards on top. Two birds with one stone."

"Let's start with the regular jobs first."

A pro team usually had fifteen members total, with twelve eligible to compete on stage. Those twelve had to be carefully chosen, and aside from the captain, vice-captain, and a few core players, resources weren't funneled to any one individual. Figuring out how to quickly grow stronger through quests wasn't just a problem for the team—it was a key consideration for their coach as well.

---

The next day, Felix continued hosting challenges. But compared to the first day, when players had been wary of Degenbrecher, today more people chose her. Some teams preferred clashing with a traditional swordfighter over enduring the mechanical debuffs and oppressive firepower of the Pioneer's gear.

"Twenty… twenty-one…"

The crowd counted eagerly as Dynasty's Huang Tianhoutu and Cheng rolled frantically across the ground, dodging like characters in a Souls game. Their faces flushed, their breathing ragged, but they didn't dare stop.

Because right behind them, a relentless barrage of Arts bullets chased their every move, blasting into the ground with deafening force.

"Thirty!"

"You've passed the test."

Expression calm, Felix nodded toward the Dynasty squad. Three of their teammates were already lying flat on the ground, laughing weakly in relief. Huang Tianhoutu and Cheng collapsed, too exhausted to even speak.

"Hahahaha, this is killing me! Damn, if I didn't know better I'd think you two were playing Dark Souls. Can't believe you actually made 'roll-spam meta' work here. Incredible."

Lao Silais doubled over in laughter, utterly ignoring the black stormclouds on the faces of Huang Tianhoutu and Cheng.

"Hey, Dreamchaser," he jeered, turning to another team. "Why don't you Tyranny guys give it a try too?"

Dreamchaser glanced toward Tyranny's captain, Gu Wang. The latter just snorted and refused to answer.

The pros burst into laughter again. Though rivals in competition, most of them were also friends off-stage. Seeing each other reduced to such miserable states under the Pioneer or the Black Knight was the perfect fuel for their collective schadenfreude.

Felix's gaze lingered on the pro teams for a moment before pulling back. This time, the recruitment was on a massive scale—over two hundred people had already been signed on. Nearly every notable domestic pro team had joined, and several foreign squads as well. Bringing them in wasn't just for strength; it was to stir up competition between the teams. After all, if only domestic players were involved, they might start thinking themselves invincible at Worlds and get complacent.

Beyond pros, Felix also drew skilled casuals and regular players into the fold. Their numbers were small, about one-seventh of the total, but these lucky few were his megaphones to the wider player base. With their help spreading the word, Tomorrow's Development would rise another level once version 2.0 went live.

At the tail end of 1.0, the Rhodes Island landship had already been unearthed—but Rhodes Island Pharmaceuticals had yet to be founded.

Right now, Felix felt he was already ahead of the storyline. But that didn't mean he could relax. Whether it was managing the Adventurers so they willingly poured their EXP and money into his hands, or ensuring Terra's future, he knew the quiet days were over. With adventurers flocking to his banner, he had become the first person to recruit this many Adventurers forces under one faction.

But that also meant undercurrents would surge, and open conflicts would soon rise to the surface. Narrowing his eyes, Felix thought: if he wanted Tomorrow's Development to keep sailing forward, he himself needed to be strong enough to hold the helm.

His relationship with the players was mutual. Without them, he wouldn't be where he was now; without him, they wouldn't have access to gear far beyond this patch. Each side benefited and took what they needed. But player rewards were his responsibility to design. He had to keep them loyal, engaged, and willing to fight for him in the storms ahead.

And this land of Terra was filled with endless quests, countless characters, and scattered anomalies. One person alone could never trigger them all. That was what the players were for—extensions of his will. They took missions, returned with results, and funneled rewards and connections back into Tomorrow's Development. In a way, it was just another kind of transport system.

Still, charm mattered too. Felix let a small smile curl his lips. His ambition was set and he was ready.

---

Back at the tests, Lao Silais turned and shot Yanfei a puzzled look. She stood off to the side with folded arms, watching.

"Your Yanyu Pavilion isn't planning to take the challenge today?"

"We were invited by the Pioneer directly."

Yanfei's voice was soft, but her smile carried the same gentle curve as the Pioneer's. "Last night, he came to my room and invited me to join Tomorrow's Development."

Lao Silais's face darkened instantly. "W-what?"

Xi Xiye, seeing her captain drifting into lovestruck daze again, cleared her throat to explain.

"It was because of a hidden quest trigger… Not just Captain Yanfei—Dandao Dantart's Blue Rain squad was also invited directly."

"Damn, I'm so jealous!"

Lao Silais slammed his elbow against a pillar, face pale. "Why didn't I get a hidden quest? Is it because I barely interacted with the Pioneer?"

"Maybe. Back in Kazimierz, you didn't even try to talk to him, right?"

Lao Silais froze. He remembered. He'd dismissed the Pioneer back then as just another loot-giving NPC, like in any other MMO, never once considering there might be a story behind him. Thinking of it now, he could've choked on his regret.

Amid the players' chatter and envy, the recruitment for Tomorrow's Development had become a grand event. After days of trials, those chosen walked away brimming with pride, following in the Pioneer's steps. Those who failed exchanged glances, then quickly busied themselves with quests—after all, there might be another round of selection. Best to be ready.

Felix's convoy lined up neatly at the gates of Lungmen. Players streamed across the ground behind, most having purchased their own vehicles. Especially the well-funded pros—naturally, they had their own rides. But upon entering Lungmen, every player was ordered off their vehicle for a body check.

The moment the guards at the city gates saw the cluster of Sarkaz approaching, one of them was so startled that his measuring device slipped from his hand and clattered to the ground. His instincts kicked in—he gripped his baton and crossbow.

"Sarkaz!"

Huang Tianhou's eyes widened, his face dark with frustration. He hadn't done anything yet, so why did the NPCs' favorability suddenly plummet straight to -10?

And it wasn't just him. Every Sarkaz player in the group was suddenly under the tense scrutiny of Lungmen's guards. The soldiers' hands slid to their weapons, ready for a fight. Some pro players' faces chilled, eager to draw blades and brawl—but most Sarkaz players shifted their gaze to Felix, their leader.

"Hold your ground. They may be Sarkaz mercenaries, but they're decent folk."

Felix's calm voice cut through the tension. The guards' eyes snapped to him, only to find a face carrying a serene, priest-like radiance.

"They're just homeless Sarkaz, looking to survive in Lungmen. They pose no threat."

He paused, then added firmly:

"If they break the law inside the city, I'll take full responsibility."

His words left the gate guards stunned into silence. They exchanged glances, clicked their tongues, then reluctantly returned to their duties.

A Sankta vouching for Sarkaz? No—this was the first time they'd seen a Sankta willing to stand as guarantor. It was unheard of.

The effect on the players was immediate. Pro, casual, or civilian, everyone felt a swell of emotion. This was their leader—the Pioneer—publicly staking his own word for them. Team captains cast stern looks at their rowdy members, and those players quickly fell in line, submitting to the body checks without protest.

After all, if the Pioneer himself vouched for them, then any trouble they caused would cost his favor. Losing faction standing and being expelled from Tomorrow's Development? No one was dumb enough to risk that—not after passing the grueling trials to get here.

It was their first time stepping into a mobile city, Terra's equivalent of a true capital. Even this late in version 1.0, none of them dared look down on the NPCs. The guards were no joke—if they attacked together, even players would be in trouble.

Once inside the city, the players were struck dumb by the rush of traffic and the sprawling urban sprawl. Lungmen's scale and modernity pulled their eyes in every direction. So this is a mobile city… this is what a real main city looks like. Compared to this, the starter towns really were just backwater villages.

Many also noticed Felix at the gate, calmly negotiating with the guards. Shortly after, documents were issued to them: a temporary Lungmen visitor's permit—and alongside it, a stamped dossier from Tomorrow's Development. The dense lines of text on the paper made more than one pro player's face darken.

"What the hell is this?"

"Hmm…"

Lao Silais, who had studied abroad, leaned in and skimmed it carefully before explaining.

"It's a work visa. Basically, while you're working for Tomorrow's Development, you're legally allowed to reside in Lungmen. It's proof of employment."

"How do we apply for Yan nationality then?"

One pro player clicked his tongue. "Forget everything else, I just want to live here."

Lao Silais's forehead twitched. "And you're asking me? I'm a player too! Probably just like real life—work a few years and you can apply. If it's not clear, ask the Pioneer directly."

"As for living here… can you even afford a house?"

The moment real-world topics came up, every player scowled. Seriously? Don't drag real life into the game! For older players especially, that hit like a critical strike.

Still, in no time, they all found themselves falling in love with Lungmen. The city was a reminder of the modern metropolises back home, yet decorated with otherworldly architecture, exotic ads, and distinct designs. Even the most hardcore pros—focused on matches and stats above all—couldn't help but feel awe. Here was a city alive with hope and possibility.

Isn't this just another Night City? And it's basically Hong Kong in real life.

"Maybe we can't buy a house, but renting works," said Magic ZX, sharing a car with them. "I already checked out a place with Qiu Muyu and Xiao Xuegao. Cheap rent in the lower districts, packed streets, shady crowds. Feels like the kind of place you'd stumble into quests."

"You're living with two female players?"

A veteran player gawked.

Magic ZX gave a smug hum. "Hey, it's just to save rent. Otherwise, I'd rather live with the Pioneer himself under one roof."

The other pros fell into a heavy silence.

After a long pause, someone muttered dryly:

"…Now I understand how you triggered that hidden quest. Maybe I should, uh, sacrifice a little charm myself."