Arknights: I became an NPC in the online game

Federico didn't seem to understand the concept of humor—that much Felix had already figured out. His rigid, by-the-book manner made Felix momentarily unsure how to even hold a casual conversation with him. Perhaps the only time Federico could freely express himself was when discussing official matters—though even then, not from his own perspective, but from the standpoint of Laterano's laws.

If there was anyone who embodied the word "rational," it was probably Federico. Based on his knowledge from his past life and their brief first meeting, Felix had already formed a rough impression of him.

Before long, Ers returned to the office, three women trailing behind him.

Felix lifted his head, sizing up the teammates he would be spending the foreseeable future with.

Patia he had met before—short hair with an inner layer of dyed highlights, a firearm strapped to her back that looked similar to Fiammetta's, though slightly smaller in model. For a Liberi to handle a gun like that was no easy feat; mastering it would have taken a great deal of effort. Felix didn't know her exact skill level, but he was sure she wasn't just for show.

Plume he knew even better. Back in his Rhodes Island days, he had dealt with her often—every shipment in or out passed her inspection. She would even help the engineering department transport parts from time to time. Though she seemed reserved, she had a kind heart and was far from weak. The massive halberd she wielded wasn't the sort of weapon one could swing with strength alone.

Finally, his eyes moved to Spuria. Compared to the other two, she looked far more relaxed—blowing a bubble of gum as if she had all the time in the world. Her outfit was stylish, and hovering beside her was a small, custom-designed drone with white-and-brown armor plating that gave it a cute, almost playful look.

"Let's all introduce ourselves," Ers said evenly. "Patia, Plume, Spuria—you've been selected by Felix Lanshem to join his squad for the Notarial Hall's field missions. You have the right to decline. If that happens, Felix, you'll need to resubmit your candidate list."

"Understood."

The five of them watched Ers leave. Spuria immediately dropped into a chair, crossing one leg over the other in a loose, casual pose. She gave Felix a playful once-over, then glanced at Federico, who stood at his side like a silent second-in-command.

"Hello. I believe we've met before, but I'll reintroduce myself—I'm Felix Lanshem." He nodded to Patia and Plume, then looked at Spuria. "Before you decide whether to join, I'd like to explain our squad's future course."

"In the short term, we'll be operating around the Laterano region. Starting next year and beyond, I'll be traveling across Terra on assignments from the Notarial Hall—while also sending back a constant stream of intelligence to Laterano. That's what I've done in the past, and that won't change."

"I have no objections," Federico said flatly.

Patia and Plume exchanged glances. Leaving Laterano to roam Terra was no small matter for those who had already settled here. Still, neither of them were ordinary Liberi. Patia had long harbored the thought of going out to see more of the world, and Plume—being familiar with Mostima, Lemuen, and others—was already curious about this Felix they spoke of.

Spuria gave a sharp whistle, grinning. "No objections here. But I do have one request—or maybe more like a favor."

"Let's hear it," Felix said.

"I heard from my friend that you've developed quite a few drones. Any chance you'd let me take a look at them?" Her eyes lit up, the corners of her mouth curving upward, her words quick with excitement.

Felix smiled. Exactly the line he'd been waiting for—or rather, one of the main reasons he'd chosen her in the first place.

"Of course. Once you're officially in the squad, I'll share some of my mechanical and drone knowledge with you."

"Won't that be a loss for you?" Spuria asked, hugging her knees as she looked up at him.

Federico shook his head slightly. "Joining the squad in exchange for knowledge—short-term, you lose out, Senior Felix. Long-term, it evens out for both sides."

"Oh? Thanks. What's your name again?"

"…Federico."

The two Sankta began talking quietly. Felix turned his attention back to Patia and Plume.

"Ever since before, I've been curious about what lies across this land—what the distant horizons look like. Laterano is just a small corner of the world. I realized that a long time ago. That's why I want to become a pioneer—explore this land, seek the unknown, and search for answers."

He looked deeply at Patia, then gave Plume a nod. "What do you two think?"

"I'm in," Plume replied without a moment's hesitation. "From now on, you're my captain. I'll be the spear and shield of our squad."

"Now that's what I call reliable," Felix said with a faint smile.

Patia took a deep breath and pressed her lips together. "I'm in too. I've always wanted to see the beauty beyond Laterano."

"Welcome aboard."

And with that, the squad was complete. Felix couldn't help but feel a bit impressed—this efficiency was exactly what he expected from himself.

After submitting the team's name, the five of them parted ways for now. Having an official squad didn't mean they had to stick together every hour of the day. For example, in the Andoain Squad, there might only be two missions a month, each lasting about five days, with the rest of the time left for rest. The Notarial Hall didn't have strict KPIs; how the team operated came down to the captain's judgment and the members' agreement.

Felix had no intention of driving this new squad into the ground. He was the type to grimace at the mere mention of work. In his previous life, the KPIs and overtime set by his team leads had nearly killed him. Now that he was leading a team himself, there was no way he would inflict that same misery on others.

After buying breakfast from a street stall, Felix noticed the coffee shop nearby was filled with students on break, chatting over desserts about every topic under the sun. With brunch in hand, he headed home.

The moment he opened the door, he heard running water from the bathroom.

Must be Mostima taking a shower.

He set the food on the dining table, pulled out his terminal, and began reviewing his blueprints while scanning for simple missions that might help build squad cohesion.

In version 2.0 of the game, players could access Laterano in the mid-to-late stages. As mentioned before, they could even join the Notarial Hall as civil servants. Some players, especially the stronger ones who wanted to travel Terra, would apply to join squads made entirely of other players. These groups took on official missions while regularly sending intel back to Laterano.

Sound familiar? That was exactly what Felix had done in the past. Back then, he had done it to gain access to the Notarial Hall's library. This time around, it had been much easier to get in—but now his target had shifted from the Notarial Hall's library to the Papal Chamber's library. Of course, the latter was proving to be far more challenging, and for now, he had no plans to join the Papal Chamber itself.

Mostima emerged from the bathroom, toweling herself off. Her long blue hair was still damp, clinging to her shoulders, and she looked as if she had just been revived. Glancing around, she said, "Felix, help me dry my hair."

"Mm."

Felix got up, walked behind her, and picked up the hair dryer. As he worked, her blue hair gleamed under the light, silky and smooth. Whatever shampoo she used, it carried a scent that was strangely calming.

"Squad's all set?"

"Yeah—Patia, Plume, Spuria, and Federico."

Mostima paused for a moment. "Patia's Fiammetta's junior. She's good with firearms. Plume—we've worked with her before, skilled and trustworthy. Spuria knows Lemuen, and they're close friends."

She tilted her head slightly. A single bead of water slid down her smooth neck.

"Who's Federico?"

"He's someone Mr. Ers recommended—a seventeen-year-old church school graduate who finished early, which is rare. Rational, and probably quite capable."

"Rational… ah. Sounds like he'll be a reliable teammate," Mostima said with a hint of admiration.

"True. Rationality can prevent a lot of mistakes," Felix agreed. Though inwardly, he added, depending on the situation, rational people can clash too. He liked to think of himself as rational—life only gave him one chance, so he had to view everything through a pragmatic lens. But the innocence engraved in his Sankta blood, or perhaps simply the fact that he was once a human who could laugh, cry, and feel all emotions, meant that in non-critical moments, he sometimes acted on impulse.

"Felix, you're quite rational yourself."

"And you?"

"Me?" Mostima smiled into the mirror—poised, radiant. Even now, despite being deeply involved in her work, she still had the air of an upperclassman from the church school, her goddess-like smile enough to leave one mesmerized.

"Sitting here now, I realize… I'm an emotional Sankta," she said, stretching out her hand to touch Felix's reflection in the mirror. "I don't care much about emotions themselves. I don't dislike them—but I don't need them either."

"In school, talking to you always felt like talking to thin air," Felix said, lifting a strand of her damp hair. "You'd only give that gentle smile. You'd respond, yes—but it always felt like you were some perfectly programmed robot."

"Heh… is that so?"

Mostima laughed, her usually calm eyes beginning to shimmer with genuine mirth.

"But meeting you, Felix… that's been a surprise. Or maybe, an unexpected twist." Her lips moved slowly, deliberately. "For the first time, I felt curiosity. For the first time, anticipation. For the first time, worry. And for the first time… attachment. And longing."

"So, I've changed you?"

"A change I don't dislike."

Flicking her hair back, she rose and stretched lazily, her eyes warm and weighted with meaning. Smiling, she nudged his shoulder with her head. "Thanks. Let's eat."

The two moved to the dining table and began their late breakfast. Felix explained more about Federico, while Mostima shared details on the other squad members he wasn't too familiar with but whom she knew well.

After eating, Mostima began searching for a suitable mission for the squad. For a team this new, it couldn't be too easy or too hard—the ideal task would be one that tied everyone together and built friendship trust through shared effort.

Felix propped his head up with one hand, idly playing with a strand of her blue hair.

"I still plan to leave Laterano."

"I know."

"And you?"

Mostima smiled. "Saying goodbye to Captain Andoain might be a bit troublesome… but since Andoain's always wanted to go out and see the world, maybe this is a good opportunity."

She gave him a glance. "Wandering the land, seeing the sights you've seen before… doesn't sound bad."

"You know about Blacksteel International, Gun and Order?"

"Mm… I've heard of Blacksteel International. Gun and Order—that's the movie you watched yesterday with Lemuel, right?"

Felix blinked. "How'd you know?"

"Lemuen messaged me~" Mostima replied with a playful grin. "She also told me to pass on her thanks for looking after Lemuel yesterday. And she heard you even treated Lemuel to a meal? She says she owes you one."

"It was just a meal. I'm not short on money anymore."

"Mm~ So, Felix, while you were traveling across the land, did anything interesting happen?"

Mostima chuckled. "Gun and Order—I'd guess that's about the priest who left Laterano for Siracusa, right?"

"So you do know."

"Learned it from the files."

Mostima rested her chin in her hand, meeting his gaze. "So… are you planning to do something big, Felix?"

"Mm."

Felix nodded lightly, but Mostima could feel the weight in it—mountain-heavy resolve.

This feeling reminded her of Captain Andoain. Though his face was always adorned with that warm, gentlemanly smile, Mostima and Lemuen could always sense the weight he carried inside. They never knew exactly what Andoain was thinking, but they could always feel his worry.

What was he so concerned about? What fears weighed on him?

Mostima's lips curved slightly—she had also sensed other emotions.

Trust. Promise. Longing. Guilt.

Attraction. Calm. Safety. Love.

The emotional resonance between Sankta bound them together more tightly than words ever could.

Mostima straddled Felix once more, leaning down as her blue hair spilled forward, veiling the sunlight and hiding both their profiles from the world.