Arknights: I became an NPC in the online game

Felix updated the faction shop with a new device that any player could buy for 100 Contribution. With it, they could view the location of other players carrying the same terminal anytime, anywhere. The device also came with a map, messaging, and other functions—essentially a smartphone—but it only worked within Lungmen's network.

The continent wasn't fully covered by intranet nodes. Once outside Lungmen, the signal would drop and all communication gear became useless. That was exactly why the Messenger profession existed.

Since arriving in the city, Magic ZX had spent a bit of pocket change on a second-hand "Ghostfire" motorcycle, officially joining the ranks of ghostfire street punks. For someone new to a metropolis like Lungmen, learning the ever-changing traffic patterns—broad boulevards that suddenly funneled into cramped backstreets—wasn't easy. If he obeyed every traffic light and got stuck in the gridlock like everyone else, logistics runs would take forever.

Sure, he had considered pulling a GTA stunt—flooring it, weaving through traffic, smashing his way across the city. But with his current level and strength, being arrested would mean jail time, fines, and a massive waste of hours. For now, he shelved the idea and settled for the joy of being a ghostfire rider.

What Magic ZX wrestled with, Felix naturally thought about too. He'd been a player once, and he understood the itch for speed and chaos. In a game world, reckless fun never carried over into reality. That's why so many bored players unleashed their fists here—especially in a sandbox as free as Ark Online.

Of course, NPC factions weren't just decoration. But if Tomorrow's Development's members ever got the urge for GTA-style chaos, Felix saw only two paths. One: funnel that bloodlust into mercenary contracts posted on the mission board, giving them sanctioned outlets for violence. Two: slap them with Contribution penalties until their score went negative—at which point they'd be automatically expelled from the faction.

Tomorrow's Development needed reputation to survive. A name meant nothing without standing. And in a sprawling city like Lungmen, simply owning a flashy office tower wasn't nearly enough.

That's why he needed reliable NPC groups—logistics firms, mercenary teams, anything. The suggestions from Emperor still sat on his desk. But things like the Sarkaz Mercenary Corps? That bordered on absurd. Him, a Sankta, trying to command Sarkaz troops? Any Sankta who saw that would probably shout, "Traitor!" and shoot him on the spot.

"Have we secured factory contracts yet?" Felix asked.

"Two factories are willing to work with us," Loughshinny replied.

"Good. Pick one. We can start fulfilling the Guard Bureau's orders."

Felix rubbed his fingers together in thought, then nodded his thanks. "No matter the world, advanced tech is always the first driver of progress. With more modern drones, the Guard Bureau benefits—and so do we."

He wasn't planning to buy his own factory anytime soon. Funds were tight. The office tower might've been sold to him at a friendship price by Wei Yanwu, but every next step still burned money. Right now, Tomorrow's Development was all expenses, no income.

As for mercenary contracts, those were out of the question for now. He didn't have enough players yet, nor any NPC mercenaries to dispatch. Private military contracting would have to wait.

---

With help from the three players, several logistics and production commissions were completed. The influence they generated was still small, but Tomorrow's Development was starting to appear on the lips of a few of Lungmen's heavyweights. Anyone who could plant an office right across from the Guard Bureau clearly wasn't running an ordinary company.

The drone orders were still confidential, but a batch had already been delivered to the Guard Bureau for initial testing.

During this same period, Magic ZX finally finished editing his long-awaited video and dropped it on the forums with a bang.

"Pioneers: Tomorrow's Development – Lungmen Arc (Part 1)"

The title alone screamed new direction. Unlike his past walkthroughs and travel vlogs, this was something different. From the name, viewers instantly knew what the focus would be. The opening sequence showed Lungmen at night—glittering lights, dazzling neon, the Tomorrow's Development office tower gleaming in the skyline, and streets bustling with citizens of every race.

This time, the video wasn't just aimed at players seeking guides or casual Vlog-watchers. It hooked anyone curious about mobile cities or the upcoming Version 2.0. Overseas uploaders quickly mirrored the video onto foreign forums, where international players who had been following Pioneers from the start jumped in. Ursus players who'd met Felix in the past clicked eagerly, as did professional guilds intrigued by the rare gear and dungeons Tomorrow's Development had been selling.

Viewership instantly blew past 500,000, climbing higher by the minute. Players stopped what they were doing; netizens in the real world pulled out their phones, plugged in their headphones, and joined the rush.

"Holy crap, he actually updated! His last upload was ages ago!"

"What's ZX been doing all this time—honeymooning with Pioneer?"

"Five hundred thousand live viewers, and I'm one of them!"

When Magic ZX finally appeared on screen, he surprised everyone. This time, the video didn't open with his usual travel-perspective shots. Instead, the camera found him sitting at a rooftop bar atop a high-rise, Lungmen's night skyline glowing magnificently behind him.

"Hello everyone, I'm your host, Magic ZX. For our foreign friends, you can just call me Mr. ZX."

His slightly clumsy English, delivered in a smooth, magnetic baritone, hit just the right balance of charm. Chat exploded—"He's back, he's back!"

"I was invited by Pioneer himself to join this adventure, along with two beautiful fellow players. Lungmen isn't the first mobile city I've set foot in, but of all I've seen so far, it's the liveliest—and I believe it'll soon become the most popular among players."

That single line sent jealousy surging through the viewers. If only Pioneer invited me… Some even grumbled at ZX being able to roam Lungmen with two lovely companions. But everyone knew he wasn't that kind of guy. ZX was a positive, gentlemanly creator.

This episode wasn't just another casual vlog. ZX poured effort into a full-scale introduction of mobile cities and Lungmen itself—its inner districts and zoning, local customs, food culture, and more. His witty commentary kept things light, almost like watching a polished TV drama or even an official promotional video.

And the length? A full ninety minutes. Viewers were floored. From the moment he first entered Lungmen, to wandering and discovering side quests, to the sights of upper and lower districts, to the three of them visiting shops and trying street food, even down to Lungmen's sky-high rent prices—everything was covered in detail. Quantity and quality, all there.

Being the first to document it, and the first to be so close to Pioneer, ZX clearly wanted to set the standard.

And then—when Pioneer's figure appeared on screen for the first time, players collectively lost their minds.

"OH MY GOD IT'S FELIX-SAMA!"

"I missed you so much, Pioneer!"

"Ughhh, he accepted my gift but never raised our favorability to boyfriend level!"

"PIONEER LAUNCH SEQUENCE ACTIVATE!!"

Bullet comments swarmed across the screen. When Pioneer casually handed ZX a cup of hot cocoa, envy spiked again. Why is he so gentle? So thoughtful? He even gives little gifts?! I'm gonna cry…

It wasn't only ordinary players who were crying their hearts out. Dandao Dantart collapsed to his knees right in the middle of the newbie town's main street, clutching his shoulders and bawling. Startled pedestrians in traditional Yan-style clothing quickly backed away. What the hell? Did this guy suddenly have a breakdown?

Of course, the video also featured the two female players. Magic ZX had asked them beforehand if they were okay with appearing on camera. He knew that if the footage showed only himself and scenery, some viewers would find it dull. With their presence, the entire production felt richer and more dynamic.

Then came the shot of the towering office building. On its rooftop, Giant glowing characters floated: Tomorrow's Development.

Pioneer appeared once again. His tone started calm, but with each word, his voice rose, his eyes lit with fire, and his ambition burned through the screen. Anyone watching—player or casual viewer—felt chills race down their arms.

"Holy shit, I'm fired up!"

"This is Pioneer's vision? No need for more words—this is greatness!"

"This video makes me wanna raise my right arm at a forty-five degree angle."

"Confirmed—Pioneer's the protagonist. With that kind of ambition, he's the chosen one. The only one."

The final scene showed Pioneer's back as he faced the massive city of Lungmen. Across the screen appeared the prompt: [Do you wish to join Tomorrow's Development?]

In full view of the audience, Magic ZX's fingertip tapped Confirm.

With a thunk, the screen cut to black.

The ninety-minute video ended there, leaving everyone wanting more. It felt like binge-watching a drama only to hit a cliffhanger mid-season. Viewers groaned in frustration, some even throwing donations to beg for a sequel. How dare he end it there?!

That closing shot—the name Tomorrow's Development and Pioneer's lone silhouette—burned itself into players' minds. Since Version 1.0, Pioneer had always been present, a familiar figure. Now, at last, he had built his own faction and was inviting adventurers to join. All signs pointed to Tomorrow's Development becoming a core faction in 2.0. Curiosity turned into obsession as players begged Magic ZX for the next video.

At the same time, The Ark Times also ran a major feature on Pioneer, giving him the front-page spotlight.

"Back when 1.0 launched, we speculated endlessly about Pioneer's role. Some guessed he was a mainline NPC, others thought he was just a generous old-timer handing out freebies. Time has proven us wrong. From the moment he stepped forward to travel alongside players, it became clear—he was never going to be just another 1.0 NPC."

"Pioneer Felix shattered those early theories. His footsteps have carried him across nations and mobile cities. Now he has taken root in Lungmen, creating his own faction—Tomorrow's Development. From him, we can see the outline of an entirely new story arc."

"He's not only the one who once saved the Black Knight in the Grand Knight Territory. In 2.0, he'll continue to lead players forward, guiding them into mobile cities and deeper into this fractured land."

The Ark Times outright declared Pioneer to be a mainline figure bridging Versions 1.0 and 2.0. The buzz around him reignited—about Tomorrow's Development's true purpose, the missions Magic ZX and his team had taken, and what kind of future storylines Pioneer would shape.

Meanwhile, Yan players began to gather near Lungmen of their own accord. They knew they couldn't yet enter the city without credentials, but still they followed the giant mobile city's path, turning nearby villages into temporary bases. Their hope was simple: when 2.0 arrived, they wanted to be the first through Lungmen's gates, the first to join Tomorrow's Development, and the first to seize the advantage.

It wasn't only casual players who were fired up. Every professional team—coaches and players alike—watched the video and immediately drew up plans to head for Lungmen. Among them were the Liquid team led by Lao silais, the Yanyu Pavilion team with Yanfei, and the Dynasty team headed by Huangtian Houtu. Though their current schedules kept them outside Yan's borders, they were already preparing to rush toward the nation at full speed.

At the same time, managers and coaches from various pro teams began sending private messages to Magic ZX, hoping he could act as a bridge to introduce their players to Pioneer Felix. They wanted early access to Tomorrow's Development, even if it meant starting as simple workers.

Magic ZX's inbox exploded with requests. But on this matter, he knew he couldn't decide on his own. He had no choice but to consult Pioneer directly.

"Heh."

In front of him, Pioneer smiled—a clean, unshaken smile, his gaze clear and resolute.

"Only if everyone works together can this land truly grow better. Why would I ever refuse that?"