Reincarnation NPC, but Arknights

"After that, many... strange people may come looking for you, and you'll have to learn how to deal with them."

In the players' eyes, Aya will serve as a "medical skills instructor" in the Reunion Movement's camp. This will fill the gap in the player base for healers.

"If you want to learn medicine, you can have them help you first—well, I'll write a plan later, just follow that."

Bai Ye is preparing to continue exploiting players' labor for free, since it's common sense to increase NPC favorability if you want to learn skills.

With so many infected patients and battlefield wounded here, someone has to help take care of them. The player's arrival is just in time.

"I have a feeling you have ulterior motives..."

Aya began to suspect that this guy was up to something again.

To be honest, when she saw Bai Ye riding a motorcycle to become an operator, she was completely dumbfounded—no wonder her teacher told her to be careful and keep an eye on Bai Ye.

This wasn't a riddle; it was like telling her the answer directly!

Chapter 120 Idol Project Not Okay

"The camp has changed so much..."

Bai Ye followed Talulah through the Reunion camp, where there were not only more infected, but also many players.

Their presence brought immense vitality to the camp.

"Aside from being a bit noisy, they are indeed quite formidable helpers." Talulah was quite satisfied with the group of allies that Bai Ye had brought over.

"But these people are really strange—when they die, they just turn into fragments of light and disappear without even leaving a body; yet they reappear the next day."

"Sometimes, they would suddenly disappear and then reappear after a while. Although there were many more people, they didn't need many tents—they didn't need to sleep at all."

Talulah tells Baiye all the strange things the Reunion Movement discovered about the players.

They were the first people on this land to have close and prolonged contact with players, and therefore, they were also the first Terran natives to notice that something was wrong with the players.

Bai Ye knew that the players' special abilities couldn't be hidden, so he explained, "Because they are a completely new race, that's their power."

“…” Talulah didn’t speak; she simply turned her head and stared into Bai Ye’s eyes.

After a long pause, the girl suddenly smiled, her eyes narrowing: "Although I always feel that you're hiding something, I believe you."

"You misunderstand. It's only because our interests and goals happen to align that we're able to walk the same path."

"Ah, right, right, right." Talulah was already used to Bai Ye's stubbornness.

"How's the publicity going?" Bai Ye subconsciously changed the subject.

Bai Ye has never considered players as friends; they may turn against him at any time. The way to reduce this possibility is to increase their sense of belonging and offer them sufficient benefits.

Bai Ye's proposed method is to target both groups with advertising.

Internally, we need to do a good job of ideological work among the infected, especially regarding the hidden landmine of Talulah's identity. At the same time, we must avoid deliberately creating antagonism in our relationship with the infected and ordinary people.

We need to figure out who the real enemy is.

For players, it is necessary to consider the character design and combine it with the background story to give them a grand epic feeling of being in a great cause and the trend of the times.

A frail young girl who rises up against her adoptive father and the oppressors of the entire Ursus Empire for the sake of the Infected...

Coupled with a tragic background and a deep-seated grudge, as well as the classic "filial piety" trope, it's enough to attract players.

This is the character design that Bai Ye presents.

"I'd say it was a success?"

Talulah's expression became somewhat subtle: "These stories...they feel like lies..."

"It's just a bit exaggerated, using Victorian opera-style techniques, but it's not exactly deception." Bai Ye opened the forum and found that there was more and more discussion about the Reunion Movement.

"Eh?"

Bai Ye suddenly noticed something interesting: "Why is Frostnova more popular than you?"

Yes, it seems that more players prefer the character "Frostnova" to Talulah.

Talulah ranked second in popularity.

The third one is Little Deer Girl.

Then came the eldest father.

Although his popularity is far less than the top three, he has attracted a large number of loyal fans with his strong abilities and reliable composure.

"It seems to be quite successful..." Bai Ye had been paying attention to the Lungmen area before, but he didn't expect the Reunion Movement's publicity work here to be so successful.

"You guys might as well form a group and debut as an idol..." Bai Ye couldn't help but complain.

He believes that these things will soon be spread across the world's channels.

“How should I know why…” Talulah didn’t seem like a composed leader at the moment, but rather like an ordinary girl. She puffed out her cheeks, somewhat dissatisfied, “That guy who plays with ice is more popular than me, even though he’s so cold.”

“I’ve been following your advice and walking around the campsite frequently…”

"Sometimes he would even deliberately fight Yelena in front of them..."

"Still talking to himself like an idiot..."

"The effect is not as good as Yelena just standing there."

Bai Ye suddenly understood.

Who wouldn't like a girl with no money, no status, and no job?

And she's a bunny-eared girl.

Although cold and aloof, she possesses a cool ability to manipulate cold air and freeze things.

A cold and aloof demeanor can keep people at arm's length.

That's so cool!

It's normal that she's more popular than Talulah.

This is almost no different from my previous life.

Interestingly, in her previous life, after Sister Tako was possessed by the Black Serpent and turned evil, her popularity far surpassed that of Miss Frostnova.

Her long black dress, haughty posture, disdainful eyes, and the villain's unique sinister charm led many players to choose to defect to the enemy.

As expected, the black snake still has the greatest charm.

If he gets cocky, Talulah won't stand a chance.

How about we wait until we get rid of the black snake and then find a way to have Talulah cosplay as the black snake in her form?

Seems quite interesting?

As Bai Ye was lost in thought, Talulah suddenly called out to him, "No, Bai Ye, you're wrong about something..." Talulah shook her head, "Actually, you're the most popular."

"??"

Bai Ye blinked, somewhat confused.

“Actually, those weirdos seem to think of you as a member of the Reunion Movement as well,” Talulah said, pointing to the area around the camp.

"As soon as you arrived, they all ran over there."

"..." Bai Ye thought it might be because he was more useful?

After all, he can provide equipment for sale and teach skills...

However, he soon saw himself on a game forum.

"The most mysterious executive of the Reunion Movement, and a close collaborator with Talulah..."

What are all these things...?

Perhaps it was because of Baiye's actions that some players misunderstood him. They believed that Baiye chose to take a roundabout way to save the Reunion Movement, leaving Team Five to join another company, and then returning like lightning after acquiring resources.

"I've clearly stated that I'm the founder of Northern Cross and Namba Heavy Industries, and a regular department head at Rhodes Island. Why are the players making wild guesses?"

Bai Ye was speechless at the various clues and deductions about his identity that the players had gathered.

“Thank you again this time.” Talulah suddenly turned around and looked at Bai Ye standing in front of her.

"I'm just abiding by the contract we made. I hope I can get what I want later." Bai Ye closed the game system panel.

"What you want? Originium mines? Cities of the Ursus Empire? Even Victoria? I don't really care about any of that. All I want to do is realize my ideals, make this land a better place, and prove that old man wrong."

"Without your strength, I wouldn't be able to go on this path, which is why I'm grateful to you."

Talulah looked intently at Bai Ye and said softly.

“Perhaps I have a little bit of the same thought as you. After all, this land is unfair to the infected. There are clearly bigger crises and enemies on the outside, but they are fighting amongst themselves here. It’s really stupid.” Bai Ye scratched his face lightly.

"As expected, you understand me." Talulah patted Baiye on the shoulder with delight.

She was happy to have so many companions and reliable elders.

Chapter 121 What's meant to happen will happen.

Bai Ye and Talulah sat by the fireplace.

Bai Ye gained a lot from this trip to Lungmen, and he felt that Talulah also had the right to know these things.

Looking at the Draco girl holding a cup and drinking the hot cocoa he had brought back, Bai Ye suddenly said, "I've shown your letter to Lao Wei."

Since there was no one else around, Bai Ye addressed Wei Yanwu as "Commander" in a somewhat casual tone.

"Well, and then, what did he say?"

Talulah didn't care.

For her, not hating Wei Yanwu, who killed her own father, was the limit.

No, she still hasn't figured out what she's really thinking.

"I had dinner at his home, a family dinner. Besides Wei Yanwu, only Madam Wenyue and Chen Huijie were there."

Bai Ye's tone was very calm.

There was no personal emotion mixed in; it was as if I were describing something that had nothing to do with me.

Talulah's expression remained unchanged. She lowered her eyes to look at the fireplace beside her, the firelight dancing in her eyes.

“He talked about a lot of things… I think it’s necessary for you to know as well.”

Bai Ye then recounted what Wei Yanwu had told him about the truth of what happened back then.

He had a good memory, so he repeated Wei Yanwu's words almost verbatim.

Talulah listened from the side, her face expressionless and her eyes lowered. Bai Ye had no idea what she was thinking.

After recounting the entire grudge between Old Wei and the Black Snake, as well as the truth behind his killing of Edward, Bai Ye said softly, "I'm not a lobbyist, nor was I sent to plead for that man—although he did look quite pitiful back then. However, I'm certain that Wei Yanwu wasn't lying. I think perhaps that Black Snake deceived you."

“He deliberately concealed the truth, and I think we must expose any of his lies about this enemy.”

After saying this, Bai Ye didn't say anything more, but sat quietly to the side.

"..."

Talulah sat by the fireplace, remaining silent for a long time.

Bai Ye could see that her hands were clenched together, and her knuckles were white from the force, clearly indicating that her inner state was not as calm as it appeared.

Then Talulah spoke up. Her first question wasn't directed at Black Serpent or Wei Yanwu, but at someone Bai Ye hadn't expected: "Wen Yue... Aunt, is she alright?"

"Well, how should I put it? Lady Wenyue seems to be in good health, but after she found out you were in the Ursus Frozen Wasteland, she started knitting a sweater. I should be able to bring it to you next time I go back."

"...Actually, my Originium Arts won't freeze me at all..." Talulah pursed her lips and muttered to herself, but an awkward expression appeared on her face.

"You cried?"

No, you must have seen wrong.

Talulah turned her back and rubbed her eyes, then explained, "Because I've never had parents since I was little, Aunt Wen Yue is practically like a mother to me. Over the years, her existence and Chen Huijie's existence have always reminded me that I have a home I can never return to..."

"It's cunning, isn't it? They keep saying that they're no different from the infected brothers, but at least I still have a family and relatives—so I always don't want to think about it, because I feel a sense of guilt."

Talulah sighed as she spoke.

Bai Ye didn't know what to say.

Home was something utterly foreign to him.