Reincarnation NPC, but Arknights

Skadi leaned closer, her pointed hat poking onto Bai Ye's head, her bright chest obscuring Bai Ye's vision.

Bai Ye subconsciously reached out and pushed it away, slightly disgusted.

……

The orca remained completely still...

It's just embarrassing.

However, Skadi quickly realized the problem and stepped slightly to the side.

"Next, what we need to do is find people."

Bai Ye's fingers traced the well-made waterproof map, his fingertips brushing over villages, land, hills, mines... The short distance his fingertips moved actually traversed an incomparably vast expanse of frigid tundra.

One of the goals of this trip has been achieved, but the next few are proving to be more difficult.

First, he needs to find a person named Talulah, who is both Chen Huijie's sister and the final boss of the first and second versions. Although Talulah became a green-named NPC in later versions, many questions still remain.

Bai Ye knew that in his previous life, there was a group of players who formed a gaming community called Valletta. They weren't good at combat, but they were passionate about speculating, researching, and analyzing the plot, characters, world view, and deep settings of Arknights Online.

Although their work was quite successful, they encountered difficulties when refining the first and second versions of the story.

First, in the early stages of the game, the Valletta Society had not yet been established, and the story-driven players lacked a plan, relying instead on their own interests and intuition for research. Furthermore, these players were initially weak in combat and received no support from other players, making it difficult to obtain crucial information.

Therefore, due to a lack of information, the early versions of the game's story have become a kind of unpredictable dark history. Some Valletta Society players who are dedicated to finding the early story jokingly call themselves archaeology experts...

In an effort to uncover the early storylines, story enthusiasts even joined the Reunion Movement. However, those infected individuals from that time had already suffered heavy casualties, making it difficult to find any NPCs who actually experienced all the events.

As for the "story-driven" boss battle on the tower, which only a few skilled players are qualified to participate in, it has been studied repeatedly by story enthusiasts. Whether it is the dialogue of the NPCs or Talulah's performance in the battle, it has been analyzed frame by frame.

They even used Talulah's lines and actions in the dungeon as a reference and for comparison.

They actually made a name for themselves with their research. The Valletta Institute became famous overnight, and their "possession" theory became the most convincing plot hypothesis.

However, the Society was not satisfied with this. They established a permanent department to carry out archaeological work, and even in the sixth version, they were still working hard on archaeology.

Bai Ye believed that if they could get in touch with Chen Huijie, Talulah, Amiya, or even Dr. Kal'tsit, this group would dare to interview and inquire.

Actually, in his previous life, Bai Ye wasn't interested in the plot at all. These things couldn't increase his skill level or help him quickly kill bosses, so they were meaningless to him.

He just wanted to kill indiscriminately, level up, and then continue killing indiscriminately.

However, he later discovered that some bosses could be weakened by using clues provided in the storyline. He realized that mastering a game involves more than just knowing the monster's moves, weaknesses, and fighting style; there are also many hidden settings.

As a complete novice gamer who rose to prominence solely through talent, he had to learn all of this within the game. Through these experiences, he gradually grew into a veteran player.

After he traveled through time, the plot became even more important, because the plot represented foresight and precognition. Even if things might change due to unforeseen circumstances, he could perceive the trends.

“This is an opportunity…we have a chance to actually see Talulah, and it’s time to test the Valletta Institute’s hypothesis.”

Of course, Bai Ye's plans don't stop there. Meeting the final boss of the story level ahead of time is also an opportunity for him to find ways to gather players. After all, his main role is an NPC, and to grow stronger, he naturally needs to rely on players; his plans are inseparable from them.

He needs to complete the setup before players officially log in, so that he can gather enough players after a large number of players log in.

……

"It's very difficult to find people in the vast frozen ground, especially a group of infected people who deliberately hide in the east and west with the guerrillas, avoiding the regular army."

"But we know their objective, and we also know how they obtain supplies..."

Bai Ye found Chernobog on the terminal because this mobile city has its own fixed flight path, and its real-time location is not displayed on paper maps.

"let's go."

Bai Ye drew a circle on the map.

The inventory contains fuel needed for the vehicle; the snowstorm will obscure their journey. Bai Ye believes he can find the person he is looking for.

Chapter Twenty-Six: The Garbage Collector's Romance

Skadi sat in the passenger seat, watching White Night drive beside her.

You can't expect a female orca from the deep sea to drive a land vehicle. She's not good at that kind of job.

Therefore, driving is done during the day and night.

Bai Ye was thankful that she had learned how to drive ground vehicles in a game in her previous life—to be honest, this skill wasn't very useful in reality. After all, self-driving technology was already quite mature, and there weren't many people driving themselves anymore.

Unexpectedly, this skill came in handy after I traveled through time.

"Bai Ye, are you very familiar with the snowfield?"

The girl watched with great interest as Bai Ye drove his vehicle across the frozen ground, bypassing the outposts set up by the patrol team and passing through the gaps between villages, unnoticed by anyone.

They easily evaded the spies of the Fourth Army.

For Skadi, this maneuver was nothing short of magic; the roaring Originium engine of the off-road vehicle left no trace on the snowfield.

"It's alright." Bai Ye had indeed been here in his previous life, but he had only been to a few places. This place was too desolate. When he came, the treasure had already been almost completely searched by other players. Apart from the mine, there were no other resources, and there was almost nothing worth searching for.

Besides the remains of the mobile city.

In order to build their own mobile city, players travel to the frozen northwestern lands to find the ruins of mobile city-states left behind by the Ursus Empire's demolition plan years ago.

Most cities have become empty shells, with everything usable demolished. However, some cities have retained basic functions, and some even have intact city-level Originium Engine systems.

That is the heart that can support a block moving across the land.

The players took everything—empty shells, engines, anything they could see. Even the discarded junk that was reduced to mere frames—the players didn't leave it behind.

After all, every player is a born junk collector; they are passionate about and adept at scavenging resources from all sorts of strange and unusual places.

Then there are the Squirrel Party, who hoard even the most useless low-level materials and are reluctant to use consumables, leaving them in warehouses. They are naturally unwilling to give up these useless city frameworks that are considered "garbage."

Wherever they went, not a single hair was left. The Ursus Empire was happy to see these useless resources being dealt with seriously by the players, as they could exchange them for a considerable sum of money to replenish their increasingly depleted treasury.

Ultimately, all this "junk" became part of the player's main city, "Arcadia." It was a mobile city composed of four interconnected city blocks, entirely belonging to the player.

"Arcadia" means "ideal land" and is also a tribute to and commemoration of the legendary game "Arcadia Gate".

Bai Ye had also come to the Frozen Wasteland to scavenge for trash before. This task was jointly issued by all the major player guilds, with a huge bounty. This was also the first time that all normal gamers had completely stood together to build their home. Anyone who attempted to stop or sabotage this plan would be hunted down by all players, to the death.

Even the notorious red-name player guild "Smiling Coffin" didn't cause any trouble. It's said that their leader attempted to organize a "guild operation," but was hunted down by his subordinates and forced to quit the game. Even their real-life address was exposed.

Simply outrageous.

Recalling that source of pride for all the players, Bai Ye couldn't help but smile.

Yes, even though he is no longer one of the players.

Skadi couldn't understand the smile on Bai Ye's face, nor could she understand how Bai Ye could move freely across the snowfields and frozen ground. She also couldn't understand how Bai Ye could exchange food for five people for enough fuel to fill the fuel tank.

However, it's really great not having to think about these things. Bai Ye can cut down whatever he wants without having to think about it himself—Skadi is quite good at this kind of thing.

"Won't you find it boring?"

As Bai Ye spoke, he turned the steering wheel to avoid a treacherous snow pit; if the vehicle got stuck, it might not be able to get out.

The only way to get out of the pit is for orcas to help pull us out.

Skadi shook her head: "It's too easy. There are no giant tentacles that will snatch away teammates, and no crazy enemies crouching in the corner with blood on their hands... It couldn't be simpler to just sit in the car like this."

Skadi is haunted by these past events.

"It's okay, it doesn't matter if I'm bored."

As Bai Ye spoke, he turned on the Ursus communication terminal receiver, which could receive various channels from the snowfield when the weather was clear.

Messengers of natural disasters, merchants, members of the Fourth Army, members of the infected picket line, and even infected individuals making secret contacts.

"Let me think... Hmm, it's this channel."

Bai Ye casually dialed a general channel on the terminal receiver.

The faint radio signals spread across the permafrost and were transmitted through base stations in various mines and villages.

"The disciplinary team has made another unusual move; it seems we are getting closer."

Bai Ye switched to a caravan channel and subsequently confirmed his guess.

The Infected Patrol is the eyes and ears of the Ursus violence machine. They search for the whereabouts of the Infected and the increasingly powerful Infected guerrilla force across the vast frozen land.

The guerrilla force, which was originally small in number, seems to have grown stronger and larger.

But this also means that it is becoming increasingly easier for the Fourth Army to find them.

However, this squad of five was never destroyed. In fact, in the previous game, they made their way to Chernobog and, with an almost one-sided force, overwhelmed the defending military and police forces and occupied this important Ursus city.

"Quite interesting."

Bai Ye glanced at the remaining fuel and stepped on the gas.

He had a feeling that it wouldn't be long before he found the answer he was looking for.

……

Two more days passed.

Bai Ye refueled the vehicle once again.

After resting once, they packed up their camp tents in the early morning and continued their journey.

During the drive, Bai Ye suddenly opened the car window.

The biting cold wind, mixed with snowflakes, poured into the carriage.

Skadi merely turned her head to glance at Bai Ye with some curiosity, but did not question this approach.

After all, given Ms. Orca's constitution, such a low temperature is like skin covered in Tiger Balm being blown by an air conditioner. Although it may be a little irritating, and even quite exciting for sensitive areas, it's nothing more than that and won't cause much harm.

As for White Night?

Although his physical attributes and strength are not as good as Skadi's, he is no longer an ordinary person. Moreover, his Originium Arts can create an insulating vacuum layer and generate heat through friction, so wind and snow are no problem for him.

He vaguely sensed what was happening around him through the wind in his ears.

"We've arrived." Having grasped the power of the wind, Bai Ye could, in a sense, be called a god.

The weakest god.

Chapter Twenty-Seven: The Little Deer

Year 1095 of the Terran calendar.

There is still one year until the Chernobog incident.

The eve of the player's arrival.

Perhaps for the entire continent of Terra, this insignificant act of violence that occurred on the frozen northwestern Ursus will not affect the situation on this land.

However, it did, in a sense, advance the plans of an evil god.

It also represents the beginning of a series of tragedies and sufferings.

Of course, it is not correct to attribute all of this to an atrocity, but in terms of general reason, its occurrence is indeed exactly what the evil god wanted.

However... it seems a strange wind is blowing all of this toward some unpredictable future.

At this moment, the world also slid in an indescribable and bizarre direction.

……

"Damn it, they didn't even leave us a single grain of food. They're deliberately trying to send us to our deaths."

"Ha, Talulah is all talk and no action. 'Give them a week's worth of rations,' she knows those big guys won't agree."

"What should we do next? We've reached a dead end."

"*Ursus profanity*, didn't we already know what to do? We've already learned how to use violence. I don't understand Talulah's theories, but at least she taught us how to wield power."

This is a group of infected people who were expelled by the Reunion Movement. They betrayed their comrades and attempted to seize the food warehouse and then escape from Team Five.

After being captured, Talulah opposed the Shield Guard's decision to execute the rebels and instead chose to exile the mob.

On their journey, they encountered a young girl traveling alone with fruits, vegetables, and food. Using survival as a pretext, they chose to prey on the defenseless girl.

They didn't even ask for it.

They didn't know that if they asked, the girl would definitely give them food.

But their nature has been corrupted and turned evil; they only believe that others carry this malice just like them.

They are unwilling to believe in kindness and virtue.