ATIGIBTC Chapter 38

«Who doesn’t like military uniforms?»

He Fang carefully examined the in-game event statistics before entering the game. As expected, the most active areas were the Armed Forces Department and the Research Institute.

The Research Institute was bustling with activity, as they had just acquired new data for research. Although He Fang hadn’t directly shared his own experiences, the data and recordings from the aircraft had likely been fully preserved. Furthermore, he had intentionally saved a small section of the Revival Nightmare Plants’ map from the Nightmare Beast Forest, which should provide plenty of useful information.

He Fang took another look at the national treasury. He had to admit that even a mere three-percent increase had significantly eased the financial strain on his city. Previously, he had been reluctant to impose high taxes on residents, which had slowed the city’s development. But now, with the residents’ happiness level unaffected, perhaps he could afford to be less restrained in his decisions next time.

When He Fang entered the game, he found himself next to an aircraft at the Weapon Development Facility. However, the aircraft, which he had thought was well-designed, had already been dismantled. It seemed to be undergoing a more precise reconstruction.

He Fang didn’t understand the technical details. The game wouldn’t provide detailed instructions on how to build a perfect aircraft anyway. After all, if the developers could explain the process that thoroughly, why make a game? Wouldn’t they be better off working for the government and researching real aircraft?

Glancing at the people around him, He Fang opened his map to search for Zhu Yan’s location. However, he suddenly noticed an unexpected change, causing him to narrow his eyes in confusion.

Was he seeing things?

The map seemed to have expanded.

He zoomed in on the map’s border. The Nightmare Beast Forest, which was supposed to be completely blacked out, now had a transparent section!

His eyes widened. After repeatedly checking, he confirmed with absolute certainty that this wasn’t a bug or an illusion. The map had indeed expanded. The irregularly shaped area matched the path he had taken inside the Nightmare Beast Forest!

Unbelievable!

So, as long as he personally ventured into the Nightmare Beast Forest, witnessed it firsthand, and mapped out the terrain, the game would unlock that portion of the map?

When he had opened the map inside the forest, all he had seen was darkness. But now that he was out, the area was fully revealed!

Overjoyed, He Fang immediately began formulating numerous ideas to test this discovery. He couldn’t wait to find Zhu Yan.

Due to the ingrained logic of gaming, He Fang knew that NPCs in a given scene usually didn’t move around. For example, the only interactive NPC in a blacksmith shop would typically be the shopkeeper at the counter, while other blacksmiths were likely just background characters. Although technically, any NPC in the game could be spoken to, the only one He Fang truly trusted was Zhu Yan.

Besides, Zhu Yan currently had a mission that He Fang wanted!

He marked Zhu Yan’s location—he[mfn]ZY[/mfn] was at the Research Institute, while he[mfn]HF[/mfn] was at the Weapon Development Facility. There was still some distance between them.

As he stepped out of the Weapon Development Facility, he suddenly turned to glance at the Armed Forces Department nearby.

He had just seen in the event statistics that the first batch of soldiers had been selected and had begun training. Initially, their wages were quite low. He Fang had worried that low salaries might discourage high-attribute NPCs from joining.

Standing at the entrance of the Armed Forces Department, he heard the deep, resounding voices of soldiers engaged in training.

He Fang paused, staring at the towering walls. For a moment, it truly felt as if he were witnessing a real military base.

Step by step, he approached the entrance. The soldier on duty at the gate immediately saluted him.

He Fang stared at the soldier—his features were sharp, his skin a healthy bronze, and despite the scorching heat, he stood tall and unwavering, his posture perfect. Sweat glistened on his skin, but his expression remained stern and disciplined, giving He Fang an inexplicable sense of respect.

Had he only slept for a few days? How had the military already become so well-organized?

He Fang examined the soldier’s attributes and was impressed. Not only were his combat stats exceptional, but his loyalty was also remarkably high—one of the highest He Fang had seen.

It was far superior to Chong Xiao’s loyalty.

A three-digit loyalty score—He Fang had only ever seen numbers that high in kindergarten children’s attributes before!

Curious, he peeked into the training grounds—and immediately sucked in a sharp breath.

As a boy who wasn’t particularly fond of exercise, He Fang had at least imagined himself becoming a muscular soldier, wielding weapons and dominating the battlefield—thanks to the countless hero movies he had watched.

But he knew that this dream could only be realized in a game. He had never been to a real Armed Forces Department, and the current in-game model was just a building template he had taken from the internet.

Seeing real military training up close, He Fang couldn’t help but widen his eyes. A group of young men, clad in neatly uniformed military attire, stood in perfect formation, their postures identical as if they had been copy-pasted. The NPCs in his city were already exceptionally good-looking, but the military uniforms further enhanced their righteous and disciplined aura.

The design of the uniform was quite form-fitting, likely for ease of movement. He Fang blinked a few times, frowning slightly.

Why did these uniforms seem somewhat familiar?

Thinking back, when he saw Chong Xiao wearing this uniform, he had also felt a vague sense of familiarity. However, back then, he had been too preoccupied with escaping the Nightmare Beast Forest to dwell on it. Now that he had the time to really look, something about this just didn’t sit right.

Why did it look so familiar?

“City Lord!”

A strong, youthful voice suddenly snapped He Fang out of his thoughts. He turned around and saw Yuan Zhiran, whose face was breathtakingly exquisite. Dressed in a perfectly crisp military uniform, Yuan Zhiran looked incredibly sharp. However, compared to the other soldiers in training, he appeared a bit thinner.

And somehow… He Fang felt that Yuan Zhiran, with his overly beautiful face, looked strangely… seductive in that uniform?

“…Yuan Zhiran.” He Fang nodded. He never quite knew how to interact with this rigid and serious young man.

“Are you here for a surprise inspection of our military training today?” Yuan Zhiran asked.

He Fang hesitated for a moment. “Ah… uh, yes.”

“City Lord, please come in.” Yuan Zhiran immediately pulled open the gates of the Armed Forces Department.

He Fang blinked in surprise. Was anyone allowed to just walk into the Armed Forces Department? Did this game not have any restricted areas?

Now inside, He Fang got a close-up view of the soldiers in training. Their morale was high, their gazes sharp and determined—there was no sign of exhaustion or struggle.

Leading the training was a military officer He Fang didn’t recognize. The man’s voice was loud and commanding, each order delivered with such power and precision that it made people instinctively obey.

Soldiers really were cool, He Fang couldn’t help but think.

He randomly selected a few soldiers and opened their attribute panels. While there were slight variations, the overall stats were impressive—solid across the board.

Compared to Chong Xiao’s all-around strength and Chong Ying’s specialized skillset, these soldiers were more balanced.

“Where are Chong Xiao and Chong Ying?” He Fang looked around, but neither of the two brothers was anywhere to be seen in the training grounds.

“Chong Xiao is researching close-combat techniques better suited for soldiers, while Chong Ying is overseeing the renovation of the long-range weapon at the weapon development facility,” Yuan Zhiran answered.

He Fang thought about real-world soldiers—close-combat training was indeed a significant part of their regimen. After all, not everyone had the same freakish physique as Chong Xiao, so adjusting the difficulty level was necessary.

As for Chong Ying, he was more suited to long-range combat. Once the research institute developed more advanced weaponry, his role would only become more vital. Deep down, He Fang always believed that ranged units had greater tactical advantages than melee fighters.

Looking at it now, assigning the two brothers to Yuan Zhiran was a much better fit than placing them in the police department.

“This is the dormitory,” Yuan Zhiran introduced.

“Wait—shouldn’t we avoid opening people’s dorm rooms without permission?” He Fang tried to stop him, but his attempt failed. Yuan Zhiran had already pushed open the door, which wasn’t even locked.

Inside was an impeccably clean dormitory, completely devoid of clutter. He Fang was momentarily stunned.

It was a perfect replica of a modern military barracks—the neatly spread-out bedsheets, the blankets folded into crisp, cube-like shapes.

His expression turned strange.

He was pretty sure he had never specified such details when designing the city.

Was this a preset within the game? Had the developers anticipated that players would establish a military and preemptively programmed detailed military protocols into the system?

He Fang pointed at the folded blankets. “Why do they have to be folded like this?”

“The military is the symbol of a city’s defense. Discipline must be strict. Perfect organization, both internally and externally, enhances deterrence against enemies. It also distinguishes soldiers from ordinary civilians, instilling a stronger sense of honor and duty in those who enlist. Therefore, we must strive for perfection in every aspect,” Yuan Zhiran stated firmly, word for word.

He Fang’s expression turned even more complicated.

This guy sounded exactly like a freshly graduated university student reciting textbook principles.

Thinking about the police department under Qi Jingwei’s leadership—although they looked cool, they weren’t nearly as rigidly structured as this. Was this the difference between the two?

He Fang never quite knew how to handle people like Yuan Zhiran.

He always reminded him of those elementary school kids who were in charge of collecting homework—intimidating and relentless.

“This is the dining hall,” Yuan Zhiran continued, leading He Fang inside.

The dining hall was so neatly arranged that it looked like a background texture in a game—so pristine that it felt unnatural.

Trying to maintain the posture of a dignified leader, He Fang asked, “How’s the food?”

“Here is this week’s meal schedule,” Yuan Zhiran pointed at a neatly organized chart.

He Fang followed his gaze and… wow.

The meals were well-balanced, with a mix of vegetables and meat—nutritious and varied.

Yuan Zhiran, standing beside him, solemnly assured, “A proper diet is crucial for improving physical fitness. Nutritional replenishment after training is equally important. Under City Lord’s leadership, we have sufficient food to maintain the strength of our armed forces. We deeply appreciate your dedication to the Armed Forces Department.”

He Fang averted his gaze, his face blank.

Even though every word Yuan Zhiran said sounded like flattery, his tone was entirely serious, devoid of any humor or sarcasm.

A chill ran down He Fang’s spine.

This guy was genuinely, wholeheartedly praising him.

The pressure was immense. What should he do?

With a stiff expression, He Fang followed Yuan Zhiran toward the next location. However, something suddenly caught his attention.

Because Yuan Zhiran had been wearing his military cap the entire time, He Fang hadn’t noticed at first.

“Yuan Zhiran,” He Fang called out.

“Yes, City Lord.” Yuan Zhiran immediately straightened and saluted.

He Fang carefully studied the young man, scrutinizing him in detail… very closely…

“Yuan Zhiran, did you cut your hair?”

He distinctly remembered that the last time he saw Yuan Zhiran, the boy had soft, slightly long hair that looked refreshingly cute.

But now… it was gone?

“Yes, City Lord.” Yuan Zhiran removed his cap, allowing He Fang to see more clearly.

Right before his eyes, the once beautiful, soft hair was now completely shaved into a close-cropped military cut. Because Yuan Zhiran’s hair was naturally soft, it didn’t stand upright but instead drooped quietly, creating a jarring contrast.

He Fang: “…”

Yuan Zhiran was undeniably stunning—so much so that even a buzz cut couldn’t diminish his beauty. But He Fang simply couldn’t comprehend it.

In the real world, this kind of breathtakingly handsome young man would have fans everywhere, yet he had ruthlessly chopped off his hair?

What a waste!

Perhaps sensing He Fang’s complex emotions, Yuan Zhiran calmly explained, “Hair is an inconvenience during training and difficult to maintain. We need to dedicate more time than ordinary people to honing our skills and getting proper rest. Once we choose this path of protecting the city, we must embrace the spirit of self-sacrifice.”

He Fang’s eyes widened.

All he wanted was a justice-driven, highly adaptable Armed Forces Minister with fresh ideas.

He never intended to cultivate a regiment of iron-blooded soldiers!

“Did you take a vote? Did you ask the regular soldiers if they were willing?” He Fang asked cautiously. If possible, he wanted his city to be a place of freedom and voluntary choices.

“Everyone who was selected and joined the military did so with the full understanding of its hardships. We will become the city’s pride and must shoulder greater responsibilities than ordinary citizens.”

Yuan Zhiran’s exquisite features were tinged with unwavering determination, radiating an almost blinding sense of righteousness. The spirit of a true soldier shone brilliantly in him.

He Fang was momentarily at a loss for words—until a sudden realization struck him.

“Wait… Don’t tell me that Chong Xiao and Chong Ying’s hair…”

He distinctly remembered that those two brothers’ hairstyles were nowhere near Yuan Zhiran’s current standard.

“As officers of the Armed Forces Department, they must set an example,” Yuan Zhiran stated matter-of-factly.

He Fang’s face was filled with disbelief. He swallowed hard. “C-cut… they cut it?”

“Yes, City Lord,” Yuan Zhiran replied with absolute certainty.

He Fang felt his vision go dark.

His strongest close-combat NPC, whose slightly messy hair under his cap had always added to his intimidating aura…

And Chong Ying—he was still just an eighteen-year-old kid! A boy who loved to wear pink dress shirts under his black police uniform!

That fashion-conscious teenager had actually cut his hair?!

He Fang opened his mouth, then closed it. He wanted to say something but stopped. In the end, he fell silent, his gaze unfocused.

After touring the entire Armed Forces Department, He Fang’s mind was filled with two words: “uniformity” and “textured graphics”.

He was now 100% certain that the game developers had written modern military customs and habits directly into the game, leading to this highly structured situation.

“City Lord, do you think there’s anything we need to improve?” Yuan Zhiran turned back, asking He Fang seriously and earnestly.

He Fang scratched his cheek and glanced at Yuan Zhiran a few times. The young man was utterly sincere.

Honestly, there was nothing bad about a modernized military. The level of discipline and orderliness they had achieved had already exceeded He Fang’s expectations.

In the end, He Fang decided to give some praise. “I think everything looks great. By the way, who designed your military uniforms? They look kind of familiar… and pretty stylish.”

A faint smile appeared on Yuan Zhiran’s face. “They were modified from the military uniform portraits you stored in the museum, City Lord.”

He Fang: “…”

He Fang: “Ah…”

At that moment, everything clicked.

No wonder they looked familiar—weren’t those the very designs he used to love drawing back in high school?!

Back then, he thought military uniforms were incredibly cool and drew tons of handsome men and beautiful women wearing them. But those outfits had little resemblance to real military uniforms—he had sketched them entirely based on his personal preferences!

And since he had drawn them casually, there was no way he had followed any actual standards. He had even added a lot of little personal quirks he was into at the time!

His face turned red inch by inch, his head burning with embarrassment.

No wonder he thought they looked stylish—these designs were literally his old aesthetic!

No wonder he found them… sexy. The whole purpose behind those designs was to enhance their sex appeal!

Just what kind of things had he put in that museum?!

First, it was Min Zhizhou’s armor, and now this—what else had he mindlessly scanned into the game? If he dared step foot in that museum now, it would be like walking into a massive, real-life cringe exhibition of his past self. He might as well just cease to exist!

“City Lord, your military uniform designs perfectly balance practicality and aesthetics. They’re especially popular among the female soldiers. You truly are a genius in every aspect.”

Yuan Zhiran praised him with the utmost sincerity. His exquisite eyes held no trace of flattery—he was completely serious.

And that was precisely what made He Fang want to die from embarrassment.

“Alright, alright, I think you guys are developing just fine. Enough already…” He Fang covered his face.

Even compliments couldn’t change the fact that this was a colossal social-death moment. He had been an adult for years—how was he still suffering from past cringe?!

“Understood, City Lord. If you dislike this topic, I won’t bring it up again,” Yuan Zhiran replied with his usual seriousness.

But his straightforward, matter-of-fact response only made He Fang feel even more like he was trying to cover up a crime.

Yuan Zhiran obediently fell silent, but the complete composure in his expression made He Fang feel like he was sitting on pins and needles.

“Ahem, um… can you arrange a vehicle for me? I need to go to the research institute.”

“Understood, City Lord,” Yuan Zhiran responded. “May I ask where exactly you’re headed?”

“The research institute. I need to see Zhu Yan,” He Fang replied directly.

However, after speaking, he realized that Yuan Zhiran hadn’t answered right away.

Lifting his gaze, He Fang noticed something strange.

That pair of strikingly beautiful eyes… seemed to be hiding something dark beneath their surface.

“What’s wrong?” He Fang asked.

“Please wait a moment, City Lord. I will bring the car around.”

When Yuan Zhiran pulled up in a military vehicle, He Fang was momentarily stunned.

The military already had cars now?

It seemed Lu Hu had allocated ample funds here.

That lady really knew how to manage finances—she clearly understood how to budget efficiently.

Looking at the military vehicle in front of him, He Fang suddenly remembered something.

“Oh, right, Yuan Zhiran. Last time, when I returned from my test flight, I saw a long line of vehicles lined up on the outskirts of the city. What was that about?”

There were so many different types of vehicles gathered together—it had been quite a striking sight.

However, the ever-serious Yuan Zhiran suddenly showed a completely different expression.

He Fang widened his eyes in surprise and stared closely at Yuan Zhiran.

If he wasn’t mistaken… that expression was embarrassment?

“It was… a vehicle gathering event…” Yuan Zhiran replied in a small voice.

He Fang didn’t quite understand.

Why would Yuan Zhiran look so awkward over something as simple as a vehicle meet-up?

Was it a car exhibition? A racing event?

Neither of those seemed like anything to be embarrassed about.

He Fang wanted to ask further, but Yuan Zhiran’s shifting gaze clearly showed his reluctance to continue the conversation.

Deciding to suppress his curiosity, He Fang dropped the subject.

He didn’t know what was going on, but for some reason, Yuan Zhiran’s current expression looked exactly like his own when he was experiencing secondhand embarrassment.

He was already drowning in social-death moments—if possible, he wished such things didn’t exist in this world at all.

He covered his face and sighed.

He Fang never thought he’d one day be riding in a military vehicle.

As an ordinary civilian in real life, sitting in a military vehicle probably meant something bad had happened. But in the game, he could sit in the passenger seat with the dignity of a true leader.

When reality was disappointing, playing games was the way to go.

In the game, he had everything he could ask for.

Looking through the car window, He Fang saw that farmers had already started planting crops in the newly designated farmland areas.

Since the population hadn’t surged yet, food prices would likely drop for a while.

His expansion of the livestock industry had also begun operations. Everything seemed to be running smoothly.

Life was thriving.

Sometimes, He Fang wondered—

Now that tax revenue has stabilized, would it really be so bad to stop expanding and just settle down within their current borders?

Even if they didn’t break through the Nightmare Beast Forest, they could still live comfortably.

But at the same time, wouldn’t that take away the thrill of exploration?

Wouldn’t it be a waste of the ultra-expensive simulation pod he had acquired?

Breaking his train of thought, He Fang suddenly asked Yuan Zhiran, “What do you think about my idea of territorial expansion?”

Yuan Zhiran answered without hesitation, “It is because the City Lord has a heart for the people of the world—because you sympathize with those suffering beyond our borders and wish to provide our own citizens with a richer, better life. The weak are always at the mercy of the strong. Though we may currently enjoy peace, this is an era of chaos. If we ignore the dangers outside, we will inevitably be the ones threatened in the future. I am certain that your vision for expansion is far deeper than this, but for me, just these reasons alone are enough to follow you without question.”

Listening to Yuan Zhiran’s every serious and carefully considered word, He Fang felt a little guilty.

Covering his face again, he turned to look out the window.

He really wasn’t as noble as Yuan Zhiran made him out to be.

He just wanted to play the game well, that’s all.

But there was one thing Yuan Zhiran wasn’t wrong about—He Fang did want to protect his city, and that desire came from the heart.

At least in that sense, he wasn’t letting the NPCs down.

Faced with such a devoted, almost fan-like NPC, He Fang felt a complicated mix of emotions.

“Then, City Lord, I shall take my leave. Wishing you well.”

Yuan Zhiran didn’t salute but instead bowed deeply at a ninety-degree angle.

He Fang nodded in acknowledgment. Yuan Zhiran straightened up, looking at him.

He Fang looked back at Yuan Zhiran.

Neither of them spoke.

Sweat started to form on He Fang’s forehead.

What was this? Why wasn’t Yuan Zhiran leaving?

Suddenly, it clicked—was he supposed to go in first?

He Fang turned around, about to head inside, but Yuan Zhiran spoke again.

The refined young man gazed at He Fang before slightly shifting his focus toward the research institute behind him.

Frozen in place, He Fang hesitated. Should he go or not?

It felt like Yuan Zhiran had something to say, but he wasn’t saying it.

“I hope City Lord will always remain in good spirits,” Yuan Zhiran finally said after a long silence.

“Please go ahead.”

It felt like a royal pardon—He Fang quickly stepped into the research institute, disappearing around the nearest corner, safely out of Yuan Zhiran’s sight.

Leaning against the doorway, he held his breath nervously.

Only after a full minute did he hear Yuan Zhiran’s footsteps, the sound of the car door closing, the engine starting, and the vehicle driving away.

Finally, He Fang cautiously peeked out.

No sign of Yuan Zhiran.

He had left.

Letting out a deep sigh, He Fang mentally replayed the moment.

He had been waiting for Yuan Zhiran to leave first.

But Yuan Zhiran had been waiting for him to leave first.

What kind of serious NPC was this?!

Whenever he was around Yuan Zhiran, he felt like he had to maintain some kind of dignified image, carefully considering every word to match the other’s expectations.

And to think he was the one who had personally selected this bizarrely meticulous NPC…

Why did he do this to himself?

This was torture—pure, agonizing torture!

Wiping away his sweat, He Fang sighed again.

He had always felt a little intimidated by the imposing presence of military personnel. Now this whole situation had only made things worse.

Just then, a familiar voice called out from behind him.

“City Lord, what are you doing here?”

Instantly, He Fang’s spirits lifted.

He turned around and looked at the NPC behind him with eager anticipation.

“Zhu Yan!”

As expected, right above Zhu Yan’s head was a bright red question mark—exactly like the one He Fang had seen before logging out.

This was only the second quest he had encountered since going online!

And given how rare quests seemed to be, this was an incredibly lucky find.

He had met Zhu Yan countless times before, yet this was the first time a quest had appeared.

He Fang suspected it had something to do with Zhu Yan’s favorability level—perhaps his frequent interactions had been secretly increasing some kind of hidden friendship score, which was only now unlocking the quest.

In hindsight, insisting on participating in that first test flight had been the right call.

Maybe that “first time” was the trigger for the quest all along.

This game was way too complicated!

“Zhu Yan, I came to check in on you,” He Fang said, already mentally preparing to accept the quest.

“Understood, City Lord. Please, come inside. We’ve recently made updates to the aircraft and have already fine-tuned the parameters in the simulator. Would you like to begin a simulated test flight?” Zhu Yan led He Fang further into the research institute.

He Fang stared eagerly at the bright red question mark above Zhu Yan’s head, hoping it would finally transform into a quest.

“No need. I’m just here to see you today,” He Fang said once again.

“So, City Lord, are you here to inspect my work?” Zhu Yan turned around, his expression as cold as ever. “Shall I continue my work while you observe?”

He Fang shot another glance at the question mark above Zhu Yan’s head.

Why wasn’t it going away?

Noticing He Fang’s gaze, Zhu Yan looked up as if trying to see what was there. When he found nothing, he thought for a moment before bending slightly at the waist, lowering his head so He Fang could get a clearer view.

“City Lord, is there something in my hair that’s caught your attention?”

He Fang choked, his expression turning strange as he stared at the question mark that practically pierced through Zhu Yan’s body.

Why couldn’t he accept the quest?

They had already exchanged so many words, yet Zhu Yan didn’t seem even remotely inclined to discuss the quest details. In fact, despite his usual demeanor, Zhu Yan felt oddly distant today—subtly different from before.

He Fang wondered if this was a bug.

Or was it because he had logged out too quickly last time, failing to accept the quest right away?

Back when he had stepped off the aircraft, Zhu Yan’s emotions had likely peaked—after all, it was their first successful manned flight, a massive milestone after all their hard work.

But instead of capitalizing on the moment, He Fang had logged off immediately due to exhaustion.

By the time he returned, Zhu Yan’s emotions had already settled, and in-game, several days had passed.

Could it be that the combination of his calmer emotions and decreased favorability had somehow locked He Fang out of the quest?

Was he really just going to sit here, staring at the quest marker he couldn’t even claim?

He Fang looked at Zhu Yan, who was standing so close, head slightly bowed before him.

Then, on impulse, he reached out and lightly patted Zhu Yan’s hair.

Soft.

Surprisingly, it wasn’t cold like Zhu Yan’s personality—it was warm.

“I should’ve said something before logging out after the flight. Leaving so abruptly must’ve seemed rude. I’m really sorry about that,” He Fang said, wanting to repair his standing in Zhu Yan’s eyes.

He also felt guilty for not praising his NPC immediately.

“You did an incredible job. The aircraft was amazing. I have plenty of time today, so I’d love to discuss my first flight experience and offer some suggestions.”

Zhu Yan’s body stiffened slightly.

His fingers, resting at his sides, slowly curled into fists.

After two or three seconds of silence, he finally straightened.

For a brief moment, He Fang caught a glimpse of an expression on Zhu Yan’s face that was different from his usual composed demeanor.

But before he could make sense of it, Zhu Yan had already returned to normal.

“Understood, City Lord.” Zhu Yan turned and gestured invitingly. “Then, please follow me to my private research room.”

He Fang was still baffled.

What had he done wrong?

Why was Zhu Yan still not giving him the quest?

Was there some hidden requirement he hadn’t met?

Normally, in single-player games, once a quest appeared, it wouldn’t disappear unless it was completed. The conditions that triggered it might vanish, but uncompleted quests wouldn’t just… disappear.

He Fang’s gaze lingered on the glaring red question mark.

How was he supposed to accept this quest?

Seated in Zhu Yan’s office, He Fang watched as the NPC began a routine health check on him.

“It’s been some time since your flight,” Zhu Yan commented while adjusting the scanner. “Your current physical data may no longer be an accurate reference for your post-flight condition. If you wish to decline, I can stop the examination.”

He Fang immediately spread his arms.

“Do whatever tests you need.”

Zhu Yan studied him for a moment, his eyes flickering with an unreadable emotion.

Whether he was pleased or displeased, He Fang couldn’t tell.

Without further comment, Zhu Yan picked up his instruments and carefully began the examination.

“I have mild 3D… uh, motion sickness,” He Fang admitted. “Under certain conditions, I get dizzy. I was actually feeling pretty nauseous when I stepped off the plane earlier.”As the warm surface of the scanner touched his skin, He Fang realized something—all of the metal instruments, which should have been ice-cold, had been preheated on a warming plate. Zhu Yan had deliberately warmed them up.

“Then I will conduct a thorough examination, City Lord,” Zhu Yan said. “You don’t experience dizziness in simulations, but you do on the actual aircraft. There must be some design details that can be adjusted and improved.”

He Fang nodded. “Chong Xiao was on my aircraft, but I didn’t detect his presence at all when I was running system checks.”

“I’ll install contact sensors along the inner walls of the cabin,” Zhu Yan noted seriously, carefully recording the issue. “This oversight regarding Chong Xiao was my mistake.”

“Once we enter the Nightmare Beast Forest, all signals are cut off. Could we add some alternative tools for when certain aircraft functions become unusable?” He Fang suggested. “For example, something like binoculars. I couldn’t even see the details of Chong Xiao destroying the Revival Nightmare Plant—I had to infer it from his brief pauses in movement.”

“Hmm… I can design some entirely manual tools that don’t rely on intelligence systems,” Zhu Yan replied.

Seated in the chair, He Fang watched Zhu Yan, who was seriously recording every bit of data. His side profile was as striking and composed as always—cool and restrained, likely in keeping with his role as a researcher.

This restraint often made him seem distant, almost unapproachable.

But in truth, it was the opposite.

He Fang knew Zhu Yan was actually passionate about his work and completely dedicated to his research. He worked tirelessly and advanced his studies at an incredible pace.

Even though he wasn’t the head of the research institute, he was the one He Fang felt closest to within it.

“Do you have any other suggestions?” Zhu Yan asked, turning back to He Fang after finishing his notes.

Their gazes met.

For just a split second, He Fang caught a subtle flicker in Zhu Yan’s expression—he was about to look away.

“Zhu Yan, is there something you should be telling me?” He Fang decided to be direct. He wasn’t here to follow a scripted conversation. He wanted to accept the quest.

Zhu Yan’s hand paused slightly.

Then, his usual cold demeanor softened into a faint smile.

“Oh? City Lord, what is it you wish to know?”

He Fang glanced at the glaringly red question mark above Zhu Yan’s head, feeling utterly frustrated.

“Are you sure there’s nothing you want to tell me? Anything at all. I’ll listen to whatever you have to say.” He Fang attempted to steer the conversation again.

Zhu Yan seriously considered it for a moment before replying, “Hmm. What should I be telling you?”

Why was Zhu Yan so impossible to budge?!

He Fang stood up and circled Zhu Yan twice, scrutinizing him from every angle.

Zhu Yan remained calm and composed, no different from usual.

If not for that giant red question mark hovering over his head, He Fang might have actually believed that nothing was wrong.

He Fang pondered.

NPC quests, like the one Min Zhizhou had given, were often straightforward. Min Zhizhou’s quest was simply a monetary transaction—but what was important was the deeper information hidden within the task.

Min Zhizhou’s identity as an outsider was the real takeaway from his quest.

Now, this was Zhu Yan’s NPC quest.

Since it was happening within the city, it likely wasn’t about uncovering secret information. Plus, Zhu Yan wasn’t positioned as a major character, so this had to be a side quest.

Side quests didn’t affect the main storyline, meaning completing it wasn’t strictly necessary.

But He Fang couldn’t just ignore a quest hanging over his NPC’s head.

More importantly, NPC quests usually represented some kind of problem the NPC was facing.

There was no way He Fang was going to stand by while Zhu Yan struggled with something.

Suddenly, an idea struck him.

He looked at Zhu Yan and said, “Speaking of which, do you remember the first time we met? You conducted a lie detector test on me.”

Zhu Yan nodded, a faint smile appearing on his lips. He seemed to remember that day quite well.

“Now I feel like I got the short end of the stick. Why was I the only one being questioned? I want to ask you some questions too! Go get the lie detector—I need to ask you a few things fair and square!”

He Fang planned to use the lie detector to steer the conversation toward triggering the quest.

NPCs weren’t allowed to secretly struggle with their troubles alone!

The faint amusement in Zhu Yan’s eyes gradually faded into calmness. He stared at He Fang as if trying to decipher something.

If this were reality, He Fang might have been intimidated enough to turn and flee.

But this was his world.

This was his NPC.

Summoning all his courage, He Fang met Zhu Yan’s gaze head-on.

Those eyes were too real—just like those of a living person.

But no matter what, he refused to back down.

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