Felix’s current knowledge as an Craftsman still wasn’t enough to fully replicate a mecha. Even with all the materials in hand, he lacked the expertise to piece together the incomplete schematics and reach a reliable outcome.

On his way to the bar, Felix unlocked the Craftsman Apprentice profession. Thanks to the generous amount of experience he’d accumulated from players, he immediately maxed out the level after his promotion. He spent over 100,000 experience points to fully upgrade his abilities.

Reaching Craftsman Apprentice Lv15 granted him +2 Strength, +1 Dexterity, 15 free attribute points, and pushed his overall level to 45. His basic crafting skills saw major upgrades: Basic Craftsman Forging became Preliminary Craftsman Forging, and Basic Craftsman Understanding advanced to Preliminary Craftsman Understanding. He also acquired a new skill—Primary Material Forging, which he quickly leveled up to 10.

With the material branch now unlocked, Felix could finally process raw materials he couldn’t handle before—bones, ores, and more.

As his blacksmith level increased, so too would his access to the armor branch, eventually enabling him to craft advanced weapons and armor. For now, he’d only unlocked the most basic iron armor, but the technology tree ahead included leather armor, chainmail, scale armor, bone armor, heavy armor, and more.

Now that he could personally process materials, crafting would become much more efficient. He no longer had to spend a fortune buying pre-processed goods; he could do it all himself, cutting out the middleman and saving significantly on processing fees.

These upgrades also had a strong impact on his secondary professions—Gunsmith and Mechanic. The truth was simple: either go all-in on the production system or don’t touch it at all. All these secondary professions were interconnected. When used together, they could save Felix a considerable amount of time and money.

After a long while, Felix finally pushed open the doors of the familiar and somewhat intimidating Scary Martin Bar. He walked up to the counter and casually nudged aside the drunken old craftsman slumped over it. Smiling at the bald-headed Martin, he said, “Long time no see. I’ll have the usual.”

“Sure thing! Open a bottle for Master Felix!”

Martin grinned and began shaking up a cocktail with practiced ease. The old knight nearby spotted Felix, smiled drunkenly, and greeted him.

A quarterfinal match was being broadcast on the TV in the bar. On screen, a powerful knight unleashed wild, heavy attacks, relying on his muscular frame to swing a massive sword down again and again. His opponent, however, was agile and nimble. Clad in a sleek, stylish suit of armor, he wielded a slender sword and nimbly struck back, landing precise wounds on the hulking knight’s body.

“Oh! The Light Knight just landed seven rapid hits! The Bull-Horned Knight couldn’t even react. The Light Knight, already the crowd favorite among male knights this season, is once again proving himself to his fans—Wait! He dodged a point-blank attack! Incredible reflexes! And now the Bull-Horned Knight takes a direct hit! He’s down!”

Wow——

The crowd erupted into thunderous cheers.

The old knight watching beside them clicked his tongue in disapproval and muttered, “Old Bull-Horn really shouldn’t have lost like that. He’s not usually so reckless… Tch tch tch.”

Bald Martin smiled and handed the freshly mixed drink to Felix.

“The Light Armor Knight’s been quite the sensation these past two years. The armor he’s wearing is a next-gen model co-developed by Brilliant Shield Industries and Allen Select Technology. Supposedly, it boosts a knight’s speed to the level of lightning—or at least, that’s what the advertisements claim.”

“Could Old Bullhorn have been threatened? How could someone like him be defeated so easily?”

The old craftsman staggered to his feet, still somewhat dazed. Noticing Felix beside him, he gave him a hearty punch on the shoulder.

“Good kid, welcome back to Kazimierz. Drinks are on me today.”

Felix nodded with a smile. Though he was hardly short on money, it was still nice when someone offered to treat him.

The old knight coughed and muttered, “Old Bullhorn’s wife and daughter are in Kawalerielki now…”

Bald Martin wiped a glass behind the counter, smiling quietly. The old craftsman seemed deep in thought. Felix took a silent sip of his drink, and the four of them fell into a hushed stillness under the dim barlight… The only thing missing now was someone flipping through a newspaper.

Those who know, know. And those who don’t—well, even if you told them, they wouldn’t understand. So it’s best not to speak. Don’t ask what really happened—the interests at play are too vast. Knowing won’t benefit you. Best to stay ignorant. It’s a complicated affair, one that involves people at the top. You won’t find much information on your own. Most of what was online has already been scrubbed clean. All that can be said is: those who know, know. And those who don’t—what can they do?

“The Light Knight does seem to have real skill, though,” Felix finally said. The combo strikes the Light Knight pulled off just now didn’t look like those of some amateur who’d only recently shot to fame. At the very least, he had ability.

“He’s got strength—sure. But what’s that got to do with match-fixing?”

The old knight snorted. “The Light Knights have always been cozy with the business side of things… If you didn’t have at least some ability, why would they even look your way? Just for a pretty face?”

“There aren’t any Black Knights in the southern half where the Light Knights operate. They’re all up north. With the strength the Black Knights have, they should be able to crush their way through the northern division and head straight to the finals.”

“You’re not saying the Black Knights will throw a match too, are you?”

The old craftsman’s remark made the old knight spit in disgust several times.

“Damn it, this knight tournament’s filthy. Kazimierz’s reputation is being dragged through the mud.”

Felix shook his head and took another sip of his drink.

“I don’t think that’s possible.”

“The Black Knight’s always been at odds with the Business Union. They’ve invited her to events and press conferences before, and she never gave them the time of day… She’s not likely to show them any respect this time, either,” Felix said softly.

“If you were going to threaten someone, family would be the easiest place to start—but everyone knows, the Black Knight came to Kazimierz alone…”

The group exchanged meaningful glances. The old knight took a long sip from his cup.

“The future of the Black Knight…”

“Well, she should probably leave Kazimierz,” Felix nodded in agreement.

The old craftsman slapped the table with a hearty laugh.

“Alright, alright. Felix, it’s not every day you come back. Let’s not waste tonight talking about that mess. Just have a good time with your brothers!”

Felix gave a wry smile.

“If you can’t hold out until morning, I’ll buy you a drink now as an apology.”

“Huh? What’s that supposed to mean?”

The old knight gave Felix a once-over, then burst out laughing.

“Who bought you new clothes? Don’t tell me you actually bought them yourself. You used to wear the same two sets of clothes every day back when you were in Kazimierz.”

“He’s still sharp, even in old age,” Felix sighed, shaking his head.

“I’m not old, you brat.”

“Come on, tell us—which girl did you charm? We want the whole story!”

Bald Martin quietly continued serving drinks while the old knight and the old craftsman teased Felix relentlessly, urging him to explain what had happened. Felix drank a few glasses with them, then finally stood up to say goodbye.

Next time. Next time I’ll drink with you until dawn.

With that promise, Felix managed to escape from the bar known as the terrifying Martin.

—

As he pushed open the door to his apartment, Felix saw Muelsyse sitting quietly on the sofa, her gaze fixed on the neon lights dancing beyond the window.

“Welcome back~ Oh, you’ve been drinking. You look tipsy.”

Muelsyse smiled and waved at him, then noticed the redness on his cheeks. Although she couldn’t smell anything as a water-based clone, she still covered her nose and teased,

“Go take a shower, quick. You reek of alcohol.”

“Alright, alright, I get it.”

Muelsyse all but pushed Felix into the bathroom, where he obediently started to wash up.

As the warm water washed away his fatigue and the lingering smell of alcohol, Felix stood in front of the mirror, drying his pale gray hair. When he was still just a player, there was no setting for hair growth or body changes. Even though a long time had passed since he arrived in this world, he’d rarely paid attention to such things. But now, his reflection looked far healthier—much more toned than the thin figure he remembered from when he first got here.

He hadn’t done any focused training, yet his body appeared stronger, with smoother muscle lines. Perhaps it was the natural result of increased stats.

“How does it feel? Kawalerielki,” he asked, returning to the living room and walking up to the floor-to-ceiling window. The sleepless city sprawled beneath his feet, pulsing with color and noise.

“It’s more commercial than Columbia,” Muelsyse replied, “Shopping here must be a blast.”

“Would your real body feel uncomfortable in a place like this?”

Muelsyse glanced at Felix, then reached out and touched the glass. Her arm dissolved into shimmering water molecules that slowly dispersed toward the vast city of Kawalerielki.

“…Well, the pollution isn’t that bad, but there’s a serious lack of vegetation.”

After a long pause, Muelsyse finally spoke.

“…Yeah, I also found some Infected in the sewers.”

“You okay?” Felix asked, sitting down beside her.

Muelsyse withdrew her arm from the glass.

“I was just… startled. I didn’t expect the underground of Kawalerielki to be where the Infected live.”

It was already established that contact with Infected individuals doesn’t cause infection, and neither does being attacked by them. This had been confirmed by the authorities.

Still, the Infected faced relentless discrimination. They lived like vermin, hidden in filthy, damp sewers. Even in this glittering modern metropolis, they were denied the dignity of a normal life.

In Kazimierz, discrimination was commonplace. But across the border in Ursus… it was even worse.

There, the Infected lived in torment. They were thrown into mines to harvest Originium, spending their lives exposed to toxic, infected environments. Many died young. Their lives were ignored—no care, no maintenance.

They were treated as expendable tools.

They were debris, ground under the heel of Ursus.

Crying wouldn’t change anything.

Curses only earned cruel laughter.

Sometimes, surviving was more painful than dying.

“This,” Felix said softly, looking up at the starless sky, “is the reason Rhine Lab exists.”

“If we talk too big, people will just laugh at us. So for now… let’s start with something small.

Let’s create a place where people can actually live.

A place with birdsong, blooming flowers, clear streams, and peaceful days.”

“Why are you telling me your goal?” Muelsyse asked, a faint smile on her lips.

“Because you’re not walking this road alone.”

Muelsyse’s gaze lingered on Felix’s face.

After a moment, she smiled gently and reached out, poking his cheek—just like how Felix often liked to poke the face of the mini version of her.

Felix flinched at the cold touch.

“Hey, what was that? Ouch.”

“Nothing~ I’m going to rest now. Felix, you should sleep early too—don’t stay up late!”

Muelsyse floated upward slightly, hands on her hips, striking a mock-serious pose.

“Okay, okay. Got it.”

As he watched her retreat into the bottle, her form dissolving back into water, Felix turned back to his workbench.

He resumed hammering, though now it was just raw materials. The experience points he earned each time were noticeably lower.

—

Meanwhile, as Felix hammered away at his forge, Magic ZX had just uploaded a new video.

Title: “Ark Travels: Pioneers in the Land of Suffering (1)”

“The missing people have returned. finally done with ‘Swordsman’ content?”

“Didn’t Magic Teacher say he wanted to try Ark before? Oh well, let’s just triple-click it first.”

“The title says ‘Pioneer’—what’s going on? Is Magic ZX involved with the Pioneer now?”

“Laksative here, I just landed in Novice Town in Columbia. Magic Teacher triggered a hidden mission with the Pioneer, and now they’re acting together!”

The video quickly spread across the forums, allowing players to watch while gaming or browsing threads. Magic ZX, already a popular content creator, had gained even more traction thanks to his involvement with Ark, a title that had become a sensation in recent months.

—

“Hello everyone, I’m your Magic ZX.”

“Just like the video title says—yes, I’m going to introduce the players’ novice mentor: the handsome guy who’s cold and ruthless to female players, the mysterious NPC, the king of team battles, the one dubbed ‘Double Eagle Marco Polo’…

Yes, the one and only Pioneer!”

The video opened with Magic ZX’s signature mellow voice. He waved at the camera, and behind him stood the Pioneer—halo glowing faintly, tall and composed.

—

“Traveling with the Pioneer… honestly, it’s something I never imagined.

That day’s scene is burned into my memory—I even wake up thinking about it sometimes—”

The footage cut to Magic ZX sitting in a pickup truck, the scenery blurring by outside the window. Conversations between him, Dandao Dantart filled the cabin. Occasionally, Felix chimed in with a few words.

—

“The Pioneer seems surprisingly approachable—he even joined our conversation.”

“His voice is so gentle, slightly hoarse… I could listen to him talk all day.”

“You’re all missing the real charm here—listen to what he’s saying. It’s all about leveling strategies.”

“So that’s how he got the title Pioneer. Damn, I like him even more now.”

The barrage of comments was filled with admiration, jokes, and chaotic fan energy.

The scene suddenly shifted. Magic ZX’s voice now trembled with panic:

“RUN, RUN—WE’RE GONNA DIE!”

Laughter erupted in the comments.

The camera swiveled toward a terrifying sight: a dark tornado stretching to the heavens, swallowing the horizon. Grinding sounds like gnashing teeth echoed as the sandstorm approached. Magic ZX, Dandao Dantart all wore pale, horrified expressions.

Then came Felix’s calm, steady voice:

“That’s a sandstorm disaster. It carries Originium dust and shreds everything in its path. Don’t worry, we’re far enough to outrun it.”

—

“Holy crap—is that a natural disaster!?”

“Why are you so calm?! If we get lost out here, it’s game over!”

“Only my family understands—Pioneer’s driving is god-tier! This car’s a beast!”

“I want the Pioneer to drive under me! And I’m a beautiful girl—PM me for my subordinate to step aside…”

“Hey, thirsty girl up front—can you take your pants off?”

“THE PIONEER BELONGS TO ALL OF US, YOU LOWLIFE!”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep