Arknights: I became an NPC in the online game

"Shall we talk here?"

"Of course not. Please, follow me."

Eblana gave a slight nod to Felix and his companions, then stepped out of the cemetery, holding her umbrella.

Felix watched her retreating figure and turned to Degenbrecher. "Can you sense whether they're hostile?"

Degenbrecher shook her head. "They seem to be more skilled in Originium techniques than in physical combat. Even if they wanted to fight, it wouldn't cause much trouble."

"Mm."

Felix gently brushed the wet strands of Mandragora's black shoulder-length hair, his voice soft. "You should take a shower when we get back to the hotel. You'll catch a cold if you don't."

Mandragora, her gaze still lingering on the figures of Eblana and her companion, seemed deep in thought. But at the sound of Felix's concern, she gave him a sweet, reassuring nod.

The group of four entered a nearby café. Eblana spoke to the owner, and with a polite gesture, they were led to a private room on the second floor.

As they settled in, Felix turned to Mandragora. He'd decided that she should head back to the hotel on her own. Given the nature of the conversation ahead, he felt it would be best for her not to be present. They'd observed Mandragora at the banquet in Londinium, and to be cautious, Felix thought it wiser to have her safely back at the hotel, where she could shower and rest.

While Felix remained wary of the two mysterious women who had appeared unexpectedly at the cemetery, Degenbrecher had pointed out that even if they were hostile, Felix was equipped with his mechanical armor and the Degenbrecher at his side. He wasn't entirely defenseless.

Still, Felix didn't sense any hostility from them. It felt more like a random encounter on the street—two strangers exchanging a few words, discovering shared interests, and deciding to continue the conversation at a teahouse.

"Sir Felix... is it alright to address you like that?" Eblana's sweet voice broke the silence as she sat down, her green eyes twinkling with warmth and amusement. She parted her red lips, adding with a smile, "Why do I sense a slight distance from you, Sir Felix? Is there some misunderstanding?"

"Rather than distance, I would say it's the politeness one would expect at a first meeting," Felix replied. He placed his hands on the table, interlocking his fingers, and leaned forward slightly, subtly taking the conversation into his own hands. "Besides, Miss Eblana, your attire reminds me of the aristocracy, so I can't help but adhere to the etiquette that one would use when addressing a noble."

"But I'm not a noble." Eblana's eyes twinkled with mischief as she rolled them slightly. "How about you think of me as... well, the girl who lives next door?"

"Alright." Felix nodded, his gaze shifting to the quiet girl sitting beside Eblana. Her long, light blonde hair framed her face, and her cyan eyes seemed thoughtful. From her appearance, she seemed more like Eblana's younger sister. "And this is...?"

"My name is Loughshinny... Please, Master Felix, I look forward to your guidance."

Loughshinny, in stark contrast to her older sister Eblana's eloquence, appeared more reserved and quiet. The two sisters, one lively and the other calm, seemed to complement each other perfectly.

The coffee the four had ordered was soon served at the table. Felix took a sip, his brow furrowing slightly at the bitterness. Without a word, he added a spoonful of sugar.

"Are you curious about Victoria's king?" he asked, setting the spoon aside.

"Yes…" Eblana's lips curved into a charming smile. "What you said—that a king's honor doesn't come from their bloodline, but that the bloodline is glorified by the king—that really piqued my interest. My two sisters and I have had some contact with the aristocracy. We're quite fascinated by the intricacies of the upper class."

Felix chuckled softly. Having met Loughshinny in his previous life, he was already familiar with parts of their story. But for now, neither Eblana nor Loughshinny had truly stepped onto their own paths.

"In that case," he said, "let's begin with the current situation in Victoria."

His tone took on a calm, thoughtful rhythm, reminiscent of his college days—those late-night chats in the dormitory about world wars and great reformers. That nostalgic feeling stirred within him as he began to explain.

"Victoria is layered with complexity. For a nation to stand and endure, it must be supported by several key factors."

"First and foremost is the matter of internal factions. Victoria maintains a fixed number of dukes, but there are far too many earls, viscounts, and barons. In fact, some nobles even privately bestow baron titles within their own cliques every year. This constant fragmentation of land and power leads to nobles clinging to their own interests. As a result, centralized governance becomes nearly impossible."

Eblana nodded, clearly following. She'd heard similar things from Earl Warwick. Beside her, Loughshinny listened intently, quietly absorbing every word.

"In such a state," Felix continued, "if an outside force were to invade Victoria, the nobles might indeed rally together in the short term. But once the war dragged on, logistical issues—like supply shortages—would arise. Without unity, and with each faction looking after its own, the alliance would inevitably fall apart."

To put it in simpler terms, it was just like the era of the Three Kingdoms and Sengoku period—warlords fighting for dominance. Everyone shouted slogans of unity, but few were truly willing to sacrifice. Most hoarded resources, unwilling even to share food. Without a unified front, how could these warlords hope to win? And how could they ever defeat someone like him—who merely walked with a torn cloak and a quiet conviction?

"Next," Felix said, his gaze sharpening slightly, "comes the topic of kingship and leadership."

"Leadership is a vague yet powerful concept. At its core, it means uniting the people, understanding their voices, responding to their needs, and acting in their interests."

"You can rule through righteousness, through a vision that uplifts. Or you can lead through hatred—fueling the people's anger and fear. In the end, the choice lies within the heart of the ruler. That is what defines a true king."

At that moment, Eblana raised her hand like a student in class. "Sir Felix," she asked earnestly, "if you were king… which path would you choose?"

Felix wasn't surprised. He met her gaze calmly and replied, "First, you must understand that ruling a nation is not simply about wielding power. It's a duty. A burden. A mission."

"Hatred may yield results in the short term. But in the long run, it breeds decay—division, unrest, and pain."

"Why is that?" Eblana asked, her curiosity deepening.

Felix smiled faintly. "Have you heard of the Witch King?"

Eblana pursed her lips slightly at his words.

"Some historical rulers may have achieved fleeting control through fear and hatred," Felix continued, his tone calm and measured, "but that kind of governance is inherently unstable. It breeds division and discord within society. Over time, resentment festers, and the rift among the people deepens. Eventually, that internal conflict turns into resistance, and the regime collapses."

"This was the case with the Witch King. You can say he didn't care about the people, that he only loved the country of Leithania. But you cannot deny that in his later years, the people of Leithania lived in misery."

He paused briefly, the edge in his voice softening.

"People must learn to see beyond themselves. What we are today is largely the result of chance. I was lucky. In this land of suffering, I was born Sankta—and even more fortunate, I was born in the holy city of Laterano. But there are many who were not so lucky. Some were infected in Ursus. Others were born Tara in Victoria."

At the mention of the Tara people, Loughshinny glanced at Felix, her gaze lingering thoughtfully for a moment before she looked away.

"So… why did Lord Felix choose the upright Way of Kings?" Eblana asked.

"Because the righteous path can build a stable, harmonious society where people can live in peace," he answered without hesitation. "Through fair and honest governance, a leader earns the respect and trust of the people, and in doing so, strengthens their own legitimacy."

"Most importantly, the upright Way of Kings lays a solid foundation for a nation's long-term development. It fosters goodwill beyond borders and earns the respect of other nations."

"There are many powers across the land of Terra. And a nation's reputation inevitably reflects on its people."

Degenbrecher stole a glance at Felix from the side. Boss, are you hinting at the Sarkaz here? It has to be.

"A true leader," Felix went on, "does not define themselves by revenge or resentment, but by their ability to build a future—through unity, through vision."

Eblana let out a soft breath, eyes shining with curiosity. "Sir Felix… please continue."

"We've discussed Victoria's leadership," he said, shifting smoothly. "Now let's talk about its economy."

"Victoria is an industrial giant. Its annual imports and exports are staggering. Yet, many Victorians still live in the slums. Why is that? Is it because there's no opportunity? Or not enough jobs?"

"This brings us back to the original point. The nobles are too entangled in their own power struggles. To them, opening a factory is like placing a bet. They constantly compete for influence, and in the end, everything is reduced to how the profits are split."

He gave a faint, wry smile.

"How can a nation be governed effectively with such a band of fools?"

Inwardly, Felix knew this had actually worked in his favor. Without these fragmented noble factions, he wouldn't have been able to acquire the piledriver spears and steam-powered armor for his plans—or even recruit a proper team of apprentices.

"Now, when it comes to culture and education," he added, "to be fair, Victoria does excel. Just look at the number of apprentices in the arsenals—it's a testament to how well the country has preserved its industrial heritage. Not to mention the thousands of schools scattered throughout Londinium."

"And as for diplomacy," he said, glancing at the three quietly listening to him, "it circles back to what I mentioned earlier—whether one walks the righteous path or a crooked one. A nation's reputation determines how its leaders are perceived by the world."

Eblana took a slow sip of her coffee, her expression composed. She needed time to process everything Felix had just said. At the same time, she began weighing his words against those of Earl Warwick, analyzing and comparing their perspectives.

"Sir Felix," she said after a pause, "I have doubts about the nobles surrounding the king. Should all disobedient nobles be eliminated?"

Felix gave her a curious look. Why did she suddenly take such a violent turn, calling for executions?

"When you lack sufficient status and power," Felix replied calmly, "you may feel compelled to eliminate every potential threat. But with enough power, even those threats can become useful."

"There's an old saying in the Yan Country," he continued. "'The friendship of gentlemen is as pure as water, while the friendship of villains is as sweet as honey.' Villains tend to be more dependent on the king. Loyal ministers are like gentlemen—distant and principled, maintaining boundaries. But villains? They'll do everything in their power to please the king."

"These people often carry considerable incriminating evidence and can't stand up to scrutiny. That makes them more eager to earn the king's trust. Once they lose that trust, any investigation into their misdeeds could ruin them. In a way, they're easier to control—obedient, because they have more to lose."

Of course, Felix left one thing unsaid: that kings often relied on these same villains to carry out the dirty work that could never see the light of day.

The conversation moved forward. Eblana continued to discuss the intricacies of Victoria's governance and what it truly meant to be a king. Loughshinny, however, remained quiet. Her luminous eyes drifted toward Felix now and then—sometimes stealing glances, sometimes gazing at him openly and without reservation.

"…This discussion has been truly enlightening," Eblana finally said, finishing the last sip of her coffee. She glanced outside. The sky had begun to clear. Rising from her seat, she gave a respectful bow. "Sir Felix… no, please allow me to call you 'Teacher.' Your insights are exceptional, unlike anything I've heard or understood before. I wonder how long you plan to stay in Oak Grove County. If you're available, I would very much like to attend your lectures every day."

Felix didn't turn her down. As Eblana stood up, he quietly activated reconnaissance to check their favorability levels.

[Eblana's relationship with you: (18/100)]

[Loughshinny's relationship with you: (30/100)]

At least there was no hostility between them. Both showed positive favorability, meaning there likely wouldn't be any trouble—for now.

Once the sisters had taken their leave, Felix and Degenbrecher also left the café. By then, the rain had stopped. Degenbrecher walked closely behind him. She glanced sideways and asked, "Boss, where do you get all this knowledge? If I hadn't known you for so long, I'd think you used to be the Grand Tutor of Yan Country or Lateran Curia."

"That's an exaggeration," Felix replied with a smile.

Though he had already left the imperial capital of Londinium, that nagging feeling of being watched still hadn't gone away—not even during the conversation earlier. He began to wonder if he was simply overworked lately, and that the constant sense of being observed was nothing more than an illusion.

Especially during the discussion on the Theory of Kingship, Felix distinctly felt as though he were being watched… and it definitely wasn't Loughshinny's gaze.

"No… passing on knowledge like statecraft might not be a good idea," Degenbrecher said, her expression turning a shade more serious as she shifted the topic. "Eblana and Loughshinny don't seem hostile, Boss—but someone might use this as an excuse to approach you, hoping to pull you onto their side."

Felix responded with a hum. "I just find them interesting. I won't share this with anyone else."

"More importantly, Mandragora must be hungry. What should we bring back for dinner?"

"Forget Victorian food, Boss. I'm about to throw up."

"Then let's go with Eastern cuisine."

"Sounds good."

——

As night fell, Eblana and Loughshinny walked side by side down the street, hoods pulled over their heads. Eblana turned slightly to glance at Loughshinny, who appeared absentminded, her thoughts adrift. She smiled faintly and said, "Surprising, isn't it?"

"Mmm…" Loughshinny nodded softly, still replaying Felix's words and demeanor in her mind.

"I feel the same…" Eblana murmured. "It would be wonderful if Felix were truly our teacher."

With a quiet smile, she added, "Compared to the impostor, both his knowledge and his appearance suit me far better."