The last time Mr. Han had seen Felix felt like a lifetime ago—so long, in fact, that he could no longer recall the details.
Yet the warmth of that encounter remained vivid in his memory: the feeling of understanding one another perfectly, as if the man before him were someone the world itself had deemed worthy of absolute trust.
Felix took a few steps forward, his golden eyes glancing briefly at the ID above Mr. Han's head before a faint smile curved his lips.
"It's been a long time," he said softly. "Seeing you well fills me with relief—and joy."
"Pioneer-sir…"
For a moment, Mr. Han nearly lunged forward for a hug, but with so many players watching, he barely managed to restrain himself.
If he got disconnected because of some emotional outburst, he'd never live down the teasing.
"Shall we talk inside?"
"Ah—yes, please, this way."
Mr. Han extended his hand in welcome, leading Felix and his companions into the settlement.
From the forums, Felix had already learned that the infected players within Ursus had split into three major factions.
The first was led by Mr. Han—a group made up primarily of players from the CN region, though a fair number hailed from Japan, Korea, and elsewhere across Asia. They banded together for safety, following the principle of "we do not provoke unless provoked," focusing on internal growth and self-reliance.
The second faction was led by a player named Raph, composed mostly of native Ursus players. Disillusioned with the empire, Raph despised everything it stood for and dreamed of burning Ursus to ashes with the flames of the infected.
The third was a chaotic, unpredictable faction dominated by Western players with some Asian players. Their leader was none other than the notorious streamer xQc—a man whose antics defied reason. His followers did a little bit of everything, bound by no ideology other than chaos itself.
Over the past few years, Mr. Han had transformed the settlement into an orderly and self-sustaining town. Felix noticed the neatly constructed greenhouses, and Mr. Han explained that the soil and vegetable seeds inside had been acquired through trade. Those with fire and water Originium Arts managed the farms, ensuring the community's food supply.
A sturdy inner wall marked the second line of defense. Beyond its gate lay the residential district, where players had built homes from mud, timber, and stone—self-sufficient, industrious, alive.
He could hear the rhythmic hammering of construction in the distance. Mr. Han mentioned that nearly every player here had learned at least one or two production-class professions; after all, there were no shops or merchants in these lands—everything had to be crafted by hand.
Eventually, Mr. Han led the group into the town's central hall of assembly. Dozens of armed players stood guard outside, ensuring no one could intrude.
At the center of the hall stood a round table. Mr. Han personally pulled out a chair for Felix, inviting him to take the main seat facing the grand doors, while he and the senior members took their places along the sides.
Once everyone was seated, Mr. Han smiled warmly.
"Pioneer-sir, it brings us great joy to see you again. It's been far too long—we've only heard your name whispered by traveling merchants passing overhead."
Felix cast a discreet glance at his title—Public Reputation: 100%—and nodded slightly without comment.
"Ursus is a land I can never forget," he said, his tone calm but resolute. "It hides too much injustice, too much suffering. That fills me with anger. Perhaps I was powerless before… but once a person gains strength, they must try to bring about change."
Mr. Han nodded in agreement. The words resonated with him. As players grew stronger, the once-terrifying inspection squads now seemed small, even fragile. Ambition naturally followed strength. The same drive that led to chaos in Lungmen was stirring here as well.
Raph's faction burned with vengeance toward Ursus.
xQc and his unpredictable gang did whatever came to mind.
Only their own faction—the Holy Knight Federation—maintained some measure of calm and order.
Yes, The Holy Knight Federation.
A name so dramatically chuunibyou it almost hurt to say aloud—but oddly enough, it had gained tremendous popularity among the more anime-inclined veterans.
"I want to invite all of you to join Tomorrow's Development," Felix said evenly.
"My companions and I are seeking a path forward—a path that will lead all the people of Terra toward a better future. But I need others to walk beside me. I need comrades who will fight alongside us."
Mr. Han, who had secretly started recording ever since Felix arrived, leaned forward slightly. His favorite NPC was about to deliver another line of pure inspiration.
"On this road," Felix continued, interlacing his fingers, "I will fear no hardship, no obstacle—for beside me stand my comrades, my kin, and the adventurers I call friends."
"So here and now, I extend my invitation once more,"
He raised his gaze, voice firm yet gentle and then pointing his finger at everyone.
"I want you, join Tomorrow's Development.
Let us stand shoulder to shoulder—
and together, carve open the future that belongs to us."
The players were visibly moved.
After all, this was no ordinary invitation—it came directly from one of the most significant NPCs in the entire game.
Yet Mr. Han knew that he alone couldn't make the decision. The Holy Knight Federation was not a dictatorship; every player's opinion mattered.
Even if most of them were already itching to pledge allegiance to the Pioneer the moment they saw him, they were here as representatives of their faction—and the Federation prided itself on respecting the will of each member.
If they accepted, they would become the first organized faction to formally align themselves under the banner of Tomorrow's Development.
That also meant stepping into a larger arena—one filled with professional guilds, ranked squads, and inter-faction rivalries.
Still, Felix had never opposed the players' freedom to form their own cliques, guilds, or communities. Just as Rhodes Island never stopped players from creating their own networks, Tomorrow's Development had always allowed its members to grow as they wished.
In truth, Felix's generosity had already made the players feel as though this place was home.
"We'll need some time to discuss it, Pioneer-sir," Mr. Han said softly.
"The Holy Knight Federation acts as one body, and we must respect every voice within it."
"I don't mind waiting," Felix replied with an easy smile. Patience, after all, was one of his strengths.
Before leaving to begin their discussions, Mr. Han and several others arranged comfortable guest rooms within the great hall for Felix and his companions. But the moment the group stepped outside—
They were met with chaos.
A roaring crowd had gathered, packed shoulder to shoulder.
"Is the Pioneer here or not? I didn't see him!"
"I saw him go into the hall—don't tell me Mr. Han's hogging him for himself?"
"Unbelievable! The Pioneer belongs to everyone, not just Mr. Han!"
The crowd's noise swelled to a storm of voices, some angry, some joking.
Players from other regions, confused but curious, still understood one key word—Pioneer.
At once, they craned their necks, peering toward the hall in growing excitement.
Then Mr. Han appeared at the top of the steps.
"Hey, Mr. Han! What's going on?"
"Yeah, give us an answer!"
"Did you really just sneak off to date the Pioneer?!"
The shouting was deafening. Mr. Han sighed—why did they all have to be so loud?
He raised a hand, holding up a voice amplifier. The crowd slowly fell silent.
"The Pioneer has arrived in the northern reaches of Ursus," he announced clearly.
"He has personally invited us, the Holy Knight Federation, to join Tomorrow's Development—and to fight as part of its vision for the future."
He paused, scanning the crowd.
"Let's speak honestly. In an ideal sense, the Pioneer is the most famous NPC in the entire game—there's no one else like him. He's accompanied us for two full expansions, and as the leader of Tomorrow's Development, he's the first to truly open his doors and welcome us."
"But in practical terms," Mr. Han continued, "Tomorrow's Development offers enormous benefits—missions, rewards, currency, experience, and access to faction-exclusive shops filled with powerful equipment and rare skill books."
"We'll hold a vote," he concluded. "If more than half agree, the Holy Knight Federation will officially join Tomorrow's Development. If not—"
"Forget the vote, I'm already the Pioneer's dog!" someone yelled from the crowd.
"Yeah, who needs a vote? I'm joining right now!"
"Pioneer! I'm booting up my game for you!"
The uproar exploded like thunder. Thousands of players were already chanting, and it seemed that reaching a majority wouldn't take long at all.
Mr. Han couldn't help but smile.
Nearby, a few players scrambled to set up a proper ballot box—just for formality's sake, of course.
The voting lasted an entire day.
Players who had logged off for meals or rest were dragged back online by friends to cast their votes.
For the CN players, it was a foregone conclusion—they didn't even have to think about it.
The Japanese, Korean, and other Asian players too decided to join, when they saw the rewards listed in Tomorrow's Development's faction shop. They become more excited.
When the final results came in, the approval rate stood at a staggering 99.4%.
That was all Mr. Han needed to hear. As for the remaining 0.6%—whether they quit or switched sides later—well, that wasn't his concern.
When Felix received the news, he was in the workshop, instructing a group of players on crafting techniques.
Mr. Han arrived, eager to deliver the good news—but ended up staying for the entire lesson instead.
By the time he left, his own crafting proficiency had jumped by 30%.
Such was the terrifying brilliance—the golden touch—of Felix, the Pioneer himself.
Loughshinny was busy helping players in the infirmary. During her time in Tomorrow's Development, she had learned a bit of basic medical practice. After Felix received Kal'tsit's approval, she even got some private lessons from him. She'd become quite proficient at easing the symptoms of Oripathy patients.
Among those warmly welcomed by the players were Platinum, Skadi, and Degenbrecher. The three of them, each with their own cool, composed aura, were showered with gifts as usual. But they had long since grown used to such attention—after all, it wasn't much different from how they were treated back in Lungmen.
Soon enough, players began lining up to challenge them. Most of the requests went to Platinum and Skadi, while fewer dared to invite Degenbrecher. It wasn't surprising—everyone still remembered the recruitment video from Tomorrow's Development's first event, where Degenbrecher had single-handedly beaten a team of professional players into the ground with her twin swords. Even if the players' levels had improved since then, their attributes certainly hadn't caught up.
However, it didn't take long for them to realize that Platinum and Skadi were far from ordinary opponents either. Platinum, a sniper, shocked everyone when she switched to close combat—her martial skills were sharp, almost predatory. She used her arrows like daggers and swung her bow like a massive blade. Someone in the crowd shouted, "She's like red archer!"—a reference that immediately resonated with everyone watching. Her battle style really did resemble that idealistic, blade-wielding hero: precise, adaptable, and utterly fearless whether up close or from afar.
As for Skadi—no one even dared to mock or challenge her. She didn't use her usual greatsword—because that would be too unfair—but instead wielded a refined mechanical blade crafted by Felix himself. Though lighter and sleeker than her normal weapon, it was no less lethal. One by one, the players who challenged her were soundly defeated, crying out in exaggerated surrender. Many had come just to see her silver hair and red eyes up close—only to realize they were face-to-face with the goddess herself.
Beautiful and terrifyingly strong. In an instant, the crowd of challengers turned into Skadi's most devoted fan club.
Skadi, for her part, was thoroughly puzzled. She decided she'd have to ask Felix later why everyone was suddenly acting so strangely around her.
After joining Tomorrow's Development, players received a flood of production-related missions—tasks tied directly to the town's daily operations. They threw themselves into the work with enthusiasm, exchanging the points they earned for new equipment, skill books, and profession manuals. Overnight, the town's population transformed. What had once looked like a gathering of ragtag scavengers from some forgotten wasteland now resembled a well-armed band of mercenaries. The contrast was so dramatic that players logging in later that night rubbed their eyes in disbelief, wondering if they'd been transported to another world in their sleep.
Soon, Tomorrow's Development released its newest uniform line—Model L. Felix had taken bold design liberties this time, adding adjustable mechanical components and a small display interface on the forearm for drone control. The overall aesthetic leaned toward a sleek, futuristic look. The male version followed a modern mercenary style, while the female version…
Well, Felix admitted he took some inspiration from "Blacksilk International." The lower half featured standard-issue black stockings, part of Tomorrow's Development's formal attire. At first, the girls were shy about it—but once they realized everyone was wearing them, the hesitation vanished instantly.
Unsurprisingly, the LSP player base gave it unanimous approval.
With that, the Holy Knight Federation swiftly rose to become the most powerful player faction in all of Ursus's northern territories.
When the news reached Raph, he couldn't believe his ears. Scratching his head, he asked, "Wait—you're telling me the players I've been trading with all changed into those… high-tech uniforms?"
"Yeah, boss," one of his men replied. "And, uh… they look exactly like the Tomorrow's Development uniforms we saw on the forums."
Another muttered, "I remember both Sprite Squad and Team Navi were wearing those in their last Vlog…"
Raph fell silent for a moment. Then, with a sigh, he said practically, "Ask them if they're willing to trade. The North American trolls are gonna catch wind of this too. We need to get our hands on that gear before that clown XQC does."