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Chapter 2: Stealth – An Essential Element of the Game
The harsh white light of dawn seeped through the cracks in the window, casting faint illumination on the dimly lit floor. Viya watched as her "body" moved around the room without any rhyme or reason—sometimes stopping by the fridge, other times hovering near the desk—but never actually doing anything.
She could vaguely hear some strange mutterings: "Where’s the main quest? Where’s the story guide? What should I do next?"
Lin Qi was baffled.
He had turned the entire room upside down, but the quest log remained stubbornly empty, making him wonder if there was a bug.
If you really have nothing for me to do… why not show some mercy and let me eat something already… Viya thought weakly, her hunger growing unbearable after skipping breakfast and enduring this bizarre ordeal.
"Hungry?"
The sudden voice that echoed in her mind froze Viya's expression.
... ...
While still pondering the situation, Lin Qi opened the character menu and noticed a glaring hunger debuff in the upper-right corner. It all clicked into place.
So this is a survival game!
No quest guide makes sense now; these types of games are known for their minimal direction.
"Hungry?" Lin Qi frowned.
Where could he get food?
Generally speaking, food was often obtained through hunting or fishing, but considering the game's urban setting, those options were out of the question.
The only solution was—
Buying it!
Viya felt her body move again. She watched as her "self" walked toward the door, grasped the handle, turned it firmly, and stepped out into the brightly lit street.
... ...
Lin Qi didn’t know the way.
But thankfully, the game wasn’t sadistic enough to leave players completely clueless about exploration. The map wasn’t entirely blacked out, with some key locations marked.
People bustled past each other, and even in the early morning, the market retained its bustling nature.
Soon, Lin Qi easily locked onto his target—a bakery called "Holley," above which a blue exclamation mark hovered quietly in the air.
"Oh, little Viya, long time no see," an elderly woman with a hunched back greeted Viya with a wrinkled smile. "Would you like your usual favorite cream bread? It’s on sale today."
Mrs. Holley, your bread really does taste amazing... Viya swallowed hard.
Taking advantage of the downtime during the cutscene, Lin Qi skillfully scrolled through short videos. He wasn’t particularly interested in the plot, and the client probably didn’t want anyone nitpicking the storyline anyway. Why not use this opportunity to create some value for himself?
"Little Viya, are you feeling unwell?" Mrs. Holley asked worriedly when Viya remained expressionless and silent.
What’s going on... Lin Qi looked up from his phone, confused by the sudden silence in his headphones. He noticed a text input box at the bottom of the screen.
Wait, so I have to type the dialogue myself?
Lin Qi was instantly intrigued. He’d seen discussions in online communities about integrating AI into NPC conversations, but he’d never expected a game to actually implement it.
"Zoned out for a bit," he typed in response, then added impulsively: "Do you know you’re an AI?"
"What did you say, little Viya?" Mrs. Holley asked, bewildered.
Figures... Lin Qi lost interest in teasing the NPC.
He quickly typed into the chatbox: "Just give me something cheap."
"Five copper coins." Mrs. Holley weighed the cheapest rye bread, placed it carefully into a paper bag, and handed it to Viya.
"..." Lin Qi opened the inventory, double-checking the empty backpack inside and out. Confirming he had no coins, he reluctantly typed: "No money."
Hearing Viya deliver the line devoid of emotion, combined with previous oddities, Mrs. Holley’s heart sank. But she maintained her smile: "As thanks for delivering flowers to Mr. Ian last time, this one’s on me."
This can’t be right! I have money! It’s hidden under the bed... Viya screamed silently. She’d already received so much help from Mrs. Holley and didn’t want to owe her any more favors.
But fate had other plans. Her body responded indifferently: "Fine..."
Just as the conversation ended, a commotion erupted from a nearby alley. Several burly men surrounded a worker, their faces menacing.
The Old Fire Gang. Viya knew them well—a group of loan sharks who preyed on the vulnerable. When she first arrived in the city, they targeted her too, but luckily, she managed to escape.
What made them especially troublesome was that their loan profits hovered just within legal limits, making it difficult for victims to defend themselves legally without facing retaliation.
Like slugs—sticky and disgusting... Viya thought bitterly.
"Oh, looks like we’ve got a gangster subplot," Lin Qi munched on snacks with interest.
The close-up shot of the men in the alley hadn’t been meaningless—he was certain of it. Games with high freedom often provided multiple ways to progress the story.
What if, since I don’t have money right now, I could just... get some?
While accepting charity would be convenient, Lin Qi wanted to experience the game’s combat system instead.
"Hold on."
Viya left that line behind and headed toward the alley, walking straight toward the Old Fire Gang.
... ...
Viya figured she must be sick.
Ever since waking up, her body seemed possessed, acting on its own and doing inexplicable things—like slamming her face into walls or running and jumping randomly...
Watching herself “voluntarily” walk toward where the Old Fire Gang had gone, combined with everything else, Viya couldn’t shake a bad feeling.
Inside the alley.
The group of men in gray coats casually strolled to the end of the alley. The leader glanced left and right, confirming no one was around, before relaxing and lighting a cigarette, chatting idly with his companions.
"Did you hear? The 'goods' have arrived, and we’ve stockpiled quite a bit. Are you sure it’s safe?"
"Don’t worry, everything’s been taken care of. No one will notice for at least ten days. By then, we’ll already be out of the country."
Goods?
Lin Qi tensed.
He feared the "goods" referred to something he couldn’t broadcast, given how much he liked the game so far and hoped to capitalize on guides and gameplay walkthroughs once it officially launched.
"They won’t escape." The leader flicked away the cigarette butt. "Most of our targets are students—they rarely fight back."
Thank goodness... Lin Qi sighed in relief, a smile returning to his face.
So they’re just human traffickers, not THAT kind of criminals.
These bastards are involved in human trafficking?! Viya’s pupils dilated in shock. She realized she might have overheard something truly sinister.
Tap, tap, tap—
The sound of hurried footsteps echoed through the alley again.
Viya turned her head and saw the group moving again, heading toward a corner on the right. Then she found her body moving too, following them.
Call the police! What am I, a regular person, supposed to do by following them? Am I helping them rack up stats? Viya tried to regain control of her body, but it was futile.
... ...
Nearly half an hour later, they traveled from the outer ring of the city to an abandoned area devoid of people. The hum of alchemical machinery faded into the distance.
The desolation reminded Viya of her hometown, bringing her a fleeting sense of comfort... As if!
Great mysterious existence, ancient spirit lingering forever, if you want to toy with mortals or have some other purpose, please don’t choose me, a poor student! If you need recommendations, I can suggest a few better candidates who’ll surely meet your needs.
Viya thought pitifully, dredging up every scrap of knowledge she had to piece together this awkward prayer.
Unfortunately, the so-called "mysterious entity" showed no interest in responding, continuing to control her movements. Using various objects as cover, Viya’s body followed the Old Fire Gang stealthily until they entered an old textile factory.
Thick vegetation covered the roof of the factory, and the glass windows were filthy, clearly abandoned for years. Aging machinery groaned and clattered noisily.
Several men stood at the entrance, gray flintlock pistols hanging from their waists. Viya recognized them—cheap alchemical contraptions from the Delina Factory, notorious for their poor accuracy and quality, often used as disposable weapons.
Didn’t they ban these things five years ago? Viya wondered.
"So it’s a hidden dungeon."
Lin Qi wore a satisfied smirk.
Finally, the moment he’d been waiting for had arrived.
This design was common in open-world games: turning distinctive buildings into open strongholds filled with treasure chests and enemies, then marking them with a question mark on the map.
Lin Qi didn’t choose to storm the gates heroically—it would be too boring, too formulaic. Killing, sweeping, handing in quests—that was for late-game fatigue.
"At this point, let’s go stealth!"
Stealth... Viya blinked.
Her body moved again, picking up a half-meter-tall wooden crate nearby. She crouched down and slipped it over herself as camouflage.
Her footsteps were light—quieter than her heartbeat.
‘...?’
Viya almost laughed in disbelief.
Are you telling me a wooden crate can fool those ruthless thugs?
Anyone with half a brain would see through this!
Reflected in her azure eyes were the approaching figures. Viya instinctively held her breath.
BANG—
The sound of a bottle falling shattered the silence.
"Who’s there?!" Guard Orlé lowered his wine glass and exchanged glances with another guard.
"I’ll check it out."
Oh no... Viya peeked through a hole in the crate, watching the bottle she accidentally knocked over roll away. Her heart pounded wildly as slow, deliberate footsteps approached.
Orlé walked closer, staring straight ahead.
In the clearing, a wooden crate sat conspicuously in the center, surrounded by nothing else. Orlé stared at it for a long moment.
It was as if he were peering through the wood directly at Viya.
But the next second—
"All clear." Orlé relaxed, turning back to wave at his companion. "Probably just a damn rat running around. Nothing to worry about."
They didn’t catch me?!
Viya wasn’t sure whether to feel relieved or laugh at how absurd the situation had become.
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