Soon enough, the first player to take the plunge stepped forward.
A player with the ID [Qiu Muyu] approached Felix. She had previously bought a cheap armguard and still had some LMD left.
This time, she purchased a chestplate, leg armor, and a dagger. After spending nearly 4,000 LMD, she was notified that her favorability with Felix had reached 5.
Felix immediately recognized her ID. In his previous life, Qiu Muyu was a somewhat well-known name—not just because her character model had been created using a real-life face scan (a feature only available to those confident in their appearance), but because she had also been a talented production player with a passion for crafting.
Production players were highly valued. In the mid-to-late stages of the game, they were often essential members of adventuring teams. They could repair equipment durability on the fly and even craft new gear when old ones broke down—essentially mobile blacksmiths and support logistics all in one.
Qiu Muyu eventually entered the professional circuit as a support player during the second season and performed impressively in team-based competitions.
Since Felix himself had been a support player in his past life, her name naturally stood out in his memory.
As she glanced at the bookstore now accessible to her, Qiu Muyu said in a cheerful tone, "These are job transfer books for main professions!"
"What?!"
The surrounding players erupted with excitement.
At this stage of the game, most players only had access to common secondary occupations—miners, farmers, hunters, and other labor-focused jobs. It was widely believed that main class transfer books could only be obtained after reaching a major city or forming a relationship with a significant faction. According to the game's lore and design, unlocking such books required completing numerous tasks and building rapport with influential NPCs.
Some lucky professional players or early-access veterans might already have access to main classes—but they would never reveal that publicly. Their goal was to capitalize on this information gap to stay ahead of the general player base.
"Wow! There are main class books for Guard, Sniper, Defender, and Support," Qiu Muyu said excitedly. "And a whole range of secondary class transfer books too—Technician, Crossbowman, Blacksmith...!"
Her voice practically sparkled with joy.
The surrounding players' eyes lit up. Many of those who had chosen the Kuranta race were drawn to the aesthetic of armored warriors and battlefield glory. The idea of becoming a Knight Templar, clad in full armor and wielding a shining sword and shield, was incredibly enticing.
Among the four main professions offered by this mysterious Sankta NPC, three clearly aligned with the fantasy of a knight's life. Guards excelled in offense. Snipers, though seemingly mismatched with heavy armor, specialized in long-range attacks using crossbows. And Defender was self-explanatory: wielding massive shields and acting as the unshakable Iron Wall of any team.
What was needed to purchase a job transfer book wasn't LMD—but experience points. This made Qiu Muyu, who had just spent nearly all her money, breathe a sigh of relief. She still had plenty of experience saved up. After all, as a self-proclaimed hoarder, she believed it was safest to store resources in her backpack. While investing in equipment for short-term gains was acceptable, she knew it wasn't wise to burn through all assets at once.
With the job transfer book in hand, Qiu Muyu immediately began flipping through it. Five minutes later, she smiled and said, "I've unlocked the main profession."
"Ohhhhhhhh!"
"Damn, I need to buy some equipment—quick, I want to change class to a Guard!"
"I'm coming in hot! I'm Iron 1! Get out of my way, I need that handsome guy!"
A frenzy broke out.
Players surged forward, surrounding Felix in three thick layers. All of them eagerly pulled out their money, buying equipment in a rush. Once they had purchased five pieces, their favorability was locked at 5, finally unlocking access to the job transfer books they had been desperate for.
Many sat down right on the spot, flipping through their newly acquired books. After unlocking their main profession, they all exclaimed in delight. The security that came with having a main class was a feeling others couldn't quite understand. Not to mention the visible boost in attribute points—this tangible sense of growing stronger was absolutely addictive.
In a short span of time, hundreds of players purchased new gear and job transfer books from Felix. His earnings skyrocketed—over 200,000 LMD and 100,000 experience points in total.
As he continued handling business with the players, a post about him exploded on the game's forum. His handsome face, coupled with his stylish outfit, quickly caught attention. The accompanying photos even included close-ups of the Black Hawk pistol he had been selling. At a glance, the forum identified the poster: Dream Chaser (Tiantang Zhuimeng).
"I met a high-level NPC in Noel Town. He's a young man from the Sankta tribe, sort of like a Crazy Dave-type who sells gear out of a truck. You can buy weapons and armor from him that are far superior to what's available in Novice Town. If you purchase five pieces of equipment, you'll unlock a bookstore. Then, using experience points, you can buy job transfer books for Guards, Snipers, Defender, Support, and even some secondary professions."
Tiantang Zhuimeng included his personal analysis in the post:
"You'll run into many merchants in Noel Town, but none of them offer the same quality of gear as this angel NPC. I suspect he isn't native to this area. He's likely an NPC from a major city map, possibly even a central merchant character."
Felix, curious and slightly amused, continued reading the thread.
"Tiantang Zhuimeng lives up to his name," another player chimed in.
"He broke down everything about this NPC step by step. From the gear on his body—clearly mechanical in nature—we can guess he may have a secondary profession as a mechanic. The revolvers on his waist and thighs? Definitely Laterano-style. That's consistent with the angelic race that specializes in firearms."
But most striking of all was the final detail:
"His danger level is red—the highest tier. That alone tells me this NPC must belong to a powerful faction or hold a high-ranking position in Laterano. Interacting with him may even unlock a new storyline quest. Aside from the white-haired cat girl teased on the official site, he may be the first true protagonist NPC we meet in Ark."
His post was soon featured and pinned to the top of the forum. Many users rewarded him, while others flooded the comments section with questions—most notably, asking for Noel Town's location. Players eager to get ahead began packing up and setting out toward the now-famous destination.
Players in Kazimierz felt fortunate; reaching Noel Town would only take a few days of travel. However, those in Higashi and Yan, located much farther away, could only sigh at the long journey required.
As for the mechanical gear and red danger level that Brother Dream had mentioned, players across the forum reached a consensus: this NPC was legitimately powerful. Just look at him—a male model's build, a celebrity's face, dressed in cutting-edge equipment. The gleam of metallic machinery made the male players envious, while the female players went into Jimei Gaochao mode the moment they saw Felix's photo.
Few people questioned whether this high-level NPC was truly a protagonist. After all, just one look told you—this pioneer had presence. He was calm and charming, in stark contrast to the cold, indifferent catgirl shown on the official website. Both seemed designed to reflect completely different archetypes.
Some players, half-serious and half-joking, even suggested testing Felix's strength by having a local player in Noel Town attack him. They promised generous rewards, hoping someone greedy enough would take the bait. The post gained many likes—but no comments. No one wanted to be the first fool to try.
Seeing all this, Felix realized he needed a better way to show off his power. But he wasn't a vanguard or a melee fighter who could slice enemies in half with a single blow. If he wanted to defeat foes in a flashy, memorable way, he'd have to get creative.
After all, support classes shine when giving teamwide buffs. To truly fight solo, he'd have to wait until the mid-to-late stages of the mechanic class, when he could finally construct mechanical pets to act on his commands—then, and only then, could he achieve that awe-inspiring "one-man army" feel.
With the store now completely sold out, Felix temporarily hung up a "Sold Out" sign and made his way back toward the village.
Now, every move he made drew attention. Wherever he went, a crowd followed, eyes fixed on him with curiosity and fascination.
Glancing at the wanted list, he noted the usual bounties—common beasts, Originium Slug monsters—but the highest-ranked task caught his eye: a mission to hunt down the Claw Beast in the mountains.
Claw Beasts were infected creatures native to the rivers and wilderness of Kazimierz. Sorcerers often captured and bred them to use in brutal knight training and beast-fighting performances. But for the people of Noel Town, these beasts were nothing but a deadly threat. They had no knights to train, no arenas to entertain—only families to protect.
Taking the bounty notice, Felix quickly drafted a mission and sent it out to the nearby players.
[Mysterious Man's Actions]
Mission Details: A mysterious merchant from the Sankta tribe has accepted the bounty from Noel Town. It appears he is preparing to remove a major threat to the town. Assist this mysterious man—he will not forget your help.
"Another mission? No… wait—is this a prize pool mission?"
The players quickly noticed the requirements for participation: a 200 experience point registration fee. They could take on the Claw Beast assault mission either solo or in teams. The team that dealt the most damage to the Claw Beast horde would earn 30% of the total prize pool experience, with the remaining rewards distributed by rank.
But players didn't see this as a gamble. Quite the opposite—they were confident. In teams, they believed they could easily top the damage charts and secure the best rewards.
"Brave adventurers, I have a favor to ask of you…"
"It's the Claw Beast, right? I've had a grudge with them for ages. Mr. Pioneer, you must take me with you this time!"
"Mr. Pioneer, they say strength lies in numbers. Bring us along—we'll have your back!"
"+1!"
Before Felix could finish speaking, he was once again overwhelmed by the players' enthusiastic response. A gentle, grateful smile formed on his lips.
"Thank you for your help," he said warmly. "I will remember it."
The players were thrilled. This high-level NPC wasn't just handsome, he was also eloquent and kind—a true protagonist-type character.
Surely the white-haired cat girl from the official website would speak just as elegantly.
"The Claw Beasts have poor vision," Felix explained calmly. "They stop foraging at night and return to the lake to rest. We must intercept them before they reach the lake, to ensure the water isn't polluted by their infected blood."
"Rest up, adventurers. We move out tonight."
The mission listed several additional objectives: prevent the Claw Beasts from reaching the lake, and stop their infected blood from contaminating the water source.
News of the mission spread like wildfire. Many players were already growing weary of the daily grind—mining and hunting small animals. They were itching to test their new weapons in real combat and unleash the battlelust building in their hearts.
Now, that chance had finally arrived.
The prize pool initially promised a minimum of 5,000 experience points. But as more and more players registered, the total soared. Everyone was fired up—dreaming of what they'd do with the rewards if their team placed first. And beyond that, they were genuinely excited at the chance to fight alongside a powerful, mysterious NPC in a major encounter.
By nightfall, the players were lined up outside Noel Town, their gear polished and ready. Eyes gleamed with anticipation. Hands gripped weapons tightly. For many, this would be their first true expedition.
Under the glow of torches, an angel with short light grey hair emerged from behind the crowd. The players instinctively made way for him, and the golden radiance from his halo and wings spilled gently onto the ground.
He walked to the front, turned around, and said nothing. His expression was solemn as his eyes swept across the faces of the nearly four-digit number of players gathered, each one confident and eager to join the battle.
The players at the front suddenly felt a shift—like they were no longer individuals, but a unified team. Some instinctively checked their attribute panels, and gasped when they noticed significant buffs across their stats.
"This mysterious NPC… is he actually a support?"
"These buffs are insane. My strength and endurance both went up by +3. I feel like I could tank anything now!"
"Wait, I didn't get any buffs… Do you have to stand near him to get the bonus?"
"Looks like it. And the bonuses seem to differ by class. I'm a Guard, and I got strength and agility."
"Support-types are way too strong in group fights."
The players murmured excitedly among themselves. Those who didn't receive the buffs instantly regretted not pushing their way to the front—if only they'd been close enough to be counted as part of the angel's "team."
Tiantang Zhuimeng glanced at his own buffs—strength and dexterity, just as expected. He'd managed to squeeze near the front and caught the team bonus just in time. The conviction in his heart grew even stronger: this "pioneer" had to be a main character from some major region on the map.
In this land of the Ark, where cold weapons reigned supreme and magic firearms were used only for support, could this man be the commander of a powerful legion? With his aura active, every member of his unit would receive attribute boosts—how could he be anything but a high-ranking protagonist-type NPC?
He was powerful, and thankfully, not hostile. Tiantang Zhuimeng might be rich, but he wasn't foolish. He exchanged a look with the two other high-level players and Qiu Muyu, who had temporarily joined their party. Quietly, they all moved a few steps closer to the angel.
Felix smiled subtly. The experience gained from his earlier activities had just upgraded his Team Support skill to Lv. 10—plenty enough to let the players enjoy themselves tonight.
"We've arrived."
The players fell silent.
From up ahead, they could faintly hear a rustling noise—soft, but unnatural. A few bold players dropped to the grass to scout ahead, and what they saw sent a shiver down their spines.
They were creatures like a grotesque blend of crab and scorpion—six legs, two enormous claws. Under the dim flicker of light, the skittering of their limbs created a constant, nerve-racking sound that made everyone's skin crawl.
It was like someone had taken a real-world cockroach, magnified it five times, and gave it the thickness of a human calf.
For some players, that was enough reason to wish for death on the spot.