The follow-up work was handed over to Yara, who would represent Rhine Lab—and by extension, Felix—in all communications with the Pioneer Association.
Aside from the Pathfinder project, Felix was still keeping an eye on the black market business in Columbia. However, this time he didn't appear in person. Just as he had done in Kazimierz , he entrusted professionals in the trade to negotiate on his behalf. After all, as a member of the Sankta tribe, even with his face concealed, his distinct aura was unmistakable.
In Columbia, it wasn't the mafia that dominated underground circles, but rather a vibrant street culture—skateboarding, graffiti, rap. When Felix thought of street culture, he pictured spirited young men in flashy gold chains and sunglasses, hanging out by the roadside, immersed in their own entertainment.
Of course, wherever there are crowds, there will be conflicts—and where there are conflicts, organizations inevitably form. That's why Felix wasn't concerned about selling his crossbows. Especially in a country like Columbia, home to a vast immigrant population—where discrimination, though not overt, still lingered beneath the surface.
The Sankta people were rare in Columbia, and as in other mobile cities, those who had truly left Laterano remained a small minority.
To others, Muelsyse's work might seem monotonous and dull. But as an elf, cultivating plants and researching ecosystems was profoundly meaningful. Elves had a far more intense reaction to Originium—ten times stronger than that of ordinary people. This heightened sensitivity made it nearly impossible for them to adapt to the harsh, contaminated lands of Terra. Only a few oasis-like sanctuaries remained habitable, and her tribe teetered on the edge of extinction.
She piloted the Pathfinder drone like playing a game, spraying a little water here, a little there—adding a bit of fun to her otherwise repetitive daily routine.
Thinking of this, she quietly created several water clones to check in on the projects her colleagues were working on. Her true body remained in the ecological park, where she felt most at ease. However, she never used her water clones in formal settings—it would be impolite to her friends.
"Let's see… Kristen is still writing her report, and Saria's practicing boxing…" Muelsyse's tiny water avatars popped up all around Rhine Lab, like mischievous little sprites.
One water clone peeked out from a glass of water and let out a yawn—surprisingly lifelike. Resting its chin in its hands, the miniature Muelsyse looked across the room at a distant workbench, where sparks were flying.
There was Felix, hard at work again—this time, forging armor.
Just a month after he had joined the company, it became apparent to everyone—Kristen, Saria, and the rest—that Felix was far from being just a scholar. He was a hands-on engineer with formidable technical skills. In addition to his expertise in mechanical design and firearms research, he also displayed exceptional talent in metallurgy and craftsmanship. While most gifted individuals might master a single field, Felix stood out as someone who excelled in four distinct research areas.
Even Ferdinand, who had always held himself in high regard, deeply respected Felix. He saw him as both a partner and a worthy rival—someone who could drive him forward. Upon learning that Felix was also a shareholder of Rhine Lab, he privately admired the man's keen business insight.
This recent period of forging and hammering had brought Felix considerable experience. Combined with what he had accumulated before arriving in Columbia, his gunsmith apprentice level had now reached Lv15.
As for the Gunsmith's Job Transfer Book, it was naturally unavailable through the Commercial Union. Instead, Felix connected to the Laterano Notary Office via a computer terminal and exchanged the merit points he had never used during his time as a Messenger for a gunsmith's promotion knowledge—just like how a player would proceed in the game.
After reading the book, his apprentice class advanced from Gunsmith Apprentice Lv15 to Apprentice Gunsmith Lv1. Now, alongside his Apprentice Mechanic class, both professions had entered the third stage of apprentice-level jobs.
The fourth stage of a profession capped at Level 20 and required a significantly larger pool of experience. Promotion from the third to the fourth stage wasn't based solely on advancement knowledge—it also required completing a random profession task upon reaching the maximum level in order to successfully advance.
Some of these professional tasks were notoriously difficult. For example, a heavy-armored player might be required to withstand a specific amount of damage, both physical and mental. Essentially, they were asked to endure punishment—and survive it—without making a fatal mistake.
Thinking of this, Felix opened his panel and checked the progress of his trainee mechanic.
His Apprentice Mechanic was now Lv15, but both advancement bars were still empty—one for promotion knowledge, the other for the advancement task. He hadn't yet read Dürrenmatt's promotion book, so for now, the task route was more critical.
After a moment of thought, he tapped the task bar and initiated the system's arrangement.
The mission appeared instantly.
[You have triggered a C-level mission: [Mechanic] Accept / Decline?]
[Mission Details: Prove that you are capable of handling more complex blueprints and intricate designs. You've decided to challenge yourself.]
[Mission Requirement: Craft a piece of blue-quality mechanical equipment.]
[Reward: 50,000 Experience]
"Oh, dear God…" Felix muttered inwardly.
Blue-quality—that was the kind of equipment quality players could barely craft even at the tail end of version 2.0. And his current level wasn't far behind those players who had reached mid-to-late 2.0 progression.
Two challenges stood in the way of crafting blue-quality mechanical equipment. The first was the blueprint gamble. If he could secure a blueprint that guaranteed at least green-quality output, he could then enhance it by adding modules during the manufacturing process. Just like with the Hunter model: the blueprint itself was originally white, but after Felix added a module, it upgraded to yellow-quality.
The second issue was materials. Currently, he could only purchase common-grade materials through the Chamber of Commerce. Acquiring high-grade raw materials was not only expensive but also inconsistent—he could easily end up with no supply available even if demand existed.
In his previous life, this wouldn't have been a problem. He could simply trade with gathering-focused players. But now, gathering players were still too low-level. He couldn't afford to wait until version 2.0 for a functional supply chain.
If all else failed, he could always turn to the black market or the auction house. Felix made a mental note of this as a last resort, then turned his attention back to the blueprints he was analyzing.
"It's not a good habit to get distracted while working~"
A soft voice echoed nearby. Felix turned his head and found a miniature Muelsyse perched on the edge of his water cup, her little legs swinging as she smiled at him.
"Muelsyse, is your job really that easy?" Felix frowned, taking a seat again. "You might be the only one in Rhine Lab who enjoys spying on others at work."
"Don't you like it when I drop by?" Little Muelsyse huffed, putting her hands on her hips and feigning indignation.
Felix chuckled and shook his head. "It's not that I mind your visits. But do you really have to watch me reverse-engineer blueprints? It's not exactly thrilling."
"I think it's quite fascinating."
Muelsyse strolled across the desk, her hands clasped behind her back, leaving no trace of moisture. Her precise control over the water clone was evident. She leaned closer to the blueprint. "Hey, this is one of Columbia's military power mechs!"
Felix nodded, sliding his chair beside her. "It's a project from the Colombian military. Most of the tech firms involved signed confidentiality agreements. They're planning to upgrade existing models. Rhine Lab wasn't originally part of it, but someone in the military remembered me from that meeting."
"Don't work yourself too hard," Muelsyse advised, placing her hands on her hips. "When your brain is exhausted, a little candy helps."
Felix leaned forward and poked her cheek. It felt like the soft texture of pure water.
Wink~
Muelsyse responded with a playful wink—utterly adorable.
She clearly knew how cute she was. Smiling, she wandered around Felix's desk. "I brought you some candy. You'll need to open the door later."
"Alright."
With that, Muelsyse returned to the water cup. She gave a small, sleepy yawn—charming as always—before dissolving back into clear water.
Felix picked up the cup and took a sip. Hm. Tasted no different from before.
Checking the time, he realized it was time to depart for his next destination.
He bid a temporary farewell to his colleagues at Rhine Lab. Saria wished him a safe journey. Kristen didn't say much—just offered a quiet smile. Muelsyse seemed a little unwilling to part but still saw him off with a cheerful wave.
---
Before leaving Columbia, Felix stopped by Barichara once more.
The town was far livelier than before. Just like Noel in the Kazimierz region, Barichara had become a key gathering spot for players. As Felix drove into town in a military pickup, he was stunned by the crowds.
"Hey, is that the outsider from the report?"
Clack—the lid of his water cup popped open. Muelsyse, now wearing a white lab coat, appeared in the passenger seat. She stretched lazily, then looked at the surprised Felix and gave him a wink. "What's the matter? I told you we'd meet again."
Felix hadn't expected it. "Just how far can your Originium Arts reach?"
"Well, theoretically, I can influence any water elements within range. But the farther the distance, the harder it is to maintain control," Muelsyse mused, tapping her chin. "But right now, I'm only managing this one clone, and I have my Originium staff with me. So technically, wherever you go, I can follow."
"Of course, I can't appear for too long each time. I'm not exactly a superhero from the movies, after all."
Muelsyse laughed. She reached into the passenger side drawer, pulled out a piece of candy, broke it in half, and handed a portion to Felix.
"Here, have a candy before we talk."
Felix had no choice but to accept it. The taste—orange flavored. Not bad.
"Next, I'll get in touch with them," Felix said.
Muelsyse hummed in reply. "Then I won't bother you for now. See you tonight~"
With that, her figure gradually turned into clear, transparent water and returned to Felix's water bottle.
Felix stepped out of the car. The players, now familiar with the Pioneer, came up to greet him with smiles. When they opened the store, they were surprised to find stronger equipment available. It seemed the Pioneer had been restocking during his time away.
In the meantime, players had gradually become wealthier. Having gotten used to this new economy, many of those who had previously purchased equipment from Felix chose to continue upgrading. His wares were far superior to the scrap metal sold in town, and the attributes they provided were impressive.
"Mr. Pioneer, do you have any traps or weapons for special professions?"
The question came from a player named Magic ZX. Felix glanced at him—he remembered the name. A well-known senior content creator. Magic ZX had chosen a niche class that most considered useless in the early game, yet he consistently managed to use low-level special-class gear to defeat bosses and deal damage effectively. Clearly, he had a deep understanding of the game.
Felix thought for a moment and asked, "Are you specializing in a unique class?"
"Yes," Magic ZX replied.
"I see. You have great potential. Coincidentally, I might need the assistance of a special-class trap expert on my next journey. Would you like to be my temporary assistant?"
Magic ZX's eyes widened in disbelief. Was this... a hidden quest? Could his luck really be that good? He was so excited he felt like pulling out his clappers and launching into a comedy monologue on the spot.
The players nearby erupted in a commotion.
"He triggered a hidden quest—just like Qiu Muyu!"
"Damn, that's crazy! Is the trigger condition to have a special class? Or do you have to tell the Pioneer yourself?"
"Wait, every time the Pioneer shows up, there's a chance for a hidden quest, right? Wasn't there another player before Qiu Muyu—someone named Dandao Dantart—who also triggered one?"
"No way! It's Magic Teacher! He's on a roll!"
Suddenly, Felix was surrounded by players, each trying to strike up a conversation with him. A few players with special classes volunteered to join him on his journey, but Felix declined them all.
"Does that mean only the first person to talk to him can trigger the hidden main quest?"
Someone muttered the question, and soon the crowd descended into noisy speculation. Everyone began talking over one another, and the camp buzzed with excitement.
Magic ZX was overjoyed. He had always wanted to make a video about the Pioneers—the first high-level NPCs to appear in the player world—and now he had the opportunity to work closely with one. He could turn this story into a whole series, and with his laid-back commentary style, it was sure to draw attention.
Coincidentally, Felix had the same idea.
He knew that if he stayed away too long, players would forget about him. So this partnership worked perfectly. Magic ZX needed content. Felix needed popularity among the players. Together, they could both profit.
Dandao Dantart came over to Magic ZX and said, "Congratulations. I hope I can learn from you in the future, Magic Teacher."
"You're too kind," Magic ZX replied with a smile and a nod.