"What do you think of this paper? It shows a lot of innovative thinking… I think it's closely related to Felix being a Sankta. He has such bold, imaginative ideas when it comes to scientific research."
"I find it remarkably rigorous. The Maylander Foundation has really discovered a promising talent."
"Oh my god, look at Professor Taylor and Professor Mei! Professor Taylor is usually so stern, but now he's actually smiling. And Professor Mei—she's clapping like crazy! These two are renowned mentors for young scientists!"
Felix's appearance had made a profound impact on Columbia's scientific community. The seminar was a resounding success. For many, this was their first time meeting Felix—the Director of the Mechanical Power Department at Rhine Lab Sciences—and they were clearly impressed. After the seminar, several young scientists came up to introduce themselves. Their words were filled with admiration and praise—partly because of Felix's youth, but more so because of his evident talent.
Professor Taylor and Professor Mei soon approached Felix, along with several professors from Trimount Polytechnic University—many of whom had once been Felix's instructors.
As the group of professors surrounded him, the other scientists nearby scattered like mice fleeing from a cat. Some of them had studied under those same professors and clearly didn't want to be noticed, as if afraid their own unfinished theses might be brought up for revision.
Felix maintained a very good relationship with his former professors—largely because he had always been something of a problem student. After every class, he bombarded them with questions, never hesitating to dig deeper. His curiosity and constant progress left a strong impression, and his mentors couldn't have been more pleased with his growth.
These relationships opened new doors for Felix. After all, a professor's former and future students made up an entire network—connections that Felix could now tap into. While others at the seminar saw his growing reputation, Felix saw the beginnings of a vast relationship web... all of which he could one day use.
Meanwhile, the old guard of Columbia's scientific community quietly turned away, wearing expressions that suggested they had just been left behind by the times. And, in truth, they had. On the land of Terra—where survival of the fittest reigns—human progress relies on the younger generation pushing the older one forward.
After exchanging laughs and pleasant conversation with his professors, representatives from the Maylander Foundation stepped forward. With warm smiles, they offered a few words of encouragement before taking their leave.
"Let's head back to Rhine Lab!"
Muelsyse grabbed Felix's hand and raised it high, as if he had just won a championship boxing match. Kristen and Saria walked over, smiling in approval.
Yara, meanwhile, lowered her phone with a complex expression.
"A new letter of intent just came in," she said. "Right after Felix finished his seminar."
"Isn't that a good thing?"
"It is," Yara replied softly. "And I suspect even more graduates will choose to join Rhine Lab this year." She turned to Felix with a gentle smile. "That's thanks to the good relationship you've built with your professors."
Felix had made a name for himself in the scientific world. At the same time, his position within Rhine Lab was now publicly recognized—not just among the board of directors, but also among the broader body of researchers.
The next day, Felix came across a feature about himself in the magazine published by the Maylander Foundation. The article included a photo of him smiling beneath the spotlight as he delivered his speech. The headline read:
"Mechanical Power: A New Hope for the Department of Mechanical Engineering — Seminar Review of Felix, Top Student from Trimount Polytechnic Institute."
"…This article describes the deep integration between machinery and society, highlighting a vision that could usher urban development into a new era. Cities will no longer be confined to the ground, but may rise into the sky, offering a more flexible and efficient mode of transportation and lifestyle. This vision reflects not only the forward-thinking nature of scientific innovation but also opens up new possibilities for future societies. While many technical challenges remain, exploration in this direction is undoubtedly worthy of anticipation and attention…"
The author's lavish praise left Felix slightly dazed. He couldn't help but wonder—Wait, is this really talking about me?
Still, Felix had to admit, he had indeed made a name for himself in the scientific community. This was evident not only from the sudden influx of orders to the Mechanical Power Department, but also from the flood of letters of intent now sitting in his inbox.
Yet, what truly made him the happiest wasn't the success of the seminar. It was that, after half a year of hard work, he had finally unlocked all his secondary occupations.
Unlocking Mechanician granted him +10 Strength, +10 Intelligence, and +10 Charisma, along with 1 free attribute point. It also unlocked the skill [Mechanician Lv1 (0/300,000)], and the feature [Kinetic Amplifier Lv1 (1/200,000)], which significantly improved the agility and endurance of equipment by roughly 20% during manufacturing.
Unlocking High Energy Physicist granted him +10 Stamina, +10 Intelligence, and +10 Charisma, plus 1 free attribute point. This unlocked [High Energy Physicist Lv1 (0/300,000)] and the feature [Quantum Manufacturing Lv1 (1/200,000)], which cut the production time of all manufacturing-related secondary jobs by half.
Unlocking Ecologist brought +10 Intelligence, +10 Spirit, and +10 Charisma, with another free attribute point. It granted him [Ecologist Lv1 (0/300,000)] and unlocked [Sustainable Development Lv1 (1/200,000)], allowing him to view the pros and cons of terrain when constructing infrastructure or landscaping. It also significantly boosted the efficiency of gathering equipment and agricultural output—typically by 20%.
Finally, unlocking Originium Scholar granted +10 Stamina, +10 Intelligence, and +10 Charisma, along with a free attribute point. It included [Originium Scholar Lv1 (0/300,000)] and the feature [Originium Perception Lv1 (1/200,000)], which boosted Intelligence and Spirit by 50% when handling Originium or Originium-based equipment.
After raking in a windfall of experience and completing his long list of goals, Felix took one last look at his dashboard and let out a sigh of satisfaction.
With the arrival of March, Felix officially graduated from Trimount Polytechnic University. Though he had only studied there for half a year, the experience was rich and rewarding. Between his classes and relentless self-study, he had earned over a million experience points and completed all the objectives necessary to unlock his secondary career paths.
After graduating from Trimount Polytechnic Institute, Felix began planning his next journey—this time, to Victoria. He was still contemplating whether to bring his three little ones along. After all, they had just started middle school—would taking leave so soon affect their studies?
Dressed in a Rhine Lab research uniform, Felix walked down the street, lost in thought. He didn't notice the players sitting in the corner coffee shop.
Qiu Muyu and Xiao Xuegao were quietly enjoying the view from the café window, indulging in their cozy, bourgeois moment. But the instant they spotted the Pioneer walking past in his research attire, their eyes widened in disbelief.
By the time Felix disappeared from view, they finally reacted. Glancing at each other, they realized something was written plainly on their faces—shyness, awe, and the unmistakable blush of admiration.
"What's wrong?" Magic ZX asked, stirring his coffee with a spoon, his voice calm and magnetic.
"…Mr. Pioneer… he looks a lot more handsome," Qiu Muyu replied softly, her eyes still fixed on the street corner where Felix had vanished. She pursed her lips and subtly swallowed, trying to mask her reaction.
Xiao Xuegao giggled shyly, her face glowing. "The Pioneer wearing a research uniform… has an intellectual charm. Mmm… if only I could stay by his side every day."
"Hey, xiao xuegao," Qiu Muyu teased, "do you think he looks better just because of that uniform?"
"No way—is there really an outfit that can boost charm that much?"
Without further debate, the two girls made a joint decision: they would head straight to the high-end shopping district to look for inspiration. Meanwhile, Magic ZX and Yang Yan XF stayed seated, quietly sipping their coffee.
"At last, we saw the Pioneer again. It's like he vanished for months," Yang Yan XF sighed. "If only he could show up more often."
Magic ZX leaned in and whispered, "I heard… Mr. Pioneer has been writing his doctoral thesis these past few months."
"A doctoral thesis? Seriously?"
Yang Yan XF's eyes widened. He nodded slowly and pulled out a well-worn science magazine—one he'd read repeatedly over the past few days. "The first article is about Mr. Pioneer's seminar. His real name is even in it."
Taking a deep breath, he opened the article. The first thing he saw was a prominent name: Felix.
Though Yang Yan XF couldn't understand most of the technical content—unsurprising, given that few players were actual scientists—he could sense the scope of Terra's advanced technology through the details presented. Maybe the strategy team could even do a feature in Terra Times about the scientific community here.
"Mr. Pioneer is really incredible," Magic ZX murmured. "The identity we knew was just the surface. Who would've thought he was actually such a highly educated scientist? Makes me want to dive deeper into his story… He really is a protagonist NPC, with tales spanning across multiple domains."
The players' admiration, however, never reached Felix's ears.
Instead, he received an unexpected message from a Sankta messenger.
A Sankta had come to find him—bearing a letter… and a child.
Felix stared in shock at the little girl standing before him. "Rafaela? Why are you here?"
Standing beside the messenger was Rafaela—the child he hadn't seen since they parted ways the previous September. She looked slightly taller now, but her eyes were still as pure and clear as ever. Upon seeing Felix, tears welled up in them.
Taking a few unsteady steps forward, she moved toward him.
Felix quickly crouched down and hugging Rafaela's small frame into his arms.
When the Sankta messenger saw Felix's gesture, he lowered his head, a hint of respect flickering in his eyes. "This is the final wish of Pugh Silva."
Hearing the name, Felix lifted his head. "Can you tell me what happened?"
"While I was on a courier mission in Bolivar, I encountered a battle between the True Bolivar and another military force. Several key figures of the True Bolivar army were captured. At that moment, the client—Pugh Silva—led a force to rescue the captured personnel at great cost. He succeeded… but was seriously wounded in the process."
"Before his death, Pugh Silva asked me to bring his daughter to Trimount, Columbia, to find a Sankta named Felix," the messenger continued. "This request was met with opposition from many within the military, but since it was Silva's dying wish, I could not refuse—and neither could they."
Felix fell silent.
At that moment, he suddenly had the urge to drink—not the refined Anton wine so popular in Bolivar, but the everyday Gold Cup beer, the kind any ordinary person could afford.
"This is a letter," the messenger said, holding out an envelope. "These are Pugh Silva's final words, written down just before he passed. I now entrust it to you."
He took a few steps back and gave Felix a solemn salute. "My mission is complete… Farewell."
He could feel, through Sankta's shared empathy, the deep sorrow and shock that weighed on the younger sankta.
Felix gently patted Rafaela's back. At some point, she had fallen asleep on his shoulder, worn out from the journey. Holding her close, he stood up and carried her into Rhine Lab.
Several researchers passed by, nodding to greet Felix. Their eyes drifted curiously to the sleeping girl in his arms, but given Felix's position and reputation, none dared to speculate aloud.
After settling Rafaela into a bed in the dormitory, Felix closed the curtains and covered her with a thick quilt. Then, in the dim light of the room, he sat down in his office chair. His golden eyes blinked slowly in the darkness.
After a long moment, he opened the letter.
---
To Felix,
We parted ways last September, and I never imagined that would be our final goodbye. In these last moments of my life, I hope you will understand my final wish from the depths of your heart.
My daughter is the most precious thing in my world. Now that I'm gone, my greatest hope is for her to grow up in peace—free from the shadow of war—to live a simple, happy life. She is the proudest achievement of my life, the brightest light in my world. Please care for her with your warm hands. Give her love and understanding.
Felix, I believe you will become a pillar in her life, supporting her through each step of her growth. Please embrace her in my place when she needs a father's love. Offer her guidance when she is lost and uncertain, so that with your presence, she can find her path to happiness.
Thank you for being my friend, regardless of race or background… If not for the war, perhaps we could have been the kind of friends across generations found in novels. Thank you for taking on this responsibility. I pray my daughter will flourish under your care, grow up strong and joyful, and live a brilliant life of her own.
May the two of you find happiness in each other's company, leaving the pain of war behind, and walking together toward a warm and peaceful future.
Yours truly,
Old Pugh the Bartender