Chapter 913 - This Game Is Too Realistic

### Chapter 913: Operation North Wind Since the release of the "Southern Barbarian Invasion" expansion, the Alliance's population has soared to nearly six million. The densely populated cities of Dawnlight and Boulder have both surpassed the one million mark, with the former rushing towards two million. In Dawn City, famed for its dense industry and research facilities, and in Fallen Leaf City, noted for its role as a transport hub, the population is also nearing one million. This growth comes not only from migrants from other regions but also from a significant number of babies born on Alliance soil. After the "Bone-Chewing Chaos" resolved, the Alliance experienced a baby boom. Today, the children born during that time are in kindergarten, while the youths who joined the Alliance then have grown into young adults. Not only has the population increased, but the number of players has risen too. With more shelters unlocked, the number of closed beta accounts has gradually risen from 100,000 to 200,000, with 170,000 already distributed. During the distant alpha testing phase, the player-to-NPC ratio could barely be maintained between 1:5 to 1:10. Now, the number of players has been far outpaced by the NPCs' explosive growth. This was inevitable. Shelters aren't sufficient to sustain a civilization; after surviving the harsh winter, the residents of these relics of the old world must plant the carefully cultivated seeds and hopes onto the land... On the "Wasteland OL" official website, the forums are as bustling as ever during peak login times. Old and new cloud players exchanged game strategies and insights, while the veteran players continued their consistent antics. Compared to the brakes applied by Train No. 97 and the ideological and cultural revolutions happening in a distant world, most players are more interested in what Brother Mosquito and Tail have been up to recently. Recently, it was all about Tail. The Polar Bear Knights had ventured to the continent's far north, discovering a privately-owned research facility on the verge of bankruptcy, hidden within an uninhabited swamp. Reportedly, the head of this facility claimed to have been an "adjunct member" of the Academy, picking up some genetic editing skills from a researcher. But subsequently, whether the mentor perished or simply forgot about him and his project, he waited for a decade without anyone coming to find him. With resource depletion forcing plans to close the facility and a new life wandering the wasteland before him, he encountered the kind-hearted Awei. Ultimately, after a series of resource collection and specimen recovery quests, he agreed to utilize genetic synthesis to revive some extinct species for her. However, accomplishing this requires more than just a research facility and a few strands of DNA. They need an entire gene library, most of which, pre-war, were distributed across the planet's poles. Thus, the Polar Bear Knights are heading towards the Arctic, even further north than Ice Sea City. Apparently, parts of that region fall under the Northern Legion's territory. No player has ever been there. Some forum users have even set up a betting pool, taking bets on how long till they see her at the Dawnlight City respawn point. Of course, forums are never short of voices saying things like "Just give me the helmet," "Go to the South Pole instead of the North Pole," "What’s the use of playing like this," or "How did these guys get their helmets?"—people who like to give unsolicited advice. Their know-it-all nature is reminiscent of family gatherings back home. And this is part of the forum’s ecosystem. Just like the tale of wooly mammoths or the daily antics of guys like Garbage and Forcing, it’s all but a minor interlude in the myriad mundane matters of the forum's life. As threads refreshed on the front page by the second, Brother Mosquito suddenly popped up with a headline so tantalizing it didn't even need proper punctuation: "Holy crap! Guess what just happened?!” Tail: "!?" Quit Smoking: "What the heck? Without a pre-show hint, what are we supposed to guess?" Night Ten: "I suspect this guy's about to spout nonsense again, let me take a guess first. (Funny)" Mosquito: "Guys, don’t panic, listen to my story. I was in Kun Town playing cards with an NPC across from me. Suddenly, he couldn’t keep playing… guess what happened next?" Tail: "???" Chunky: "Whoa, what a twist!" The thread reached hundreds of replies. Seeing people losing patience, Mosquito dared not hold back any longer. He quickly posted about what he experienced yesterday at the bottom of the thread. "The guy dug in his ear. I thought he was up to something, but to my surprise, he turned into the Administrator himself!" The thread went quiet for several seconds; no one posted. Tail: "Dang! Is this something humans do?! (///~皿~)" Sis: "..." Vine: "What the heck." Raven: "Sigh, I thought you had something much juicier to share. (Speechless)" Mosquito: "Wait, aren’t you guys spooked?! Honestly, I was almost scared to wet myself. (Terrified)" Gale: "Do no evil, fear no evil. Reflect on whether you’ve been up to any mischief lately. (Side-eye)" Mosquito: "?? Whoa, I’m an honest citizen, don’t falsely accuse me!" Night Ten: "I bet you whipped out that legendary golden card again. (Funny)" Wind Clear: "By the way, Captain, why are you all the way in Jinchuan Province?" Ghost: "The frontlines need you, come back as soon as you respawn! (╯°Д°)╯︵┻━┻" Mosquito: "Ahem, let me take a break; I’m human, not a machine. Flying for half a year can be quite tiring... Also, pilots there are getting skilled, everything can’t be my responsibility, or else their victories are meaningless, like gifts from the sky." Edge Swimming: "Dude, you sure know how to paint laziness in a positive light. (Sweat)" Fang Chang: "Hmm, speaking of which, the Administrator seems to be visiting Weifucheng recently. Normally, he's as elusive as a dragon; it’s strange for him to spare time for cards. Remember anything else he did besides playing?" Mosquito: "...Uh, is this really important?" Fang Chang: "Importance is in analysis, if unnecessary, just ignore me. (Side-eye)" After hesitating, Mosquito honestly recounted the entire chain of events. Including using a fusion card to summon the "Administrator riding Niko," and the Administrator forcibly purchasing the exquisitely valuable "Golden Legend Card" with several bills thrown on the table. After hearing his account, the thread filled with schadenfreude. Clearly, many were familiar with that card. Aside from those who've suffered at his card table, genuine friends offered thoughtful analyses. Like Brother Spring. "Perhaps the Administrator is warning you not to ride on others using his name. (Funny)" Mosquito: "Ah?! I didn’t do that. (Awkward)" Spring Commander: "Then consider it this way—he wants you to cautiously use the abilities and status granted by the shelter, acknowledging that great power comes with great responsibility. Or else they might just confiscate your tools someday. (Funny)" Mosquito: "Whoa... Is it that serious?! (Terrified)" Fang Chang: "Ahem, stop scaring Mosquito. While the Administrator is sometimes a little devious, past behavior suggests he’s not as sinister as you make him out to be." "But... I’m pondering another thing. Since you claim he understood all your jokes, even the real-world ones, is it possible what you saw wasn’t the Administrator but A Guang, the planner, playing the role?" Mosquito: "What the heck?! Are you suggesting the planner jumped on the main account?!" "Hmm... Based on available information, the planner should be able to log into NPC accounts. Implementing this technically should not be hard. What puzzles me is why he’d do this, whether there’s a deeper meaning, or perhaps, as Brother Spring suggested, a message he's attempting to convey." Night Ten: "A Guang might just think Mosquito got too full of himself, opting to use NPC words to tell him, ‘The Administrator is watching you.’ (Funny)" Mosquito: "Whoa... he actually said that! (Astonished)" Raven: "Uh, I think you all are overanalyzing... Maybe A Guang just wanted to play cards." Tail: "Grr, curse it, Boss Ya is too innocent, I want to bully her. (☆▽☆)" Raven: "???" Watching the increasingly absurd conversations unfold on the forum, Chu Guang couldn't help but smirk and shake his head while monitoring the discussion through his holographic computer. "These guys sure have wild imaginations." Within a few casual comments, he had transformed from someone who could "possess the Administrator at any time" to "able to appear anywhere, anytime, possessing any NPC." The first speculation was completely redundant—him being both the developer and the Administrator meant there was no possession needed. A Guang and Dawnlight were merely his avatars; he was always in dual control from the start. As for the second theory, it was somewhat far-fetched, even evolving into some cringe-worthy notions that would make even Little Seven clench his fists. Finding it unbearable, Chu Guang decided to close the thread. Honestly, he genuinely didn't want anyone using his name as a leverage to unfairly convince or oppress others. However, when he confiscated Mosquito's "Golden Legend" card, it wasn't some profound warning; it was simply because the drawing of himself wielding a hammer was embarrassingly awkward. If that rascal had drawn him a bit more realistically or at least made him look cooler, he wouldn't have spent 500 silver coins on a piece of cardstock. He thought even five silver coins would have been too much for that junk. After purchasing it, he handed it to Little Seven to keep for him. In the end, it was Raven's simple perspective that resonated with him the most. --- Elsewhere, to the south of Boro Province, along the border of Wolf and Snake Prefectures, soldiers burdened with supplies moved from the direction of Wolfe Prefecture. Their attire was simple, and they looked lean, but their eyes were fierce, like wolves in the wild. Days ago, under the command of General Grove, they launched an operation named "North Wind." Nine ten-thousand-man units, including the 101st and 102nd, fragmented into smaller groups, advancing from the northern border of Snake Prefecture into Wolfe Prefecture. By infiltrating, assaulting, and encircling, they launched surprise attacks on key southern legion strategic facilities. Tactically, this operation was a textbook victory. The southern legion never expected Shaluk to attack, and their spies planted in Snake Prefecture had no intel about "Operation North Wind." The southern garrison and supply units stationed in the southern counties were pushed back by dozens of kilometers. Strategically, this force from Snake Prefecture not only dealt a severe blow to the southern legion's logistics in southern Wolfe Prefecture but also significantly alleviated military pressure on southern Tiandu. Since the southern legion occupied Wolfe Prefecture, they trained their auxiliary forces intensively in the region, with intentions of infiltrating various states on the eastern edge of Boro Province. The eastern states hold many Alliance-supported industrial facilities and railways. Their safety is not only crucial to Boro's economy but is also vital for the frontline’s material supply. This time, Shaluk, swift as a rabbit, seemed to remember he was a wolf, not a dog, and savagely bit at the southern legion's heels. Although it's unclear what Shaluk personally thought of "Operation North Wind," the fact remained those units were under his command. This resounding victory was a loud slap to those ridiculing him for "biding his time" and greatly boosted the morale of the radicals in Gallon Port. And for the soldiers on the frontline, especially those in the 101st unit led by General Grove, there was a palpable sense of pride from officers to soldiers. When they left Snake Prefecture, they were so poor that two people shared one gun. Upon their return, not only did they carry two or three rifles each, but they also brought back an array of long and short artillery and heavy machine guns. On top of that, they seized military trucks from the southern legion, returning them to the mountain stronghold of Snake Prefecture with boxes of ammunition. General Grove, who manned the battle, also revelled in the thrill. Looking at the firearms and ammunition brought back from the front, he warmly slapped Dog Brother's shoulder, practically grinning from ear to ear. "Bear Brother, your strategy is sheer genius! With this campaign, we easily took out two to three ten thousand enemy soldiers!" Dog Brother gave an embarrassed smile and humbly replied. "We did nothing of the sort, just a little everyday know-how." Though slightly exaggerated, his estimate wasn't far off. He had witnessed the bewildered expressions of the Velanteans and their legion-led auxiliary forces with his own eyes. Those nosy Velanteans sure had a rough day! By the way, Bear was a nickname he gave himself because his ID wasn't the most polished; reading it phonetically or literally didn’t sound classy. He couldn’t introduce himself to everyone as Old Dog or Catheter, could he? "Bear" at least had a certain bite to it. General Grove looked puzzled, scratching his head in bewilderment. "Everyday... know-how?" Dog Brother coughed lightly before clarifying. "Ahem... what I mean is, when we clashed with the Bone-Chewing tribe, we used the same tactics. Despite the tribe's superior firepower and commanders provided by the Legion, our persistent skirmish tactics eventually wore them down." After months of practice, his Common was no longer as broken as it was earlier in the year. However, sometimes his choice of words was "unconventional," proving challenging for those outside the Alliance. Fortunately, this minor glitch didn't hinder communication much. General Grove didn’t press further, simply nodding in sudden realization. "Ah, now I see... Using guerrilla warfare as daily know-how." At this moment, General Grove’s eyes were filled with admiration. While many claimed Velanteans were battle-hardened, he saw that it was actually these river valley people! At least the Velanteans had some external help, while this group relied solely on themselves to resist the legion's backed raiders. Dog Brother: "Uh, it's not that exaggerated... Understand it as you wish." A misunderstanding was no problem at all. After all, it was not a bad thing. As for why Alliance players ended up in General Grove's forces, that's a long story. Over the past few months, Dog Brother had been lurking in Snake Prefecture, trying to understand what the Family Association truly entailed. Interestingly, what he uncovered flipped his previous negative impression of the Family Association on its head. Ignoring their criticized evangelical methods, compared to other fiends and demons in Boro Province, at least these Family members sincerely practiced their proclaimed ideals of equality and kindness. When warlords from Tiger and Leopard Prefectures seized land and water from independent farmers, the Family not only grew beans and prepared gruel themselves but also wove and dyed their own clothes. If they were deemed bad, then General Jeha from Tiger Prefecture was downright evil. Everybody knew Jeha’s deeds; he was a rogue of the worst kind. If profits from a factory caught his eye, he wouldn’t even pretend to negotiate; he'd just send over his centurions to seize it. Compared to the atrocities committed by those aristocratic scoundrels, he couldn't find significant faults with these poor folks. And the most commendable part? They were willing to change. After meeting Zaid, the courteous and composed man not only listened earnestly to his suggestions but worked overnight to draft an improved plan. He even convened all members to vote on the amendments, legally declaring pyramid schemes illegal and engaging in genuine self-reflection. This was nearly unheard of, not only in Tiandu but even in Gallon Port. Later, Dog Brother discovered that Snake Prefecture had its committee, though their members were called Seniors. Unlike those in Abo Seik who were appointed, these Seniors were genuinely elected through real freedom and one person, one vote. Remarkably, for someone from the Alliance like Dog Brother, the Family treated him like one of their own, offering enthusiastic hospitality. Though not affluent, they'd rather starve themselves than withhold the best food and drink for him, each time leaving him embarrassed to the extent that he had to share his food with nearby kids. Beyond food, there were even young and charming women who fell for him, often seizing every chance to discuss life and ideals. Those sparkling eyes were enough to make any man’s heart flutter. Denying any emotions would be denying his humanity entirely. But to avoid disrupting local lives, after much internal conflict, he chose to leave the relatively cushy rear for the more challenging frontline. Zaid tried hard to keep him, and the young man always at Zaid's side was tearfully holding his hand, pleading for more guidance. But perhaps seeing how determined he was to leave, in the end, they allowed him to go. Thus, he met General Grove on the northern front of Snake Prefecture—a reputed second-in-command of the Gray Wolf Army. Unlike General Gopal, the notoriously stern and sinister leader of the Gray Wolf Army, this Grove had the air of a naïve and optimistic "old youngster." Despite being in his early thirties, he still possessed the youthful fervor and tenacity of someone much younger. What Dog Brother found most commendable about him was his straightforwardness; he spoke his mind and took responsibility for his actions without any scheming. Not only was his valor comparable, but his strategic acumen was equally impressive. Dog Brother sensed that although Shaluk was surrounded by ambitious men like Zaid, much like the leadership in Tiandu, the man before him was a genuine idealist. In comparison, he was akin to the "Jungle Rat Isher," who was infamously printed on Valanta's deck of wanted cards, though perhaps lacking Isher's political savvy. Funnily enough, Dog Brother later learned that Grove was actually a "fan" of Isher. Few among the Wolf Race admired a member of the Rat Race, but Grove always spoke Isher's name with such admiration, even openly declaring him a role model. In the heavily stratified Boro Province, this was quite unusual. Isher likely never imagined that far away in the northern guerilla territories he called home, he would become the idol of a high-ranking officer in the Gray Wolf Army. When Grove learned that this "Bear" was a friend of Isher, he took every chance to engage in long conversations deep into the night, always probing for stories about Isher and admiringly calling him "Boro Province’s Second War God." As for who the first War God was, Dog Brother never asked, and Grove never revealed. For many veterans of the Gray Wolf Army, sentiments about the Empire's War God Alayyn were deeply complex. He represented both their past shame and former glory. "…After this battle, I wonder if I'll earn a place on the southern legion's deck of cards." Setting down his binoculars, Grove's face glowed with excitement, akin to having downed a couple of shots of vodka. Dog Brother nodded approvingly, remarking, "I think you’ve earned it. We’ve certainly stricken them hard this time." After a pause, he cautiously added, "However, it’s time to retreat." It wasn't just him who thought so; beside him, General Grove also seemed unswayed by their current victory. "Indeed, I share your sentiment. If we push further, our logistics will falter. The achievements of this campaign are already remarkable… What do they say in your Alliance, that saying?" Dog Brother chuckled, "Quit while you're ahead, contentment brings happiness?" "Precisely! Hahaha, quit while you're ahead, contentment brings happiness!" Grove laughed heartily, slapping his comrade on the shoulder. It was evident that Grove liked that saying. Dog Brother's face showed a warm smile, though it quickly turned sour. Damn it. That damned old eagle tricked him into adopting this unfortunate alias, saying something about keeping the family together. Had he known there was a chance to "go down in history," he would have chosen a more respectable nickname! As they discussed retreat plans, fifty kilometers to the north, the tracks of tanks rolled quietly over open fields. Here was the 1000-man formation of the Southern Legion's 60th Armored Division, primarily composed of light tanks and wheeled armored vehicles. Upon receiving orders to attack, Centurion Gibson acted decisively after entering Wolfe Prefecture, first deploying reconnaissance aircraft to track enemy movements and then personally leading a swift light armored unit to the strategic post at Mirjan County on the Snake Prefecture withdrawal route. Located on Snake Prefecture's border, Mirjan County featured hills to the south and plains to the north, ideal for advancing armored forces. Gibson was confident that most of the oil-thieving rats had fled. However, with nine 10,000-man teams advancing simultaneously, considering the enemy's radio communication and organization level, not all could flee; some tails would remain. In the command vehicle, Centurion Gibson squinted southward, his complex, unfathomable expression betraying no thoughts. His adjutant, studying the map beside him, stated seriously, "Five more kilometers to Mirjan County. According to air squadron reports, a 1,000-man unit is resting there… we should encounter them soon." "Hmm." Still squinting, Gibson nodded, lifting his binoculars to his lips as if they were a bottle. Noticing the odd looks from his side, he snapped back to reality—he wasn’t in a bar but on a battlefield. After an awkward cough, he grabbed the radio microphone, composed himself, and commanded, "Attention all units, target Mirjan County, eliminate all in the area!" His orders echoed with determination. In the communication channel, the troops erupted with fervor, ramming shells into breeches and flooring the pedals. "Received!" Having had enough of the frustrations at Evernight Port, they could finally turn their guns on proper targets. In the bumpy carrier, beneath the turret, Carver held his breath, his right index finger repeatedly brushing the trigger, aiming night vision sights toward a lamplit cabin in the distance. Three kilometers to go! He could even see a man standing by a window, cigarette in hand, his expression turning from smug to panic. They were dead! Having locked onto his target, Carver mentally sentenced the man. Just then, his companions' voices rose behind him. "High-explosive loaded!" "Fire!" To be continued...