Handsome Murphy's Ambitions-Crisis and Opportunity

Lumina, still bewildered, and the four other players had barely logged in when Triss came straight over and handed them a quest.

Fortunately, they had already read the update announcement on the forums, so they knew that this seductive, alluring NPC was an important story character. They accepted the quest without hesitation, then picked up the main quest for Disaster Day from Murphy. After that, they followed the route their groupmates had recommended and began exploring the city.

It was already nighttime in the real world. Aside from these five players, who had just logged in for special reasons, most players had used up their game time for the day and logged off together in the ramshackle shelters along the city wall.

The five players felt a little lonely, but they soon had no time to dwell on it.

There was simply too much to do in the city ruins!

Although other players had already scavenged several blocks near the city wall during the day, plenty of places still hadn't been searched. Lumina was sharp-eyed, and she soon found the aged wine Lady Triss needed in a shop that had partially collapsed. While she was at it, she also rescued the shopkeeper's family from the basement, where they had been trapped beneath a pile of debris.

They had been trapped for over six hours and were exhausted, hungry, and terrified. When Lumina and the others rescued them, they nearly fell to their knees in gratitude.

"The NPC interactions are so realistic. I just saw that little girl hiding in her mother's arms, wiping away her tears. Other games don't have details like that."

Mud Truck, carrying a gun, rummaged through the things along the street as he said to Forklift Operator beside him:

"Do you think it's possible that all the NPCs in this game are played by AI? Forklift, what are you looking at? You're completely absorbed."

Forklift Operator pulled his gaze away from the devastated ruins and spoke quietly:

"This city's been caught up in the disaster for over six hours now, right? People trapped like that shopkeeper's family can still survive for now, but if much more time passes, who knows? Remember those jobs we did for the fire department system before?

"From what I heard, once twenty-four hours have passed in the real world, the odds of surviving..."

"This is a game!"

Mud Truck scoffed dismissively.

"Keeping them alive is just a line of code. You're overthinking it."

"Yeah, I know it's a game, but this game claims to be completely realistic. Don't overlook that! If the developers really can achieve one-hundred-percent realism, and they've chosen to design it this way, then the NPCs buried in the city definitely won't make it to tomorrow night!"

Forklift Operator shook his head stubbornly.

"I don't doubt they have the technology to make it as realistic as they want. I'm just wondering—just wondering, mind you—whether you've read the quest description carefully. It clearly says the number of NPCs we rescue will affect how the story develops later.

"I'm starting to think the developers planted a trap here. You know what I mean?

"They probably deliberately left it vague so we'd figure it out ourselves!"

"Damn! Now that you mention it, that does sound kind of likely."

Mud Truck thought it over, then reread the main quest description several times. He slapped his knee and said:

"I think we might be onto something big this time. Come on, let's go feel out the NPCs. Bring the other three along."

"Sure."

Forklift Operator went over and explained his theory to Lumina, Ring Chong, and Brother Black Silk. The two tough guys thought he was overthinking things, but Lumina disagreed.

The brilliant girl thought Forklift Operator was probably right.

So the five hurriedly escorted the shopkeeper's family back to the safe zone by the city wall. After handing in the quest and earning Triss's high praise, they went to find Murphy, who was hunting fearspawn alone, and told him their theory and concerns.

"It's great that you noticed this. I overlooked something important too!"

Murphy was startled.

He suddenly realized that over the last few days, he'd gotten too caught up in thinking like a player and forgotten the truth about this world. To him, this damn thing wasn't a game at all! With the civilians trapped in the city ruins hungry, exhausted, and being corroded by astral energy, there was no way they could survive for two days.

And it had taken players to remind a real vampire like him of that. What a blunder.

Murphy didn't care all that much whether the unfriendly people in the city lived or died, but the unexpected idea these five little darlings had given him had sparked a new inspiration.

Just as he'd thought earlier in the secret vault, the final step of the tutorial quest required him to claim territory of his own. With the Blood Eagle Clan ambushed, its system of rule completely collapsed, and Cadman City on the verge of being swallowed by the Astral Realm, the city's people and resources could all be put to use!

He could seize this opportunity to make use of the locals already at his disposal. Starting with this rescue, he could establish his authority and system of governance among Cadman City's survivors.

After all, what leader was more worthy of being followed than one who could lead people through a disaster and help them find a new life?

Murphy blinked.

He was still an official member of the Blood Eagle Clan.

Given the circumstances, wasn't it only right for him, as the last member of a vampire family that had ruled this region for four hundred years, to inherit the Blood Eagle Clan's rule over this land and its people?

So, if he played his cards right, this disaster in Cadman City might not be a problem for him at all. It could instead be the key to completing the tutorial and breaking out of his current predicament!

That was right.

This idea and plan were entirely feasible!

The only condition was that he truly had to lead the survivors in rescuing more people from the ruins, so they could see his ability, intelligence, and strength for themselves.

In just a few seconds, Murphy made up his mind. The players noticed the many thoughts on his face and perked up.

Could this really be a hidden quest?

"Ding."

Murphy gripped the orb of calculation hanging over his chest. A few seconds later, the delightful sound of a quest being triggered rang out, and all five players looked down at their player interfaces:

Large Hidden Quest: "Rescue in the Besieged City" has been triggered!

Quest description: Thanks to your keen eyes and kind hearts, the vampire Murphy, cold on the outside but kind at heart, has finally realized the greatest threat facing the city. He has decided to act at once, and hopes you'll join him in this race against death.

Time limit: Until the search and rescue operation in the outer-city ruins is complete.

Quest rewards: Issued according to the results of the quest.

"Damn, there really is one!"

Mud Truck clenched his fist and said quietly to Forklift Operator beside him:

"They hid this really well. Good thing you were paying attention."

"It just occurred to me."

Forklift Operator scratched his head, a little embarrassed. Then his expression turned serious.

"The biggest problem now is that we don't have any professional equipment to find people who are trapped. If we search by hand, even if we bring all sixteen players, we won't be able to save many people."

"No, my brave warriors. You're overlooking something important."

Murphy, already confident and ready to act, shook his head and spoke to his little players:

"This world holds powers you can't understand. Leave finding the survivors to me. Head to the survivors' camp at once! Take my orders to the supervisor there, Miss Mirian, and have her gather every healthy adult man who's still able to move.

"I need them to take part in rescuing their fellow citizens.

"Maxim!

"Escort my warriors there and help Mirian assemble the men."

Murphy turned to his loyal servant and little players and said:

"Restoring order isn't easy. Given the situation, we have to learn to use force.

"Those causing trouble at the camp, refusing to follow orders, challenging Mirian's authority, or trying to shirk their duties! Those troublemakers who refuse to obey the rules during this disaster—execute them on the spot in my name!

"I need them to know who can lead them at a time like this!

"I also need them to know that following my orders will help them escape this nightmare sooner."

"As you command, my lord!"

Maxim thought Murphy's words made perfect sense and accepted the order without a second thought. He had always regarded spreading Murphy's authority as his duty and mission. Then he brought over several horses for the little players.

Mud Truck knew how to ride, so he set off ahead with Forklift Operator. The other three weren't very good at it, but the horses were docile old mounts, and they managed just fine under Maxim's guidance.

Mirian's survivors' camp was some distance from the city, to keep it safe from the impact of astral energy.

While they had time, Murphy found the young lady, who was brooding at the edge of the defensive line, and Lady Adele, who stood beside her. Lady Adele's expression grew complicated when she saw Murphy. A voice in her heart urged her to devote herself to him completely, but her own reason resisted the call.

Murphy didn't mind his first progeny's hesitation.

He looked at the young lady's numb expression, mentally rehearsed the words he had prepared, and said to her:

"Many people are trapped in the city. They can't escape on their own, and I'm about to organize a rescue. Not because they're especially important to me, but because Cadman City is the Blood Eagle Clan's territory. We Blood Eagles have a duty to them.

"I want you to join me!

"Vampires have a keen sense of life. We can easily pinpoint where the living are, and there are five hours until dawn. If we move quickly, we can rescue at least several hundred people.

"I remember that when we first met, you praised the vengeance I exacted on behalf of the Blood Eagle Clan's people. You believe protecting them is your duty too, don't you?"

The young lady didn't answer.

She sat on a rock as if all the light had gone out of her. She'd been like this ever since talking with Triss. She must have seen something unbearable in the inner city and suffered a terrible shock.

Murphy waited a few seconds. When the young lady still didn't answer, he shook his head, stood up, and said to Lady Adele:

"I order you to join this operation! In my capacity as your elder."

"I..."

Lady Adele's expression shifted.

She clenched her fists, then let them fall and lowered her head obediently. Her voice was hoarse as she said:

"As you wish, Lord Murphy."

"Come on. We don't have much time."

Murphy waved and led Lady Adele toward Triss.

Before the operation, he needed to plan three routes to maximize efficiency. The only silver lining was that the rift had split the whole city in two, leaving Murphy and the little players with only a quarter of the original city to explore.

It sounded a little cruel to say it.

But with the other three-quarters swallowed by terrifying astral energy, and astral beasts and fearspawn rampaging through it, there was no point searching over there.

Unless a miracle happened in that dark place, no ordinary person could have survived in those conditions.

"Murphy!"

Just as Murphy turned and walked a few steps away, the young lady's dry, hoarse voice sounded behind him. The disheveled young woman stood up straight and stared at Murphy, the marginal member of her family, with despair in her eyes.

She said:

"The Blood Eagles are finished. Literally! Our family's sacred pool has been polluted. I saw it with my own eyes. The entire Blood Eagle Corridor is shrouded in dangerous energy I can't understand. Our finest clansmen are writhing in agony amid the Astral Realm's filth. They can't leave the corridor...

"They're beyond saving!

"There's only a handful of us left, Murphy. We're the last of the Blood Eagles.

"We have no home anymore!"

"No wonder she's taking it so hard."

Murphy understood at once. The young lady, who always put the family's interests first, was probably struggling to accept that her home was gone. Unfortunately, not everyone could understand her feelings.

Murphy, for example.

He glanced back at the young lady and spoke more firmly:

"What does that have to do with what you need to do now? What does it have to do with the ordinary people trapped in the city, terrified and facing death at any moment? Young lady, you can go wherever you like. No one can stop you.

"Or you can do one last thing for the people in this city who paid blood taxes to help the Blood Eagle Clan prosper.

"To be honest, I've always thought you were different from the other vampires. I don't know why I feel that way, but I can tell your attitude toward humans really is different from theirs.

"Maybe we could work together?"

"But what are you really trying to do?"

The young lady suddenly exploded. She grabbed her hair and screamed:

"I heard what you ordered your servant to do! You're deliberately proclaiming your authority and strength among the survivors. What are you trying to do? Win them over? Are you planning to build your own clan on the bones of the Blood Eagles?

"You... ambitious traitor!"

"Was it really that obvious? Did I hide it badly, or is this young lady just that sharp?"

Murphy was a little puzzled.

He thought he'd kept his intentions well hidden, but then he remembered that the woman in front of him might be a centuries-old monster. That explained everything.

His little tricks were nothing in front of her. So Murphy simply admitted it.

He nodded and said:

"That's exactly what I plan to do! To be honest, Femis, the Blood Eagle Clan you love and would give everything for looks completely different to me. I don't plan to die with it, but I do want the people who called you 'masters' to survive.

"You don't have to help!

"Just don't get in the way. With Triss here, I'm not afraid of you.

"And a traitor?

"Ha. I don't know what happened to you in the Smugglers' Woods, but how did you survive? Young lady, why would the terrifying creature that wiped out the entire Midnight Hunters let you go? It couldn't have been because you're cute, could it?"

Murphy narrowed his eyes and asked:

"So before you accuse me from the moral high ground of family loyalty, maybe clear your own name first."

"You—you can't just make things up about me!"

Femis's face flushed red.

She was about to argue, but then noticed Triss standing silently in the darkness not far away, giving her a distinctly threatening look as she pointed at her heart.

The young lady, who had been furious just moments before, immediately deflated like a punctured balloon. Under Murphy's astonished gaze, she seemed to lose all her spirit.

She waved her hand weakly and said:

"Fine, I'll help you, but I have a condition too! After the astral tide recedes, you have to come with me to the Blood Eagle Corridor. I need to find out what happened!

"And apart from the last Blood Eagle members—you and Adele—I can't trust anyone else."

P.S.

There seems to be a new "reader correction" feature. If you spot a typo, please correct it. I can see the corrections in the backend and update the text. I really need this feature!

Also, there seem to be a lot of scam calls lately. I got five calls from unknown numbers yesterday alone. Keep an eye on your money, and don't chat with random strangers!