Time passed, and the situation in Jade City grew increasingly tense, nearly reaching the point where every rustle in the wind sounded like an ambush.
Martial law was declared every day, and searches were conducted every other day.
At first, the players didn’t pay much attention, but gradually, this began to severely disrupt their daily activities.
If we leave the city, we can’t get back in—how are we supposed to restock consumables or repair our gear?
If we enter the city, we can’t leave—where are we supposed to grind for EXP?
They had no choice but to start asking around to figure out what was going on.
In the end, thanks to some connections, they managed to hear a few tidbits from the servants of noble households.
What? The Emperor of the Jade Empire is on his last legs?
What? The prince and princess are fighting over the throne?
Holy shit! How come nobody told us about something this huge?!
Matters unfolding in the imperial district were incredibly difficult for outsiders like them to learn about, especially from the outer district.
The commoners had some vague idea, but living in the imperial capital, they didn’t dare to speak recklessly. Only the nobles in the inner districts had the privilege of involvement.
The players cared about this solely because they thought: Such a major plot development—where’s our event? Where’s our quest?
With the old emperor dying and a new one ascending, there had to be a ton of things to handle.
You can’t just keep us in the dark! We’re the most enthusiastic bunch—just tell us what needs doing, and we’ll get it done perfectly.
Just don’t forget to hand out the rewards, that’s all.
Soon, the related information exploded across the forums.
Then, the lore enthusiasts jumped in: “Actually, there were already rumors about this—you just weren’t paying attention.”
Every game had its share of lore enthusiasts—players who loved digging into the game’s background, history, and culture.
But they usually kept to their own small circles, enjoying their findings among themselves.
If they posted on the forums, their threads would quickly be buried under dozens of new posts every second.
So, what kind of threads did thrive on the forums?
First—clickbait. Second—trending tags. These two were essentially the same—just slap on some buzzwords like ‘Nuke Girl’ or ‘God Feng’ and watch the views roll in.
Then there were flame war posts.
Fighting others is endlessly entertaining. A heated argument is the most exhilarating.
There were also strategy guides—though these usually devolved into flame wars too.
Everything else would instantly drown in the flood.
Except for the one eternal paradise—shitposting.
But this time, the winds of fate had blown in favor of the lore enthusiasts.
With the city gates locked down and no one allowed in or out, now was as good a time as any to start learning the backstory.
Unlike the other players, Yulia had a fairly clear understanding of Jade City’s situation—in fact, she was practically involved in it.
And she could feel the tides of change approaching even more keenly.
These days, Steven was frequently absent. The man who used to appear at a moment’s notice was now rarely seen.
Truthfully, Yulia had always known Steven wasn’t ordinary—she just hadn’t cared before, thinking it didn’t concern her.
First of all, Edward’s identity was clearly special—anyone who was tainted with demonic aura and could gift a Stone of Life had to be a hidden big shot in the beginner village.
Then there was Ryan, the old man Edward introduced, who ran a restaurant in the outer district—also likely a hidden expert.
And finally there was Steven, whom Ryan had brought in—except Steven didn’t even bother hiding it.
His mannerisms, his bearing—everything about him exuded noble demeanor, and he seemed to be on familiar terms with Sister Aria and Emilie.
Yulia had turned a blind eye to all this simply because she thought: You do your own thing, and I’ll do mine.
You handle the NPC affairs; I’ll handle the player affairs.
I’m not a citizen of the Jade Empire after all—I’m not even a pure NPC.
But NPCs and players weren’t entirely separate paths—eventually, they would intersect.
Finally, Yulia decided to take the initiative and ask about Aria’s situation.
One night, she waited until late, finally catching Steven as he returned.
Seated in the moonlit courtyard with a pot of tea, she called out: “Steven, do you have time to chat?”
Steven paused. “Of course, Miss. I didn’t expect you to still be awake at this hour.”
In Steven’s eyes, Yulia usually went to bed early. Kids should sleep early and wake up early—it’s good for their health.
In reality, Yulia was just logging off to go wild elsewhere.
She gestured for Steven to sit across from her and handed him a cup of tea.
“You’ve been so busy lately, Steven—barely around. How are things on your end?”
Steven took a moment before replying: “Neither good nor bad. Truthfully, it doesn’t concern me much.”
“It doesn’t concern you?”
“Yes. Because no matter the outcome, my position remains unchanged.”
“Then what have you been busy with?”
“I have my duties. Jade City must remain stable.”
“I see.”
Yulia nodded. She had a rough idea of Steven’s role now—it matched her earlier suspicions.
Steven smiled, setting down his cup. “Miss, there’s no need to beat around the bush. You can ask me anything directly.”
“Alright, then I’ll be blunt. How is Sister Aria doing right now?”
“Not well. One might even say… terribly.”
“Is it really that bad? What are her chances?”
“Without external interference… she has none.”
Yulia’s eyebrows rose as she stared at Steven. “Are you implying there could be external interference?”
Steven picked up his cup again, smiling mildly. “Oh, Miss, I said no such thing.”
“Pfft—hahaha!” Yulia immediately refilled his cup, grinning. “What I meant was—is there any way I could help Sister Aria? She’s my sister, after all. It’s only natural for me to assist her. This has nothing to do with you, Steven.”
Steven took a sip of tea, returning her smile. “Of course. A little sister helping her big sister is only right. I’m certain even the Goddess of Life would approve of such devotion.”
Leaning in, Yulia lowered her voice. “So… what should I do?”
Steven mirrored her tone. “Of the three great knight orders, the Royal Knight Order have declared neutrality—they protect only the imperial city’s peace. The Radiant Knight Order firmly supports Prince Isaac. As for the final order, the Dark Moon Knight Order… they have yet to declare allegiance. Perhaps Miss could try there.”
At this, Yulia understood.
You’re with the Dark Moon Knight Order, aren’t you?!
“And what’s your stance, Steven?”
Steven immediately put on a solemn expression, speaking righteously: “I have no stance. I strictly adhere to the order’s regulations and never involve myself in factional disputes. I obey my superiors unconditionally and follow all orders. For the prosperity of the Jade Empire, I shall spare no effort, dedicating myself until death.”
“…”
Now that’s a disclaimer if I’ve ever heard one!
“Then—”
Before Yulia could finish, Steven cut in: “Even though Lord Ryan assigned me to your service, my loyalty ultimately lies with him. Please don’t make things difficult for me, my lady.”
“Tch… fine, I won’t pressure you.”
Damn, Steven, you sneaky schemer—throwing your boss under the bus just like that!