The middle-aged player who had voiced his distrust toward authority seemed to hold a position of importance in the real world, most likely a bigshot businessman or a CEO.
His words resonated with the NPC civilians and players who were still traumatized by the terrifying flood, garnering more support for his stance. On the other hand, among the one thousand soldiers included in the game, Private Briggs held the lowest rank, making it difficult for many to believe in his capacity to handle the crowd.
Undeterred by the growing opposition, Private Briggs continued to assert himself. "My orders are to lead you all to safety. We will head south, where it is warmer, and gather with the rest of the army along the way."
"No, I will stay here, and you all should too," the CEO declared, his words laced with a sense of defiance.
He added, "Go if you have to, leave!"
Unwilling to compromise, the soldier moved in to approach the man, feeling intimidated the man suddenly revealed a gun strapped to his waist, forcing the soldier to abruptly stop.
The presence of a civilian wielding a gun was shocking. Such rare items were not easily obtained during the early stages of the game, and it was hard to believe that the man had acquired one within the chaotic first ten minutes. The only plausible explanation was that he had obtained it before the game, most likely by spending a substantial amount of money to purchase it. Even Private Briggs, as a soldier, had not been equipped with such an item by the government.
Amidst the turmoil and clash of opinions, Alan maintained his silence, keenly observing the unfolding events. On closer inspection, he didn't recognize any of the individuals involved, nor did he have any recollection of being inside this library during his previous gameplay. As a result, he had no idea what would unfold in this particular scenario.
Sensing the intensifying situation, a few dozen people who had been saved by Alan approached him, seeking his opinion. "Mister, what do you think we should do?"
"You all should stay here," Alan replied calmly, his voice projecting assurance. "It's essential to prioritize your warmth and safety. By remaining inside the library, you stand a better chance of surviving this ordeal."
Among the group, one figure stood out—a beautiful brunette in her early twenties whose face struck a chord of familiarity within Alan. She revealed that Alan had saved her during the chaos that ensued after the disaster.
Looking at him with a charming smile, she said, "So you think we should stay? Why?"
Alan had his own plan in mind, but before he could explain, the tension between the CEO and the soldiers escalated.
To make sure he could achieve his objective, Alan decided to jump in, approached the two, and called for a more private conversation away from the crowds.
"Please hear me out," he implored, gathering the attention of not only the CEO and Private Briggs but also some of the other players around. "Respectfully, the temperatures outside are dropping rapidly, and it will only get colder to the point that we couldn't survive outside of a building. Trust me, I am a scientist."
Although it was a gray lie, Alan believed that it was necessary to build trust and persuade the opposing sides. The CEO smiled, thinking that Alan had sided with him. However, before he could react, Alan interjected, "No you are mistaken, for players, unfortunately simply staying inside will not be enough to survive the game. It won't be that easy. The least you need to do is to find items or quests to help you withstand the cold."
His argument resonated with the gathered players, and several heads nodded in agreement. Alan added that following Private Briggs was likely the safest solution. However, he abruptly paused, adopting a serious expression as he addressed the soldier.
"I believe your objective was to save the players, not the NPCs. Remember, this is a game, and they are not real people."
Alan's words had a profound impact on Private Briggs and the others present. While everyone remained attentive, Alan put forth a solution. Recognizing that the soldier was alone without backup, he suggested that Private Briggs should bring along the players and leave the NPCs behind. This way, he could focus on his primary task with better results. As for the players who wished to stay, it should no longer be his responsibility.
The compromise was quickly accepted by both sides.
"Alright, those who wish to follow me, we will head out right away," Private Briggs declared, the conviction in his voice reaffirming his commitment to their safety.
Among the dozen players, only five of them decided to stay. As the group departed, Alan turned his attention back to the CEO and said "Are you staying because you're afraid or because you're aiming for the extra points?" Alan asked directly.
Bill's face broke into a wide smile. "You're a sharp bloke. What's your name?"
"I'm Alan."
"Good, Alan. I'm Bill. I know I couldn't handle all these people by myself. Help me take care of them, and share the reward"
Survival was their primary objective, but Alan was aware that there were always players willing to take risks for the sake of extra points. In this round, being involved in saving more civilians would earn them additional points. Having encountered many opportunistic players in the past, Alan quickly recognized that Bill was one of the biggest opportunists of them all.
"Alright, I accept," Alan agreed, realizing that his plan will be in line with the man and collaborating with Bill would be more advantageous given the large group of people they had to manage.
Unfortunately, just a minute after Private Briggs had abruptly left without explaining the situation to the NPCs, unrest began to stir among them. Alan sighed, realizing that he should have made the soldier say a few words before departing.
Bill quickly tried to calm the crowd with his words, but surprisingly it didn't work as easily as before. When Alan was prepared to give it a try, he was surprised to find the brunette young woman stepping forward, taking charge.
Standing in front of the restless crowd, she pleaded, "Please calm down. The soldier has gone to find help for us. Don't worry, you will be safer inside."
Her words, though simple, quickly calmed the crowd. Turning to face Alan, she flashed him a smile. "You're welcome"
Alan wondered about the true identity of this familiar young woman. There was something about her that intrigued him.
"Who is she?"