Strategy game? Then I'll have to control you properly.

Even workaholics cannot break the rules and stay at the company late at night.

But rustling sounds could still be heard from the corner of the dark office.

Someone who hadn't gone home was muttering to themselves in frustration while staring at their computer screen.

"Iron ore mined by smelting coal...tsk, how complicated."

The young woman with dark circles under her eyes was the person in question. She stared blankly at the screen, her fingers clumsily moving across the keyboard, muttering to herself.

Every movement was awkward, after all, she had never really had anything to do with computer games in her life.

Moreover, this isn't my home, it's my company.

Even when engrossed in the game, she would still occasionally look up and glance around.

"Li Sushang, what are you doing? Everyone has already left work."

The sudden appearance of the man startled her, and she hurriedly turned off the monitor, retorting, "None of your business."

But the other person ignored her protests and walked straight up to her, looking down at Li Sushang, who was sitting blankly in front of the black screen computer, with an incredulous look.

From the perspective of an older brother, it is only natural to worry about his younger sister who doesn't come home late at night.

What's more, this younger sister recently messed up her business and is shamelessly loafing around in her father's company.

"Stop causing all that trouble. You said you could do the job well, and you practically begged for any position before getting it, and now what are you doing all this time?"

"This time...this is completely different!"

His words enraged his sister, who fell silent as soon as she opened her mouth, unable to explain what she was doing.

"If I keep talking nonsense, I'll definitely be mistaken for a mental patient."

The events of a few days prior flashed through her mind, when her computer monitor, which had been set as the wallpaper to a desolate plain, suddenly began to malfunction.

Although she described the little people on the screen and the commotion they caused to those around her, no one said they noticed anything unusual.

That was a change only she could see. With her calm personality, she completely gave up asking others for help, including her own brother.

"As expected, it was only that person..."

The only hope found in this desperate situation was a stranger whose name and appearance were unknown.

Today, following the advice of someone who had been involved in the anomaly even earlier than herself, she installed the game and connected it with the system, communicating with and helping the residents on the screen through the game.

The residents' joy at receiving the resources she gathered in the game is still vivid in my mind, especially after witnessing their recent heavy losses from monster attacks, this feeling has become even stronger.

"Hurry home, don't be late tomorrow."

Stared at angrily by her brother, Li Sushang knew she couldn't linger any longer.

"Wait, wait a minute! I need to take my computer with me."

In a moment of desperation, she reached out and moved the entire computer, since she would need to use it again when she got home.

But to outsiders, this action seemed utterly absurd.

"This can't go on; we must focus on doing one thing well."

She bit her lower lip, her colleagues behind her staring intently at her frantically moving monitors and carrying computer towers, making them feel extremely uncomfortable.

Although she is now just a low-level employee parachuted in through connections, as the daughter of a wealthy family, she has no attachment to this job that is almost an escape from reality.

An unexpected opportunity and a stroke of luck. To seize this chance, she was prepared to decisively quit her job, after all, she had more than enough ability and resources.

"I should definitely meet that person directly. Even if we can't cooperate, at least I should try to gather as much information as possible."

Therefore, she decided to personally meet the person who could be considered both a senior and her only ally.

"Is it really that devastating to fail in your first business venture after dropping out of school?"

Looking at Li Sushang, who was tightly clutching the monitor in the back seat with a resolute expression, her brother simply sighed softly and said nothing more.

◆◆◆

As the scouts returned to their unit one after another with Lin Miao's assistance, Attila, who had stayed up all night, summoned several people to his home.

The warriors, including Lillie, were present. It seemed they had determined their preparations were complete and were ready to attack the insect hive.

Lin Miao, who was observing from the sidelines, also supported the decision.

Although the insect hive remains dormant, the unsettling prospect of an impending outbreak is unsettling.

"Six people, that's the best option right now."

There are six people participating in the Zerg hive raid: Attila, Lillie, Roche, and the newly joined Mista and her two comrades.

The original members have already gained skills and power through game job changes, but the three new members, Lin Miao, have not yet been able to provide assistance.

To get the new member into the Dark Souls game where you can change to a combat class, you must complete Chapter 2 together with Lillie.

However, unlike Attila or Roche, who are newly awakened novices, they all appear to be battle-hardened warriors, so there should be no need to worry too much.

"Hmm... let's stop here for today."

The moment their meeting ended—where they had arranged the stones on the ground to form a battle formation and were seriously discussing tactics—Lin Miao scaled the screen back to its original size and stretched.

There's no point in continuing surveillance late at night when most residents are asleep.

[User 2: Is it convenient to contact me now?]

Just then, she received a message. Lin Miao, who was packing her things to go to sleep, saw it and sat back down at her desk.

"What happened? Are you having problems?"

[User 2: No, the game installed smoothly and works great, thank you.]

The other party stated that after installing the game and applying it to the system according to Lin Miao's advice, the effect was significant.

Although I only tried it out of curiosity, it's great that it worked so well.

[User 2: I think there will be many opportunities for cooperation in the future. Of course, in the short term, it may still be me receiving your help unilaterally.]

"It would be great if we could help each other."

[User 2: So I was thinking... is there another way to express my gratitude? Would you be interested in meeting to discuss the collaboration so far and future plans?]

However, the other party's cautious request made Lin Miao's eyes widen.

A face-to-face meeting? That's incredibly audacious.

These days, people meet up with others without even knowing who they are...

Lin Miao naturally became more vigilant.

It's not because he's someone who's extremely afraid of interacting with people.

It's because neither she nor I are ordinary people that this is the case.

[User 2: Please, let me repay you.]

But the other party was unusually persistent.

That attitude reveals a strong will to achieve one's goal, even at great risk.

However, as a newcomer, the other party was also unaware of Lin Miao's true identity.

"Okay, let's meet."

After a brief moment of hesitation, Lin Miao glanced at the black cloak lying on the bed and gave an affirmative reply.

They were very interested in the mysterious reciprocation the other party mentioned.

And I just happened to get my hands on a safety device today, which should come in handy.

"However, I will decide the location and time."

I never intended to meet at a regular coffee shop.

After all, the two sides weren't discussing any serious business.

The other party seemed to hesitate for a moment and replied a little late, but eventually sent a message of agreement.

Is she a woman?

Lin Miao tried to deduce the other person's identity through the conversation.

Surprisingly, the other party also revealed almost no information, making it impossible to be certain.

The only thing that can be inferred is that their way of speaking is rather feminine.

"Could it be that I've been playing too many anime-style mobile games?"

The next day after get off work, Lin Miao did not go home, but went elsewhere.

The meeting place Lin Miao chose was a wild mountain that appeared after the company took a car to the outskirts of the city. This was the place Lin Miao thought of when considering a secluded place.

Although I didn't expect the other party to agree to this request, they actually did.

"I'll probably go later."

Lin Miao, after getting off the bus, took out a black cloak from her bag behind a nearby building and put it on.

What might be considered an eye-catching outfit by modern standards, Lin Miao immediately activated the power contained within the cloak.

"Hello?"

The hermit's cloak had an immediate effect.

The little dog that was barking wildly at Lin Miao, which was tied up in the yard, suddenly looked around in a panic. Passersby who were walking past him did not hear his greeting and did not even give him a glance.

Anyway, the other person is just an ordinary person who got caught up in this strange event, so they wouldn't be surprised if I went over there wearing this cloak.

Is it over there?

Lin Miao started climbing mountains directly. Her body, which had become stronger after inheriting the special characteristics, now made this level of exercise effortless. She could even climb mountains faster than ordinary people, almost like flying.

The agreed time has already passed by a few minutes; the other party may have arrived early and is waiting.

"Who exactly does the young lady want to see?"

"No one has arrived yet."

However, just as the destination shown by the phone's GPS was within reach, Lin Miao, who had been hiding, suddenly noticed two burly men sneakily monitoring the agreed location, and couldn't help but stop in her tracks.

Lin Miaoming was walking confidently down the road, but the lurking figures were too busy watching the road to see him.

"It's her."

At the end of their line of sight stood a young woman in a white dress. She had short, neat black hair, clutched her phone tightly in her hand, and her face was filled with barely concealed unease.

Lin Miao instantly realized that she was the same user, number 2, who had contacted her last night.

"Looks like they've done quite a bit of preparation."

Although somewhat surprised, Lin Miao did not stop.

Anyone lured to this desolate place by a complete stranger would be on guard. The two bodyguards, who were clearly trained fighters, exuded an aura that could easily subdue an ordinary office worker like him.

The problem is that what Lin Miao brought out of the game world was far beyond their common sense.

Before the bodyguards, who were cautiously scanning their surroundings, could react, Lin Miao had already brazenly crossed their cordon and walked straight to the woman's side.

Lin Miao slightly reduced the magic he had poured into the cloak, dispelling some of the invisibility effect, and whispered in her ear, "Don't worry, I mean no harm."

"Whoa!?" To Li Sushang, the sound seemed to appear out of nowhere, startling her so much that she almost screamed.

"Have your bodyguards step aside first, then we'll talk." Lin Miao's voice remained calm. "I just want to have a private chat. You understand our current situation is unusual, right?"

There is absolutely no benefit to having your secrets revealed to outsiders.

Lin Miao gestured for her to send the bodyguards away, and Li Sushang quickly calmed down after a brief moment of panic.

"Okay, I believe you. After all, you helped me once."

Having no other choice, she finally picked up the phone and made an excuse to have her bodyguards come down the mountain and wait in the car.

After confirming that no one was around, Lin Miao finally removed the cloak's power disguise and revealed her figure.

The hermit's cloak operates on his magic, and while the switch is simple, fine-tuning it is indeed quite difficult.

Li Sushang was visibly startled when she saw the man in front of her, who was wrapped in a black cloak with the hood pulled low, covering most of his face, but she still tried her best to control the expression on her face.

"How did they do that? This cloak..."

"Didn't you already guess?" Lin Miao's voice came from under the hood. "The guardians we encountered on the monitors, who grew alongside us, are just a byproduct of it all."

"This cloak, is it also an item from the game?" Li Sushang's eyes lit up instantly, filled with curiosity about this extraordinary item. "Could it be that something else can be brought out of it?"

Judging from her reaction, she doesn't seem to have received any rewards from the system through her interactions with the Guardians.

Lin Miao shrugged: "Nobody can say for sure. I don't actually know that much."

The wariness on her face seemed to have lessened considerably, and her eyes shone brightly, revealing ambition and anticipation that anyone could see.

Lin Miao was somewhat puzzled. Although the cloak was indeed magical, it shouldn't be of much use in daily life unless it was in this situation.

"Ah, that's exactly the kind of person I am." She seemed to sense Lin Miao's confusion, cleared her throat, and handed over her business card. "According to you, if not only strange monsters, but even game items can be brought into reality, then there are endless possibilities, aren't there?"

Seeing the way she always had bodyguards with her when she went out, Lin Miao had a feeling that she was no ordinary person, but she was still stunned for a moment when she took the business card.

"...Li Sushang, the company's graphic designer?"

"Oh no, I gave you the wrong one! That one's about to be invalid!"

Li Sushang hurriedly snatched the business card back and then frantically handed over another one.

The title on this business card isn't that of an ordinary entry-level employee, but rather General Manager.

"Although the company has gone bankrupt and closed down, I still have some savings." She smiled, her tone tinged with self-deprecation. "It's not something to brag about, but I still have some savings at home."

"That's amazing."

Lin Miao looked at the company name on the business card and vaguely remembered it.

This woman, who wasn't much younger than him, dared to drop out of school to start a business. No wonder she could sense the potential in such a bizarre situation so quickly.

In truth, Lin Miao didn't have much ambition. In this situation where, if word got out, unknown people might come knocking on his door in the middle of the night, he never thought about getting rich quick. As long as he could get some tangible benefits and safely deal with the unknown risks ahead, that would be enough for him.

"Ms. Li Sushang, if you can guarantee confidentiality, I am willing to cooperate as you say. Just like I said at the beginning, we are not enemies."

Upon hearing Lin Miao personally agree to cooperate, Li Sushang was overjoyed.

Even though she remained somewhat wary of this man who refused to show his face, at this moment, her desire for her only ally outweighed all her concerns.

For Lin Miao, being able to cooperate with the powerful and influential woman in reality and improve her life was entirely beneficial.

If all goes well, he might even be able to quit his current job and focus on handling this matter, saving himself a lot of unnecessary trouble.

The meeting ended there. Lin Miao concealed himself again, watching Li Sushang return to her bodyguards and get into the car to go down the mountain, a helpless bitter smile on his face.

"Things will always be resolved. Anyway, even if we don't know how to contact them, we can still communicate freely through the system."

He decided to follow his plan first, teaching Li Sushang the game skills, and then meeting her again after she had taken care of her villagers and obtained her first piece of loot.

It shouldn't be long. As long as I teach her the techniques I've learned from my own experience and mistakes, she can avoid detours and get directly on the right track.