NPC Survival Guide - Chapter 8

After the preparations for a novel are completed, the names of the characters involved are only a few dozen, and some large-scale productions may reach hundreds of thousands. However, compared with a complete world view, all the things shown in the story plot of the novel are only the tip of an iceberg.

The so-called world outlook is the most basic settings of the novel, including the story background, race, characters, environment, and etc. The parallel world is to generate the real world according to the world outlook. Although all the story plots will not show some settings after they are finished, those settings will still exist.

For example, the background is a love story in a modern society. All the stories take place in a city in Z country. The readers see this place from beginning to end. However, there are still other cities and even other countries in this parallel world. There still exist in those countries and regions countless people.

In the world outlook of the parallel world where 233 is currently located, cities, villages and towns, although the plot will not involve some places, those places will still exist and there will still be a corresponding number of people residing in them.

Of course, those who have nothing to do with the plot are no longer Sin City’s role-player, such as 233. City Confidential, a special agency that plays villains, takes care of the plot, so that the plot can go on as set, and decisions are often made by the villains.

To be on the safe side, even the humble wannabe needs to be played as long as he is a villain. Otherwise, it would be too risky for a short-sighted wannabe to get a foot in when the protagonist and BOSS are in the most fierce battle.

The responsibility of the Sin City is to strangle all potential accidents in its cradle.

After all, novels are different from games in which the character dies and can be revived. But when a protagonist dies in a novel, rebirth cannot happen unless the novel says so.

NPC is divided into two kinds. One type is the NPC like 233, who is involved in the development of the plot. It is called plot NPC. Because there cannot be any mistakes in the plot, it is necessary to have someone specially trained to play it. This is the origin of the Sin City.

There is another kind of functional NPC, such as the staff of the inn and restaurant in the city, or businessmen who set up stalls beside the street, or the farmers who farm in the countryside. Although these people will not participate in the development of the plot, without them, the world outlook will not be complete and the plot will not proceed. Therefore, functional NPC is also an essential setting.

And because functional NPC is only to improve the world outlook, it will not directly affect the development of the plot, so they don’t need someone to play, they are just like the characters in the virtual reality game, all of which are controlled by the system.

It is also because of the existence of functional NPC, the villains BOSS will not be too bored in absolute free time. They can walk around without any problems, or make trouble with functional NPC. As long as they don’t play too much and affect the plot.

And those who have nothing to do with the plot are another form of NPC, called functional NPC.

Above are all the settings recognized by 233 as an old man during his long-term contact. Because City Confidential will not tell them these things and there is nothing else to tell them the truth, all of them have to rely on 233 to sum up.

As an old man, 233 can be summed up to this point is good, in addition to not being a villain BOSS, did not have in-depth contact with the main character, so I do not know the main character’s setting source, the other 233 think they know very well.

Villages that surrounded the mountain also had the same problem of food shortage but, since they are unrelated to the plot, it is not harmless for the gang to steal some food from them. Or else, they would be delivered to their demise too early.

Of course, it is necessary to distinguish the enemy from comrades before taking action. Recognizing the enemy results to triumph in every battle. Now 233 has only 100-odd people. Too big villages may not be beaten, but too small villages may not be able to support them. 233 needs a village with enough scale to support 100-odd people for a month, and the village’s defense force not too large. Otherwise, even if it was subdued successfully, 233’s gang will suffer heavy losses itself. After the heroine arrives, a gang with only more or less than  a dozen members will not look good.

Therefore, the first act is to investigate.

After analyzing every detail, 233 immediately commanded all the gang members to disperse and survey the surrounding area of the Dragon and Tiger Mountain to see how many villages there are, but reminded that only the survey is needed lest the premature beat the grass and frighten away the snake.

They are all new here, and the story will not introduce such knowledge, so they need to detect it by themselves.

Not long after, 233 got a report: There are three villages around Longhu Mountain, namely Dashi Village, Qiaotou Village and Dingjiawan.

The small town, 233 did not dare to think of for the time being. Persimmons are soft and tender. Hence, the three villages are set to be the targets. A specific village required 233 to make a meticulous investigation in person.

Thorough investigations are not something that can be done in a day or two which implies 233 would have to leave Longhu Mountain for a few days. He roughly explained the situation to the gang members. Then he arranged a deputy leader and called a helper on the road.

The helper is actually a handyman who’ll carry 233 bags, do odds and ends and serve as a chat companion on the way.

Since it is an inspection, it requires traveling stealthily and cannot be carried out in beat the grass and frighten away the snake, so people will not be suspicious if they travel less. However, 233 is a rather distinctive feature of the wicked, which prompts him to disguise. The tattoo on his forehead is covered by a large turban, then he brings on a straw hat, makes some mud on his face, matches it with broad coarse linen straw sandals, and if he carries a hoe and matches it with the smirk he deliberately makes, he will look like an honest and harmless peasant.

However, he is not playing a farmer, but a tradesman. The farmer’s words are known in the village. Only a tradesman or a travelling vendor will garner the least suspicion.

Consequently, he carries the burden of receiving goods. But of course, what was the staff he assigned there for?

In this way, a peddler and a fellow went on their way.

T/N : Phew! That was a long chapter!

Everyone, we would release this novel’s chapters three times in a week. So stay tuned for more of 233’s adventures! It only just began.