Volume One, Chapter One: Winter Break Part-Time Job—A Live-Action Battle Royale NPC?

"Hey, classmate, are you interested in a winter break part-time job?"
"There's a real-life battle royale hiring NPCs overseas! Each round pays a base salary of 100,000, plus commission and subsidies, and even three types of insurance!"

At Shanhai University, inside the boys' dormitory.

Han Cheng stared at a job notification on his phone, transfixed for three minutes.

Final exams were over, and winter break was just ahead. His classmates had already begun planning their vacation—some were heading home to study for civil service or graduate school exams, while others were using the break to travel with their partners, deepening their relationships.

But Han Cheng was different. Having grown up in an orphanage, he planned to take on a part-time job during winter break. Along with earning his tuition and living expenses, he also wanted to send some money back to the orphanage that had raised him, so the children there could have a good New Year.

He hadn’t even started looking when Brother Li, an agent he’d worked with before, reached out and introduced him to a major gig.

A real-life battle royale—Han Cheng knew what that meant: taking the format of the popular game and bringing it into reality.

As for being an NPC? That was just filling out the numbers or enhancing the players’ immersion—he could definitely handle that.

Thinking it over, Han Cheng typed: "Brother Li, why’s the pay so high? 100,000 per round—seriously?"

The agent quickly replied, "Classmate, this is an international job, so of course the pay is high! And you don’t even need to know much foreign language. Besides, you can shoot some videos or livestream for extra income. How about it, want to give it a try?"

To be honest, Han Cheng was tempted. Other part-time jobs were exhausting and barely paid two or three thousand a month. Nothing compared to this real-life battle royale gig.

"I'm in, Brother Li!"

Han Cheng agreed without hesitation, not realizing that this decision would change his entire life.

A few days later, Han Cheng arrived at Shanhai Airport at the scheduled time.

He’d thought he'd be the only one going to work as a battle royale NPC.

But to his surprise, the waiting hall was packed with people—all there for the same job!

"What? You can't make it? Your grandmother’s getting married in a few days and you’re going to be the flower boy?"

"Come on, man, do you even buy your own excuse? Your grandma hasn’t had her period in decades—who’s she marrying? What kind of nonsense is this?"

"And you, you’re over thirty—going to be a flower boy? Why not just say you’ll be the flower basket? You clown."

The team leader was a short, hot-tempered man who looked like a honey badger—tough and fierce. Even just from his phone call, you could tell how irritable he was.

Han Cheng had only been listening in for fun, not knowing that the gears of fate had already begun to turn.

Soon, the plane was filled to capacity and took off.

Their destination: Central Asia, where the real-life battle royale would be held.

Han Cheng was actually quite excited. The online reviews said this event was especially hardcore and realistic—so much so that it could make you wet your pants.

Moreover, these events were held every few days or once a week. If Han Cheng could participate in several rounds, or shoot videos and do some promotions to bring in more people, he’d make a fortune.

Just imagining himself returning home with four or five hundred thousand in his pocket, Han Cheng suddenly sensed an unfriendly gaze.

It was the honey badger!

What was going on? Had he laughed too loudly during the phone call and caught the guy’s attention? Was he going to get ganked?

But Han Cheng wasn’t worried. After all, he was a main player on the Shanhai University basketball team. In terms of size, strength, and fitness, there was no reason to fear a short guy.

But as it turned out, Han Cheng was overthinking it. During the entire flight to Central Asia, the honey badger never made a move.

"Now we’ll begin a week-long pre-job training. Take it seriously. If you fail the assessment, the company reserves the right to fire you and reclaim any paid wages."

After arriving at the airport, the organizers divided up the Chinese NPC recruits and took them away in groups.

When only Han Cheng was left, the honey badger took a deep breath. "So, your name’s Han Cheng, right?"

Han Cheng forced a smile—just as he thought, the guy was coming for payback.

He was ready to fall to the ground and shamelessly demand 888,888 in compensation.

But instead, the honey badger handed him a file. "These are the details for the NPC you’ll be playing. Get familiar with it."

"By the way, according to your application, you’re a college student. How’s your English?"

Han Cheng was caught off guard, but replied instinctively, "Bro, didn’t you say foreign language skills weren’t really needed?"

The honey badger clapped. "So you’re not that good—perfect, even better. Come with me!"

He led Han Cheng to the parking lot and they boarded a van.

"Remember all your information?"

"Yes, bro."

"Give me your bank account number."

Han Cheng wasn’t sure why he needed it but handed it over anyway.

Soon after, Han Cheng received a payment notification.

[Shanhai Bank: 100,000 credited!]

Han Cheng was stunned. "Bro, why did you suddenly transfer me 100,000?"

But before he could look up, the honey badger had already put on a gas mask.

"Bro, why are you suddenly—"

Before Han Cheng could finish, the honey badger pulled out a spray and blasted it in his face. In the next moment, Han Cheng lost consciousness.

The van started and drove off into the distance.

"Wake up, we’re here."

Han Cheng had no idea how long he’d been out, but woke up as soon as the honey badger called him.

Dazed, he was handed over to a group of foreign mercenaries.

"Welcome, legendary Wolf of China—Long!"

The foreigners greeted Han Cheng warmly.

His English was poor, so he only understood the welcome. As for Wolf of China—Long, he figured that was the character he was playing in the battle royale, so he must've arrived.

"Oh, by the way, I don’t really like the name Long. Can I change it to Dragon?"

Just as Han Cheng was about to ask the honey badger to switch his name, he realized the man had already disappeared—along with his phone and luggage.

"What the hell?" Han Cheng was dumbfounded, but before he could process it, something even more bewildering happened.

The foreigners suddenly received some kind of mission. Everyone got busy, suiting up in tactical gear.

Han Cheng started to panic. "Wait, is the battle royale starting already? Wasn’t there supposed to be a week of training?"

"So this is just a rehearsal, right? But I haven’t been trained—am I supposed to go with you?"

"Can someone please answer me?"

Before he could finish, a foreigner led him to the equipment area, where he was forcibly outfitted in combat gear.

The man rattled off instructions Han Cheng couldn’t understand. In the end, he just followed the group onto an armored vehicle.

He had no idea where they were going or what he was supposed to do—his mind was a complete blank.

But things quickly became even more confusing.

Barely tens of minutes after setting off, there was a thunderous boom. The armored vehicle Han Cheng was in was launched into the air, spun around, and crashed violently to the ground.

"Fuck, it’s a landmine!"

Dizzy and disoriented, Han Cheng was dragged out of the overturned vehicle.

Looking up at the sky, he saw missiles falling like a rain of arrows.

He cried out in shock, "What the hell? Is your real-life battle royale really this intense? I just got here and you’re bombing us already?"