Chapter 178
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Chapter 178: New Gameplay – Non-Core Operators
Even though the Wettin family’s core generation has been completely massacred, many underage members still remain.
To increase the chances of producing transcendent individuals, most nobles maintain numerous spouses and children. Of course, this is perfectly legal. Only a small number of nobles who have committed serious crimes will lose the right to marry multiple times, causing their family to decline thereafter.
For clarification, the Air Alliance is not a system of polygamy. Rather, it allows nobles to have multiple spouses. Female nobles, too, can have multiple spouses, all in the pursuit of generating more transcendent individuals.
Count Gallard stood in silence, waiting for a response from the towering creature before him. But no words came.
Could it be that he and his daughter had misunderstood each other?
Perhaps it was simply a passing monster, unrelated to the mysterious Babel Tower organization.
As Count Gallard pondered this, he suddenly felt an oppressive, suffocating presence approaching him.
Thick black mist emerged from all around him.
Count Gallard froze, watching the black mist draw closer. Yet, he did not move. Instead, he reached out his hand toward it.
He recognized it—this was the same black mist that appeared in the Babel Tower videos.
This “monster” was actually a “person” from the Babel Tower!
The thick black mist connected with his palm, and a cold, ruthless voice filled his mind.
“Are you willing?”
[Forming a “connection” with Babel Tower.]
[To contribute efforts toward saving this world.]
Count Gallard paused, understanding the weight of what was being asked.
If he agreed, the Wettin family would stand with Babel Tower, advancing and retreating together in the future.
“I am willing,” he said solemnly.
“To regain the glory of the Knight’s family, I am willing to give everything and dedicate it to the Babel Tower.”
“But…” The old man’s tone hardened. “All of this is premised on saving the world. If Babel Tower betrays me, then the Wettin family will immediately begin to oppose Babel Tower!”
Count Gallard’s message was clear. If Babel Tower remained dedicated to saving the world, then the Wettin family would stand by it. But if Babel Tower strayed from that cause, he would rebel.
As head of the Knight family, his loyalty could only be to a cause—not to a person or organization.
[Contract signed.]
Once more, Count Gallard heard the cold voice, realizing it likely came from the legendary “Savior.”
The black mist surged once again, merging with his palm.
A wave of intense pain surged through him, and then… the mark appeared.
A “001” mark now rested on the back of his aged hand.
“This is it!” Count Gallard understood immediately.
From this day forward, he and the Wettin family were now part of Babel Tower’s war chariot!
The vitality that had once seemed dim in his eyes began to flicker back to life.
“Accumulation of impure desires, mission accomplished.”
“Legend points +200.”
“Received the allegiance of the ‘Wettin family’ and can view the corresponding information in the ‘related forces’ list.”
“The Non-core Operators system has been activated!”
“Acquired Non-core Operator #001, ‘Count of Knights’ Gallard.”
“Reward obtained: Entertainment Card – Deep Sea Secret Cove.”
Bai Yan stared at the screen, stunned.
The Non-core Operators system, which should have been activated only after the First Doomsday Crisis, had appeared now—unexpectedly early.
Similar to the “Different Dimensions” pool, many elements from Babel Tower had appeared much earlier in this second playthrough.
Generally, there are two main ways to acquire Non-core Operators. The first is when individuals or forces declare allegiance to Babel Tower during a mission, as Count Gallard had done.
The second method is when Core Operators assign others as Non-core Operators. However, each Core Operator can only appoint five individuals as Non-core Operators, with the total number of Non-core Operators never exceeding ten times the number of Core Operators.
These spots are limited.
Babel Tower, as a mysterious organization of salvation, cannot rely solely on its few Core Operators to influence the world. Non-core Operators often serve as assistants, vice captains, and combat support.
Bai Yan looked at Count Gallard’s information card:
Non-core Operators
Title: Count Gallard
Gender: Male
Rank: Material Realm
Level: Awakening (Potential Crown)
Race: Human
Primary Attributes:
Physical Body: 82
INT: 55
Skill: 77
Secondary Attributes:
Charisma: 7
Loyalty: 3
Mood: 1
Ability:
Preemptive strike ineffective: The expected damage is nullified directly.
Description: Count Gallard of the Tatsumi City Knight Family.
Gallard is strong, with potential crown-level abilities. He can definitely hold his own against Mu Ling. His “preemptive strike ineffective” ability counters one-hit kill abilities, like those from the “Deep Blue World.” If he can predict an attack, it will have no substantial impact. This causal type of extraordinary power is incredibly powerful when used correctly.
However, the major disadvantage of Non-core Operators is that their strength is often capped, unlike Core Operators who possess the potential to save the world. Gallard’s strength, at his age of 80, is limited to potential crown, and his core strength will never improve again. Bai Yan cannot use the Awakening Soul on him, although Gallard can still benefit from other blessings like resurrection.
Non-core Operators also lack “skins.” When participating in certain strategic or card-based missions, players can choose Non-core Operators as “summons,” “soldiers,” “cards,” or “followers” to assist in combat. However, players cannot directly control Non-core Operators in operations.
Bai Yan clicked on the newly added “faction-related” option, distinct from the “otherworldly” option.
The factions in “otherworldly” come from different worlds, while the factions in “faction-related” are from within Noah.
The first thing that caught Bai Yan’s eye was a map of Noah World.
The Sea of Fantasy, represented by a vast expanse of white mist, showed three countries arranged in a triangular layout: the Air Alliance to the north, the Night Union to the east, and the Eruo League to the west.
The emblem of the Air Alliance was a white triangle with an eye inside, likely representing the “Eyes of the Empire.”
Bai Yan clicked on “Air Alliance” and was presented with a long list of faction names, though most were grayed out. Only the factions he had encountered were clickable.
Bai Yan clicked on the “Demon Hunt Agency” option under “Tatsumi City.”
Tatsumi City Demon Hunt Agency
Faction strength: 78
Leader: Mr. Trap
Recent trends: Maintaining order
Current favorability rating: 58
He then clicked on “Eyes of the Empire.”
Eyes of the Empire
Power intensity: 1231
Leader: ‘World’
Recent trend: Expedition to parallel worlds
Current favorability rating: -15
Finally, Bai Yan checked “the Wettin family” under “Tatsumi City.”
The Wettin Family (Loyal)
Power intensity: 12
Leader: Count Gallard
Recent movements: Massacred
Current favorability rating: 35
Since the Wettin family is loyal, Bai Yan could continue to view detailed information.
Current members of the power: 214,567
Current status: Intervenable
Bai Yan understood that the Wettin family’s power included not only the family members but also employees from their industries.
The five major families in Tatsumi City dominated the public world, controlling vast economic sectors. It wasn’t surprising that they had such a large workforce, with nearly a million people working across their industries in the city.
Bai Yan clicked on “Intervenable” and a search bar appeared, allowing him to intervene with any member under the Wettin family’s influence, as long as he entered the correct name.
Not knowing the name of anyone specific, Bai Yan searched news for Wettin family members.
Iwen Jielin, 19, the little princess of the Wettin family, was often featured in the media as the goddess of Tatsumi City’s entertainment industry. She had starred in several movies and had a massive fan following in the civilian world.
It seemed she was Count Gallard’s eldest daughter.
Bai Yan quickly found an image of Iwen Jielin, pixel-art style, as she slept face down in a dressing room, oblivious to the significant events unfolding in her family.
“She narrowly escaped disaster… such luck,” Bai Yan muttered.
For a girl from the Wettin family to become an actress was a clear sign she had been abandoned by her family. Bai Yan understood this fact well.
The intervention options available were simple:
“Reward,” “Punishment,” or “Erasure.”
The “Erasure” option seemed too harsh, so Bai Yan ignored it and clicked “Reward.”
The rewards were divided into types: “life,” “physical fitness,” “energy,” “skills,” and “money,” each costing 10 Source Energy Points.
Bai Yan wasn’t one to waste points idly, so he exited and clicked “Punishment.”
Punishments were also divided into five types—life, physical fitness, energy, skills, and money—but they did not consume Source Energy Points.
“Honestly, I’m tempted to click on the third option to see what happens, but if ‘Erasure’ takes effect instantly without confirmation, that would be too unfair.”
Never mind, better not out of curiosity.
Actually, I really want to… Bai Yan shook his head, focusing again.
He thought about the information regarding Iwen Jielin.
If her words were true, there might be an opportunity to strike at the final boss of the current Chaos of Equilibrium event early.
