Kindness is Rare is an Exploration Mission in Arknights: Endfield that puts you in the middle of a corporate negotiation gone wrong. After investigating sabotage and deception across multiple business representatives, you must help Logistics Director Salman decide which contract to sign—or whether to sign one at all. The quest serves as a moral puzzle with no clearly "right" answer, forcing players to weigh pragmatism against compassion.
Quick answer: Your choice between Hartmann, Aleksandr, or refusing both does not affect gameplay rewards or future quests—only Salman's final dialogue changes. Pick whichever option aligns with your roleplay preferences.
How to unlock Kindness is Rare
This mission becomes available automatically after completing the Business is Tough Exploration Mission. Both quests are located in The Hub area of Valley IV. You'll need to finish the investigation portion of Business is Tough, which involves gathering intel on the three competing business agents, before Kindness is Rare triggers.
Walkthrough overview
Step 1: Speak with Perlica near the Hub Base Power Plant, south of the Core AIC Area. A cutscene plays where you sort through the intel collected during the previous quest.
Step 2: Head to the negotiation site on a forked path just north of the Hub Base Power Plant. Use your scanner to reveal footprints heading south down the road.
Step 3: Follow the footprints until you reach an overturned truck. Inspect all six clues near the wreckage, then move slightly south for a cutscene discussing the evidence with your team.
Step 4: Return to the Hub Base Power Plant and scan for more clues. The footprints lead down a ravine where you'll fight a group of Landbreakers. After defeating them, inspect the trashcans to find a Landbreaker Outfit. Walk back a few steps to trigger another cutscene.
Step 5: Fast travel to the TP Point northeast of the Core AIC Area to reach Rockhill Passage. Head southwest to speak with the agents about your final decision. A long cutscene plays, followed by a message on your Baker device.
Step 6: Fast travel to the Hub Base TP Point and speak with Salman in front of the Old Factory entrance. Here, you make your final choice about which deal to sign.
The three candidates explained
Hartmann represents Erikson, a company facing financial difficulties. He lied about his company's stability, but he's just a sales representative—not the owner. Hartmann is honest about his company's struggles and even suggests you might be better off choosing Aleksandr instead. His company has a reputation for defaulting on payments, though Hartmann himself comes across as a decent person caught in a bad situation.
Aleksandr presents the most complicated case. He claims to represent a larger corporation, but investigation reveals he was fired from that company roughly a year ago. His credentials are outdated, his company ID was confiscated when he was let go, and he hired Hans to assault Hartmann and steal his identity. Aleksandr's motivation is sympathetic—he desperately needs money to pay for his father's medical treatment—but his methods involve assault, identity theft, and fraud. Even if you choose him, there's no guarantee his former employer will honor any deal or rehire him.
Hans was a hired mercenary working for Aleksandr. He's not a viable option by the end of the quest and faces legal consequences for his actions.
What each choice represents
Choosing Hartmann rewards honesty over results. His company may default on payment, but Endfield operates on good faith—the organization already offers AIC tech and supplies for what amounts to IOUs. If Erikson defaults, Endfield can simply rebid the contract. This choice prioritizes long-term business relationships over immediate gain and refuses to reward criminal behavior.
Choosing Aleksandr is the emotional option. You're helping someone in genuine need, even though he committed crimes to get this opportunity. However, his former company has no obligation to honor his work or pay him since he's no longer employed there. This choice sends the message that underhanded tactics can succeed, potentially inviting similar behavior in future dealings.
Choosing neither is the pragmatic business decision. Neither candidate meets the basic qualifications of trustworthiness and reliable payment. Refusing both allows Endfield to restart the bidding process with new candidates who haven't lied, committed fraud, or demonstrated financial instability.
Does your choice matter?
The decision affects only Salman's closing remarks. No gameplay consequences, future quest changes, or reward differences result from any option. The quest rewards remain identical regardless of your choice.
Completing Kindness is Rare grants 5,150 T-Creds, 2 Protoprism, 75 Oroberyl, 16 Intermediate Combat Records, 7 Elementary Cognitive Carriers, 13 Arms INSP Kits, and 300 Operational EXP.
The thematic point
The quest title hints at its central tension. Genuine kindness is rare in business, and the mission presents a trolley problem where every track leads somewhere uncomfortable. Hartmann represents morality without ambition—he'd sacrifice his company's interests to stay ethical. Aleksandr represents ambition without morality—he'll do whatever it takes to achieve his goals, regardless of who gets hurt.
Neither approach guarantees success for Endfield. The "kind" choice depends entirely on your interpretation: helping someone in desperate circumstances, rewarding honest behavior, or protecting Endfield's interests by walking away from a compromised negotiation entirely.
Kindness is Rare works as a character moment rather than a mechanical decision point. The quest asks what kind of Endministrator you want to be, knowing the answer won't change anything except how you feel about it.
