Five days after Shane had taken over the Silver Mine Camp, the transformation of the simple settlent into a formidable fortress was undeniable.
The tall palisade walls with electric wires on top of reinforced timber now encircled the camp, giving it a better sense of security than before.
Furthermore, five watchtowers were now present. They were manned by guards who kept a constant watch over the surroundings.
Beyond the walls, although it could not be easily seen, the ground was dotted with traps, cleverly concealed but deadly enough to stop any approaching zombies.
However, the people here felt even more at ease whenever they saw the two Automated Turrets at the center of the camp. It was certainly scary if it was pointed at them, but seeing it pointing outside would make their hearts calm.
Their presence alone had already given the camp a sense of impenetrability. Anyone approaching the camp from the outside would see that it was no longer just a simple mining settlent—it was a growing stronghold.
As the sun began to set, everyone was preparing for a hearty al… However, a group of travelers approached the gates.
The guards in the watchtower imdiately sent a signal to everyone. It was a bell that was ant to inform about human visitors…
Of course, they were all still on guard just in case they were infected…
Soon, dust-covered and bloodied people got closer to the gates. They looked like they had been through hell.
The guards atop the walls raised their weapons, cautious at first…
Then, with Lysandra's assistance, she soon relaxed when she recognized the emblem stitched onto the travelers' clothes: the mark of the Long Lodge Shelter.
The group also introduced themselves…
"Stay there… We need to confirm if you're infected." Lysandra said. The group happily cooperated and allowed themselves to be checked by soone.
"We will follow your instructions…" One of them said, clearly relieved that they'd finally found this shelter.
The group was clearly in bad shape. Their clothes were torn, and dried blood covered their arms and faces. They had encountered trouble on the road.
The leader of the group, a man nad Vin, stood out from the others. He was tall with long, dark hair tied back in a loose ponytail.
His clothes, a combination of leather armor and travel-worn robes, were splattered with dirt and blood, though he carried himself with a sense of composure that made him seem like soone accustod to dangerous situations.
"Well, this is a surprise," Vin muttered, wiping sweat from his brow as he gazed up at the surroundings.
His companions, equally exhausted from the journey, murmured in agreent as they took in the sight of the fortified camp.
The watchtowers were above them, each one manned with guards who looked ready to shoot at them.
After confirming that they weren't bitten or injured by Zombies, they were finally allowed to pass through the gates.
As soon as they entered, their attention was imdiately drawn to the Automated Turrets. The shiny, chanical weapons sat on rotating mounts, humd softly as they scanned the area for threats. It was clear that the leader of this camp had invested a lot into the camp's defenses.
"Lord Han Zhuo's friend is definitely rich…" one of Vin's n muttered.
"No wonder he decided to entrust the mission to Sir Shane." Another one was added.
Vin nodded but kept his focus ahead. His mind was already on the task at hand.
The guards escorted the group to Shane's trailer, the central hub where he now managed the camp's affairs.
Inside, the air was cooler, and the scent of wood and fresh food replaced the stench of the outside world. Shane sat at a small table, his eyes scanning a map of the territory when the group was ushered in.
"Hello… I heard that you guys ca from Long Lodge Shelter…" Shane greeted them as he stood up from his seat. His tone was neutral but edged with curiosity. "You look like you've been through hell. What happened?"
Vin gave a short nod in response, gesturing to his ragged companions. "I'm called Vin, I'm the seventh captain under Lord Han Zhuo's command. Ahem… We have a ssage from our commander... Thankfully, we managed to survive against those Jumper and Licker Zombies. A whole bunch of them are on the road. We even lost two n."
Shane's eyes flicked toward the blood on their clothes and the exhaustion on their faces. He motioned for them to sit. "You're lucky you made it this far. My n will get you so food and dicine. But I assu you're not just here for a visit."
"Right to business, huh?" Vin said, letting out a short, tired laugh. "You're right. We've co with a ssage from Lord Han Zhuo... He's requesting sothing... A dozen Crypt Crawler Zombies. It was after he heard that they're common around this area.
If you also found a Juggernaut Zombie, he liked to have one alive as well."
Shane frowned in surprise. "Crypt Crawlers? Juggernaut? Why would your lord want those things?"
Vin sighed, leaning back in his chair. "It's a strange request, I know. But from what I've heard, they've been experinting on the undead in the alchemy lab. It could be related to the explosives or the weapons they wanted to make with Zombie's help. Plus, we've been losing too many people recently, so Lord Han Zhuo was probably hoping to have soone reliable to work on this. Stay tuned with empire
After all, we still have to be careful in case the Winged Zombies returns…"
Shane leaned back in his chair as he considered the mission. The request was indeed unusual. Crypt Crawlers weren't that tough zombies, but he couldn't kill them.
Capturing them wasn't an easy task, and transporting them even less so. But the offer from the Long Lodge Shelter might be worth the trouble.
"What's the paynt?" Shane asked after a mont.
Vin shifted in his seat. "We're offering 800 gold coins for each Crypt Crawler. If you captured a Juggernaut Zombie, you can request anything from the Lord."
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