Chapter 319: Neutral Shelter
[ Congratulations! You have discovered a Neutral Shelter! ]
[ Survivor, your journey has led you to a sanctuary!
You've found a Neutral Shelter, a safe haven for all survivors weary from the trials of survival. This refuge offers a place to rest, make trades, and strategize for the challenges that lie ahead. Here, the Shelter Owner welcomes all, as long as you adhere to the shelter's code of conduct. Respect the rules, and you'll be rewarded with amity and safety. ]
[ Rewards for discovering a Neutral Shelter:
Experience Points: +100
Reputation Points: 25 ]
[ Special Reward for the first party to discover the Neutral Shelter:
Versailles Empire's Gold Coin x500
The gold coins can be exchanged for special items within the shelter. ]
[ Remember: Follow the rules. Respect is key! Abide by the Shelter Owner's guidelines to ensure a harmonious environment. ]
Shane and Lysandra exchanged triumphant smiles as the system notification flashed before their eyes. They had not only escaped the Giant Zombies but also uncovered a hidden gem.
"Versailles Empire's Gold Coin… This is the first time I've heard about this." Lysandra muttered after going through their rewards once again.
On the other hand, Shane already had hundreds of these coins. The first time he had seen it was when Raze traded it to him. He recalled that Raze got them from a Treasure Chest.
He had saved it in his inventory, but he didn't really know where to use it.
He thought that he would just be using them to convert as Auction Points once the next Auction Event was arranged.
However, it seemed that they really found an interesting place today.
"Let's see what this place has to offer," Shane said as he stepped forward to approach the mysterious shelter.
From the outside, they could see that it had tall walls like those from the castles. It was reaching over 20 meters! This was definitely not a simple shelter that could be compared to the ones he had seen before.
Lysandra then followed Shane, and as she looked behind, she could no longer see the six Giant Zombies chasing after them but confirmed that everything had changed. It was as if they had entered a portal to this territory instead.
As they approached the entrance, two imposing guards blocked their path.
Their armor gleamed under the sunlight, and their expressions were stern.
"Halt! This is the Ivory Gear Shelter! Entry requires 20 Zombie Cores per person," one of the guards announced.
Shane's face fell. "That's expensive…" he muttered, glancing at Lysandra.
Lysandra shrugged, her eyes scanning the guards. "We need to get inside. It's worth it."
Shane sighed and reached into his pack, pulling out a small pouch. "I'll pay for both of us," he said, handing over 40 Zombie Cores.
The guards inspected the cores before stepping aside. "Welcome to the Neutral Shelter," they said in unison, allowing Shane and Lysandra to pass.
As they entered, the shelter's true beauty unfolded before them.
It was a bustling haven filled with people from various regions, all coexisting in a fragile peace.
Shane and Lysandra knew that their journey had just taken an unexpected turn, and it appeared that the Neutral Shelter held secrets and opportunities they had yet to uncover.
***
At this time, within the shelter's main building, Lord Kang Zhen, the owner of the Ivory Gear Shelter, sat behind a grand mahogany desk. He was currently scanning the documents related to their logistics. More than a hundred papers were spread before him.
Aside from his messy table, his office was still clean with a blend of elegance and practicality, with shelves lined with ancient tomes and maps of the surrounding territories.
Kang Zhen sighed as he looked at one particular document. He couldn't help but scratch his long black hair tied neatly behind his head.
'Tsk… This is tough… We have to find a solution for this quickly.' He thought…
Kang Zhen had a well-groomed beard framing his stern face. He also had a scar of his right face that hinted about his countless battles and hard-earned victories.
Knock!
A knock on the door interrupted his concentration.
"Enter," he commanded, not looking up from his work.
A subordinate stepped in, bowing respectfully. "My Lord, two outsiders have entered the Neutral Shelter. They paid the entry fee and are currently within the premises."
Kang Zhen finally lifted his gaze, his eyes narrowing slightly. They weren't normally reporting this matter unless these people were special.
"What about those two?" He asked.
"We have checked twice, and one of them was above level 25." The subordinate answered. This news was certainly huge!
Level 25 Survivors or higher shouldn't exist yet!
"Must be Legendary Title holder…" Kang Zhen frowned as he knew that anyone who could reach this level so quickly was completely different from them.
Anyway, their device to detect the level of Survivors was what allowed them to be a successful Neutral Shelter… Unfortunately, the highest it could cover was only level 25.
"Just observe them for now. They're Survivors from another land. As long as they're not causing trouble, do not touch them."
The subordinate nodded and left the room, leaving Kang Zhen alone with his thoughts.
'If one of them is at least level 25, it's better not to provoke them… Those with Legendary Titles are the most difficult to deal with.
He leaned back in his chair, fingers steepled under his chin.
"Still, they're too early to discover our shelter. I guess they're fated to come here." he muttered to himself.
Turning back to his documents, Kang Zhen's expression grew more serious.
"Haa~ We're lacking supplies for healing potions… Even if we had the recipe for Recovery Pills, we don't have an alchemist to make them," he muttered, frustration evident in his voice.
He sighed deeply, knowing that the survival of the Neutral Shelter depended on their ability to maintain their supplies.
With no other choice, he decided to take action.
He reached for a quill and parchment, drafting a notice to be posted on the mission board in the shelter's plaza.