Chapter 83: New Members

After reading the familiar question, Shane smiled.

"Yes..." He affirmed as he waited for the Recruitment Stone to take effect.

In a few moments, the stone's glow intensified, casting shadows in the surroundings.

As soon as it vanished, the gray fog suddenly thickened outside the shelter. Soon, this gray fog coalesced into a human form. No, it seemed as if the gray fog had given birth to a human.

As the fog receded, it revealed a woman in her mid-twenties. Her eyes were wide with a mix of confusion and awe.

Shane smiled after seeing how the woman was dressed.

"Perfect..." He muttered.

***

In the meantime, as Alexa found herself in unfamiliar surroundings, she couldn't help but feel a bit excited.

"This... Am I finally out?" Alexa muttered as memories came rushing to her head.

Alexa stood at an average height, her youthful features framed by chestnut hair that cascaded in waves down her shoulders.

Her eyes, a striking shade of hazel, scanned her surroundings, trying to make sense of the abrupt change in her reality.

"But where is this place?"

She was dressed in a chef's uniform, the name tag pinned to her chest read "Alexa," and the logo of the prestigious Celestial Towers Hotel in the bustling city of Neo Elysium was embroidered above her heart.

The city of Neo Manila, once a vibrant hub of culture and technology, had been one of the first to succumb to the mysterious fog that heralded the Zombie Outbreak.

Alexa had been working late in the hotel's kitchen when the fog seeped through the streets, swallowing the city in its opaque embrace.

People vanished, some without a trace, while others seemed untouched. They were left to wander in a daze amidst the chaos.

Unfortunately for her, Alexa was among those taken by the mysterious gray fog. Her last memory before the fog's embrace was the panicked screams and the clatter of kitchenware. As some Zombies had actually entered the hotel at that time...

Then, it was followed by silence as she was taken by the fog.

She had no idea how long had passed after she was taken.

In her unusual state inside the fog, a voice spoke to her—a voice that resonated with the authority of the Lord of the Realms.

Nonetheless, with the immediate danger averted, and the introduction finished, everyone returned to their tasks, the rhythmic sounds of construction filling the air as they worked to fortify the estate's defenses.

Hours ticked by, and the once-broken fence began to stand tall and strong once more.

"Hmm? Is it here?" Shane muttered.

Amidst the clatter and clamor, Shane's unique title, Territory Lord, manifested its power.

[ Territory Lord ( Legendary Talent ): You can occupy and claim a large piece of land for your development. There is a 100% chance of attracting talented inhabitants of the continent to serve you in your territory every five days! ]

The estate was soon surrounded by the gray fog as they seemed to pulse with an unseen force. That's right. This time, Shane was carefully observing the mysterious gray fog.

After all, this fog seemed to be part of the Apocalypse itself.

As if on cue, the gray fog churned and twisted, and from its depths emerged a figure—an old man with a dignified air about him.

'An old man this time? However, the gray fog took a lot of time to spit this old man out. He's probably special.' Shane couldn't help but think of this since he could remember how the others were easily 'spat out' by the gray fog before.

The others who had noticed this event had also paused, tools in hand, as the old man stepped forward.

His hair was silver, his back slightly stooped from years of service, but his eyes held the sharpness of one who had seen much in his lifetime.

Before the fog had claimed him, the old man had been a butler, serving a nobleman in a grand estate not unlike the one he now found himself in.

His name was Mr. Wadsworth, and he had been the epitome of loyalty and efficiency, a silent guardian of the household's secrets and the master's confidant before the Zombie Outbreak happened.

The nobleman's estate, known as Harrington Hall, was nestled in the rolling hills of a region once celebrated for its vineyards and orchards.

Mr. Wadsworth had arrived there as a young man, quickly rising through the ranks to become the head butler, a position he held with pride and honor.

His days were spent overseeing the staff, ensuring that every detail of the manor ran like clockwork. From the gleam of the silverware to the precision of the dinner service, Mr. Wadsworth was a man of impeccable standards.

Unfortunately, his normal life was broken after Zombie Outbreak, which was followed by the Mysterious Gray Fog abduction, that had descended upon the world.

It brought chaos that was harsher than the previous kingdom wars. Of course, Harrington Hall did not remain untouched. The nobleman and his family fled, leaving Mr. Wadsworth and the remaining staff to fend for themselves against the encroaching darkness.

One fateful evening, as Mr. Wadsworth attempted to secure the estate against the relentless tide of the undead, the fog crept through the gardens and into the manor. It wrapped around him like a shroud, and his world faded to gray.

When he awoke, he heard a mysterious voice giving him an introduction to the new world he had entered...

Indeed, he was no longer in the familiar halls of Harrington Hall but standing before Shane and his band of survivors.